2021 Volume 178 Pages 36-50
In June 2019 the Law for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education was promulgated, clarifying the responsibility of national and local governments to provide the educational opportunity. This paper reports on an effort by one local government, Toyota City, to establish a system for Japanese language education that preceded this national law. Toyota City adopted a policy according to which it was the responsibility of the local public entity to ensure access to Japanese language education to achieve a minimum level of proficiency in the Japanese language, as well as to provide introductory education in basic knowledge about Japan. Based on this policy, the Toyota City Council for the Promotion of Internationalization was formed, resulting in the construction and management of the Japanese Learning Support System for Toyota City, and work also began to construct a system for the introductory education about Japan. After an examination of this project, this paper stresses the importance, when constructing and managing Japanese language education system, of surveying current local conditions, and of fostering sustained dialogue that will give a concrete form to the ideals on which the project is founded.
