National Federation of Remote Education Research

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Overview

The National Federation of Remote Education Research (全国へき地教育研究連盟; Zenkoku Hekichi Kyōiku Kenkyū Renmei), commonly referred to as Zenhekiren (全へき連), is a Japanese educational research organization. It has also been translated as the National Association for the Study of Education in Remote and Isolated Areas by the National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER).[1]

Its work focuses on hekichi education (へき地教育), including:

  • Remote and rural schools (へき地校; hekichi-kō), typically located in mountainous areas, isolated regions, or islands
  • Small schools (小規模校; shōkibokō)
  • Multi-grade classes (複式学級; fukushiki gakkyū)

History

Zenhekiren was established in 1952, following early postwar efforts by teachers in remote and isolated areas to improve educational conditions. At the second national conference, attended by more than 2,000 teachers, the organization was formally established.[1]

The organization was also closely connected to broader postwar efforts to improve education in remote and isolated areas. In 1954, the Law for the Promotion of Education in Remote and Isolated Areas (へき地教育振興法)[2] was enacted, creating a legal framework for financial and educational support for schools in geographically isolated areas.

Since then, Zenhekiren has continued to support research exchange through national, block, and prefectural conferences, as well as long-term research plans and practical case-study publications.[3]

Structure and Conferences

Zenhekiren operates as a federation of prefectural research organizations, which are grouped into regional blocks:

  • Hokkaido Block (北海道ブロック)
  • Tohoku Block (東北ブロック)
  • Kanto–Koshinetsu Block (関東甲信越ブロック)
  • Tokai–Hokuriku Block (東海北陸ブロック)
  • Kinki Block (近畿ブロック)
  • Chugoku–Shikoku Block (中・四国ブロック)
  • Kyushu Block (九州ブロック)

The organization's main activities take place through research conferences held at multiple levels, which are often run as a single integrated event when schedules overlap:

  • National conferences (全国大会)
  • Block conferences (ブロック大会)
  • Prefectural conferences (県大会)

These conferences typically run over two days and include both central sessions and school-based open classes, often held across multiple rural schools. They include:

  • General sessions (全体会) and research presentations
  • Open classes (公開授業) at local schools
  • Breakout discussions (分科会)

Tohoku Block

The Tohoku Block (東北ブロック) includes the six prefectures of northern Japan, including Akita.

Like other regional education conferences in Japan, the Tohoku Block conference rotates annually between prefectures.

Year Host Prefecture No. Day 1 Day 2 Notes
Date Venue Date Venue
2022 Yamagata 38th Sept 29 Yamagata Terrsa
Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata
Yamagata Kokusai Hotel 		Sept 30 Yamadera ES/JHS
Osone ES
Fukuhara ES
Mamurogawa Hokubu ES
Okura JHS
Tamaniwa ES
Nezugaseki ES
Atsumi JHS 		Combined with the National Conference and Yamagata Prefectural Conference
2024 Miyagi 39th Oct 3 Kitakami ES/JHS
Ayukawa ES / Oshika JHS
Togura ES 		Oct 4 Kahoku General Center
(main venue) 		Combined with Miyagi Prefectural Conference and related research meetings
2026 Akita 40th Oct 1 Akita City
(main venue) 		Oct 2 Ani Gakuen
Kamikoani ES/JHS
Iwami Sannai ES/JHS 		Combined with Akita Prefectural Conference

Conferences are typically organized jointly by:

  • The relevant block research association (e.g. Tohoku Block)
  • The host prefecture (e.g. Akita)
  • Zenhekiren (national level)

Announcement documents

Official convention announcement documents in PDF format. These documents are called the 第二次案内 (dainiji annai; "second announcement") in Japanese; the second announcement is the one that goes out to the general public.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Education in Remote and Isolated Areas in Japan" (PDF). National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER). Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  2. ↑ "へき地教育振興法". e-Gov法令検索. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
  3. ↑ "研究活動". Zenhekiren. Retrieved 2026-05-14.
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