Elementary All Subjects: Social Studies

The aim says the subject develops "the foundation of the qualities and abilities as kōmin (公民)" needed by those who form a peaceful and democratic nation and society. "National", "working adult" and "city resident" are not the words of the aim. "Awareness as a national" appears in item (3), so do not confuse it with the main phrase.

The subject aim begins "using social perspectives and ways of thinking, through activities of inquiring into and solving problems". The grade-level aims instead say "perspectives and ways of thinking about social phenomena". "Historical", "geographical" and "civic" are closer to the wording used for the separate fields in lower secondary school, not the elementary subject aim.

Social studies has 70 hours in Grade 3, 90 in Grade 4, 100 in Grade 5 and 105 in Grade 6. 70 is Grade 3, 90 is Grade 4 and 105 is Grade 6. The hours increase as the grade goes up.

Grade 3 covers (1) the local area and city, (2) production and sales work, (3) work that keeps the community safe, and (4) changes in the city over time. Water, electricity and gas supply is Grade 4, industrial production is Grade 5, and politics is Grade 6.

Grade 4 content (1) says children understand the names and locations of the 47 prefectures, and the planning notes say they should be checked each time with an atlas or globe so children can master and use them by the end of elementary school. It is not finished in Grade 3, not handled all at once in Grade 6 history, and the end of lower secondary school is not the deadline.

The note says "in addition to rice farming, take up one from vegetables, fruit, livestock products, marine products and so on". Rice farming is always handled, plus one more. There is no rule to skip rice, handle all of them, or always include marine products. There is also no limit to the prefecture; prefecture-based cases are a feature of Grade 4.

The Grade 4 note says to choose either garbage or sewage. Both are not required, and there is no rule moving sewage to Grade 5. "Choose from drinking water, electricity and gas" is the note for the supply businesses in the same content item (2), not for waste disposal.

The Grade 3 note says to take up that periods can be expressed using era names (元号) such as Showa and Heisei. There is no rule to use only the Western calendar or centuries. The overall sequence of historical periods is handled in Grade 6 history.

With north at the top, right is east and down is south, so lower right is southeast. In Japanese the eight directions put north or south first. Northeast is upper right, southwest is lower left, and northwest is upper left.

Real distance = map length × scale denominator, so 6 × 25,000 = 150,000 cm. Since 100,000 cm = 1 km, the answer is 1.5 km. 0.15 km drops one digit in the unit conversion, 15 km adds one, and 0.6 km uses 10,000 as the denominator by mistake.

Contour lines connect points of the same height, and narrower spacing means a steeper slope. Wide spacing shows a gentle slope, not a high elevation. They connect equal heights, not equal slopes. Contour lines of different heights normally do not cross (at cliffs they may appear to merge), and a summit is shown inside a closed contour.

"卍" is the symbol for a Buddhist temple; it comes from a mark used in Buddhism. A Shinto shrine is shown by the shape of a torii gate, and the two are easy to mix up, so learn them as a pair. Castle ruins and cemeteries have their own symbols.

The 0-degree longitude line is the prime meridian, passing through the old Royal Observatory at Greenwich in London. The equator is 0 degrees latitude. The International Date Line is drawn around 180 degrees longitude. The line through Akashi is 135 degrees east, the basis of Japan Standard Time, not 0 degrees.

The easternmost point is Minamitorishima. Yonaguni is the westernmost, Okinotorishima is the southernmost, and Etorofu is the northernmost. Minamitorishima contains "minami" (south) in its name but is the eastern end, so do not judge by the name.

The six continents are Eurasia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica. Greenland is one of the largest islands in the world and is not counted as a continent. Eurasia, Antarctica and Africa are all among the six. The Course of Study asks that children master the names and locations of the continents and main oceans by the end of elementary school.

A line graph is best for showing change over time. Pie and band charts show the share of a whole. A pictograph compares amounts with numbers of pictures and is not suited to reading change over a long period.

