Dojima International High School Cancels Grade 2 Study Tour & Parent Info Sessions Amid Controversy Over Education Law Violations

Doshisha International High School has failed to determine the destination for its second-year student training trip and canceled scheduled information sessions, according to Sankei News. This silence has led to distrust among parents and a formal demand from the Kyoto Bar Association for the school’s certification to be revoked based on alleged violations of the Fundamental Law of Education.

Parents of students at the institution expressed frustration on June 15, 2026, as the school remained silent regarding the status of the required training travel. Sankei News reports that the school canceled planned briefings intended to explain the trip’s itinerary and purpose, leaving the destination listed as undecided.

The lack of communication has created a rift between the administration and families. Parents told Sankei News they feel a growing sense of distrust toward the school’s leadership due to the refusal to provide clear answers about the trip’s planning process.

Why is the Kyoto Bar Association demanding certification revocation?

The Kyoto Bar Association has formally requested that authorities revoke the certification of Doshisha International High School, according to the Kyoto Shimbun. The association claims the school violated the Fundamental Law of Education.

The bar association argues that the school’s current approach to education is causing “political education to shrink.” This legal challenge suggests that the school’s administrative decisions are interfering with the neutral and comprehensive political education required by Japanese law.

How does the Okinawa and Henoko controversy relate to the school?

While the school has not officially confirmed a destination, reporting from Sankei News and references to Okinawa and the Henoko district suggest the training trip was tied to these politically sensitive areas. The Henoko district is the site of a controversial U.S. military base relocation project.

The dispute centers on whether the school’s handling of the trip—and its subsequent silence—constitutes a failure to provide balanced education on national security and regional conflicts. The tension reflects a broader national debate over how Japanese schools should address the political divisions surrounding the U.S. military presence in Okinawa.

What are the conflicting views on the “shrinking” of education?

The claim that political education is being stifled is a point of contention among observers. While the Kyoto Bar Association views the school’s actions as a violation of educational law, other commentators disagree with this characterization.

Defense journalist Rie Ogasa wrote in Sankei News that reports regarding the “shrinking” of education may be biased. Ogasa questioned whether the media coverage of the school’s decision-making process is balanced or if it is unfairly framing the school’s administrative caution as a political failure.

This contrast highlights two different interpretations of the school’s silence: one side views it as an illegal suppression of political discourse, while the other views the criticism itself as a biased narrative.

The school has not issued a public statement responding to the Kyoto Bar Association’s demands or the specific complaints from parents as of June 15, 2026.