This book review critically examines the theoretical significance and practical potential of plurilingualism within the Japanese language education context, drawing on international research trends in multilingual education and applied linguistics. The journal, as the official publication of the JALT (The Japan Association of Language Teaching) Bilingualism SIG, serves as a venue for specialized scholarly discourse in the field, and this review was published following editorial review. Going beyond a mere summary of content, the review examines the research methodology, theoretical contributions, and practical implications of the volume, while also discussing the applicability and limitations of plurilingualism within Japan’s educational system and clarifying directions for future research. Its particular academic significance lies in critically highlighting the risk that plurilingual education may be confined to specific educational environments or educational elites, and in emphasizing the need for plurilingualism research across a broader range of school contexts in Japan.
