page_title: Education in the Empire of Japan
section_title: 1912–1937
hierarchical_section_title: Education in the Empire of Japan / 1912–1937
caption_attribution_description: English: Haruo Hayashi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Tokyo Imperial University. 日本語: 林春雄（東京帝国大学医学部長）。
context_page_description: Education in the Empire of Japan was a high priority for the government, as the leadership of the early Meiji government realized the need for universal public education in its drive to modernize Japan.
context_section_description: During the Taishō and early Shōwa periods, from 1912-1937, the education system in Japan became increasingly centralized. From 1917-1919, the government created the Extraordinary Council on Education (臨時教育会議, Rinji Kyōiku Kaigi), which issued numerous reports and recommendations on educational reform. One of the main emphases of the Council was in higher education. Prior to 1918, "university" was synonymous with "imperial university", but as a result of the Council, many private universities obtained officially recognized status. The Council also introduced subsidies for families too poor to afford the tuitions for compulsory education, and also pushed for more emphasis on moral education.
  During this period, new social currents, including socialism, communism, anarchism, and liberalism exerted influences on teachers and teaching methods. The New Educational Movement (新教育運動, Shin Kyōiku Undō) led to teachers unions and student protest movements against the nationalist educational curriculum. The government responded with increased repression, and adding some influences from the German system in an attempt to increase the patriotic spirit and step up the militarization of Japan. The Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors became compulsory reading for students during this period.
  Specialized schools for the blind and for the deaf were established as early as 1878, and were regulated and standardized by the government in the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Schools Order of 1926. Blind people were encouraged toward vocations such as massage, acupuncture, physical therapy and piano tuning.
caption: Haruo Hayashi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Tokyo Imperial University
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