Takehiko Kariya

Takehiko Kariya is a Professor in the Sociology of Japanese Society at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Department of Sociology and the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Northwestern University, along with a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Tokyo.

• Ph.D. in Sociology, Northwestern University
• B.A. and M.A., University of Tokyo

Kariya’s research focuses on comparative sociology, sociology of education, and social change in postwar Japan. His work examines meritocracy, educational equity, and policy shifts in Japan, offering global insights into educational reform. His recent book, Education, Equality, and Meritocracy in a Global Age: The Japanese Approach (2020), co-authored with Jeremy Rappleye, explores Japan’s educational history and its implications for international meritocratic systems.

The book was supported by an open-access grant from the Suntory Foundation, highlighting empirical analyses of pedagogical approaches and funding mechanisms. While no scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, the work contributes to rethinking stereotypes in Japanese education and society through comparative lenses.