Learn from History: Lessons from Early Modern Japanese Physics Experiment Textbooks

Akira Akabane,Hiroshi Takahashi,Jun Shozawa,Toyomi Tamaki

doi:10.14712/18047106.753

Abstract

The aim of our study is to explore the early history of the education of physics experiments in the Meiji era of Japan (1868–1912). In this paper, we examine three Japanese physics experiment textbooks which were published during 1880s. One characteristic feature is that the most of the experiments could be performed using simple handmade apparatuses. We consider what can be learned from the ingenuity of physics education pioneers of the late 19th century.

Highlights

The island nation of Japan had adhered to a closed-door policy to the outside world between 1639 and 1854
The general public felt that, learning rational thinking of the West would be required for the country’s modernization. It is within this context that a publication boom of physics textbooks occurred and present-days historians refer to it as kyuri-netsu (The Physical Society of Japan, 1978)
The financial health of local governments varied widely and it certainly was quite difficult for many schools to obtain a full set of ready-made experimental instruments. It would be entirely appropriate for the Ministry of Education to publish a translation of Easy Experiments in Physical Science as the first physics experiment textbook for elementary schools

Summary

Introduction

The island nation of Japan had adhered to a closed-door policy to the outside world between 1639 and 1854. During this period, Japan traded only with China and the Dutch through restricted ports. Very little knowledge of modern Western science reached Japan by means of Chinese and Dutch books. The general public felt that, learning rational thinking of the West would be required for the country’s modernization. It is within this context that a publication boom of physics textbooks occurred and present-days historians refer to it as kyuri-netsu (literally, enthusiasm for physics) (The Physical Society of Japan, 1978). Kunmo Kyuri Zukai (Illustrated Introductory Physics) (Fukuzawa, 1868), first published in 1868, is regarded as the trigger of the publication boom in the early Meiji era

Objectives

Conclusion