Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Science, Sports and Culture 2000 > Part 1 Chapter 3 Section 4 2

The Japanese government and local governments are dispatching outstanding artistic groups in such areas as orchestra, stage plays, ballet, Bunraku, etc., to elementary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools, in order to provide opportunities for children to experience the splendor of real arts and joy of seeing stage performances, as well as to foster a rich sensitivity in children.

Also, the National Theater (for Kabuki, Bunraku, and Noh) and the New National Theater (for opera) are organizing introductory workshops for young people to learn to appreciate performing arts. The fees for these workshops are less expensive than those for ordinary performances.

Many museums and art museums, including national museums and national art museums, are making efforts to expand opportunities for children to experience the arts through the organization of exhibitions of works oriented towards children, the public exhibition of cultural properties, and children's workshops. At the same time, in response to criticism that all of the potential resources of museums are not necessarily exploited effectively to expand opportunities for children to experience art, museums are organizing participatory and hands-on exhibitions (where children can see, touch, experiment and think on their own) so that children can come to understand history, traditional culture, arts, natural principles and technologies by enjoying them.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs is also promoting these efforts and supporting nationwide programs and model programs in local areas. The Agency plans to continue to promote these activities.

School education plays a very significant role in fostering sensitivity and a love for music and art. However as music and art are not generally compulsory subjects on entrance examinations, some are pointing out that these subjects tend to be given lower priority in education. It is desirable that each school address the spirit of educational reform by placing more emphasis on arts-related subjects. In the newly-revised Courses of Study, individual schools are given discretion to place more emphasis on arts-related studies through special activities and the Period of Integrated Study.

Also, all students are expected to actively engage in arts-related studies, as music and arts will enrich their lives in the long term.