Alberta - Japan LA Project Summer 2010

Alberta and Japanese Students: Read the following posts and comment on them. The name used for your comment should put your class code followed by a "-" then your first name and last initial (Anonymous comments may or may not be posted and if you are being marked, you will not get a mark)
    1. Issues Faced by Japanese Students Today Read First
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Sofukuji Temple　(崇福寺）



This temple was built during the early Tokugawa Period by the Chinese monk Chaonian in 1629 for Chinese residents of Nagasaki, and houses two National Treasures and several Important Cultural Properties. Sofukuji belongs to the Obaku school of Japanese Zen Buddhism.
It is distinct in that the architecture is Chinese rather than Japanese, demonstrating some rare foreign influence in Japan during its period of isolation, especially considering its designation as a National Treasure.
A photo gallery of this temple can be viewed here.

Carving inside Sofukuji Temple

Websites: http://www.at-nagasaki.jp/foreign/english/spot/018.html



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Memorial to the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan　(日本二十六聖人記念館)



This memorial and museum is dedicated to twenty-six Christians, twenty Japanese and six missionaries, who were arrested in Kyoto in 1597 under the order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi for preaching Christianity and forced to walk nearly 600 kilometers to Nagasaki, where they were executed to serve as an example to the Christians there. This memorial also has a museum with several exhibits of the history of Christianity in Japan, including the Tokugawa Bakufu's harsh methods of interrogating and torturing Christians and how the covert Christians remained hidden. This memorial and museum demonstrate the reaction of both the Bakufu and commoners to Western ideas, Christianity in particular, and the spread and repression of these ideas before and during isolation.

The hall itself was constructed in 1962 and is composed of two themes: relics that were handed down from Christian times, and contemporary items that were created to help clarify history. The memorial is open daily from 9am – 5pm, and admission fees can be viewed here  if you click on “introduction” at the top left.

Inside the memorial
For an extensive look at the history you can explore at the memorial, more photographs, and even a virtual tour, you can visit the memorial’s official website here.


The Memorial to the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan is an excellent place to visit as it displays the impact that the closed country edicts had on the Japanese Christians. 


For teachers this site would relate to the Religion Curriculum in the Catholic schools and the Alberta Social Studies Curriculum. 


The Site relates to the following Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum Outcomes:



"Values and Attitudes
8.1.4 appreciate how a society’s worldview shapes individual citizenship and identity 
Knowledge and Understanding 
8.1.5 analyze the effects of cultural isolation during the Edo period by exploring and reflecting
upon the following questions and issues:
• How did isolation during the Edo period lead to changes in Japan? 
• How did the changes resulting from isolation affect Japan economically, politically and
socially during the Edo period?" ( From the Grade 8 Social Studies Program of Studies) 



Websites: http://www.at-nagasaki.jp/foreign/english/spot/015.html, http://www.nagasaki.world-guides.com/nagasaki_museums.html


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Edo-Tokyo Museum (江戸東京博物館）

Edo-Tokyo Museum Building
An exhibit in the Edo-Tokyo Museum

This museum in the Ryogoku district of Tokyo was built to preserve the historical heritage of the city of Tokyo. It includes exhibits such as a replica of the original Nihonbashi (see here for more information). One section of the museum contains exhibits that show the lifestyle, culture, politics, etc. of Edo during the Tokugawa Period, and another section shows the changes that occurred as Edo became Tokyo, including Western influence, World War II, and reconstruction after the war. A third section has a special exhibition that changes several times a year, each time having a different theme.




Edo-Tokyo Museum Library
Aside from the exhibits of the museum, the museum also houses a library containing more than 140, 000 volumes of books, magazines, and microfilms about the culture and history of Edo-Tokyo. While the books here are not available to borrow, the library seats about 40 people, and a librarian at the reference desk is available to help with searching material, and most of the material is allowed to be photocopied for personal use.




Audio-visual hall
In the first floor of the museum, there is also an audio-visual hall that can hold 148 people and contains three 150-inch screens. This room plays exciting quiz programs complete with three-dimensional images and the person with the highest score in the quiz is shown on the screen. These programs run eight times a day from Saturday to Wednesday, and nine times a day on Thursday and Friday. Programs include: "53 Stations of the Tokaido Highway Sugoroku", "Edo-Tokyo as an International City", "Discovering Tokyo (1)-(4)", and "TOKIO, a Boy From the Future, Visits Today's Tokyo (1)-(4)".


Completing the museum experience, there are two souvenir shops, lounging areas ideal for enjoying a bagged lunch, a Japanese tea room, and two cafe/restaurants. For details regarding these restaurants, including hours of operation and the types of food served, please click here.

You can view the English version of the official museum website here for information about current exhibitions, hours, and admission fees.

