Seijin no Hi and Coming of Age in Japan

At what age is a Japanese person considered an adult? What is the age of majority in Japan? At what age can a Japanese person drink? Drive? Do you know about the Coming of Age festival Seijin no Hi? In this article, we will answer these and other questions.

The age of majority in Japan is called “Seinen” [成年]. It is only acquired at the age of 20, which is a 2-year difference compared to many countries where the age of majority is usually 18.

In Japan, young people learn from childhood things necessary for a lifetime, so in adolescence, they only reinforce what they learned as children, and as they grow up, they continue learning.

Coming of Age Festival – Seijin no Hi

In the West, adulthood is often seen as a time when one is finally considered an adult and can do things like vote, drink alcohol, and rent a car. But in Japan, the ceremony marking the arrival of age is a much more formal and important event.

The festival takes place on the 2nd Monday of January, and young people who turn 20 celebrate the transition to adulthood on a day called “Seijin Shiki” [成人の日].

This is a national holiday created by the government in 1948 to encourage young people to take on the responsibilities of adulthood, such as voting, marrying, and others.

On this holiday, ceremonies take place at temples, outings, receptions, and most young people can be seen wearing kimonos.

After the ceremony, it is customary for friends and family to take the new adults out for a celebratory meal. This is usually the first time the new adults can drink alcohol, so it is a very important thing!

Age to Drink Alcohol in Japan

In Japan, alcoholic beverages are only permitted from the age of 20, but it is not illegal for young people to drink. It is not allowed for commercial establishments to sell alcohol knowing that the person is underage and knowing that they will share it with other minors; in these cases, the establishment pays the fine.

However, in some cases, when turning 18 and going to college, young people participate in parties, either from their course or from the cultural and sports club they chose, aiming to celebrate their entrance by the seniors.

At these parties, the Kouhai have the opportunity to drink for the first time outside their homes, because seniors have the custom of challenging newcomers to drink, whether to see who drinks faster or to show respect for their senior’s request.

We recommend: The Meaning of Senpai and Kouhai

Japan has a cultural tradition of respecting elders and seniors, so newcomers end up yielding to the requests of the older ones; this may be something harmless on the part of the seniors, but sometimes there may be ulterior motives, so always be sure that everything will be okay.

Age to Get a Driver’s License in Japan

The minimum age to obtain a driver’s license in Japan is 18 years old, and the young person goes through all the normal requirements, such as taking classes, exams, practical and theoretical lessons.

The exam is called unten menkyosho [運転免許証], and after passing the exam, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the laws, as if you commit infractions that reach 15 points, you already have chances of losing your driver’s license.

After passing the exams, you receive a provisional license called Karimenkyo [仮免許]; to obtain the permanent license, it is necessary to take a theoretical test of 100 questions and a final practical test.

We recommend: Japan’s Driver’s License – Tips and Procedures

Voting Age in Japan

In Japan, voting is not mandatory, leading to little interest and knowledge about elections among Japanese people, especially the younger ones!

In Japan, it is prohibited to conduct exit polls, and there are no election “flyers.” The media also tends to show only results and competitors of higher levels.

Because of this, the government has noticed a significant drop in votes, particularly among young people under 30, with less than one-third of these young people voting in the last elections.

The government decided to lower the minimum age from 20 to 18, opening doors for more young people to have awareness of the popular vote.

Age of Consent in Japan

In Japan, there are loopholes in the laws that allow young people over 13 years old to consent to their sexual relationships. Below this age, any relationship is considered rape. Despite this, other laws require a minimum age of 16.

The Japanese Law also prohibits women under 16 years of age and men under 18 years from marrying without parental consent.

Most provinces in the country have laws against the corruption of minors. The age of consent varies from 16 to 18 years depending on the location. It is illegal to engage in sexual activities with partners below this age unless one of the parents approves the relationship.

Some Details about Adulthood

In any country, when a teenager becomes of age, great responsibilities arise, such as finding a job, going to college, among others, but one of the major problems in Japan is the hikikomori, which even has the power to break a good part of the country’s economy.

One of Japan’s problems is also the low birth rate and a high number of suicides among young people, but this does not prevent Japan from being a cultural and influential country worldwide.

Young Japanese people do not have the same mentality as some Westerners, thinking that when they come of age they can do whatever they want; in a way, they shed some burdens, but the level of perfection required increases, so this kind of thinking does not occur among them. It may be due to the perfection demanded or because it is a country where everyone tends to be homebodies.