What Counts as Critical Literacy in the Japanese Context: Its Possibilities and Practical Approaches Under the

doi:10.4324/9780203521861-21

Chapter

What Counts as Critical Literacy in the Japanese Context: Its Possibilities and Practical Approaches Under the

ABSTRACT

Introduction This chapter begins with the above quote from “The Right to Learn,” which was ratified more than 20 years ago, for a simple, yet important, reason. That is to say, within the past 20 years, educational movements in Japan have worked against the purpose of this declaration, and currently, the trend of moving away from its principles seems to be increasing. In this chapter I ask, given rising globalization and nationalism, what can be done within education to help the pursuit of an equitable society? A key issue is how critical literacy education is defined and might be incorporated into education.