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Unlike in the U.S., legal adulthood in Japan doesn’t begin until the age of 20. But while that means an extra two years to enjoy the benefits and protection society affords to minors, everyone has to grow up sometime, and for one Japanese Twitter user the transition was especially abrupt.
On his 20th birthday as his parents presented him with a written notice congratulating him on graduating from childhood and celebrating his newfound freedoms, while spelling out exactly what they, and the world, now expected of him as an adult.
Twitter user @zamayuma1004’s birthday was Oct 4, and this year he hit the two-decade mark. On his special day, his parents presented him with a festive-looking envelope (photo).
Normally when someone hands you something like this on your birthday, you expect a birthday card, and the envelope did indeed have “Happy birthday” written on it. What was inside, though, was a little less orthodox.
The paper reads:
Happy 20th Birthday!
Notice of Expiration of Child-Rearing Services
As of October 4, 2015, your father, Yoshikazu Hasegawa, and mother, Chiaki Hasegawa, have completed their duties of raising their child: you, Yuma Hasegawa.
Going forward, please become a proper and responsible member of society, like your father and mother. In addition, should you continue living in the Hasegawa family home, please make a monthly payment of 20,000 yen for rent, utilities and grocery expenses. Also, please be aware that should you ask for a loan from your parents, interest will be charged.
Points to note upon reaching the age of 20 ● You must make compulsory national pension payments. If you put this off it will cause problems, so make the payments. ● Should you commit a crime, your face and name can now be shown on television and in newspapers. You will also have a permanent criminal record. ● You can now buy alcohol and tobacco products. Do not drive while intoxicated. ● You can get married without your parents’ permission. However, they may not emotionally accept your wife as their daughter-in-law if you don’t discuss the situation without them beforehand. ● Think responsibly about the future and set aside an adequate amount of savings from the money you earn.
Please enjoy your life as an adult.
Although the document might sound the like the grumblings of a pair of exasperated parents who’ve reached the limits of their patience, @zamayuma1004 says they’ve got their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks. He’s actually been paying the monthly amount mentioned for rent and expenses since last year, and he hopes to do even more to help his parents out in the future.
That said, this is a documented case of pretty tough love by Japanese standards, considering that at the age of 20 much of the population is still attending college or trade school, and that it’s customary to continue living with your parents until getting married or school or work takes you away from your home town. Still, it’s hard to argue with any of the things @zamayuma1004’s parents are saying as they tell him not to let the door of his childhood hit him in the butt on his way out of it.
Source: Curazy
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Japanese Politician Takes a Stand Against Parents Naming their Children Pikachu -- Halfway to adulthood: New Japanese festival for 10-year-olds gets parents talking -- The Perfect Gift for New Parents: 20-Year Birthday Card Box-Set Guaranteed to Jerk a Few Tears
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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kitzrow
,,, and with a little imagination, maybe the son wrote this:
Thanks so much for your birthday wishes and surprise letter!
I am very proud to have turned into an adult and thanks for all the troubles I put you through raising me.
As I head out tomorrow into the world of adulthood, I am proud to announce that I have sprouted my own wings and plan to fly away from your 'nest'. My road will be an adventure for sure, but at least I will be able to pave my own path without your sometimes needed advice or guidance.
I wanted to tell you on my birthday that I had hit the big jumbo lottery, but that does not seem important now.
Good luck with your lives and goodbye!
The son you once loved, Hiro
FightingViking
I love what those parents did ! It certainly makes for a MUCH better "story" than the teenage thug grabbing the shoulder bag of a lady in a wheelchair...
I was fully independent at 18 - living in a different country (although my parents would have liked to have kept me a little longer). The same for my son who also went to University in France (at 18) while I was (still am) in Japan..
Yubaru
I love it.
I guess FizzBizz hasn't learned to read for himself yet.
sensei258
AT least later we won't hear about this particular guy stabbing his parents after they told him to get a job.
Black Sabbath
I love it! Don't tell me Japanese don't get sarcasm.
This made my day!
theFu
His parents love him and have prepared him for the world. This letter was like a "graduation" - a celebration for the young man. He had already been paying the same rent, so that wasn't new.
It sets expectations for future. He will be treated as an adult both in society AND at home.
Sounds like a great family, smart, funny parents (tongue in cheek) for raising a responsible young man.
One of my sisters raised her kids where they learned to become adults. Starting from age 12 they did their own laundry, cleaned their bathroom, bought personal items like toothpaste, detergent, shampoo, clothes ... by the time college came around, they were ready with financial responsibility and household stuff. They also learned to cook a new meal for the family every year - they had 6 meals to cook by college practices at least 12 times - some 24-60 times.
My father had different talks with me at important stages of my life. Wish those talks would have included a thoughtful, carefully worded, note like this. Dad died when I was 26. My memories of those talks have mostly faded now. Written notes would be nice to have.
Good parents here.
Tom Webb
Left home at 13 to attend school and came home for summers. At 21 left for good, college into the army. Next five years cut off from all family ties. What a Wonderful time that was - drinking 55 pfennigs stein of German beer!! I will never forget those wonderful years. YUMA - leave your folks. Get out and see the World when you are still young.
mayabe
I'll do the same.. Good!
nath
I like it. Cool parents.
FizzBit
Hold on there! The only parents who should write this cold-hearted crap are the ones who actually prepared their son or daughter for adulthood, and shouldn't need to write it in a letter anyway. And what's with the marriage cousling BS? Like he should care what his parents think after getting such a cold hearted letter. Hypocrites. Now, if they think he might become a parasite, that's a different story, but still falls upon the parents of what kind of job they did to prepare their child. I asked a university student this week, who lives away from home, what he had for breakfast. He said cup-a-noodle. Parents get an F for nutrition preparation here.
San_Diegan
Doesn't he have to register for the draft too? Oops. Wrong country.
I like what Mr and Mrs. Hasegawa did. More parents should do the same. I especially, like the phrase, "responsible member of society." I've used it myself. Never put it in writing though.
Again, I like it~.