Japanese Language Education that Facilitates a Convivial Society

Abstract

In this paper the author presents the policy changes that have accompanied the increase in the number of people coming to work in Japan from overseas during the past few years and discusses the resulting need for Japanese language education to facilitate a convivial society. An outline of the significance accorded to the concept of inclusion at policy level is given, followed by a description of the developments in Japanese language education designed to facilitate a convivial society. The author concludes that in order for Japanese language education to facilitate a convivial society in the future, it will be necessary both to clarify the institutional significance of the concept and to engage in interventional research.