Decision-Making Process of Revision to the Basic Act on Education
An Aspect of Politics in Japan, 1999–2006
Keywords:
political actors, ruling coalition parties, Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP), electionAbstract
By analyzing revision process of the Basic Act on Education (BAE), this study examined jockeying among political actors in Japan, 1999-2006. Particularly, we discuss this process’s meanings to three important political actors, the Diet members’ group of the LDP with a special interest in education (Bunkyozoku), the structural reformist group of the LDP, and another ruling party, the Komeito Party. This revision to the BAE, believed the most difficult educational reform to coordinate within the LDP and among coalition parties, was resolved with few unpleasant feelings among actors because each received some satisfying benefits. However, from the long-term standpoint, for ruling parties overall, this “achievement” was not necessarily positive. Citizens did not desire such an ideological educational reform as this revision; thus, it pulled many votes from ruling parties. That is to say, the revision’s “success” resulted in accelerating diminished approval ratings for ruling parties, especially the LDP.
References
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Sugawara, T. (2009). Yoron no Kyokkai: Naze Jimintou wa Taihai shita no ka [A distortion of public opinion: Why did the LDP lose big?]. Tokyo: Kobunsha.
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Takenaka, H. (2006). Shushou Shihai: Nihon Seiji no Henbo [Domination by the Prime Minister: A Transformation in Japanese politics]. Tokyo: Chuo Koron Shinsha.
Uesugi, T. (2007). Kantei Houkai: Abe Seiken Meisou no Ichinen [Collapse of the Prime Minister’s residence: A year of confusion for the Abe government]. Tokyo: Shinchosha.
Uchiyama, Y. (2007). Koizumi Seiken: ‘Pathos no Shushou ha Nani wo Kaeta no ka [The Koizumi government: What did the ‘Prime Minister of Pathos’ change?]. Tokyo: Chuo Koron Shinsha.
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Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (1999, August 30). Shushou Shiji wo Kakunin [Confirm their support for the Prime Minister]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 5.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (1999, September 18). Jimintou Sousaisen Kouhosha Touronkai [Panel of nominees for the LDP’s presidential election]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 7.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (1999, September 22). Naikaku Kaizou Tou Jinji [Shuffle of the cabinet and appointing party executives]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 3.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2000, March 20). Kyouiku Kihonhou mo Kokumin Kaigi de Giron [Discuss the Basic Act on Education at the National Commission on Educational Reform]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 2.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2000, August 30). Shin Kyouiku Kihonhou, Nonaka shi wa Shinchou [Mr. Nonaka, cautious stance on the revision]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2000, October 2). Kihonhou Kaisei Komei ga Hantai Houshin [The Komeito, policy against the rivision]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2003, May 31). Ji Ko no Chousei Nankou [Tough negotiations between the LDP and the Komeito]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2003, November 15). Komei ni Izon [The LDP’s dependence on the Komeito]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2004, September 5). Nayamu Komei [The Komeito’s distress]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2006, April 13). Shin Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaiseian Osuji Goui [Broad agreement about the draft revision to the Basic Act on Education]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 3.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2006, June 15). Hantai Fusatsushite Tosu Houan dewanai [Should not throttle the voice of the opposition]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2006, October 7). Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaisei [Revision to the Basic Act on Education]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2006, October 24). Kyouiku Kihonhou wo Saiyusen [The Revised Basic Act on education bill was the top priority]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 1.
Asahi Shimbun Sha. (2006, April 13). Aikokushin Yosegizaiku [A compromise agreement between the LDP and the Komeito]. Asahi Shimbun, p. 1.
Asahi Shimbun Sha. (2005, December 7). Shasetsu [Editorial]. Asahi Shimbun, p. 3.
Asahi Shimbun Sha. (2006, September 2). Abe shi ga Seiken Kouyaku [Mr. Abe’s manifesto]. Asahi Shimbun, p. 1.
Asahi Shimbun Sha. (2006, September 21). Abe shi, Taisa de Shin Sousai [Abe was elected the New President of the LDP]. Asahi Shimbun, p. 1.
Asahi Shimbun Sha. (2006, October 31). Kyouiku Kihonhou Shingi [Deliberations on the Basic Act on Education]. Asahi Shimbun, p. 2.
Bachrach, P., & Baratz, M. S. (1962). Two faces of power. American Political Science Review, 56(4), 947-952.
Fujino, T. (2006). Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaisei Sakiokuri no Butaiura [Backstage at the delays in revision to the Basic Act on Education]. Sekai, 755, 229-237.
Hayashi, M. (2006). Rinen Naki ‘Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaiseian’ wa Haki seyo [Get rid of the principle-less ‘revision to Basic Act on Education]. Shokun!, 38(7), 238-249.
Komeito Kikanshi Kyoku. (2006, March 16). Kyouiku Kihonhou no Giron Saikai [Reopening a debate on the revision to the Basic Act on Education]. Komei Shimbun, p. 4.
Komeito Kikanshi Kyoku. (2006, November 18). Kyouiku Kihonhou de Saito Tetsuo Seichou Kaichou ni Kiku [Ask Tetsuo Saito about the Basic Act on Education]. Komei Shimbun, p. 3.
Mainichi Shimbun Sha. (2001, November 27). Kyouiku Kihonhou Minaoshi Rongi [Controversy over the revision to the Basic Act on Education]. Mainichi Shimbun, p. 4.
Mainichi Shimbun Sha. (2006, April 27). Shasetsu [Editorial]. Mainichi Shimbun, p.3.
