#17 January 12th, a Coming-of-Age Day Without a Ceremony: Teaching Reality to a Daughter Who Prefers 'SixTONES Over Kimonos' and a Son Who Prefers 'Graphics Cards Over Alcohol'

January 12, 2026, Coming-of-Age Day.

From early morning, the streets on television are overflowing with young people dressed in brand-new suits and vibrant kimonos.

"Long time no see!" "Have you been well?"

One can almost hear the voices of such reunions, but my home is exceptionally quiet.

This year's Coming-of-Age Day falls on a "blank year" for us.

My son, born early in 2005, already finished his last year, and my daughter, born in 2006, has hers coming up next year.

It is a holiday for those caught in the "air pocket" between siblings.

Perhaps due to my age, I am nursing a right shoulder that just won't lift properly today, sipping a Zero Cola with a snap, and watching this bustle from a step back. And, I am doing some rather serious calculations regarding the future of my beloved, "contrarian" children.

■ A son who consumes "silicon" rather than alcohol

My son, now a third-year university student, reached adulthood a year ago.

In the general public's image, one would be happy to say, "Now I can drink alcohol with pride," but he shows absolutely no interest in alcohol.

"5,000 yen for a drinking party? What a waste. I'd rather put that money toward devices and gadgets."

The objects of his desire are not alcohol that disappears, but PC graphics cards (GPUs), the processing speed of a new iPad, and highly suspicious-looking AR glasses.

For him, "intoxication" seems to come not from alcohol content, but from the smoothness of a high frame rate. That, too, must be one way of "becoming an adult."

Allocating resources to "investments" to increase his own productivity rather than "consumption." That thought process is extremely rational, and as a parent, it is also reassuring.

However, my son. You do not yet know.

That there are enemies lurking in society who will destroy the "spending plan" you have built with your rational brain in an instant.

■ A daughter who loves her "oshi" more than a kimono

Meanwhile, my daughter has her coming-of-age ceremony next year.

It is that time of year when society pressures people with slogans like 'Book your kimono early' and 'The once-in-a-lifetime big stage.' Catalogs arrive one after another, based on personal information leaked from somewhere, as if it were a countdown. After a glance at them, she declared:

'Kimono? I don't need one. If you have that kind of money, buy me SixTONES merchandise instead.'

Wonderful. I even felt a slight sense of being moved.

She instinctively understands that investing in her 'oshi' (favorite idol), which brings her daily mental fulfillment, has an overwhelmingly higher ROI (return on investment) than a rental costume (vanity) worn for only a few hours.

She never yields to the peer pressure of 'because everyone else is wearing one,' and determines value by her own yardstick. With this stubbornness and rationality inherited from her father, she will surely be able to navigate this capitalist society just fine.

◆ The True Coming-of-Age Ceremony is in 'June of the Second Year'

No alcohol or kimonos needed. Smart children who love practical benefits and their idols. However, as a father who is an engineer and has also experienced managing finances at a subsidiary, there is something I must warn them about.

No matter how cleverly you control your spending, the government will come to ruthlessly squeeze money from your salary.

Especially you, my son: once you start working, wait in fear for 'June of your second year.'

Many new employees mistake their first paycheck for 'getting more than expected.' But that is merely a 'trial period bonus time' where 'resident tax' is not yet deducted because there was no income the previous year.

Resident tax is paid in arrears. It comes when you have forgotten all about it.

Just when you have gotten used to the job and think you might have received a small raise, June arrives. When you look at your pay stub, you will surely be stunned by the drastically reduced take-home pay.

'Are you kidding me! If I had this tax money that was deducted, I could have upgraded my graphics card!'

I can clearly see you shouting that.

Regardless of whether it is volatile or non-volatile, the recent abnormal surge in memory product prices. There is an irresistible absurdity in this world that is separate from such market principles.

The paradox of having your take-home pay decrease even though you got a raise. The day you experience that unreasonable pain is when you become an adult in Japanese society. It is your 'true coming-of-age ceremony.'

★ Possess Weapons to Avoid Being Exploited

From the company's perspective, the cost of hiring one employee is not just their salary. If you include the social insurance premiums the company covers, it costs more than you think.

However, the government uses a clever system called 'withholding tax' to ensure you do not feel that pain.

That is precisely why the 'adult etiquette' a father should teach is not how to drink alcohol or how to choose a kimono.

It is about how to read a 'withholding tax slip,' defensive measures through 'furusato nozei' (hometown tax), and asset formation via the 'new NISA'.

The hundreds of thousands of yen my daughter saved by skipping the furisode rental. It would be a waste to just spend it. Perhaps the best education would be to have her use these funds to buy investment trusts.

'Love for one's idol' and 'vigilance against taxes'.

Armed with these two things, I hope they can survive these tough times as smart consumers.

January 12th, a day without a coming-of-age ceremony.

In the quiet living room, I think I will draft a 'tax lecture' outline for my children while listening to some SixTONES songs.