【Feature exhibition 1】Urban Life in Fukuoka During the Edo Period Dec. 24, 2019 (Tue)~Feb 24, 2020(Mon)

Unavailability to choose where to live or where to work for.

According to the constitution of Japan article 12, we, who live in the current society, were granted with the liberty to freely choose where to live and where to work, as long as the choice does not conflict with social welfare. Even in the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, which was published in the pre-war period, there is a statement which says: "Japanese nationals have a right to choose where to live or where to move as long as they abide by the Constitution." There is no clear expression about the right to choose occupations, but the freedom where to reside or relocate, were clearly indicated there.
This suggests that after the modern period, Japanese people have been enjoying their right to choose where to reside as long as they were not against the law. However, we are still obliged to do some official documentation when we relocate, such as renewing our residence cards. We need to pay various kinds of taxes in accordance with where we live. What's more, we need to pay numerous types of expenses for electricity, water, gas, food, rent and telephone.