This is the first paper of a series of case studies on consumer issues which raised nation-wide consumer oppositions to the government in Japan. It treats the ban of ”AF-2”, which was accepted as a disinfectant for foods in 1965 and banned in 1974. Based on the analysis of the decision-making process toward the ban, I showed that consumer organizations played a decisive role for the ban but they could not become a permanent part of the decision-making of consumer policy.

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To consumer: ”To make away with, destroy, as by fire,　evaporation, decomposition, disease; to waste, succumb; to use up, esp. to eat up, drink up,; to take up, spend, waste (time); to waste away, to burn away”. This definition of the word ”consume”, from the Oxford English Dictionary, explains rather graphically why ”sustainable consumption” is one of the battle cries of the environmental movement. If the sustainability of biological system is not ensured, future generarions may have problems meeting their most basic needs, such as food. Sustainable consumption means changing lifestyles and this concept is an essential component of consumer education. Therefore the classification of concepts in consumer education should be changed according to the circumsatances of today.

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A Revoluation of the principle of consumer behaviour, from utilitarianism to citizenship control 0f materialistic selfishwants, is needed, in the age of life-nomic civilization. The next century is the age of life-nomic civilization, where environmental consumer attitudes and social systems have to be changed radically, where the definition of the human‐being has to be changed also under the concept of life‐history, and where household and resources have to be re-denned life‐economically. A new dimension of global consumer attitude has to be considered consistent with the concept of the new theory of justice, that no‐one can be better off if we cannot make better sustainable development conditions of another nature and/or human-existence.

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The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential connection between Consumer Education and Environmental Education for the purpose of avoiding the geo‐catastrophe of the human race. An educational approach has been made to examine this subject. I will examine Erich Fromm's thought, especially with reference to the ideas of``social Character" and “the being mode of existende" Hence an attempt to unite the two kinds of education will be made. The conclusion here is that a view of children's character formation dominated by“ the being mode of existence" will be necessary.

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This paper focuses on the introductory period of consumer education in Japan. It is generally believed that consumer education in Japan was started by industry, due to the many explain activities of the Japan Productivity Center (JPA). However, the result of investigation shows that consumer education in JPA worked not for sales promotion but for construction of commodity test facilities.

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An investigation on labeling was done to assess how women recognize labeling and react toward the information given by the labeling of daily goods such as clothes, foods, and electric appliances. Great differences were observed among the women's groups (students, mothers, and　grandmothers) in the way and the degree of recongition. The meaning of the labeling was　understood well by mothers or students, but pooly by grandmothers. The elderly group was appeared to find many difficulties in recognizing the labeling, because 1) the characters are too　small, 2) what the labeling means is hard to understand, and 3) the place where the labeling is located is not easy to find.

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We investigated the actual condition Of the disposal of garbage by 33 1ocal goverments in the Chugoku‐ Shikoku district. Also we examined the recovery of resources from domestic waste. The volume of the recovery of resources from domestic waste is related to that of the domestic waste. In order to recover resources from domestic waste effectively, we need a long sustaining practice of recovery and active support from local goverments. Consumer education is getting more important to put the idea of a`Recychng‐ Society'into practice

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The purpose of this study is to explore the situation regarding coupons in Japan and Japanese consumers' behavior toward coupons. A survey research of the use of coupons by Japanese consumers who have lived in the United States was conducted to investigate Japanese consumers' behavior toward coupons.

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Information about disposable diapers was obtained from databases in America. Much of the information not only treated the properties of diapers as weH as the production and distribution Of them, but also referred to the environmental problems relating to disposable diapers. The listed problems were as follows: disposable diapers as garbage, their biodegradability, their use as compost, tax on them, and comparison of the environmental effects between disposable and cloth diapers. The analysis of these facts showed that, in contrast to Japan, the attention of American people concerning disposable diapers were mainly given to the environmental problems and not to their properties.

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The purpose of this study is to make clear the awareness and problems of the Homemaker. The results of a multifactoranalysis extracted six facts. It is clear that being a homemaker has three advantages and three disadvantages. The advantages are, 1) it is possible to have time to spare, 2)it is possible to have afford to do a thing mentally, and 3) it is immpossible to feel a efficient and the significance of homemaking. The disadvantages are, 1) it is difficult to distinguish between public and private world, 2) there is a tendency to feel out of things, and 3) there is a tendency to impose a burden on families.

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Many do not know Japanese commercial high schools teach much about consumer education in technical subjects. It may be natural from the completion rate of the subjects. At any rate government, colleges, and other leading educational organizations discuss little about ”consumer education at commercial high schools” I would like to communicate with more people to deepen understanding of consumer education in the field of commercial education by introducing more commercial high school technical subjects such as ”distribution economy”, ”commodity”, ”marketing”, ”management”, ”business laws”, etc.

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The aim of this study is research of a desirable way of Consumer Education, ・...way of how to nurture the “Consumer Citizen" in social studies. I once had an opportunity to make pubilc an image of “Proposing Consumer'', a consumer who is eager to propose something in every possible occasion. This kind of consumer can be an ideal one, taking a positive and independent action when necessary in our rapidly changing economic society. Required for this type of man are opinion‐express ability, critical mind, and will power of decision‐making. This paper shows some reseach and concrete teaching plan to improve these abilities.

