The concept of “recurrent education,” surprisingly, has not gained widespread recognition in Japan. This term refers to the ongoing process of education that individuals engage in throughout their lives, even after entering the workforce. In Japan, this often takes the form of continuing education without taking time off from work, commonly known as “relearning for working adults.” It involves acquiring specialized knowledge and skills pertinent to one’s job post-employment. (Source: Government Publications of Japan).
But why hasn’t this concept taken root in Japan?
Firstly, the term “recurrent” itself might be a barrier. It’s not only challenging to pronounce but also unfamiliar, which can impact its acceptance. This is akin to how unappealing titles can lead to lower sales in books and movies in Japan.
Moreover, the idea of ongoing learning after joining a company doesn’t quite align with the traditional Japanese work culture. Japan is known for its system that resembles lifetime employment, often resulting in individuals staying with one company for their entire career. Consequently, there’s less perceived need for employees to return to university for additional education or qualifications while they are with a company. Furthermore, the likelihood of changing jobs or starting a new venture, even with enhanced skills, is relatively low in Japan. In many companies, the bosses or HR departments have significant control over career progression, which means newly acquired skills and qualifications might not be fully utilized or valued.
This contrasts sharply with countries like the United States, where it’s not uncommon to see people in their 50s, 60s, or older attending college and pursuing further studies.
This disparity could possibly be a contributing factor to the lower productivity levels observed in Japan.
