Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART II Chapter 1 Section 1 1

Japan is experiencing rapid and wide-ranging social changes, including internationalization, advances in science and technology, the shift to an information-oriented society, changes in the industrial and employment structures, the decline in the number of children, the transition to an aging society, the reduction of working hours and the expansion of leisure time, and the expanding role of women in society. Education, science, culture, and sports all have extremely important roles to play in our efforts to cope with these changes and build a dynamic, creative, and culturally rich society and in our efforts to mold Japan into a country that can make a positive contribution to the international community and provide an environment in which priority is given to consumers and individual citizens can enjoy rewarding and fulfilling lives.

One of the fundamental tasks for educational administration in this context is to provide a flexible and creative response to change. For example, to adapt to the growing trend toward internationalization and enable Japan to fulfill its international responsibilities, the people of Japan must be able to develop the qualities that they will need in order to live successfully in the international community. We also need to develop scientific research that creates a common intellectual heritage for humanity and creative artistic activities based on an international perspective. In addition, we must increase our efforts to develop international exchange and cooperation through education, science, culture, and sports.

If we are to build a creative and dynamic society capable of adapting to advances in science and technology, the shift to an information-oriented society, and changes in the industrial and employment structures, our priorities must also include the development of information literacy, the improvement of vocational and technical education, the expansion of learning opportunities for adults, the promotion of coordination and cooperation among universities, local communities, and society, the development of information systems for lifelong learning and scientific research, and the enhancement of the copyright system.

To realize an enriching and fulfilling national life while coping with social changes, including the decline in the number of children and the transition to an aging society, the expansion of leisure time, and the growing role of women in society, we need to work toward the creation of a sunny and dynamic social environment and the establishment of a welfare society in the broadest sense of the term. The priorities in this context are the provision of diverse learning opportunities to support the attainment of fulfilling lifestyles on a lifelong basis, through measures that include support and encouragement for volunteer activities and the promotion of local culture, lifestyle culture, and sports-for-all. Other key tasks include the improvement of the educational functions of the family and the community, the reduction of educational costs, and the expansion of basic research in fields that contribute to a welfare society.

Another fundamental task for educational administration is the pursuit of values that remain constant across the generations. The basic approaches to this task are character formation, including the development of knowledge, morals, and physical health (education), the pursuit of truth (science), and the realization of basic human spiritual and physical aspirations (culture and sports). The people have extremely important needs in all these areas.