In this episode, I explore why academic achievement and knowledge of political philosophy, social thought, and intellectual history do not always go hand in hand in Japan. Rather than criticizing highly educated people, I examine the structure of Japanese higher education and its close relationship with corporate society. Using the classical distinction between *techne* (practical skills) and *episteme* (the pursuit of fundamental understanding), I argue that Japanese universities have traditionally emphasized practical knowledge over philosophical inquiry. A truly well-rounded education, I suggest, requires both the ability to solve problems and the ability to question the deeper principles behind them.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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