About the International Exchange Committee
Currently, the Committee operates three working groups: (1) International Research Exchange Promotion WG, (2) International Division WG for Practice Case Collection, and (3) WG for Promoting the Internationalization of the Society.
(1) International Research Exchange Promotion WG
This WG promotes international research exchange focusing on Japanese Tokubestukatudou and learning activities and instructional practices abroad that are similar to Tokubestukatudou. To date, it has supported research exchange between Tokkatsu practices in Egypt and other countries and Tokubestukatudou practices in Japan, as well as the organization of symposia at the World Association of Lesson Studies (WALS). For examples of these activities, please see “Examples of International Research Exchange” below.
(2) International Division WG for Practice Case Collection
In collaboration with members of the Practical Research Support Committee, we have been preparing to establish an international division for the practice case collection initiative. To date, we have discussed the objectives of collecting practice cases in the international division and drafted a call for submissions assuming applications from overseas. Going forward, we aim to institutionalize the system in earnest by conducting trial reviews using cases based on Tokkatsu practices in Egypt.
(3) WG for Promoting the Internationalization of the Society
This WG examines measures to internationalize the Society’s various services (so that researchers and practitioners outside Japan can also use them). To date, discussions have included: holding conference open research presentations and Tokkatsu Café sessions in English; accepting manuscripts in English for the Society’s journal; creating an international membership category; revising the Society’s official English name; providing an English version of the Society’s official website; and translating previously published articles suitable for international exchange into English. Holding conference open research presentations and Tokkatsu Café sessions in English has already been realized (for Tokkatsu Café, please see “Examples of International Research Exchange” below). In addition, regarding the possibility of revising the Society’s official English name, please see “On the Official English Name of the Society” below. The English version of the Society’s official website is currently under development; as a preliminary update,here please see it).
Examples of International Research Exchange
- November 11, 2025: International Symposium "Experiences of Lesson Study of TOKKATSU (Japanese Model of Holistic Education) in Egypt: Suggestions to Lesson Study Development" (World Association of Lesson Studies 2025 Hiroshima Conference) (We were able to connect Tokkatsu and Lesson Study, Egyptian Tokkatsu and Japanese Tokkatsu, and subject-based Lesson Study with Tokkatsu Lesson Study.)
- November 1, 2025: International Symposium "Lesson Study and Tokkatsu: The Internationalization and Localization of the Japanese Educational Model" (Hosted by the Graduate School of Foreign Studies, Bunkyo Gakuin University; supported by JASEA)
- July 26, 2025: Tokkatsu Café (Hosted by the Research Promotion Committee of JASEA; conducted in English via ZOOM), "Building Classroom and School Community through Tokkatsu" (Kanako N. Kusanagi, Nagoya University; Tatang Suratno, Indonesia University of Education)
- September 23–27, 2024: International Symposium "Developing Children's Qualities Necessary for Successful Lesson Study: The Japanese Holistic Model of Tokkatsu" / Workshop "Realizing Holistic Education Through Lesson Study and Tokkatsu" / Tokkatsu Booth (Display of the Society’s English website, teaching materials and related books on Tokubestukatudou, videos of Japanese schools, etc.) (World Association of Lesson Studies 2024 Kazakhstan Conference)
- November 9, 2024: Tokkatsu Café (Hosted by the Research Promotion Committee of JASEA; conducted in English via ZOOM), "Why Does the World Need Tokkatsu?" (Dr. Catherine C. Lewis, Distinguished Research Scientist at Mills College (USA), President of the World Association of Lesson Studies (WALS))
- September 21, 2022: International Symposium "Lesson Study and Tokkatsu: A Special Conference Strand" (World Association of Lesson Studies 2022 Malaysia Conference)
For information about Tokkatsu in Egypt, please see “Tokkatsu in Egypt” below.
On the Official English Name of the Society
Since March 2024, the International Exchange Committee has been examining the Society’s English name. The results of these discussions were compiled into the “Report on the English Name of JASEA” and submitted to the President on December 13, 2025. The report includes: Introduction; the significance of international research exchange on Tokubestukatudou and the importance of the Society’s English name; reasons for adopting the expression “Tokubetsukyouikukastudou” rather than “Kagaikasudou”; common misunderstandings surrounding the expression “extracurricular activities”; the validity of the criteria used in determining the English name; alternative candidates for the Society’s English name; discussion at the Executive Board Meeting; and Conclusion. Following this, the establishment of the “Committee for Reviewing the English Name of JASEA” was approved at the Board Meeting on February 11, and deliberations began on whether to change the English name and, if so, what the new name should be. The current official English name of JASEA is: Japanese Association for the Study of Extracurricular Activities. This was decided at the FY2018 General Assembly based on the recommendation below.
Report of the Committee on the English Name and Membership Categories (Excerpt).pdf (PDF file, 212.3 KB)
Tokkatsu in Egypt
Reference: Videos (YouTube) showing Tokkatsu in Egypt