ABSTRACT
The two main forces behind the militarism and ultra nationalism of pre-war Japan were the army and the system of public education. In pre-war Japan, the liberal and individualistic education initiated during the period of Taisho democracy was subsequently eliminated or suppressed by state power. Education was successively reorganised with a view to producing 'loyal Japanese subjects' such as the Special Education Conference had prescribed. The Special Education Conference increased the number of universities by recognising public and private universities and colleges. The Education Reform Committee carried out wide-ranging deliberations on educational problems, ranging from educational ideals, primary education, middle education, further educational institutions to training of teachers and educational administration. Nambara Shigeru's Committee presented a report to the occupation headquarters urging the abolition of the centralised, bureaucratic control of Japanese education, calling for the democratisation of education and the establishment of a child-centred educational process.
