Japan: Documentaries

Asia Video Reports: Japan (2000)
Grades: 5-12
Designed by AEMS and the Social Science Education Consortium, this module has students analyze Japanese culture by looking at Japanese food, housing, arts, and festivals. Module themes include: tradition and change, daily life as a reflection of cultural values, and transmission of culture from generation to generation. Report includes a 15-minute videotape of four-to-five short video segments on a topic, plus an accompanying teacher's guide with readings, lesson plans, classroom activities, and Internet resources. Videos include:

Asia Video Reports: Food
Asia Video Reports: Housing
Asia Video Reports: Arts and Crafts
Asia Video Reports: Festivals

Available from: Social Science Education Consortium ($25 each, $90 for all four)
P.O. Box 21270, Boulder, CO 80308-4270
tel (303) 492-8154  |  fax (303) 449-3925
e-mail: ssec@ssecinc.org

A Basketmaker in Rural Japan
Grades 4-12+
This 12-minute video was shown during a special exhibit of baskets, made by a basketmaker of rural Kyushu, at the Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute in the spring of 1995. It discusses how the craftsman first became involved with baskets and his philosophy of life.

Available from: Mail Order, Museum Shop, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery ($9.95)
MRC 707, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. 20560

Big Bird in Japan (1991)
Grades: K-4
In this 60-minute Children's Television Workshop video, Big Bird explores some of Japan's famous sights, meets a Japanese family, and learns some Japanese words and customs. He also meets a young woman who turns out to be the legendary moon princess.

Available from: Asia for Kids ($14.95)
4480 Lake Forest Dr. #302, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
tel (800) 888-9681
e-mail: sales@afk.com

Doubles: Japan and America's First Intercultural Children (1995)
Grades: 9-12+
This 60-minute video deals with the complex issues of cultural identity encountered by children of both American and Japanese heritage. The video traces the lives of several now-adult children and their experiences as part of two (and sometimes more) cultures. The term "doubles" is used by parents of mixed-race children, instead of "half," to reflect the importance both cultures play in shaping individual identity. Independent filmmaker Regge Life produced the program.

Available from: Doubles Film Library ($175 for purchase, $75 for rental)
22-D Hollywood Ave., Hohokus, NJ 07423
tel (800) 343-5540  |  fax (201) 652-1973

Dream Window: Reflections on the Japanese Garden (1992)
Grades: 7-12+
This 57-minute video takes viewers on a journey to some of the most beautiful gardens in Japan, including the Moss Temple of Saiho-ji, Shugakuin and Katsura Imperial Villas, and Sogetsu Hall. Prominent Japanese cultural figures explore the role of gardens in Japanese society.

Available from: Smithsonian Institution ($29.95)
Smithsonian Productions, Department 0609, Washington, D.C. 20073-0609
tel (202) 633-8198  |  fax (202) 357-1565

Families of the World: Families of Japan (1996)
Grades: K-4
Unlike the other Families of the World videos shot in Asia, children watching Families of Japan will come not away from the video with the feeling that Asia is generally worse off than the United States. Both children portrayed in the two 15-minute segments, a farm boy and a city girl, have lives somewhat similar to their American peers. They go to well-funded schools, watch familiar American and Japanese television programs and prepare for a fun in-school event called Sports Day. The documentary does focus on some aspects of Japanese culture that are different, however, such as wearing separate indoor and outdoor shoes and planting sticky rice. This video provides a good introduction to modern Japanese life.

Available from: Asia for Kids ($29.95 for teachers)
4480 Lake Forest Dr. #302, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
tel (800) 888-9681
e-mail: sales@afk.com

Hiroshima: Why the Bomb Was Dropped (1995)
Grades: 9-12+
For teachers looking for a more in-depth analysis of the atomic bombings, Hiroshima: Why the Bomb Was Dropped, a 90-minute special produced by ABC News, debates questions such as: Was the dropping of the bomb really necessary? How many lives did it actually save? Were there alternative courses of action? Although this documentary clearly takes the perspective that the United States was wrong to drop the bomb, high school and college educators can utilize it to initiate an interesting debate.

