The Japanese government has approved a proposal to lower the age of adulthood from 20 to 18.
It paves the way for 18- and 19-year-olds to get married and sign contracts without the consent of their parents.
However they will still need to wait until they are 20 to smoke, drink or gamble.
The proposed bill will need to be voted on in parliament and, if endorsed, will take effect in 2022.
It would change the definition of an adult under the Civil Code for the first time since the late 19th century.