What Does It Mean To Join Adult Society?

Monday, January 11, 2010 – Osaka, Japan

Taking opportunity of celebrating Japan’s national holiday of “Coming-of-Age Day” today, the second Monday of January, the author would like to discuss joining adult society.

January 15th used to be Coming-of-Age Day which honors young people who have reached the age of 20 as new members of adult society, and ceremonies are held nationwide by local governments. And to make people easier to attend ceremonies in their hometown the date was changed to second Monday of January. In some cases ceremonies are held on different day such as Saturday January 9 to encourage people including those working in service sectors (i.e. likely to be working on the national holiday) to participate the ceremony.

The event often doubles as a great occasion to catch up with old friends. Many women celebrate by wearing elegant long-sleeved kimono, while a majority of male attendees are dressed in suits. Traditionally, government officials and other distinguished guests give speeches at the ceremony. However, many organizers are now reviewing the event program to make it more appealing to new adults. Some local governments now allow young people to organize the ceremony by themselves, while others hold a concert or a party instead of a ceremony. The Coming-of-Age ceremonies nationwide are usually reported in TV news but it is sad to see a few participants ill-behave from over excitement.

People who have reached the age of 20 are celebrated as joining new members of adult society because it is at the age of 20 that under the Japanese law, enacted after World War II as a part of the Constitution of Japan, people are legally have right and responsibility as adults.

- 16 years old: Can get married with the approval from parents. Can start to drive motor bicycles.
- 18 years old: Can get married with agreement among the new couple. Can start to drive a car.
- 20 years old: Can start drinking and voting. The Juvenile Act is no longer applied.

The Constitution of Japan was enacted based on the situation at the time of post World War II, and due to change in situation, some people say that age of joining adult society should be made younger (e.g. 18 years old) whereas some others say that it should be made older.

Some people insist lowering the age of joining adult society because it has been noted that in recent years violent crimes such as serious wounding and murder are being committed by persons of younger and younger, in some cases prominently abusing the Juvenile Act. Under the current Juvenile Act, name of the criminal under 20 years old is not disclosed and he/she will not be punished. For this reason, some people insist that the age of joining adult society should be lowered so that such criminals would be legally responsible for their crime and get punished.

Some other people insist lowering the age of joining adult society to 18 years old from financial and voting reasons. Although majorities of people studying at universities and colleges unlike post World War II, there are some who do start working at 18 years old upon graduation from high school, meaning they become financially independent and start paying taxes. However, it is until they become 20 years old that they have right to vote, i.e. responsibility and right is not balanced, which is the reason why some other people insist making the age of joining adult society 18 years old.

Financial and voting is also the reason for some other people insist making older. This is because many people study at college and university and do not start working until 22 or older, and in Japan because parents pay for all school fees etc. they are still financially dependent on their parents at 20 years old.

Adult is someone who is financially and mentally independent. Defining the age of people becoming financially independent case by case, and defining the age of people becoming mentally independent is even more case by case and is almost impossible. Moreover, revision of law requires accountability and vast amount of procedures and therefore it is unlikely that the law will be revised. What can be said is that all citizens should obey the law, and become independent at an appropriate age to redeem his/her responsibilities while having given appropriate rights, regardless of at what age he/she becomes financially independent.