Wikimedia
Wikipedia: List of Japanese Writers
This is a sizeable list of Japanese writers and poets, organized alphabetically. It includes many 20th century and contemporary people, as well as a scattering of writers from earlier periods. Some authors have extensive articles; others...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Japanese Literature
Wikipedia provides detailed information on the history, forms, and authors of Japanese literature. Includes external links and hyperlinked terms.
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
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.
Other
Michael R. Bernstein Fine Japanese Art
This is a gem of a site. Choices are clearly marked for pictures and information about ivory, wood, and modern netsuke.
Washington State University
Washington State University: Japanese Creation Myth (712 Ce): Genji Shibukawa: Tales From the Kojiki
Japanese Creation Myth (712 CE) translated and updated text for modern retelling.
Other
A Brief Biography of Isikawa Jun
Included in this biography is an explanation of the political influences which affected Jun's writing, as well as some discussion of how he influenced other Japanese writers like Abe.
Other
Interview With Abe Neri
This is quite an interesting interview with the daughter of the famous Japanese writer, Abe Kobo. It is a translation, so the language doesn't flow as smoothly as it would in the original, but Neri talks about a lot of the influences in...
Library of Congress
Loc: The Floating World of Ukiyo E
An exhibition review on the Japanese art form Ukiyo-e. Very nice images and history of this art form with an interpretation of an historical link of Japan and the Western world.
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Web Japan: Housing, Food, and Clothes
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.
Other
The Structural Reform of the Japanese Economy
This is the "Action Plan" for The Program for Economic Structure Reform, adopted by the cabinet. It goes into detail of how they will go about improving the economy of Japan with the year 2001 as their goal.
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.
University of Wisconsin
Kitchen: "Beauty That Seems to Infuse Itself Into The"
This is a paper by a college student majoring in Japanese. In it, she analyses Banana Yoshimoto's novel, "Kitchen," and the differences she finds between the original and an English translation.
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Yasunari Kawabata (1899 1972)
This site presents a biography of Yasunari Kawabata, who was the first Japanese novelist to win the Nobel prize for literature. The biography highlights the poetic nature of Kawabata's fiction.
Other
Kanzaki: History of Japan's Literature
This resource traces the changes in Japanese literature from its beginnings in the Nara period through the present.
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kids Web Japan: High Tech Japan
At this site sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, high tech aspects of modern Japan are explained by products, such as cellular phone, game machine, bullet train, high tech eco products and dog language translator. The...
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Web Japan: Japan Atlas
Learn about Japan's historic sites, natural beauty, culture and contemporary society. Search by topic or by region in Japan. You can watch slide shows about major Japanese cities or take virtual tours of historic sites like the Shurijo...
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Web Japan: Sports
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.
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.
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Web Japan: Culture
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.
Other
Famous Personages in Japan
This site includes information about a number of famous people in Japan. Designed by a Japanese college to help people learn about modern Japan.
Other
Famous Personages in Japan
This site includes information about a number of famous people in Japan. Designed by a Japanese college to help people learn about modern Japan.
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...
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Web Japan: Japan Fact Sheet
This site actually provides a number of "fact sheets" on a range of topics related to Japan's geography, government, economy, culture, society, and sports. Read online or download handy PDF documents for classroom use. The site has...