Abstract The transformation of the contemporary Japanese writing system stemmed from the simultaneous political and cultural problematizing of so-called kokugo (national language) and kokuji (national script). Debates surrounding the structure and function of the written form of Japanese played an ongoing role in Japanese language reform proposals and policy planning initiated between the mid-1860s and early 1990s. Despite the long history of the debates and the large body of literature treating them, a comprehensive review of the scholarship dealing with the various dimensions of Japanese script reform is currently unavailable. This article provides a detailed overview and analysis of studies of the Japanese script reform debates that utilise contemporary works describing the origins and development of language problems and language rights issues. The article subsequently considers the possibilities for future inquiries involving transnational and post-national aspects of script reform, whilst reflecting on the conspicuously gendered and ethnic dimensions of contemporary Japanese language policy-formulation itself.

中文翻译：

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检讨改革

摘要 当代日本书写系统的转变源于所谓的国语（国语）和国字（国字）同时出现的政治和文化问题。围绕日语书面形式的结构和功能的辩论在 1860 年代中期至 1990 年代初期发起的日语改革建议和政策规划中发挥了持续作用。尽管辩论的历史悠久，并且有大量文献对其进行处理，但目前无法对涉及日本文字改革各个方面的学术进行全面审查。本文对日本文字改革辩论的研究进行了详细的概述和分析，这些辩论利用了描述语言问题和语言权利问题的起源和发展的当代作品。