Social changes, characterized by globalization and information, have progressed rapidly since the 1990s in Japan. These changes call for new cognitive frameworks to go with existing frameworks. Most of the debate over religious education in postwar Japan has been focused on the three sub categories of education about religious knowledge, inculcation of religious sentiment, and confessional education. Inculcation of religious education has been most debated regarding the possibility of religious education in public schools. This is due to the unique development of Japan's modern religious history. Nonetheless, more research has been taking place on education about religion as a part of education to improve understanding foreign countries, religious education based on coexistence of diverse value systems, and religious culture education. These are based on new cognitive frameworks. Setting aside a normative point of view of religious education, these have been the established response to changes throughout society. They are products of a new framework different from most conventional viewpoints.