The Edo Tokyo Museum is a great place to visit as it covers the Edo era till the Meji era and beyond.
For Social Studies Teachers the Edo -Tokyo Museum relates to the following Curriculum Outcomes:


"Values and Attitudes
Students will:
8.1.1 appreciate the roles of time and geographic location in shaping a society’s worldview
8.1.2 appreciate how a society’s worldview can foster the choice to remain an isolated society
8.1.3 appreciate how models of governance and decision making reflect a society’s worldview
8.1.4 appreciate how a society’s worldview shapes individual citizenship and identity 
Knowledge and Understanding
Students will:
8.1.5 analyze the effects of cultural isolation during the Edo period by exploring and reflecting
upon the following questions and issues:
• In what ways did Japan isolate itself from the rest of the world? 
• How did isolation during the Edo period lead to changes in Japan? 
• How did the changes resulting from isolation affect Japan economically, politically and
socially during the Edo period? 
• How did the physical geography of Japan affect its worldview? 
• How did the shogun use the feudal system and the hierarchical social classes to maintain
control of Japan? 
8.1.6 analyze the effects that rapid adaptation had on traditionally isolated Japan during the
Meiji period by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What were the motivations for the radical changes in Japan’s model of organization during
the Meiji period? 
• How did Japan adapt to changes brought on by the transition from feudal to modern models
of organization?
• How did the changes resulting from adaptation affect Japan economically, politically and
socially during the Meiji period? 
• In what ways did changes resulting from isolation in the Edo period compare to changes
resulting from adaptation in the Meiji period? 
• What challenges emerged for the Japanese in maintaining traditional cultural aspects of their
society while undergoing rapid change?"( From the Grade 8 Social Studies Program of Studies)

Urakami Cathedral (浦上天主堂)

This Roman Catholic cathedral was built during the Meiji era, after the overthrowing of the Tokugawa shogunate, under whose rule Christianity and other foreign religions were outlawed. It was built by former "kakure Christians" (covert Christians) who wanted a place of worship now that the oppression of the Tokugawa Shogunate was gone, and was built on a location where the Tokugawa Shogunate would interrogate suspected Christians. It was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945, but was rebuilt in 1959 on the exact same spot where it had been destroyed. In front of this new cathedral are the statues of saints, charred and broken from the atomic bomb. These statues are covered in origami cranes and serve as a memorial to the thousands who lost their lives.



Urakami Cathedral, January 7th, 1946
The original bell tower remains on the grounds, destroyed by the bomb, and the rest of the remains of the original building are on display in Nagasaki's Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. This cathedral was built to commemorate the suffering of Christians during the Tokugawa period, and demonstrates the radical change during the Meiji Restoration to religious freedom and acceptance of Western ideas.


The Uramaki Cathedral is a great site to visit as it shows the damage of the atomic bomb and how Nagasaki has rebuilt after that tragic event. 







Broken and charred statue of a saint
Part of Urakami Cathedral that remained standing after the bombing
-this can be seen in the Nagasaki Peace Park

For Social Studies teachers the Social Studies 20-1 and 20-2 curriculum outcomes covered by the Urakami Cathedral are:
"1.5 explore a range of expressions of nationalism 
1.6 develop understandings of nation and nationalism
2.2 appreciate that the pursuit of national interest has positive and negative consequences
2.7 analyze nationalism and ultranationalism during times of conflict" 

(From the Social Studies 20-1 and 20-2 Program of Studies)


Websites: http://www.at-nagasaki.jp/foreign/english/spot/004.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urakami_Cathedral, http://tenthousandthingsfromkyoto.blogspot.ca/2010/08/urakami-nagasaki-august-9-1945-today.html



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Nagasaki City



Nagasaki is a major city on Kyushu Island, on the very Western end of Japan, with a population of 446, 000. While many know of it best as the second city to be subject to nuclear attack by the Allies, its historical significance far precedes World War II. Beginning in the 16th Century, the city was a major trading location with Europe, particularly with the Portuguese and the Dutch, and remained so under the isolated period, though strictly regulated. The City of Nagasaki demonstrates early European influence on Japan. Nagasaki  city is full of history that relates to Social Studies in Alberta as it was a major port during the Edo Era, became more western during the Meiji Era and was bombed during WWII.


Sites in Nagasaki covered by this blog:

Sites that relate to Grade 8  Social Studies Curriculum:
Sites that relate to Alberta Social Studies 20 Curriculum:
Sites that relate to the Japanese Language and Cultural Studies Curriculum in Alberta:


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Are you a grade 8 student interested in a school trip to Japan? If so, please research the above sites of Nagasaki and then answer the following survey. (Note: Be sure to click "Submit" in the survey window when you are finished) Once you are finished make a comment below letting us know all the juicy details about what information you used to make your decisions. 

