This article is a selective review of recent psychological research on
the moral development of Japanese children and adolescents from
a cultural point of view. The author begins with a short introduction
to the characteristics of Japanese society suggested by social scientists. Based on the findings of current educational surveys, the
problems of children and adolescents are discussed. Studies that
use cognitive developmental approaches in researching moral development in Japan are also reviewed. Some of the findings support
the characteristics of Japanese morality in the framework of this
approach, but several studies suggest exceptions. The exceptions de rive from Japanese beliefs concerning nature, the social world, and
the nature of the universe. Suggestions are made for future research.
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