Other
Tokyo Broadcasting System Television: The World Heritage
Japanese content. A companion site for the TV program, Sekaiisan, or The World Heritage. Episodes focus on cultural and "natural" heritage and are similar in feel to a National Geographic special. You can't watch the episode online but...
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.
Other
Discover Nikkei: Japanese Migration to Chile
A short account tracing the migration of Japanese to Chile starting in the early 1900s, what they did there and how they were treated.
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...
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.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Japan: Images of a People
Students 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
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.
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]
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: A Thousand Paper Cranes
This historical fiction lesson plan is for young scholars reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, in which they can discuss the tragedy of Hiroshima and its impact as well as other themes.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: Msu Libraries: Digital Collections: Asian America
A collection of primary source documents and books that detail the racial discrimination Chinese and Japanese immigrants faced in the U.S. during America's involvement in the Second World War. One report from 1877 looks at Chinese...
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.
Princeton University
Princeton University Art Museum: Asian Art Collection
Extensive history and explanation of the cultural influences on Asian art. A map allows viewers to focus on a region. Access images of artwork in the museum's collection.
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,...
White Pine Pictures
White Pine Pictures: The Wanderer, the Story of Rev. Sang Chui Lee
Reverend Sang-Chui Lee is a Korean immigrant to Canada who had converted to Christianity in response to the Japanese occupation of Manchuria and Korea. He later became a United Church minister. His three daughters married non-Koreans...
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.
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
Joseph Wu Origami: What Is Origami?
A brief history of the art of Origami by Joseph Wu. Basic techniques, types of paper, and terminology are discussed.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Northeast China, 1971
"Northeast China - the provinces of Heilungkiang, Kirin, and Liaoning - is the most important region of the country and a nationally significant and still-developing center of agricultural production. Most of the Northeast remained...
Curated OER
Unesco: Japan: Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu Ji Area
There are around 48 Buddhist monuments in the Horyu-ji area, in Nara Prefecture. Several date from the late 7th or early 8th century, making them some of the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world. These masterpieces of wooden...