The Japanese Educational Research Association is an academic organization whose goal is to “advance and promote educational research -- through the presentation of its theory and application, exchange of knowledge, and collaboration with relevant associations, both at home and abroad -- and thus contribute to the development of our nation’s academia” (Regulations and Rules of Operation). Founded in 1941, it is now an interdisciplinary organization with some 2,700 individual members, making it one of the largest research associations focused on educational studies in Japan.
As well as holding a yearly conference every August, the Association publishes a Japanese journal (Kyoikugaku Kenkyu) quarterly and an English journal (Educational Studies in Japan) yearly. Research events such as symposia and seminars are also held frequently, along with research activities and meetings focused within seven geographical sectors of Japan, in order to work toward the further development of educational studies research in this country. The Association is managed by the President, Secretary-General, and Vice-Secretary-General, with support from the Journal Editorial Committee, ESJ Subcommittee, International Exchange Committee, Research Promotion Committee, Young Researcher Cultivation Committee, Award Committee, Public Relations Committee, and Ethics Committee. Further, we have played a major role in the development of global educational research through continued close collaboration with the World Education Research Association (WERA). In the new cycle beginning in September 2025, we plan to address the following three issues based on results and outcomes from the previous cycle (September 2023 through August 2025).
First, it is no secret that Japanese education has been faced with numerous problems in recent years, including the long work hours and overburdening of public school teachers, fewer aspiring teachers, increasing numbers of teachers taking leave for physical and mental health reasons, increases in student non-attendance, suicide, and bullying, the household and individual burdens of educational costs (including higher education), the educational opportunity gap based on location, gender, and other attributes, dysfunctional educational content and assessment, and so on. It is an important duty of the JERA, as a large association with a long history, both to provide knowledge and to express opinions from an academic viewpoint with regard to these problems faced by people involved in Japanese education.
Second, while the Association rejoices at the increase of students and women among our membership, the aging of Japanese society as a whole and the decline in the young population continue. In order to maintain and increase membership and to keep Association activities vital, we hope to expand participation in our activities from diverse perspectives. For example, we continue to examine the potential as an Association to make diverse voices heard, such as educational policy proposals from high school and university undergraduate groups involved in inquiry-based learning as well as practical research reports from teachers in preschool/ primary/secondary education.
Third, the format and programs of our yearly conference underwent major changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of which are still ongoing. We hope to revise our conference format for the better, with awareness of members’ needs as well as consultation with the host university, allowing the conference to serve as a major opportunity for the active interaction and academic development of members.
Education is the object of tremendous expectations for the realization of human potential; at the same time, it often creates serious problems such as oppression, inequality, and exclusion. We strongly hope to continue our work in educational research, grasping and making widely available not only bright but dark aspects of education through various academic approaches, with the cooperation and support of our colleagues within and without the Association.
September 1, 2025
The record of the Presidential Symposium of Educational Research Associations in East Asia on Education Reform in East Asia: Prospects for International Linkage among Educational Research Associations has been published. The symposium, hosted by President Teruyuki Hirota of JERA, was held at the 78th Annual JERA Conference in 2019, featuring the presidents of educational research associations in China and Korea as speakers. The record, available in three languages (Japanese, Korean, and Chinese) is downloadable from the following URL.
-Japanese (PDF)
-Korean (PDF)
-Chinese (PDF)
Our English journal, Educational Studies in Japan (ESJ) welcomes manuscripts related to the topics of particular special issues,
as well as general submissions in all fields and disciplines of educational research.
For details, please refer to the following page:
ESJ Submission Information
For details, please refer to the following page: A Joint Statement to Protect the Independence of the Science Council of Japan
For details, please refer to the following page: Webinar series on “Pandemic and Education”
WERA Focal Meeting 2025, Joao Pessoa: 26-30 October 2025
For details, please refer to the following URL:
https://anped.org.br/wera2025/en/
Submissions for the Call must be completed by:
Paper submission: 6 January to 6 February 2025
Registration closes: 15 May 2025
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