Officials have announced that the government is set to lower the age of majority -- the age from which one is legally an adult -- from 20 to 18.

The government will submit bills to revise the Civil Code and other relevant legislation to the Diet during an extraordinary Diet session in the autumn of 2009, or a regular Diet session in 2010, according to the officials.

A government panel reviewing the issue made the decision in order to bring it into line with a law providing for referenda on constitutional revisions, which stipulates that those aged 18 or over have the right to vote in such a referendum.

The panel has concluded that the decision will involve revising 191 laws and 117 government ordinances to lower the minimum age of adults to 18.

Under current law, Japanese come of age at 20, when they are given the right to vote and are legally allowed to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes.

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