Exploring the social values in mathematics textbooks: A case study of junior high school textbooks in Tokyo, Japan

Mathematics textbooks, while serving as tools for knowledge dissemination, also play a significant role in shaping students’ values and societal awareness. This research adopts the social value type analysis framework, combines the ecosystem theory and the theory of critical mathematics education, and uses deep text analysis to study the junior high school mathematics textbooks published in Tokyo in 2021. The study reveals that this textbook series features a substantial proportion of mathematics problems set within societal contexts, showcasing real-life issues and rich data from Japanese society. It notably emphasizes values favoring friendly interactions among peers and respect for one another. Our research indicates the following: (1) Mathematics textbooks should emphasize connections with social issues and phenomena. (2) Mathematics textbooks can provide opportunities for interpersonal interaction through the design of simulated contexts or activities, thereby subtly shaping students’ values. (3) In the design of mathematics textbooks across different environmental layers, it is important to balance and integrate various social values, adjusting according to different stages of student development. (4) Mathematics textbooks should attempt to construct an ecosystem that corresponds to society, thereby efficiently transmitting social values. Copyright © 2025 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.