Daisaku Ikeda's Educational Philosophy in the Context of English Education Policy in Japan

Abstract

In this article, the author considers Daisaku Ikeda's (1928–) educational philosophy in the context of English education policies in Japan. The author begins by explicating Ikeda's concepts of wisdom versus knowledge and “society for education” (e.g., Ikeda, 2000; Sadovnichy & Ikeda, 2002). He then suggests consideration of these concepts, if not implementation, can improve English education policies in Japan, which he problematizes because of their neoliberal purpose and goal. The author concludes that Ikeda's philosophies provide a theoretical framework for using English education to cultivate students' personality, happiness, and wisdom, which is absent in the current policies.

Notes

¹ Ohtsu (2004) and Wada (2004) contend that the recent debate about lowering the age for compulsory English education grew in the 1990s.