Recent interesting news about education

Today, I am going to talk about two education-related news that caught people's attention recently in Japan.

In Japan, there is what we call the "National Center Test for University Admission".

This test held all over Japan every year around January constitutes a standardized test covering major subjects such as the different fields of natural sciences and social sciences and it is used by public and some private universities. Every year, a large number of students are taking it and it is always a great subject of interest in the news and for many Japanese people.

This year the first day of the test fell on the 14^th of January. The accidents that occurred was that among the question papers handed out to the attendees, two were supposed to be given at the same time to be able to answer the questions properly but there were not. The problem occurred all over Japan because it was not due to a lack of attention by the persons in charge but on a lack of indications about the necessity to distribute them at the same time.

Therefore, complaints from numerous attendees have forced the authorities to reorganize a test for people who wanted and could retake it. Then the second session was held on the 21th but some people could not retake it and it is clear that this year Test will be considered as unjust by many people.

Now, another education-related topic made the news of late. In Japan schools and universities start in April and end in March which is a system very rare in other countries, especially main western countries which have an academic year beginning in September and ending in October. It is said that it is one of the reasons of the small number of foreign students in Japanese universities. For example, Tokyo University is a large university considered to be the most prestigious one in Japan. In fact, the level of what is taught is high. However, Tokyo University only ranks 21^st in the world, and very few foreign students attend it. It can be explained by the fact that “exchange student ” system are hard to put in place.

That is why an internal working group has proposed to bring the university in line with global standards regarding the academic year in order to improve its competitiveness among other international universities. The group compares Harvard University in the US where 10% of the students are from overseas and only around 2% in Tokyo University. However, it might happen that graduates would be eventually disadvantaged because Japanese companies recruit almost all their future employees just at the end of the academic year and very few during the year. Finally, if the proposition passes, it will only come into effect in 5 years so things are not going to change so soon.   

So for people studying in colleges overseas that always wanted to study in Japan but could not because of those problem of academic years, they might be able in a few years.  

Benji

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Old New Year

Happy Year to everybody out there !
I can hear some people saying : "We have just spent the New Year some weeks ago, what are you talking about ?".
Well it is true but the 22nd of January is another New Year which is also celebrated by some people while to a very little extent in Japan : The Chinese New Year as it is called in the West. Actually it is called "kyu shogatsu" over here, "old New Year" because it used to be the official New Year in Japan since it was imported in ancient times. Now it is not really celebrated so much actually, but the term "old New Year" remains and some events are organised in the Tokyo area.

The first and foremost place where it is celebrated is of course China Town in Yokohama (some minutes away from Tokyo by train). For example, during the period going from 23 through 6th of February a festival was held there. A count-down was organised on the 22d and it was accompanied by a big choir. Then on the 23d, you could see a Shishimai or  "Japanese Lion dance" all over China Town. It consists in two lions accompanied by bamboo flutes and drums and is  performed as a prayer for household safety and a good harvest. Usually, one or two people wearing the lion costume, and one or two lions dancing. At the end of the dance, the lion "bites" the heads of some watchers, to bring luck.

The festival lasts until the 6th of February and other events and performances will be organised up to that day. For example a parade with people in costumes next Sunday. What about checking some of them. Technically, it is not particularly a "Japanese" event but Japan being close to China geographically and the Chinese community being large, I assume these events held in China Town, Yokohama to be pretty authentic. If you have never been to Yokohama, that may also be the occasion to take a walk near the sea and inside Yokohama city, you won't regret it !


Benji


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White Tokyo

What a surprise this morning when I opened the curtains of my room and see that... everything was white... white like snow ! It was really cold recently but I was so busy that I did not really think of the possibility of snow...
 Maybe it is the first time you see Tokyo under the snow or just snow in Japan ? In any case this is the first time it snowed this year in Tokyo so it is called "hatsu yuki". If you have read my article about the New Year in Japan, you must know that everything we do for the first time at the beginning of the year is called "hatsu" something ("first") and is viewed as something special. "Yuki" meaning "snow", "hatsuyuki" is "first snow".

From what I remember, it snowed last year as well and it was pretty close to today's date, right ?  End of January or beginning of February ? Anyway. Now the question is how long will the snow remain ? Will it be gone tomorrow ? It is right that Tokyo under the snow is really beautiful and that it shows another Tokyo, but I can tell you it is pretty inconvenient when you have to ride your bike on the snow... Something that I would not recommend to our readers but sometimes you have to... But well you get the impression to be in a ski resort and it is agreeable to feel that when you have not been for a while.

As for the transportation, at the time I am writing these lines, there does not seem to be many train lines having stopped or having problems here in Tokyo, except for the Musashino line which seems to have stopped and this since yesterday. It seems that yesterday an other line, the Yurikamome line was stopped for some times.

It is often said that seasons in Japan are very marked compared to other temperate region as Europe and I find it true. We were so hot in summer (summer is crazy in Japan ) and now it is snowing... The difference is so big.

Anyway, let's put on some warm clothes, go out and admire the beauty of Japan under the snow, it may not be here tomorrow... But be careful !

Benji


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