Japan studies lowering legal age of adulthood to 18

Thursday 30th July, 06:38 AM JST

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bogva at 01:14 PM JST - 30th July

I don't see anybody touching one other topic concerning our kids. Till now they had to chose the nationality at 21. Probably they have to do it now when they turn 19 - any comments on that?
bokudayo at 01:33 PM JST - 30th July

sirgamble: Maybe the idea is that women (girls) are emotionally prepared for marriage at 16 and men (boys) two years later at 18? Personally, I think it depends on the individual, but it would sound like a reasonable argument.

What's wrong with a 16 year old girl marrying a 30 year old guy? Who's to say that is wrong? In the long run, 14 years different in age is no big deal, IMO.

The legal age to marry and the legal age of "adulthood" do not necessarily have to be the same. However, in some places, I believe that the marriage of a minor automatically "promotes" (if you will) that person to a legal adulthood status.
Azrael at 01:49 PM JST - 30th July

In my country in Latin America, legal adulthood is 18 years old. The country is not in shambles and I voted with all responsibility in presidential elections every electoral year since I was 18. I think 20/21 years old as legal adulthood threshold is not realistic. It was fine for the 19th century, but nowadays it's simply outdated. Human resources have changed, education and intellectual development is available for the masses (the more in Japan) and physical prowess have improved due to better nutrition comparing the past centuries and now. An 18 years old person now is capable of doing much more and taking more responsibilities than an 18 years old from the 19th century. Someone being 20 and yet being a -minor- is ridiculous. That also provides a legal haven for robbers and killers because at 20 they are -minors-.
elbudamexicano at 02:22 PM JST - 30th July

I agree with my Latin American amigo/a. 18 is better than 20, but also the death penalty should be made from 18. How many idiot fools, get away with murder because they are 19 years old and 11 months and ...days? Time to make Japan a better and safer country for everyone!
Tahoochi at 03:17 PM JST - 30th July

This is a bad idea. If the law/country treats 18 year olds as adults, then the parents also need to treat their 18 year olds as adults (ex. don't pay for their entire college/university education, don't let the kids live at home until they're 30, don't give them allowances, etc. etc.)... and we all know that this will never happen because most middle class parents in Japan spoil their kids. So what will we end up with? The same number of irresponsible youth in Japan with adult rights.
womanforwomen at 03:40 PM JST - 30th July

I would also think that the 18 year olds with the adult status will be good and they will start leading an independent life. Supporting financially and otherwise of children even after adulthood is more of an asian thing. In earlier days, the family together decided which of the children were going to be educated and given extra support etc. as the resources were limited in the family. The older children were first educated and they in turn supported the younger ones education. Parents take care of their children as long as they can do so that at old age they are not left alone. There are some advantages in a system like that.
sirgamble at 04:21 PM JST - 30th July

Bogva... Yes that's a tough one that I'm going to have to approach soon as my child grows up.

Personally I don't believe in needing to choose your nationality. If a parent is Japanese... you are Japanese... if a parent is Australian... you're Australian. If your parents are from 2 different countries... you should be able to get dual citizenship.

And... you can I believe, if you first become Japanese, and then go home and say "hey... this is my kid, born to an Aussie father", then use the Japanese passport every time you visit Japan. DON'T tell Japan you've got dual citizenship, they don't need to know.

So changing the age; yes I think everything should be 18 (or whatever age they decide on) make some consistency.
sirgamble at 04:33 PM JST - 30th July

Bokudayo - I don't think girls become adults faster than boys.

As I said, if you're going to draw a line, it should be consistent and fair. Also protect 16 year old's! In most countries 16 is too young...

It's like the rules we used to have in Australia... sex at 16... gays can have sex at 18. These were changed as they discriminate, now everything's at 18.
Hummy at 08:08 PM JST - 30th July

I think this is terrific!
ca1ic0cat at 08:47 PM JST - 30th July

If you can join the military at 18 and be taught how to use weapons I would think you should be considered ready for everything else.

Of course I refuse to grow up anyway and so do a lot of other folks, so I'm not sure it matters....
Disillusioned at 09:09 PM JST - 30th July

Lower it? They should raise it to at least 25.
ThonTaddeo at 10:27 PM JST - 30th July

The age of marriage shouldn't be raised. In the case of teenage pregnancy, it's tough enough for the young couple without one of them (probably the older one, or the boy) being labeled a criminal. I say lower the age of marriage to 14, but put in a stipulation that they have to be less than 5 years apart or something.
DenDon at 01:27 AM JST - 31st July

why not? won't change a thing
timtak at 06:32 AM JST - 31st July

It seems to me that young Japanese are getting younger.

For instance, more young people are going to university, and university students are not expected to have intrinsic motivation for studying, but to approach their studies as high school pupils, and engage in them to the extent that they are amused or examined.
kirakira25 at 11:16 AM JST - 31st July

I think the "18 or 20" thing is semantics really, there are some very mature 18 year olds and some very immature 20 year olds, but I agree with Altria that this has more to do with pension collection than giving responsibility to young people.

As for all the comments on the "immaturity" of young Japanese - while I agree with that I have just come back from 2 months in the UK with some shockingly bad 18 year olds - really in this case it isn`t just a Japanese thing.