AbstractJapanese schoolchildren are under severe pressure to perform well, and the males are expected to go to university. This can mean parents paying highly for a private university to compensate for their son's lack of performance at school.After a bachelor degree in science or engineering there are many more jobs available than graduates to fill them. After a post graduate course this situation is reversed.Universities and private industry are both being encouraged to increase their basic research and to allow people to use their creativity.