What is the club activity problem in Japanese schools?

    On 23 April 2022, IRIS issued a series of English-language tweets on the club activity problem in Japanese schools. This article is a compilation of those tweets.
    IRIS was formed in 2021 as the first teachers' union in Japan to specialise in the club activity problem. If you would like to know more about this problem, please feel free to contact us.  @iris_bukatsu

What is 'komon'?

The Japanese word 'komon', equivalent to 'adviser' in English, can be quite different from its literal meaning when used in the context of club activities in Japanese schools. A komon teacher is usually required to provide technical guidance rather than simply giving advice. It has been common since the Showa period for a maths teacher to coach baseball pitching or a Japanese language teacher to coach volleyball serving.

Are club activities truly educational?

When considering the educational significance of club activities, it is important not to forget the perspective that educational outcomes are measured over the medium to long term. If athletic club activities during junior and senior high school lead to a dislike of the sport and eliminate the possibility of a lifelong sport, it is an educational failure, no matter how fulfilling the club activities may have been. It is necessary to re-evaluate whether athletic club activities in Japan, in which students are usually made to play the same sport for three years, are appropriate as a method of education.

All-member 'komon' system

It is clear that there is no legal basis for the all-member 'komon' system and that teachers have the right to choose whether or not to become 'komon'. Nevertheless, the reason why the all-member 'komon' system is widely practised in Japan is because of the misguided belief in the exercise of the right among teachers as well as school managers that teachers should not speak out for the improvement of their own working environment, but should simply keep quiet and serve the children.

What is 'BDK'?

'BDK' is one of the informal categories of Japanese teachers. This is an acronym for 'Bukatsu Dake Kyoin', which means 'teachers who are dedicated only to club activities'. It is a kind of slang mainly used on SNS by some teachers who feel tormented by club activities.

Club activities in the Courses of Study

Curricula for Japanese schools are set by each school based on national standards known as the Courses of Study. Club activities in many junior high schools and high schools are marginally defined in the Courses of Study, which is the only legal basis for club activities. However, the amount of time and effort spent on these activities is enormous, despite the small amount of description.

A de facto right to strike

The basic labour rights of Japanese teachers are partly restricted. Although all workers are supposed to be guaranteed basic labour rights under the Constitution, teachers are excluded from this by legal measures. However, Japanese teachers can be considered to have a de facto right to strike. This is because school education today operates on the premise that teachers work overtime. If teachers come to work and leave on time, most schools will instantly cease to function normally. Our Refuse Komon Campaign can be positioned as part of this struggle.