The balance between individual independence and social interdependence is a perennial debate in Japan. This book, based on an extended, detailed study of two primary schools in the Kinki district of Japan, discusses these debates.

Introduction: Self, Society and Education in Japan 1. Education and Individuality in Japan 2. Groups and Individuals at Primary School 3. Stories of the Self 4. Mathematical Relationships 5. Learning Gender 6. Ceremonial Creations 7. The Next Stage – 2002 and All That. Conclusion

"Peter Cave carefully documents the trajectory of educational reform in postwar Japan, highlights the significance of those policies, and connects them to initiatives that have addressed similar objectives. This combination of insights about national policy trends and their implications on classroom practice makes Primary School in Japan a valuable contribution to the research literature. The book should attract a broad readership, including teachers, anthropologists, comparative educators and policy makers." - Christopher Bjork, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie‘This book makes a very important contribution to international and comparative education … exceptionally well researched and written in a fascinating and interesting manner. … It is recommended reading for a wide audience, including educators at all levels, education policy makers, sociologists, anthropologists, and researchers’ -Priscilla Mary Anne Blinco, Comparative Education Review; 53:1 (Feb 2009), pp. 141-142‘This book is a pleasure to read thanks to Cave’s clear and eloquent writing style. It is certain to become a required text for all those interested in Japan’s schools’ -Robert Aspinall, Japan Forum; 20:3 (Nov 2008), pp. 431-433‘This is a meticulously researched work. Cave’s judicious review of the relevant literature, stress on Japan’s "multiplicity of discourses of self", and careful descriptions greatly contribute to our corpus of studies about Japanese education’ - Brian J. McVeigh, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute; (N.S.) 15: 2 (2009), pp. 451-452‘Throughout the book, Peter Cave skillfully moves between the macro and micro levels … This combination of insights about national policy trends and their implications on classroom practice makes Primary School in Japan a valuable contribution to the research literature. The book should attract a broad readership, including teachers, anthropologists, comparative educators and policy makers’ - Christopher Bjork, Pacific Affairs; 82: 1 (Spring 2009), pp. 141-142"Despite worldwide interest in Japanese elementary education among both education researchers and classroom teachers, there are just a few book-length scholarly treatments of Japanese elementary education. Peter Cave's Primary School in Japan: Self, Individuality and Learning in Elementary Education is a welcome addition to the bookshelf." - Catherine C. Lewis, Journal of Japanese Studies, 35:2 (2009)