## Outline of Basic Plan for the Promotion of Children's Reading Activities

1. Providing opportunities through families, communities and schools for children to enjoy reading • Using home education learning opportunities to help parents understand the importance of reading • Promoting children’s reading activities in libraries and supporting the efforts of private organizations through the Children’s Dream Fund • Encouraging the habit of reading and promoting reading activities through learning activities in schools
2. Improving reading materials and otherwise maintaining and enhancing reading-friendly conditions • Establishing reading-friendly environments in communities, e.g., at libraries and the library rooms of community halls • Improving reading materials at libraries, promoting greater computerization, and training librarians • Drafting/implementing a five-year plan on improvements at school libraries, promoting greater computerization, and encouraging school librarians to issue official announcements
3. Promoting approaches involving cooperation between schools, libraries, other organizations and private groups • Collaborating and cooperating with other libraries, schools, health centers, other organizations and private groups • Maintaining comprehensive systems to promote these approaches in communities
4. Informing and educating a broader segment of the public to boost public momentum • Pursuing nationwide educational and publicity efforts centered on Children’s Reading Day (April 23) • Providing relevant information on a broader basis by the launch of a website

Since the Law on the Promotion of Children’s Reading Activities went into effect, MEXT has been using Children’s Reading Day (April 23) to deepen interest in and understanding on children’s reading activities among the general public, and has been holding an annual forum on the promotion of children’s activities in celebration of Children’s Reading Day to boost children’s desire to read. In the forum, MEXT offers Minister’s Awards to schools, libraries and organizations whose efforts to encourage children to read have been particularly exemplary. In addition, examples of practical approaches taken to promote reading among children is publicized, and commemorative speeches is given by famous authors.

Also in line with the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Children’s Reading Activities, the following steps are being taken as part of a National Children’s Reading Promotion Campaign to deepen interest in and under-

▲ Children’s Reading Day poster

standing of the importance of children’s reading activities among the Japanese public:

(1) distributing “Children’s Reading Day” posters and other posters

(2) distributing pamphlets that explain to parents/guardians the importance of children’s reading activities

(3) hosting reading festivals featuring speeches and symposiums

(4) conducting survey research on pioneering, effective and practical means developed by cities, towns and villages to encourage reading by children

(5) carrying out fact-finding surveys on private organizations active in communities

MEXT has been working in close cooperation with other ministries under the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Children’s Reading Activities to further upgrade its policies on promoting children’s reading activities.

## (3) Dealing with Problem Youth Behavior

The number of criminal cases involving juvenile offenders that are referred to prosecutors has remained high, and the frequent commission by young offenders of crimes that shock the public make the situation a very serious one (Figure 1-1-8, Figure 1-1-9).