East Asian Studies Center: Japanese Art Program

for Grades 3rd to 6th
by
Kazuyo Nakamura

distributed by
East Asian Studies Center
Indiana University

Features of the Japanese Art Program

(1) It is designed primarily for 3rd to 6th graders.
(2) It facilitates understanding of Japanese culture through art in relation to American culture.
(3) It has correlation to the National Standards for Arts Education.
(4) It provides interdisciplinary materials and can be integrated into school curriculum.

Goals of the Japanese Art Program

Children will:
(1) Become aware of Japanese culture through art in relation to their own lives.
(2) Become familiar with Japanese traditional art.
(3) Develop a cross-cultural perspective that respects differences and similarities between American and Japanese cultures.

The Overview of Lesson Plans

(1) Painting and Folk Art (Mingei): Daruma Doll
Daruma dolls are traditionally used as good luck symbols. Not only children but also adults use a Daruma doll when they want a wish to come true. People fill in one eye of a Daruma doll when they have a wish, and they fill in another when the wish comes true. Through knowing the legend of Daruma as well as creating and using a Daruma doll, students will become familiar with the meaning and use of a Daruma doll.

(2) Graphic Design: Family Crest (Kamon)
In Japanese culture the ties of family (Ie) is highly considered, and the design of family crests (Kamon), which are helpful in identifying the roots of a family and connecting family members with each other, are well developed. Such a family crest is often stamped on commodities, such as Kimono. The objects used for that design include animals, plants, and symbolic images, which often reflect Japanese aesthetic taste. Students will become aware of aesthetic elements of Japanese family crests and create a family crest in relation to their own families.

(3) Graphic Design: Traditional Clothes (Kimono)
Kimono is Japanese traditional clothing and is often decorated with traditional symbolic images and a combination of patterns. Nowadays Japanese wear Kimono only in ceremonial occasions, such as a coming-of-age ceremony, marriage ceremony or funerals. In this lesson, students will become familiar with these traditional clothes through knowing how Japanese use Kimono and what kinds of images and patterns are used for Kimono design. Through creating an original design for Kimono, students will become aware of patterns and visual symbols that are unique to Japanese art.

(4) Sculpture: Seal Stamp (Hanko)
Japanese use a seal stamp (Hanko) as well as writing a signature in order to verify important documents. On Hanko are inscribed personal names, which are written in Kanji, one type of the Japanese characters developed from Chinese characters. Through creating their own Hanko, students will become familiar with the use of Kanji, which indicates meanings and has usually two different readings.

(5) Collage: Japanese Garden (Niwa)
Japanese have developed unique forms and ideas about gardens. In contrast with traditional Western gardens, where geometrical forms and symmetry are considered beautiful, Japanese gardens emphasize organic forms and asymmetry appearing in nature. Japanese regard gardens as places not only for relaxation but also for meditation and worship. Students will become aware of Japanese aesthetics expressed in gardens and will design an original garden by applying some of the aesthetic elements.

(6) Drawing: Cartoons (Manga) and Japanese Idioms (Kotowaza)
Cartoons that express ideas humorously are often created in Japanese art. Ideas used for cartoons include Japanese wisdom, which remains as Kotowaza (Japanese idioms). Through creating a cartoon based on Japanese idiomatic expression, students will become familiar with Japanese wisdom.

(7) Drawing: Scroll Pictures (Emaki)
Emaki (scroll pictures), which was derived from China, became highly developed in Japan. The pictures of Emaki show Japanese lives and customs in the various periods. Emaki is considered not only as a form of art but also as a visual reference to Japanese life style in different times. Through studying Choju Giga (Frolicking Birds and Animals), one of the representative Sumi-e scroll pictures, students will not only become familiar with Japanese customs, but also learn how to draw with a bamboo brush and India ink.

Japanese Art Program

for Grades 3rd to 6th by Kazuyo Nakamura

Features of the Japanese Art Program

Goals of the Japanese Art Program

The Overview of Lesson Plans

for Grades 3rd to 6th
by
Kazuyo Nakamura