Ideal for Grades: Secondary / College
Duration: Sixteen 30-minute episodes
©1978 University of Mid America
This series examines Japanese history from the first contacts with the West in the 1500s to
the 1970s, tracing the emergence of the nation from isolation to its present-day position as a
leading economic power.
The episodes of this series were produced in 1978 by the University of Mid-America for
high school through adult audiences, with the active assistance of the Japan Broadcasting
Corporation as well as other Japanese agencies and institutions.
Produced in documentary style, the episodes include sequences filmed on location in Japan,
Japanese historical films reaching back to the early 1900s, contemporary Japanese documentaries,
news film, historical dramatizations, and even television commercials and footage assembled
from Japanese and American archives. The series received the 1980 Ohio State Award.
Japan: The Living Tradition is a companion series of fourteen, 30-minute episodes
that examines the pre-modern history and culture of Japan. Click here
for more information.
Japan: The Land and Its People is a related series of twelve 30-minute episodes
that looks at Japanese society, business, festivals, family structure and more.
Click here for more
information.
Rights granted with purchase include: a) life of media audiovisual use, b) public
performance, c) campus or building closed circuit and digital/video-on-demand transmission.
Broadcast, cablecast and telecourse rights are also available. Email slenzen@shopdei.com for
pricing.
Course Packs (all episodes on three DVDs in a single case) may be purchased for $25.00 each,
plus 7% (minimum $5.00) shipping and handling. They are ideal when students are required to
view all or most of the episodes independently. Course Packs are only available to
institutions that have purchased the complete series or have licensed broadcast, cablecast or
telecourse rights.
Click on the individual episode details below to learn more!
Japan’s first contacts with the West in the 16th century.
|
Turmoil from 1854-1868 creates internal political dissension.
|
The transition from a feudal state to a major world power.
|
The government experiments with reforms and looks to Western models.
|
Political and social developments of the Taisho period (1912-1945).
|
The military slowly expands control over the civil government.
|
Political, economic and social changes create a new society from the rubble of war.
|
The economic boom of the 1960's is explored.
|
This episode discusses the organization of Japanese business.
|
Explore problems facing Japan such as a high inflation rate.
|
Understand the organization and structure of the government of Japan.
|
How Japanese institutions fit into Japanese cultural tradition.
|
Many older social traits of the Japanese continue in modified form.
|
Avenues of success available and barriers that block the way.
|
Life today blends traditional styles and modern mass living.
|
An intimate look at contemporary life for three diverse families.
|