Available from: Social Studies School Service ($19.95)
10200 Jefferson Blvd., Box 802, Culver City, CA 90232
tel (800) 421-4246
e-mail: access@socialstudies.com

A Humanities Approach to Japanese History Series (1995)
Grades: 7-12
This is a three-part series of curriculum units on early modern to prewar/wartime Japanese history combining text and slides. Titles in this series include:

1. Tokugawa Japan: The Great Peace and the Development of Urban Society focuses on Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868), a 250 year period of relative isolation and peace, during which the people of Japan focused inward. The eight lessons of the unit use art, poetry, philosophy and government documents to help students explore Confucianism, Tokugawa political ideology, social class structure and various art forms as reflections of social and economic change.
2. Meiji Japan: The Dynamics of National Change focuses on the period of rapid social, economic and political change during the Meiji period (1868-1912). In the unit, students explore the many aspects of this change process, with particular attention to the role of art and literature in reflecting and molding change.
3. Imperial Japan: Expansion and War focuses on Japan's expansion into Asia and the Pacific during the first half of the 20th century. Four lessons use art and literature to explore 1) the Japanese government's decision to pursue a policy of imperialism, 2) patriotism and mobilization of the Japanese people behind government policy, 3) non-conformists and dissidents who protested government policy, and 4) the social and cultural scene within Japan at the time.

Available from: Social Science Education Consortium ($37.95 for Tokugawa or Imperial Japan, $42.95 for Meiji Japan and 106.95 for the complete set)
P.O. Box 21270, Boulder, CO 80308-4270
tel (303) 492-8154  |  fax (303) 449-3925
e-mail: ssec@ssecinc.org

Japan 2000 Series (1988)
Grades: 9-12+
This two-part series takes a probing look at how the Japanese people view themselves and how they work to define and deal with their country's leadership role in the global community of the 21st century. The half-hour programs are an extension of the two popular and award-winning Great Plains National series, Japan: The Living Tradition and Japan: The Changing Tradition, which provide an introduction to the history, the culture, and the politics and economy of Japan.

1. The View from Within: The 28-minute video looks at contemporary issues including the changing roles for women, the aging population, economic restructuring, and the regional development from the perspective of the Japanese people.
2. Global Perspectives, also 28 minutes, looks at the Japanese people as they work to meet the requirements of their country's role in the global community.

Available from: Great Plains National ($79.95 for both videos, $49.95 for each program)
P.O. Box 80669, Lincoln, NE 68501-0669
tel (800) 228-4630  |  fax (800) 306-2330
e-mail: gpn@unl.edu

Japanese Culture: Old and New Series (1990)
Grades: Minwa K-5, Japanese Youth 6-8, Kabuki 9-12
NHK JAPAN, All Nippon Airways, and the Mid-Atlantic Region Japan-in-the-Schools Program produced this series of three 30-minute videos and a teacher's guide introducing children to Japan.

1. Minwa: Two Traditional Tales introduces K-6 students to Japanese folklore and includes two stories, "The Crane Who Returned the Favor" and "Princess Kaguya."
2. Japanese Youth: Japanese High School Students Speak: In this program, junior high or middle school students learn about the interests, hopes, concerns, and everyday lives of their counterparts in Japan.
3. Kabuki: Tradition in Today's World introduces high school students to the kabuki theater of Japan.

