International Perspectives in Geography AJG Library 3 Editor in Chief: Noritaka Yagasaki, Japan More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10223 Aims and Scope: The AJG Library is published by Springer under the auspices of the Association of Japanese Geographers. This is a scholarly series of international standing. Given the multidisciplinary nature of geography, the objective of the series is to provide an invaluable source of information not only for geographers, but also for students, researchers, teachers, administrators, and professionals outside the discipline. Strong emphasis is placed on the theoretical and empirical understanding of the changing relationships between nature and human activities. The overall aim of the series is to provide readers throughout the world with stimulating and up-to-date scientifi c outcomes mainly by Japanese and other Asian geographers. Thus, an “Asian” fl avor different from the Western way of thinking may be refl ected in this series. The AJG Library will be available both in print and online via SpringerLink. About the AJG The Association of Japanese Geographers (AJG), founded in 1925, is one of the largest and leading organizations on geographical research in Asia and the Pacifi c Rim today, with around 3000 members. AJG is devoted to promoting research on various aspects of human and physical geography and contributing to academic development through exchanges of information and knowledge with relevant internal and external academic communities. Members are tackling contemporary issues such as global warming, air/water pollution, natural disasters, rapid urbanization, irregular land-use changes, and regional disparities through comprehensive investigation into the earth and its people. In addition, to make the next generation aware of these academic achievements, the members are engaged in teaching and outreach activities of spreading geographical awareness. With the recent developments and much improved international linkages, AJG launches the publication of the AJG Library series in 2012. Editorial Board: Editor in Chief: Noritaka Yagasaki, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan Editorial Offi ce: Yuji Murayama, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Yoshio Arai, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Yoshitaka Ishikawa, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan Takashi Oguchi, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Toshihiko Sugai, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Shigeko Haruyama, Mie University, Mie, Japan Jun Matsumoto, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan Yoshiyasu Ida • Minori Yuda • Takashi Shimura Shunsuke Ike • Koji Ohnishi • Hideki Oshima Editors Geography Education in Japan Editors Yoshiyasu Ida Minori Yuda University of Tsukuba The University of Tokyo Ibaraki , Japan Tokyo , Japan Takashi Shimura Shunsuke Ike Joetsu University of Education Waseda University Niigata , Japan Tokyo , Japan Koji Ohnishi Hideki Oshima Toyama University Keio University Toyama , Japan Yokohama , Japan ISSN 2197-7798 ISSN 2197-7801 (electronic) ISBN 978-4-431-54952-9 ISBN 978-4-431-54953-6 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-54953-6 Springer Tokyo Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London Library of Congress Control Number: 2014955571 © Springer Japan 2015 This work is subject to copyright. 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Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com) Pref ace Since education in Japan is conducted in Japanese, this is a barrier for non-Japanese speakers who are interested to learn about instructional practices and problems that exist in the country. Even though there is interest in Japanese geography education, there are few opportunities to learn about it owing to this language barriers. Geography education researchers in Japan have not actively published in English language journals. Therefore, researchers and teachers in other countries only have limited information about the status of Japanese geography education. Recently, many scholars have organized international projects, which have contributed to developing collaboration across nations. From this perspective, a book published in English on geography education in Japan is a timely contribution to the fi eld. This book provides a comprehensive description of Japanese geography education from diverse viewpoints. The geography education committee of the Association of Japanese Geographers (AJG) led the editing work that resulted in a volume that is part of the International Perspectives in Geography: AJG Library series. This book includes the following broad topics: introduction to geography education in Japan, regional geography and fi eld surveys as essential elements of geography education, geography education and cooperation with the local community, support for teachers from professional geographers and the AJG, international comparative studies on geography education, and the future of geography education in Japan. The editing team greatly appreciates the hard work of all contributors to this book. We also thank Dr. Niem Tu Huynh for carefully reading through each chapter to make comments and suggest changes. v vi Preface We hope this book will contribute to the improvement of geography education worldwide. Ibaraki, Japan Yoshiyasu Ida Tokyo, Japan Minori Yuda Niigata, Japan Takashi Shimura Tokyo, Japan Shunsuke Ike Toyama, Japan Koji Ohnishi Yokohama, Japan Hideki Oshima Contents Part I Overview of Geography Education in Japan 1 Outline of Geography Education in Japan ........................................... 3 Yoshiyasu Ida and Takashi Shimura 2 Problems and Perspectives of Geography Education in Japanese Elementary Schools ............................................................ 19 Kazuyoshi Yoshida 3 Current Status and Issues in Junior High School Geography Education ............................................................................. 25 Kaoru Hirasawa 4 Current Status and Issues in Senior High School Geography Education ............................................................................. 39 Toshio Asakawa 5 Textbook Approval System and Geography Textbooks in Japan ......... 49 Minori Yuda Part II Matters of Concern for Geography Education in Japan 6 Reconsidering Regional Geography Education in Japan.................... 65 Hiroaki Akimoto 7 The Current State and Issues of Field Research in Japanese Geographic Education ............................................................................ 75 Shunsuke Ike 8 Maps, Globes, Cognitive Space and Geography Education in Japan .................................................................................................... 87 Kiyoshi Teramoto vii viii Contents 9 Social Participation in the Community and Geography Education ......... 95 Hirokazu Takeuchi 1 0 Geography Education as Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Japan ................................................................. 107 Shuichi Nakayama , Fumio Wada , and Jun’ichiro Takata 11 Institutional Issues in Disaster Prevention and Geography Education in Elementary and Secondary Education in Japan ....................................................... 121 Koji Ishizuka Part III Challenges to Teacher Training and Geography Education 12 University Geography Departments and the Teaching License in Japanese Geography Education .......................................... 137 Koji Ohnishi 13 The Association of Japanese Geographers’ Social Action Program and Geography Education ..................................................... 143 Takahisa Izumi and Hiromi Iwamoto 14 GIS and Geography Education in Japan .............................................. 155 Tomoaki Ito 15 GIS Specialists’ Support for Geography Education ............................ 163 Hideki Oshima Part IV Research on Geography Education in Japan and Other Countries 16 Trends in Japanese Geography Education Research