Abstract
While ‘place’ has been a center of attention in many disciplines, the Japanese words equivalent to the concept of ‘place’ is multi-faceted and controversial. This paper overviews the discussion around the concepts of ‘place’ in literature as well as Japanese terms which may translate as ‘place’ and ‘community’. The discourse around place-based education (PBE) is examined, and the 100-year history of the movement of the similar concept in Japan is outlined. It discusses the meaning of PBE in the context of globalization, and encourages Japanese practitioners and researchers in outdoor and environmental education to explore the perspectives of place as many ‘relationships’ linked to education for sustainability at the current time of high social, economic and environmental instability.
