Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public Schools
Researchers have identified certain shortcomings in multicultural education in Japanese public schools, particularly in relation to children with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. While there is an emphasis on supporting Japanese language instruction and equal treatment with mainstream st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Asian Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/18999 |
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| author | Tinka Delakorda Kawashima |
| author_facet | Tinka Delakorda Kawashima |
| author_sort | Tinka Delakorda Kawashima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Researchers have identified certain shortcomings in multicultural education in Japanese public schools, particularly in relation to children with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. While there is an emphasis on supporting Japanese language instruction and equal treatment with mainstream students, there is a lack of attention to the cultural and religious differences and needs that may hinder children’s integration into the school environment. Despite this observation, there is limited research on practical strategies to address these issues. This paper evaluates multicultural education on two fronts: first, through the observation of teaching practices for children with foreign roots at a Higashi-Hiroshima elementary school, and second, by examining teacher training at a national university in the same city. The study highlights deficiencies in teachers’ diversity approaches, particularly their lack of experience in dealing with differences. It proposes that integrating practical group activities aimed at promoting awareness of diversity, e.g., religious differences into multicultural teacher education strategies can significantly reshape teachers’ perceptions and attitudes toward different cultures.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22af19fddfb54b8191c8d09f00fd4df7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2232-5131 2350-4226 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-22af19fddfb54b8191c8d09f00fd4df72025-08-20T02:56:24ZengUniversity of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)Asian Studies2232-51312350-42262025-03-0113suppl.10.4312/as.2025.13.sup.343-367Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public SchoolsTinka Delakorda Kawashima0Hiroshima University, JapanResearchers have identified certain shortcomings in multicultural education in Japanese public schools, particularly in relation to children with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. While there is an emphasis on supporting Japanese language instruction and equal treatment with mainstream students, there is a lack of attention to the cultural and religious differences and needs that may hinder children’s integration into the school environment. Despite this observation, there is limited research on practical strategies to address these issues. This paper evaluates multicultural education on two fronts: first, through the observation of teaching practices for children with foreign roots at a Higashi-Hiroshima elementary school, and second, by examining teacher training at a national university in the same city. The study highlights deficiencies in teachers’ diversity approaches, particularly their lack of experience in dealing with differences. It proposes that integrating practical group activities aimed at promoting awareness of diversity, e.g., religious differences into multicultural teacher education strategies can significantly reshape teachers’ perceptions and attitudes toward different cultures. https://journals.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/18999multicultural educationJapanese public schoolscultural diversityintegration challengesteacher trainingreligious differences |
| spellingShingle | Tinka Delakorda Kawashima Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public Schools Asian Studies multicultural education Japanese public schools cultural diversity integration challenges teacher training religious differences |
| title | Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public Schools |
| title_full | Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public Schools |
| title_fullStr | Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public Schools |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public Schools |
| title_short | Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public Schools |
| title_sort | changing attitudes toward diversity in japanese public schools |
| topic | multicultural education Japanese public schools cultural diversity integration challenges teacher training religious differences |
| url | https://journals.uni-lj.si/as/article/view/18999 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tinkadelakordakawashima changingattitudestowarddiversityinjapanesepublicschools |