The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has launched a public comment period on a draft set of guidelines concerning the publication and adoption of textbooks that include digital formats, according to an official notice posted on the government's e-Gov portal ^[1]. The draft is titled "Toward the Formulation of Guidelines on the Publication and Adoption of Textbooks Including Digital Formats — Smartly Using Paper and Digital to Expand the Possibilities of Learning" ^[1].

The draft document was published on October 23, 2026, and MEXT's Textbook Division within its Bureau of Elementary and Secondary Education is accepting public comments through 23:59 on November 8, 2026 ^[1]. The notice states that the submission window is less than the standard 30 days because this is a voluntary comment-gathering process rather than one required under the Administrative Procedure Act ^[1].

According to the notice, there is no specific law or ordinance underlying this draft, and the process is described as a voluntary call for opinions rather than a legally mandated one ^[1]. Members of the public interested in submitting comments are directed to first review the full comment submission guidelines, including where to send opinions, as well as the complete text of the draft guidelines, both of which are available as PDF documents through the e-Gov listing ^[1]. The notice also states that materials can be obtained in person by visiting MEXT's Textbook Division for those who cannot access the documents online ^[1].

MEXT lists two phone numbers and an email address, digital@mext.go.jp, for inquiries related to this comment period ^[1]. The ministry's notice emphasizes that anyone submitting a comment must first confirm they have reviewed both the submission guidelines and the full draft document, apparently to prevent misdirected or incomplete submissions ^[1].

Because this is only a draft and a voluntary public comment process, no final decision on how digital and paper textbooks will be published or adopted in Japanese schools has been made at this stage ^[1]. The source notice does not specify what the draft guidelines actually propose in terms of content, timelines for implementation, or how schools, students, or families might be affected once any final policy is adopted ^[1]. Readers interested in the details of the proposal, or who wish to submit their own comments, should consult the draft document and submission guidelines linked directly from the e-Gov public comment listing ^[1].

Source credit 出典：「デジタルな形態を含む教科書の発行・採択等に関する指針の策定に向けて（素案）に関する意見の募集の実施について」（e-Govパブリックコメント）（https://public-comment.e-gov.go.jp/servlet/Public?CLASSNAME=PCMMSTDETAIL&id=185001513&Mode=0）、PDL1.0（https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0）を加工してJapan News (j.apan.news)が作成 This article is Japan News's own English summary of the Japanese original. It has been translated and edited by Japan News; it is not an official translation, and the e-Gov Public Comment did not write or review it.