This is an application of the Fox Cultural Lesson Plan System. The student will be able to discuss historical, etiquette, traditional culture and pop culture approaches to understanding Japanese culture.
JAPANESE HISTORY
1) What are the historical roots of Japanese culture?
Edo Neo-Confucianism – Japanese version of Chinese Confucianism
Zen Buddhism – Japanese version of Buddhism
Japanese Bushido is similar to Western Chivalry
Seppuku is part of Bushido but not Chivalry
2) How did the Meiji period affect Japanese culture?
-Japan modernized more quickly than any other country in Asia prior to WW II
-WW II era Japanese nationalism develops and is a combination of bushido and other philosophies
-Kamikaze has some similarities with seppuku
Kamikaze Attack on US Ships in WWII / Атака камикадзе на ВМС США
TRADITIONAL CULTURE
3) What are some of the martial arts of Japan?
–Judo
ETIQUETTE
4) Describe Akihabara?
5) What is Anime?
6) What is the difference between anime and manga?
7) What is the difference between American and Japanese superheroes?
American Comic Books versus Japanese Manga
http://www.scottmccloud.com/4-inventions/triangle/
8) What is cosplay?
9) What is J-Pop?
10) What are some Japanese subcultures?
11) What are two distinctly Japanese types of cinema?
-Samurai
–Tokusatsu more or less mean special effects in Japanese but has some distinct features such as suitmation not CGI and a focus on some subgenre’s of science fiction such as the kaiju genre
12) Compare and contrast the modern kawaii aesthetic principle with the traditional wabi-sabi aesthetic principle.
An example of kawaii: Hello Kitty vs. Godzilla
A discussion of the wabi-sabi principles: Zen Design Exercise
13) IE System
Cultural Dimension: me or we
14) Japanese Soft Power
cool japan 1
Not So Cool Japan!!!
References
Miyahara, A. (1992) Introduction to Communication Theory. Tokyo. Shohakusha.
Nomura, Naoki and D.C. Barnlund. (1983). “Patterns of Inter per son al Criticism in Japan
and United States.” Inter nation al Journal of Intercultural Relations. 7, 1-18.
Ueda, K. (1974) “Sixteen Ways of Saying ‘No’ in Japan” Intercultural Encounters with Japan, John Con don & Mitsuko Saito eds. Tokyo: SimulPress.
American versus Japanese Culture
American versus Japanese Management
Gung Ho (Movie) – American versus Japanese Culture
Japanese Culture Worksheet
Japanese Communication Worksheet
Godzilla versus Zombie Elephants Stick Puppet ESL Lesson
WereVerse Universe Baby!
Dr. Hugh Fox III 
People get puppies for the wrong reasons all year long and people who have not business with a puppy get them all year long.