Resource: Canned Whale Meat
Eating whale, a controversial issue, is permitted in Japan. In fact, whale meat provided a key source of cheap protein in the early postwar period. A discussion of this picture can be used as an entry point to discussing issues of cultural taboos, cultural relativism, and the extent to which the debate over the protection of whales is based on "science" vs. culturally ingrained ideas.
Resource: Osechi-ryori
Components in osechi-ryori, or traditional Japanese New Year's food, are chosen for their symbolic meaning.
Essay: Hiroshima: History, City, Event
Indiana University Associate Professor Scott O'Bryan expands the story of Hiroshima beyond the 1945 atomic bombing. A broader history of the city and its importance in national developments are introduced, while remaining mindful of the significance of the bombing itself. Suggestions encouraging students to investigate multiple perspectives of the event are included.
Resource: Copenhagen & Beyond: Enforcement Mechanisms
Takao Shibata, Elliot Diringer and Masayoshi Arai discuss possible enforcement mechanisms if a legally binding agreement is reached in Copenhagen Climate Conference in December 2009.
Resource: Noteworthy Japanese News
Recent news articles in Japan have covered subjects as varied as Kamaboko Day, using construction scraps to fuel factories, coffee in Japan, and an editorial on Japan's working poor. This annotated list offers links to prominent English-language Japanese newspapers and suggestions for ways to use the articles in the classroom.
Question: Setting up a Sister School
Hello I sponsor/teach a Japanese Club in a High School in Maryland. I would really like to set a cooperative program with a sister school in Japan. Something that perhaps we could teleconfrence to or set up a "penpal" letter system with. Does anyone know of any resources that could help me set this up or have any contacts that I can use? Thanks for your help. Feel free to email me directly at jsspiff@gmail.com Thanks!! Jen
Unit: Japan, 1945 to the Present
Grade Level: SecondarySubject Area: Social Studies
These lessons deal with the broad changes--politically, economically, and socially--that occurred in Japan from the occupation through the "Lost Decade" during the 1990s. This trajectory is of particular interest in light of the current economic crisis facing the world.
Lesson: The Political Economy of High-Growth-Era Japan
Grade Level: SecondarySubject Area: Social Studies
This lesson explores the possible causes of Japan's rapid economic growth from the 1950s to the 1970s and asks students to analyze the extent to which this "miracle" economy was a uniquely Japanese phenomenon.
Resource: Japan's Response to H1N1 Swine Flu
H1N1 swine flu has been dominating the media recently in Japan. This collection of links to both Japanese and American news articles traces the reaction to the outbreak and suggests various ways to cover the topic in class.
Lesson: Nature and the Environment in Postwar Japan
Grade Level: SecondarySubject Area: English and Language Arts,Social Studies
Modern Japan has a particularly fascinating relationship with the environment. Students will explore Japan's seemingly contradictory attitude and actions, characterized both by a profound, self-proclaimed respect for nature along with a proclivity to exploit and degrade the natural environment. Students will use a variety of sources including informational texts, poetry, and traditional and modern art to explore this paradox. They also will evaluate the government's response and the social reprecussions.
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