Curated OER
Who? What? Why Does Your Family Do That?
Students explain that Japanese and Americans have different values concerning behavior, education, and work. They fill out questionnaires which ask about their family practices and compare their answers with Japanese families.
Curated OER
Let's Go to Nagano!
Students, individually and in groups, utilize Internet sites to access maps, scales, and information to assist them in calculating distances. They research modes of travel from their homes to Nagano, Japan, and write a travel agenda for
Curated OER
Music in Japan - Fine Arts
Second graders discuss various types of music. They identify and explore Japanese music, and instruments. They make a koto.
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Japan
An excellent source of information on Japan from The Library of Congress. Includes information on geography, society, economy, transportation, government and politics, and national security.
ibiblio
Ibiblio: Address by Hideki Tojo, Premier of Japan
Ibiblio.org offers the address of the Japanese Prime Minister on the opening of the Imperial Diet in 1942.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Black Ships and Samurai
Imagine seeing gigantic ships bellowing black smoke pulling into a harbor- the kind of ship you've never seen before! Perry and his black ships opened Japan and enabled two incredibly different cultures to meet. Authors provide fantastic...
Library of Congress
Loc: Country Studies: Japan [Pdf]
A wonderful resource on Japan can be found here. It provides an in-depth study of the history of the country, their society and culture, education and arts, economy, relations with other nations, politics, national security, and much...
Digital History
Digital History: The Decision to Drop the Bomb [Pdf]
The day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt gave the go-ahead to scientists to develop an atomic bomb. This site gives a good overview of the war in the Pacific against Japan, the increasing successes of the...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Asian Educational Media Service
A tremendous resource for finding sites, multimedia, and other resources for teaching about or studying Asian countries. Search by country, media type, or grade level. Includes lesson plans and links to great online resources.
US Navy
U.s. Navy Museum: Commodore Perry and the Opening of Japan
This lesson plan discusses the American initiative to open Japan to western trade. It also features a biography of Commodore Perry, an exploration of the Japanese class system, and various learning activities.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Japan Images of a People
A wonderful three lesson unit that examines the art of Japanese screen paintings. Following some valuable information on the culture and country student will have an opportunity to create their own screen.
BBC
Bbc: Japan to Pull Troops Out of Iraq
Presents the Japanese role in Iraq and also explains the Japanese people's thoughts on the war. Explains why the Japanese government decided to leave Iraq in 2006.
Geographic
Photius: Japan's Economy
This site provides an economic overview for Japan. Other important facts about agriculture and industries are also provided.
PBS
Pbs: Commanding Heights the Battle for the World Economy
A huge site dedicated to an understanding of the current global economic system. Includes the history, forces, values and perceptions that have shaped the world's economy. A comprehensive resource that includes a detailed economic report...
Other
National Diet Library, Japan: Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures
Portrait photographs of nearly two hundred Japanese statesmen, government officials, military officers, businesspeople, artists, and others who had an impact on the history of modern Japanese society. Each portrait is accompanied by a...
Other
Japanese Porcelain Marks
This site gives descriptions of marks on Japanese porcelain. It also discusses the types of porcelain, where and when made, etc.
Other
Animal Info: Dama Gazelle
This site contains a variety of information on the dama gazelle. Detailed statistics and trends on this endangered species.
Other
Jhti: Kojiki
Discussion and commentary on the Japanese historical text, Kojiki, by Professor Emeritus, Dr. Delmer Brown. With links to Kojiki and information on Kojiki editions and copyrights.
Brown University
Brown University Library Center: Perry Visits Japan: A Visual History
Showcases a beautiful Japanese scroll that depicts Commodore Matthew Perry's landing in Japan in 1854 and a set of lithographs by Willam Heine that illustrate Perry's expedition. These visual images accompanied by student essays are...
Other
The Japan Times Online: The World's Window on Japan
The Japan Times is a daily newspaper published in Tokyo, Japan. Content includes top national and international news, business coverage, the arts and society coverage, sports, events, and more.
The British Museum
British Museum: Explore World Cultures: Japan
Learn about the Japanese art in this historical overview and image gallery of Japanese art with detailed descriptions, from the collection of the British Museum.
Other
Country Facts: Japan
A text based article presenting the basic facts and figures relating to the country of Japan. Included are geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and national issues.
Other
Asia Society: Policy
A comprehensive storehouse of all types of information on Asia, both current and past: maps and statistics, Asian food, travel guides, photographs, articles, timelines, and more. Asia Source is the work of the Asia Society, a national...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Japanese Artists
Here are coloring pages and student activities for three Japanese Artists.