From April, the legal age of adulthood in Japan will drop from 20 to 18. What's your view on this?

I am okay with this. Just consider this, decades ago and even in some places in Japan and abroad, we see below 18 individuals doing full-time work, raising their own children, fighting in wars and managing households, to name a few. If kids like these can pull these adult things off, so can other kids as well. I know that this sounds controversial, but do your research on history and do a brush up on current events, being considered an adult by a certain age is just a social construct. If I remember what I've read, the reason why a person is considered an adult by 18 or 21 is because they're big enough to don armor during times of war. I've seen people in their late 20's that are about as independent as a Japanese middle schooler and have seen teens as competent as young parents.

Can any reader address whether this age adjustment will be for all matters? Eighteen as the age of consent, consumption, contractual powers, military service, and emancipation, in all legal matters? Any exceptions, aside from mental incapacity?

Have you ever talked to an 18 year old? They're still obviously children and can barely think for themselves

That also counts for a lot of adults!

It's a good move IMO. While a lot of 18-year-olds are still decidedly immature, especially in Japan where they're coddled and spoonfed to death, this change in law will hopefully act as a deterrent for would-be criminals who think they can get away with whatever crime with a mere slap on the wrist because the law still sees them as "youths". Or if not, they'll at least be treated like adults and punished like adults. It'll be a nice reality check for them.

in my country 18yo people are adult for decades,so from my point of view Japan is a bit late.

no issues at all with it.

as father of 3 kids i will always help to my kids with advice and will support them all the tme and if they will be adult as 21 or 18 will make no difference at all.

for all who have some doubts if 18yo japanese kid may be considered as adult-educated them propely and you will have no problems if they will be adult as 18yo.

That’s a very theoretical discussion. Under statistical considerations you’ll find only a very very low percentage of people who exactly turn from childhood to adults on their 18th birthday. The much more cases differ a lot and you’ll see many who are already like an adult below and also you’ll find even much more , if not almost all, who are still quite childish although far above that age. Again, that’s only a theoretical definition and has absolutely no real significance for true classification.

I have heard that this change was made to increase the number of voters for elections due to a concern of a declining rate of people paying attention to national affairs, which every citizen should do. If it is no doubt that the decision came from mainly such reason, the new policy will not be effective. I think that what government needs to do is increase the number of people who are interested in our country and ones who believe how important it is to speak up, instead of raisin the number of voting.

not good because it also involves the signing of contracts, including coerced ones.

About time too.

That depends. Is it dropping in "name only"? Will 18-year-olds be able to drink, smoke, and be arrested and named if they commit crimes? Or is this the "We'll let them vote, charge them regular taxes, but they are still children when it comes to crime, and they cannot drink any alcohol for two more years because... errr..."?

If it's the former, I'm for it -- there's no difference between 18 and 20 in terms of most things, but if it's the latter there is no meaning.

Will Coming of Age Day change to being for 18 year olds?