The Overall Picture of and Change in Education of Youth in the Meiji Period

This article aims to analyze books on ‘Youth' published in the Meiji period,grasps the overall picture of education of youth in the Meiji period and clarify thecharacteristics. The article focuses on the following four findings. First, the publicationof books on ‘Youth' was affected by social backgrounds in the Meiji period. In the early1890s, for example, a large number of publications were issued around the time of promulgation of the Meiji Constitution and the first convening of the Imperial Diet. After the Russo-Japanese War, many books on Youth Groups (Seinendan) were publishes as the groups drew attention as key to restore shattered rural areas. Second, as a general tendency, the number of books intended for students was greater than that of any books on youth. It is after 1906 that books focusing on ‘Youth' in rural areas started to be published. Third, an analysis on the contents has revealed that a largenumber of books on self-discipline, economic success, hygienics, and self-support-ing learning and selfeducation were published. Fourth,quit a few books on ‘Youth' published in the Meiji period explained the responsibility of youth in the new era, but there were little discussion on how they should be specifically educated