In elementary school, textbooks authorized by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, or textbooks under the authorship of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology must be used.
小学校においては、文部科学大臣の検定を経た教科用図書又は文部科学省が著作の名義を有する教科用図書を使用しなければならない。
If there are teaching materials which are electronic or magnetic records (meaning a record used in computerized information processing which is created in electronic form, magnetic form, or any other form that cannot be perceived by human senses) of the contents of textbooks provided in the preceding paragraph (referred to below as "textbooks" in this Article), which were recorded as provided for by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the relevant teaching materials may be used in place of the textbooks, in part of the curriculum found to be necessary in order to enhance education for pupils, as provided by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, notwithstanding the provision of that paragraph.
In the case provided for under the preceding paragraph, when it is found necessary to reduce the level of difficulty in learning for the relevant pupils, by giving guidance using methods enabled by using the teaching materials provided in that paragraph in electronic computers, including enlarging figures and characters used in textbooks or converting them to audio, for pupils with difficulty learning using textbooks on grounds specified by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology including visual impairment and developmental disorders, the relevant teaching materials may be used in place of the textbooks, in part or all of the curriculum, as provided for by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Teaching materials except textbooks and teaching materials provided in paragraph (2), may be used, as long as they are beneficial and appropriate.
Councils, etc. (meaning an organization provided in Article 8 of the National Government Organization Act (Act No. 120 of 1948); the same applies below), for study and deliberation on textbooks in relation to applications for authorization under paragraph (1), are to be prescribed by Cabinet Order.