Available from: MARJiS (can be borrowed and copied for free)
3104 Benjamin Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
tel (301) 405-3595

Japanese History and Literature Series (1996)
Grades: 9-12+
This series was developed to provide background on Japanese history and literature for instructors of world history courses as well as to be a teaching resource. The series and guide provide an overview of Japanese history from 552 to 1868, integrating key historical themes with the literature of the time. The guide contains both program scripts and primary source passages. Produced by the Columbia University's Project on Asia in the Core Curriculum of Schools and Colleges. The first two programs are 45 minutes, and the third program is 70 minutes. Program titles include:

Classical Japan and the Tale of Genji (552-1185)
Medieval Japan and Buddhism in Literature (1185-1600)
Tokugawa Japan and the Puppet Theater, Novels, and the Haiku of Basho (1600-1868)

Available from: Annenberg/CPB ($110.00 for 3 programs (varying lengths) on 3 cassettes. Right to duplicate one set of videos)
401 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
tel (800) LEARNER
e-mail: info@learner.org

The Japanese Paradox: Small Farms and Mega-Cities (1996)
Grades: 7-12+
This video is program #12 of the series, The Power of Place: World Regional Geography. It includes two case studies, "Predicting the best rice farming methods in Tohoku in Northern Japan" and "The Morning Commute of a Tokyo businessman."

Available from: Annenberg/CPB ($39.95 for half-hour video)
401 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
tel (800) LEARNER
e-mail: info@learner.org

Japanese Radio Exercises (1996)
Grades: K-12
A videotape and manual for Japanese radio exercises lead students through simple stretches and warm-up exercises set to music.

Available from: SPICE ($19.95)
Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education
Stanford University, Encina Hall East, Ground Floor, Stanford, CA 94305-6055
tel (800) 578-1114

Living Treasures of Japan (1980)
Grades: 8-12+
In 1980, National Geographic produced Living Treasures of Japan, a 60-minute documentary featuring a number of Japan's finest artisans. Recognized by the Japanese government as the best in their respective crafts, these artists are responsible for teaching the next generation their skills, which include doll-making, weaving, sword-making, koto, and puppetry, among others.

Available from: Facets Video ($19.98)
1517 W. Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
tel (800) 331-6197
e-mail: sales@facets.org

Makiko's New World (1999)
Grades: 9-12+
This 50-minute video, produced by the Media Production Group (MPG), AEMS' sister organization, focuses on the diary of a young merchant housewife in early 20th century Kyoto. The program blends historical photos and film footage with pictures from family albums and dramatized reenactments of events Makiko recorded in her diary to show how she was affected by the changes occurring in her society. An extensive teacher's guide to go along with the video is available free from our Web site. If you have any trouble accessing it, please call 1-888-828-AEMS.

Available from: Documentary Educational Resources ($195, $50 rental)
101 Morse Street, Watertown, MA 02472
tel (800) 569-6621  |  fax (617) 926-9519
e-mail: docued@der.org

Minwa: Two Traditional Tales (1990)
Grades: K-6
This program, produced by NHK/Japan, All Nippon Airways, and the Mid-Atlantic Region Japan-in-the-Schools Program (MARJIS), is intended to introduce K-6 students to Japanese folklore. In the video, puppets are used to tell two Japanese stories, "The Crane Who Returned the Favor" and "Princess Kaguya." Minwa is part one of a three-part series of 30-minute videos, Japanese Culture: Old and New (described below). A teacher's guide accompanies the guide.

Available from: MARJiS (Can be borrowed and copied for free)
3104 Benjamin Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
tel (301) 405-3595

Occupied Japan: An Experiment in Democracy (1996)
Grades: 9-12+
This 60-minute documentary looks at the American occupation of Japan, demonstrating how the occupation administration's ideology changed over time and analyzes the impact it had (and continues to have) on Japanese society.

Available from: PBS Video ($39.95)
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria VA 22314
tel (877) PBS-SHOP
e-mail: shop@pbs.org

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (1990)
Grades: 5-12+
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, based on the book of the same title by Eleanor Coerr, tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who developed leukemia as a result of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. When she was in the hospital, a friend reminded her of the Japanese legend that folding 1,000 paper cranes could bring good luck and health. Sadako began folding. A companion video, How to Fold a Paper Crane, teaches the method for folding a paper crane.

