In this paper, the authors contend that globalization in Japan is the gradual process in which Japan's positioning of "self" within international relations, which had formerly been dominated by the West, has changed. Accordingly, Japan's relationships with the West and the rest of the world, for example, Asia, have also been reviewed and modified. The argument is developed in the context in which Japan sees itself through its image of the international community. The so-called Westernization theme of Japan, and probably of other "catch-up" countries, is not as linear as before, and does seem to be more complex in this age of globalization. The dominance of the West in education and other fields has steadily been multi-polarized, and its decline has raised competition among countries around the world. To examine the shift in Japan's positioning in the world and her consequent modifications in dealing with education, this paper looks at the historical and contemporary dimensions of Japanese education. It first traces the processes of Japan's national political agenda of modernization and Westernization, before exploring the present dispute in education reform as a global event. Thus, the major arguments are twofold. First, as part of the global community, Japan has adapted to the principle of interconnectedness and interdependency and recognized its importance. Second, with the decline of Western dominance as the major change in the world climate, Japan problematized educational competitiveness among the people, which involves the association of education with human capital theory. Both of these aspects of Japanese education are the reflection of the positioning of Japan versus the West and the rest of the world, which has been changing in the context of globalization in politics, economy, and above all education. (Contains 6 notes.)