This April, the first group of students at the University of Tokyo embarked on a new gap-year program. The small group of students secured their enrollment at the prestigious university, submitted their plans for the year and took off to learn from the world.
The new system allows students to postpone enrollment for a year to immerse themselves in activities different from sitting in large first-year lecture classes. Everyone interested in changing education in Japan should wish them well.
At the same time, educators, parents and students should work to expand this system. The University of Tokyo often takes the lead in educational changes, but other universities should establish the same gap-year system.