, shonen, or shounen, is a Japanese word literally meaning few years and generally referring to a typical boy, from elementary school through high school age. It is used in everyday conversation when referring to the period of youth, including in legal wording referencing youth, without regard to gender. Shōnen manga is a popular genre of Japanese comics typically aimed at young males of this age group.

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 18 years of age" ( , Article 4.3), and "Any person who has not reached the age of 20 years" ( , Article 2.1). 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" (a person under 20 years of age) with regard to juvenile law in Japan:

: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.

:; :A youth who has committed a crime. (Juvenile Law Article 3.1.1; Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.2)

:; :A youth under the age of 14 who has committed a crime. (Juvenile Law Article 3.1.2; Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.3)

:; :A youth refusing to abide by parental authority, a youth having a lawful reason for not being with their family, a youth who is naturally disposed toward criminal activity or who associates with those disposed toward criminal activity, a youth who frequents suspicious locations, a youth with a tendency to injure or assault other people, for youth with these characteristics and under these circumstances, the law can be applied to these youth. (Juvenile Law Article 3.1.3; Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.4)

:A youth that does not fall under the descriptions under hikō shonen (above), but who is found drinking alcohol, smoking, being out late at night, or participating in other activities that might harm their moral character; basically youth that are being generally delinquent. (Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.6)

:A youth who has committed crimes due to having had a difficult upbringing. (Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.7)

: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 (above). (Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.8)

See also

• Bishōnen
• Boy
• Seinen
• Shōjo
• Juvenile delinquency
• Juvenile
• Minor
• Reform school

Education

• Nursery school
• Kindergarten
• Elementary school
• Gymnasium
• Middle school
• High school

External links

• Shonen-in, reformatory (Ministry of Justice site, in Japanese)