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A Case Study of Successful Leadership by an Elementary School Principal in Japan

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Title: A Case Study of Successful Leadership by an Elementary School Principal in Japan
Language: English
Authors: Takumi Yada (ORCID 0000-0001-9953-7972), Tomoko Kashiwagi (ORCID 0009-0005-7389-218X), Michiyo Nishino (ORCID 0009-0000-3866-3166), Madoka Ono (ORCID 0009-0000-4333-9918), Megumi Honjo (ORCID 0000-0002-8360-1092), Hiroshi Sato
Source: Journal of Educational Administration. 2026 64(3):309-323.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Leadership Styles, Principals, Administrator Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Parent Attitudes, Community Attitudes, Leadership Qualities, Administrator Behavior, Elementary Schools
Geographic Terms: Japan
DOI: 10.1108/JEA-11-2024-0384
ISSN: 0957-8234
1758-7395
Abstract: Purpose: This study aims to explore the characteristics and strategies of successful school leadership in a specific school in Japan, focusing on leadership values, identity and practices, and how stakeholders within and across the education system, including the principal, teachers, students, parents and community members, perceive successful school leadership in the context. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilised a multi-perspective single case study approach using individual and focus group interviews with a principal, teachers, students, parents and community members, as well as a survey of the principal and teachers in an urban Japanese school. The interview and survey questions follow the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP) protocol. Interviews were conducted using semi-structured interviews. Discourse analysis was adopted for the qualitative data. The quantitative survey data were used to complement the qualitative analysis. Findings: Three key characteristics of successful principal leadership in this particular case were identified: Vision and communication of the principal, decision-making through a data-driven improvement cycle and, leadership mix. First, the principal communicated his values and disseminated them through inquiry-based learning as a tool for change at the school. Second, the principal identifies issues and makes quick decisions through short cycles of data-driven improvement. Third, the principal balanced top-down and bottom-up leadership, using a hierarchical approach to vision while promoting teacher autonomy through professional development. Originality/value: This case study contributes to the literature on school leadership in Japan, addressing the paucity of research that emphasises "success" in a collective and hierarchical cultural context. Moreover, this study explores leadership from the diverse perspectives of other important stakeholders, including the principal, teachers, students, parents and community members.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507777
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: A Case Study of Successful Leadership by an Elementary School Principal in Japan
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Takumi+Yada%22">Takumi Yada</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9953-7972">0000-0001-9953-7972</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tomoko+Kashiwagi%22">Tomoko Kashiwagi</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7389-218X">0009-0005-7389-218X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michiyo+Nishino%22">Michiyo Nishino</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3866-3166">0009-0000-3866-3166</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Madoka+Ono%22">Madoka Ono</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4333-9918">0009-0000-4333-9918</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Megumi+Honjo%22">Megumi Honjo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8360-1092">0000-0002-8360-1092</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hiroshi+Sato%22">Hiroshi Sato</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Educational+Administration%22"><i>Journal of Educational Administration</i></searchLink>. 2026 64(3):309-323.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 15
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership+Styles%22">Leadership Styles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Principals%22">Principals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Attitudes%22">Administrator Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+Attitudes%22">Parent Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+Attitudes%22">Community Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership+Qualities%22">Leadership Qualities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Behavior%22">Administrator Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Schools%22">Elementary Schools</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Japan%22">Japan</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/JEA-11-2024-0384
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0957-8234<br />1758-7395
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This study aims to explore the characteristics and strategies of successful school leadership in a specific school in Japan, focusing on leadership values, identity and practices, and how stakeholders within and across the education system, including the principal, teachers, students, parents and community members, perceive successful school leadership in the context. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilised a multi-perspective single case study approach using individual and focus group interviews with a principal, teachers, students, parents and community members, as well as a survey of the principal and teachers in an urban Japanese school. The interview and survey questions follow the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP) protocol. Interviews were conducted using semi-structured interviews. Discourse analysis was adopted for the qualitative data. The quantitative survey data were used to complement the qualitative analysis. Findings: Three key characteristics of successful principal leadership in this particular case were identified: Vision and communication of the principal, decision-making through a data-driven improvement cycle and, leadership mix. First, the principal communicated his values and disseminated them through inquiry-based learning as a tool for change at the school. Second, the principal identifies issues and makes quick decisions through short cycles of data-driven improvement. Third, the principal balanced top-down and bottom-up leadership, using a hierarchical approach to vision while promoting teacher autonomy through professional development. Originality/value: This case study contributes to the literature on school leadership in Japan, addressing the paucity of research that emphasises "success" in a collective and hierarchical cultural context. Moreover, this study explores leadership from the diverse perspectives of other important stakeholders, including the principal, teachers, students, parents and community members.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1507777
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        Value: 10.1108/JEA-11-2024-0384
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 309
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Leadership Styles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Principals
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      – SubjectFull: Administrator Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Leadership Qualities
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      – SubjectFull: Administrator Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Japan
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      – TitleFull: A Case Study of Successful Leadership by an Elementary School Principal in Japan
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