Kanji Matters in a Multilingual Japan

要旨

For Learners of Japanese as a Second Language (JSL), the Japanese writing script can present particular difficulties due to its inherent complexity.This complexity is due, in part, to the incorporation of kanji, the Chinese characters that make up one of the three main scripts in the Japanese language.In response to Japan's increasing immigration, on June 21, 2019, the Upper House committee on education and science unanimously approved the "Japanese language education promotion bill" (nihongo kyōiku no suishin ni kansuru hōritsuan), a bill aimed at supporting Japanese language education for foreign residents in Japan.Japanese language education for foreign residents in Japan has hitherto been inadequate and left in the hands of volunteer teachers in community centers.More adequate provision of Japanese language education services may serve to promote a more inclusive society consistent with government initiatives such as tabunka kyōsei or "mutual co-existence".This paper looks at kanji and considers their development, education, complexity, and whether they are a potential barrier to a more inclusive society.

主題