May 23, 2026

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Yamazoe Taku on May 22 stated that providing high school students with opportunities to hear opinions critical of the government or to visit controversial sites does not violate the Basic Act on Education.

However, earlier that day, the Ministry of Education ruled that taking students on a school trip aboard boats used in on-sea protests against the construction of a new U.S. base off the coast of Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa, for the purpose of peace education violates Article 14, Paragraph 2 of the Basic Act on Education.

In March, two protest boats carrying high school students on a peace education field trip capsized, resulting in the death of a female high school student from Kyoto.

At a press conference in the Diet building, Yamazoe pointed out that the Education Ministry’s guidance to the school authorities in question, claiming that their educational content of the field trip went against the law, constitutes “government intervention in educational content”.

He emphasized, “Issues regarding safety management on educational trips must, of course, be addressed.” At the same time, he stated, “Political intervention in educational content must be restrained.”

He explained that Article 14 of the law only prohibits political education and activities intended to support or oppose a specific political party. He added, “There is no rule prohibiting political education in schools. Providing political education to young people is important for empowering them as responsible citizens.”

The Ministry cited the following as grounds for claiming a violation: visiting a protest tent near the construction site, taking a boat tour around the site, and hearing explanations about the anti-base protest activities. However, Yamazoe responded, “If that is the case, it would mean that simply listening to people with critical views on government policies or visiting a protest site to observe the situation firsthand is prohibited.”

Past related article:
> Following tragic boat capsizing off Okinawa’s Henoko, anti-base activities temporarily suspended [March 18, 2026]