Windows on Japanese Education

Book excerpt: The fact that Japanese students consistently outperform other nationalities on international tests of educational achievement has made the Japanese educational system a leading topic for media attention and evaluative study. This volume is a collection of essays by Japanese and American scholars in the field of Japanese education that presents a current systematic overview of this system, its strengths, and its weaknesses. Topics ranging from the history of Japanese education and its recent reform campaign to the methods used to teach preschoolers and elementary students, women, teachers, and engineers are the primary focus of this study. Each contributor writes both within his or her own specialty and with a view to those political, social, and economic factors that affect the Japanese educational climate. A look to the future of Japanese higher education, as well as guidelines that can benefit educational systems in other countries, conclude the work.