TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN JAPAN

Since Japan\u27s industrialization "take off" began in about 1900, its speed has been very rapid. Of course, there are many reasons for this rapid development. One of main reasons, we guess, lies in the educational systems, especially in the technical field, Needless to say, the progress of industrialization depends on her abundant, well-educated, and industrious labor force. To cultivate the labor force it has been essential to establish and development the technical education. As the technical education is concerned, we have considered first the traditional heritage as the basis of industrialization in prewar Japan. Then we have explained the change of the educational system in the postwar period, as well as the increase of students into higher education. Next we have touched upon the shortage of technicians and engineers during the period of high economic growth that began in the late 1950\u27s, in spite of the expansion of higher education. Finally we have mentioned the shortcomings, of the systems of technical education from three standpoints: first, the system as a whole, second, the technical education itself, and third, the problems of its organization. These considerations show the lack of originality in the field of technology and the need to conquer the difficulties involved in creating new technical education