Home > White Paper > FY2006 White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology > Reference Q&A

Reference Q & A

Q1		I heard that the Basic Act on Education was revised. What was the reason for the revision?
A1		The revised Basic Act on Education was passed and established in the Diet on December 15, 2006, and it was promulgated and put into effect on December 22. Education in Japan was improved and developed based on the principles of the Basic Act on Education that was enacted in 1947. This law brought many results, including serving as a driving force behind the realization of a prosperous economic society and secure way of life. Recently, however, the circumstances surrounding education in Japan are changing greatly in respects such as the progress of science and technology, informatization, internationalization, and the falling birthrate and aging population. The need has arisen in education to place a greater focus going forward on elements such as moral fiber, a spirit of self-discipline, public-mindedness, and contribution to peace and development in the international community. Therefore, the Basic Act on Education was revised in order to steadily move forward with educational reforms aimed at cultivating spiritually rich and vigorous Japanese people who will lead the way in the 21st century, including: (1) Independent-minded people with a harmonious balance of knowledge, morals, and physical health who aim to realize their potential over their lifetime (2) People who value public-mindedness and independently participate in the development of the nation and society (3) Japanese people who live in the international community with a foundation of Japanese tradition and culture The law aims to do this while working to achieve a common understanding in society as a whole through clarification of the objectives and principles that the education which will lead the way to Japan's future should be aiming for, and at the same time maintain the universal principles set forth in the original Basic Act on Education.
		See Main Text Special Feature 1, Part 1-1
Q2		What kind of law is the revised Basic Act on Education?
A2		First of all, the revised Basic Act on Education clarifies objectives and principles for education. Specifically, with regard to purposes and objectives for education, like the original Basic Act on Education, the law stipulated universal principles including “the process of character formation” and “the cultivation of mentally and physically sound people who will develop the nation and society.” The law also stipulates new matters that can be considered important today, such as “public-mindedness” and “respect for tradition and culture.” <Objectives for education (Ex.)> (Newly stipulated objectives are underlined)   ・ Wide-ranging knowledge and culture, rich sensibility and sense of morality, a healthy body ・ To develop the abilities, spirit of autonomy and self-discipline, focus on relationship to career ・ Justice and responsibility, love and respect for oneself and others and cooperation, equality between men and women, public spirit ・ Respect for life, care for nature, protection of the environment ・ Respect for traditions and culture, love for country and region that nurtured them and respect for other countries Also, as a principle for education, in addition to the previously stipulated “equal opportunity in education,” the “principle of lifelong learning” was newly added. This principle has become important in accordance with factors such as the progress of science and technology, changes in the structure of society, progress in aging, and the increase in free time. Secondly, as items that serve as a foundation for carrying out education, the law revises stipulations regarding compulsory education, school education, teachers, social education, political education, and religious education, set forth in the original Basic Act on Education. At the same time, it sets out new stipulations regarding universities, private schools, home education, education during early childhood, and mutual collaboration and cooperation among schools, households, local communities, etc. Thirdly, in terms of educational administration, the law clarifies the roles of the central government and local governments and sets out stipulations regarding matters such as Japan's formulation of the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Education and local governments taking into consideration the plans of the central government and formulating basic plans in accordance with local circumstances. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will work to enhance various educational measures, starting with the revision of related legislation and the formulation of the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Education, based on the principles set forth in the revised Basic Act on Education.
		See Main Text Special Feature 1, Part 1-3
Q3		I have heard the term “Power of Culture.” What does “Power of Culture” mean?
A3		Culture and the arts have both an attractiveness which captivates people and the power to influence society. This type of power that culture and the arts possess is called “Power of Culture.” “Power of Culture” can potentially be utilized in the vitalization of local economies, tourism, education, welfare and other fields aside from culture and the arts, as well as the wide-spread development of towns. Currently, “Power of Culture” gives people energy, and efforts to vitalize local communities as a whole and to promote social development are being carried out in various regions. The rich nature and speech of one's native region, festivals and events that have been enjoyed for centuries, historic building and cityscapes, landscapes, cultural and artistic activities based in the regions, and so forth not only have a distinctive value in themselves, but also deepen people's pride in and love for their regions and serve as something which is shared by local residents. The richer regional cultures become, the richer Japanese culture becomes as a whole and the more the attractiveness of Japan increases. This culture is something which is shared by the people of Japan. Residents come in touch with culture and the arts in regions, demonstrate their individuality, and become involved in creative efforts. This not only invigorates the individuals, but also has the power to invigorate many people through communication and collaboration with others. Culture and the arts enable people in a region to connect emotionally, regions to connect with other regions, and Japan to connect with the world across national borders. It is a wonderful thing that people throughout Japan are invigorated by the vitality that is created through these types of emotional connections. The Agency for Cultural Affairs is currently promoting the “Power of Culture” Project in the three regions of Kansai, Marunouchi, and Kyushu and Okinawa, and is moving forward with efforts to invigorate Japanese society based on the “Power of Culture” of regions.
		See Main Text Special Feature 2, Part 1-3, Column 4
Q4		You say that culture and the arts and the economy are closely interlinked. What does this mean?
