Other
Women in World History Curriculum/murasaki Shikibu
Provides a biography of Murasaki Shikibu, the writer of The Tale of Genji.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ryoanji (Peaceful Dragon Temple)
Read about the cultural and historical significance of Ryoanji and its rock garden 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]
Other
Michael R. Bernstein Fine Japanese Art
This is a gem of a site. Choices are clearly marked for pictures and information about ivory, wood, and modern netsuke.
Other
Sur La Lune Fairy Tales: Japanese Fairy Tales
Online version of the book, "Japanese Fairy Tales," first published in 1908. It includes 20 or so tales translated from Japanese into English including the following: "My Lord Bag of Rice," "The Farmer and the Badger," "The Adventures of...
Other
Pacific University: Bushido, the Way of the Warrior
This site from Pacific University gives basic insight into what Bushido is and what influenced its final structure.
Other
Excerpts From the Writings of Lady Murasaki
Provides excerpts of the writings of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of "The Tale of Gengji," providing an interesting glimpse of the woman.
Other
Pacific University: Murasaki Shikibu
This site from the Pacific University gives a brief but informative look at the life and times of Murasaki Shikibu.
ArtLex
Art Lex: History of Japanese Art
A very general survey of the history of Japanese art. Click on any of the time periods to learn more specific information about each one. Includes several examples; click on the title of each work to enlarge the image and to learn more.
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh:folk Links Folk:fairy Tale Site
This site offers links to folk tale and fairy tale sites. Students and teachers will benefit from this useful reference guide.
Digital Dialects
Digital Dialects: Learn Japanese
An introduction to Japanese. Study phrases, greetings, and vocabulary. Find practice games and quizzes to challenge recognition and understanding.
Other
Anything but Quiet: Taiko in America
Discusses the development of Japanese Drumming, called Taiko in America from 1960 to the present.
Other
Euronet: Japanese Art and Western Influence
This Euronet offers general information about Japanese art and accompanying photos can be found here. Maneuvering around this site is an easy task.
Art Cyclopedia
Artcyclopedia: Toshusai Sharaku
A great site for images by Sharaku. There are links to many museums and articles about this 18th century Japanese artist.
Art Cyclopedia
Artcyclopedia: Hishikawa Moronobu
This site offers links to images in museums and galleries and articles on the artist.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Trade Routes Between Europe & Asia During Antiquity
Long-distance trade played a major role in the cultural, religious, and artistic exchanges that took place between the major centers of civilization in Europe and Asia during antiquity. Some of these trade routes had been in use for...
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.
Yale University
Yale Peabody Museum: Hina Matsuri: The Doll Festival
A slideshow of fifteen porcelain Japanese dolls at the Peabody Museum. You can see the dolls and learn about Hina Matsuri, the traditional doll festival that displays them.
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: A Thousand Paper Cranes
This historical fiction lesson plan is for learners 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.
Other
Personal Site: What Is Koto?
A personal site with a description of the Koto, a large traditional Japanese zither-like instrument. Includes pictures.
Curated OER
Unesco: Bahrain: Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy
The site consists of seventeen buildings in Muharraq City, three offshore oyster beds, part of the seashore and the Qal’at Bu Mahir fortress on the southern tip of Muharraq Island, from where boats used to set off for the oyster beds....
Other
Medieval: Japanese Traditional Music
A very brief overview of Japanese traditional music. Includes links to a few selections.
Curated OER
Mount Fuji: By Katsushika Hokusai
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.