Abstract: The development of social education in Japan clearly reflects the interrelationship between theory and system, that is, the establishment of system needs the support of theory, and the development of theory benefits from the implementation of system. The institutional effect of the development of Japanese social education theory is reflected in the fact that the establishment of social education system strengthens the consciousness of the community within the social education field, that the operation of the social education system regulates the direction of social education research activities and maintains the stability of social order, and that the revision of the social education system innovates the practice of social education, thus promoting the goal of civil society. Of course, the stagnation or retreat of the system can also stimulate the theory to play its role as a catalyst for the development of the system. Given the receding status of the existing Japanese social education system, the creation of Japanese social education theory under the system effect will take a new turn: through re-positioning and understanding of social education to deepen the study of social education theory to promote the innovation and development of social education system.

Key words: social education in Japan, the theoretical turn, institutional effects, after World War II.