Promoting Self-Expression, Critical Thinking, and Socio-Emotional Development Among Students and Citizens in Japan

• In Event: International Studies

Abstract

The Japanese educational system is highly competitive and emphasizes high-stakes testing and memorization of facts, creating intense competition and overwhelming anxiety among many students. This study examined how Japanese educators use Philosophy for Children (P4C), a student-centered inquiry approach that promotes self-expression, critical thinking, and socioemotional learning. Data sources included email correspondence with 29 K-12 and university educators; participant observations of a P4C meeting in Japan; and analysis of over 100 Japanese language documents including articles, unpublished manuscripts, and websites. Results indicated that Japanese educators used P4C in formal education, and applied the approach to out-of-school contexts. Educators suggested that P4C promoted healing, for example after the 2011 earthquake, and positively influenced participants’ cognitive, social, and emotional learning.

Authors

• Yoko Kitami, University of Hawaii - Manoa

• Lois A. Yamauchi, University of Hawaii - Manoa