The characteristics of English language education policy discourse in the Japanese National Diet

A Comparison with other school subjects

Abstract

This study examined the evolution of English language education policy discourse in Japan by analyzing the minutes of the National Diet from 1947 to 2023. Employing quantitative content analysis, the study contrasted discussions of English education with both general education discourse and science education discourse. The findings identify chronological patterns in politicians’ attention across subject areas, demonstrating how sociopolitical factors influence educational policy priorities. This historical perspective provides key insights into contemporary debates surrounding English language education policy in Japan and contributes to our understanding of educational policy-making processes. Keywords: English language education, education policy, politicians, policy-making process, comparative study