Taikinosuke Yamamoto’s Early Views on Youth Education as Evidenced in Inaka Seinen [Rural Youth]

Abstract

Young groups have been major concern in the developmental history of social education in Japan. Yamamoto Taikinosuke (1873-1931)played an important role in the development of Japanese youths. Focusing on his maiden work-Inaka Seinen-this paper aims to elucidate Yamamoto's early views on youth education. In Yamamoto's work, we discover the following facts. First, the form of youth education theory that Yamamoto espoused sought to cultivate young people who would help bring prosperity to the countryside. The aim was to build a sound country that balanced urban and rural power. Secondly, to foster the youth, Yamamoto advocated an approach-based on simplicity and frugality-that anyone could implement in their daily lives. Namely, he advocated youth education as a means to rescue young people in the countryside from the life of depravity they were currently leading. Thirdly, Yamamoto stressed the importance of self-reliance / critical thinking among the young. Rather than simply having them acquire existing knowledge, he felt that it was critical for young people to cultivate the ability to think critically and more deeply about issues, while maintaining concern for others / the society as a whole. The educational views that Yamamoto advocated in Inaka Seinen differs from that provided by traditional village youth organizations. By stressing the importance of allowing young people to enjoy independence and individuality, Yamamoto helped spark the dawn of modern youth education in Japan.