Japan gov't to lower age of adulthood from 20 to 18

The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a bill to lower the adulthood age from 20 to 18, a move that would enable 18- and 19-year-olds to sign contracts and get married without the consent of their parents.The planned amendment, which the government aims to bring into force in April 2022, would change the definition of an adult under the Civil Code for the first time since it was enacted in the late 19th century, affecting wide areas including the acquisition of licenses.But people aged 19 or below will remain prohibited from drinking, smoking and gambling.Currently, people under 20 in …READ FULL ARTICLE