Study of the Authorized Japanese Textbooks for Hokkaido : Its Characteristics and Significance

(1)教科书编撰的背景由于北海道与日本大陆的环境和文化差异，人们迫切需要针对北海道情况的日本教科书。(2)当时的情况40年代末，北海道的要求实现了，教科书制度由国家教科书改为由教育部授权，一门科目可以出版多种教科书。从1953年到1956年，出版了33本所谓的“北海道授权日本教科书”（“Shougaku Kokugo”1953年，1954年（修订版），1956年（新版），由Tsukuru， Fujimura和北海道日本教育协会编辑，由Kyoikushuppan出版）。在此期间，这些教科书在北海道各地被采用和使用。这一创新尝试虽然引发了关于初中教科书制度的讨论，但由于政府决定不承认地区教科书，因此没有进一步采取行动。(3)教科书的特点和意义这些教科书旨在培养一般的日语能力，并告知北海道的时事和情况。这些教科书的内容以叙事、童话、诗歌、传记和旅行小品的形式写成，主要涉及北海道的自然、日常生活和工业。由于这些特点，可以说这些教科书在全国范围内都是杰出的。

(1) The Background to the Compilation of TextbooksDue to the environmental and cultural differences which exist in Hokkaido, as compared to mainland Japan, there has been a desperate demand for 'Japanese textbooks which address the Hokkaido situation.'(2) The CircumstanceIn the late 1940's, Hokkaido's request came true when the textbook system was changed from the compilation of national textbooks, to the authorization by the Ministry of Education, so that varying textbooks could be published for a single subject. From 1953 to 1956, 33 so called 'Authorized Japanese textbooks for Hokkaido ('Shougaku Kokugo' 1953, 1954 (revised edition), 1956 (new edition), edited by Tsukuru, Fujimura and Hokkaido Association of Japanese Education, published by Kyoikushuppan) were released. During this period, these textbooks were adopted and used throughout Hokkaido. Although this innovative trial brought upon the discussions about the textbook system of junior high school, no further action was taken in this direction due to the governmental decision which did not acknowledge the textbooks for districts.(3) Characteristics and Significance of the TextbooksThe textbooks were aimed at fostering general Japanese competence as well as at informing current events and situations in Hokkaido. The contents of these textbooks, written in the form of narratives, fairy tales, poetry, biography, , and travel sketches, dealt mainly with Hokkaido's nature, everyday life and industry. Because of these characteristics, one could say that these were nationally remarkable Japanese textbooks.