Ministry of Science and Technology (Japan)

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

文部科学省 Monbu-kagaku-shō
Agency overview
Formed	January 2001 (2001-01)
Preceding agencies	Ministry of Education Science and Technology Agency
Jurisdiction	Japan
Headquarters	3-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8959, Japan
Ministers responsible	Hiroshi Hase, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Teru Fukui, Senior Vice Minister Yaichi Tanigawa, Senior Vice Minister
Parent agency	Government of Japan
Child agencies	Agency for Cultural Affairs Japan Sport Agency
Website	www.mext.go.jp

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (文部科学省, Monbu-kagaku-shō^?), also known as MEXT, Monka-shō, and formerly the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (文部省, Monbu-shō^?), is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.

The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871.

The Japanese government centralises education, and it is managed by a state bureaucracy that regulates almost every aspect of the education process. The School Education Law requires schools around the country to use textbooks that follow the curriculum guideline set by the ministry, although there are some exceptions.

In January 2001, the former Monbu-shō and the former Science and Technology Agency (科学技術庁, Kagaku-gijutsu-chō^?) merged to become the present MEXT.

MEXT is led by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, who is a member of the Cabinet and is chosen by the Prime Minister, typically from the members of the Diet.

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