Reuters AlertNet Lite - Japanese school kids urged to learn martial arts

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Japanese school kids urged to learn martial arts

05 Sep 2007 09:02:25 GMT
Source: Reuters

TOKYO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Japanese girls and boys will have to revisit their roots by learning martial arts and traditional sports such as judo or sumo in school if curriculum changes urged by experts are adopted.

An advisory panel this week also called for students to study traditional Japanese dance -- along with modern steps such as hip-hop -- in physical education courses.

"It's good for students to experience Japanese tradition through martial arts," education ministry official Yoshikazu Maetani said on Wednesday of the panel's advice.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made reforming the education system to put more emphasis on patriotism and traditional culture and values a signature policy since taking office a year ago.

Japanese children can study dance and martial arts at present, but those classes are optional and popular dance styles often attract more students than traditional arts.

"We want students to experience all sorts of athletic activities, not just ones they already know they like," Maetani said.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Topics

• Children

• Women

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Uganda's Parliament joins Civil Society Organisations to fight child abuse
Save the Children - Norway (Redd Barna)

• Medair receives enthusiastic evaluation from Swiss Solidarity (CdB), one of its major donors
Medair - Switzerland

• Uzbekistan: ‘Beanbags’ bring mobility and joy to children with disabilities
WV MEERO - Cyprus

• Special summer camps for children in need of special attention
WV MEERO - Cyprus

• Sri Lanka – ICRC Bulletin No. 16
ICRC - Switzerland

MORE >>

Latest news

• Japanese school kids urged to learn martial arts

• SAfrican women burnt to death by spooked students

• FACTBOX-Abortion in the Philippines

• FEATURE-Abortion in the Philippines: a national secret

• FEATURE-Sunflowers brighten life near North Pole

MORE >>

Last updated:Wed Sep 5 09:04:11 2007