Living With Teenagers

Information for parents with teenagers on youth organisations, youth employment law, driving, drugs, alcohol and teenage pregnancy...

In Japan young people are considered adult when they reach 20, and it is also considered the legal age for drinking, smoking, voting, signing contracts, and getting married without the consent of parents. The legal age for driving, however, is 18.

Youth Organisations, Hobbies and Clubs

There is a wide range of both public and private facilities available for teenagers in Japan. Most sport clubs offer football, volleyball, basketball, swimming and tennis, as well as cultural activities such as music.

Junior high schools and high schools have extracurricular clubs which offer various sports, science, music or arts activities. These school activities take place in the morning before school starts and after school. Sports matches are played at the weekends.

Scouts and Guides in Japan

The Scout Association of Japan offers youngsters from six to 25 the chance to get involved with outdoor activities and to mix with like-minded young people.

The Girl Scouts of Japan is a youth association specifically set up for girls.

Exchange Study Programmes

There are a number of opportunities for foreign students to study in Japan. Companies and schools offer foreign students an opportunity to expand their cultural world outlook.

AYUSA provides summer, semester or academic year study programmes throughout Japan for high school students. Students participating in a semester or academic year programme attend a local school and live with a host family. The summer programmes provide language tuition and opportunities for cultural exploration.

  • For more information about the programmes available: Click here

AFS provides school-based exchange programmes for high school students over the course of a semester, trimester or academic year. Students attend a local school and live with a host family. Short programmes are also available, lasting between two weeks and three months.

  • For more information about these exchange programmes: Click here

YFU offers school-based exchange programmes for high school students over the course of a semester or academic year. Short term programmes, lasting between four and eight weeks, are also available. All students live with a volunteer host family.

Volunteering

AFS and YFU also offer community service exchange programmes for older teenagers and young adults.