Curated OER
Grandfather's Journey
Third graders explore world cultures by reading a children's story in class. In this Japanese heritage lesson plan, 3rd graders read the book Grandfather's Journey and identify the characters, setting and plot that takes place. Students...
Other
Puppet Theater of Japan: Bunraku
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...
Other
National Diet Library, Japan: Portraits of Modern Japanese Historic Figures
Features portrait photographs of 350 modern Japanese historical figures including statesmen, businessmen, scholars, artists, and military figures. View by category or name.
The Economist
The Economist: Country Briefings: Japan
A profile of Japan that includes links to recent articles about Japan from the "Economist," the influential newspaper of worldwide business and economic affairs. Includes a page of basic facts about the country (population, major exports...
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kids Web Japan: Culture Corner
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...
PBS
P.o.v.: The Japanese Concept of "Wa"
Part of a larger P.O.V. site about high-school-level baseball in Japan, this page delves into the meaning of "wa," a code of behavior that underscores the Japanese sense of group harmony, especially as it applies to the team sport of...
Yale University
Yale Peabody Museum: Hina Matsuri: The Doll Festival
A slideshow of fifteen porcelain Japanese dolls at the Peabody Museum. You can see the dolls and learn about Hina Matsuri, the traditional doll festival that displays them.
Other
Japanese Arts Council: Noh and Kyogen (Traditional Japanese Performing Arts)
An introduction to Noh and Kyogen plays. Details of these traditional Japanese performing arts are provided, accompanied by photos of the masks, costumes, props, and fans used. Includes video clips of some performances.
Other
Japan Related Information
An extensive list of Japanese festivals, holidays, customs, and food recipes. Read brief explanations of these topics written by an English-translation service based in Osaka, Japan.
Other
Tokyo Food Page: Japanese Cuisine
A good introduction to Japanese food and food culture. Lots of illustrations, recipes, and articles on a range of topics, such as how Japanese rice crackers are made.
Other
Green Map Atlas: What Is Green About Tokyo?
An explanation of the efforts that Tokyo has made to create green space and other eco-friendly zones, including the creation of a map of the city that guides people to these urban centers of greenness.
New York Times
New York Times: The Fortune Cookie: A History
Evidence points to fortune cookies originating in Japan, not China as most people assume. Here is a brief video presentation discussing the roots of the fortune cookies and how they became linked to Chinese culture. [1:21]
PBS
Pacific Link: Immigration From Japan
An article about Japanese migration to the United States, from the 1880s through World War II, including reference to Japanese picture brides and Angel Island.
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Web Japan: Nipponia
Nipponia is an online magazine, published quarterly, that introduces modern Japan to people all over the world. Browse articles on life and culture, travel and history, science and technology, art and entertainment, nature and geography,...
Other
Japan Society: Framing Twentieth Century Japan: A Top Ten List
An essay, by university professor William Tsutsui, itemizes ten themes that can help make the story of modern-day Japan understandable. Themes touch on a range of issues, including the changing role of women, technological advances, and...