Education in Article 26 of Japan’s Constitution
Article 26 of the inspected Japanese Constitution states that all nationals have a right to receive education equally according to ability as provided by law, and an obligation to have the children under their care receive ordinary education as provided by law; compulsory education is free.
What this does and does not establish
Documentary provision, not evidence of universal implementation. Listed under 1946, the year of official proclamation, not the date it took effect. English is an AI working translation of the Japanese source, not an official translation or a broader legal interpretation. The Japanese term 国民 appears as “the people” in the preamble and “nationals” in these article translations; these renderings do not settle its legal scope.
How it is dated
- In the source
- 昭和二十一年十一月三日憲法; catalogue 昭和21年（1946）11月
- How we use it
- Promulgation-year grouping of documentary text, not proof of commencement or realization.
- Method
- Year equivalence explicitly supplied by National Archives factual heading; no inferred implementation date
Sources and quoted text
Source 1
Constitution of Japan, Japanese text
Government of Japan; Ministry of Justice Japanese Law Translation database
Original Japanese text
第二十六条 すべて国民は、法律の定めるところにより、その能力に応じて、ひとしく
教育を受ける権利を有する。
すべて国民は、法律の定めるところにより、その保護する子女に普通教育を受けさせ
る義務を負ふ。義務教育は、これを無償とする。Line breaks follow the source layout.
AI working translation into English; not official or authoritative
All nationals have the right to receive education equally according to their abilities, as provided by law. All nationals are obliged, as provided by law, to ensure that children under their protection receive ordinary education. Compulsory education shall be free.
Reuse conditions recorded for this source: Attribute the official source URL. Japanese originals and AI English translations are separate; translations are not official. Provisions are documentary statements, not assertions about implementation.
Exact source version
5a669f11e685f6220cec5ac3ef2cd4029a86cf8caf873b3f2e34a309eedcc1e2Source 2
National Archives of Japan catalogue date/title
National Archives of Japan
Original Japanese text
昭和21年（1946）11月
日本国憲法が公布される
Line breaks follow the source layout.
AI working translation into English; not official or authoritative
November, Showa 21 (1946). The Constitution of Japan is promulgated.
Reuse conditions recorded for this source: Attribute the official source URL. Japanese originals and AI English translations are separate; translations are not official. Provisions are documentary statements, not assertions about implementation.
Exact source version
9b23132faf295622922556e81753e2f8e9ddcf5677e63ebf788e2383ca9e6451Checks and changes
Source checked 2026-11-04. An independent AI evidence review supports this bounded, attributed wording. That review does not guarantee historical truth.
Revision p05_03_3_r3
Exact revision fingerprint
a20f958c68f906624312273098d7393568a7501afb9b7fc6c87d3ec152bde6a6