Apr. 2025
Teikyo Heisei University, Chancellor's Award
Students with high scores in course evaluations

Feb. 2022
Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Staff Commendation for Managers

Feb. 2007
Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, The 1st Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Outstanding Teachers

Jan. 2005
Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Staff Commendationutstanding Staff Award

Learning Methods for Understanding Different Cultures Through Annual Events in Japan and China　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji
How to learn about cross-cultural understanding from annual events in Japan and Korea, Feb. 2026
This study proposes and implements intercultural understanding learning using annual events as a theme in elementary education to deepen understanding of the neighboring country, China, which is often considered difficult to relate to. Through exchanges with Yokohama Yamate Chinese School, the aim was for students to compare Japanese and Chinese annual events (such as New Year and Spring Festival, Tango no Sekku and Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Moon and Mid-Autumn Festival) and to notice the similarities and differences in culture. The learning process was structured in three stages: 'researching Japanese events,' 'comparing them with Chinese events,' and 'considering ways to foster friendship,' and it incorporated backward design theory to deepen learning. As a result, students were able to reassess their preconceived notions about China and increase their interest in and understanding of different cultures. The familiar theme of annual events was confirmed to be a highly versatile learning method that can be implemented in any school without relying on direct experiences or exchanges.

Teaching Materials for Local Figures in Elementary School Social Studies ~Based on the Case of Juzaburo Tsutaya~　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji
Apr. 2025
In the 6th-grade history unit, we conducted a regional study focusing on Shōsaburō Tsutaya, the media mogul of Edo, using Taito Ward's Senzoku, the setting for the Reiwa 7th-year Taiga drama "Berabou," as the subject. Although the Yoshiwara area has a negative image as a red-light district, the teaching material emphasized Edo culture as a "cradle of culture." Students learned about Tsutaya's upbringing and compared it with the culture of Edo townspeople. Post-class surveys revealed that teachers positively evaluated the teaching materials, and it was clear that they helped foster students' attachment to the region and motivation for learning. This is a case demonstrating the potential for developing educational materials that utilize locally unique cultural resources.

Outline of the Lecture on the Teacher Education Course "Social Studies" and its Results ~Through the Utilization of Local Teaching Materials~　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji
Journal of the Department of Juvenile Education, Teikyo Heisei University, Feb. 2025
This course aims to provide knowledge and teaching skills necessary for instructing elementary school social studies. Based on the revisions to the 2020 Curriculum Guidelines, the course is structured into 15 lessons with a focus on "social perspectives and ways of thinking." Social studies is a subject that fosters students' ability to perceive social phenomena as relevant to themselves through experiences such as using materials and field trips to local communities. In this course, activities are designed to incorporate teaching materials familiar to the students themselves, emphasizing practical experience in creating lessons that promote active and interactive learning. As a result, the course aims to help students understand how to design lessons that make use of regional characteristics and cultivate the ability to plan social studies lessons that encourage students to learn proactively.

How to learn about cross-cultural understanding from annual events in Japan and Korea　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji
Mar. 2024, [Reviewed]
The purpose of this study is to propose a learning method that deepens intercultural understanding with South Korea—a neighboring country considered difficult to relate to—through annual events at the elementary education stage. The curriculum guidelines, fully implemented starting in the 2020 academic year, established time for "foreign language activities" and "foreign languages," but international understanding education tends to be biased toward English-speaking countries. Therefore, this study focused on South Korea, a non-English-speaking country, and conducted learning that explored cultural similarities and differences by comparing events such as "New Year - Seollal," "Obon - Chuseok," and "Shichi-Go-San - Doljanchi." For fourth graders, understanding was deepened through exchanges with Korean schools during integrated studies time, and for sixth graders, in the social studies unit "Countries Closely Connected to Japan," proposals were compiled as Japan-Korea goodwill ambassadors based on backward design theory. As a result, students developed an understanding of the cultural background of familiar annual events and cultivated the ability to express their own thoughts externally. This approach, using annual events as a subject, was suggested to be effective as a versatile and sustainable method for intercultural understanding education.

Learning to Understand Different Cultures in Elementary Schools: Through the Practice of Diverse Exchange Activities　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji
Journal of the Department of Child Studies, Teikyo Heisei University, Mar. 2023
After the conclusion of the TOKYO2020 Games, schools in Tokyo have been exploring how to continue international understanding education and exchange activities with invited guests, which have been actively conducted under the slogan 'Welcome to Tokyo.' Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools still need to continue these activities while implementing infection control measures. This study focuses on the face-to-face exchange between elementary school students and international university students, which was conducted for the first time in three years under these circumstances, and analyzes the achievements and challenges of past exchanges conducted through documents and online platforms during the pandemic. Through this analysis, the study highlights strategies and instructional considerations to help children maintain interest in different cultures and deepen their understanding of others even under the conditions of an infectious disease outbreak.

