Tokyo Court Rules Ban on Under-18 Election Campaigning Unconstitutional

A Tokyo court has declared unconstitutional a Japanese law that bars people under the age of 18 from taking part in election campaigning, according to Anadolu Agency.

The law, enacted in 1952, prohibited those under 18 from campaigning as well as from "being used in such activities," a provision that also restricted adults from involving minors in campaign work.

The ruling represents a significant legal development regarding the political rights of young people in Japan, where the voting age was lowered to 18 in 2016, creating an apparent inconsistency between the right to vote and broader restrictions on political participation for those in the same age group.

The report did not specify the case that prompted the ruling, the court's full reasoning, or whether the decision would be appealed by Japanese authorities. It also did not indicate whether the law would be immediately unenforceable or whether legislative changes would be required to formally amend it.

The decision could prompt renewed debate in Japan over the appropriate scope of youth political participation, including campaigning activities distinct from the act of voting itself.