Education in the Japanese Life Cycle: Implications for the United States

This study describes and analyzes the varieties of educational experiences of Japanese from infancy through old age. It also compares these experiences with those of Americans. It is an integration of the major findings of American and Japanese scholars of education, the author's own research, and the reactions of American scholars. Each chapter contains both general information and illustrative case studies. Unlike other studies of the Japanese education system, it examines not only the formal education systems but also the roles of the family, the adult kendo or English conversation club, workplace on-the-job training, and senior citizens organizations, providing a unique and realistic perspective on the subject.