How a 19th-century revolution transformed Japan into an educational powerhouse

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before its modern tech boom, Japan underwent a radical pedagogical overhaul. By dismantling class-based schooling and aggressively adopting Western models, the Meiji era created a blueprint for rapid modernization that continues to drive high global rankings in mathematics and science today.

The foundations of Japanese education were laid during the Tokugawa era, a period of relative peace that fostered high literacy through 'terakoya' (temle schools) for commoners and 'hankō' (domain schools) for the samurai. While the shogunate maintained isolationist policies, trade with the Dutch allowed for the gradual introduction of Western science. This existing cultural infrastructure provided the essential potential for the 'Meiji Restoration' after 1867, when the imperial authority was restored and the nation pivoted toward rapid Westernization.

In 1871, Japan established its first Ministry of Education, led by figures like Ōki Takatō, who sought to acquire the best features of Western systems to build national strength. This led to the 1872 'Gakusei' (Education System Order), a centralized, egalitarian plan inspired by French districts and American curricula. To implement this, the government recruited American advisers, such as David Murray and Marion M. Scott, to train teachers and design textbooks. However, the plan faced significant hurdles, including a lack of funding and resistance from rural populations burdened by the costs of new schools.

The tension between centralization and local needs eventually led to the 1879 'Kyōikurei' (Education Order), which reduced central control and encouraged local initiatives. Despite these historical shifts, the legacy of these reforms persists. Today, Japan remains a high performer in OECD evaluations, such as the 2018 PISA, where it ranked eighth globally. While the nation faces modern challenges like an aging teaching workforce and educational inequalities, its commitment to high tertiary attainment—reaching 66% among 25-34 year-olds by 2024—remains a cornerstone of its economy.

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