To All New Adults

To all new adults, congratulations on Coming of Age Day!

Since you are now "adults" starting today, the number of things you "can do," such as renting a house, has increased.

Perhaps the most significant point is that you have now gained the right to vote.

By the way, do you think "right to vote = elections"?

Actually, you have also reached a position where you can ask the government, "How does this system work? Isn't it strange?" new adults.

For example, in Germany, where the birthrate is declining, there are situations in the debate over how to think about national security where, even if the younger generation has opinions, it is difficult for them to pass in elections due to the difference in numbers.

This is not a story about whether Germany is right or wrong, but a story about a "structure" that can happen in any country in a society with a declining birthrate.

However, that is a problem, isn't it?
You might think, "Then isn't it meaningless to go to the polls?"

This time, I would like to introduce one method that might turn that "isn't it meaningless?" into "it was meaningful!"

If you don't mind, I would be happy if you could keep in the corner of your mind that "there is a way to express opinions about politics other than elections."

That method is called a "Sovereign Exercise Email." It's long, so "Exercise Email" is fine.

" I submit this document as a sovereign, based on the Preamble, Article 1, Article 97, and Article 98, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution of Japan."

In an Exercise Email, you use an opening like this.
(*This is just one example)

With the Constitution as the axis, you send an email to the government saying, "How does this system work? It's strange, isn't it? Please review it." Since it's an email, you can send it whenever you like. For example, quickly while on the train when you've finished watching YouTube or TikTok.

"Confirming as a sovereign," that is all.

By leaving your voice as a document saying, "At this point in time, this is what I think," it becomes a foothold for future discussions, such as "Come to think of it, we received opinions from the public regarding this matter."

If you are interested, please try searching for #SovereigntyLiesWithThePeople on Threads.

Lastly, congratulations once again to all new adults. May this be a wonderful milestone day. I am quietly celebrating from a corner of social media.