The Study of Annual Events in High School Japanese Culture Textbooks

This study critically analyzes the representation of Japanese annual events in South Korean high school textbooks on Japanese culture. It draws on the 2015 and 2022 revised national curricula. The analysis reveals that six specific events—Hinamatsuri, Tango no Sekku, Shichi–Go– San, Ōmisoka, Oshōgatsu, and Setsubun—have been repeatedly featured over the past 30 years, reflecting a static and essentialist approach to cultural representation. These events prominently showcase the so–called “Three Fs” (Food, Fashion, Festival), which are often used in cross–cultural education due to their accessibility. However they also risk reducing Japanese culture to consumable and exoticized elements. This essentialist perspective reinforces dichotomous comparisons between Japanese and Korean culture, potentially fostering a superficial understanding or could even cause a nationalist backlash under the guise of cultural respect. While the 2022 revised curriculum broadened the scope of cultural elements, only about 20% of the newly introduced content was reflected in actual textbooks, indicating a significant gap between curriculum intent and textbook implementation. Nevertheless, some recent textbooks have begun to incorporate perspectives on improved cultural diversity and fluidity, signaling a potential shift away from essentialism. This study highlights the need for a paradigm shift in Japanese cultural education, embracing cultural complexity and intercultural understanding.