MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

   In 1871, the Meiji government created the Ministry of Education (Monbusho) to oversee science, education, and language matters. Following World War II, the ministry was instrumental in reforming the writing system and simplifying the use of kanji, and since 1954 it has sponsored foreign fellowships to assist foreign students studying in Japan. The ministry controls many aspects of education and is charged with providing citizens an abundant life through education and lifelong study. Its broad mandate includes promoting culture and the arts of Japan, and in this capacity it provides funding to new writers and supports film as well as traditional and modern drama. It has also recently established a division to promote the translation and publication of Japanese literature into foreign languages. Currently the ministry also seeks to develop a copyright system to respond to the Internet age. In 2001, it was merged with another ministry to form the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology—abbreviated MEXT (Monbukagakusho).

   See also DIET LIBRARY.