This volume documents the significant changes that have occurred in Japanese schools since the collapse of that nation's economic bubble. Before the recession, Japan was the country that most others sought to emulate due to its students' performance on standardised tests. Now, however, a much different and more complicated picture of the Japanese education system emerges.

This book places Japanese education in a global context, with particular attention given to how their education system is responding to changing expectations and pressures that emerge from rapid social change. Chapters written by respected scholars examine issues related to equality, academic achievement, privatisation, population diversity, societal expectations, and the influence of the media, parents, and political movements. The research in this book will provide valuable lessons for policymakers and practitioners facing similar challenges.