noun
modern Japanese (school subject)
Refers to the study of modern Japanese language and literature as taught in Japanese schools, distinct from classical Japanese (古文) or Chinese classics (漢文).
高校の現代国語の授業で、夏目漱石の小説を読んだ。
In high school modern Japanese class, we read a novel by Natsume Soseki.
Compound of 現代 (modern) and 国語 (national language). The term emerged as a school subject designation to distinguish contemporary Japanese from classical studies.