About Japan

Japan, also known as Nihon, Nippon, Nihon-koku or Nipponkoku, is an island country in East Asia. It is Located between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula. The Kanji Character that makes up the name “Japan” means “the sun’s origin”, which is why Japan is most often known as the “Land of the Rising Sun”. The Japanese Name “Nippon” is used for official purposes which include Japanese money, postage stamps, and for many international sporting events. “Nihon” in the other hand, is the more casual term and is the most frequently used in contemporary speech.

Japan is an archipelago comprising of over 3,000 islands. The largest islands which accounts for 97% of Japan’s land area are: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Most of the islands in Japan are mountainous and many of these are volcanic. Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak is an active volcano found in Chubu Region, Honshu.

Japan has a population of about 128 million people. The Greater Tokyo area is the largest metropolitan area in the world which consists of over 30 million Residents. 67% of Japan’s area is forested with an astounding array of biodiversity.

Japan is a developed country with high living standards and a world leader in technology, machinery and Robotics. In terms of economical power, Japan ranks 2^nd in the world.

History of Japan

30000 BC: The first signs of occupation on the Japanese Archipelago.

Early Japan

• Jomon Period (13000 BC- 300 BC)

The Inhabitants of the Japanese islands during this period were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. The Era was named after the ‘jomon’ or cord-marked pattern style of pottery.

• Yayoi Period (300 BC- 300 AD)

100 BC: Rice culture was imported to Japan and agriculture was introduced and social classes started to evolve. During this period, Iron and bronze making and other modern ideas were introduced by migrants from China and Korea. New pottery was introduced which again gave the Era its name.

· Kofun Period (300- 538 AD)

400 AD: Japan was united as Yamato Japan with its political center in and around the province of Yamato (currently Nara prefecture). The period was named after the large tombs that were built for the political leaders of that era.

· Asuka Period (538- 710 AD)

Around 538 or 552 AD, Buddhism was introduced to Japan and was promoted by the Ruling Class.

Prince Shotoku wrote the Constitution of the Seventeen Articles about moral and political Principles. This constitution was promulgated in the year 604 AD.

Theories of Confucianism and Taoism, as well as the Kanji (Chinese writing system) were introduced to Japan during the Yamato Period.

In 645 AD, Nakatomi no Kamatari started the era of the Fujiwara clan. This era was to last until the rise of the military class ( samurai) in the 11^th century. The Taika reform was introduced.

· Nara Period ( 710- 784 AD)

Nara prefecture became the first permanent capital. This period is characterized by the appearance of a nascent written literature with the completion of the massive chronicles of Kojiki and Nihon shoki.

In 784 , Emperor Kammu moved the capital to Nagaoka for a period of ten years before relocating it to Heian-kyo (modern day Kyoto) in 794, where it remained for more than a millennium.

· Heian Period (794- 1185)

In 794, the capital was relocated to Heian (modern day Kyoto). This marked the beginning of the period, during which time a distinctly indigenous Japanese culture emerged, noted for its art, poetry and literature.

Two sets of phonetic alphabets or kana from the imported Chinese kanji were created.

Climate in Japan

Japan has a diverse climate which ranges from sub-polar in the north to sub-tropical in the south. For someone who lives in a tropical country, wherein the year is just divided into a “wet” and a “dry” season, one of the best things about Japan is its climate! The year in Japan is divided into four seasons.

Spring is the best time of the year to be in Japan. The temperatures are war but not hot , and rainfall is not too much. The Months of March- April brings to bloom the famous cherry blossoms of Japan and is a time for festivities such as the Sakura (Cherry blossom) festival.

Summer opens with a rainy season in June, which turns into a steam bath in July- August. O-bon (fire festival) is celebrated in mid august. Most of the Japanese head to northern Hokkaido or the mountains of Chubu and Tohoku during summer to escape the heat.

Autumn starts in September. Japan has tolerable temperatures during this time and fair days are common. The maple trees and other trees in Japan’s parks and forests showing off the beautiful fall colors can be just as impressive as the cherry blossoms!

Winter months are December to February. Winter is the best time for skiing, snowboarding or hot spring hopping. People often head to Okinawa during this time to escape the cold winter. New year celebration is from December 29 to January 3, the only days of the year when everything in the country shuts down.

Education in Japan

One of the top priorities of the Japanese government when Japan opened to the world in 1868 was catching up with Western standards in science and education. The Japanese Education system was patterned after The German and French system, which was regarded by experts as most suitable and advantageous.

After World War II, the Americans reformed the Japanese education system. This was patterned after their own education system, which consists of six years of elementary school, each three years of junior and senior high school and four years of university or two years of junior college.

Elementary School and Junior High School are Compulsory in Japan. More than 90% of all students are high school graduates and more than 40% are graduates of universities or junior colleges. In Japan, the universities have a greater percentage of male students as compared to junior colleges, which have a greater number of female students.

