Elementary schools in Japan

In the Edo period, some children attended terakoya or temple schools where they learned practical methods of reading, writing, and calculation.

Immediately before and during World War II, state education was used as a propaganda tool by the Japanese fascist government.

This is linked back to moral education classtime lessons, which are used as a context for "reflection on desirable practice, particularly in reference to special activities" and through which students can learn how to consider other peoples' perspectives and cultivate a sense of "omoiyari" (consideration of others).

[7] The first fifteen minutes of each day is set aside for either a schoolwide assembly (on Monday mornings) or attendance and announcements in homeroom.

[6] Lunches are typically served in bento boxes, with small portions of a variety of freshly prepared foods.

"[8] Because there are relatively few cafeterias in elementary schools, meals are taken in the classroom with the teacher, providing another informal opportunity for teaching nutrition, health, good eating habits and social behavior.

Some schools allow for a 20-minute recess in-between, which is sometimes used for cleaning the classrooms: sweeping, mopping, throwing away trash, etc.

as effective, but not without some problems, notably increasing absenteeism and school refusal and a troublesome amount of bullying (77,630 reported cases in 2010 throughout the school system)[9] In addition, special provision for the young children returning to Japan from long periods spent overseas is an issue.

The ministry suggested that the flag be flown and the national anthem sung at important school ceremonies.

Because neither the flag nor the anthem had been legally designated as national symbols, and because of the nationalistic wartime associations the two had in the minds of some citizens, this suggestion was greeted with opposition.