There is something disquieting about moves by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito to rewrite the Fundamental Law of Education. In an interim report they have just completed, the LDP emphasizes the importance of cultivating "love of country," meaning patriotism. Komeito uses a different phrase: "respect for country."

The report, quoting from existing law, says education is aimed at "character building." It lists new targets, such as "respect for tradition and culture," "enhancing the public spirit" and "cultivating an attitude of participating voluntarily in society's formation and development." Patriotism is described as "loving (or respecting) the country."

Current law, established in 1947, is based on the idea that education is aimed primarily at serving the needs of the individual. In other words, character building is posited as a basis for the formation and development of a peaceful and democratic state and society. By contrast, the report emphasizes the need to develop the "public spirit (or sense of public duty)." It makes no mention of key phrases in existing law, such as "individual value" and "voluntary spirit." The underlying assumption seems to be that undue respect for "individual dignity" is responsible for juvenile crime.