Curated OER
Clip Art by Phillip Martin: Japanese Tea Ceremony
Digital cartoon of a woman performing a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
abcteach
Abcteach: A Worksheet: Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes [Pdf]
This worksheet is a terrific resource for busy teachers. You can print it out to give to your learners reading "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Introduction to Japan
Read a short essay on Japan's geography and how it affected the culture of Japan.
Other
Medieval: Japanese Traditional Music
A very brief overview of Japanese traditional music. Includes links to a few selections.
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...
PBS
Pbs: Tolerance in Times of Trial
This lesson compares the treatment of Japanese-Americans and German-Americans during World War II and the treatment of Arab-Americans after September 11th.
Other
Personal Site: What Is Koto?
A personal site with a description of the Koto, a large traditional Japanese zither-like instrument. Includes pictures.
Other
Heike Monogatari
A summary of The Tale of the Heike and important characters and themes in this epic which related to the miltary culture of the fourth century in Japan.
Other
Kodak: Social Studies Lesson Plans
This Kodak site has twelve lesson plans submitted by teachers from every grade level. Each activity integrates photography into the lesson.
History Link
Bertha Pitts Campbell: An Oral History
From the Washington State Oral History Project comes this captivating interview with Bertha Pitts Campbell, an African American woman and early Seattle civil rights worker. Campbell talks about the discrimination and segregation she...
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet: Japan
Lonely Planet provides an overview of Japan's history. Also includes information about Japan's culture, geography, demographics, and more.
Art Cyclopedia
Artcyclopedia: Hishikawa Moronobu
This site offers links to images in museums and galleries and articles on the artist.
Other
J Music: Shakuhachi (Bamboo Flute)
Provides information about Japan's traditional bamboo flute, the Shakuhachi. Includes a movie of the instrument being played.
Other
Mandala: The Symphony of Friendship
This site illustrates the history behind the tradition of playing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Christmastime in Japan. This story is written and illustrated for children. Includes a sound file of a portion of the ninth symphony.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion: Collections
The Krannert Art Museum provides a great collection of artwork from all over the world. Click on "collections" to access images of African, Egyptian, America-Pre-Columbian, USA, Ancient Gandhara, China, India, Japan, Thailand, Greece,...
Columbia University
Asia for Educators: Medieval Japan Multimedia Unit
This unit from the extensive Asia for Educator's site provides audio, video and lecture materials from well-credentialed Asian studies professors to explore Japan's medieval period, from 1000-1500 A.D. Topics include the Samurai,...
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...
New York Times
New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: Japan Crossword Puzzle
Here is an interactive & printable crossword puzzle developed by the New York Times Learning Network. The theme of this puzzle is Japan.
Other
Women in World History Curriculum/murasaki Shikibu
Provides a biography of Murasaki Shikibu, the writer of The Tale of Genji.
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]
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,...
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Education in Japan 1860
Fordham University gives a short selection from Francis O. Adams' account of Japanese schools in 1860.
PBS
Pbs: Japan Memoirs of a Secret Empire
A rich site that tells of an ancient kingdom of warriors, tradesmen and artists that would influence the modern world.