The school year in Japan starts in April and consists of three terms, separated by short spring and winter holiday and a one-month long summer break.

Entrance exams are characteristic of the Japanese school system. Most high schools and universities require applicants to take entrance examinations. Entrance exams in Japan are very competitive and in order to pass the entrance examinations and be enrolled in the best institutions, many students attend special preparation schools (juk u) besides regular classes, or for one to two years between high school and university (yobiko).

Primary Education in Japan

Education in Japan is compulsory for all children 6 years and up. Because of the competition for the best schools in Japan, more and more children are being enrolled by their parents to kindergarten (yochien) and even Pre-school. About 80 percent of students at the kindergarten level are enrolled at private institutions, a number of which are selective. These selective kindergartens give these students an edge to gain access to highly selective schools at subsequent levels of the education ladder.

Primary School in Japan (Shogakko) is six years in length (grades 1-6) and is for children between ages six to 12. A greater majority of schools at this level are public (98.4% as of 2003), but there is considerable competition to enter one of few prestigious private schools, usually affiliated with a private university foundation, where entry virtually guarantees entry to affiliated schools all the way up to the University.

Children attending public schools are free from tuition fees. At the end of the 6 years of primary school, a certificate of completion ( Shoggako Sotsugyo Shosho) is awarded, and students are automatically accepted into lower secondary school

The Curriculum in The Primary education in Japan encompasses subjects on the Japanese language (reading, writing, literature), mathematics, science (grades 3-6), social studies (grades 3-6), arts, music, physical education, moral education, home-making (grades 5-6), life environment studies (grades 1-2). The curriculum also includes special activities (class and club activities) and periods for integrated studies to combine skills learned in different subject areas (grades 3-6)

Secondary Education in Japan

Secondary education is divided into a lower and upper secondary cycle. Of the two, only the lower secondary school is compulsory. A number of private schools in Japan offer six years of continuous education, covering the lower and higher secondary cycles.

The lower secondary school (Chugakko) is from grades 7-10 for children 12 to 15 years of age. This is a very important phase in the educational process for Japanese students since the results of lower secondary school can determine whether or not the student could gain access to a good upper secondary school and subsequently to a good university.

Majority of lower secondary schools are public and tuition free. Only six percent are private and these schools require students to pass an entrance examination. Many second year and third year students of the lower secondary schools attend cram schools (Juku) to prepare for the competitive upper secondary school examinations. Students completing the lower secondary cycle are awarded a graduation certificate (Chugakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) and are then eligible to take entrance examinations for upper secondary school.

The curriculum aside from subjects like japanese, social studies, mathematics, science, music, health and physical education, industrial and homemaking, moral education and extracurricular activities, lower secondary schools also offer elective subjects and foreign languages.

Upper secondary education is divided into academic and vocational/technical streams. In 2003, a majority of students were enrolled in general academic courses and only 24 % were enrolled in specialized (vocational) courses and 3 % in integrated courses. 70% of the students were enrolled at public and 30% at private schools. Private schools are generally considered to be an advantage in preparing students for university entrance examination, hence the higher proportion of students attending private schools at this stage. Public schools for upper secondary education are not tuition free but are considerably cheaper than in the private sector.

As at the lower secondary level, a majority of students enroll in cram schools to prepare for the University entrance examinations. Many students who fail the university entrance examination on their first try spend a full year at full-time cram schools (yobiko) to improve their chances. After the completion of the upper secondary stream a certificate of graduation (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) is given and students are then eligible to take the university entrance examination known as the Examination of the National Center for University Entrance.

Students who enter the vocational stream are required to choose an area of specialization. Subjects studied are fairly specialized, and the training provided is job specific. A Certificate of Secondary Education is given to students who complete this stream. This is the same qualification earned by students in the academic stream, and they are eligible to take the national university entrance examination.

Diploma and Vocational Education in Japan

The technical and vocational sector in Japan is mainly serviced by the junior colleges (tanki daigaku). Although, colleges of Technology (koto senmon gakko), specialized training colleges (senshu gakko) , vocational training centers and colleges and skill development center also offer tertiary- level training.

Junior colleges in Japan are specialized training programs of two to three years duration. The most common fields of study are education, home economics, humanities, social sciences and nursing. Nursing programs are of three years in duration. There are also a wide range of programs in the arts, agriculture and engineering.

Students who have successfully completed the program are awarded the Tanki Daigaku Shuryo Shosho ( Junior College Certification of Graduation or Associate degree).Graduates from upper secondary education who have passed the competitive entrance examinations are eligible to enroll to junior college.

Colleges of Technology in Japan, on the other hand are predominantly male. Engineering programs of 5-year duration are offered to all students who have completed nine years of school education and have passed the competitive examinations. Graduates from upper secondary schools are eligible to join the program in the fourth year. Students who have completed the five-year program are given the Technical College Graduation Diploma. Those who have completed three years of the program are awarded a certificate of completion and are then eligible to transfer to relevant university programs at the third year level.

