Art Education Japan
The history of Japanese art education originated from imported ideas from mainly Western countries. Heavily influenced by historical developments, Japanese art education has undergone numerous transitions over the years.
1. The Birth of Art Education: 1872-1910
Although Japanese art education was first introduced in schools in 1872 with the promulgation of the “Gakusei”*, its origins can be traced to the last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate and early Meiji Period.
The first art course, Keiga was introduced as a compulsory subject in upper elementary grades (students 10 to 13 years of age) at public elementary schools. Keiga comprised the copying of pictures from a book of sample drawings using graph paper _ a method that was extremely restrictive and emphasized practicality. The subject was renamed Zuga from 1881.