Dreaming, Becoming, and Being a Music Teacher in Japan: An Insider's View of the Relationship between a Music Teacher's Career Path and Education Policy

This article documents and discusses how music teachers become educated in Japan and how educational policies in Japan are related to the career path of school music teachers from an insider's perspective. The article intends not only to reveal aspects of the real lives of music students and teachers but also to tie music education policies to music teachers’ minds and behaviors. The career path was divided into three periods: from young age until high school, time during college as a music education major, and time as a music teacher in the public schools. The case study analysis reveals that it is likely that educational policy is introduced at the college level for the first time, permeates music teachers’ lives gradually throughout their careers, and almost becomes invisible for in-service music teachers as they internalize it.