Nishioka, S. (2009). Seiji Katei Bunseki no Approach [An approach to analyzing the political process]. In S. Okada (Ed.), Gendai Nihon no Seiji: Seiji Katei no Riron to Jissai [Politics in modern Japan: The political process in theory and reality] (pp. 1-22). Kyoto: Minerva Shobo.
Nonaka, H. (2003). Rouhei ha Shinazu: Nonaka Hiromu Zenkaikoroku [Old soldiers never die: Complete recollections of Hiromu Nonaka]. Tokyo: Bungei Shunju.
Nonaka, N. (2008). Jimintou Seiji no Owari [The end of LDP politics]. Tokyo: Chikuma Shobo.
Otake, H. (2003). Nihon-gata Populism: Seiji eno Kitai to Genmetsu [Japan-style populism: Expectations of, and disillusionment with, government]. Tokyo: Chuo Koron Shinsha.
Ouchi, H. (2003). Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaiseiron Hihan: Shin Jiyushugi Kokkashugi o Koete [Criticism of the rivison to the Basic Act on Education: Over neoliberalism and nationarism]. Tokyo: Hakutakusha.
Sankei Shimbun Sha. (2006, April 13). Ji Ko Dakyou no Sanbutsu [Product of compromise between the LDP and the Komeito]. Sankei Shimbun, p. 2.
Sanuki, H. (2006). Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaisei ni Koushite: Kyouiku no Jiyu to Kokyousei [Opposition to the rivision to the Basic Act on Education: Freedom and publicness of education]. Tokyo: Kadensha.
Sasaki, K. (2009). Kaisei Kyouiku Kihonhou: Seitei Katei to Seifu Kaishaku no Ronten [The Revised Basic Act on Education: The process of enactment and issues with government interpretation]. Tokyo: Nihon Bunkyou Shuppan.
Schoppa, L. J. (1991). Education reform in Japan: a case of immobilist politics. London: Routledge.
Seikyo Shimbun Sha. (2000, September 29). Kyouiku Teigen [Suggestion for education]. Seikyo Shimbun, p.1.
Seiwa Policy Study Group. (2002). Hitozukuri wa Kuni no Konkan Desu! Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaisei e Itsutsu no Teigen [Building people is the foundation of the nation! 5 Proposals for revision to the Basic Act on Education]. Tokyo: Gakushokan.
Shimomura, H. (1999). Atarashii Kyouiku Rinen no Kakuritsu ga Hitsuyo [The need to establish new principles for education]. Gekkan Jiyu Minshu, 554, 32-33.
Sugawara, T. (2009). Yoron no Kyokkai: Naze Jimintou wa Taihai shita no ka [A distortion of public opinion: Why did the LDP lose big?]. Tokyo: Kobunsha.
Takahashi, T. (2004). Kyouiku to Kokka [Education and the state]. Tokyo: Kodansha.
Takenaka, H. (2006). Shushou Shihai: Nihon Seiji no Henbo [Domination by the Prime Minister: A Transformation in Japanese politics]. Tokyo: Chuo Koron Shinsha.
Uesugi, T. (2007). Kantei Houkai: Abe Seiken Meisou no Ichinen [Collapse of the Prime Minister’s residence: A year of confusion for the Abe government]. Tokyo: Shinchosha.
Uchiyama, Y. (2007). Koizumi Seiken: ‘Pathos no Shushou ha Nani wo Kaeta no ka [The Koizumi government: What did the ‘Prime Minister of Pathos’ change?]. Tokyo: Chuo Koron Shinsha.
Watanabe, O. (2004). Gendai Nihon no Nationalism [Nationalism in modern Japan]. In M. Gotoh. et al (Ed.), Sensou to Kindai: Nationalism to Sensou [War and the modern era: Nationalism and war] (pp. 223-292). Tokyo: Otsuki Shoten.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (1999, August 30). Shushou Shiji wo Kakunin [Confirm their support for the Prime Minister]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 5.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (1999, September 18). Jimintou Sousaisen Kouhosha Touronkai [Panel of nominees for the LDP’s presidential election]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 7.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (1999, September 22). Naikaku Kaizou Tou Jinji [Shuffle of the cabinet and appointing party executives]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 3.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2000, March 20). Kyouiku Kihonhou mo Kokumin Kaigi de Giron [Discuss the Basic Act on Education at the National Commission on Educational Reform]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 2.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2000, August 30). Shin Kyouiku Kihonhou, Nonaka shi wa Shinchou [Mr. Nonaka, cautious stance on the revision]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2000, October 2). Kihonhou Kaisei Komei ga Hantai Houshin [The Komeito, policy against the rivision]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2003, May 31). Ji Ko no Chousei Nankou [Tough negotiations between the LDP and the Komeito]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2003, November 15). Komei ni Izon [The LDP’s dependence on the Komeito]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2004, September 5). Nayamu Komei [The Komeito’s distress]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2006, April 13). Shin Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaiseian Osuji Goui [Broad agreement about the draft revision to the Basic Act on Education]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 3.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2006, June 15). Hantai Fusatsushite Tosu Houan dewanai [Should not throttle the voice of the opposition]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2006, October 7). Kyouiku Kihonhou Kaisei [Revision to the Basic Act on Education]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 4.
Yomiuri Shimbun Sha. (2006, October 24). Kyouiku Kihonhou wo Saiyusen [The Revised Basic Act on education bill was the top priority]. Yomiuri Shimbun, p. 1.
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Published
2018-12-30
How to Cite
Takeishi, N. (2018). Decision-Making Process of Revision to the Basic Act on Education: An Aspect of Politics in Japan, 1999–2006. Thai Journal of East Asian Studies, 22(2), 86–105. Retrieved from https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/easttu/article/view/112516
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