126: 80 Years Later, Japan’s Big Problem (5)

【Inclusive Experiences】
Japan’s education system is designed so that people learn as the government wishes to teach. And students who excel at rote memorization are rewarded the most because college applications are largely decided by memorization-heavy admission exams.
 
In contrast, inclusive education--widely embraced in urban America--intentionally cultivates a broad range of intellectual, emotional, social, and creative abilities. Precisely because they value this inclusivity, most American universities strive to welcome students from a wide variety of backgrounds across the world.
 
This difference is clearly supported by data. Below are comparisons of student demographics at colleges considered to be the most selective in the US and Japan.           
 
1. Foreign Nationals and Immigrants

• US: 57–71%
• JPN:  2–16%

 
US: Approximately 25% (Stanford) to 39% (Columbia) of students are foreign nationals. In complete contrast to the current Trump administration, the US has long embraced a liberal mindset on immigration. It’s reflected in the fact that immigrants account for another 32% of the student body. Altogether, well over half of students are either foreign nationals or immigrants.
 
JPN: Only 2% (Keio University) to 16% (University of Tokyo) of students are foreign nationals. Data on immigrant students is virtually nonexistent, largely because their numbers are so small.
 
2. Race

• US:  20–30% majority group
• JPN: 99%+ majority group 

 
US:

• White: 20–30%
• Asian:  20–30%
• Latino:   9–20%
• Black:     5–10%

 
JPN: Although racial data is limited, roughly 93% of foreign students come from Asia--primarily China, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, and South Korea. When combined with Japanese students who make up the overwhelming majority, over 99% of the student population is Asian.
 
3. Gender

• US:   51–54% female
• JPN: 20-39% female 

 
US: Women make up about 51% (Princeton) to 54% (Harvard) of the student body.
 
JPN: Women account for only 20% (UTokyo, Kyoto University) to 39% (Waseda University).
 
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What do these numbers reveal?
 
Taken together, they highlight a stark reality: while American universities actively practice inclusive education by welcoming people from diverse backgrounds worldwide, it’s difficult to argue that Japanese universities have created environments that truly embrace diversity.
 
Even among the most selective universities, the differences are striking. Given this gap, it’s no surprise that disparities also emerge in the cultivation of broad intellectual, emotional, social, and creative abilities. These differences extend to human rights awareness, openness to diversity, social engagement, and independent thinking grounded in factual/evidence-based reasoning, as well as putting it into action.
 
Of course, some individuals who never had access to inclusive education still develop broad abilities, strong awareness of human rights, and the capacity to think independently and act based on fact/evidence.
 
Conversely, there are graduates of so-called “elite” universities who have experienced inclusive education yet fail to develop these same qualities.
 
Still, one overarching pattern remains clear: learning in an inclusive, human rights-based environment is key to moving beyond a conservative mindset and toward a liberal mindset.
 
This pattern is again clearly supported by data from the 2024 US presidential election, which shows a strong correlation between voting preferences and voters’ levels of education:

• High School:               Harris 36% vs. Trump 62%
• Some College:           Harris 47% vs. Trump 51%
• Bachelors Degree: Harris 53% vs. Trump 45%
• Graduate Degree:  Harris 59% vs. Trump 38%

 
 
A similar trend appeared in the 2020 election:

• HS graduates:           Biden 46% vs. Trump 54%
• College graduates: Biden 55% vs. Trump 43%

 
These results visibly demonstrate that inclusive experiences at universities create the foundation for moving beyond a conservative mindset and toward a liberal mindset.
 
By contrast, in Japan’s upper house election in July, conservatives dominated 71.1% vs. liberals 28.9%, nationwide. Tokyo--where education, diversity, and resources are highly concentrated--voted even more conservatively than the rest of the country: conservatives 75.2% vs. liberals 24.8% [See #123]. Viewed alongside the education data, it becomes clear why these conservative support levels resemble those found in rural America, where inclusive education is often shunned.
 
This is the central reason why Japan, Tokyo, and rural America remain strikingly conservative, while urban America is overwhelmingly liberal: differences in inclusive experiences.

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