新奇事件簿 日本成年年龄下调（在线收听）

Japan's government has lowered the age at which people become adults. It is the first time since 1876 that this has happened. From the year 2022, teenagers will become adults at the age of 18, which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood currently legally happens. However, even though the age has been lowered, there are still certain things that will not change. The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will remain fixed at 20. The new law will enable 18-year-olds to get married without parental consent, and allow them to apply for loans and credit cards. Transgender men and women aged 18 and over will be able to apply to courts to have their gender officially recognized.

日本政府下调成年年龄。这是自1876年后的首次年龄下调。从2022年起，18岁的青少年将变成成人，这比目前法定成年年纪早了两年。但虽然年龄降低了，还是有一些事是不会变得。法定饮酒、吸烟和赌博的年龄仍固定在20岁。新法规定18岁就可以结婚并不用父母同意，而且允许他们申请贷款和信用卡。18岁及以上的变性男女可以向法院提交申请，要求官方承认他们的性别。

The new law has been passed in an effort to bring about social and economic change in Japan. The government hopes to see an increase in the number of young people getting married and starting families. This will help to address the nation's dwindling birth rate and ageing population. Greater financial freedoms could be a boost to the economy and provide more tax revenue. This is vital for a government struggling to cope with increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more concerned about how the law would affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday held in January in which 20-year-olds dress up in traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.

新法的通过是为了给日本带来社会和经济上的改变。政府希望看到结婚和组建家庭的年轻人人数有所增长。这将帮助解决日本低迷的出生率和老龄化人口问题。更好的财务自由将促进经济并带来更多税收收入。这对政府努力解决增加的退休金和健康医疗支出非常关键。日本有很多年轻人更关心这项法律将如何影响传统的成人之日。这个国定节日在一月举行，过节时20岁的年轻人穿着传统和服庆祝成年。