I think eighteen-year-olds should not be permitted to vote because they are still children. Almost all of the  eighteen-year-olds in Japan are high school students and they are supported by their parents, so they are literally children. Children are not paying taxes, therefore I think it is strange if they are given a vote and decide the national policy including the national budget. 　　 (Written by B, high school junior)　修道高２

I don’t think eighteen-year-olds should be given the right of voting. I think they need to be interested in Japan’s politics and learn it before they have the right of voting. In addition, I don’t trust candidates’ promises. You have to be careful when you vote. It is true that our national debt accounts for nearly fifty percent of our national budget, which means that our generation has to pay for it. It is important that we get  eighteen-year-olds to be interested in Japan’s politics before we give them the voting right.
(Written by J, high school junior)　修道高２

My opinion is that voting age should be lowered to  eighteen-year-olds because the government should reflect opinions from people of all ages including the young.
I don’t want them to reflect the opinion from only limited generation of people. For example, if only old men’s opinions are reflected on the government’s structure, young people’s opinions won’t be able to reach the government’s policy. The actual problem is that it seems impossible for the government to reflect all the opinions in this country. Even so, every election should be reflection of a wider range of ages. Therefore, voting age should be lowered to eighteen years old. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Written by T, high school junior)　修道高２

I think that a vote should be given to  eighteen-year-olds. It is because I feel that Japan is run to favor older people since most of our law makers are made up of older people. I think that it is necessary for Japan to give to  eighteen-year-olds not only a vote but also the right to run for office so that they can discuss the future of young generations at the Diet
(Written by F, ninth grader) 学院中３

Have you ever been to Arima? I just visited there last week. It’s a very small city near Kobe that is filled with giant hotels and ryokans(Japanese style inns).

What makes this place so special? It’s their famous hot springs. Yes that’s right, all these giant hotels and ryokans are filled with people who want to take a hot bath. That’s why I went there too. I wanted to try a famous hot spring and I chose a place near Kobe because I also wanted to try their famous Kobe beef. I also stayed at a ryokan for my first time. Among all three my favorite was the Kobe beef. That was amazing; the beef was like nothing I have ever tasted. It was very soft and it had a texture like velvet. Although the experience was very nice it was also very expensive. I think next time I will just buy some Kobe beef and cook it myself.
(J)

本日、高校生自由英作文クラスでは、選挙権を１８歳以上にするべきかどうかについてアメリカ人講師Ｊ先生と討論し、その後自由英作文に各自の意見をまとめました。近日中にその意見をアップしますので高２・高３生はその意見を参考に自分の意見を英語で書けるように対策して下さい。

There is a discussion in Japan that we should lower the voting age from 20 to 18. In today’s class, we discussed it with our high school students and they wrote their opinions. Our teacher J (J sensei in Japanese) lectured about how the voting right was given to eighteen years olds in the USA. We will put up the opinions from our students soon!

Question:
“How do you explain the Japanese word ‘Mottainai’ to English speaking people?” (From entrance exam. of Osaka University)

Answer:
The word “Mottainai” is important in our daily life. “Mottainai” is said when we cannot make the best use of something and waste something that can still be used. In this way, this word reflects the user’s sense of guilt when we throw away usable things.

It is important for us to keep on using  something well-made with respect until it cannot be used. This word may come from our attitude toward valuing things.

Written by J, high junior 修道高2