世論 What Japan Thinks

In Japan adulthood is 20 years old, but there is a bit of a debate going on at the moment regarding changing this. A recent survey conducted by the Cabinet Office Japan into the age of majority looked at some of the issues surrounding this topic.

Demographics

Between the 10th and 27th of July 2008 5,000 randomly selected members of the public over the aged of 18 were interviewed face-to-face. 3,060 people were successfully interviewed; 53.2% of the sample were female, 1.4% were aged 18 or 19, 8.8% were in their twenties, 14.9% in their thirties, 17.8% in their forties, 20.9% in their fifties, 20.8% in their sixties, and 15.4% aged seventy or older. 75.0% were married, 9.5% divorced or widowed, and 15.5% not married. 10.4% had pre-school children, 15.4% elementary or middle-school children, 6.9% high school, 7.0% university or college, etc, 0.5% post graduate, and 50.2% had children finished with education and now employed or otherwise. Finally, 24.2% did not have any children.

This is a very interesting survey that perhaps reinforces prejudices or stereotypes that we hold of the Japanese. The most surprising figure for me was the 10% or more who thought the law is the law, so as an individual citizen one cannot think of changing it. However, if you asked similar questions in other countries, what sort of figure would you get there?

Research results

Q1: What do you think is needed for a child to become an adult? (Sample size=3,060, multiple answer)

Take responsibility for one’s own actions	74.4%
Have the ability to make decisions for oneself	71.1%
Emotional maturity	70.7%
Have a minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	62.1%
Financial independence	51.2%
Be employed	36.3%
Physical maturity	22.6%
Be married	11.8%
Have children	9.9%
Live by oneself	5.9%
Other	0.3%
Nothing in particular	0.6%
Don’t know	0.7%

Q2: What do you think about the 18 and 19 year olds in Japan today? Select all that apply. (Sample size=3,060, multiple answer)

Physically mature	52.7%
Have the minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	23.7%
Have enough ability to make decisions for themselves	20.2%
Take responsibility for their own actions	17.0%
Emotionally mature	11.9%
Financially independent	6.4%
Other	0.7%
Nothing in particular	21.0%
Don’t know	2.0%

Q3: How much do you know about the arguments regarding reducing the age of majority? (Sample size=3,060)

Know the details	25.7%
Heard about the debate, but don’t know the details	57.1%
Not heard about it at all	17.2%

Q4: Are you interested in the arguments regarding reducing the age of majority? (Sample size=3,060)

Interested	25.6%
Interested to some degree	49.9%
Not really interested	17.5%
Not interested at all	6.5%
Don’t know	0.6%

The respondents informed about issues surrounding legal drinking, smoking and voting ages, then asked the following question.

Q5: Did you know about the issues surrounding drinking, smoking and voting ages? (Sample size=3,060)

Knew about all three	43.9%
Knew about smoking and drinking only	11.2%
Knew about voting only	16.6%
Didn’t know about any of them	28.3%

The respondents read a card with information regarding at what age people can enter into a legally-binding contract, then asked the following question.

Q6: Do you agree or disagree with 18 or 19 year-olds being able to enter into a contract to purchase expensive items without parental consent? (Sample size=3,060)

Agree (to SQ1)	7.2%
Perhaps agree (to SQ1)	11.8%
Perhaps disagree (to SQ2, SQ3)	33.5%
Disagree (to SQ2, SQ3)	45.3%
Don’t know	2.2%

Q6SQ1: Why do you agree with 18 or 19 year-olds being able to enter into a contract? (Sample size=581, multiple answer)

Because they have saved money from their own work, they should be able to use it as they please	46.5%
Because the gaining of rights and taking on of responsibilities will stimulate their awareness of adulthood	41.3%
Because they have enough ability to make decisions for themselves	35.6%
Because they can take responsibility for their own actions	34.4%
Because they have the minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	18.6%
Because they are financially independent	16.9%
Because to live by oneself various contracts need to be entered into, so getting parental permission every time is laborious	14.8%
Because in many other countries one can enter contracts at age 18	9.3%
Other	0.7%
No particular reason	3.1%
Don’t know	0.5%

Q6SQ2: Why do you disagree with 18 or 19 year-olds being able to enter into a contract? (Sample size=2,412, multiple answer)

Because they rely on their parents financially	60.2%
Because they cannot take responsibility for their own actions	54.7%
Because they do not have enough ability to make decisions for themselves	51.5%
Because final year schoolchildren may be 18 years old, I worry about schoolchildren making major purchases without parental approval	46.4%
Because I think waste, consumer problems, etc will increase	41.8%
Because they don’t have the awareness of adulthood even if they gain rights and take on responsibilities	36.4%
Because a lot of them live with their parents there is little need for individuals to enter into contracts	27.4%
Because they don’t have the minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	25.6%
Because they are still students	25.1%
Because citizens have decided upon the notion that 20 years old is when one can enter into a contract	10.4%
Other	0.3%
No particular reason	0.5%
Don’t know	0.4%

Q6SQ3: What sort of provisions would have to be made in order for the age for entering into a contract by onself to be lowered to 18 yeards old? (Sample size=2,412, multiple answer)

Before reaching 18 years old, have sufficient education regarding the meaning of and responsibilities associated with a contract, legal matters, etc	38.4%
Before reaching 18 years old, have sufficient education regarding consumer problems and financial matters	26.8%
Strengthening of consumer protection measures	19.7%
Regardless of the provision, opposed to the lowering of the age limit	38.9%
Other	1.8%
Don’t know	5.2%

Now, everyone was given a card to read describing that a person under 20 wanting to take out a contract must enter into a joint contract split 50:50 with an adult, but the government is looking at changing the ratio. They were then asked the following questions.

