Revised education law to enhance patriotism goes into effect

Japan adopted a revised basic education law Friday aimed at instilling patriotism in classrooms as the amendments were promulgated in the government gazette. The first revision to the Fundamental Law of Education, which came into effect in 1947 in an effort to realize the ideals of Japan's 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 which respects tradition and culture and loves the nation and homeland that have fostered them" as a goal of education. Revising the law was the centerpiece of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policy agenda which has stirred criticism that it could lead to the control of children's thoughts and excessive state intervention in education.