Close up Japan / クローズアップ・ジャパン
“Should Japan Grant Voting Rights at 18?” Hiragana Times picked this topic for its ‘Close up Japan’ in the October 2009 issue.
There is another topic, Even so, Drug Users are Few in Japan for ‘Japan in the World’ in the October 2009 issue.
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- Is the Newly Proposed "Resident Card" Good for Foreign Residents?
- Japan has the World's Longest Life Expectancy
- The Best Photo to be Left
- Are the Japanese Obsessed with Tests?
- The First Caucasian Samurai
- Should Japan Grant Voting Rights at 18?
- Even so, Drug Users are Few in Japan
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Should Japan Grant Voting Rights at 18?
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今年の7月政府の法制諮問機関は、現在民法で20歳と定めている成人年齢を18歳に引き下げることを適当とする最終報告書をまとめた。
This July a government jurisdiction advisory panel presented a final report that says it is appropriate to lower the adult age, currently set as 20 by the civil code, to 18.
その変更に伴い、国政選挙の投票年齢を18歳に下げるべきだとしている。
They say the voting age for national elections should be lowered to 18 in accordance with the change.
その変更を実現するには、民法の改正が必要だ。
A revision of the civil code will be required for the change to come into effect.
現在、イギリス、フランス、ドイツ、イタリア、ロシアなど主要なヨーロッパ諸国をはじめ、100カ国以上が18歳を成人の年齢と定めている。
At present more than 100 countries including major European nations such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Russia have 18 as the age for adulthood.
アメリカは州によって異なる（18歳から21歳の間）。
The US differs by state (between 18 and 21).
アジアでは、中国が18歳で、韓国は19歳。北朝鮮は17歳。
In Asia, China is 18 and Korea 19 years. North Korea is 17.
日本が20歳を成人年齢として採用したのは1876年。
It was in 1876 that Japan adopted 20 as the adult age.
主要な欧米諸国は1960年代から70年代に18歳とした。
Most major Western countries adopted 18 in the 1960s and 70s.
それまでの成人年齢は21歳だった。
Their adult age before that was 21.
18歳に年齢を引き下げた背景には、学生の政治活動を鎮静化したい政府や徴兵制などの事情があった。
Behind lowering the age to 18 were issues such as the conscription system and governments wanting to calm down student political movements.
成人年齢になると、多くの国が選挙権を与える。
Many countries provide voting rights when people reach their adult age.
しかし、選挙年齢が成人年齢と異なる国もある。
However, some countries have a voting age that is different from the adult age.
アメリカはどの州も18歳。
The entire US is 18.
選挙年齢が18歳だと高校生や、大学生も含まれる。
If the voting age is 18, high school students and university students are included.
親に依存する彼らに選挙権を与えることに多くの日本人が反対している。
Many Japanese oppose giving voting rights to people who are dependent on their parents.
成人年齢が18歳に変更されるならば、論じるべき多くの課題がありそうだ。
It seems there are many things to be discussed if the adult age is changed to 18;
新しく始まった裁判員制度で裁判員にすべきなのか。
whether they should be a judge under the newly started lay judge system,
親の同意なしでクレジット・カードやローン契約ができるのか、飲酒・喫煙はできるのか。
whether they can get credit cards and loans without their parents’ consent, or whether they can drink and smoke.
結婚については、男女とも結婚できる年齢（現行：男性18歳、女性16歳）を18歳にするよう報告書は求めた。
Regarding marriage, the report proposed the marriageable age for both genders (at present 18 for men and 16 for women) should be 18.