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Japanese Education

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Japanese Education

Japan is a country that takes education very seriously. This may be understood by the remarkable achievement that has been made. Japan=s education system played a major role in enabling the country to meet the challenges presented by the need to quickly understand Western ideas, science, and technology in the Meiji Period. It was also a key factor in Japan=s recovery and fast growth in the years that followed World War II. We can=t assume that education is the only thing that shaped the country, but can we say that it was a major influence in prosperity and welfare. Despite what may have happened before, it is clear that the education reform was necessary to build back up Japan=s prosperity in the years to come.

History of Japan's Education

Education has always existed one form or another. The first system of education was during the Tokugawa Period, which placed a high sense of learning. They learned benevolence, justice, courtesy and individual integrity. These were the most stressed systems of thought. The men also had to learn education and the ways of war. The founder of this method was Tokugawa Ieyasu, he issued a law saying Aarts of peace@ (10) which meant learning and also to learn the arts of war. He felt that both were of equal importance and should be mastered by all. After this system was applied, by the 1860's much of the curriculum was found in more than 300 schools across Japan. This soon changed by1868, when one of the top students from the Tokugawa education, suggested that Japan can compare with other Adeveloped nations@(11) of this time. After this suggestion Japan accepted many of the Western ideas. They wanted to modernize their country and by doing th...

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In this essay, the author

  • Explains japan's education system played a major role in enabling the country to meet the challenges presented by the need to quickly understand western ideas, science, and technology in the meiji period.
  • Explains that the first system of education was during the tokugawa period, which placed a high sense of learning.
  • Explains how japan's schools displayed american curriculums and used them as a model for japan.
  • Explains that a typical japanese school year begins on april 1st and is divided into three terms: april to july, september to december, and january to march.
  • Explains that children go to public or private day-care centers emphasizing interaction but also six areas of study, such as health, society, nature, language, music, and art. at the end of elementary school, many children leave learning traits of self-discipline and cooperation.
  • Explains that women in japan enroll in junior colleges because it is seen to be a good preparation for marriage. national universities are not the best choice for females, as it reduces to number of marriage partners.
  • Opines that japan has done a great job reforming its prosperity and welfare over the years.
  • Explains beauchamp, edward r., education in contemporary japan, bloomington, indiana, phi delta kapa educational foundation, 1982.
  • Explains that the imperial ancestors founded their empire on a broad and everlasting basis and have deeply and firmly implanted virtue.
  • Explains the three types of high school systems in japan.
  • Explains that the university entrance examination is one of the most stressful times in japanese student's life.
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