Abstract

The Japanese liberal education movement, which flourished during the years 1915-30, was a spontaneous upsurge of experimentation with new methods of teaching, many of which resembled the ideas of John Dewey. This book, the first work in English about the movement, is notable because it discusses Japanese liberal education in the light of Dewey’s educational theories. After tracing the historical and social context of the movement, it describes the ideas and practices of Oikawa Heiji and Hani Motoko, two of the most prominent educators, and those of other important educational figures. The book illustrates the similarities and differences between these ideas and practices and those recommended by Dewey.