Kuniyoshi Obara 1887-1977

Overview & Synopsis

This article profiles Kuniyoshi Obara, a Japanese educational reformer. The name of Kuniyoshi Obara is a familiar one in Japan, particularly in connection with his educational theory "Zenjin Education" (wholeman education) and the comprehensive campus of "Tamagawa Gakuen" (Tamagawa School). Obara was a leader of the New Education Movement in Japan, and his theory and practice have had a considerable influence on education there since the beginning of the twentieth century, especially in the fields of educational philosophy, liberal education, arts education, and vocational education. As a publisher, Obara also contributed to the dissemination of the pedagogy of Pestalozzi and Frobel among Japanese intellectuals and the public in general. This article looks at this unique educator, the main lines of his educational theory, the influence of Obara's initiatives on educational movements in Japan, along with a note on some typical features of "Tamagawa Gakuen" embodying Obara's ideas on education. Special attention is paid to his syncretistic/universalistic orientation, in that he respected many of the world's religious traditions as part of mankind's common cultural heritage. This position could provoke fierce disputes in terms of both philosophical and theological argument--not helped by the fact that Obara's statements themselves contain apparent contradictions. But due to this syncretistic/universalistic orientation, Obara's educational theory seems to provide significant indicators for the foundation of international education aimed at intercultural tolerance in today's age of globalization, where the dialogue between civilizations on the basis of mutual respect and understanding is gaining increasing importance as an imperative for global citizenship. (Contains 1 figure and 3 notes.)