EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM & PRACTICE IN JAPAN

1	“III Japanese Social Education”	Previous	Next	JAPANESE

	The citizens’ public halls (Kominkan) are an original social education facility in Japan. They were promoted in Japan through the ‘Establishment and Administration of citizens’ public halls ‘, that was based on a notice from a subordinate officer of the Ministry of Education in 1946. As the Social Education Law was enacted in 1949, citizens’ public halls (Kominkan) were registered as a social education facility established by municipalities. At present, there are about 18,000 citizens’ public halls in Japan (Kominkan) whose form, scale and equipment are different. From the viewpoint of functions of citizens’ public halls, however, there are similarities. These halls function as a local comprehensive educational and cultural facility, and as a center for meeting, learning and social interactions for citizens. Full-time or part-time curators and citizens’ public hall officers are assigned to each citizens’ public hall (Kominkan). Social Education Officers qualify as citizens’ public hall (Kominkan) officers in some municipalities. There are also some citizens’ public halls to which clerks and part-time Social Education Leaders are assigned.