Long Abstract:

In Japanese language education, particularly within Japan, political policy initiatives are progressing rapidly. As elements of political policy enter the sphere of Japanese language education, a field in which research and practice have thus far been carried out freely in many regards, what kinds of changes or impacts may come to pass?

In October 2021, the Japanese Language Subcommittee of the Council for Cultural Affairs announced a 'Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education' based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Subsequently, the same group stated in November 2022 in ‘The State of Japanese Language Education in Local Communities’ that Japanese language education in such communities would aim for B1 level.

Among researchers of education in foreign languages such as English, there has been much critical discussion surrounding the use and application of the CEFR within Japanese society. In the case of Japanese language education, there is a danger that the CEFR level and ‘can-do’ statements will stand unaided, with the fundamental concepts of the framework itself failing to be afforded ample consideration. In this speech, we speak from the point of view of Japanese language education policy in order to discuss what kind of perspective is required of Japanese language education research to realise a convivial society.