Nonformal Education and Civil Society in Japan

Kaori H. Okano is Professor in Asian Studies/Japanese, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

• 1. Nonformal education in Japan: Its interface with formal schools 2. The homework club and beyond: A civil society group’s quest to build a place for learning and belonging in a time of migration 3. The importance of nonformal education in the success of Dôwa Education 4. Community based after-school care programs in Japan: Potential of non-formal education for children and residents 5. Homo Athleticus: The Educational Roles of Extracurricular Clubs in Japanese Schools 6. Alternative Schools: An Educational Safety-net for Long-term Absent Students 7. The changing relationship between ‘schools for foreigners’ and formal schools 8. Education and training for the intercultural competence of Japanese university graduates: Policy, practice and markets in informal education 9. Kōminkan: Its Roles in Education and Community-Building 10. Lifelong learning universities in the ageing society: Empowering the elderly

'This volume provides an integrated view of how learning in Japan occurs outside of schools, from kindergarten to universities for the elderly. It explores how migrants and indigenous minorities cope with public schooling through non-formal means, and offers a rare look at the role that religious organizations sometimes play in Japanese society.' - Professor Gerald Le Tendre, Pennsylvania State University, USA'Non-formal education is often a neglected area of scholarly investigation. Yet, it occupies significant space and importance in everyday life in our contemporary society, providing all generations with alternative learning opportunities. This book will be a unique contribution that highlights the interface between formal and non-formal education and provides readers with multilayered understanding of learning in post-industrial Japan.' - Professor Ryuko Kubota, University of British Columbia, Canada'As a whole, this collection certainly demonstrates the significant role played by various kinds of nonformal education in Japanese society.The individual essays generally provide a useful and up-to-date picture of the topic with which they deal, usually including a broad overview as well as a short case study.' - Susan D. Holloway, University of California, Berkeley, USA