2021年、成人式

一生に一度の成人式。今年は中止やオンライン開催等、コロナの影響が影を落としました。

Virus casts shadow over once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremonies（見出し）

Local governments across Japan have been making shifts to cancel coming-of-age ceremonies or hold them online following the national government's announcement that it will consider declaring another state of emergency.

※cast shadow over~＝~に影を投げかける

※once-in-a-lifetime=一生に一度の

※coming-of-age day=成人の日　※coming-of-age ceremony=成人式

◇本の成年は現在20歳です。

The age of majority, when children legally join society as adults, is 20 in Japan.

※majority=大多数、成年⇔minority（少数、未成年）

成人にとっては大人の通過点の儀式。コロナがなければ幼馴染との再会やオールナイト飲み会だったはずなのに。

Across the nation, 1.24 million young people celebrated becoming an adult Monday, Coming of Age Day, in an annual rite of passage for 20-year-olds that  — were it not for the novel coronavirus pandemic — would have been celebrated in style with childhood reunions and all-night after-parties.

※rite of passage＝通過儀礼、人生の節目となる行事

→crossing the threshold into adulthood.

※threshold=敷居、入り口

※were it not for~=もし~がなかったならば　→without~　If it were not forの倒置

国民の祝日であるこの日は親にとっては子育ての大きな節目でもあります。

The occasion, which is observed with a national holiday, represents one of the major child-rearing milestones for parents.

※child-rearing　子育て →child-raising, parenting

※milestone=画期的出来事、節目

なりたての成人達が晴れ着で集い、地域の有名人からの激励スピーチや、記念品贈呈などが行われる通常の成人式。

Newly minted seijin, or adults, attend events dressed in formal attire and take part in programs that commonly include speeches by local officials and well-known community figures, a reception, and the presentation of mementos commemorating the occasion.

The ceremonies are typically full of kimono-clad women and smartly-dressed men.

※newly minted~ ①〔硬貨が〕新しく鋳造された②〔言葉が〕新しく作られた③〔人が訓練を終えて〕なりたて、ほやほやの

※attire=服装、晴れ着、盛装

※memento=記念品

※kimono-clad women=着物を着た女性達

最大規模の成人式（今年は3万6853人）で知られる横浜では、会場をわけて時間もずらして計8回の式を行いました。マスク、体温チェックは必須で、国歌斉唱ではなく国歌拝聴でした。寒さにかかわらず、多くの新成人が参加されました。

Owing to restrictions on large events, the ceremony was held at two venues and divided into eight staggered ceremonies, four at each location.　

※owing to~＝~のために、~の理由で

※staggered=交互の、互い違いの、ジグザグ状の

Participants wore face masks, had their temperature checks and were asked just to listen to the national anthem, instead of singing it out loud.

Young women in colorful traditional costumes, masks and white stoles braved cold weather in lines and sat seats apart from one another to mark Japan's Coming of Age Day, even though under a state of emergency.

※brave~＝～に勇敢に立ち向かう、~をものともしない