The document provides an overview of Japan's education system throughout history. It discusses early influences from Buddhism and Confucianism during feudal and Tokugawa periods. It describes the large-scale changes to the education system after the 1868 Meiji Restoration to modernize and catch up to Western countries. Key figures and policies that shaped the current education system are mentioned, including the establishment of the Ministry of Education in 1871. The document also notes stormy issues today such as bullying, school refusal, and "monster parents" while Japan performs well on PISA tests in reading, math and science.

1. JAPAN’S EDUCATION
SYSTEM
Brent A. Jones
Konan University

2. PROF. KOJI NAKAMURA

3. OVERVIEW
Background
Structure/Learning Population
Keys to Success
Stormy Waters

4. JAPAN’S MODERN
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
One-Hundred Years of Japanese Education

5. EARLY INFLUENCES
Buddhism
Confucianism

6. Artisans/Craftsmen
Warriors
Merchants
Farmers

7. FEUDAL PERIOD
Fief Schools (hanko)
military arts, morals, literature
Temple Schools (terakoya)
practical skills for daily life

12. TOKUGAWA PERIOD (徳川時代)
1603 - 1868
Also called Edo Period (江戸時代)
Two strategies for maintaining power
Isolation / Rotating residence in Edo
What was happening in the rest of the world at
this time?

13. MEIJI RESTORATION 1868
Japan forced open by the U.S. (Black Ships)
Japan behind the times (technology, social systems,
education)
What would you do to catch up?

15. NIIJIMA JO
Joseph Hardy Neesima

16. IWAKURA MISSION

17. TSUDA UMEKO

18. Tsuda Umeko

19. Ito Hirobumi

20. Mori Arinori

21. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
est. 1871
Large-scale change for education

22. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE,
SPORTS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

23. Together pushed for a
system based on that
in the U.S.
Tanaka Fujimaro
David Murray

25. EDUCATION SYSTEM
ORDER - 1872
Aim to unify the diversity of curriculums
Reflected elements of various western models
Single most important document in modern
Japanese educational history

26. 1879 EDUCATION ORDER
Response to shortcomings of 1872 Order
Political compromise
Policy of decentralization

27. COMPETING FACTIONS
National Learning (wagaku)
Chinese Learning (kangaku)
Western Learning (yogaku)

32. Group harmony and respect for teachers
Excellent discipline at home and school

34. AMERICAN OCCUPATION
6-3-3-4 System
Aim was to return education to normal state
Educational Policy for the Construction of a
New Japan
Second period of large-scale change for education

35. FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF
EDUCATION
Based on several reports, documents
Equal rights to education
Compulsory education free

37. NHK VIDEO
https://youtu.be/DGh4UxV9NUw
https://youtu.be/688nxQ_OM-k

41. PROGRAMME FOR INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT ASSESSMENT (PISA)
Science literacy is defined as the ability to engage with science-
related issues, and with the ideas of science, as a reflective citizen.
Reading literacy is defined as students’ ability to understand,
use, reflect on and engage with written texts in order to achieve
one’s goals, develop one’s knowledge and potential, and
participate in society
Mathematical literacy is defined as students’ capacity to
formulate, employ and interpret mathematics in a variety of
contexts.

42. 480
495
510
525
540
Reading Math Science
Japan US OECD Average

43. Source: The Guardian

44. STORMY WATERS
Bullying
School Refusal
Suicide
Monster Parents
Classroom Chaos
Disenfranchised

45. BULLYING
72,778 cases (2009)
75,295 (2010)
physical or verbal abuse, damage to a student’s
belongings, taunting messages

46. SCHOOL REFUSAL
126,764 (2006) 1.17%
Elementary school (1 in 302)
Junior high (1 in 35)

47. SUICIDE
between 500 - 600 cases a year (under 19 years old)
I

48. MONSTER PARENTS
“My child has lost a wallet somewhere in school. Buy him a new one.” -- Parents from
Kanagawa.
“Make sure you check out the weather forecast every day, and let me know first if there is
any need to have my kid bring an umbrella.” -- Parents from Kanagawa.
“Let my son sleep during a class, because he’s been very busy going to a cram school
lately.” -- Parents from Kanagawa.
“No one in my family is good at waking up early in the morning, so give us a phone call
every morning so we won’t oversleep.” -- Parents from Fukui.
“Since my daughter has been taking a private lesson to become a professional pianist, don’t
let her play outside during a break, so she won’t hurt her fingers.” -- Parents from Tokyo.

49. CLASSROOM CHAOS

54. IMPERIAL RESCRIPT ON
EDUCATION
Emperor Meiji’s Inspection Tour
Critique of Civilization and Enlightenment
Movement
Highlighted antagonism between traditional and
progressive modes of thought