March 31, 2025
Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Shiokawa Tetsuya, on NHK’s “Sunday Debate” program aired on March 30, proposed that the age of suffrage be lowered to 18, saying, “Young adults should be able to run for office and participate in politics more.”
On the same program, Koizumi Shinjiro of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said, “I agree. The LDP has begun discussing the lowering of the suffrage age, and I think each party can do something positive in regard to this issue.” Ochiai Takayuki of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan also agreed with Shiokawa’s proposal.
Shiokawa noted that the current Public Offices Election Act is like a list of don’ts imposing many restrictions on election activities, such as prohibiting door-to-door canvassing and pre-election campaigning, and that the amount of deposit required for candidacy is very high. He stated, “The law should be fundamentally revised to ensure freedom in election campaigns.”
Currently, members of the House of Representatives should be at least 25 years old, the House of Councilors 30, prefectural governors 30, prefectural assemblymembers 25, municipal mayors 25, and municipal assemblymembers 25.
On the same program, Koizumi Shinjiro of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said, “I agree. The LDP has begun discussing the lowering of the suffrage age, and I think each party can do something positive in regard to this issue.” Ochiai Takayuki of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan also agreed with Shiokawa’s proposal.
Shiokawa noted that the current Public Offices Election Act is like a list of don’ts imposing many restrictions on election activities, such as prohibiting door-to-door canvassing and pre-election campaigning, and that the amount of deposit required for candidacy is very high. He stated, “The law should be fundamentally revised to ensure freedom in election campaigns.”
Currently, members of the House of Representatives should be at least 25 years old, the House of Councilors 30, prefectural governors 30, prefectural assemblymembers 25, municipal mayors 25, and municipal assemblymembers 25.
