What is the age of adulthood in Japan?

I still remember that I worked for a Taiwanese hand-shaken drink company in Tokyo a few years ago.BrandsDo you have experience doing market research? At that time, we conducted questionnaires and interviews with consumers of different age groups. Interestingly, when I met a group of people who had just turned 18,JapanI was really surprised by the maturity and spending power that young people showed when they talked to each other. The consumption habits and decision-making abilities of this group of "adults" appear to be more independent than those of Taiwan's young people in their early twenties. This also made me start to think about the setting of the age of adulthood in Japan and the socialculturedifference.

Japan sets the age of adulthood at eighteen, which is significantly different from Taiwan's twenty. according toJapanAccording to the Ministry of Justice, Japanese citizens aged 18 have full civil capacity, including the right to sign contracts and open independent accounts. This is different from the civil law provisions in Taiwan, where the age of majority is twenty. Such differences are reflected not only in the legal aspect, but also insocietyExpectations and responsibilities for young people. For example, in Japan, young people aged 18 can legally drink and smoke, while in Taiwan they have to wait until they are 20 years old.

Why is there such a difference? This is related to the history of the two countries.cultureIt is closely related to social development. According to a study by the Department of Sociology at National Chengchi University,JapanAfter the war经济In the process of rapid development, young people should be given more rights and responsibilities at an early stage to promotesocietyvitality and economic development. Taiwan has a different history.contextUnder this circumstance, the setting of the age of majority is delayed. It is worth noting that in recent years, Taiwanese society has also begun to discuss whether to lower the age of adulthood, which reflects society's reassessment of young people's ability to be autonomous.

In short, Japan’s age of adulthood is not simply a numbers game, but reflects its uniquesocietyculture andvalues. We can explore this in depth from the following aspects:

• Legal level:Comparison of the relevantlawArticles, such as civil law, criminal law, etc.
• Socio-cultural level:Explore the differences in the expectations and responsibilities that societies have for young people.
• Economic development level:Analysis of adult age and经济The relationship between development.

Only through in-depth comparative analysis can we more fully understand the differences in adult age between Taiwan and Japan, as well as the underlying reasons. This also reminds us that simply comparing numbers often cannot fully present thesocietyThe complexity of the phenomenon.

Do you remember my experience doing market research for a Taiwanese hand-shaken beverage brand in Tokyo a few years ago? At that time, in order to understand the consumption habits of young people, I visited many university campuses and popular shopping districts. During the process, I discovered an interesting phenomenon:JapanThe legal age of adulthood is 20, but in reality, young people aged 18 have begun to show a high degree of consumer autonomy, especially inFashion, Entertainment and TechnologyProductaspect. They not only have their owncredit cardAdze bare hill 篃positiveParticipate in online shopping andsocial mediaActivity. This made me realize that simply dividing consumer groups based on legal age is too crude in modern society, and it is more necessary to consider actual socio-economic behavior and maturity.

The changes in Japan's adult system actually reflect Japan'ssocietyevolution. according toJapanAccording to the Ministry of Justice, the age of majority has remained at 1948 since 20. However, with the changes in social structure and internationaltrendDue to the impact of the pandemic, calls for lowering the age of adulthood have been growing louder in recent years. Many scholarsexpertIt was pointed out that lowering the age of adulthood to 18 would be more in line with international standards and would also allow young people to participate in social affairs earlier and assume civic responsibilities. For example, according to a Cabinet Office survey report, many 18-year-olds are already capable of living independently and handling complex affairs. It is worth noting that this change is notHow much can happen overnight, but was achieved only after long discussions and deliberations.

Currently, Japan has lowered the age of majority to 18. This change has a wide range of impacts, including:

• Civil law: At the age of 18, one can enjoy full civil capacity.
• suffrage: You can exercise the right to vote at the age of 18.
• criminal liability: People aged 18 will bear stricter criminal responsibilities.

This change is not only a legal adjustment, but alsosocietyThe change in values ​​symbolizes Japanese society's trust and expectations for the younger generation. The government has also introduced relevant supporting measures, such as strengthening civic education, to help young people adapt to new social roles.

Looking to the future,JapanReform of the adult system will continue to receive attention. Governments need to continue to evaluatepolicyeffectiveness, and based onsocietyAdjust relevant laws and regulations in a timely manner according to development needs. At the same time, all sectors of society need to work together to create a friendlier and more supportive environment for young people to grow. This not only concerns the development of the younger generation, but also the sustainable development of Japanese society as a whole. We can learn from Japan’s experience and think about whether Taiwan’s adult system also needs to be reviewed and reformed to better meet the needs of the times.

I still remember a few years ago, I was commissioned by a client to assist a Taiwanese wedding consulting company in expanding into the Japanese market. At that time, we needed to have a deeper understanding of the wedding concepts of young Japanese people, and naturally came into contact with the important "coming of age ceremony".culturenode. mineteamAmong the members, one is fromJapanMy colleague explained to us in detail the various details of the Japanese coming-of-age ceremony. His enthusiasm and pride are still impressive to me. She shared her own experience of celebrating her 20th birthday with her family and friends while wearing a kimono, and the responsibilities and expectations behind the coming-of-age ceremony. This experience made me deeply realize that the coming-of-age ceremony is not just a simple ceremony, but an important milestone in Japanese culture, symbolizing an important turning point in an individual's transformation from a child to an adult.

According toJapanAccording to laws and Cabinet Office statistics, the age of adulthood in Japan is 20. This is different from Taiwan's age of adulthood of 18. This also means that in Japan, 20 years old is a very important age, representing the acquisition of full legal capacity and also representingsocietyIncreased expectations and responsibilities for individuals. manyJapanYoung people will make some important decisions at the age of 20, such as moving out of home to live independently, starting to plan their career development, or getting married. The coming-of-age ceremony is the best embodiment of this important turning point.

So, how exactly is the coming of age ceremony celebrated? Generally speaking, the celebration of the coming of age ceremony in Japan includes the following:

• Grand coming-of-age ceremony:Many local governments hold large coming-of-age ceremonies for all young people over the age of 20 to participate.
• wearTraditionkimono:Young people often wear gorgeous kimonos to show their love for tradition.culturerespect and attention.
• Dinner with family and friends:On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, family and friends usually gather together for a meal to celebrate and share joy and blessings.
• Travel or other celebrations:Some young people choose to travel or participate in other celebrations to mark this important day.

These ways of celebration demonstrate Japanese society's care and expectations for young people.

It is worth mentioning that in recent years,JapanThere have also been some new changes in the way of celebrating coming of age ceremonies. For example, some young people choose to celebrate adulthood in a more modern way, such as holding a party or going out with friends. However, no matter how the celebration method changes, the cultural connotation and spirit behind the coming-of-age ceremony are always important in Japanese society.cultureAssets are also worthy of our in-depth understanding and learning. By gaining a deeper understanding of Japan's coming-of-age ceremony, we can better understandJapanculture, and further expand cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.