"I am just saying that we cannot dismiss the importance of childhood experience (and in the context of this thread, 'student' experience and perspective). In some cases, it could be quite difficult to understand a country, whether Japan or other countries, without such experience (here I am not talking about only Japanese history but things general). It seems to me that you underestimate the importance of insider experience..."

This claim about the importance of insider perspective is simply irrelevant in the context of Earl's research, which is based on the views of hundreds of insiders who have childhood experience in Japan's educational system. As I pointed out in a post a little while ago, there are some methodological limitations in Earl's survey, which is based on self-reporting, but that has nothing to do with a lack of insider knowledge.

Paul Midford