[kenmei]

schools are so competitive in japan that kids have to have extra study classes after school to prepare themselves (2years in advance) for entrance exams. They have entrance exams at every level for private schools, which are viewed to be the better schools. That and mix in how graduating college is a pretty much given to get any career oriented position in a japanese company. So parents are constantly pushing their kids to go to good schools and graduate a good university because they know their kid will have better opportunities at companies and such. Not too sure about the rest of asia, but i know they have the same work ethic as far as studying goes.