ABSTRACT
Steiner education in Japan has developed over a period of about 35 years. Its current state and unique trajectory offer a storehouse of knowledge concerning both challenges and possibilities for the future of Steiner education. In this chapter, we will clarify the characteristics of Steiner education in Japan using quantitative data, such as the number of schools and students, as well as data on how Steiner’s ideas and philosophy have been accepted in academia. And we will focus on concern about the “publicness” of educational alternatives like Steiner schools, discussing issues that arise in the context of educational systems. The chapter also explores features of Steiner education in Japan via qualitative data obtained from interviews with practitioners deeply involved in the Steiner education movement. Furthermore, by utilising this qualitative data, the article will illustrate a unique type of school management characterised by “openness” and consider a suggestion that can be offered for the international Steiner education community.
