Did you know?: "High school is not compulsory in Japan, and even public high schools require tuition fees. In Tokyo, students have to pay a little more than ¥10,000 a month to attend public high schools." 

Phillip Brasor in a Japan Times piece reports that "media silence on first lady's school visit shows Japan's education gap." He says, "In essence, there is no such thing as a "scholarship" in Japan." Surprising? Well check out the rest of his article here! Additionally, you can read Ms. Aya Abe's report (in English), "Empirical Analysis of Relative Deprivation and Poverty in Japan" published by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, March, 2006 via this link. and a report on "Indicators of Social Quality in Japan" here.