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Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire- The Way of the Samurai (PBS Documentary Series)

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Johnny Walker
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Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire- The Way of the Samurai (PBS Documentary Series)

Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire- The Way of the Samurai (PBS)
The PBS website that introduces the videos can be found here: https://www.pbs.org/empires/japan/program_1.html

It has excellent resources including a timeline, maps, and lesson plans.

However, I used the following 4 minute video clip from Episode 1 when teaching both 7th grade and also in 10th grade, to examine the differing cultures and perspectives of the Europeans and Japanese. Students took notes in the graphic organizer below. 

https://youtu.be/iGuhu5lbDlk  

from 7:30 to 11:48. 

Take Notes in the graphic organizer below

 

A Matter of Perspective: What is strange to one culture is familiar to another. (1580 C.E.)

 

Subject:

JAPAN P.O.V.

WESTERN P.O.V.

Writing System

 

 

 

 

Fan

 

 

 

 

Physical Features

 

 

 

 

 

Eating Habits

 

 

 

 

 

Bathing

 

 

 

 

 

I used this as part of a lesson on how Japan's perspective of Westerners changed over time, using examples of the Portuguese in the 16th century and another about Americans in the 19th century.

There are excellent sections of the overall film that give narration from historians and primary source examples that serve a variety of standards related to Medieval Japan and the Tokugawa Shogunate.