Western impressions of Japanese education are examined. Various aspects of Japanese art education--e.g., government control, a centralized school system, and standardized curriculum--and Japanese attitudes toward conformity are discussed. (RM)

Historical and contemporary special education in Japan and the United States are compared. Differences in societal acceptance of the handicapped, integration into regular education, educational finance, parental roles, governmental control, and staff training are highlighted. The authors' personal experiences demonstrating the influence of culture…