ABOUT THIS BOOK This Handbook tells the story in 25 chapters of how Japan’s HE system has become what it is now, ending with a very tentative glimpse into the rest of the 21st century. A variety of themes are covered by scholars—both established, senior figures and younger researchers with their own fresh look at current circumstances. Chapters that concentrate on governance look at the distinction between “national,” “public” and “private” institutions; others consider important topics such as internationalization, student recruitment, faculty mobility. More innovative topics include “Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education.” All provide copious references to other authorities, but rather than just toe the conventional line they include opinions and proposals that may be contentious or even revolutionary. The editor provides an overview of the subject and its treatment in an Introduction.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY Paul Snowden studied Modern and Medieval Languages (not including Japanese) at King’s College, Cambridge. Apart from the first five years of his career, he has lived and worked in Japan as a university teacher and administrator, and author or editor of numerous dictionaries, textbooks and other Japan-related works. He worked longest (30 years) at Waseda University, where he served two terms as Dean of the School of International Liberal Studies – the first foreign national to hold such a post at that university – and has been Emeritus Professor since 2014. His most recent post was Vice-President of Kyorin University. He retired in 2020 and now acts as a director for the Japan campus of Lakeland University, Wisconsin.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Universities in Modern Japan: A Historical Outline Mito Takamichi 2. From Showa to Heisei: The Formation of Japan’s Contemporary Higher Education System Jeremy Breaden 3. The Heisei Period: Plus Ça Change? Jeremy Breaden 4. National Universities: Autonomy in Their Governance; Ideology and Practice Kawano Mako & Gregory Poole 5. Public Universities: Prefectural, Local Higher Education Bruce Stronach 6. Private Universities: Diverse and Adaptable Jeremy Breaden & Roger Goodman 7. Foreign Universities in Japan: Opportunities Taken and Missed Andrew Horvat 8. The Financing of Higher Education in Japan Fukui Fumitake 9. Undergraduate Admissions: Shifting Trends Ishikura Yukiko 10. The Hensachi: Its Dominant Role in University Rankings Roger Goodman and Chinami Oka 11. Self-Assessment: How Japanese University Students Assess Their Learning Outcomes Yamada Reiko 12. Policies for Hosting International Students: Issues for the Post-300,000 International Students Plan Era Ota Hiroshi 13. Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Shifting Realities Christopher D. Hammond & Ashizawa Shingo 14. International Students: Inbound Mobility at “Elite” and “Mass” Universities Shimauchi Sae 15. Academic Support and Advising: Historical and Contemporary Issues Shimada Norihisa 16. Women’s Universities in Japan: Life Choices Shima Sonoko 17. Junior Female Academics: Experiences and Challenges Kim Yangson & Sato Machi 18. Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education Jennifer Yphantides 19. International Faculty: Increasing Mobility Thomas Brotherhood 20. Research Universities: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Fukui Fumitake 21. Liberal Arts Education: The Japanese Way Morita Norimasa 22. The English Language in Japan: A Historical Overview 1809-2020 James C. House 23. Languages Other Than English: Mysterious Eclipse Francisco Naranjo-Escobar 24. Critical English Curriculum Enactment: A Policy Planning Perspective Robert M. Higgins 25. The Dawn of Reiwa: Waves, Revolutions and an “AI Society” Ian H. Frank & Malcolm H. Field
This Handbook tells the story in 25 chapters of how Japan’s HE system has become what it is now, ending with a very tentative glimpse into the rest of the 21st century. A variety of themes are covered by scholars—both established, senior figures and younger researchers with their own fresh look at current circumstances. Chapters that concentrate on governance look at the distinction between “national,” “public” and “private” institutions; others consider important topics such as internationalization, student recruitment, faculty mobility. More innovative topics include “Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education.” All provide copious references to other authorities, but rather than just toe the conventional line they include opinions and proposals that may be contentious or even revolutionary. The editor provides an overview of the subject and its treatment in an Introduction.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY Paul Snowden studied Modern and Medieval Languages (not including Japanese) at King’s College, Cambridge. Apart from the first five years of his career, he has lived and worked in Japan as a university teacher and administrator, and author or editor of numerous dictionaries, textbooks and other Japan-related works. He worked longest (30 years) at Waseda University, where he served two terms as Dean of the School of International Liberal Studies – the first foreign national to hold such a post at that university – and has been Emeritus Professor since 2014. His most recent post was Vice-President of Kyorin University. He retired in 2020 and now acts as a director for the Japan campus of Lakeland University, Wisconsin.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Universities in Modern Japan: A Historical Outline Mito Takamichi 2. From Showa to Heisei: The Formation of Japan’s Contemporary Higher Education System Jeremy Breaden 3. The Heisei Period: Plus Ça Change? Jeremy Breaden 4. National Universities: Autonomy in Their Governance; Ideology and Practice Kawano Mako & Gregory Poole 5. Public Universities: Prefectural, Local Higher Education Bruce Stronach 6. Private Universities: Diverse and Adaptable Jeremy Breaden & Roger Goodman 7. Foreign Universities in Japan: Opportunities Taken and Missed Andrew Horvat 8. The Financing of Higher Education in Japan Fukui Fumitake 9. Undergraduate Admissions: Shifting Trends Ishikura Yukiko 10. The Hensachi: Its Dominant Role in University Rankings Roger Goodman and Chinami Oka 11. Self-Assessment: How Japanese University Students Assess Their Learning Outcomes Yamada Reiko 12. Policies for Hosting International Students: Issues for the Post-300,000 International Students Plan Era Ota Hiroshi 13. Regional Cooperation in East Asia: Shifting Realities Christopher D. Hammond & Ashizawa Shingo 14. International Students: Inbound Mobility at “Elite” and “Mass” Universities Shimauchi Sae 15. Academic Support and Advising: Historical and Contemporary Issues Shimada Norihisa 16. Women’s Universities in Japan: Life Choices Shima Sonoko 17. Junior Female Academics: Experiences and Challenges Kim Yangson & Sato Machi 18. Women of Color Leading in Japanese Higher Education Jennifer Yphantides 19. International Faculty: Increasing Mobility Thomas Brotherhood 20. Research Universities: Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Fukui Fumitake 21. Liberal Arts Education: The Japanese Way Morita Norimasa 22. The English Language in Japan: A Historical Overview 1809-2020 James C. House 23. Languages Other Than English: Mysterious Eclipse Francisco Naranjo-Escobar 24. Critical English Curriculum Enactment: A Policy Planning Perspective Robert M. Higgins 25. The Dawn of Reiwa: Waves, Revolutions and an “AI Society” Ian H. Frank & Malcolm H. Field