Nikko City


Nikko, which literally means "sunlight," is a small city of 92 thousand people in Tochigi Prefecture, 140 kilometers north of Tokyo. Much of Nikko is in the mountains, and its climate is far colder than Tokyo. Nikko is a very popular tourist attraction in Japan particularly for its temples and shrines, the first of which was built by the Buddhist monk Shodo in the eighth century. Within the most important temples are the mausoleums of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun, and his grandson Tokugawa Iemitsu. The city is also known for its nature, which include mountains and waterfalls. There are also many hot springs in the area.

Sites in Nikko covered by this blog:
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Yokohama City


Yokohama is the capital and largest city of Kanagawa Prefecture, with a population of three million people. It is the second-largest city in Japan and is one of seventeen designated cities. Kanagawa Prefecture borders Tokyo Metropolis to the north and is part of the Greater Tokyo Area. Kanagawa is historically notable for being the landing site of Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1854, and Yokohama itself became Japan's major port city after Japan opened its ports. The City of Yokohama has a major foreign population and includes many buildings with Western architecture and the biggest Chinatown in Asia.
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Tokyo



Tokyo is the capital and largest city in Japan. It has a population of 13 million, and a density of nearly 6000 per square kilometer. Tokyo literally means "Eastern Capital," and was named such when Emperor Meiji moved his residence from Kyoto (which means "Capital City") to Tokyo. Prior to this, Tokyo was known as Edo. The Tokugawa Shoguns, who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1858, had their seat of power in Edo, and it became one of the most important cities in Japan during this time. Much of Tokyo was destroyed during Allied bombings in World War II, including many important historical sites, but some of the most significant historical locations have been rebuilt. Tokyo is a great city that offers both Edo and Meiji sites to visit.

Sites in Tokyo covered by this blog:

For teachers the following  main sites relate to the Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum:

Other sites that relate to the Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum:



View Tokyo Historical Places in a larger map

Are you a grade 8 student interested in a school trip to Japan? If so, please research the above sites of Tokyo and then answer the following survey. (Note: Be sure to click "Submit" in the survey window when you are finished) Once you are finished make a comment below letting us know all the juicy details about what information you used to make your decisions.   

Futarasan Shrine


Site in Nikko, north of Tokyo. Shinto shrine first founded in the eighth century, but many of the buildings were a contribution of the Tokugawa Shogunate. This site demonstrates the role Shinto played in early Japan, the Tokugawa Bakufu, and today. All buildings are designated Important Cultural Properties, and two swords in the shrine are National Treasures of Japan.

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Rinno-ji

Site in Nikko, north of Tokyo. Buddhist temple built in the eighth century that would later be the site of the mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa Shogun. It was the religious base of the Tokugawa Shogunate after Iemitsu was enshrined, and demonstrates the role religion played in the Tokugawa bakufu. The mausoleum is a National Treasure of Japan.
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Nikko Tosho-gu

Site in Nikko, to the north of Tokyo. One of the most significant shrines and tourist attractions in Japan, this shrine is the mausoleum of the shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Eight buildings in this shrine are National Treasures of Japan. As this site deifies Tokugawa, this demonstrates the Japanese worldview regarding historical figures and their place in religion.
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Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街)

One of the largest Chinatowns in the world, it was founded after Japan opened its ports and many Chinese as well as Western traders made their residences in Yokohama and other ports. The presence of such a large Chinatown clearly demonstrates that it was not only Westerners that made an impact on Japan after Japan opened its ports, but other nationalities as well.
For information about food, shopping, events, and entertainment, you can check out the official website here. 


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Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery


Thousands of people from over 40 different countries are buried in this cemetery, after Yokohama became a major port in the newly-opened Japan and became home to many foreigners. Commodore Perry requested that Robert Williams, a marine on his ship, was buried here, and eventually the cemetery was used for foreigners in general who died in Japan. The founding of this cemetery demonstrated one of the many changes brought about by Western presence in Japan, and shows the beginning of Westernization.

This cemetery is located atop a hill that overlooks the ocean and approximately 4,800 people are buried here. You can visit the official website of the cemetery here for extensive details on its history and access information. The Foreign Cemetery Museum is free to the public and is open from 10am to 5pm, but is closed Mondays.



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Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History


This museum covers the history of Kanagawa Prefecture, which is just to the south of Tokyo. This museum is divided into two sections. One demonstrates Kanagawa Prefecture's role in transportation and popular culture during the Edo Period. The other shows how the influence of Perry's landing in Kanagawa impacted the prefecture and Japan as a whole, and how the prefecture westernized. The collections in this museum was made by the Hojo family and in the museum you can find the portraits of the Hojo family and the priests of the Shonyo-ji temple. This temple is significant in that it's management is responsible for having maintained the museum building.

