This site gives a very clear overview of major components of ancient Japanese culture. The page is separated into a wide variety of subsections including architecture, shrines, religious observations, clothing, art, floral design, theatre and dance. Each section links to simple line-drawings with an explanation of the significance of each cultural component.
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Explore 16th to 19th century-Japan with this interactive and engaging site. Visitors can enter the city of Edo (the site of present day Tokyo), meet the artisans who lived and worked there, and participate in some cultural activities. Students can create a virtual woodblock print and interact with a variety of distinctive musical instruments. A virtual trip down the busy Tokaido highway brings students in contact with fellow travelers as well as the many merchants and tradesmen whose shops and inns lined the roadside. The interactive timeline feature allows students to view Japanese history against the backdrop of world events. Three helpful classroom guides, aligned to national standards, can be downloaded.
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Fans of this Japanese poetry form will find fascinating samples and other haiku trivia at this on-line journal.
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Developed by the National Japanese American Historical Society, this page is a well-organized meta-list of lessons relating to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The lessons include material for all grade levels, and they address the historical, literary, and constitutional aspects of these Americans’ experiences. Today’s students can learn much from this experience.
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This lesson from the National Park Service series “Teaching with Historic Places” outlines the background for the outbreak of the war with Japan and uses maps and historical photos to teach about the battle of Midway and the island’s strategic importance in World War II. This site could be a nice add-on to a study of World War II, Japan, or the geography of the Pacific region.
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Part of a far larger site, this section offers lots of instructions on the basics of origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. There are examples galore, along with information on terminology, reading folding instructions, and sources for origami patterns. If you’re looking for an art activity that requires very little equipment, try this one.
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The Smithsonian presents this nicely-designed site describing the internment and discrimination against Japanese Americans during World War II. Students can listen to an audio introduction which provides a summary of the events of the period, and sets the stage for the larger presentation. This one is well worth a visit.
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This site offers a basic introduction to the Japanese Samurai warrior and the role of the Samurai in Japanese history. The images and text offer an overview of the role of these Japanese knights in Japanese society as well as a discussion of some of the customs and traditions that grew up around the Samurai.
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Though its focus is by no means entirely on World War II, that war was no doubt the most trying time for Japanese Americans. This site contains numerous resources on the experiences of Japanese Americans during the war, as well as other resources highlighting the accomplishments of Japanese Americans and their efforts to preserve their ethnic heritage.
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