In Japan’s preschool education, the focus is on ______.

参考解析：

细节理解题。A所说的功课教育是这篇材料首先否定的内容（little emphasis is put on academic instruction，功课指导所受重视甚少），所以可以立即排除。C所谈的艺术兴趣和D所谈的潜能在第三段开头有所提及，Some Japanese kindergartens have specific aims, such as early musical training or potential development，这里的musical training应该属于艺术范畴，而potential development和D的说法直接吻合。不过，句子的第一个单词some表明这种现象只存在与某些幼儿园，属个别行为，而题目问的是focus，属普遍现象。第一段后半部分有一句话道出了日本学前教育的重心所在：but rather skills such as persistence, concentration, and the ability to function as a member of a group，诸如坚韧、专注、团队意识等能力应该属于B所说的性格范畴。故选B。