TEACHING GUIDELINES OF KENDO IN PREWAR SECONDARY SCHOOLS(1)

Abstract

Kendo became required in prewar secondary schools (normal schools and middle schools) on 10 January 1931 (sixth year of Showa), when the normal school regulations and the enforcement regulations of secondary school legislation were amended.
At the time, however, only the regulations were amended and there was no increase of teaching hours or enactment of teaching guidelines. Those essential changes had to wait until 3 June 1936, when the second amendment to the school physical education teaching guidelines was promulgated. On this occasion, teaching guidelines for Kendo was officially enacted for the first time.
Ukichi Sato, who drafted the teaching guidelines for Kendo stated that the purpose of teaching Kendo at schools was to “discipline the will power of students.” On this principle, the teaching guidelines incorporated group teaching method which was handed down since the last years of Meiji Period (1912-1968).
The current essay shed some light on the characteristics of Sato's teaching guidelines for Kendo. Also considered in the essay are the differences in the attitudes toward teaching guidelines for Kendo and the contents of teaching between the two teachers college for Kendo: Tokyo Higher Normal School and Greater Japan Society for Military Virtue Budo Technical College for Kendo.