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A Survey was made on the present degree of student' awareness of social responsibility for consumer behavior. A questionnair survey was made of 723 students,from junior high school to conege, about consumption of beef, which is a SubieCt Of their great interest. An analysis was also made of teaching materials 、vhich appeared in homemaking education magazines from 1989 to 1994. The students' interest was found to be high in matters concerning their health and safety and very low in those concerning distribution and environment. Iost of teaching materials were about scientinc knowledge and techniques andnone、vas found about responsibility on consumer behavior. Development of teaching materials for cultivating students' consciousness of social responsibility for consumer behavior is deslred.

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In thes article, textbooks and the Course of Study of home economics are analyzed with respect to the recent stress on consumer education, and teachers' attitude to the education is investigated. Findings are as follows: 1. Content of consumer education in the Course of Study has increased by 10.0 percent. 2. Relevant independent and developmental materials in textbooks have increased from 9.9 to 19.7 percent and from 5.3 to 20.8 percent respectively. 3. In junior high, where a field ’home life’ has been newly established, teachers feel the need of self-study, having both eagerness and difficulty in the field.

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The purpose of this study is to clarify the difference of influence of information and the environment of commerce on children’s consumer skills. This areas for the object of this survey are Hakodate City (as a sample of a city), Okushiri cho Okushirigun (as a sample of an isolated district), and Esashi cho Hiyamagun in Hokkaido. This self-administered questionnaire was given to 258 pairs ; seventh-grade students and their parents. Exploratory variables of children’s consumer skills include the information available in the area and at home, parents’ consumer behavior, and children’s own information gathering. Results: 1) The information in the area and the environment of the commerce don’t have much influence on children’s consumer skills. 2) The greatest influence on children’s consumer skills are children’s own information gathering first, and the information at home second. 3) Children’s consumer skills are influenced more by family context than differences among areas.

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Yokohama Consumers’ Center has been making efforts to support the rights of consumers and to offer information to promote consumers’ awareness. “The day class for Consumers’ Life” is one part of our programme. This survey analyses the purposes and contents of the day classes during the past 12 years as understood by the class participants. The awarness and interests of the consumers are considered in order to know how to better improve the ‘Day Class’ in the future. In this survey, the characteristics of popular and unpopular classes are examined according to the class locations, time of day, time of year, names of class and class contents. From the results of the study, suggestions are made about how to develop and design more effective types of day classes.

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The Japan Consumers' Association became the first group to promote consumer education called by: 1. Publishing: a consumer magazine 『Consumer』2. Conducting consumer consultant training 3. Disseminating consumer education materials Good Points Consumer education materials-especially VTR-were evaluated and accepted. Bad Points 『Consumer』 magazine and consultant training were not concerned with benefits of consumer education in school. The important strategy is perhaps the development (of critical thinking) how to make decisions and take action.

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This research of mail‐ order shopping of clothing is based on the results of a questionnaire given to meaningfully selected of those who are eighteen and above in age in Keihin and Chukyo areas. The mail‐ order system is becoming popular among females. They do not use it fully, because consumers are uncertain about clothes which they cannot try on or touch. That is, they are uncertain about the qualities of sewing, color and image. The most popular goods are women's underwear, nightwear, socks and T-shirts, because the prices are reasonable and there is no need for test fitting. The main source of their information is catalogues. The major complaints against the mail―ordered clothes are unsuitable sizes and the difference between the colors of the clothing in catalogues and those of real thems. Despite those complaints, the return‐and‐exchange ratio of the mail‐ordered clothes is modestly low. The young consumers expect the mail‐ordered clothes to be more fashion‐oriented. The middle‐aged and older consumers hope that the writing used for explanation will be easier to read and under-stand. Yet, the top priority in mail‐order shopping is how the catalogues can be made closer to the reality of actual clothing. Thus it is suggested that teaching the mail‐order system to consumers should be carried out at schools and communities. Moreover, it is necessary that the companies make their explanation in advertisement as clear as possible. They can build customer's trust through better quality and by narrowing the gap between misleading catalogue pictures and reality.

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Modern everyday life at home is supported by many electric appliances. The refrigerator which was listed as one of the "Three Gifts of Heaven" in the mid 30's is now heavily relied upon throughout the year and is currently the number one user of domestic electric power. The original purpose of refrigerator is to preserve food, and in order to use it properly and effectively, a users' manual is supplied. The refrigerator has been designated as a standard teaching material for use in primary, middle and high school programs. The users' manuals of refrigerators and textbooks of home economics were collected and their explanations were compared and reviewed to find out what kind of information was actually supplied, especially as regards the preservation of food. This study revealed some manuals and the textbooks contained misleading and difficult expressions as well as statements that appeared to be in error. Further, a questionnaire survey of 450 students in the high school freshman class、vas conducted regarding the preservation of food The results of this study, will be used for analyzing the users'manuals and textbooks. At the same time, it will recommend how students as consumers should be taught in home economics classes to learn correct information and how four parties‐ consumers, manufacturers, schools, and government bodies could cooperate、with each other for consumer education.

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