Name: Vanessa B.

Lowaton Course Year: BSED-III Biological Science

Professional Reading No. 1

10 Distinctive Features of the Japanese Education System

that Made this Nation the Envy of the World

Japanese people are known for their intelligence, strong health, politeness, and wellness.

But why is this nation so unique and different from the rest of the world?

1. Manners before knowledge.

In Japanese schools, the students don’t take any exams until they reach grade four (the

age of 10). They just take small tests. It is believed that the goal for the first 3 years of school

is not to judge the child’s knowledge or learning, but to establish good manners and to develop

their character. Children are taught to respect other people and to be gentle to animals and

nature. They also learn how to be generous, compassionate, and empathetic. Besides this, the

kids are taught qualities like grit, self-control, and justice.

2. The academic year starts on April 1st.

While most schools and universities in the world begin their academic year in September

or October, in Japan it is April that marks the start of the academic and business calendar. The

first day of school often coincides with one of the most beautiful natural phenomena — the time

of cherry blossom. The academic year is divided into 3 trimesters: April 1 — July 20, September

1 — December 26, and January 7 — March 25. Japanese students get 6 weeks of holidays

during the summer. They also have two-week breaks in winter and spring.
3. Most Japanese schools do not employ janitors or custodians. The students clean their school

themselves.

In Japanese schools, students have to clean the classrooms, cafeterias, and even toilets

all by themselves. When cleaning, students are divided into small groups and assigned tasks

that rotate throughout the year. The Japanese education system believes that requiring students

to clean up after themselves teaches them to work in a team and help each other. Besides,

spending their own time and effort sweeping, mopping, and wiping makes kids respect their own

work and the work of others.

4. In Japanese schools, school lunch is provided on a standardized menu and is eaten in the

classroom.

The Japanese education system does its best to ensure that the students eat healthy and

balanced meals. In public elementary and junior high schools, the lunch for students is cooked

according to a standardized menu developed not only by qualified chefs but also by health care

professionals. All classmates eat in their classroom together with the teacher. This helps build

positive teacher-student relationships.

5. After-school workshops are very popular in Japan.

In order to get into a good junior high school, most Japanese students enter

a preparatory school or attend private after-school workshops. The classes in these schools are

held in the evenings. Seeing groups of small kids returning from their extracurricular courses

late in the evening is common in Japan. Japanese students have an 8-hour school day, but

apart from that they study even during the holidays and on weekends. It’s no wonder that the

students in this country almost never repeat grades in primary, lower secondary, or secondary

school.
6. Apart from traditional subjects, Japanese students also learn Japanese calligraphy and

poetry.

Japanese calligraphy, or Shodo, involves dipping a bamboo brush in ink and using

it to write hieroglyphs on rice paper. For Japanese people, Shodo is an art that is no less

popular than traditional painting. Haiku, on the other hand, is a form of poetry that uses simple

expressions to convey deep emotions to readers. Both classes teach children to respect their

own culture and centuries-old traditions.

7. Nearly all students have to wear a school uniform.

Almost all junior high schools require their students to wear school uniforms. While some

schools have their own attire, traditional Japanese school uniform consists of a military style for

boys and a sailor outfit for girls. The uniform policy is intended to remove social barriers among

students and get them into a working mood. Besides, wearing school uniform helps to promote

a sense of community among the children.

8. The school attendance rate in Japan is about 99.99%.

Probably all of us have played truant at least once in our life. However, Japanese

students don’t skip classes, nor do they arrive late for school. Moreover, around 91% of pupils

in Japan reported that they never, or only in some classes, ignored what the teacher

lectured. How many other countries can boast such statistics?

9. A single test decides the students’ futures.

At the end of high school, Japanese students have to take a very important exam that

decides their future. A student can choose one college they would like to go to, and that college

has a certain score requirement. If a student doesn’t reach that score they probably don’t
go to college. The competition is very high — only 76% of school graduates continue their

education after high school. It’s no wonder that the period of preparation for entrance to higher

education institutions is nicknamed ’examination hell.’

10. College years are the best ’holidays’ in a person’s life.

Having gone through ’examination hell,’ Japanese students usually take a little

break. In this country, college is often considered the best years of a person’s life. Sometimes,

Japanese people call this period a ’vacation’ before work.

Reference:

https://brightside.me/wonder-places/10-distinctive-features-of-the-japanese-education-system-
that-made-this-nation-the-envy-of-the-world-214655/
 Reaction Paper No. 1

Every country has its own uniqueness. Irrespective of their size and geography, some

countries appear distinctive in certain areas. This makes us wonder what differentiates one

country from the other. Japan is one such country which suffered a major catastrophe few

decades back. Today, it stands as an example in many areas even to developing countries.

There are many reasons attributed to why Japan is what it is today. One main reason however

is its education system that has made this nation the envy of the world.

Well, I like many aspects of this Japanese educational system. I'm sure there are other

fine educational experiences that we can borrow from some of their best working

ideas/procedures & apply/use them into or replace some of the broken-down/not-working

systems in our school systems, of course, for the sake of our students and for our future. As

long as it is not illegal. I'm impressed! I think they have the right idea. As a future educator, we

need time to culture our children that many don't get at home. They are encouraged to work

together (I especially like that they must keep up the cleaning of the school; gives them respect

& pride). They are learning respect for their peers, culture, school and mankind. That certainly

feeds into their learning in futures grades and they can focus on study. How I wish the same

here in the Philippines.

This article gives us all the positive details. Still, I stopped by the last sentence,

"Japanese people call this period a ’vacation’ before work." After the age of 25, work is life for

most Japanese people. Therefore, I cannot understand the philosophy of students learning "how

to live". When will they ever need that knowledge? First through years of school, they spend all

their time studying, and then it's work, work, and work. But don't forget giving them their freedom

to make their own experiences, their own lives, their own choices. Japan is interesting and

fascinating, but there is no envy really.