“Hall of Shame," "Call for Walk-Out," "Macron's Boy"— the screaming headlines on the walls of Sciences Po, plastered on hundreds of flyers. Every day, colors and messages alter: a collage in solidarity and sharp critique. Flyers denouncing unlawful acts, calling for strikes for Palestine, or deriding the university director with acerbic captions. In the bustling hallways, students hand out flyers and call out for protests— an everyday occurrence in Paris but wholly foreign in Tokyo.
Living in Paris as a student from Tokyo is a study in contrasts— not only in architecture, cuisine, and culture but also in the level of political engagement amongst young people. Suppose you’ve ever strolled past Place de la République during a student-led demonstration or witnessed debates on the steps of Sciences Po. In that case, you’ve seen how deeply embedded activism is in the Parisian youth experience. Compared to Tokyo’s quieter political landscape, the difference is striking. Yet, beneath the surface, these differences tell a nuanced story about societal structures, cultural values, and opportunities for youth to shape their futures.
Statistics range from a striking contrast in political participation: while the youth voter turnout has always reached to a high level in France during major elections, such as the 61% of voters aged 18-24 who voted in the 2022 French presidential election, the turnout for 18 and 19-year-olds during the 2024 House of Representatives election was a mere 43% in Japan. While these numbers are indicative of more enthusiasm among the French youth for voting, they are only part of the picture. They reflect broader cultural and institutional differences that either encourage or stifle political expression.
Paris is alive with visible activism. From the yellow vests for climate strikes to pension reform, the streets are ready platforms where youth take center stage. Student unions and activist groups such as "Youth for Climate" thrive in a political culture that celebrates dissent and debate. A history of revolution and protest has left the legacy of collective action as one means to attain change.
In contrast, political activism among Tokyo's youth tends to be more subdued: strong cultural norms promoting harmony discourage overt confrontation, and the number of protests is fewer and smaller. But does that mean Japanese youth are apolitical? Not quite. Platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter, and LINE have become arenas for discussing policies and mobilizing support for gender equality and environmental sustainability. This quieter— often digital— form of activism reflects a different but no less valid mode of political engagement.
That itself shows one of the biggest differences institutional roles that shape these contrasts. In France, for instance, such political debates and activism are encouraged explicitly in the educational institutions such as Sciences Po or École Normale Supérieure. Most universities in France organize debates, conferences, and other activities aiming to increase civic involvement. Japanese universities scarcely introduce politics on campus. While student movements did play a very important role in the anti-Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, the resulting crackdowns have left a more enduring reluctance from institutions to advocate for political activism. The cultural perceptions of youth agencies also play a role. Young people in France are often seen as legitimate stakeholders in the political future of that country. Early recognition of political agency was marked by policies like lowering the voting age to 18 in 1974. Youth in Japan are often perceived as "inexperienced" or "unprepared" to lead political discussions. The voting age was only lowered to 18 in 2016 with solely a minority of 38% agreeing, and youth issues often receive less media coverage.
Caught between the two worlds, we wonder how Tokyo could learn from Paris without losing its cultural identity. The answer in part lies in the creation of more paths for discussion: Japanese universities holding weekly political forums, civics education in high school with an emphasis on debate, and so on. Another approach could be leveraging Japan's technological prowess to build more robust online platforms for activism.
This contrast between Tokyo and Paris does not come down to questions of more versus less, but it rather reflects deeper, structured societal organizations and cultural values. While French youth take to the streets with an audacity born from historical precedence and institutional support, Japanese youth create quieter, digital-first strategies in tune with their social context. Both appeals offer lessons— and perhaps a common vision— on how the next generation might be heard on the global stage.