Hito-zukuri: Not the Same as Human Resources Development

Abstract

This paper aims to examine and clarify the Japanese concept of hito-zukuri, paying attention to international and internal development policies of the Japanese government. Hito-zukuri has been generally translated as “human resourses development” related to technical cooperation in the context of international development. However, hito-zukuri has also been given the element of formal and nonformal moral education to nurture “Japaneseness” both for Japanene youths especially in the postwar high economic growth period, and for people in currently so-called developing countries through international development or cooperation. Therefore we cannot translate hito-zukuri directly into human resources development only. Hito-zukuri holds two types education: technological and moral. In hito-zukuri, educators look precisely its educands as a technologically and morally developing people. There are eyes of stratification. That is why the educational and developmental ethics is essential in hito-zukuri.