The correct order is Asuka → Nara → Heian → Kamakura. The Taika Reform took place in the Asuka period, the Great Buddha was built in the Nara period, aristocratic culture flourished in the Heian period, and warrior government began in the Kamakura period. The other orders reverse Nara and Asuka, or Nara and Heian.

The Taika Reform was begun by Prince Naka no Oe and Nakatomi no Kamatari after they overthrew the Soga clan. Prince Shotoku and Ono no Imoko relate to taking in continental culture (the Seventeen-Article Constitution, envoys to Sui China). Emperor Shomu and Gyoki relate to building the Great Buddha. Fujiwara no Michinaga and Murasaki Shikibu relate to aristocratic life and culture.

The clues for item (ii) are taking in continental culture, the Taika Reform and the building of the Great Buddha. The Genpei War and so on are the clues for item (iv), the start of warrior government. Hunting-gathering and so on are the clues for item (i), the change "from villages to states". Aristocratic life and culture is the clue for item (iii), the birth of a Japanese-style culture.

The regent at the time of the wars with the Yuan was Hojo Tokimune. Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the Kamakura shogunate, and Taira no Kiyomori was the first warrior to become Grand Minister; both lived before these wars. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was a Muromachi shogun who built the Golden Pavilion.

Sugita Genpaku published Kaitai Shinsho, a translation of a Dutch anatomy book, and helped develop Dutch Learning. Kojiki-den was written by Motoori Norinaga (National Learning), and the survey map of Japan was made by Ino Tadataka. Utagawa Hiroshige made ukiyo-e prints such as "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido", while puppet theater scripts were written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon.

Mutsu Munemitsu succeeded in abolishing consular jurisdiction, and Komura Jutaro achieved the restoration of tariff autonomy; watch for options that swap the two. Ito Hirobumi was the first Prime Minister and worked on the constitution, and Togo Heihachiro is known for the Battle of Tsushima in the Russo-Japanese War.

Sakamoto Ryoma is not among the 42 people listed. Ino Tadataka (map of Japan), Noguchi Hideyo (yellow fever research) and Sesshu (ink painting) are all listed. For the late Edo to Meiji era the list includes Perry, Katsu Kaishu, Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, Kido Takayoshi and others.

The note says to take up suitable material from the Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Fudoki and so on. The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book belong to Heian aristocratic culture, the poetry anthologies are literary works, and An Encouragement of Learning, Kaitai Shinsho and Kojiki-den are books linked to the achievements of historical figures, not examples of myths and legends.

The basic principles are popular sovereignty, respect for fundamental human rights and pacifism; the civics field of the lower secondary Course of Study also treats these three as the basic principles. Separation of powers and parliamentary democracy are systems set by the Constitution but are not counted among the three principles. The emperor is a symbol, but that is not one of the three principles either.

Dissolving the House of Representatives is one of the acts in Article 7, done with the advice and approval of the Cabinet. The Diet designates the Prime Minister, and the Emperor appoints the person designated (Article 6). The Diet enacts laws and the Cabinet prepares the budget; the Emperor promulgates laws.

The courts review whether laws violate the Constitution (judicial review, Article 81). Designating the Prime Minister and passing a no-confidence resolution are checks by the Diet (the latter by the House of Representatives) on the Cabinet. Dissolving the House of Representatives is a check by the Cabinet on the Diet.

The three duties are having children receive ordinary education (Article 26), working (Article 27) and paying taxes (Article 30). Voting is a right (the right to participate in politics), not a constitutional duty. The Course of Study takes up suffrage and the duty to pay taxes as examples of rights and duties.

The note says that when handling matters with diverse views or unsettled matters, teachers should use useful and appropriate materials and avoid biased treatment, such as overemphasizing particular matters or presenting one-sided views without due care, so children can think from multiple angles and judge fairly. Not handling such topics, narrowing to one view, or never presenting other views all go against this intent of presenting various views.

The note says that, to avoid a comprehensive and abstract treatment, the work of the UN should be taught through familiar activities of UNICEF and UNESCO. Covering every UN body is exactly the treatment the note avoids. The Security Council and reading the UN Charter are not mentioned.