The aim of this thesis is to trace the change of language ideology and policy towards regional dialects in Japan from World War II to the present. The first part defines the concepts of dialect, language ideology and language policy, and presents a historical overview of the region of Northeast Japan (the Tōhoku area) and its dialects. The second part provides a diachronic perspective on the development of language policy in relation to the Japanese regional dialects; the third part focuses on the manifestations of language ideology in relation to dialects of northeastern Japan in three literary works and three television programs (two serialized morning dramas and one evening show). The conclusion of the paper summarizes the tendencies in the development of perception and rendering of dialects of northeastern Japan.