Here are some of the colorful young ladies of Kyoto in their best kimonos (and, of course, it wouldn't be Japan without cell phones):
One thing I just can't understand is why the Japanese allow themselves to be victimized by appalling levels of noise pollution. Every year on Coming of Age Day, the various political parties pull up their buses outside the Kyoto Kaikan and proceed to beleaguer the kids, all of whom, I'm sure, would much rather be able to talk to their friends and families. The noise level is truly amazing - you can't hear yourself think (let alone talk on a cell phone):