For full information about hours, admission, exhibits, etc., please visit this brochure here.



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Yamate Seiyokan

One of the Yamate Seiyokan Residences
Located in a city neighbouring Tokyo, Yamate Seiyokan contains several foreign residences built after Japan opened its port in Yokohama in 1859. Seven of the original western style residences remain standing and are open to the public. Some of the residences even has a cafe where visitors can enjoy tea in the historical setting.

Visitors are particularly plenty in December when the event The World's Christmas is held. During this event the residences are decorated in Christmas ornaments of different countries, such as the United States, France, and England. This site demonstrates the beginning of Japan's acceptance of Western presence in the country.

Other events are a common occurrence, particularly those involving classical music performances. For more information about the residences and upcoming events, you can visit the official website here.
The Italian Garden
The residences are actually divided into three different areas. Some are located in the Minato-no-mieru Oka Park (aka. Sea Side Park) which overlooks the port, some are located in in Motomachi Park, adjacent to the Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery, and some are in the Italian Garden where the Consulate General of Italy was located in the Meiji era.



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Yokomizo Yashiki (横溝屋敷)


This is a well-preserved Japanese farmer's house in the Misono Park that contains exhibits demonstrating the way of life of Japanese farmers in the Edo Period. This site gives insight into the way of life and worldview of a Japanese farmer during this period, during which the vast majority of the population were farmers. Admission is free and the site is open from 9:30 to 16:30. For detailed information and resources for visiting, you can visit their English website here.





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Perry Park (ペリー公園)


Perry Park is located in Kurihama, near Yokohama. The park contains a monolith monument, erected in 1902, marking the arrival of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, and includes a free museum containing replicas of documents and pictures of Perry's arrival. This site is valuable for an in-depth view of Perry's arrival, and the beginning of contact between the Japanese and Westerners after the closing of the country. The museum is open 10am - 4pm, seven days a week.

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An Introduction to Japanese Student Life 2010 pilot

This post will be a summary of comments made by Japanese students. Once we have two or three classes of students making comments. Students will be assigned the task of summarizing the comments. The best summaries will be posted.

Instructions:

Read the comments of others and then add a unique comment of your own. You may comment on what others have said or disagree with what they have said.

How to comment:

Use the Name/URL option to identify your comment. The name used for your comment should put your class code followed by a "-" then your first name and last initial (Anonymous comments may or may not be posted and if you are being marked, you will not get a mark).
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Glover Garden　(グラバー園)


An open-air museum in Nagasaki featuring the former residences of Thomas Glover, Frederick Ringer, and William Alt, merchants who came to Japan after the country opened its ports. Glover was influential in toppling the Tokugawa Shogunate by providing gunpowder to the rebellion armies, and was honored with the Order of the Rising Sun. This site demonstrates foreign influence in the Meiji Restoration, and how the Japanese view of foreigners changed during this era.


The Glover Residence
The Glover Residence is well noted for its blend of Western and Japanese elements in its design. Much of the building reflects the Georgian aesthetic that was popular in Britain during the previous generation, with characteristics such as the latticed arches, and French windows. The roof is unmistakably due to Japanese influence, and the building also consists of traditional Japanese roof supports and post-and-beam frames set down on boulders.






Within the garden there are two heart-shaped paving stones, one of which is relatively easy to find, while the other’s location is unknown and visitors are supposed to search for it. If you touch one of the stones, it is said to bring love to you. If you find both of the stones and touch them, you will be granted great luck. Due to this legend, it is not uncommon to see couples hunting the garden for the stones.

This park is open to the public and due to its amazing landscaping, foliage, and views of Nagasaki bay, it attracts nearly 2 million visitors a year.
















For teachers  Glover Garden covers the following outcomes of the Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum:



"Values and Attitudes


8.1.3 appreciate how models of governance and decision making reflect a society’s worldview
8.1.4 appreciate how a society’s worldview shapes individual citizenship and identity 



Knowledge and Understanding


8.1.6 analyze the effects that rapid adaptation had on traditionally isolated Japan during the
Meiji period by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What were the motivations for the radical changes in Japan’s model of organization during
the Meiji period? 
• How did Japan adapt to changes brought on by the transition from feudal to modern models
of organization? 
• How did the changes resulting from adaptation affect Japan economically, politically and
socially during the Meiji period?"( Taken from the Alberta Grade 8 Social Studies Program of Studies)  








Websites: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4406.html,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glover_Garden, http://jin.jcic.or.jp/en/travel/kyushu/nagasaki/GLOVER-GARDEN/


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