I recall somebody claim that Japanese kids grow up smarter than North American kids because they play Go and it develops their brains to think in ways that playing with Nerf pistols just can't.
East asian kids grow up smarter because their parents put a strong emphasis on education, like Jewish parents do. Asian kids aren't born with better math skills and the natural ability to play the piano or violin, parents force their children to learn these skills from a young age.
I think it's rooted in Confucianism and Taoist philosophy/culture.