Masaki Kobayashi’s mammoth humanist drama is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three parts, the nine-and-a-half-hour The Human Condition (Ningen no joken), adapted from Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel, tells of the journey of the well-intentioned yet naive Kaji (handsome Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor to Imperial Army soldier to Soviet POW. Constantly trying to rise above a corrupt system, Kaji time and again finds his morals an impediment rather than an advantage. A raw indictment of its nation’s wartime mentality as well as a personal existential tragedy, Kobayashi’s riveting, gorgeously filmed epic is novelistic cinema at its best.

Beginning with its theatrical premiere in 1969, the 48-film Tora-san series (aka "Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo," lit. "It's tough being a man") stands as a legendary symbol of Japan. Featuring Kiyoshi Atsumi as the beloved loser in the title role, each film has garnered tremendous critical praise worldwide, hailed by critics for its clever scripts, endearing protagonist, and thoughtful look into post-war Japanese culture. Includes: Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp; Tora-San's Cherished Mother; Tora-San, His Tender Love; and Tora-San's Grand Scheme.

There's plenty of adventure, music and mystery for Big Bird and Barkely the Dog in Japan! The excitement begins when they're separated from their tour group in Tokyo and are befriended by a young-and mysterious-Japanese woman. Could she be the mythical "Bamboo Princess" of Japanese folklore? Come along as Big Bird searches for the true identity of his new friend and discovers the beauty of Japan and the Japanese people. Travel with him as he explores some of Japan's most famous sights, meets a Japanese family and learns some Japanese words and customs. Four original songs make Big Bird in Japan a magical musical trip!

In Japan, WWII Kamikaze are still revered as self-sacrificing heroes. Internationally, they remain a potent symbol of fanaticism. Until now, few outsiders knew that many Kamikaze survived their suicide missions. The candid, heartbreaking testimony of surviving Kamikaze conveys the true depth of war's travesty. Sixty years later, these humble men tell us about the horrors of the cockpit, their dramatic survival and the survivor's guilt still haunting them.

This unit is a image-based introduction to life in Japan during the late feudal period (1600-1868), known as either the Tokugawa or Edo Period. The images focus on architecture and defense features of the castle, the rise of castle towns as nascent urban centers, and those who lived in the castle towns. Students interpret the images in a closed-inquiry fashion to derive some basic features of geography, including the relationship between topography and human activity. A castle town maze, an activity designed especially for middle and high school students, adds a first-hand sense of how towns were established to protect the castle from opposing forces. Students will also be introduced to the daily life of the four classes in Japanese society during the Tokugawa Period. Supplementary materials for both student and teacher can be used to extend the unit.

In this curriculum, students learn about four groups of people living in Japan: the burakumin, Koreans, Ainu, and Okinawans. By examining these groups and their experiences in Japanese society, students will consider the questions raised above and gain a deeper understanding of some critical social issues present in diverse societies and how these experiences have contributed to people's identities.

This curriculum unit helps to make pertinent information about health care accessible to secondary school students. "Personal and Community Health" is a key section of the National Science Education Standards. One of the standards specifically notes that "personal goals, peer and social pressures, ethnic and religious beliefs, and understanding of biological consequences can all influence decisions about health practices." In addition, one of the National School Health Education Standards focuses on how one's cultural background influences health. To help students understand the importance of these standards, this curriculum unit introduces students to several of the key issues surrounding health care. These issues are bioethics, aging, and health care systems. Agreat deal of controversy surrounds these issues and this controversy is illuminated in this unit through case studies of the United States and Japan.

Examining Long-Term Radiation Effects: Case Studies of the Atomic Bombings of Japan and the Chernobyl Power Plant Thermal Explosion explores issues pertaining to nuclear power and the long-term medical, psychological, and social effects of radiation. The unit consists of four lessons.

Motoki Katsuhide’s “Drugstore Girl” is a light, cute, and often pathetic comedic story of a beautiful young pharmacology student who turns a group of middle-aged men into raving, lecherous gits whilst starting a new life in a new town. Obayashi Keiko (Tanaka Rena) finds her live-in boyfriend cheating on her and subsequently bolts her apartment in Shinjuku, boarding the JR and basically disembarking at a random station. She ends up in the town of Masao on the outskirts of Tokyo-to and there she begins a new life (except for the fact that she has her pharmacology classes back in the city). Whimsically letting things fall into place, she lands a job at “Hustle Drug”, a new Wal-Mart sort of super store which threatens to put the local mom & pop merchants out of business. A group of middle-aged men - consisting of three of the local merchants (druggist, baker and kombini owner), a monk and Keaton-esquire homeless man - initially plan to sabotage the grand opening of Hustle Drug, but one sight of the lovely Obayashi and the old boys quickly forget about their economic agenda. When their leader Nabeshima (Emoto Akira) discovers that Obayashi plays lacrosse, the old boys set out to learn this strange new sport, complete with fishing nets and protective gear made from cardboard boxes and bamboo.

Only three days before their high school festival, guitarist Kei, drummer Kyoko, and bassist Nozomi are forced to recruit a new lead vocalist for their band. They choose Korean exchange student Son, though her comprehension of Japanese is a bit rough! It's a race against time as the group struggles to learn three tunes for the festival's rock concert, including a classic '80s punk-pop song by the Japanese group The Blue Hearts called "Linda Linda"...