Changing attitudes toward diversity in Japanese public schools : a study of multicultural education strategies in Higashi-Hiroshima

Delakorda Kawashima, Tinka (author)

Researchers have identified certain shortcomings in multicultural education in Japanese public schools, particularly in relation to children with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. While there is an emphasis on supporting Japanese language instruction and equal treatment with mainstream students, there is a lack of attention to the cul-tural and religious differences and needs that may hinder children’s integration into the school environment. Despite this observation, there is limited research on practical strat-egies to address these issues. This paper evaluates multicultural education on two fronts: first, through the observation of teaching practices for children with foreign roots at a Higashi-Hiroshima elementary school, and second, by examining teacher training at a national university in the same city. The study highlights deficiencies in teachers’ diversity approaches, particularly their lack of experience in dealing with differences. It proposes that integrating practical group activities aimed at promoting awareness of diversity, e.g., religious differences into multicultural teacher education strategies can significantly re-shape teachers’ perceptions and attitudes toward different cultures.

• Language: English
• Keywords: multicultural education, Japanese public schools, cultural diversity, integration challenges, teacher training, religious differences, practical strategies
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 343-367
• Numbering: Vol. 13 (29), suppl.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182423
• UDC: 37(520)
• ISSN on article: 2232-5131
• DOI: 10.4312/as.2025.13.sup.343-367
• COBISS.SI-ID: 277674499
• Publication date in RUL: 11.05.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Asian studies
• Publisher: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2232-5131
• COBISS.SI-ID: 265206272

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Spreminjanje odnosa do raznolikosti v japonskih javnih šolah : študija strategij večkulturne vzgoje v Higaši Hirošimi

Abstract

Raziskovalke in raziskovalci so prepoznali ključne pomanjkljivosti v večkulturni vzgoji v japonskih javnih šolah, zlasti pri vključevanju otrok z raznolikimi kulturnimi in jezikov-nimi ozadji. Medtem ko se izobraževalni sistemi osredotočajo na poučevanje japonskega jezika in enakovredno obravnavo v primerjavi z domačimi učenci in učenkami, so kulturne in verske razlike pogosto spregledane, kar otežuje vključevanje teh otrok v šolsko okolje. Kljub tem opaženjem primanjkuje raziskav o praktičnih strategijah za reševanje teh iz-zivov. Članek ocenjuje večkulturno izobraževanje na dveh ravneh: z opazovanjem učnih praks za otroke tujega porekla v osnovni šoli v Higaši Hirošimi in analizo usposabljanja učiteljic in učiteljev na nacionalni univerzi v istem mestu. Študija razkriva pomanjkljivosti v učiteljskih pristopih k raznolikosti, zlasti pomanjkanje izkušenj pri obravnavanju kul-turnih razlik. Trdi, da bi lahko vključitev praktičnih skupinskih dejavnosti, ki spodbujajo zavedanje o različnosti, na primer o verskih razlikah, v izobraževanje učiteljev in učiteljic pomembno izboljšala njihovo razumevanje ter odnos do različnih kultur.

• Keywords: večkulturna vzgoja, japonske javne šole, kulturna raznolikost, izzivi vključevanja, usposabljanje učiteljic in učiteljev, verske razlike, praktične strategije

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P6-0243-2019
• Name: Azijski jeziki in kulture

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Project number: 23K02391
• Name: KAKEN project
• Acronym: KAKEN