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: 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...
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...
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: 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.
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.
Globe Tracks
Travel for Kids: Fun Things to Do in Japan
"Kids already know a little about Japan if they collect Pokemon cards or buy Hello Kitty. Japan may seem very "modern," but it has a long history of tradition deeply embedded in everyday life." This site explores the geography and...
Other
National Diet Library: Birth of the Constitution of Japan
A site on the development of the constitution of Japan with descriptions of the major political figures and summaries of some of the documents.
Ohio State University
The Early Modern Warrior: Three Explorations of Samurai Life [Pdf]
Tokugawa Ieyasu was the first shogun to unite and bring peace to Japan. His early life and rise to power is documented in this essay. Requires Adobe Reader. [PDF]
Other
Wake Forest University: Japan: A Meteoric Rise
In this excerpt from a larger work on industrialization in the non-Western world, find a detailed history of late nineteenth-century Japan, the period during which Japan was forced out of isolation.
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: Modern Brit Poet: Epilogue "The Flower of Old Japan", Alfred Noyes
Full text of Alfred Noyes poem "Epilogue" from his poem "The Flower of Old Japan."
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...
Yale University
The Opening of Japan to the West
Site offers wonderful illustrations of Perry's expedition to Japan with brief descriptions.
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...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Japan: Images of a People
Young scholars learn to view Japanese paintings, they make a screen, and they learn about the culture of Japan. There are three lesson plans and all allow all needed materials to be downloaded.
Other
Kantei: Constitution and Government of Japan
This site from Kantei gives you the fundamental structure of the government of Japan. It also has a chart of the organization of the government. There is page where you can read the constitution of 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
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.
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
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.
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
Postwar Japan: Statist Development
The rebirth of Japan after WWII is explained. There was land reform, political reform, democratization, and the establishment of trade unions, all introduced by the Supreme Command of Allied Power. The phenomenal growth of business was...
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.