As many countries in the world seek to improve their economic performance by increasing their vocational education and training, Japan is being looked to as a leader in this field - the ideal model to imitate. This book provides a thorough examination of vocational education and training in all parts of the Japanese education system; from primary education to in-house training within companies and on the shop floor. This study highlights the role of the government, and shows how success in Japan is often achieved by going against what is regarded as ideal practice elsewhere: for example, much Japanese training is carried out informally by colleagues, the motivation being pride in doing the job well rather than a means to personal advancement.