The main purpose of this paper is to survey new topics in 8 English Reading textbooks authorized in 2007 by the Ministry of Education in Japan. It cannot be denied that each textbook obtains its own character, but it is surprising that every textbook has very similar topics. Generally, it consists of the following 7 common kinds of themes: 1) world peace, 2) environmental problems, 3) physically challenged people, 4) foreign countries, 5) English, 6) science, 7) literature. Probably because the nation experienced the sheer misery and was completely defeated in the Second World War, the government of Japan seems to expect the people, especially, the young students, to study and appreciate the value of world peace and human rights, both of which are believed to have been gained after the war. Japanese authors of the English textbooks, who are mostly university professors understanding the national policy, are also eager to realize the ideal world without war, poverty and any sort of discrimination. Perhaps their attitudes are not wrong in the least; but are they really right in choosing topics for the students who want to learn English? Is there any possibility of the authorized textbooks preventing Japanese students of English from enjoying learning the foreign language at school? The students wanting to be able to use English do not always want to become such moral cosmopolitans as the Ministry of Education has expected them to be. It is too rude to call the authorized English textbooks boring. On the contrary, some stories are really good. Despite the moral lessons, they are definitely worth reading. For example, Bethany Hamilton in “Soul Surfer,” or Christina Santhouse in “Life with Half a Brain” might move the students even to tears. “The Fall of Freddie the Leaf” will help the students think about their own life. Yet the textbooks with one exception lack in laughter. The Ministry of Education as well as the textbook authors should change their too serious views on ideal English textbooks as soon as possible, and encourage the students to much more enjoy studying English with some good, humorous stories.

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