WKA35050 History of Japanese Educational Development

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course)

Lecture Code WKA35050 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 日本の教育開発経験

Subject Name
（Katakana）

Subject Name in
English History of Japanese Educational Development

Instructor TANIGUCHI KYOKO,NAKAYA AYAMI,MAKI TAKAYOSHI,SHIMIZU KINYA,BABA TAKUYA,CHANG CHIH HAO,WAN YI,ISHIHARA SHINICHI,CHEN CHAO

Instructor
(Katakana) タニグチ　キョウコ,ナカヤ　アヤミ,マキ　タカヨシ,シミズ　キンヤ,ババ　タクヤ,チャン　チハオ,マン　ヤク,イシハラ　シンイチ,チェン　チャオ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (3T) Tues9-10,Fri9-10：IDEC Large Conference Rm

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

lecture

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 21 : Fundamental Competencies for Working Persons

Course Area（Discipline） 09 : Common Gradate Education

Eligible Students

Keywords SDG4, Japan's educational development, education and policy, teacher education, primary and secondary education, higher education, international education and cooperation

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline In the course of its educational development, Japan has encountered challenges similar to those faced by developing countries today, and has sought to resolve them by identifying the underlying causes and introducing new policies and reforms. This course provides an overview of the modern Japanese education system and policies, followed by an analysis of the evolution of educational policies from the pre-war to the post-war periods from various perspectives (teacher education; primary and secondary education (science, mathematics and social studies); higher education; and international educational cooperation). Students will reflect on the lessons to be drawn from Japan’s experience in educational development through comparison with educational development in developing countries. By completing this course, students will acquire the following abilities: 1) to explain the process and characteristics of Japan’s educational development; 2) to derive useful lessons from Japan’s experience in educational development for addressing educational challenges in developing countries, and to consider their policy implications.

Class Schedule lesson1 (Friday, 2 October): Course introduction, Development of Higher Education in Japan (International Student Policy, Multicultural Coexistence) (Wan)
lesson2 (Tuesday, 6 October): Academic Achievement Policies and Assessment in Japanese Primary and Secondary Education 1 (Taniguchi)
lesson3 (Friday, 9 October): Academic Achievement Policies and Assessment in Japanese Primary and Secondary Education 2 (Taniguchi)
lesson4 (Tuesday, 13 October): The Evolution of Teacher Education and Policy in Japan 1 (Maki)
lesson5 (Tuesday, 20 October): The Evolution of Teacher Education and Policy in Japan 2 (Maki)
lesson6 (Friday, 23 October): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Science) 1 (Shimizu)
lesson7 (Tuesday, 27 October): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Science) 2 (Shimizu)
lesson8 (Friday, 30 October): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Mathematics) 1 (Baba)
lesson9 (Friday, 6 November): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Mathematics) 2 (Baba)
lesson10 (Tuesday, 10 November): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Social Studies) (Nakaya)
lesson11 (Friday, 13 November): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Home Economics and Moral Education) (Nakaya)
lesson12 (Tuesday, 17 November): The Evolution of Japan’s International Educational Cooperation 1 (Ishihara)
lesson13 (Friday, 20 November): The Evolution of Japan’s International Educational Cooperation 2 (Ishihara)
lesson14 (Tuesday, 24 November): The Development of Higher Education in Japan (Meritocracy and University Entrance Examinations) (Chang)
lesson15 (Friday, 27 November): The Development of Higher Education in Japan (Private and Public Universities in Japan) (Chang)

Final Report

Text/Reference
Books,etc. JICA. (2004). The History of Japan's Educational Development: What implications can be drawn for developing countries
today. Tokyo: JICA.
Kayashima, N., Kuroda, K. & Kitamura, Y. (2022). Japan’s International Cooperation in Education: History and Prospects.
Springer.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, moodle

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Students are expected to read the relevant sections of the designated textbook in advance and to participate actively in class discussions.

Requirements This course is a compulsory module for Master’s students on the International Education and Development Programme. Other students may also take this course.

