
Internet users offer counterpoints that suggest disgruntled high school student may, in fact, not know everything.
Japan, in general, holds education to be extremely important, and so on average Japanese teens tend to be much more studious than their counterparts in many other nations. Still, it’s not like every kid in Japan is eager to hit the books when he or she could be hanging out with friends, eating crepes, watching anime, or playing video games.
For example, Japanese Twitter user and high school student @ab6f9cbcda5b402 recently fired off this cranky message about the typical high school subjects to her followers.
https://twitter.com/ab6f9cbcda5b402/status/716252845985505282Retweet if you agree with even one of these.
Japanese class☞I already know Japanese.
Math☞It’s not going to help me in the future.
Science☞I’m not trying to get a science job.
Social studies☞There’s no point in looking back at the past.
Music☞Not interested.
Technical skill courses☞I don’t plan on becoming a carpenter.
Art☞Anybody can draw pictures.
English☞This is Japan.
Unfortunately for @ab6f9cbcda5b402, her call to arms to throw mud on the existing educational system went largely unanswered, garnering less than 300 retweets, meaning that the majority of even her 750-odd followers don’t share her sentiment. On the other hand, this rebuttal from Twitter user @geshtamjump struck a much deeper chord with the Japanese Internet.
Japanese → If you can’t use it properly, you’ll embarrass yourself.
Math → There are tons of jobs it’s useful in.
Science → If you don’t learn it, you’ll get tricked by pseudo-science scams.
Social studies → If you don’t know how society is built, you’ll always end up with the short end of the stick.
Music → Okay, so you’re not interested in it.
Technical skills → If you can’t operate a computer, you’ve got no future.
Art → I can’t draw pictures.
English → This is Earth.
国語→知らないと恥かく
— 佐々伸也 (@naoskihund) April 10, 2016
数学→役立つ職業は山ほど
理科→知らないと擬似科学に騙される
社会→社会の仕組みを知らないと損しまくる
音楽→おっ、そうだな
技術→PC扱えないと将来詰む
美術→俺は描けない
英語→ここ地球 pic.twitter.com/JBQNBsKwDJ
@geshtamjump’s take on things racked up over 10,000 retweets, with commenters chiming in with their agreement as well as expressing their exasperation at what they say as @ab6f9cbcda5b402’s narrow-mindedness.
“So just what the heck does [she] want to study?”
“[After looking through some of @ab6f9cbcda5b402’s other grammatically spotty tweets] Haha she actually can’t write in Japanese.”
“Music → If you don’t understand it, you’ll be considered uncultured.”
“If you’re the kind of person who says you won’t need anything you learn in school except language courses, have fun working full-time for 150,000 yen (US$1,340) a month.”
“She’ll make the perfect new employee who’s completely worthless to her company and coworkers.”
“’This is Earth.’ Awesome.”
In @ab6f9cbcda5b402’s defense, she just started high school a week ago, according to one of her previous tweets, and with the excitement of a new school and new friends now transitioning to the less exciting routine of homework and test preparation, she’s probably not the only teen who’s feeling a bit resentful of her educational responsibilities. Perhaps in deference to her perspective, one commenter offered this still-exasperated yet slightly gentler counter-argument.
@ab6f9cbcda5b402 なんだかんだでみんな必要なんだよね~。大人になればわかるよ
— ゆうこ (@dictaor_yuko) April 3, 2016
“Every single one of those is something you should know about. You’ll understand when you grow up.”
“No way!!-!!!! For reals? LOLLOL,” replied @ab6f9cbcda5b402, so hopefully she’ll find at least one academic pursuit that interests her before she graduates from high school.
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he makes no promises that he’ll have anything more intelligent to say than a high school freshman would.

Japanese high school student becomes Twitter sensation showing difference between time with boyfriend and friends
“Peaceful life with many dogs” is unacceptable dream, Japanese high school teacher tells student
Japanese Twitter user’s sad memory of when school literally refused to look at bullying problem
Teacher says Japanese schools’ mandatory extracurricular activity rules don’t benefit students
Educator offers advice for Japanese schoolgirls who get asked out by their teachers
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Dedicate your savings to your oshi of choice with this new buildable offertory box
Survey asks Japanese teens which school club they want to join, and “kitaku” club is top choice
Japanese toilet sweets put a new twist on tradition
New Studio Ghibli collection includes a US$2,450 wooden Totoro 【Video】
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
Japan’s first hotel with a human washing machine is now ready for you to come and bathe in it
Green tea chocolate-covered potato chips arrive in Japan! 【Taste test】
Japan now has potato chip-covered chocolate, and it’s amazing!【Taste test】
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Japanese educators want to allow students to use robot substitutes to attend school
Former schoolgirl sues Tokyo high school that made her drop out for breaking no-dating rule
Snappy as they look, Japanese school uniforms can be an extremely expensive hassle for parents
Head of Tokyo board of education gets asked about dumb school hairstyle rule, gives dumb answer
Japanese schoolteacher losing job for misconduct after being caught in convenience store…working
10 things foreigners do that Japanese people find amusing
Is Japan overworking its teachers? One exhausted educator says, “YES!”
Japanese schoolgirl talks foreigner out of suicide attempt on her way to class【Video】
Train continues to stop at rural station for lone schoolgirl until she graduates in March
Some Japanese elementary schools don’t let kids wear underwear during P.E., and parents are mad
Japanese school has ridiculous reason for not letting cold schoolgirl wear tights under her skirt
Japanese high school ends tradition of having all students walk 85-kilometer all-night trek
Public high school in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture will no longer take student absences into account for entrance applications
Japanese high schools abolish old rules, provide freedom with underwear, hair and dating
Manga’s touching take on pressuring non-black-haired kids to dye hair in some Japanese schools
Leave a Reply