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Do you think lowering the voting age to 18 in Japan is a good idea?

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I fear with the lowering of the voting age to 18 we will soon see Funashi as the PM of Japan, as elections will turn into popularity contests, and most of the people who will run will be talents or famous people!

4 ( +7 / -3 )

well...if it will at least get them to vote long term I'd call it a positive. Funashi might even make a better alternative to the unfunny jokers who had been elected currently and in the past.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

MarkX, you are describing the current situation. The grandpas and grandmas vote for the celebs they've known forever. I think that with the demographic umbalance, Japan should have passed directly to voting age at 16 or 15. Of course, many teens are a bit immature but they still have more brains than the super-olds and unlike them, they will live to see the consequences of policies.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Japanese have thought voting age is above 20 for decades, If age of 18 was decided, then people just would get accustomed to 18 like 20. It seems to be no problem.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Many young people today are well informed because of the enormous impact of the internet and media and understand more the important and critical issues of our time in the areas of foreign, domestic, national, local and urban issues. They are also more mature intellectually, physically, and emotionally to make the types of choices required in voting. Therefore why shouldn't a eighteen year old be able to vote.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The age for enlisting into the Japanese SDF is 18.

If someone is old enough to choose to fight and die for their country, then why can't they vote at that age, too?

13 ( +14 / -1 )

I fear with the lowering of the voting age to 18 we will soon see Funashi as the PM of Japan,

Do you realize this gives us a fair approximation of your own maturity?

as elections will turn into popularity contests, and most of the people who will run will be talents or famous people!

As opposed to the US for example, where Ronald Reagan, Arnie and Clint Eastwood come to mind. Think there's been other also.

Ignoring the ever-present urge of some to belittle the country they chose to live in, considering the current situation with both domestic and international issues, my money is on a large number of young people wanting to play a serious part in their future.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Reduce voting age to zero, with parents serving as proxy until 18th birthday. For obvious reasons.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I voted yes, but only if they increase the number of those cute mascots to persuade the young ones to vote. They can even put a voting booth in Disneyland!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Reformed Basher, do you really think young people in Japan have a dying urge to get out and vote? Obviously you don't have much contact with them, as they have no interest in politics or anything like that. Many of them are only focused on getting into a decent school and the others just want to have fun. I find it interesting that your three examples of celebrity politicians were all Republicans, and if I'm not mistaken, other than Reagan, Arnie and Clint were not that bad as politicians.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I don't think it would make any difference if it were lowered to 10. But why not 10? Do 10 year-olds have less ability to weigh up the policies for their effect on them and them only? And perhaps if they can't be so self-centered in their voting patterns then it might even be a good thing.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It might be good only if the awareness of importance for voting and thinking about politics among young people is raised first.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Obviously you don't have much contact with them

Just 20 years son. You assume too much.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Do 18 year olds have to serve in the military? If yes, they must have the right to vote. If no, it doesn't matter what age because 18-25 probably won't vote.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I don't see why not, in other countries you are already legally an adult by the age of 18. Just because the official adult age is different doesn't mean they can't make informed decisions.

I think the participation will probably not be too much, seeing as how apathetic so many young people here seem to be.

Lowering the voting age is one thing but good education about the importance of voting etc has to be provided as well. Also people people should be educated about current politics.

As long as people don't understand what's wrong with their country and what must change to make it better and what they can do to make that happen, nothing will be accomplished, even if you lower the voting age.

I say 20 is too late to be considered adult anyway.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If the voting age is 18, then they are still considered minors under Japanese law. Lowering it to 18 is pointless unless you lower the adulthood age as well

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I think it's a good thing, so long as they are given the tools -- and by that I mean proper education, not hand-held devices or such -- to educate themselves about current issues national and domestic, and whom they should vote for, and only if the age of adulthood is lowered to 18 along with being given the right to vote. My only fear is that it will not lead to kids being more educated about the issues as a whole, but being told by their families, schools, and/or employers whom to vote for, and since there are far less people at that age independent than even a couple of years older, there'll be more pressure to conform.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Yes, as long as they also lower the age of criminal responsibility.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Get started on voter apathy two years earlier! What could possibly happen?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Maybe the new generation will come out to vote and rid Japan's politics of some of the nepotism and homesteading. Hopefully, they'd teach the power of voting in High School. Adulthood should stay at 20y/o.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I'm ok with that, but make them also "adults" as in many counties all over the world. If they are old enough to vote, they also should be considered as adults for the law.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Although I certainly didn't need to, I was completely independent at 18 (of course, I am not Japanese...) but I also think, as does PSandoz, that they should be treated as "adults" when they commit crimes... (which has been happening quite often these days...)

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Laws relating to the "under aged" must also be reviewed, but the single largest issue is how to deal with voter apathy. Is it education? Should voting be compulsory as in some countries?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Maybe the new generation will come out to vote and rid Japan's politics of some of the nepotism and homesteading

If there was any chance of that happening, the LDP wouldn't hacve initiated this move

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The future is unknown. But the way things are going, it's not gonna make a difference.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Remained a child ever since!

A nuclear family? LOL

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ReformedBasherJUN. 08, 2015 - 09:32AM JST Ignoring the ever-present urge of some to belittle the country they chose to live in

That's ad hominem. You have no idea as to his motivations for his commentary. Whilst I fall on the same side as you on this topic (I too believe that 18 year olds should get to vote), opinions that don't fall on the same side as ours are still (possibly) valid.

Then again... maybe you know the guy and your critique is valid.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Permanent residents should be able to vote too... just a personal opinion but as they say why should people accept taxation without representation, many 18yrs are paying tax so why not.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If someone is old enough to legally serve in their country's armed forces, then they should be old enough to vote their desired candidates into office.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Abe will probably change all of this but, at present, the SDF is volunteer and to join does not mean to fight and die for your country. Most SDF soldiers won't even leave Japan. The argument for lowering the voting age to the age one can join the SDF doesn't hold water on that account. (The US lowered the voting age during the Vietnam War for precisely this reason: to fight and die but not vote was irrational.)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If you can work and pay taxes you get the vote.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan needs to; it's the only way to take back some political power from the elderly who are making disasterous choices for future generation in order to continue their comfortable lives.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

18 year olds are too easily swayed by immature bunk and would be easy prey to Leftist agitators.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

yeah Joe..... cause the world is suffering at the hands of "leftist agitators"... oh no thats right... its precisely opposite.

I think a bit of optimism is something we are poorly missing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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