ECONOMICS
TITLE: KEIDANREN
URL: HTTP://WWW.KEIDANREN.OR.JP/
Monthly policy statements, publications on the future of Japan, and recommendations for “good” corporate behavior with respect to the environment are just a few of the topics on this page. The highlight, perhaps, is the availability on this site of the well-known booklet published each year by the Keizai Koho Center, “Japan 1998—An International Comparison.” This booklet is an invaluable source of data on Japan.
TITLE: NIHONKEIZAISHIMBUN
URL: http://www.nikkei.co.jp/enews/
The premier economic newspaper of Japan presents daily articles on the top economic events in Japan, high-tech matters, and special features on Asian economic topics. Its sister publication, the English language “Nikkei Weekly,” also has a sampling of the latest paper edition, as well as back editions, dating to June 1997.
TITLE: BANK OF JAPAN
URL: http://www.boj.or.jp/en/index.htm
In addition to Bank financial data and an overview of the bank’s activities, there are research papers, monetary policy speeches, statistical reports, foreign exchange rates, interest rates, and press releases.
TRADE
TITLE: JETRO
URL: HTTP://WWW.JETRO.ORG/JETRO.HTML JETRO
(Japan External Trade Organization) provides a number of useful databases for those interested in doing business in Japan. One database matches exporters with potential partners in Japan; another lists technological partners. There are also hundreds of market reports, searchable by keyword, and a database of Japanese government procurement announcements.
TITLE: MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY (MITI)
URL: http://www.miti.go.jp/index-e.html
Calendar of events, press releases, reports (including a Summary of Industrial Economic Trends), press conferences, and lists of publications are provided by this Cabinet-level agency of central importance in Japan.
TITLE: U.S. EMBASSY, TOKYO
URL: http://www.usia.gov/posts/tokyo/
In addition to a number of pages describing the service of the Embassy, the core of this site is the Economic and Trade Relations section. Organized by categories like Anti-Dumping, Deregulation, and Intellectual Property Rights, are fact sheets, reports, press releases and congressional testimony.
MEDIA/INFORMATION RESOURCES
TITLE: JAPAN DIRECTORY
URL: http://www.jinjapan.org/jd/
Part of the Japan Information Network, the Japan Directory offers a comprehensive list of the major Japanese organizations arranged by category: Politics, Industry, Media, Society, Culture, Academia. Within each category are subcategories, each of which contains an impressive number of links. A keyword search gives easy access to the listings on the site.
TITLE: JAPAN INFORMATION ACCESS PROJECT
URL: HTTP://WWW.NMJC.ORG/JIAP/
This organization, dedicated to fostering access to the information resources of Japan, has special reports on Japan’s science and technology policy, intellectual property, and the rules of access to government information. An abridged, but still quite extensive, version of the primer “Japan-U.S. Trade & Technology” is published on the site, through the link http://www.nmjc.org/jiap/primer/title.html.
TITLE: DAILY YOMIURI
URL: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm
The English language version of the Yomiuri Shimbun provides each day’s leading stories, grouped by category, and editorials. The features section includes a handy listing of weekend events, concerts, and exhibitions. The Nikkei stock average and the yen/dollar exchange rates are also available.
TEACHING RESOURCES
TITLE: GUIDE FOR TEACHERS, EAST ASIAN STUDY CENTER OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY
URL: HTTP://WWW.EASC.INDIANA.EDU/PAGES/EASC/ CURRICULUM/EASTASIA/1995/GENERAL/TOC.HTP
There are several Study Guides here on Buddhism, Japanese Women, the Living Treasures of Japan, and some works of literature. Also included are arts activities and map study.
TITLE: NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR U.S.-JAPAN STUDIES
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~japan/
A huge collection of lesson plans ranging from Article 9 of the Constitution to Zen Buddhism. There is a database, accessible by keyword, consisting of more than 2,000 articles on teaching materials and research about Japan. Teacher resource information is available on a wide range of subjects, as well.
TITLE: K-12 RESOURCES: JAPAN
URL: HTTP://WWW.AEMS.UIUC.EDU/~CEM/CEM/K12/JAPAN.HTML
The Asian Educational Media Service (an outgrowth of the Center for Educational Media) list of audio-visual educational materials on Japan. Each listing is accompanied by a brief description of the resource, appropriate grade level, and detailed ordering information, including the address and price. Categories: Arts, Language, Literature, Social Studies.