Japan right-wing party Sanseito's talk of prewar imperial rescript in teaching stirs unease
The Imperial Rescript on Education, issued in 1890 by Emperor Meiji, outlined the virtues that the "subjects" of the Japanese Empire were expected to uphold. It served as the spiritual backbone of national education, and its recitation was compulsory in Japanese schools before World War II.
After Japan's defeat in the war and the promulgation of a new Constitution that established sovereignty of the people, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution abolishing the Imperial Rescript on Education on the grounds that it undermined fundamental human rights based on its concepts of the rule of a sovereign and a mythological national structure, and the House of Councillors passed a resolution confirming its invalidity. For a long time after the war, it was regarded in educational circles as a taboo educational philosophy.
However, Sanseito has proposed its own constitutional draft stating that "the Imperial Rescript on Education and other historical imperial edicts must be respected in education," though it remains unclear whether this could actually be carried out.
At a press conference on July 22 following the election results, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe countered the idea, stating, "It is unacceptable to use the Imperial Rescript on Education in ways that contradict the Constitution and the Basic Act on Education." It is unlikely that the current administration would revive such an approach either.
Nevertheless, there are growing concerns within the education ministry. "There is a very strong sense of crisis. I don't want to believe that voters understood such extreme claims when they voted ..." said one official, expressing caution regarding a passage from the "New Japanese Constitution (draft)" published on Sanseito's website.
In its public pledge, Sanseito proposes the "abolition of managed education focusing on deviation scores." It also promises appealing measures such as "expansion of scholarships," "development of educational environments that cater to individuality," and "improvement of compensation packages for teachers."
On the other hand, Article 9, Section 4 of its proposal states: "The Imperial Rescript on Education, historical imperial edicts, patriotism, food and health, regional festivals and great figures, and traditional events must be respected in education."
Similar instances have occurred in the past. In 2006, the first administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revised the Basic Act on Education to include a new objective of "fostering the value of respect for tradition and culture and love of the country and regions that have nurtured us," which drew criticism. Under the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) government, moral aspects like filial piety and family love have often been emphasized, and the appropriateness of incorporating such aspects in educational materials has become an issue. The issue is not limited to Sanseito; there are also a considerable number of people within the LDP's right wing who share similar views.
The aforementioned ministry official remarked, "It's hard to imagine that the increase in Sanseito's seats will immediately lead to discussions in the Diet about reviving the Imperial Rescript on Education, but Sanseito might claim that since they have increased their seats they have gained public support, including for their constitutional proposal."
In upcoming sessions of the Diet, important educational bills, such as the tuition-free policy for private high schools, the introduction of digital textbooks, and the promotion of 35-student classes in junior high schools, are expected to be deliberated. It remains to be seen whether there will be room for Sanseito's proposals in these discussions.
A mid-level official at the ministry views some of Sanseito's claims as having an element of agitation, noting, "It's uncertain how far they intend to go in implementing them as policies." However, the official added, "There is a need to closely monitor whether changes in the political power balance will lead to educational policies being used as bargaining chips."
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