Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:27 am | 
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A survey presented by an academic association shows that many young Japanese lack geographical knowledge, both domestically and internationally. |
Japanese students unable to locate Iraq, but best U.S. young adults in locating the U.S.
Only one out of four Japanese high schoolers can correctly locate Iraq on a world map, while one in two Japanese university students manage the same feat, according to a survey presented Wednesday by the Association of Japanese Geographers.
A similar survey carried out by the National Geographic Society in 2006 showed that 37 percent of young American adults between ages 18 to 24 could locate the same country.
The Japanese study also showed that less than 50 percent of the surveyed high schoolers could pinpoint Switzerland, Vietnam, Kenya and Finland.
The country most recognized by high schoolers and university students alike was the United States of America. 95.6% of Japanese university students could correctly pinpoint the U.S on the map. Curiously, only 94% of young Americans can do the same, according to the National Geographic survey.
The National Geographic survey also showed that only 49 percent of young Americans can locate Japan, however.
The survey also tested the students on Japanese geography. While 93-95 percent of high school and university students could pinpoint Tokyo, only 42.7 percent of high schoolers and 67.3 percent of university students could locate Miyazaki, a major city in Kyushu which has been given major media attention because of it’s comedian-turned-governor Hideo Higashikokubaru.
The Association of Japanese Geographers mean that the results of the survey show Japan has to improve its geography education.
A total of 6,159 students at 51 high schools in Tokyo and six other prefectures, and 3,747 students at 31 universities and colleges across Japan were surveyed from last December to February.
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While low-cost carriers have since long been successfully operating throughout the U.S., Europe, and southern Asia, Japan has seen very little of the low-price action.
Whoever wrote this falls in the category of those who can’t spell.
Whoever edited it, too. Absolutely terrible.
My sincere apologies for the “Vetnam” typo. Sometimes we are a bit too eager to get the articles online as soon as possible.
Is this article just written for sensation or are Americans and Japanese really that stupid? I know nobody here in europe who isn’t able to point some well known countrys on the world map.