Shōnen (disambiguation)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 Legal definitions
2 See also
- 2.1 Education
3 External links

Shōnen (少年, Shōnen^?) is a Japanese word literally meaning few years which can also have the following colloquial meanings:

A typical young male, from elementary school through junior high school age.
Used in everyday conversation when referring to the period of youth without regard to gender.
Used in wording in laws referencing youth, regardless of gender.
The manga anthology magazine Shōnen, published by Kōbunsha.
The style or sub-genre of manga and anime that is typically aimed at young males between the ages of about 8 and 18 (e.g. InuYasha, One Piece, Video Girl Ai).
As part of compound words (e.g. bishōnen, shōnen-ai) when inferring something to do with youth, youthfulness, or young boys.
To refer to someone considered "pure of heart"

[edit] Legal definitions

According to Japanese law, the term "shōnen" refers to "a person from the time they enter elementary school until the time they are 18 years of age" (Child Welfare Laws (児童福祉法, Jidō Fukushi Hō^?), Article 4.3), and "Any person who has not reached the age of 20 years" (Juvenile Law (少年法, Shōnen Hō^?), Article 2.1). In the realm of education and culture, this is the time period of compulsory education. While the term "shōnen" 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:

Hikō shōnen (非行少年, Hikō shōnen^?)

A youth who has been convicted of a crime or confessed to a crime. Other terms include hanzai shōnen, shokuhō shōnen and guhan shōnen, depending on the crime and the age of the perpetrator.

Hanzai shōnen (犯罪少年, Hanzai shōnen^?): A youth who has committed a crime. (Juvenile Law Article 3.1.1; Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.2)
Shokuhō shōnen (触法少年, Shokuhō shōnen^?): 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)
Guhan shōnen (虞犯少年 or ぐ犯少年, Guhan shōnen^?): 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)

Furyōkōi shōnen (不良行為少年, Furyōkōi shōnen^?): A youth that doesn't fall under the descriptions under hikō shōnen (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)
Higai shōnen (被害少年, Higai shōnen^?): A youth who has committed crimes due to having had a difficult upbringing. (Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.7)
Yohogo shōnen (要保護少年, Yohogo 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 doesn't fall under hikō shōnen (above). (Juvenile Activities, Police Regulations Article 2.8)