New 'patriotism' education law takes effect

The revised basic education law aimed at instilling patriotism in classrooms took effect Friday as scheduled.

The first revision to the Fundamental Law of Education, which took effect in 1947 in an effort to back up the postwar pacifist Constitution through education, was enacted by the Diet on Dec. 15.

The 18-article education law introduces the idea of respect for the public spirit in its preamble and calls for developing "an attitude that respects tradition and culture and loves the nation and homeland that have fostered them," as a goal of education.

It also contains new clauses on lifelong learning and education at home.

Abe, a staunch conservative, has placed the revision of the 1947 fundamental education law at the top of the agenda for the extraordinary Diet session. Under the revision, school curricula would include instruction on "patriotism."

But critics accuse ruling bloc lawmakers of ignoring that the 1947 law, drafted by the Occupation, was enacted to root out the narrow nationalism that characterized the prewar curriculum.