The results of a national survey of local governments nationwide on the ideal state of the seijin-shiki after the adult age was lowered this spring were announced.
More than 80% of the local governments that responded said that the seijin-shiki will be held at the age of 20 even after the adult age is 18, and only two cities and towns will hold the ceremony at the age of 18.
The revised Civil Code will come into effect in April, and the age of becoming an "adult" will be reduced from the previous 20 years old to 18 years old.
The Ministry of Justice conducted a survey of more than 1,700 local governments nationwide on the ideal way of seijin-shiki from next year when the adult age was lowered, and announced the results on the 18th.
According to this, 982 local governments, which account for more than 80% of the 1176 local governments that responded, were 20 years old, or in the year following the year when they reached 20 years old, without changing the target age even if the adult age was lowered. It means to hold an adult ceremony.
The most common reason for not changing the target age was "Because at the age of 18, it overlaps with the examination and the number of attendees decreases."
On the other hand, only two cities and towns, Betsukai Town in Hokkaido and Iga City in Mie Prefecture, decided to hold the event at the age of 18 when they were "adults".
The reason for holding it at the age of 18 is that "it is legally possible to raise awareness by holding an adult ceremony in the year treated as an adult" and "because the adult age has been reduced to 18 years old".
In addition, 163 local governments, which is more than 10%, answered that the target age was "under consideration", and 29 local governments said that they were "not considering".
18-year-old Betsukai-cho ... "To have a sense of responsibility and attitude"
Of the municipalities that answered that they would hold the event at the age of 18, Betsukai Town is located in the eastern part of Hokkaido and has a population of approximately 14,500 as of the end of December 2021.
While many local governments maintain their 20-year-olds, the event was held at the age of 18 as "I want to value the seijin-shiki at the age of 18 in order to have a sense of responsibility and attitude to leave parents and become an adult". I decided.
According to the town, "there are no opinions against it so far."
However, next year, which will be a turning point, if people aged 18 to 20 hold an adult ceremony at one time, the burden on local beauty salons and costume rental shops will be heavy, so we will target 19 and 20 years old, 18 years old. It means that it will be targeted from the next fiscal year.
The ceremony is scheduled for the spring of March, when the high school graduation ceremony is over and preparations for employment and going on to higher education are settled. I want you to be aware of the fact that you have to take responsibility before going on to school or getting a job. "