Welcome to "Ranking Japan," the site that’s all about ranking Japan’s best souvenir snacks! But here’s the twist: while we’re busy deciding which senbei deserves the gold medal, there’s a growing trend in Japan to ditch rankings altogether, especially in education.
The idea is to avoid competition and reduce stress so kids can grow up in a carefree and happy environment. Sports days are a prime example. Back in the day, it was all about serious races and intense tug-of-war battles. These days, the vibe is more "let’s all enjoy this together."
At some kindergartens, kids cross the finish line hand-in-hand, and everyone gets a gold medal. School plays? Everyone’s a main character—Red Riding Hood roles for all! And the Big Bad Wolf? The teacher, of course.
But hold on a second. Let’s take a peek into the grown-up world. Reality is an endless competition! From landing a job to snagging that discounted milk at the supermarket, it’s all about winning and losing.
Now imagine a kid growing up in a competition-free bubble, only to be tossed into society’s "jungle." Suddenly, it’s like, "Here, meet a lion. Run for your life!" Total chaos.
Maybe a sprinkle of competition in childhood isn’t such a bad thing after all. Education evolves with the times, but finding the right balance is key.
What about your country?
