‭Japan is known for having a very demanding but excellent education system.

While often‬

‭criticized for demanding academic pressure, the Japanese educational system have merits as‬

‭well, making it a high ranking educational system. It’s controversial for the immense pressure it‬

‭exerts on students. This pressure fuels mental health issues and even suicide. Overall, their‬

‭educational system have built a well mannered, collective culture in the country of Japan.‬

‭Modern Japanese schooling started in 1868 during the Meiji era (White, 1988). The‬

‭government wanted to make citizens educated and the economy stronger. So they created public‬

‭schools across the country. This system with a focus on education access, academic‬

‭achievement, and national development has prevailed in modern Japan. From elementary‬

‭through high school, Japanese education emphasizes discipline, conformity, and rigor.‬

‭Students typically attend school 6 days a week and as many as 233 days a year, compared‬

‭to 180 days for the average U.S. school year (Mori & Baker, 2010). Academic expectations are‬

‭demanding, with students constantly preparing for high school and college entrance exams that‬

‭determine future prospects. Japanese students go to school about 230 days per year for 6 days a‬

‭week. This is much more than in the U.S., where students go 180 days (Mori & Baker, 2010).‬

‭They have to follow very strict rules starting at a young age. This includes sitting quietly,‬

‭listening to teachers, and not disturbing class. Fitting in with the group and not standing out is‬

‭emphasized (Kariya & Rosenbaum, 1987). Showing creativity or being different is discouraged.‬

‭Students also have extremely heavy workloads. Between regular classes, cram schools‬

‭for test prep, and homework, students can have 12 hour school days. Cram schools help them‬
‭study for college entrance exams, which decide your future options. So there is immense‬

‭pressure to succeed on these tests. Spending long days on test prep leaves little time for‬

‭well-rounded development. The pressure contributes to issues like depression, students refusing‬

‭school, and Japan's high youth suicide rate (Kariya & Rosenbaum, 1987). Reforms are aimed at‬

‭improving student welfare while maintaining achievements.‬

‭Without a doubt, Japanese education put pressure on student. However, this rigor style of‬

‭education has plenty of merits as well. Japan's focus on education has produced a workforce with‬

‭strong skills, in math, science, and reading (Yamamoto & Brinton, 2010). Over 56% of adults‬

‭graduated college, which is very high (OECD, 2017). This provides companies with talented‬

‭workers. All citizens learning the same material also unites people behind common beliefs,‬

‭helping society function smoothly (White, 1988). As a result their economy thrives holding the‬

‭position of the third largest economy in the world. They also have a very peaceful and civilized‬

‭society.‬

‭Collectivism is the primary value of a Japanese educational system. The Japanese‬

‭education system places high value in harmony of the group. They believe that people working‬

‭together towards a common goal and with common ideal sets a pleasurable experience for the‬

‭individuals involved. School activities most often involves group work fostering a sense of‬

‭community and teamwork. Additionally, due to the conformist nature of their education system,‬

‭Japanese students learn respect for authority and hierarchy. Students must strictly follow‬

‭protocols and obey teachers without questioning. Challenging authority figures is frowned upon‬

‭even as adults. This transfers into widespread respect for leadership, norms, and societal order.‬
‭Citizens trust the government and social institutions. They comply with regulations and policies‬

‭aimed at public welfare. A law-abiding society results where people adhere to hierarchy and‬

‭rules.‬

‭However, Japan’s conformity-driven education also has downsides. Pressure to avoid‬

‭standing out stifles creativity and self-expression. Excessive discipline can limit independent‬

‭thinking and problem-solving. As Japanese society rapidly changes, nurturing flexibility is‬

‭becoming more crucial.‬

‭Compared to the U.S., Japan's system is very different. In the West, a conformist culture‬

‭is highly looked down upon as it is associated with control. For example, in America critical‬

‭thinking utmost important and is even placed in school’s core curriculum. Japanese schools use‬

‭memorization, lectures, and repetition rather than critical thinking and discussion (White, 1988).‬

‭They want obedience from students while U.S. teachers encourage independence. Japan also has‬

‭longer academic-focused school days versus more varied activities and special education in the‬

‭U.S. This highlights Japan's focus on test scores and conformity.‬

‭In summary, analyses of Japan's rigorous education identifies strengths like high‬

‭academic skills and societal cohesion, as well as weaknesses like student stress. This case‬

‭provides insights into balancing educational excellence and student wellness that could benefit‬

‭Japan, the U.S., and other countries.‬

 ‭References:‬

‭Kariya, T., & Rosenbaum, J. E. (1987). Sociology of Education, 60(3), 168-180.‬

‭Mori, I., & Baker, D. (2010). Asia Pacific Education Review, 11(1), 36-48.‬

‭ rganization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). (2017). Education at a‬

O
‭glance 2017. https://doi.org/10.1787/eag-2017-en‬

‭ hite, M. (1988). The Japanese educational challenge: A commitment to children. New York,‬
W
‭NY: Free Press.‬

‭ amamoto, Y., & Brinton, M. C. (2010). Cultural capital in East Asian educational systems: The‬
Y
‭case of Japan. Sociology of Education, 83(1), 67-83.‬