Western and Japanese educators face some of the same issues, even while their common-sense social organization and practices could hardly stand in greater contrast. Contentious issues in North America–such as core liberal arts requirements vs. vocationalization of higher education, the student as customer, or faculty treatment in terms of promotion and tenure–are debated in Japan. Some distinct characteristics of Japanese institutions, or typical of non-Western universities, are also discussed, such as government control of accreditation.