Japan's top court declares ban on minors campaigning unconstitutional

In a decision delivered on Friday, the Tokyo District Court declared the Japanese provision that forbids individuals younger than 18 from taking part in election campaigning unconstitutional, arguing it infringes on freedom of expression. The suit was brought by four plaintiffs, including high school students, who also pursued monetary damages for emotional distress, a request the court dismissed. Under the existing law, violations could lead to up to one year in prison, fines of up to 300,000 yen, and loss of civil rights.

The plaintiffs contended that the ban lacked a clear legislative purpose and imposed unjustified criminal penalties. Government officials countered that the restriction, introduced in 1952, was intended to shield minors after earlier incidents of youth being used for manpower-intensive campaigning. The court's ruling removes the criminal penalties but does not award compensation to the claimants.