Available from: Asia for Kids ($99.95, Sadako with How to Fold a Paper Crane $179.95)
4480 Lake Forest Dr. #302, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
tel (800) 888-9681
e-mail: sales@afk.com.

Shinto: Nature, Gods and Man in Japan (1979)
Grades: 9-12+
This video, produced by Peter Grilli and David Westphal, introduces the fundamental philosophical, ethnical and aesthetic beliefs of the Shinto tradition. It takes the viewer to Japan's sacred shrines and to ceremonies, local festivals, and seasonal celebrations.

Available from: Robert Lassaro (non-members $85, members $65)
The Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017
tel (212) 715-1216

Spirit of Hiroshima (1996)
Grades: 6-9
This 56-minute documentary follows a Japanese family on their first visit to the annual commemoration of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Concentrating on both the reactions of the children and stories of survivors who were children when the bombing occurred, this film emphasizes the inhumanity of the incident, while acknowledging Japanese aggression.

Available from: NAATA ($265 for purchase, $75 for rental)
National Asian American Telecommunications Association Distribution
346 Ninth Street, Second Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103
tel (415) 552-9550  |  fax (415) 863-7428
e-mail: distribution@naatanet.org

Struggle and Success: The African American Experience in Japan (1993)
Grades: 9-12+
This program examines the lives of African Americans living in Japan and their relationships with the Japanese people. It is useful, not only for learning about contemporary Japan, but also for investigation into the complex issues of culture and race. A high school edition, which divides the 85-minute program into two parts of 40 minutes and 45 minutes is also available. The program was produced by independent filmmaker, Regge Life.

Available from: Struggle and Success Film Library ($175, $75 for rental)
22-D Hollywood Avenue, Hohokus, NJ, 07423
tel (800) 343-5540  |  fax (201) 652-1973
e-mail: tmcndy@aol.com

The Tradition of Performing Arts in Japan: The Heart of Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku (1989)
Grades: 9-12+
Performing Arts contains extensive footage of traditional Japanese theater, focusing on Noh, Bunraku puppetry, and Kabuki. Although this documentary could feature more historical background, the performance clips are impressive and well explained.

Available from: Great Plains ($39)
P.O. Box 80669, Lincoln, NE 68501-2007
tel (800) 228-4630
e-mail: gpn@unl.edu

Tune in Japan: Approaching Culture through Television (1995)
Grades: 6-9
The first video of a two-part series utilizing existing Japanese television footage to explore themes in Japanese culture, Tune in Japan is divided into three distinct segments that are twenty minutes each. The first segment introduces Japan's geography, topography, climate, and the variation found in regions of the country. The second segment explains how Japan's location in Asia has shaped its history and culture. The third segment looks at continuity and change in Japanese culture. A teacher's guide with essays, lesson plans, handouts, bibliography, and references to other resources accompanies the video.

Available from: Mail Order/ Bookstore, The Asia Society ($69.95)
725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021
tel (212) 288-6400  |  (212) 517-8315

Tune in Japan: Global Connections (1995)
Grades: 9-12
This is the second video of a two-part series utilizing existing Japanese television footage. This video investigates aspects of the contemporary world from the vantage point of Japan through four distinct segments focusing on identity, belonging and safety, environment, and global communication. The video is accompanied by a teacher's guide.

Available from: Mail Order/ Bookstore, The Asia Society ($69.95)
725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021
tel (212) 288-6400  |  fax (212) 517-8315

Under Another Sun (2001)
Grades: 9-12+
Under Another Sun: Singapore's Japanese is a one-hour program that explores the tensions people feel between their attachments to their homeland and their desires to be freed from the burdens imposed by living at home. Taking Singapore as a case in point, the program profiles the activities of Japanese sojourners from several walks of life. The program also reports on shifts in the climate of sojourning across the 150-year history of Japanese involvement in Singapore.

Available from: Asian Educational Media Service ($100)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
805 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Urbana, IL 61801
tel (888) 828-2367  |  fax (217) 265-0641