Japan Studies Collections

The Japan Resource Center offers one of the largest collections of K-12 teaching materials in the United States. Over 3,500 items in our collection include:

  • Four artifact trunks, each containing 30-100 objects for student exploration
  • Over 200 videos, including many with guides for classroom use
  • A collection of kamishibai (Japanese children’s story boards)
  • Japanese language materials, including a Japanese language kit for primary grades
  • Elementary and secondary units on Japan developed by national Japan studies outreach programs and by school districts
  • An extensive collection of Japanese folk tales and children’s literature
  • Japanese history and literature resources for secondary grades
  • A professional library of scholarly books for teacher research
  • A selection of full-length Japanese movies on such topics as family, society, and children
  • A collection of 30 late-Edo period (1800-1850s) woodblock prints for instructional use by educators at all levels

Materials in TEA’s collection are available on free loan to Colorado educators who can pick up and return materials to the TEA offices. Audiovisual materials require a refundable damage deposit of $35. Artifact trunks are available for a small rental fee and refundable damage deposit. The project ships loan materials to teachers in other states through special arrangement. If you wish to borrow materials or rent a trunk, please contact Catherine Ishida, read our lending policies, and fill out a Borrower’s Agreement.