Adult age reduction Adult ceremony is still targeted at 20 years old Utsunomiya City December 25 17:08
Given that the age of adult has been reduced from 20 to 18 due to the revision of the Civil Code, the future of the coming-of-age ceremony is being studied in various places. Under these circumstances, Utsunomiya City changed its name from "Adult Ceremony" to "Gathering of Adults Celebrating Twenty Years Old" on the 25th, considering the impact on examinations, etc., while targeting the same 20 years old as before. Decided to hold a celebration ceremony.
With regard to the coming-of-age ceremony, the age of the adult will be reduced from 20 to 18 in April 2022, 3 years after the revision of the Civil Code, three years later. It has been done.
Under these circumstances, Mayor Etsuichi Sato of Utsunomiya City held a press conference on the 25th, and as a result of examining in Utsunomiya City, 18 years old had an important time related to the future in exams and employment, drinking and smoking etc. As an example, he said that he was still 20 years old as being an adult both physically and mentally, and he decided that the age for the coming-of-age ceremony was the same as before, and he decided to be 20 years old.
On the other hand, in order to clarify the target age, the name will be changed from the previous "Adult Ceremony" to "Gathering of Adults Celebrating Twenty Years".
Mayor Sato said, "I was worried about what would happen to many people, but decided to celebrate at the age of 20 as before, based on the results of questionnaires.
Utsunomiya City will change its name from the ceremony in 2023, four years later, and will begin an effort to promote the awareness of adults at the age of 18.
18-year-old overlaps with exams and employment
NHK has interviewed 25 cities and towns in Tochigi Prefecture about the future of the ceremony to celebrate new adults as the adult age is reduced.
As a result, nine cities and towns, including Utsunomiya City, have already decided policies on response, and all have been reduced to the age of 18 years of age in Reiwa 4 and April 2022. It is intended for the same 20-year-old.
Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Sano, Kanuma, Moka, Otawara, Nasushiobara, Kamimikawa, and Mibucho will be holding a ceremony for 20-year-olds.
These municipalities continue to target 20-year-olds.If they target 18-year-olds, they may be too busy to take the exam or find a job, and there is a concern that more people will be unable to attend. At the same time, they mentioned that they would prepare costumes for ceremonies such as kimonos, and that the financial burden would overlap.
Emphasize “20 years”
Of the municipalities that hold celebration ceremonies for 20-year-olds after the age of adult has been lowered, Kanuma-shi, Otawara-shi, and Mibu-cho in Tochigi Prefecture will change the name of the conventional "adult ceremony" from January next year.
Of these, the ceremony will be held in Otawara City on the 3rd of next month, and the name will be changed from the traditional "Adult Ceremony" to "Hata no Gathering".
For this reason, we are making preparations to change the name of the ceremony, such as the signboard installed at the ceremony hall or the pamphlet distributed to the parties concerned, with a new one.
Hideki Murakami, Chief of the Lifelong Learning Division of the Otawara City Board of Education, said, “Even if the adult age is reduced, we emphasize that we will celebrate at the age of 20 and have changed it early to inform many people. I want many people to come to the ceremony, as my desire to celebrate remains the same. "
In addition, the name of Kanuma City will be changed to "Kanuma City 20 Festival", and the name of "20 years old gathering" will be changed to Mibu-cho to emphasize that the 20-year-old is a target ceremony.