Regarding Takamitsu Sawa's Sept. 17 commentary "Lack of liberal arts education is sapping Japan's creativity": What Sawa is talking about is the difference between education and training. Although they overlap, they are not the same. Nevertheless, universities are increasingly being ranked on their graduates' income and employment as the return on their investment.
In the U.S., a four-year degree from a marquee-name school can cost up to $240,000. With few exceptions, this means taking out student loans that cannot be discharged even during personal bankruptcy. It's little wonder that science, technology, engineering and math have become popular, since these majors are what companies are seeking.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.