Enhancing education on the protection and inheritance of cultural assets and annual events: A study through the 4th grade social studies curriculum.
2020
Amid the challenges schools face in dealing with the impact of the novel coronavirus, the full implementation of the new curriculum guidelines is accompanied by efforts to realize "active, interactive, and deep learning." In social studies, the study of "cultural properties and annual events" for fourth-grade students, which was previously limited to the city, has now expanded to cover the entire prefecture. This study focuses on the importance of children understanding the merits of their own country before engaging in cross-cultural understanding. It examines the educational significance of learning about the thoughts and efforts of people behind cultural properties and annual events, so that children can appreciate the value of Japan as their own, and link this understanding to preservation, inheritance, and social participation.

Learning activities where children actively learn and think: Thoughts as an educational administrator towards the next revision of the curriculum guidelines.
2015

Research on teaching methods for the 6-year political unit "Let's Find Politics from the Streets".
2001

"What should we aim for now?" Issues seen in schools and teacher training universities.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
REIKO YOSHIFUJI
Education PRO, 17 Jun. 2025, [Invited]
Lead, In recent years, due to teacher shortages and the acceleration of recruitment examinations, educational institutions and teacher-training universities have been significantly affected. It is necessary for students to confirm their desire to become teachers early through hands-on experience in the field and to gain experience in inquiry-based learning. Additionally, efficient lesson preparation with clear objectives and the practical use of ICT are also important. Furthermore, it is essential to promote the appeal of teachers to society in order to stimulate interest in working in the educational field. This paper discusses approaches to teacher training that address these challenges.

Practical! Principal's Seminar (426) Developing Children to Survive in a Globalized International Society (4) Learning 'Selection and Judgment' in Social Studies
26 Apr. 2021
In elementary school social studies, the revised curriculum guidelines emphasize "choice and judgment." At our school, in the 4th grade, we foster a sense of attachment to the local community and awareness of participation in preservation and inheritance through local cultural properties and annual events. In the 6th grade, through international exchange activities, we help students realize the importance of respecting diverse lifestyles and cultures around the world. This practice, prompted by the Olympics and Paralympics, encourages students to reconsider the connections between their local community and the wider world.

実践! 校長塾(425)グローバル化する国際社会を生き抜く子どもの育成(3)「異校種間連携」「提案できる子どもの育成」という視点
19 Apr. 2021

Practice! Principal Training School (424) Nurturing Children to Thrive in a Globalized International Society (2) Practical Approaches to Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
12 Apr. 2021
Due to the closure of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face international exchange became difficult. However, through the "Connecting Project" utilizing the school website, messages from both domestic and international sources were posted, poster exchanges were conducted with the Tokyo Korean School, and online interactions with international students were continued. In addition, under circumstances where going out was restricted, teaching materials on the local area of 'Ueno' were organized. As a result, even though in-person exchanges were limited, this provided students with an opportunity to reflect on their identity as Japanese citizens and as members of the global community.

Practical! Principal Training (423): Developing Children to Thrive in a Globalized International Society (1) Through Our School's Research Featuring Tradition, Culture, and International Understanding
05 Apr. 2021
Our school aims to cultivate the ability to thrive in an increasingly globalized society, setting goals for children according to their developmental stages. Based on experiences of traditional events and surveys of foreign language classes, we implemented the 5th-grade integrated study program 'Discover Japan's COOL – The Skills of Local Artisans' and the 6th-grade social studies program 'The Future of the World and Japan's Role.' Starting from an understanding of their own country's traditions and culture, we aim to broaden children's perspectives toward understanding other countries and to foster students who can engage confidently in international interactions.

New Society（textbook）　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Tokyo Shoseki, Editor
Tokyo Shoseki, Mar. 2030

Educational technology for everyone "Tips to make the job of a teacher 10 times more enjoyable"　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji, Single work
2025

Reiwa 6th year edition "New Society"　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Joint work
Apr. 2024

Geographic data map of Japan by prefecture　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Supervisor
2023

National Social Studies Research Papers　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Editor
2022

"Research Practice Series: Creation of Lessons"　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Contributor
2021

Message from the principal in the Reiwa era 66 sentence examples　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Joint work
2020

School Management in the Corona Disaster　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Joint work
2020

Social Studies Study Guidance Plans　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Joint work
2015

Learning methods for cross-cultural understanding through the seasonal events of Japan and China – through exchanges with Yokohama Yamate Chinese School.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji
Japan Association for International Understanding Educational Studies, 28 Jun. 2025

Understanding of the cultural differences between Japan and South Korea is deepened through elementary education and seasonal events.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji
25 Jun. 2025, [Invited]

日本と韓国の年中行事から学ぶ異文化理解の学習方法　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
30 Jun. 2024

Japan and Korea connect through primary education　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Reiko Yoshifuji
General Assembly of the Japan-Korea Friendship Association, 20 Jun. 2023, [Invited]

Designing a unit structure that uses perspectives and ways of thinking about social phenomena to pursue them　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Nov. 2018

Oct. 2022 - Present
Japanese Association for international Education　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Mar. 2021 - Present
Japanese Association for the Education for Living Environment and integrated studies　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Apr. 2014 - Present
Japanese Association for the Social Studies　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Building a curriculum for mutual understanding between Japan, China, and Korea in primary education through learning from annual events　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Education and primary and secondary education-related
Teikyo Heisei University
Jul. 2025 - Mar. 2027

人権の花運動　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
advisor
Apr. 2022 - Present

子どもたちの人権メッセージ　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Apr. 2022 - Present