As the government seeks to lower the legal age of adulthood from 20 to 18 by revising the Civil Code, concerns have been expressed about the risk of consumer-related problems and other issues that could affect these new adults, who have relatively little social and economic experience. Both the government and other relevant parties need to make sufficient preparations to protect them from the dangers inherent in commercial transactions and other matters.
A relevant bill is set to be submitted to next year's regular Diet session at the earliest, following the revision last year of the Public Offices Election Law that lowered the voting age from 20 to 18. It will be based on a 2009 recommendation by the Legislative Council, an advisory body to the justice minister, that called it appropriate to lower the age of majority to 18 but also underlined the need to take steps to deal with possible problems that could arise from the change.
The 18- and 19-year-olds who will be treated as adults if the planned amendment takes effect will have a range of financial circumstances. Some won't be working at all, while others will be earning money via part-time jobs while attending high school or university, or be employed full time. Since many of these youths already earn their own money, some say that legally treating them as adults may help them become more economically independent as members of society. There are quite a few pitfalls, however.