ABSTRACT
Japan entered the modern era late. Until Commodore Perry's "Black Ships" forcibly opened Japan to foreign commerce in 1853, the country had been closed to virtually all outside contact for hundreds of years. After its late start, Japan modernized with extraordinary rapidity. During the last three decades of the nineteenth century, Japanese delegations to Europe and the United States studied Western accomplishments in fields ranging from manufacturing to education. By the early twentieth century, Japan had become a world power. Japan's subsequent military expansion, crushing defeat in World War II, and "phoenix-like" economic rebirth is a familiar story. Japan is a nation poor in natural resources; her rapid modernization and recovery after World War II are frequently attributed to a "skilled," "hardworking" population. Education is often credited with a substantial role in Japan's economic miracle. Caregivers in both yochien and hoikuen are licensed professionals. They have completed two-year post-high school training programs at teacher training institutes or schools of education.
