Chapter 8
Education and Popularization
of Astronomy, 1946–2010
Abstract Education and popularization are basic requirements for the development
of astronomy and astrophysics. Education in elementary, secondary, and high
schools has been based on The Course of Study issued by the Ministry of Education
and Science. Problems of astronomy education in this system are briefly reviewed
here. In universities, astronomy is separated into general education and technical
education; of these two, technical education in graduate schools has shown remarkable progress in the postwar period.
The popularization of astronomy has been promoted through the construction of
large planetariums and public observatories equipped with large telescopes. These
facilities have contributed markedly to progress in astronomical education.
8.1 Astronomy Education
8.1.1 Course of Study
8.1.1.1 Education Based on Course of Study
With the defeat of Japan in World War II in 1945, the education system completely
changed from a militaristic to a democratic governing system. In the postwar period,
all education in elementary schools (6 years), lower secondary schools (3 years,
secondary schools in short) and higher secondary schools (3 years, high schools in
short) was provided under the Course of Study (学習指導要領) issued by the
Ministry of Education and Science. Astronomy was taught in the science course
(理科) in the elementary and secondary schools, and in Earth science (地学) in the
high schools (Manual of the Course of Study 2007–2009).
The first edition of Course of Study was issued in 1947 and updated in 1951,
during the Occupation by Allied Forces (October 1945–April 1952). Its basic
concept was to emphasize the importance of social studies for democracy, including
morals and civics. With the end of the Occupation, it was generally accepted that
school curricula should be thoroughly revised to make them more suitable for the
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
T. Kogure, The History of Modern Astronomy in Japan, Historical & Cultural
Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57061-3_8
249
Education and Popularization
of Astronomy, 1946–2010
Abstract Education and popularization are basic requirements for the development
of astronomy and astrophysics. Education in elementary, secondary, and high
schools has been based on The Course of Study issued by the Ministry of Education
and Science. Problems of astronomy education in this system are briefly reviewed
here. In universities, astronomy is separated into general education and technical
education; of these two, technical education in graduate schools has shown remarkable progress in the postwar period.
The popularization of astronomy has been promoted through the construction of
large planetariums and public observatories equipped with large telescopes. These
facilities have contributed markedly to progress in astronomical education.
8.1 Astronomy Education
8.1.1 Course of Study
8.1.1.1 Education Based on Course of Study
With the defeat of Japan in World War II in 1945, the education system completely
changed from a militaristic to a democratic governing system. In the postwar period,
all education in elementary schools (6 years), lower secondary schools (3 years,
secondary schools in short) and higher secondary schools (3 years, high schools in
short) was provided under the Course of Study (学習指導要領) issued by the
Ministry of Education and Science. Astronomy was taught in the science course
(理科) in the elementary and secondary schools, and in Earth science (地学) in the
high schools (Manual of the Course of Study 2007–2009).
The first edition of Course of Study was issued in 1947 and updated in 1951,
during the Occupation by Allied Forces (October 1945–April 1952). Its basic
concept was to emphasize the importance of social studies for democracy, including
morals and civics. With the end of the Occupation, it was generally accepted that
school curricula should be thoroughly revised to make them more suitable for the
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
T. Kogure, The History of Modern Astronomy in Japan, Historical & Cultural
Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57061-3_8
249