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Japan lowers age of adulthood to 18

Adulthood - Level 4

Japan has lowered the age of adulthood for the first time since 1876. From 2022, teenagers will become adults at 18 - two years earlier than the current age. There are still things that will not change. The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will stay at 20. From 2022, 18-year-olds can marry without parental consent. They can also apply for loans. Transgender people over 18 will be able to apply to have their gender officially recognized.

The new law should help Japan's economy. More people will get married and start families. This will help the falling birth rate and ageing population. More financial freedom could provide more taxes to help the government pay for pensions and healthcare. Many of Japan's young people are more worried about how the traditional Coming of Age Day will change. This is a national holiday in which 20-year-olds wear traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.

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Adulthood - Level 5

Japan has lowered the age at which people become adults for the first time since 1876. From the year 2022, teenagers will become adults at 18. This is two years earlier than the current age of adulthood. Even though the age has been lowered, there are still things that will not change. The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will stay at 20. The new law will enable 18-year-olds to marry without parental consent. They can also apply for loans and credit cards. Transgender men and women over 18 will be able to apply to have their gender officially recognized.

The new law should help the economy in Japan. The government hopes more young people will get married and start families. This will help to address Japan's falling birth rate and ageing population. More financial freedom could boost the economy and provide more tax revenue. This will help the government with increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more worried about how the law will affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday in which 20-year-olds dress up in traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Adulthood - Level 6

Japan's government has lowered the age at which people become adults. It is the first time since 1876 that this has happened. From the year 2022, teenagers will become adults at the age of 18, which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood currently legally happens. However, even though the age has been lowered, there are still certain things that will not change. The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will remain fixed at 20. The new law will enable 18-year-olds to get married without parental consent, and allow them to apply for loans and credit cards. Transgender men and women aged 18 and over will be able to apply to courts to have their gender officially recognized.

The new law has been passed in an effort to bring about social and economic change in Japan. The government hopes to see an increase in the number of young people getting married and starting families. This will help to address the nation's dwindling birth rate and ageing population. Greater financial freedoms could be a boost to the economy and provide more tax revenue. This is vital for a government struggling to cope with increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more concerned about how the law would affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday held in January in which 20-year-olds dress up in traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson