Ageing Japan turns to its youth as teens set to vote

Tokyo

JAPAN is set to take a baby step towards rebalancing the age scales when lawmakers lower the voting age to 18 from its current 20, allowing teenagers into polling booths for the first time.

The move will bring Japan - where political power resides firmly with the grey of hair - in line with other developed countries and will extend the franchise to an extra 2.4 million 18 and 19-year-olds.

And not before time, say teenagers. "Age 18 is not too young," said 17-year-old high school student Shiori Toshima of the rule change, expected during the current parliament session ending in June. "I will definitely go to vote," she said. "I'd be happy to see my opinion affect politics, even just a little." Japan last changed its voting rules in the punch-drunk months after its 1…