This collection of essays offers an overview of contemporary Japanese culture, and can serve as a resource for classes studying Japan. The 28 essays offer an informative, accessible look at the values, attitudes, behavior patterns, and communication styles of modern Japan from the unique perspective of the Japanese people. Filled with examples…

This Digest guides the elementary teacher in choosing accurate and appropriate works of fiction for teaching about Japan. It suggests important content to watch for and includes a checklist of questions to be used when selecting a book. The questions deal with literary qualities, accuracy, authenticity, stereotyping, language, and morals. Contains…

Discusses how the global approach can be used to teach about Japanese culture in elementary and secondary social studies classes. Students compare and contrast Japanese and American cultures. Methods for helping students to become familiar with aspects of Japanese culture are included. (AM)

This curriculum unit is the third part of a three-part curriculum. The focus of this unit is on the U.S.-Japan economic relationship. Increasingly, the world resembles numerous, linked sub-economies fitting into an overall global economy. The making of almost any product relies in some way on international trading. In an increasingly economically…

This sourcebook contains lessons and materials developed by the Keizai Koho Center (Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs). The ideas and activities in the sourcebook focus on the Japanese economy and are useful in social studies classrooms and courses including, economics, geography, and world cultures. Essays in the sourcebook are: (1)…

The elements of Japan, including history, geography, economics, civics, and cultural studies, are in this collection of original lesson plans. The lessons are meant to provide original content about Japan to augment and supplement an existing unit of study and evoke a spirit of inquiry and introspection. The 24 lessons are as follows: (1)…

"Tora no Maki" or "Scroll of the Tiger" is a teacher's guide designed to aid in teaching appropriate standards for social studies content and skills, using a contemporary focus on Japan's culture and economy. The 19 lessons are divided into three grade levels: elementary school, middle school, and high school. Topics of the…

To enhance the use of the Globe Watch IV public television series, produced jointly by Hampden-Sydney College (Virginia) and the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television, each lesson in this guide provides: (1) a statement of the objective of the program; (2) a synopsis of the issue discussed; (3) background information; (4) brief…

This textbook highlights key aspects of Japan's history and culture from the Tokugawa era (1600-1868) to the present. The textbook includes role plays, primary documents, first-person accounts, diary entries, excerpts from literary works, songs, poems, maps and timelines, charts and graphs, and political cartoons. It also includes a glossary that…

"Tora no Maki" or "Scroll of the Tiger" is a teacher's guide designed to aid in teaching appropriate standards for social studies content and skills, using a contemporary focus on Japan's culture and economy. Topics of the 22 lessons include: group culture, school population, economics, geography, the Internet, family values,…

This manual provides accurate, up-to-date information about contemporary life in Japan and provides opportunities for students to develop cross-cultural awareness. The content of the lessons includes concepts traditionally taught in elementary school social studies programs. Lessons provide multiple opportunities for students to develop a variety…

This manual provides suggestions and materials for teaching about Japan. Designed as a supplement to typical textbook treatments, the lessons provide a range of readings, visuals, and activities to enrich and deepen student learning about Japan. Organized around topics dealing with history, geography, government, economics, and culture, the…

Lists a selection of books about the Pacific Rim area for social studies teachers who wish to add to their knowledge of the area. Includes selections on Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Describes and gives a brief critique of each book. (DK)

Presents an interdisciplinary unit for fourth-grade students that compares the Tokaido Road in Japan to Interstate I-75 in Michigan; students learned about the history and geography of the Tokaido Road, examined the travel prints of Ando Hiroshige, and created their own travel prints and haikus. Gives three accompanying handouts. (CMK)

This teacher's guide contains six lessons, including eight folktales, for using folktales from Japan and China in the elementary classroom. Specific objectives, materials, background notes, discussion questions, follow-up activities and a bibliography also are included. Each lesson takes approximately 1-3 class periods but are flexible for use.…