Grading Method Assessment will be based on the final report.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course)
Lecture Code	WKA35050	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	日本の教育開発経験
Subject Name （Katakana）
Subject Name in English	History of Japanese Educational Development
Instructor	TANIGUCHI KYOKO,NAKAYA AYAMI,MAKI TAKAYOSHI,SHIMIZU KINYA,BABA TAKUYA,CHANG CHIH HAO,WAN YI,ISHIHARA SHINICHI,CHEN CHAO
Instructor (Katakana)	タニグチ　キョウコ,ナカヤ　アヤミ,マキ　タカヨシ,シミズ　キンヤ,ババ　タクヤ,チャン　チハオ,マン　ヤク,イシハラ　シンイチ,チェン　チャオ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(3T) Tues9-10,Fri9-10：IDEC Large Conference Rm
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
lecture
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	21 : Fundamental Competencies for Working Persons
Course Area（Discipline）	09 : Common Gradate Education
Eligible Students
Keywords	SDG4, Japan's educational development, education and policy, teacher education, primary and secondary education, higher education, international education and cooperation
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	In the course of its educational development, Japan has encountered challenges similar to those faced by developing countries today, and has sought to resolve them by identifying the underlying causes and introducing new policies and reforms. This course provides an overview of the modern Japanese education system and policies, followed by an analysis of the evolution of educational policies from the pre-war to the post-war periods from various perspectives (teacher education; primary and secondary education (science, mathematics and social studies); higher education; and international educational cooperation). Students will reflect on the lessons to be drawn from Japan’s experience in educational development through comparison with educational development in developing countries. By completing this course, students will acquire the following abilities: 1) to explain the process and characteristics of Japan’s educational development; 2) to derive useful lessons from Japan’s experience in educational development for addressing educational challenges in developing countries, and to consider their policy implications.
Class Schedule	lesson1 (Friday, 2 October): Course introduction, Development of Higher Education in Japan (International Student Policy, Multicultural Coexistence) (Wan) lesson2 (Tuesday, 6 October): Academic Achievement Policies and Assessment in Japanese Primary and Secondary Education 1 (Taniguchi) lesson3 (Friday, 9 October): Academic Achievement Policies and Assessment in Japanese Primary and Secondary Education 2 (Taniguchi) lesson4 (Tuesday, 13 October): The Evolution of Teacher Education and Policy in Japan 1 (Maki) lesson5 (Tuesday, 20 October): The Evolution of Teacher Education and Policy in Japan 2 (Maki) lesson6 (Friday, 23 October): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Science) 1 (Shimizu) lesson7 (Tuesday, 27 October): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Science) 2 (Shimizu) lesson8 (Friday, 30 October): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Mathematics) 1 (Baba) lesson9 (Friday, 6 November): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Mathematics) 2 (Baba) lesson10 (Tuesday, 10 November): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Social Studies) (Nakaya) lesson11 (Friday, 13 November): Development of Primary and Secondary Education in Japan (Home Economics and Moral Education) (Nakaya) lesson12 (Tuesday, 17 November): The Evolution of Japan’s International Educational Cooperation 1 (Ishihara) lesson13 (Friday, 20 November): The Evolution of Japan’s International Educational Cooperation 2 (Ishihara) lesson14 (Tuesday, 24 November): The Development of Higher Education in Japan (Meritocracy and University Entrance Examinations) (Chang) lesson15 (Friday, 27 November): The Development of Higher Education in Japan (Private and Public Universities in Japan) (Chang) Final Report
Text/Reference Books,etc.	JICA. (2004). The History of Japan's Educational Development: What implications can be drawn for developing countries today. Tokyo: JICA. Kayashima, N., Kuroda, K. & Kitamura, Y. (2022). Japan’s International Cooperation in Education: History and Prospects. Springer.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, moodle
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Students are expected to read the relevant sections of the designated textbook in advance and to participate actively in class discussions.
Requirements	This course is a compulsory module for Master’s students on the International Education and Development Programme. Other students may also take this course.
Grading Method	Assessment will be based on the final report.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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