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Foreword

Bunmei Ibuki Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

In the White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2006, the featured theme is “Efforts in Education Rebuilding / Realization of a Nation Based on Culture and the Arts.”

After World War , education in Japan produced many results, including serving as a driving force behind the realization of an affluent economic society and a secure way of life.

Currently, however, with factors such as the progress of science and technology, informatization, internationalization, and the falling birthrate and aging population, the circumstances surrounding our country have changed significantly, and various challenges have arisen.

The Basic Act on Education was therefore revised for the first time in approximately 60 years, and we have taken the first step in education rebuilding. Education is a policy and foundation for the nation's next 100 years, so the results of education can be seen after several generations. Bearing this in mind, various concrete measures have been undertaken, including the revision of relevant legislation, the formulation of the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Education, and expansion of the basic budget for education. Most importantly, we will also move forward with changing the mentality of people involved in education, including ourselves, and lead the way to a new era for education.

I have been aiming for the creation of a “profile” for Japan as a vigorous country that makes up for the unavoidable flaws of the principle of free competition and a market economy with the good customs and traditions that have been handed down in Japanese society and that draws on its spirit of self-reliance and originality and ingenuity.

I hope that through educational reforms for restoring people's vitality, the adverse effects of the principle of free competition will be reduced and that people of moral character will build Japan as a nation with dignity.

Culture and the arts impart the joy of living to people, play a major part in a rich life, and infuse society with vitality and affluence. In February of this year the second “Basic Policy on the Promotion of Culture and the Arts” was approved by the Cabinet. Based on this policy, we will make efforts to promote culture and the arts in a more strategic manner with the aim of realizing a “Nation Based on Culture and the Arts” that will move forward with nation-building through culture and the arts based on this policy.

I hope that this whitepaper will be widely used by the people of Japan and will help in deepening your understanding of the measures in education, science, and technology overall.

March 2007