In this paper on the school textbook system in Japan, information is provided on the school textbook system during the post-war period. Topics discussed in this area include: (1) the establishment of the school textbook authorization system; (2) improvements to the school textbook system; (3) putting the free school (public school) textbook system into practice; and (4) reorganization of the school textbook adoption system. A section about the mechanism of the present school textbook system includes discussions on: (1) production and distribution of school textbooks; (2) number of types and copies needed of school textbooks; (3) the mechanism of the authorization system and of school textbook adoption; and (4) school textbook publishers. The school textbook system of the future is discussed with suggestions for improvement in such areas as textbook research and the writing, compilation, authorization, adoption, evaluation, and distribution of textbooks. (JD)