Japanese couple 'resign' from being parents to their 20-year-old

Yoshikazu and Chiaki Hasegawa gave the 'Notice of Expiration of Child-Rearing Services' to their son as a joke on his birthday

The letter was neatly wrapped and presented to Mr Hasegawa on his 20th birthday (Twitter/ Yuma Hasegawa)

When most teenagers are presented with a fancy looking envelope on their birthday, they can normally expect to see some money.

But one Japanese birthday boy got more than he bargained for when his parents handed him a mock notice on his 20th birthday - telling them they were “resigning” from being his parents.

Yuma Hasegawa received the “Notice of Expiration of Child-Rearing Services” on his 20th birthday, the official age of adulthood in Japan, last week - along with a detailed list of what was expected of him from now on.

The letter told him to be “a proper and responsible member of society... like your father and mother.”

It also warned him he would now have to start paying rent of 20,000 yen (£110) a month.

They also said he could marry whomever he chose - but said they may not “emotionally accept” his bride if he hadn’t run the idea past them first.

The text, translated by RocketNews 24, said:

Happy 20th Birthday!

Notice of Expiration of Child-Rearing Services

As of October 4, 2015, your father, Yoshikazu Hasegawa, and mother, Chiaki Hasegawa, have completed their duties of raising their child: you, Yuma Hasegawa.

Going forward, please become a proper and responsible member of society, like your father and mother. In addition, should you continue living in the Hasegawa family home, please make a monthly payment of 20,000 yen [US$168] for rent, utility, and grocery expenses. Also, please be aware that should you ask for a loan from your parents, interest will be charged.

Points to note upon reaching the age of 20

● You must make compulsory national pension payments. If you put this off it will cause problems, so make the payments.

● Should you commit a crime, your face and name can now be shown on television and in newspapers. You will also have a permanent criminal record.

● You can now buy alcohol and tobacco products. Do not drive while intoxicated.

● You can get married without your parents’ permission. However, they may not emotionally accept your wife as their daughter-in-law if you don’t discuss the situation without them beforehand.

● Think responsibly about the future and set aside an adequate amount of savings from the money you earn.

Please enjoy your life as an adult.

Mr Hasegawa posted the letter online saying although his parents may grumble, the letter was just a joke.

He added he had already been paying the rent since last year and planned to help them out as they got older.