This site provides educators who teach about Japan, a space for sharing, discussing and developing ideas and resources about Japan, especially as they relate to K-12 classrooms. The site features essays, lesson plans, a discussion forum and resources including historical documents, maps and images. In addition, an educator can become a member and add content to the site and develop original lessons organized around different themes. The website is set up in an easy to access format with topics such as themes, essays, lessons, questions, resources and members at the top of the page. Some of the lessons on the site are above average such as the ones on Haikus, Japanese Architecture, Community Identity, Defining Home as well as other lessons that are historically and culturally Japanese specific. I consider the essays highly valuable because it gives teachers an in-depth view of selected topics. The most compelling ones to me are the ones entitled Hiroshima, Rice: A Major Force in Japan’s History, the Evolution of the Tea Ceremony, the Meiji Restoration, the Allied Occupation of Japan and What’s the Matter with Saying the Orient? I recommend that you check out the website for yourself. Here is a link below.

http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/page/japaneducation_home