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Foreword


There remain but two months until the start of the 21st century. At the forefront of the new millennium, we must look back on the 20th century and make our way toward the 21st century embracing firm views toward the future. Today's society is becoming increasingly developed and complex, and is accomplishing rapid and radical changes, as evidenced by the intensification of international industrial competition, the transfer to a knowledge-based society and the rapid progress toward an information society. Consequently, the role of education, which forms the cornerstone of all social systems, will become increasingly important for Japan's continued development as a vibrant nation.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture (MESSC) is perpetually assessing its policies and proactively advancing various reforms in response to societal change. In order to introduce these educational policies to the public, MESSC annually publishes Japanese Government Policies in Education, Science, Sports and Culture.

Japanese Government Policies in Education, Science, Sports and Culture 2000 focuses particularly on culture, being subtitled "Towards a Culturally-Oriented Nation."

Culture represents the source of fostering creativity of the individual and engendering social and economic vigor. The role of culture is becoming increasingly important in order to realize a Japan which is replete with vitality and where each and every individual is truly able to experience freedom from pressure and relaxation in his or her daily life. Based on such a recognition, we are actively promoting various policies toward the realization of a culturally-oriented nation for the 21st century. The 2000 edition features the current status of Japanese culture, the history of the Government's culture policy, and future measures towards the realization of an emotionally enriched society.

I hope that this report will help you understand the Government's policies concerning education, science, sports and culture. OSHIMA Tadamori Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture

November 2000


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