Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 21
Basic Geography and the Future of Geography
Education in Japan
Yoshiyasu Ida and Yumiko Takizawa
Abstract
In Japan, many senior high schools require students to take a course in
either Japanese History or Geography; most students select Japanese History.
Consequently, many students fail to master the minimum level of basic geographic
knowledge. To resolve this knowledge gap, the Science Council of Japan introduced
in 2011 a plan to make Basic Geography and Basic History compulsory subjects.
Basic Geography is designed as a compulsory two-credit class with the content
structured from two perspectives, global-scale and local-scale. The course is devel-
oped around knowledge and skills that could help students become interested in
current international issues, and the course is expected to create solutions from their
independent ways of understanding and thinking about the world.
Keywords
Basic Geography Compulsory subject Future Teaching geography
21.1
Introduction: Background of Basic Geography
At present, only World History at the senior high school level, from the subject areas
of Geography and History, is designated as compulsory. Many senior high schools
require that students take either Japanese History or Geography, and most students'
select Japanese History. However, a number of Japanese schools don't teach geogra-
phy courses at all. Consequently, students fail to master basic geographic knowledge,
made worse because few students learn Earth science. The growing trend is that
increasingly more students graduate without learning about natural geography, the
Earth, and the environment. The number of students who do not complete a geogra-
phy course is growing, which contributes to young peoples' minimal understanding
of and interest in maps and poor spatial perception, which are all skills needed to
excel at World History and Japanese History.
