More than 100 people attended the Japanese ceremony.
Event organiser Mr Tanaka said some of the highlights of the day were a karakia in both Japanese and Māori and videos from back home.
Traditionally, 20-year-old Japanese would return to their hometown, dress up in traditional kimono/hakama, meet their classmates and enjoy the beginning of adulthood with a party, Mr Tanaka said.
However, many of the city’s Japanese students were not able to return home, prompting a group of University of Otago students to host one in the city instead.
Mr Tanaka, who will be finishing up his studies this year, will not be in Dunedin to host another next year, but hopes next year’s Japanese students take on the task of organising the event for future students turning 20.
