In the late 1930s, the educational curriculum of Imperial japan grew increasingly ultranationalist with an emphasis on Emperor worship, loyalty to the state and the importance of ancient military virtues.
At the start of the Pacific war in 1941, an average National People’s School (elementary school) graduate was required to attend Youth School with vocational and military training for boys and home economics for girls.
Elite secondary students attended Specialized Schools that taught medicine,law, economics, commerce, agricultural science, engineering or business management in preparation for university admission.