Key Facts
• November 5, 2025: PM Sanae Takachi addressed the House of Representatives on the Imperial Rescript on Education.
• She stated the government has no intention of promoting its use in schools.
• In a 2012 column, Takachi praised the rescript as embodying “correct values.”
• The column remains accessible on her official website.
• Takachi clarified that old columns are intentionally kept on her site for transparency.
• The rescript lost legal validity after Japan’s post-war Constitution and Basic Education Law were enacted.
• Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara admitted to displaying the rescript in his office during his tenure as Defense Minister in 2023.
• In 2025, former Education Minister Toshiko Abe reaffirmed that using the rescript in schools against constitutional principles is prohibited.
• The Imperial Rescript on Education, issued in 1890, was tied to pre-war militaristic education and nullified in 1948.
• The rescript emphasized filial piety, learning, and devotion to the state during emergencies.
Summary
Prime Minister Sanae Takachi confirmed on November 5, 2025, that the government does not plan to promote the use of the Imperial Rescript on Education in schools. Despite this, a 2012 column on her website praised the rescript’s values, which she explained is part of her effort to maintain transparency by keeping older writings available. The rescript, issued in 1890 and nullified in 1948, was historically linked to pre-war militaristic education. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara also revealed he had displayed the rescript in his office in 2023 but refrained from commenting on its evaluation. Former Education Minister Toshiko Abe reiterated in 2025 that using the rescript in ways that contradict Japan’s Constitution and Basic Education Law is not allowed.
