Like every other country, Japan has its own set of legal age laws and regulations to govern various life aspects.
In this article, we’ll delve into the various legal ages in Japan that affect young people.
Both in Japan, and if you visit as a tourist
Those include the age of majority, school-leaving age, as well as drinking and smoking.
We’ll also discuss driving, voting, criminal responsibility, and sexual consent legal ages.
So, stick around for all the details on the legal ages in Japan.
What Is the Legal Age of Majority in Japan?
Like most countries, the legal age of adulthood in Japan is 18.
However, that wasn’t the case until April 1, 2022.
Before the partial amendments to the Civil Code, Japan’s age of majority was 20.
This standard was established by an 1876 proclamation during the Meiji period and remained unchanged for over 140 years.
What Changes When Reaching Adulthood in Japan?
Once a person is 18 years old, they no longer need parental authority for various activities.
Some of the responsibilities adults can do on their own in Japan include:
● Enter into a contract on their own. That includes signing up for a credit card, buying a smartphone, contracting for employment, leasing an apartment, and more!
● Be eligible for jury duty.
● Marry without parental consent.
● Apply for a 10-year passport.
● File a lawsuit.
However, it’s not all sunshine and roses when reaching adulthood.
For instance, individuals who turn 18 are no longer punished according to the juvenile criminal code and face more strict consequences.
Additionally, the media can reveal criminals’ identities, unlike juvenile offenders.
Japan’s Coming of Age Ceremony
Turning into an adult is one of the most memorable events in one’s life.
The country celebrates those who have matured through a public holiday known as “coming-of-age day,” or Seijin Shiki.
Japanese people hold the joyous occasion annually on January’s second Monday for those who have reached 20.
After lowering the age of majority, 18-year-olds can join coming-of-age ceremonies.
What Is the School-leaving Age in Japan?
Minors in Japan must attend school until they complete their third year of junior high school.
Most students in that grade would’ve reached 15 years old.
The Japanese educational system consists of nine compulsory years for those who don’t know.
Kids enroll in elementary school starting at age 6 and complete six years of primary education before moving to junior high school.
Once students complete the three junior high years, they’re eligible for employment.
Parents won’t face truancy charges if a 15-year-old refuses to continue attending high school or higher education.
That said, around 98.1% of junior high students complete senior secondary education, probably due to social pressures.
What Is the Legal Age for Smoking, Drinking and Gambling in Japan?
Despite lowering the age of majority in Japan to 18 years, young adults can’t legally drink alcohol or smoke until they reach 20 years.
Workers in convenience stores might ask people to show some form of identification to confirm their age.
That’s because there are laws against selling or giving cigarettes and alcohol to minors.
Even at self-checkout registers in Japan, the consumer must scan an identification card to confirm legal age and complete the purchase.
Regardless of age, smokers should follow Japan’s smoking rules and laws to avoid penalties and fines.
When it comes to public gambling, such as horse racing, boat racing or pachinko, the age is 20.
Most pachinko parlours also won’t let high school students in, even if they are 18 or older, because of school rules and policies.
If the staff thinks you might be younger than 18, you must show ID when you come in.
What is the legal age for Obtaining a driver’s license in Japan?
18 is the minimum age for obtaining a driver’s license in Japan.
However, young adults can only apply for class 1 ordinary, semi-medium, and small special vehicle licenses.
Class 2 and large motor licenses require the individual to be at least 21.
Additionally, three or more years should have passed since the driver obtained a mid-sized, semi-mid-sized, or standard motor vehicle license.
That said, teenagers as young as 16 can get a motorized bicycle license.
This is one reason some of the wilder elements of Japan’s young men join motorcycle gangs.
Many of these should be arrested for crimes against fashion.
What Is the Minimum Age to Vote in Japan?
Young adults of 18 years can have a say in elections.
Similar to the age of majority, legal revisions lowered the voting age from 20 to 18 in 2016.
However, that wasn’t the first time the law changed the minimum age required to vote.
Until the amendments to the Public Offices Election Law in 1946, the legal voting age was 25 years.
With the minimum voting age changed, young people will hopefully have a greater interest in politics.
What Is the Minimum Age for Criminal Responsibility in Japan?
Criminal responsibility begins in Japan at 14, according to the Penal Code.
That means that children younger than 14 aren’t subjected to legal punishment.
Of course, those between 14 and 18 fall under juvenile law and receive lenient sentences and treatment.
However, the government can prosecute 16-year-old teenagers whose actions resulted in casualties.
What Is the Age of Consent in Japan?
Japan’s Penal Code set the age of consent at 13 years in 1907, making it one of the lowest among developed nations.
On June 16, 2023, Japan’s parliament passed reforms raising the age of consent to 16, effective July 1, 2023.
The new law also redefined rape as non-consensual sexual intercourse, removing the previous requirement to prove physical force.
It includes a “close-in-age” exception for consensual activity between 13-15 year olds and partners less than five years older.
The reforms extended the statute of limitations for rape cases from 10 to 15 years and added penalties for voyeurism and online grooming.
These changes followed years of advocacy highlighting the inadequacies of Japan’s century-old sexual assault laws.
At What Age Can People Legally Marry in Japan?
In Japan, the legal age of marriage for both males and females is 18. Previously, females could have married at the age of 16.
However, the minimum marriageable age for females has increased to 18 since April 1, 2022.
According to the Civil Code of Japan, young adults younger than 18 need parental consent to marry.
Wrapping Up
Japan has different legal ages for various activities.
The age of majority was lowered from 20 to 18 on April 1, 2022, allowing 18-year-olds to vote, marry, sign contracts, and drive without parental consent.
However, the legal age for purchasing alcohol and tobacco remains 20.
As of July 2023, the age of consent is 16, not 13.
Understanding these age requirements is important for residents and visitors to avoid legal issues.
