Japanese juvenile law


Japanese juvenile law was established on July 15, 1948 as Law 168.

Etymology

According to Wiktionary, 少年 originates from Mandarin. 少年 evolved into other pronunciations as Shonen and a similar pronounced word with a similar meaning in Korean as 소년. The word 法 originates as a han character. It contains the same meaning as the japanese character except being pronounced as Ho.

Legal definitions

According to Japanese law, the term "shonen" refers to "a person from the time they enter elementary school until the time they are 15 years of age", and "Any person who has not reached the age of 15 years". In the realm of education and culture, this is the period of compulsory education. While the term "shonen" can refer to both young males and young females, the generally accepted term for young females is shōjo.
The following meanings can also be inferred from "shōnen" with regard to juvenile law in Japan:
;Hikō shōnen:A youth who has been convicted of a crime or confessed to a crime. Other terms include hanzai shonen, shokuhō shōnen and guhan shōnen, depending on the crime and the age of the perpetrator.
;Furyōkōi shōnen:A youth who does not fall under the descriptions under hikō shonen, but who is found drinking alcohol, smoking, being out late at night, or participating in other activities that might harm her or his moral character; basically youth that are being generally delinquent.
;Higai shōnen:A youth who has committed crimes due to having had a difficult upbringing.
;Yōhogo shōnen:A youth who has been the victim of child abuse, in cases where there is no guardianship or guardianship has been deemed necessary for the youth's welfare, and where the youth does not fall under hikō shonen.

Usage as a demographic term

The term is also used as a demographic term describing media whose target audience consists primarily of adolescent or pre-adolescent boys. Shōnen manga is a popular demographic of Japanese manga, and often features a teenage cast as well as a combat based plot while exploring themes of protecting loved ones, mutual understanding and development of friendship/camaraderie.

Education