An Application of Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Dilemma Discussion to the Japanese Classroom and its Effect on Moral Development of Japanese Students

The goal of this chapter is to share what we have learned from our efforts to transform and update moral education within public schools in Japan. Much criticism has been directed toward the present Japanese method of moral education for its inculcative and indoctrinaire nature that ignores students' autonomous reasoning. The students often express frustration that moral education classes are simply boring and uninteresting, or that the conclusions to be drawn from the classes are easily predictable (Mase, 1987; Sano, 1985).