User Guide

This page provides links to topics that are often used in classes studying Japan. We hope it helps users to find the information they are looking for when learning about Japan.

A. If you are looking for basic knowledge about Japan:

Explore Japan
Explore Japan: Basic Info

B. If you have already chosen a study theme or are searching for possible study themes:

Japanese Lifestyle (clothing, housing, food, festivals, holidays)
Science & Technology
Japanese Language and Communication
Japanese Culture
Kids' Life
Education System
Dealing with Environmental Problems
History
Institutions
Sports
Pop Culture

A.
If you are looking for basic knowledge about Japan:

1. Explore Japan

Quickly obtain the information you need, conveniently divided into 15 categories. The Q&A sections in each category allow you to gain an understanding of Japan through a question-and-answer format.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/index.html

If you want just the basics about Japan in a limited amount of time:

2. Explore Japan: Basic Info

Provides an overview of Japan through photos and graphs. Links are included to related sections of Explore Japan, serving as a guide for kids who want to learn in more depth.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/basic/index.html

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B. If you have already chosen a study theme or are searching for possible study themes:

1. Japanese Lifestyle

Clothing

→ Virtual Culture: Kimono: Includes a game that can be played along with reading the explanations. Kids can have fun coordinating their own kimono, allowing them to gain familiarity with the traditional dress of Japan.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/kimono/index.html
→ Explore Japan: Housing, Food, and Clothes: Get basic information on Japanese clothing.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/housing/index.html
→ What's Cool: Yukata: In summer, put on a yukata, or summer kimono, and have fun wearing a traditional style of dress quite different from your everyday wear.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/cool/05-08/cool050802.html
→ What's Cool: Layered Fashion: The clothing of ordinary teenagers is quite fashionable.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/cool/02-07-09/layered.html

Housing

→ Virtual Culture: Japanese Houses: How do people live in traditional wooden Japanese houses? Play a game to deepen your understanding.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/house/index.html
→ Explore Japan: Housing, Food, and Clothes: Get basic information on Japanese housing.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/housing/index.html
→ Travel: A Tour of Japanese Castles: Among Japan's traditional architecture, castles are especially popular overseas, in part due to the influence of movies.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/travel/castles/index.html

Food

→ Cookbook: Provides recipes for basic home-cooked Japanese food.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/cook/index.html
→ Explore Japan: Housing, Food, and Clothes: Get basic information on Japanese food.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/housing/index.html
→ Cookbook: Japanese food is eaten using chopsticks. Find out how to use chopsticks and eat Japanese food here.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/cook/intro/index.html
→ Virtual Culture: Japanese Box Lunches: Showcases bento - packed lunches that are indispensable to the lives of Japanese people. They are eaten at school, work, and on field trips.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/bento/index.html

Festivals

→ Travel: Introduces festivals held throughout Japan featuring dance groups in which anyone can take part.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/travel/festivals/index.html
→ Explore Japan: Calendar: Learn about the festivals held each month throughout Japan.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/index.html
→ Manga: Introduces Japanese festivals through a series of manga comic strips.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/manga/index.html

Holidays

→ Explore Japan: Calendar: Let's check out Japan's calendar. What kind of holidays does Japan have, and when are they?
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/index.html

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2. Science & Technology

→ Hi-tech: Introduces themes on Japan's science and technology that are also familiar to kids abroad. (Examples: robots, instant ramen, video games, Godzilla special effects, mobile phones, tsunami prediction technology, Shinkansen bullet trains, the Subaru Telescope, hi-tech toilets, canned hot drinks, IC card railway tickets, rice cookers, wristwatches)
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/hitech/index.html

3. Japanese Language and Communication

→ Language: Includes hiragana and katakana charts along with an overview of the Japanese language. Content like "Quick Kanji," which explains how to construct characters, "Quick Japanese," which presents simple Japanese phrases to memorize, and "Japanese lessons," presented in a format that matches with the lives of children, allows you to tailor Japanese study to your purpose.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/language/index.html
→ Animated Japanese: Listening to animation dialogue is a good way for children to familialize themselves with daily Japanese.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/language/anime/index.html
→ Explore Japan: Language: Get basic information on Japanese.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/language/index.html
→ Games: Gesture Game: Have fun learning gestures (non-verbal communication) that are particular to Japan. Gestures are indispensable for mutual understanding between different cultures.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/games/index.html

