Describes an elementary school principal's visit to Japanese schools. Highlights positive impressions, such as 99 percent literacy, education's high priority, focus on basics, and students' proficiency in science and mathematics. On the minus side, Japanese schools give students scant individual attention and overemphasize memorization and highly…

Describes Japan's archaic university admissions system. (Author/PG)

The socioeconomic importance and fierce competition related to high school and university entrance examinations in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea lead students and their parents to seek spiritual support through prayer and religious rituals. Japanese students leave donations and written prayers and promises to the gods at Shinto shrines…

Examines origins and potential effects of liberalizing reforms in Japanese secondary education in light of British experiences with policies such as local school management and school choice. Argues that Japanese reform involves necessary diversification of curriculum and pedagogic practices, but administrative shifts toward deregulation and…

This paper, based upon the author's research in Japan during 1976-77, discusses the pressures for shaping the socialization of Japanese adolescents and secondary schools to meet the requirements of high school and college entrance examinations, which are a common source of chronic anxiety for students, parents, and teachers. (Author/KC)

Compares engineering education in Japanese and Australian universities. Discusses departmental structure, funding, teacher-student ratio, undergraduate and graduate curricula, teaching methods, faculty research, entrance examinations, tuition, and employment potential. (SV)

Observations made here are based on many discussions and visits over a three month period. (MB)

Uses recent data and new theoretical perspectives to reexamine hypothesized links between academic competition and adolescent suicide in East Asia, particularly Japan. Finds no direct connection, discusses possible indirect effects on individual motives, and suggests a more complicated model. Analyzes how cultural and historical factors may…

The notion of "Shido" (comprehensive social involvement of the teacher in guiding the student) explains how Japanese educational system incorporates, without conflict, apparently contradictory elements: egalitarian group focus in elementary school and student stratification by ability and socioeconomic status in high school. Focuses on…

Discusses (1) Japan's use of a combination of the National Uniform Test and locally administered exams as the sole criteria for university admission and (2) China's use of a National Entrance Examination, experimental examinations administered in Shanghai and Guangzhou, and a Qualifying Test for students over age 25 as university admissions…

Despite the success of Japan's educational system in terms of academic achievement, a closer examination reveals a rigid system that discourages student expression and creativity, stresses conformity, ignores differences in student abilities, and supports an intensively competitive entrance system for high school and college. Discusses negative…

This volume, the second in a two-volume work, builds on an international study of the research university in Germany, Britain, France, the United States and Japan, to explore the role and function of the research university and the relationship between teaching, research and graduate study. Part 1 lays the foundation for comparative analysis by…

Chinese history is outlined, modern developments briefly described and compared to events in Japan, and the development of the formal education system covered. Universalized educational opportunity and hierarchies in the school system are discussed as well as the school system in general and teacher education programs. (MH)