The Japanese love to take standardized tests, and many people use them as a tool to better themselves over the course of their lives. While most of the tests are pretty run-of-the-mill, qualifying a person’s abilities at speaking English, say, or using various software tools in a business environment, there are quite a few interesting ones, such as a test for calculating numbers rapidly with an imaginary abacus, your fingers moving over wooden beads that aren’t there. There are tests for speedy and accurate operating of a cash register in a supermarket, a test for maids, a test for memorizing a train schedule, and (good for us gaijin), the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. My wife is what’s known as a shikaku getter or someone who loves to “collect” random qualifications. She’s got a license to prepare sushi and sashimi, is legally able to operate a forklift, and has a certification for handling dangerous materials, in case J-List ever wants to open a gas station as a side business. There’s even a Hello Kitty Standardized Test, commissioned by Sanrio. I assume the test consists various trivia like, how tall is Hello Kitty? (as tall as five apples) and so on.
The Japanese love to take standardized tests, on almost every subject.