Q7A: If the age difference is more than three years, do you agree or disagree that the area of applicability of the contract should be stepwise widened? (Sample size=3,060)

Agree	12.5%
Perhaps agree	26.1%
Perhaps disagree	29.2%
Disagree	23.2%
Don’t know	9.0%

Q7B: If it is highly necessary to make the contract individually, for defined circumstances do you agree or disagree that there should be a change to allow 18 and 19 year olds to enter into contracts in a similar fashion to those aged 20 or older? (Sample size=3,060)

Agree	13.1%
Perhaps agree	26.5%
Perhaps disagree	27.4%
Disagree	26.6%
Don’t know	6.5%

Now, everyone was given a card to read describing parental authority regarding their children, then asked the following question.

Q8: Do you agree or disagree that 18 or 19 year olds should not be subject to parental authority? (Sample size=3,060)

Agree (to SQ1)	9.4%
Perhaps agree (to SQ1)	17.3%
Perhaps disagree (to SQ2)	35.3%
Disagree (to SQ2)	34.1%
Don’t know	3.9%

Q8SQ1: Why do you agree that 18 and 19 year olds should not be subject to parental authority? (Sample size=817, multiple answer)

Because not being subject to parental authority will stimulate their awareness of adulthood	45.5%
Because they have enough ability to make decisions for themselves	41.2%
Because they can take responsibility for their own actions	34.9%
Because they have the minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	27.9%
Because they are financially independent	17.1%
Because there are many people in employment	16.4%
Because in many other countries parental authority does not apply to over 18s	9.2%
Because there are many people living by themselves	5.5%
Other	0.5%
No particular reason	5.1%
Don’t know	0.7%

Q8SQ2: Why do you disagree that 18 and 19 year olds should not be subject to parental authority? (Sample size=2,123, multiple answer)

Because they rely on their parents financially	58.5%
Because they do not have enough ability to make decisions for themselves	57.0%
Because they cannot take responsibility for their own actions	55.3%
Because they don’t have the awareness of adulthood even if parental authority does not apply	40.2%
Because a lot are still students	38.5%
Because they don’t have the minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	33.8%
Because a lot live with their parents	23.5%
Because final year schoolchildren may be 18 years old, it’s a problem if pupils don’t listen to their parents	16.3%
Because citizens have decided upon the notion that 20 years old is when parental authority ends	12.8%
Other	0.3%
No particular reason	0.8%
Don’t know	0.6%

Q9: According to the law, one can adopt from age 20. There are some people of the opinion that this should be lowered to 18 years old, and there are those who think it should be raised. What do you think about this? (Sample size=3,060)

Should be lowered to 18 years old (to SQ1)	6.7%
Should remain at 20 years old (to SQ2)	51.6%
Should be raised (to SQ3)	34.8%
Other	0.9%
Don’t know	5.9%

Q9SQ1: Why do you think it should be lowered to 18 years old? (Sample size=205, multiple answer)

Because they have enough ability to make decisions for themselves	46.8%
Because they can get married at age 18 or 19	41.0%
Because they can take responsibility for their own actions	37.6%
Because they have the minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	25.9%
Because in other countries one can adopt at age 18	13.2%
Because they are financially independent	12.7%
Because they have enough knowledge, understanding regarding child-rearing	10.2%
Other	2.0%
No particular reason	3.4%
Don’t know	0.0%

Q9SQ2: Why do you think it should be left as is? (Sample size=1,580, multiple answer)

Because at age 20 many people become financially independent	26.3%
Because at age 20 many people have the minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	32.7%
Because at age 20 many people have enough ability to make decisions for themselves	39.4%
Because at age 20 many people can take responsibility for their own actions	42.0%
Because at age 20 many people have enough knowledge, understanding regarding child-rearing	16.5%
Because citizens have decided upon the notion that 20 years old is when one can adopt	20.3%
Other	0.7%
No particular reason	12.2%
Don’t know	1.4%

Q9SQ3: Why do you think it should be raised? (Sample size=1,065, multiple answer)

Because they don’t have enough knowledge, understanding regarding child-rearing	78.0%
Because they don’t have enough ability to make decisions for themselves	48.9%
Because they can’t take responsibility for their own actions	48.0%
Because they rely on their parents financially	40.5%
Because they don’t have the minimum level of intellect and knowledge needed by a member of society	33.0%
Because in other countries one cannot adopt until ages greater than 20 years old	6.7%
Other	0.8%
No particular reason	0.8%
Don’t know	0.3%

Q10: According to the law, males can get married at 18 without parental permission, and females at age 16. Do you think this should be revised? (Sample size=3,060)

Current situation is fine	60.9%
Should raise female’s age so both have to be 18 to get married without permission	30.3%
Should lower male’s age so both have to be 16 to get married without permission	4.2%
Other	2.5%
Don’t know	2.1%