This paper compares special education issues in Japan and China. It assumes that this comparison is of intrinsic interest because both Asian societies share similar value orientations, yet are at different stages in their respective modernization efforts. The author argues that the special education case is illustrative of the possibilities and limitations of cultural borrowing from western models, and he re-examines a number of assumptions those models express. Specific issues concerning the desirability of main streaming, the social context of learning theory and appropriate definitions of equality of opportunity are discussed.