The judgment for “the Lawsuit for Lowering the Age of Candidacy,” the first lawsuit produced by LEDGE, was handed down on Friday, October 24th, 2025, at the Tokyo District Court.
The court held that setting the minimum candidacy age lies within the legislature’s reasonable discretion and that the current system does not exceed the bounds of their discretion. Thus, the Court found the current system constitutional and dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims. The plaintiffs criticized the ruling as unjust for upholding discrimination against young people and refusing to acknowledge the system’s unconstitutionality. They plan to appeal.
At the post-judgment press conference, Plaintiff Suzuka Nakamura said, “No matter how many times I’ve reached out to members of parliament, I’ve always been ignored simply because I’m young. I am deeply disappointed that the court has handed down such a decision. It truly pains me to think about the time and voices that future generations will lose.
Plaintiff Haruka Kubo commented: “Since this lawsuit began, I’ve met many people who feel there’s something wrong with the current system. I believe many young people beyond just us are shedding tears in disappointment over this ruling today. I hope society will see that there are many others who feel the same way.”
Plaintiff Momoko Nojo expressed hope, saying: “It’s a serious issue for Japan’s democracy that there are no lawmakers who can truly represent young people’s voices, and that those voices aren’t reflected in politics. I hope today’s ruling will spur further discussion in the Diet about lowering the age for candidacy. This is only the court of first impression, so we intend to keep working closely with our legal team as we move on to the High Court.”
This lawsuit is the catalyst for ongoing debate in the National Diet over lowering the candidacy age, and public interest has never been higher.
Based on the evidence and discussions brought to light through this litigation, we strongly urge the Government and the Diet to advance legal reform to guarantee every citizen aged 18 and over the freedom to stand for public office.
Watch the debrief session here:
