Sixty Years of Change: Historical Representations of Science in Japanese Biology Textbooks, 1963-2023

This study examines the evolution of science history content in Tokyo Shoseki Japanese high school biology textbooks (1963-2023), addressing three questions. First, content quantity, type, and presentation followed 'expansion, convergence, and diversification'. Early editions emphasized scientists' biographies and discoveries, while post-2000 content shifted to supplementary columns, incorporating visuals like photos, experiments, and original documents, yet remaining 'genius-centric' with little attention to struggles or collaboration. Second, science history's role shifted from 'fundamental knowledge' to 'complementary resource', often in columns after 2010. Inquiry-based activities were rare, though recent editions (e.g., 2023) introduced bibliographic searches and data analysis, supporting scientific method understanding. Third, localisation trends emerged alongside globalisation: European scientists dominated (68.1%), but Japanese representation grew from 3% in the 1980s to 29% in 2023. Descriptions emphasized scientific and technological contexts, omitting political or religious backgrounds. These shifts reflect curriculum policies and socio-cultural changes, showing textbooks' role in shaping scientific literacy through culturally contextualised narratives.