Abstract
This paper examines the current state of media literacy education in Japan and re-evaluates the objectives that need to be addressed in media education. This paper also evaluates the possibilities for revitalization of Japanese civil society through media education. A prime objective of media education is to foster a critical "eye" about the media and through that, facilitate empowerment of citizens. Empowerment of citizens through media education is one path for revitalization of Japanese civil society. If empowerment of citizens is to be viewed as the final goal of media education, the following issues need to be additionally addressed as well in Japan: education on Net security and Net privacy issues, the interpretation of shocking images found on the Internet and digital copyrights. Media concentration is also an important issue to be understood through media education.
