Japanese people are constantly forced to compete with others using an invisible measuring stick.
Japanese people are forced to compete from a young age.
First, the entrance exam war.
Parents who are enthusiastic about education send their kindergarteners (from around age 5) to cram schools to prepare them for elementary school entrance exams.
Even though they are still young children, they have to compete with rivals for entrance exams.
There are many cram schools and prep schools for entrance exams in Japan.
I also worked part-time at a cram school when I was a university student, and I remember feeling something was off.
Many children are immersed in studying, with no time for play, in order to get into a prestigious school.
This is just my personal impression, but students who only study don’t seem like children.
I feel this strongly no matter which school I visit as a teacher.
They are so excited or upset by test scores and deviation scores that they have no time for relaxation.
Many Japanese people have an invisible measuring stick called “shakushi teiki” (a rigid ruler).
Shakushi teiki refers to an inflexible attitude or method of behaving in a way that fits everything into a single set of rules or common sense.
The entrance exam war occurs because so many people follow rigid rules created by society, the media, or others.
The competition becomes increasingly fierce, and the number of students who break down is increasing.
