The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions that readers may have about the age of adulthood in Japan, which was lowered to 18 from 20 on April 1.
The age of adulthood is now 18 years old. It's a historic change, since it has always been the norm for people to become adults from age 20. When did the age of adulthood reach the age of 20?
Answer: In 1876, the age for becoming a full-fledged member of society was first set at the age of 20 in the Dajokan Fukoku Grand Council Proclamations, which corresponded to the laws and orders of the time. This rule was carried over into the Civil Code enacted in 1898 and has been followed since World War II. This was the first time in 146 years that the line between adults and children was revised.
Q: How old was an adult before the Grand Council Proclamations?
A: The Code of Taiho-ryo set the new standard for imposing taxes and military service at the 21st year after birth. Later in the Nara period, the custom of Genpuku began, which has the meaning of today's coming-of-age ceremony, and although it seems to have varied depending on the time and status, it was said to have been held at the age of 19 or younger. In the Edo period from 1603 -- 1867, it was common to have Genpuku at the age of 15.
Q: Why did the age of adulthood increase to 20 in the Meiji era of 1868 -- 1912 A: The Meiji government, aiming to establish a modern nation, wanted to establish laws such as the Civil Code, which specifies the basic rules of social life, modeled after those of Western countries. The government at the time was apparently aware of this international standard, while also taking into account the life expectancy of Japanese people, which was around 43 years old at the time.
Q: Why can't the age of adulthood still be at 20?
Since the Meiji era, a reverse phenomenon has occurred between Japan and other countries, and the mainstream in the world is now that one becomes an adult at the age 18 years old. In Europe and the United States, political participation of young people was discussed early on, and the age of adulthood was lowered in one country after another around 1970. Japan was the only nation in the G 7 that had set the age of adulthood at 20. It can be said that these changes in the times have encouraged Japan to revise its age of adulthood.