Math and English Education in Japan: A Kaleidoscope of Change

There is a fascinating section on the official website of a long-standing Japanese publisher that has been producing mathematics textbooks for elementary, middle, and high schools for over seventy years. This section delves into the evolution of the elementary school mathematics curriculum, showcasing actual textbooks from different eras. It's intriguing to discover that "set theory," which I studied extensively as part of advanced mathematics, was once taught in elementary school. Additionally, I find it noteworthy that topics such as probability and statistics, which I learned in high school, are now being taught in middle school, while subjects I encountered in middle school are now part of the high school curriculum. Although I had heard about these changes through news reports, witnessing them firsthand in the math textbooks still surprises me. I had unconsciously assumed that mathematics, especially the fundamental math taught in elementary school, remained unaffected by the trends of the times. However, it evokes mixed feelings in me how easily elementary math has been influenced by national policies, global circumstances, and the complicated interests of adults.

Over the past couple of months, I have been investigating English education in Japan for a specific reason. This involved thoroughly examining English textbooks and teaching materials used in elementary and middle schools for these years to infer the underlying Japanese national policies. It has been mentally exhausting, but I have nearly completed this task. The remaining work involves analyzing two English learning materials developed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology respectively for fifth and sixth graders from fiscal year 2011 to 2017. Since both materials are concise, it did not take much time to skim through them. However, being naturally curious and more inquisitive than most, I have become interested in understanding in greater detail the reasons behind the introduction of English learning in elementary schools starting in the fiscal year 2011 and the underlying background. Although I am aware of the general outline, I now feel compelled to gain a deeper comprehension. As a result, I am researching the policies of various educational councils throughout different eras. The more I delve into this subject, the more I uncover the deeply rooted interests and power struggles among the nation and its adults. It is both captivating and disheartening to realize that beneath the facades of our blissful childhoods, there were various conflicts of interest and intricate negotiations taking place.

Oh, I sense the presence of neurosis creeping in once again.