Free Pubic Videos

Internet Archive (search results for moving pictures on Japan)

Japan Fulbright Experience (for K-12 teachers) Promo video (11:51)

Japan-Miracle in Asia (1963) (32:54)

Explains how Japan's rapid industrial growth has influenced the way of life in the country and has affected the international political and economic position of the country. Suggests that Japan turned to industrialization to support a rapidly growing population on a small and relatively poor land area. Deneen shot the aerial shots himself alone, while piloting a single-engine aircfraft, pointing the camera out the window.

My Japan - U.S. Treasury Department

Complex and disturbing anti-Japanese propaganda film produced to spur the sale of U.S. war bonds. CONTENT ADVISORY: Explicit racism and extreme violence.

Shopping and Eating in Japan 

A ten minute documentary about shopping and eating in Japan. Friends usually comment that Japan must be an expensive country, this video shows that shopping and eating in Japan does not have to be expensive if you look around. The video does not look at rental property or transportation, as these can be expensive.  (11:34)

Japan Today 6/20/1946

"Japan: In the midst of black markets and inflationary prices, life for the average Japanese is grim and barren. Rebuilding homes and harvesting meagre crops keep some healthy and housed, but many have to tighten their belts." scenes of life in Japan, poverty, gardens planted, black market. (partial newsreel) (01:29)

International Dateline: Japan - Trial by Jury (2008) Preview 01:09

This week's episode of Dateline takes a look at Japan's new proposed jury system, and how it is being received there. Also, an interview with former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and a new take on religion in Malaysia.

To the shores of Iwo Jima (1945) 19:07

An Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary, this 20 minute Technicolor production unfolds with graphic energy the nearly month long battle for Iwo Jima, a volcanic island lying 700 miles southeast of Japan, in which 20000 Japanese and nearly 7000 American fighting men were killed, a struggle eternalized by Joe Rosenthal's photograph of five Marines and a Navy corpsman raising a giant U.S. flag atop 550 foot high Mt. Suribachi, cinematically captured here in this well-edited (by Warner Bros.) effort.

Japanese Relocation (ca 1943) 09:28

U.S. government-produced film defending the World War II internment of Japanese American citizens. 

Free Online University Courses

MIT OpenCourseWare

Tufts

Stanford : "The World in Japanese" lecture by Ian Hideo Levy (available on iTune)

UC Berkeley

National Geographic site has 6 clips, including an overview video under Music Video; Countries: Japan

• Destination: Japan (4:18)
• Full Body Tattoos (4:18)
• Mt. Fuji (1:41)
• Puffer Fish (4:27)
• Real Life Geishas (2:33)
• Sumo (2:06)

BBC about Japan

Country Profile

Timeline of key events on and after 1894

Videos on YouTube

National Geographic Traveler 

Home to the world's leargest urban metropols, rugged wilderness, and a culture steeped in ancient tradition, Japan is a travelers dream. 4:18

Japan Lecture (4 parts) : GOOD INTRO TO SHOW IN CLASS

• Part 1: Covers the introduction section and geography of Japan. 7:47
• Part 2: Covers medieval Japanese society including court life, literature and Buddhism. 9:59
• Part 3: Covers the Taika Reforms and the rise of the samurai class.9:34
• Part 4: Covers ninjas! 8:54

 

 

Japanese History 

100,000 years in 8 minutes.  A lot of "insider jokes" and visual jokes, too fast for intro, but maybe useful for reviews 

Ainu, First People of Japan, The Original & First Japanese

Ainu, First Peoples of Japan. The Ainu arrived in Japan maybe 14,000 years ago, 10,000 years before the Japanese. They were killed, enslaved and driven off their lands, taking refuge in the northern islands of Japan where they now number less than 25,000.  A documentary film by Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D. http://BrainMind.com  (7:23)

History of Japan (English Subtitles)

1 Paleolithic 100,000 to 30,000 BC

2 Jōmon Period 14,000 BC to 300 BC

3 Yayoi Period 300 BC to 250 AD

4 Kofun Period 250 AD to 7th centuries

5 Asuka period 538 AD to 710 AD (5:45 +  8:40) In the Asuka period, the Emperor lost power. The political fight developed into war through Buddhism. And the Soga family who won a fight got power.

PBS.History Channel Japan: Memorirs of a Secret Empire Japan during the Sengoku Jidai, Edo period up to the beginning of the Meiji era. History Channel


EPISODE ONE: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI
Tokugawa Ieyasu unifies Japan and establishes a dynasty that will rule Japan for over 250 years.


