Lifelong Education in Japan

According to Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), lifelong learning comprises two main aspects, “the concept to comprehensively review various systems including education in order to create a lifelong learning society and the concept of learning at all stages of life”. Lifelong learning is one avenue for meeting the societal challenges of a rapidly ageing population. As popular interest in older adult education has grown, the diversity of learning opportunities available for older adults has expanded as well. Since the 1990s, the notion of lifelong learning has become increasingly well understood in Japan. In a national opinion survey conducted in 2000, 74% of the respondents were already familiar with the term. This book explores through observation and select conversations with certain lifelong learners about their experiences with Lifelong learning, with attempts to better understand the impact lifelong learning has on the lives of the senior populace of Japan.