4. Japanese Culture

→ Virtual Culture: Japanese culture is explained according to theme in an easy-to-understand manner using photos and illustrations. Also includes enjoyable games. (Examples of content: sumo, origami, calligraphy, ikebana flower arrangement, koto, bonsai, fuku warai [face building game], ukiyo-e woodblock prints, yabusame [horseback archery], kimono, judo, bento)
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/index.html
→ Meet the Kids: Young Artists: Traditional arts and culture are introduced, along with a look at the daily lives of kids who practice them and keep them going strong.
(Examples of content: Japanese dance, kagura, taiko [Japanese drumming], sado or chado [tea ceremony], Arita ware [pottery], Noh drama, kendo, Tsugaru shamisen, children's kabuki, Japanese dance)
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/meet/index.html
→ Explore Japan: Culture: Get basic information on Japanese traditional culture.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/culture/index.html
→ Virtual Culture: Koto: Have fun learning about the koto, one of Japan's traditional instruments.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/koto/index.html
→ Virtual Culture: Exploring Origami: Learn about Sasaki Sadako, a victim of the atomic bomb who died of leukemia.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/origami2/index.html

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5. Kids' Life

→ Meet the Kids: Schools: Schools from around Japan are introduced. Take a glimpse at how Japanese kids spend their days at school.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/meet/index.html
→ Meet the Kids: Young Artists: Learn about the lives of friends who are carrying on the traditions of Japan.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/meet/index.html
→ Explore Japan: Outside the Classroom: Basic information about the lives of children is collected here.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/outside/index.html
→ Kids in Action Archives: Introduces the lives of children from throughout Japan who are leaders in such fields as music and literature, as well as children who have unique hobbies.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/life/index.html

6. Education System

→ Explore Japan: Schools: Learn about Japan's system of education.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/schools/index.html

7. Protecting the Environment

→ Explore Japan: Protecting the Environment: Get basic information on what is being done to solve Japan's environmental problems.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/environment/index.html
→ Eco Kids Archives: Eco Kids: http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/ecokids/index.html
→ Kids in Action Archives: Eco Workshop: http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/news/04-09/junec.html

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8. History

→ Explore Japan: History: View a timeline of Japanese history. Frequently asked questions are included at the bottom of the page.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/history/index.html
→ Travel: A Tour of Japanese Castles: Introduces beautiful castles throughout Japan.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/travel/castles/index.html
→ Travel: Touring Famous Ninja Villages: Ninja were warriors who were active in Japan's Sengoku (Warring States) period. Residences used by ninja remain as museums and continue to be popular spots for children.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/travel/ninja/index.html

9. Institutions

→ Explore Japan: Government: An overview of Japan's system of government.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/government/index.html
→ Explore Japan: The Imperial Family: An explanation of Japan's Imperial Family.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/imperial/index.html

10. Sports

→ Explore Japan: Sports: Get basic information on Japanese sports.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/sports/index.html
→ Virtual Culture: Judo: Have fun learning about judo.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/judo/index.html
→ Virtual Culture: Yabusame: Enjoy learning about horseback archery.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/yabusame/index.html
→ Meet the Kids: Kendo: Learn about kendo with kids who are working hard to master this art.
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/meet/onuma/index.html

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11. Pop Culture

→ Exploring "Cool Japan" in Tokyo: Introduces some of the best places to experience Japanese pop culture. http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/travel/cool/index.html

Kids Web Japan

User Guide

Contents

A. If you are looking for basic knowledge about Japan:

1. Explore Japan

If you want just the basics about Japan in a limited amount of time:

2. Explore Japan: Basic Info

B. If you have already chosen a study theme or are searching for possible study themes:

1. Japanese Lifestyle

Clothing

Housing

Food

Festivals

Holidays

2. Science & Technology

3. Japanese Language and Communication

4. Japanese Culture

5. Kids' Life

6. Education System

7. Protecting the Environment

8. History

9. Institutions

10. Sports

11. Pop Culture

The World of Miyazaki Hayao

Anime & Manga

Individual Titles

Japanese Pop Music

A.
If you are looking for basic knowledge about Japan: