Abstract
This study examines the policy process surrounding the “Act for Establishing the Ad Hoc Council on Education,” which was enacted in August 1984. Although the Ad Hoc Council of Education was described as the reform led by the Prime Minister’s Office, or the beginning of neoliberal education reform, this study recontextualized the political backgrounds and systemic circumstances of that period. The Ad Hoc Council for Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone aimed to stabilize the political foundation. The policy concept originated from Takeo Nishioka, a key member of the education tribe in the Liberal Democrats Party（LDP）, where he served as a coordinator. However, he lost the Diet member seat in the December 1984 election. Furthermore, senior education tribe Diet members within the LDP opposed the revisions of the Fundamental Law of Education. Additionally, the Management and Coordination Agency had just been established. Thus, the Ministry of Education participated in the formulation of the Act. Finally, in the argument in the Diet, the cabinet was required to explain the need for an ad hoc council. Consequently, the purpose of the Ad Hoc Council was likely to be unclear and ambiguous. The process of the “Act for Establishing the Ad Hoc Council” imposed limitations on the Ad Hoc Council’s agendas. Keywords: “The Ad hoc Council on Education,” “Yasuhiro Nakasone,” “Takeo Nishioka,” “led by the Prime Minister’s Office,” “neoliberal education reform”
