"Education in Contemporary Japan examines the main developments of modern schooling in Japan, from the beginning of the Meiji era up to the present, and includes analysis of the most recent reforms. By drawing extensively on detailed ethnographic studies and interviews with students and teachers, Okano and Tsuchiya show the diversity of school experiences, and develop a new picture of the role that schooling plays for individuals and the wider society. This insightful and provocative study of the issues of social inequality and the scope for autonomy within the Japanese education system will be essential reading for students and educators alike."--Jacket.