Japan begins to lower the age of adulthood

Through the amendment of the Civil Code, the legal regulations on adults in Japan have been changed for the first time in more than 140 years. At the same time, opening up new freedoms and responsibilities for 18- and 19-year-olds.

Young men and women at the coming of age ceremony in Japan in January 2022. (Photo: Japantimes)

With the lowering of the age of majority, many related laws including passports, national permits and jury duty will also be revised, but those under the age of 20 will still be banned from drinking, smoking and gamble.

This move is aimed at encouraging young people to participate more actively in socio-economic activities, but there are also concerns that these people will easily become targets of fraud once they are allowed. contract for consumption without parental consent. The new changes also aim to make penalties more severe for offenders aged 18 – 19.

The revised Civil Code will also raise the legal age of marriage for women to 18. Under current regulations in Japan, men 18 years of age and older and women 16 years of age or older can get married. The age of majority was set at 20 by the Japanese government in 1876 and then enacted by the Civil Code in 1896. The voting age for elections was lowered to 18 in an amendment to the law. public election in June 2016.

According to Hoang Nguyen