Japan lowered the age of adulthood from 20 to 18 on April 1 by revising the Civil Code and changing the legal definition of an adult for the first time in over 140 years.
Legal age in Japan is 20 years old, but since April 2022, voting age has been lowered to 18 years old. As a consequence, new rights and responsibilities related to living within society are now accessible to younger adults.
Since 18 has become the age of adulthood in Japan, one may think that almost everything somebody can do would begin around that age. However, this not the case and certain activities may require different age.
In Japan, a person must reach the age of 20 to be considered an adult, and parental consent plays a significant role in legal issues affecting young people. With regard to the age of consent, this means that it is illegal to marry a person under 20 without written parental permission.
In Japan, the legal adult age is 20. Japanese law prohibits individuals under the age of 20 to drink alcohol or smoke. Regardless of age, you must not force anyone to drink or smoke as it may cause serious health and social consequences.
Minimum age
Firstly, you will need to be 20 years old to enter most night clubs or bars in Japan. 20 is the minimum legal age to smoke or drink alcohol.
With this new development, titled 'Guidelines for age verification of alcoholic beverages and tobacco using digital technology', self-checkout registers will be issued with card readers to scan either a driver's license or My Number Card (a government-issued ID first introduced in 2016).
The legal age for consensual sex varies between 16 and 17 years across Australian state and territory jurisdictions (see Table 2). For other sexual activities, the criminal legislation relating to different types of sexual behaviours and interactions varies across Australian jurisdictions.
High School (16 – 18 years old)
High schools in Japan provide a three-year education for students which starts when they are 16 years old and lasts until the age of 18. One of the biggest differences between junior high school and high school is whether taking an entrance exam is required or not.
If you are 16 years old and above, you can legally have sex (or do another sexual activity) with another person who is 16 years or older as long as you both agree to it.
Under the Japanese Civil Code the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for boys and 16 years for girls. A person who is under 20 years of age cannot get married in Japan without parental approval. From April 1, 2022, the amendment of the Civil Code will be in effect.
In society at that time, 13 was regarded as a reasonable age of consent. In addition, the legal marriageable age was 15 back then. Therefore, the age of 13, which is two years younger than 15, was considered sensible. This explains why the age of consent is 13 in Japan.
In fact, it is Nigeria that has the lowest age of consent -- at just 11 years. However, local laws within Nigeria raise the actual age of consent. After Nigeria, it is the Philippines and Angola that have the lowest age of consent at 12 years.
Japan statutory rape law is violated when an individual has consensual sexual contact with a person under age 13. At 13, Japan's base age of consent is the lowest of any developed country.
Japan has passed laws to increase the age of consent from 13 to 16 after the country's laws were criticised for failing to protect children from sexual abuse. The age of 13 was the lowest age of consent among G7 countries, but the new legislation has brought the age of consent in line with the UK.
Students are normally 18 years old when they enter universities directly after they finish the 12th grade.
Japan raises the age of sexual consent to 16 from 13, which was among the world's lowest.
About legal age in Australia
In Australia, you're considered to be an adult when you turn 18 years old.
For example, if a person is 17 and has sex with someone who is 15, it is not a crime. But if the person was 18, it is a crime unless the person believed the person was 16 or older. For more information about what is considered a sexual act, see Sexual assault.
At 18, your child can do all of the following: apply for a tax file number (TFN) without your help. access their immunisation history statement themselves. open their own bank account.
Curfews for Minors
Each prefecture in Japan has a curfew for minors. Regardless of a minor being accompanied by an adult or parent, minors are expected to be in their residence by a certain time. Most prefectures have a curfew of around 10 pm or 11 pm.
Events generally start at 10:00 p.m. and the cover charge starts at around 2,000 yen depending on the event. Club Vision will check IDs at the door, so make sure to bring a photo ID with you. Make sure to dress to impress and be ready for a great time!
Smoking and buying tobacco is illegal in Japan under the age of 20. There are a lot of countries that permit smoking or the purchase of tobacco from age 18 or even younger, but if you're under 20, that is illegal in Japan. Just like when buying alcohol, shops may ask for an identification to verify your age.