Presents framework of changing status of career education in Japan, describing history of career education in that country. Includes chronology of career education in Japan since 1960. Notes that, in future, Japanese career education and guidance programs must bridge gaps between academics and employment, education and occupations, school and…

Advocates a change in American chauvinistic attitudes to view positively Japan's increasing public awareness for balancing industries and the environment. Also suggests that the study of foreign languages would help develop a global view to environmental concerns. (DH)

Analyzes Japan's success in avoiding many of the sociocultural problems affecting other modern countries. Explains Japan's ability to balance the old and the new, the domestic and the foreign, from an anthropological and educational perspective. Focuses on Japan's traditional pedagogical emphasis on rote and imitation. (KH)

Discusses problems in the Japanese educational system, such as increasing school violence, controversy over textbook revisions, budget cuts and the educational discrimination against minorities, particularly Burakumins and Koreans. (CMG)

Disagrees with the tone and conclusions of the special section on United States-Japan relations in the November-December, 1991 issue. Contends that the national interests of the United States were ignored to avoid "Japan Bashing" over trade and other economic issues. Calls for a more realistic view of Japan's trade policies toward the…

Discusses what Western nations could learn from Japan's educational system. Negative features include (1) rote learning; (2) standardization of materials taught; (3) government control of textbooks; and (4) an examination system that does not promote individualism. Positive features include the high value placed on education and the work ethic.…

Describes the cultural origins of East Asian educational values and practices, contrasting characteristics of East Asian and Western education; arguing that differences in cultural values carry over into educational values, policies, and practices; and cautioning that with the current global diffusion of educational policies, it is important to…

Summarizes results of a cooperative international analysis of social studies texts by the United States/Japan Study Group. The project found books from each country tended to justify their own country's actions while consistently oversimplifying conditions in the other. Teaching strategies to counteract textbook biases are included. (AM)

The author examines technical and vocational education and training for 14- to 18-year-olds in Denmark, France, Sweden, West Germany, the United States and Japan. She aims to compare the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative of Great Britain with systems in other countries. (CH)

The article surveys the development of Japanese language courses in Australia, noting a variety of factors contribute to the growth and recent intensification of interest in the subject. It examines problems within Japanese language teaching and discusses further innovative course development, differentiation of needs, employer perceptions, and…

New research shows that Japanese achieved significantly higher average IQ scores than did their American counterparts. These results provide the focus of a discussion on the nature/nurture controversey, validity of using IQ scores in comparing mental capacity of races and nationality groups, and other factors related to intelligence testing. (JN)

Examining differences between education in the United States and in Japan means analyzing cultural dissimilarities. An overview of Japan's educational makeup, curriculum, and graduation rates provides background in comparing educational systems for future reforms. This paper examines Japanese school structures, government support, institutional…

Reviews the changes in the Japanese social studies curriculum during the past 40 years. Summarizes the goals for a new curriculum as set forth by the Council for School Curriculum (Japan). Reports reaction to this proposal and points out inadequacies in the suggested scope and implementation of materials. (KO)

This paper, using five examples (Kenya, Japan, Malaysia, the Soviet Union, and the United States), explores some patterns of interactions among social, political, and economic activity (SPEA) and seven influences affecting the character of national systems of education. The educational change and improvement efforts in the five countries are…

Traditional Buddhist education centered solely around the monasteries, since the Buddhist world did not offer educational opportunities apart from its monasteries. All education, religious as well as secular, was controlled by the monks, and involved the initiation ceremony into the Buddhist Order, the education of the monk, the viharus or…