education

→Japanese

In this Global age, of fast growing Asia, with expectation of great change ahead, education in Japan has ‘more than enough’ of problems. 

Since the major work force in academic, political, and industrial arena of Japan today are comprised of those who went through the conventional school system, having  spent the 20 years of Japan ‘bashing→passing →nothing→missing’ time period with people who experienced the golden age of high economic growth of 60s to 90s, I can not but help suspecting they hardly recognize the fundamentals of education reform towards the global age.

In comparison to the population, number of Japanese people having been educated in overseas universities (undergraduate) is too small.  I presume also that there are only but few who got into (overseas) graduate schools through official entrance exams, finished full courses and graduated.  This goes particularly for male students most of whom are likely to have earned MBA under the support of ‘dispatch’ program of ‘institutions’ such as companies or government offices.

True that there were some historical backgrounds uniqe to Japan of education system , but still, Japan among growing Asian countries has exceptionally smaller number of people in comparison to its population who have gone through overseas (US and UK) higher education or who have been at ‘Boarding Schools’ (in US and UK) where ‘elites’ are nurtured.  And yet, the so called ‘leaders’ of Japan preach us ‘the vision for education’ in high pitch.

Of course, top universities of Japan are quite good.  However, even today, the ‘elites’ in Japan (in politics, enterprises, governments ? and I wonder how things are at universities…) do not have good command of spoken English, and to be honest with you, generally speaking their ‘passion’ is weaker than the elites from China or Korea not to speak of their ability to appeal themselves and sending out messages at international arenas.

At Doha we had sessions on ‘Education’, and it was quite clear that every country was very serious about nurturing/educating next generation, thus prepared for the global age.  All were fully aware that the issues they face were different from those in the conventional education of the past.

In this sense, the message on education by Queen Rania of Jordan was wonderfully focused on its essence.  I urge you to listen to her on web (資料１).  She was without doubt one of the most wonderfully influential and committed person in this forum.

May 30 – June 2 columns in the blog of Dr. Yoko Ishikura are also a very good source of additional information to what I have reported in this ‘Doha, Qatar　series’ postings.  By all means, I recommend that you visit her site.

→Japanese

On May 14th, I was at the Bank of Japan to give a lecture.  It was a bit surprising that I was invited, but I was given 2 hours.  Unfortunately, Mr. Shirakawa, the Governor, could not join due to some unexpected duty, but there were about 50 people including Deputy Governor Nishimura. They all must be smart and brilliant people (I am sure), but I regret to say that all of them were men (actually there were 2 women sitting at the side….)

The theme given to me was ‘Japan’s Stagnant Economy; How We Find the Wayout’.  I brought my outline, charts, references, and several copies of ‘Sekai kyu kyaria no tsukurikata (How to build a global career)’ which I co-authored with Professor Yoko Ishikura, and ‘Inovation Shiko-Ho (How to Make an Innovative Mind)’ as a gift.

As you may know, Harvard University recently has made ‘On-line’ a series of lectures by Professor Michael Sandel on ‘Justice’ to the public for the first time in its history; it is because of its tremendous popularity among the students. The lecture captures the listener’s mind right from the start- it’s such a series of wonderful lecture- and the series are being broadcasted on the NHK Education TV channel every Sunday evening (and also late at night…).

So, I started my seminar at the Bank of Japan in a similar style, first asking questions.  Perhaps, I surprised the audience?  After all, it is ‘Bank’ and of course its atmosphere would make such kind of experiment a bit difficult… So, especially young people might have been somewhat startled.  I do understand that it is not easy to speak up in front of all those people.

There was some kind of ambience in the air especially discouraging open and interactive discussion and exchange.  But this ambience precisely is the reason, the cause of the ‘oppressing and discouraging young people to speak out’ feelings that prevail in our (Japanese) society today.  I, of course, pointed this out, too, as a very reason of stagnant economy of Japan.

Japanese society is unique in its mind-set and inherent value perhaps in the last 400 years- taking for granted their male-centered hierarchial organizations, seniority based promotion, social hierarchy that starts with the rank of university entrance exams-scores of the university you were admitted to ? and this uniqueness is very much the basic cause of our nation’s inability in adjusting to the rapid changes of this flattening global world- in one word, lack of flexibility.  To take advantage of the nation’s ‘strength’, our lack of ability to recognize our ‘weakness’ or to take actions – these themes also run throughout my blog postings as one of my ‘core messages’.

I would say that the typical examples that dramatically represented such themes were the ‘Toyota Problems’  and competition of the nuclear power plant bid at the United Arab Emirates won by Korean team. 

Giving a lecture at such prestigious place is a valuable opportunity.  I was honored just to be invited.  I would be very happy to have another opportunity for challenge.