This article looks at the theory of modes of exchange from one of the leading contemporary Japanese philosophers, Kōjin Karatani’s (柄谷行人 1941–), and examines how mode of exchange D (or pure gift) can contribute to the realization of a world republic. After discussing Karatani’s theory, this article elaborates on the educational implications of it. In Karatani’s own writings, he highlights the importance of associationism and student movements in the repetitive return of mode of exchange D. Another Japanese thinker, Satoji Yano (矢野智司 1954–), further develops the idea of pure gift in educational settings and emphasizes the importance of changing our language in educational and pedagogical discourse in order to correctly take account of the event of pure gift.