EPISODE TWO: THE WILL OF THE SHOGUN
The grandson of Ieyasu, Tokugawa Iemitsu, tightens control over Japan's warlords and expels all foreigners.


EPISODE THREE: THE RETURN OF THE BARBARIANS
Isolated from the West, 18th century Edo flourishes culturally and economically, becoming one of the liveliest cities in the world. But foreign forces are coming. 






BBC   Heroes and Villains: The Shogun (HD) 


Lost History: Ninja Lore 

 A look at the origins and practices of the historic ninja. 8:21

Ancient Warriors: The Ninja 8:40 x3

 A Japanese comment as not authentic and cheaply made.

Lost History - Sins of Our Fathers

"The allied decision to target civilian populations during World War II is explored". An American commented as disturbing. Best bundled with war bond propaganda film. 10:00

Discovery Atlas: Japan Revealed 

from bullet trains, neon lights, and mobile phones to ancient temples, kimonos and cherry blossoms. Japanese culture embraces the old and new, and emphasizes the importance of nature and the seasons. Discovery Atlas: Japan Revealed chronicles these facets, while introducing you to a host of residents including an apprentice geisha, a tuna fisherman, a tattoo artist, school girls and a robot-designing family. In their own ways, see these unique individuals demonstrate how the Japanese are masters of the future and guardians of the past.

Yokoso! Japan (Visit Japan Campaign)
No narration


Japan: our Far East Partner (28:18) End of World War II to the Korean War

ARC Identifier 2569524 / Local Identifier 111-TV-254. Japan is the key to the fate of the Far East. Once again for the second time in the march of modern history those words have urgent reality. But now there is a difference in their meaning. THE BIG PICTURE cameras focus on the United States Army which has come to know Japan well in recent years -- in war, in occupation, and finally, in partnership. In the record of that relationship there can be found the changing symbol of Japan's place in the Far East. Once it was a symbol of destruction. Today we look upon it with hope as a symbol of stability. Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center. (ca. 1974 - 05/15/1984)

Basics about Japan Web Site

Web Japan

• includes videos

How Stuff Works

• Includes videos 

Discovery Channel 

History Channel 

• Includes interactives

Japanese Culture 101

Japan-101.com

Understanding cultural references in japanese anime and manga

MIrai

Ideal for: grades 6–12

• Systematic instruction for semester or year-long courses.
• Directions and explanations feature a balance of English and Japanese to encourage tackling activities with confidence!
• Unique use of color overlay in Mirai Stage 1 encourages students to read hiraganaeven when romaji is provided. Stages 2, 3 & 4, 5, and 6 are written in hiragana withoutromaji.
• “Learning Outcomes” at the beginning of each chapter help to focus lessons.
• A wide range of fun and engaging activities includes pair work, listening activities and games.
• Cartoon-style storyboards in each unit explore themes interesting to young students.
• Written for the mixed-ability classroom.

Obento

Second Edition

おべんとう

By Peter Williams, Sue Xouris, Kyoko Kusumoto

Ideal for: grades 6–12

OBENTO FEATURES

• A fresh, uncluttered design
• New expanded grammar sections
• More listening activities
• Teacher CD-ROMs with modifiable worksheets
• Vibrant manga cartoons
• Insight into contemporary Japanese culture
• Speaking activities extended and reinforced in the  workbooks

• Audio and songs
• Free web-based activities

Robo Sensei

Robo-sensei  Personal Japanese Tutor (Win & Mac)
grades 9 and up 

Robo-Sensei is an interactive software program for learning and practicing grammar principles that are essential to mastery of Japanese. Using artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and an enjoyable one-on-one method, Robo-Sensei provides detailed feedback to students as they work through a fun series of 24 modules-from beginning to advanced levels. 

Within Robo-Sensei's colorful program, you'll be taken through a series of practice drills, such as fill-in-the-blank, sentence composition, dictation, and reading short letters and passages, that mimic real-life communicative situations. As you compose your own sentences in response to each new situation, Robo-Sensei uses artificial intelligence technology to interpret your responses, correct your mistakes, and provide feedback on the nature of your errors. Robo-Sensei provides learners with the opportunity to practice Japanese anywhere—at home, while traveling, or in a school language lab—and receive specific feedback to help improve their particular weaknesses.