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Japan is set to lower the legal age of adulthood. How will young people be affected?

National | EXPLAINER Mar 21, 2022

Japan is set to lower the legal age of adulthood. How will young people be affected?

by Magdalena Osumi

From April, those age 18 and 19 in Japan will be legal adults and will be given more freedom in making life choices without parental consent — but not without criminal responsibilities.

National / Crime & Legal Sep 30, 2019

Japan court rejects damages suit over constitutionality of surname rule for married couples

The Tokyo District Court on Monday rejected a damages suit against the state by a lawyer and his wife who argued that the country's law forcing married couples to use the same surname is unconstitutional. Hiroki Deguchi, a lawyer who belongs to the Tokyo Bar ...

Cybozu chief Yoshihisa Aono loses lawsuit at Tokyo court over right to use premarital name

National / Crime & Legal Mar 25, 2019

Cybozu chief Yoshihisa Aono loses lawsuit at Tokyo court over right to use premarital name

by Magdalena Osumi

A Tokyo court on Monday upheld a national law that forces couples to use the same surname upon marriage, rejecting claims over its unconstitutionality. The lawsuit against the central government was brought by Yoshihisa Aono, the 47-year-old president of software development firm Cybozu Inc., and ...

Osaka High Court upholds male-only right to deny legal fatherhood status

National / Crime & Legal Aug 30, 2018

Osaka High Court upholds male-only right to deny legal fatherhood status

Current law leaves many women and children in legal limbo after an acrimonious divorce or abusive marriage that cannot be dissolved without a fleeing wife disclosing her location.

Stop worrying about the age of adulthood

Commentary / Japan Jun 29, 2018

Stop worrying about the age of adulthood

by Haruaki Deguchi

Media apprehension about lowering the legal age of majority has been wildly overblown.

Japan's Diet OKs law lowering age of adulthood to 18

National / Crime & Legal Jun 13, 2018

Japan's Diet OKs law lowering age of adulthood to 18

by Tomohiro Osaki

The Diet passes a package of amendments that — for the first time in 140 years — includes a measure lowering adulthood to 18 years old from the current 20.

Japan aims to lower age of adulthood to 18 by 2022

National / Crime & Legal Dec 29, 2017

Japan aims to lower age of adulthood to 18 by 2022

The government has decided to introduce legislation toward lowering the legal age of adulthood from 20 to 18 when the Diet opens in January. It is also slated to remove a clause in the Imperial House Law that sets the emperor's age of majority ...

Without an official father, kids can be stateless

National / Media | MEDIA MIX Dec 9, 2017

Without an official father, kids can be stateless

by Philip Brasor

On Nov. 29, the Kobe District Court dismissed a suit against the state filed by a woman in her 60s who claimed that the law that allows only men to deny paternity of a child is unconstitutional, since it discriminates against women. She said ...

Japanese court rules provision allowing only men to file lawsuits denying legal fatherhood is constitutional

National / Crime & Legal Nov 30, 2017

Japanese court rules provision allowing only men to file lawsuits denying legal fatherhood is constitutional

A court on Wednesday found constitutional a legal provision that allows only men and not women to file a lawsuit denying the legal fatherhood of a child, dismissing a claim filed against the state by a family for damages related to the accuracy of ...

How Japan got new contract law it neither wants nor needs

Issues | LAW OF THE LAND Sep 3, 2017

How Japan got new contract law it neither wants nor needs

by Colin P.A. Jones

One possible explanation for the inexplicable change in contract law: It is a giant experiment driven by academic hubris and bureaucratic ambition.

National Aug 30, 2017

Smoking and drinking ban to remain despite lowering of age of adulthood

Adults under age 20 still won't be able to buy cigarettes or alcohol despite proposed legal changes to lower the age of adulthood to 18, National Police Agency officials said Wednesday. Even with an amended Civil Code, the agency is considering retaining the drinking and ...

Bill to lower age of adulthood set for submission to Diet in fall

National / Crime & Legal Aug 4, 2017

Bill to lower age of adulthood set for submission to Diet in fall

New Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa says her ministry might submit a bill to lower the legal age of adulthood from 20 to 18 this fall.

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