ABSTRACT

The Japanese education system, while widely praised in western countries, is subject to heavy criticism within Japan. Education Reform in Japan analyses this criticism, and explains why proposed reforms have failed. The author shows how the Japanese policy-making process can become paralysed when there is disagreement, and argues that this `immobilism' can affect other areas of Japanese policy-making.

chapter 1|21 pages

Introduction and theoretical background

chapter 2|31 pages

Background to the recent debate

chapter 4|28 pages

Internal actors: the bureaucracy

chapter 5|29 pages

External actors: incorporated interests

chapter 6|22 pages

External actors: opposition groups

chapter 7|40 pages

Education reform in the 1970s

chapter 8|40 pages

Education reform under Nakasone

chapter 9|11 pages

Final conclusions