Perspective Chapter: Mental Health Issues of Japanese Elementary School Teachers – The Effects of the Japanese Classroom Management Style

Abstract

Teachers in Japan face work-related mental health issues, such as depression and adjustment disorders. The number of elementary school teachers taking leave of absence due to mental illness has been increasing every year and is high according to international standards. One of the reasons for this was the workload on a single teacher, resulting in long working hours. The authors believe that the reason for long working hours may be the Japanese classroom management style. This chapter compares the Japanese classroom management style of elementary school teachers with the classroom management styles of other countries, such as India, and discusses the reasons for the long working hours under the Japanese classroom management style.