A4		On the surface, it may appear that culture and the arts and the economy are unrelated. The nature of culture and the arts, however, has a substantial impact on economic activities which have a great deal to do with lifestyle, manner of living, and way of life of people. At the same time, in today's society, culture and the arts are in themselves economic activities. The creativity found in culture and the arts is essential for economic development. In various industries, such as product design, culture and the arts serve as a source for the creation of high added value. With progress of the trend toward a softer and more service-based economy, industries related to culture and the arts such as image and music industries and leisure-related industries are expected grow further in the future. Also, in the tourism industry, cultural factors, including cultural and artistic activities based in regions, for example tangible cultural assets such as historic buildings and cityscapes and intangible cultural assets such as historic spots, entertainment, festivals, events, and traditional industrial arts, have become important as attractive resources for tourism. Furthermore, there are research results which show that cultural assets, cultural facilities, and so forth have a very significant economic ripple effect as devices for attracting visitors to regions. Culture and the arts are thus expected to stimulate new demand and create many jobs. Culture and the arts vitalize the economy and promote the building of a higher quality economic society. Economic activities and culture and the arts thus have an inseparable relationship. Culture and the arts play a major role in the realization of a high-quality economic society.
		See Main Text Special Feature 2, Part 1-1
Q5		Why were the “ Fundamental Law for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts” and the “ Basic Policy on the Promotion of Culture and the Arts” formulated? What has been the trend in cultural administration since these were established?
A5		The “Fundamental Law for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts” is a basic law for general promotion of culture and the arts established in 2001. The purpose of this law is to contribute to the realization of rich-spirited national life and vibrant society by working to comprehensively promote measures related to the promotion of culture and the arts, while laying a foundation for promoting the autonomous activities of people who carry out activities related to culture and the arts. The “Basic Policy on the Promotion of Culture and the Arts” was formulated in order to comprehensively promote measures related to the promotion of culture based on the Fundamental Law for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts, and it serves as Japan's basic policy for promoting culture and the arts. In the First Basic Policy, which was formulated in 2002, establishes a “Basic Direction for Promoting Culture and the Arts” and “Basic Measures Concerning the Promotion of Culture and the Arts,” which should be taken based on the Basic Direction. The Basic Direction states the necessity of culture and the arts, the role of the central government, and directions that should be emphasized. The Basic Measures state in detail measures for 107 items regarding 11 matters in line with the provisions of the Fundamental Law for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts. As a result of the formulation of the Basic Policy, the directionality of the central government's specific measures has been clarified and the budget of the Agency for Cultural Affairs in FY2003 surpassed 100 billion yen for the first time. Specifically, measures regarding the promotion of culture and the arts have been steadily promoted, including through the promotion of cultural and artistic hands-on activities for children such as the “Program to Experience View Authentic Stage Arts” and the “Children's Traditional Culture Classes Program,” the promotion of media arts such as the holding of Media Arts Festival, the promotion of international cultural exchanges such as the holding of World Cultural Forum and the dispatch of “Special Advisors for Cultural Exchange,” and the development of hubs for culture and the arts, notably with the opening of “Kyushu National Museum” and the “National Art Center, Tokyo.” Following the establishment of the Fundamental Law for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts, various legislation related to culture and the arts was established and revised, and development of the legal infrastructure for measures concerning culture and the arts further progressed. In addition, tax privileges have been set up regarding donations to certain organizations involved in culture and the arts in order to promote support for culture and the arts by individuals and the private sector. The Fundamental Law for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts and the Basic Policy have thus played a major role in promoting culture and the arts.
		See Main Text Special Feature 2, Part 2 through 5
Q6		I heard that the “ Basic Policy on the Promotion of Culture and the Arts” has been revised. In the formulation of a new Basic Policy, from what perspective were the revisions made, and what was it decided that the initiatives would be focused on?
A6		The First Basic Policy, which as formulated in 2002, looks forward nearly five years, but it has been decided that revisions will be carried out flexibly and appropriately based on changes in circumstances and assessments of the effects of the measures. Five years have passed since the First Basic Policy was formulated, but society has undergone significant changes recently. Domestically, these include the revision of division of roles between the private sector and the government, the promotion of decentralization, and the entry of the private sector into new fields through the easing of regulations and so forth. Internationally, they include the progress of globalization and the development and spread of information and telecommunications technologies, which have had a significant impact on the situation surrounding culture and the arts. Revisions were thus made in order to reflect the nature of the promotion of culture and the arts in accordance with the times, and the Second Basic Policy was formulated. The Second Basic Policy is based on the three basic perspectives of: (1) Leading the way to an era of the power of culture It is necessary to boost Japan's “Power of Culture” and realize a society that is spiritually rich and full of vitality. (2) Invigorating Japan based on the power of culture of regions The richness of the regional cultures will serve as an impetus for increasing the richness of Japanese culture as a whole and the attractiveness of Japan, and invigorate people. (3) Supporting culture and the arts through mutual collaboration between the central government, local governments, and the private sector It is important to work to promote culture and the arts in society as a whole based on mutual collaboration between individuals, companies, organizations, local governments, the central government, and so forth. The Second Basic Policy states that efforts should be carried out with a focus on the following six items: () Cultivation of human resources to transmit, develop and create Japanese culture and the arts () Dissemination of Japanese culture and promotion of international cultural exchange () Strategic support for cultural and artistic activities () Promotion of regional culture () Enhancement of cultural and artistic activities for children () Enhancement of the preservation and utilization of cultural properties The Basic Policy, like the First Basic Policy, specifically states measures for 107 items from a new perspective with regard to 11 matters in line with the provisions of the Fundamental Law for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts. The Second Basic Policy was formulated looking ahead nearly five years into the future. The Agency for Cultural Affairs going forward will make comprehensive efforts in the promotion of culture and the arts based on this policy.
		See Main Text Special Feature 2, Part 2