Japan and Germany under the U.S. Occupation: A Comparative Analysis of Post-War Education Reform

by Masako Shibata

Overview

Focusing on the post war reconstruction of the education systems in Japan and Germany under U.S. military occupation after World War II, this book offers a comparative historical investigation of education reform policies in these two war ravaged and ideologically compromised countries. While in Japan large-scale reforms were undertaken swiftly after the end of the war, the U.S. zone in Germany maintained most of the traditional aspects of the German education system. Why did Japan so readily accept ideas and values developed in the allied countries while Germany resisted? Masako Shibata explores this question, arguing that the role of the university and the pattern of elite formation, which can be traced back to the period of the formation of Meiji Japan and the Kaiserreich, created the conditions for differing reactions from educational leaders in each country; this had a decisive impact on the proposed reforms. By examining these reactions through a sociological, cultural, and historical frame, an explanation emerges. Japan and Germany under the U.S. Occupation will prove to be a valuable resource both to scholars of history and education reform.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739128107
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	04/08/2008
Series:	Studies of Modern Japan
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	3 Months

About the Author

Masako Shibata is assistant professor in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tsukuba University, Japan.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Tables and Figures
Chapter 2 Foreword
Chapter 3 Chapter 1: Introduction
Part 4 Part I
Chapter 5 Chapter 2: State Formation, the State Education System, and Elite Formation in Meiji Japan
Chapter 6 Chapter 3: State Formation, the State Education System, and Elite Formation in the German Kaiserreich
Part 7 Part II
Chapter 8 Chapter 4: The Occupation Reform in Japan, 1945-1952
Chapter 9 Chapter 5: The Occupation Reform in the US-Zone of Germany, 1945-1949
Part 10 Part III
Chapter 11 Chapter 6: Conclusion
12 Appendix A: The Emperial Rescript on Education [1980]
13 Appendix B: Archival Documents
14 German Glossary
15 Japanese Glossary
16 Bibliography
17 Index
18 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Written in a comprehensive and accessible fashion.

The Journal Of Japanese Studies

Written in a comprehensive and accessible fashion.

Journal of Japanese Studies

Shibata draws widely yet eclectically on government documents, memoirs, and contemporary newspaper accounts. . . . Recommended. Undergraduate collections.
— S.F. White, Mount St. Mary's University

Choice

The volume is indeed fascinating and insightful . . . relevant and thought-provoking.
— Anni Baker, Wheaton College

H-German

Shibata draws widely yet eclectically on government documents, memoirs, and contemporary newspaper accounts.. .. Recommended. Undergraduate collections.

Choice Reviews - S.F. White

The volume is indeed fascinating and insightful. .. relevant and thought-provoking.

H-German - Anni Baker

Written in a comprehensive and accessible fashion.

The Journal of Japanese Studies

Masako Shibata's book, Japan and Germany under the U.S. Occupation, is an excellent comparative analysis of post-war education reform in the two countries. Shibata uses crucial findings from Japanese resources and German newspapers of the era. Many historical facts are misconceived by historians, but Shibata uses her linguistic ability to establish her book as close to the essence of the true history.

Gary H. Tsuchimochi

The volume is indeed fascinating and insightful . . . relevant and thought-provoking.--Anni Baker, Wheaton College "H-German "

Shibata draws widely yet eclectically on government documents, memoirs, and contemporary newspaper accounts. . . . Recommended. Undergraduate collections.--S.F. White, Mount St. Mary's University "CHOICE "

Masako Shibata's book, Japan and Germany under the U.S. Occupation, is an excellent comparative analysis of post-war education reform in the two countries. Shibata uses crucial findings from Japanese resources and German newspapers of the era. Many historical facts are misconceived by historians, but Shibata uses her linguistic ability to establish her book as close to the essence of the true history.--Gary H. Tsuchimochi, Hirosaki University

From the Publisher