Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the trends and identify future issues in early childhood multicultural education research through a review of Japanese literature. A total of 98 articles were extracted and categorized into six research subjects. Furthermore, the purpose and content of these subjects were sub-classified into 19 categories. Our review indicated a growing body of research and expanding content in early childhood multicultural education. However, there was a noticeable scarcity of long-term observational studies focused on children and a significant lack of research on multicultural education in early childhood for all children. Our findings suggested the need for further research and development of specific methods and processes to fully integrate multicultural education into early childhood care, advancing beyond its current status as a specialized approach.
