Message from the Representative Director

Message from the Representative
Kenji Sato (Osaka Kyoiku University)

The Japanese Society for Art Education (JSAE) was established in 1979 as an academic organisation dedicated to advancing scholarly research and dialogue on art education. Today, the Society brings together practitioners and researchers engaged in various areas of art and education—from early childhood art expression, elementary school arts and crafts education, and secondary school art education, to museum education and lifelong learning in community settings. Through the exchange and dissemination of research findings, we contribute to broader educational and cultural conversations.

We hope that creative educational practices that leverage the unique characteristics of the arts will provide irreplaceable learning experiences for all children, helping to shape a more prosperous and innovative future.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all members for your continued support of the Society’s activities. At the same time, I warmly encourage your further engagement and active participation.

We also wholeheartedly welcome individuals who share our interest in children’s learning through the arts to join the Society. Let us work together to explore, exchange, and promote diverse and creative approaches to art education.

Below is an overview of our main activities:

  • Annual Conference: Held in March each year, this is a national gathering for the exchange of research. The conference features numerous presentations by members, research group meetings, keynote lectures, symposiums, exhibitions, and other unique events organised by the conference secretariat. In recent years, international sessions have also been included.

  • Journal of Art Education (Bijutsu Kyoikugaku): Our annual peer-reviewed academic journal features the latest research in the field of art education. Manuscript submission and review are conducted through an online system, ensuring the timely and rigorous dissemination of scholarly work.

  • Art Education Award: This award recognises outstanding research by authors aged 45 or younger published in the Journal of Art Education. It honours promising and innovative studies that are expected to make a significant impact in the field.

  • Art Education Monograph Series (Bijutsu Kyoikugaku Sōsho): Launched in 2018, this publication series is available for purchase at bookstores and online.

  • Research Forums: These are research events initiated by member proposals and organised in collaboration with the Director of the Research Forum.

  • Research Divisions: These are thematic groups formed by members who share common research interests. Currently, five divisions are actively conducting research.

  • Society Newsletter: Published online three times a year, the newsletter shares updates on Society activities and research reports from members.

For more information on each of these activities, please refer to the relevant pages on our website.

Membership Information
To become a member, please follow the instructions on our website.
If you are unsure of whom to list as your recommender at the time of application, please contact a board member or the secretariat for assistance.