With the progress of globalization, it is essential that Japanese people acquire communication skills in English, in order for living in the 21^st century. Then, the Japanese government issued a series of policies at the beginning of the new century, including Action Plan to Cultivate Japanese with English Abilities in 2003, Five Proposals and Specific Measures for Developing Proficiency in English for International Communication in 2011, English Education Reform Plan Corresponding to Globalization in 2014. Meanwhile, Course of Study, which guides English language education in elementary school and high school, was revised by the Japanese government correspondingly. Although there are some controversies about these new initiatives, this communication-oriented reform has advanced Japan’s English language education, which is helpful to China’s formulating foreign language development strategy as well as to China’s constructing  “soft power” in the 21^st century.