Paper short abstract:

This paper will explore the social, cultural and systematical context of universities in Japan and the United States, with a special focus on the singularity of Japanese universities.

Paper long abstract:

Many American Universities hold a very important position among the many part of scholarly world. When we see annual "The World University Ranking", which is published by public institutions like Thomson Reuters, many American Universities are at the top of the list every year. At the same time, the number of applicants who apply for these American Universities from foreign countries is on the increase. It indicates that, for every students in the world, American Universities are attractive in all respects. As the truth, these American Universities' equipments, accommodation, professors etc… are supreme in the world. It is quite natural that the students who would like to receive fine education try for these American Universities. In response to this, many Universities in foreign countries are trying to adopt American Universities' way.

On the other hand, Japanese Universities are not so positive to adopt American Universities' way. Japanese Universities' curricula are still remaining unchanged compared to other countries like China, Korea, Singapore. While American Universities provide the class which require students to be active while they are in class, for example discussion and presentation class, most of Japanese Universities' classes' way of education are passive, for example just hearing or taking note while a professor is giving lessons in great lecture hall.

The paper will discuss:

a. What is the reason why Japanese Universities' way of education has been like this?

b. Should Japanese Universities be positive to adopt American Universities' way like these Asian countries' Universities?