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Handout
Association of Religion Data Archives

Association of Religion Data Archives: National Profiles: Japan

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about religion in Japan, in this Association of Religion Data Archives country profile; includes general facts, history, and religious data.
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Website
Other

Puppet Theater of Japan: Bunraku

For Students 9th - 10th
An introduction to bunraku--the traditional puppet theater of Japan. Find clear explanations of the history of the art form and details of the music, props, and puppets used. Illustrated with beautiful pictures. Includes several video...
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Handout
Other

Japanese Porcelain Marks

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives descriptions of marks on Japanese porcelain. It also discusses the types of porcelain, where and when made, etc.
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Graphic
Other

Joseph Wu Origami Inc.: Origami Gallery

For Students 3rd - 5th
An unbelievable collection of pictures of origami creations. Click on each picture to get a closer look.
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Website
Other

Japan National Tourism: Japanese Culture

For Students 3rd - 8th
The culture of Japan is showcased. Click anywhere on the menu bar to access topics and illustrations ranging from architecture, temples, bonsai, tea ceremony, gardens, costumes, floral art, calligraphy, and many more.
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kids Web Japan: Culture Corner

For Students 9th - 10th
Sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this comprehensive site explains traditional Japanese arts, crafts, and culture in a way that's very friendly to younger students. Traditional arts covered include drumming, the tea...
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: A Japanese Cookbook for Kids

For Students 3rd - 5th
This introduction--suitable for younger students--to Japanese food features a lesson in using chopsticks and surveys popular dishes among school children in Japan.
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: Housing, Food, and Clothes

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this article from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs you can read about traditional Japanese houses, clothing, and food, but also find out how modern Japanese people live.
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: Schools

For Students 3rd - 8th
Would you like to know what a 6th grader in Japan studies? Who cleans the classrooms in your school? Read this article to find out all about the school life of Japanese children. Then take the little quiz at the end.
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: Culture

For Students 3rd - 8th
Japanese traditional culture and modern culture are explored in this article from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Learn about the many traditional ceremonies and arts that are a part of Japanese culture.
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: Sports

For Students 3rd - 8th
Sports are important in Japan, as they are in many countries. Read about Japan's traditional sports as well as the more modern ones in this article from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Graphic
Other

Japan National Tourism: Japanese Traditional Annual Events

For Students 9th - 10th
Get to know the many holidays and events celebrated throughout Japan each year. Use this interactive map of Japan's regions along with a monthly list of celebrations. Click to access detailed information and photos of each special day.
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Website
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Web Japan: Language

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Examine the some of the thousands of characters that make up the Japanese written language. A simple explanation of the different kinds of characters and their uses helps you figure out how the Japanese language works.
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Website
Other

Japanese National Tourism Office: Japan in Depth: Holidays, Occasions, Events

For Students 3rd - 8th
A list of the main holidays and festivals held throughout Japan each year, along with illustrations of decorations, foods, and tokens used in the celebrations of these events.
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Website
Other

Japan Society

For Students 9th - 10th
The Japan Society was founded in 1907 in New York City providing social, cultural, and professional activities.
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Website
Other

Japan: The Official Guide: History & Culture: Experience Japanese Culture

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Understand the culture of Japan from architecture to Bonsai to storytelling and tallisman.
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Graphic
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: A History of the Kimono

For Students 9th - 10th
A history of the Japanese kimono from the primitive Jomon period to today. Includes specifics on kimono for men, women, and children.
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Unit Plan
Columbia University

Asia for Educators: Contemporary Japan: Culture and Society

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive site on the culture and society of contemporary Japan, with video resources for learning about urban and rural life, the Japanese family, education and work, Japanese identity, the pop culture of Japan, and traditional...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Being in the Noh: An Introduction to Japanese Noh Plays

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this lesson plan, students will consider "Being in the Noh: An Introduction to Japanese Noh Plays." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Wide Angle: A Look at a Japanese Classroom

For Students 9th - 10th
In a video segment, learn about education in Japan by watching Ken, a first-grader, attend school. [3:02]
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Ken

For Students 9th - 10th
This video segment from Wide Angle features Ken, a third grade student in Japan.
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Interactive
Digital Dialects

Digital Dialects: Learn Japanese

For Students Pre-K - 1st
An introduction to Japanese. Study phrases, greetings, and vocabulary. Find practice games and quizzes to challenge recognition and understanding.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers:japan's Secret Garden: Build a Rice Paddy

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover the engineering skills of ancient builders. Follow the evolution of a new terraced rice paddy, a masterpiece of ancient engineering that has existed in China, the Philippines and elsewhere for as long as two millennia.
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Graphic
Other

24 Views of Mount Fuji: Hokusai Katsushika (1760 1849)

For Students 9th - 10th
This page contains 24 images of Hokusai Katsushika's beautiful woodblock prints of Mount Fuji. Also has a great description of this artist, as well as the author of "24 Views of Mount Fuji," Roger Zelazny.