Hyogo University of Teacher Education is one of two graduate universities in Japan that were designed to meet national demands for improved, higher quality teacher education programs. The teacher education program focuses on a new inservice teacher education concept, which requires active participation of teachers in creating a continuous series of courses appropriate to their needs. The goal of this new program is to train teachers in educational research skills that will become a source of professional renewal. Curriculum and graduation requirements include a minimum of 2 years of study, during which more than 34 credits in integrated research and practice courses are completed. Courses offered to inservice teachers and graduate students are in the divisions of common subjects of interest to all students, integrated subjects, specialized subjects, research subjects, and independent study. Most of the 300 students are experienced elementary or secondary school teachers on sabbatical leaves. It is believed that, through the training of teachers in the Hyogo University of Teacher Education (and similar programs), teachers' ability and quality will be upgraded. (FG)