“Lawsuit for Lowering the Age of Candidacy,” the first case LEDGE ever took on, will be rendered a judgment on Friday, October 24th, 2025, at 3 p.m., in Courtroom 103 of the Tokyo District Court.

The current system only allows candidacy for those over 25 or 30 years old, although votership starts at 18. Will the state’s argument, saying young people lack “sound and discreet judgment built on experience in society,” be considered constitutional? The judiciary will answer this question for us. The judgment will not be a mere conclusion on whether or not it is constitutional, but will be a landmark decision on the following focal points.

• Extent of the guaranteed eligibility for election: Although the constitution guarantees all citizens 18 years old or above the right to elect, it does not explicitly specify the age of eligibility for election. The extent to which eligibility for election is guaranteed by the constitution, in relation to the right to elect, is at issue.
• Limit of the state’s discretion: Given the nature of eligibility for election, how much discretion is given to the National Diet with regard to setting an age limit for it? The scope and degree of discretion given will be the question.
• Assessment of the “young are unskilled” theory: The state has asserted the current rule as reasonable, presuming that young people lack “sound and discreet judgment built on experience in society” without giving any scientific evidence. To counter this, we have made it clear that the current rule is unreasonable, supported by domestic and international empirical research, as well as expert opinions from academics, to substantiate our position. The judgment will show how the court assesses this state’s assertion.
• Shift in social conventions: The citizens’ sentiment around candidacy age is unquestionably changing. According to the research result by Associate Professor Hiroharu Saito of the University of Tokyo (People’s view of lowering the age of eligibility for election—survey experiment to research the legal age of candidacy, Social Science Studies Vol. 76, pg. 201-239), the majority of Japanese citizens support the lowering of the age of eligibility for election. The court is asked to take a position on how it views the shift in society, given the trend of more and more countries allowing candidacy for those over 18.

Currently, substantial discussions on lowering the age of candidacy are underway in the National Diet, pushing the issue to the height of public interest (see Japan Times dated April 21, Asahi Shimbun Op-ed dated May 6, TBS News dated May 15, etc.). A message to bolster this discussion in the National Diet is another point we are looking for in the ruling.

Here is the timetable for the rendition of judgment on October 24th.

• Attendance tickets: Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Please pick up your ticket at the entrance of the Tokyo District Court by around 2:30 p.m.
  • Further details are expected to be updated on the Tokyo District Court’s attendance ticket information page around Friday, October 17.
• Plaintiffs enter the courthouse: 2:30 p.m. Main gate of Tokyo District Court
• Rendition of judgment: 3:00 p.m. Courtroom 103 of Tokyo District Court
• Post-ruling debriefing session: 6:00-7:30 p.m. venue with direct access from Nihonbashi station
  *To attend, sign up from this application form (first 40 applicants). Details of the venue will be sent separately to applicants.

Can our litigious efforts push history forward? We invite you to stay engaged for this moment of truth and look forward to seeing you on judgment day.