Liberal Magazine Research Articles

Japanese Studies on Soviet Education

thirties, especially at the University of Hokkaid6. Books, such as Kan Shigaki's Rosia: Shin-Kydiku-k3 (Travel Report on New Education in Soviet Russia, Heibonsha 1926), or Tokuji Yamashita's Shink5 Rosia no Kyfiku (Education of New Russia, Tettoshoin 1929), gave an account of the Communist doctrine and experiments. Yamashita, perhaps the only specialist on Soviet Education in that period, was director of the Shink6 Kenkyfijo (Shink6 Institute of Educational Research), which was established in 1930 as a research and propaganda branch of a newly set up pro-communist organization, the Zen Nihon R6d6-Kumiai (All Japan Educational Workers Union). Until its discontinuation in the mid-thirties, the Institute published a magazine, Shink5 Ky5iku (New Education), which contained many articles and translations of Soviet writers about their education. More moderate articles appeared in the liberal magazine Kyoiku (Education) reflecting its interest in educational reform and planning in the U.S.S.R.3 Similar emphasis on the eve of World War II was shown by Kumaji Yoshida's book, Soren ni okeru KydikuKaikaku to Kybiku-Shis5 (Educational Reform and Educational Thought in Soviet Russia, Meiji Tosho 1942). Yoshida, a Professor at the Imperial University of T6ky6, worked for the Kokumin Seishinbunka Kenkyujo (National Institute of Moral Aspects of Culture), a government propagandist educational institution. Among other publications of this period one might list: 1. Gaimush6 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Rosia no Kydiku (Education in Soviet Russia) 1928. 2. Yamashita, Tokuji, John Dewey no Rosia no Inshd (John Dewey's Impressions of Soviet Russia) translation 1930. 3. Yamashita, Tokuji Sobietto Rosia no Ky6iku (Education in Soviet Russia), Kydikugaku Jitem (Encyclopedia of Education), Vol. 3, 1938. 4. Kagawa, Shigenobu, Sobietto no keikO (Trends in Soviet Education), Chuo Koron (Chuo Koron-sha), August, 1931.