（1）From Elementary Schools to National Schools

On March 1, 1941, the National School Order was promulgated on the basis of the recommendations of the 1937 Education Council. Regulations for the Enforcement of the National School Order were also issued in that same month. Both of the new Order and Regulations came into force on April 1, 1941, replacing the 1900 Elementary School Order and its enforcement regulations. Needless to say, in that the elementary school had been in existence for seventy years since the time of the 1872 proclamation of the Education System Order (Gakusei), there were many who objected to this reform, but their resistance was overcome. The basic ideas behind the reform were clarified in the Ministry of Education's instructions which were issued in March, 1941, when Hashida Kunihiko(1882 -1945) was the Minister. The instructions noted unprecedented hardships Japan was confronted with and hence the need to establish uniquely Japanese form of education which would inspire the people and prepare them for the future. Article 1 of the National School Order stated: "The aims of the National School are to carry out elementary general education in accordance with the Imperial Way and to provide our people with the basic training required of Imperial Subjects."