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The Education of Human Rights in Japan: A Comparative Analysis of Civics Textbooks in Senior High School between the 1970s and 2010s

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Title: The Education of Human Rights in Japan: A Comparative Analysis of Civics Textbooks in Senior High School between the 1970s and 2010s
Language: English
Authors: Helix Lo (ORCID 0000-0003-1702-3711)
Source: Asia Pacific Journal of Education. 2026 46(1):20-38.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Civics, Citizenship Education, Textbook Evaluation, Textbooks, High Schools, Secondary School Curriculum, Civil Rights, Content Analysis, Theory Practice Relationship, Educational History, Minority Groups, Disproportionate Representation
Geographic Terms: Japan
DOI: 10.1080/02188791.2024.2325678
ISSN: 0218-8791
1742-6855
Abstract: The education of human rights, or Human Rights Education (HRE), has been increasingly vital for the preservation and dissemination of human rights values in contemporary time. Japan, as an East Asian democracy, is not an exception. Yet there has been limited scholarship in English on the efforts that the Japanese government has invested in educating human rights through formal citizenship education. To what extent did (does) Japanese formal citizenship education value human rights concepts and address domestic human rights issues? This study approaches the civics textbooks of Japanese senior high schools published in the 1970s-2010s by adopting comparative content analyses. It suggests that, first, there is an increasing usage of human rights conceptual terms with Liberty as the most frequently found word in the textbooks. Second, however, limited knowledge and empowerment are provided when the human rights issues of three underprivileged groups in Japan -- the Burakumin, the Ainu, and foreign residents -- are taught. This study suggests the government to put greater efforts into educating students about domestic human rights issues. Future studies are also suggested to continue investigating the development of HRE in Japan and to locate the reasons behind the reluctance in teaching domestic human rights issues there.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495790
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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IllustrationInfo
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  Data: The Education of Human Rights in Japan: A Comparative Analysis of Civics Textbooks in Senior High School between the 1970s and 2010s
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Helix+Lo%22">Helix Lo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1702-3711">0000-0003-1702-3711</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Asia+Pacific+Journal+of+Education%22"><i>Asia Pacific Journal of Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 46(1):20-38.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: 19
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Civics%22">Civics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Citizenship+Education%22">Citizenship Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Textbook+Evaluation%22">Textbook Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Textbooks%22">Textbooks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Curriculum%22">Secondary School Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Civil+Rights%22">Civil Rights</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Content+Analysis%22">Content Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Theory+Practice+Relationship%22">Theory Practice Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+History%22">Educational History</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Groups%22">Minority Groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disproportionate+Representation%22">Disproportionate Representation</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Japan%22">Japan</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1080/02188791.2024.2325678
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  Data: 0218-8791<br />1742-6855
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The education of human rights, or Human Rights Education (HRE), has been increasingly vital for the preservation and dissemination of human rights values in contemporary time. Japan, as an East Asian democracy, is not an exception. Yet there has been limited scholarship in English on the efforts that the Japanese government has invested in educating human rights through formal citizenship education. To what extent did (does) Japanese formal citizenship education value human rights concepts and address domestic human rights issues? This study approaches the civics textbooks of Japanese senior high schools published in the 1970s-2010s by adopting comparative content analyses. It suggests that, first, there is an increasing usage of human rights conceptual terms with Liberty as the most frequently found word in the textbooks. Second, however, limited knowledge and empowerment are provided when the human rights issues of three underprivileged groups in Japan -- the Burakumin, the Ainu, and foreign residents -- are taught. This study suggests the government to put greater efforts into educating students about domestic human rights issues. Future studies are also suggested to continue investigating the development of HRE in Japan and to locate the reasons behind the reluctance in teaching domestic human rights issues there.
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        Value: 10.1080/02188791.2024.2325678
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Civics
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      – SubjectFull: Citizenship Education
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      – SubjectFull: Textbook Evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Textbooks
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      – SubjectFull: High Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Curriculum
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      – SubjectFull: Civil Rights
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Content Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Theory Practice Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Educational History
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      – SubjectFull: Minority Groups
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      – SubjectFull: Disproportionate Representation
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      – SubjectFull: Japan
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      – TitleFull: The Education of Human Rights in Japan: A Comparative Analysis of Civics Textbooks in Senior High School between the 1970s and 2010s
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