Lifelong Learning in Japan: Policy, Concepts, and the Present Situation

摘要

In this article, I'll review the processes of the system of social education in post-war Japan, while going over its organizing principles. Next, it summarizes the development of Japan's lifelong learning policy since the 1960s. In particular, it reviews the types of reforms that have been advanced amid the economic globalization since the 1990s. Lastly, I summarize the current state of the relationship between governance reform for social education facilities such as Kominkan - a central issue in lifelong learning policy recently - and community development policy, by presenting several arguments about how this should be evaluated.