ABSTRACT
One notable aspect of the rapid growth of interest in the teaching of Japanese in the UK has been the demand for Japanese courses in schools. In 1989, for example, the Wales Japanese in Schools Project was initiated to include Japanese in the curriculum of Welsh secondary schools; this has been followed by similar developments in Northern Ireland. Another major development took place in 1991 when Derbyshire County Council became the first Local Education Authority (LEA) to commit itself to setting up a Japanese course in its schools and tertiary colleges. Other projects to include Japanese in the school curriculum are in the process of development. This growth in demand for Japanese language and interest in Japanese culture may be seen as a direct reflection of Japan's economic status and its importance to the UK, especially through the policy of inward investment in UK regions that is currently being pursued by Japanese companies.
