Educators and policymakers in the United States and other Western countries have been reluctant to seriously consider Japanese approaches to work-related education. Consideration and analysis, as opposed to adoption, of Japanese approaches to work-related education can contribute to a better understanding of the basis for workforce development and formulation of policy. Drawing on extensive interviews with Japanese workers and managers in a variety of Japanese companies, this article describes the basis for the relationships between education and work in Japan and policy implications for the role of employers in workforce development.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abegglen, J. C.
, & Stalk, G. (1987). Kaisha: The Japanese corporation. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle.
2.
Bishop, J. H.
(1993). Underinvestment in employer training: A mandate to spend?Human Resource Development Quarterly, 4(3), 223-241.
3.
Cairncross, D.
, & Dore, R. (1990). Employee training in Japan. Washington DC: Office of Technology Assessment.
4.
Evans, R. N.
, & Herr, E. L. (1978). Foundations of vocational education. Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.
5.
Frantz, N. R.
(1994). Youth apprenticeships in the United States: Transmission or transformation of the German apprenticeship system. Journal of Industrial Technical Education, 31(3), 28-39.
6.
Gutek, G. L.
(1991). Education in the United States: An historical perspective. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
7.
Hashimoto, M.
(1990). The Japanese labor market in a comparative perspective with the United States. Kalamazoo, MI: W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
8.
Hamilton, S. F.
(1990). Apprenticeship for adulthood: Preparing youth for the future. New York: Free Press.
9.
Imada, S.
(1993). Transition from school to work. Japan Labor Bulletin, 32(10), 5-8.
10.
Koike, K.
(1988). Understanding industrial relations in modern Japan. New York: St. Martin.
11.
Levine, S. B.
, & Kawada, H. (1980). Human resources in Japanese development. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
12.
Marshall, R.
, & Tucker, M. (1992). Thinking for a living: Education and the wealth of nations. New York: Basic Books.
13.
Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture
. (1994). Statistical abstract of education, science, and culture. Tokyo: Author.
14.
Motorola University
. (1993). 1993 Motorola University year-end report. Shaumberg, IL: Author.
15.
NEC Technical College
. (1993). Guide to NEC Technical College. Tokyo: Author.
16.
Office of Technology Assessment
. (1990). Worker training: Competing in the new international economy. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
17.
Passin, H.
(1982). Society and education in Japan. Tokyo: Kodansha.
18.
School-to-Work Opportunities Act Section 3. (1994, August 3). Creating a school-to-work opportunities system. Washington DC: Author.
19.
Stern, S.
(1988, May). Human resource development and training in Japan. Tokyo: The Japan Management Association.
20.
Stern, S.
(1992). The relationship between human resource development and corporate creativity in Japan. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 3(3), 215-234.
21.
Sumiya, M.
(1990). The Japanese industrial relations reconsidered. Tokyo: Japan Institute of Labor.
22.
Taniguchi, Y.
(1993). Role of public vocational training in society characterized by lifelong education. Japan Labor Bulletin, 32(1), 5-8.
23.
Wirth, A. G.
(1992). Education and work for the Year 2000: Choices we face. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
24.
Yahata, S.
(1994). In-house training and OJT. Japan Labor Bulletin, 33(5), 5-8.
