Harmony, Empathy, Loyalty, and Patience in Japanese Children's Literature

Multicultural children's literature is a passport to foreign cultures. Because we live in a global and multicultural society, it is important to help children understand cultures different from their own. Many educators use picture storybooks to introduce the social life and customs of other societies. This article highlights four realistic picture storybooks that depict commonly held values, beliefs, and attitudes of Japanese culture. Specifically, this article focuses on four aspects that contribute to the foundation of the Japanese social system: harmony, empathy, loyalty, and patience. When introducing culture to children, it is imperative to share realistic picture storybooks that depict current ideology, social life, and customs.