Specialized training colleges are also available in Japan. They offer one- to three-year employment- related programs to graduates from either lower or upper secondary education. Graduates from these three- year programs at the upper secondary level are awarded the Special Training School Advanced Course Certificate of Completion (Koto-ka Sotsugyo Manjo). Those graduating from the postsecondary –level programs are awarded a similar Certificate of Completin (Senshu Gakko Senmon-ka Shuryp Shosho).

Universities in Japan

Four types of institutions in Japan provide higher education. These are the universities (daigaku), junior colleges (tanki daigaku), colleges of technology (koto senmon gakko) and special training schools and colleges (senshu gakko). Of the four, only universities and junior colleges are strictly post secondary education providers.

As of 2004, there are a total of 709 universities in Japan. This is comprised of 87 national universities, 80 local public universities and 542 private universities. Each of Japan’s 47 prefectures has at least one national university generally offering wide variety of programs at undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level.

Universities and colleges in Japan must maintain the standards set by the ministry with the University Establishment Standards to gain and keep their accreditation. Admission to colleges and universities in Japan requires a Certificate of graduation (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shosho) from the Upper Secondary School.

Admission to public universities is based on two entrance examinations. One is the highly competitive National Center for University Entrance examination administered throughout Japan over a two-day period each year, and the other are examinations administered by the individual universities at which the student wishes to enroll. Most private universities usually prefer to set and grade their own examinations, but some private institutions also use the national examinations for administration purposes.

Because of the competition to get into the best institutions for higher education, students usually devote themselves full time (yobiku) to prepare for the entrance examinations. These students are commonly referred as ronin, or masterless samurai. This is so common in japan that the Japanese education system is often said to have an extra year built into it.

The Bachelor’s Degree (Gakushi Shogo) requires four years of full-time study in all fields that is offered, including humanities, social sciences, sciences and more professionally oriented disciplines such as engineering and agriculture. First degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science requires six years of full-time study, after which, holders of these qualifications are then referred to, in English, as Master of Medicine and Master of Dentistry. The holder may then be admitted directly to a doctoral program.

The Master’s Degree (Shushi-go) requires two years of full-time study and a maximum of four years part- time study. Admission is based on the bachelor’s degree and the number of years of primary, secondary and higher education, plus a competitive written and oral examination administered by individual universities. Standard programs of Law Schools require three years of study. After which qualified graduates will be given the J.D. degree (Juris Doctor), which is the basic requirement for taking the new National Law Examination.

The Doctorate degree (Hakushi- go) normally requires three years of study following the master’s degree, or five years following a bachelor’s degree. The program also includes submission of a doctoral dissertation and an oral defense.

Colleges in Japan

The technical and Vocational sector in Japan includes the junior colleges (tanki daigaku). Colleges of technology in Japan (koto senmon gakko), specialized training colleges (senshu gakko), vocational training centers and colleges and skill development center also offer Tertiary-level training

Junior colleges in Japan have two-year specialized training programs in a wide range of areas. The most common fields of study are education, home economics, humanities, social sciences and nursing. Nursing programs are of three years in duration. There are also a wide range of programs in the arts, agriculture and engineering.

In Japan, more than 90% of junior college students are female, as compared to the four-year colleges and universities, which are predominantly male. However, over the last 10 years, the number of women entering four-degree programs has risen from 775,000 to 1,100,100. Many colleges in Japan grant specialized certification in fields such as dentistry, nursing and child care. Employers in these areas are, however, increasingly searching for employees with university degrees.

Students who successfully complete a two- or three-year program are awarded the Junior College Certification of Graduation or Associate Degree ( Tanki Daigaku Shuryo Shosho). This is generally considered a terminal qualification, although junior college graduates are also eligible to take the national university entrance examination.

Those who have completed upper secondary education and have passed the entrance examinations are eligible to enroll to junior college.

At colleges of Technology, enrollees are predominantly male. Most of these colleges are operated directly by the ministry as national institutions and generally teach engineering subjects. Engineering programs are of 5 years duration and are open to all students who have completed nine years of school education and have passed the competitive examinations. Graduates from upper secondary schools are eligible to join the program in the fourth year.

Programs in colleges of Technology in Japan offer both theoretical and practical training in skills of immediate use to employers. Graduates of the five- year program are given the Technical College Graduation Diploma and are considered to be trained technicians. Students who have completed three years of the program are awarded a certification of completion (Shuryo Shomei) and are eligible to transfer to relevant university programs at the third year level.

Japan also have Specialized training colleges that offer one- to three-year employment- related programs to graduates from either lower or upper secondary education. Most programs are offered at the postsecondary level. Graduates from these three- year programs at the upper secondary level are awarded the Special Training School Advanced Course Certificate of Completion (Koto-ka Sotsugyo Manjo). Those graduating from the postsecondary –level programs are awarded a similar Certificate of Completin (Senshu Gakko Senmon-ka Shuryp Shosho).