Issues | LEARNING CURVE Jul 4, 2018

Fukuoka's 'guest teachers' of English outstay their welcome

Job insecurity, excessive secrecy and legal curbs on dispatch teachers come under the spotlight as 120 teachers lose their classes.

Issues | LABOR PAINS Jan 28, 2018

Court cases shine a light on Japan's problem with paternity leave

Two cases currently before the courts show how the reality of Japanese workplaces can clash with government attempts to encourage fathers to help raise their children.

Issues | LEARNING CURVE Dec 27, 2017

Teachers and schools in Japan brace for icebergs in 2018

After a year of scandals and promises, the "five-year rule" and demographic woes cast a shadow over education in 2018.

Issues | LEARNING CURVE Nov 15, 2017

Tokyo campus tie-up between Temple Japan and Showa Women's University could offer model for the future

Showa Women's University and Temple University, Japan Campus have announced a unique site-sharing agreement that could offer a model to other Japanese schools.

Issues | LEARNING CURVE Oct 4, 2017

Five-nation crackdown hits half of Japanese-language schools

New rules requiring greater scrutiny of applicants from five countries have landed Japanese-language schools with that little bit more paperwork.

Issues | LEARNING CURVE Sep 3, 2017

Some schools in Japan get air conditioning while others are left to nature's whim

Government data shows air conditioning is becoming standard in most Japanese public schools, but a handful of cities and prefectures are resisting the trend for questionable reasons.

Issues | LEARNING CURVE Aug 9, 2017

More Japanese may be studying abroad, but not for long

Increasing numbers of Japanese are going abroad to study, but a close look at the data reveals that looser definitions are inflating the numbers — and that most students aren't spending much time overseas anyway.

Issues | LEARNING CURVE Jul 5, 2017

Spoken English tests among entrance exam reforms Japan's students will face in 2020

Upcoming changes to Japanese university admissions have students, parents and teachers raising their hands to ask questions.

Issues | LEARNING CURVE May 31, 2017

School kitchens in Japan risk being swamped by food allergy claims

Data suggest Japan's schools are seeing a surge in food allergies among students, but are all the claims legitimate?

Issues | LEARNING CURVE May 3, 2017

As Japan's JET Programme hits its 30s, the jury's still out

Ambitious program has helped Japan meet the world, but does it have a role to play today?