Key Facts
• July 20: Election results show significant gains for the Sanseito party.
• July 22: Minister Toshiko Abe states use of the Imperial Rescript must align with the Constitution.
• Sanseito’s draft constitution emphasizes respect for the Imperial Rescript and traditional values.
• 2014: Former official Kihei Maekawa noted some principles in the Rescript remain relevant.
• March 2017: Government approved use of the Rescript as educational material if constitutional.
• Abe reiterates the Rescript lost legal effect with the enactment of the Constitution and Basic Education Law.
Summary
Minister of Education Toshiko Abe addressed the Sanseito party’s promotion of the Imperial Rescript on Education following their electoral success on July 20. She emphasized that its use in education must not violate the Constitution or Basic Education Law, aligning with past government positions. The Sanseito party’s draft constitution advocates for respecting the Rescript and traditional values in education. Historical context includes a 2014 statement by Kihei Maekawa, who acknowledged some enduring principles in the Rescript, and a 2017 government decision permitting its use as educational material within constitutional limits. Abe clarified that the Rescript lost its legal standing with the establishment of Japan’s post-war Constitution and education laws.
