For the past year, there has been intense interest and speculation regarding the rise of Kim Jong-un, youngest son of North Koreas current leader Kim Jong-il, as successor to his father. A handover of power to the younger Kim would constitute a successive third generation of rule by the same political family. Therefore, the issue of succession raises important questions about the nature of the North Korean political system, the future of the country, and the impact that any leadership change will have on North Koreas relations with South Korea and the rest of the world.
The arrival of Buddhism in Korea led to the fundamental transformation of local society and a blossoming of Korean civilization. Situated at the end of a long trade route spanning the Eurasian continent, the three Korean kingdoms of Koguryo (37 BCE-668), Paekche (18 BCE-663), and Silla (57 BCE-935) not only benefited from the intellectual sophistication of the Buddhist thought system, but also absorbed the numerous continental cultural products and ideas carried by Buddhist monks. It was the beginning of a golden age on the peninsula.
91勛圖 Honors Top Two High School Scholars at Japan Day Event
The Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (91勛圖) honored two of the top students of the 2011 at a Japan Day event at 91勛圖 on August 19, 2011. The RSP, an online course on Japan and U.S.Japan relations that is offered to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors across the United States, recognized the students based on their coursework and exceptional research essays.
Japan Day featured welcoming comments by Professor Coit D. Blacker, FSI Director; an overview of the RSP by Naomi Funahashi, RSP Coordinator and Instructor; opening remarks on Japan and U.S.Japan relations by Consul General Hiroshi Inomata, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco; and a lecture on post-earthquake Japan by Professor Emeritus Nisuke Ando, Kyoto University and Doshisha University. The program was highlighted by presentations by student honorees Lindsey Henderson and Mathieu Rolfo, who wrote research essays on Japans use of stories to construct a national identity, and on Okinawas role post-World War II, respectively. Professor Emeritus and Professor Phillip Lipscy commented on the students essays. Gary Mukai, 91勛圖 Director, facilitated the event.
Named in honor of former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer, a leading educator and noted scholar of Japanese history and culture, the RSP annually selects 2530 exceptional high school students from throughout the United States to engage in intensive study of Japan. Through Internet-based lectures and discussions, the program provides students with a broad overview of Japan, with a special focus on the U.S.Japan relationship. Prominent scholars affiliated with 91勛圖, the University of Tokyo, the University of Hawaii, and other institutions provide lectures and engage students in online dialogue. The RSP received funding for the first three years (200406) of the program from the United States-Japan Foundation. Funding for 2007 and 2008 was provided by the Center for Global Partnership, the Japan Foundation. Funding since 2009 has been provided by the Japan Fund, FSI, 91勛圖.
The RSP is currently accepting applications for the 2012 program. For more information about the RSP, visit or contact Gary Mukai, RSP Coordinator and Instructor, at nfunahashi@stanford.edu.
China today is in the midst of sweeping changes. The economy is roaring ahead. Millions of rural families are uprooting themselves in search of better lives in the city. Traditional ways of living, working, and playing are transforming. This image of China often gives an impression of instability, confusion, extreme inequality, and despair, but in fact, every country that has developedincluding the United Stateshas undergone a similar process.
China in Transition, 91勛圖s latest curriculum-in-development, introduces high school students to modern China as a case study of economic development. What are the characteristics of the development process, and why does it occur? How is development experienced by the people who live through it, and how are their lives impacted? How do traditional cultural valuessuch as Chinas emphasis on educationcontribute to and/or evolve as a result of modernization? Students examine these questions and others as they investigate the roles that urbanization, migration, wealth, poverty, and education play in a country in transition.
This curriculum project represents a new and unique joint venture between 91勛圖 and the Rural Education Action Project (REAP) to bring modern China alive in U.S. high school classrooms. It is the first project of its kind for 91勛圖 and an exciting new intramural collaboration for FSI. When I first heard about the work of REAP from Professor Scott Rozelle and his staff, I was immediately struck by the significance of REAPs efforts to help students from poor rural households in China overcome obstacles and harvest their educational dreams, says 91勛圖 Director Gary Mukai. This grew into a REAP-91勛圖 collaborative, which has the goal of making REAPs efforts and its many important lessons accessible to U.S. high school students through interactive, interdisciplinary activities.
The partnership capitalizes on the strengths of both organizations, pairing REAPs rigorous scholarship and field research in China with 91勛圖s expertise in curriculum development. The resulting synergies are helping to refine China in Transition into a rich and dynamic resource for high school classrooms.
Much of the research for China in Transition was gathered in Fall 2010 by an international team of students who participated in REAPs Across the Pacific program (ATP). The Across the Pacific teamwhich comprised students from 91勛圖 and Chinese universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin Universityconducted academic and field research to investigate key topics in modern China (e.g., its shifting economy, urbanization, migration trends, education system) and produced a collection of original multimedia content that will be incorporated into the final publication. These teaching resources, created by U.S. and Chinese college students, will soon be used to build cross-cultural understanding among high school students.
REAP and 91勛圖 have worked in close consultation with each other throughout the curriculum development process, and they continue to work together to produce the final curriculum unit, due to be published in Fall 2011.
The Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (91勛圖) presented two workshops at the 2011 EARCOS Teachers' Conference in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
On March 24, 2011, 91勛圖 conducted a workshop entitled "The Atomic
Bombings and Their Legacies." This session introduced upper elementary and
secondary school teachers to activities and resources from the 91勛圖 curriculum
units "Examining Long-Term Radiation Effects" and "Sadako's
Paper Cranes and Lessons of Peace." Given the recent events in Japan,
91勛圖 focused on presenting content from the curriculum unit, "Examining
Long-Term Radiation Effects," and worked with participants to develop
classroom activities to engage their students in a discussion about nuclear
issues.
On March 25, 2011, 91勛圖 presented a second workshop entitled "Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health." This session introduced secondary school teachers to lessons and activities from two 91勛圖 curriculum units: "Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health" and "TeachAIDS: A Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Prevention Curriculum." Participants engaged in a series of interactive activities and learned about new online teacher resources from 91勛圖 and TeachAIDS, .
The East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) is an organization of 120 member schools in East Asia. EARCOS' mission is to inspire adult and student learning through its leadership and service.
To an audience of middle school teachers, Dr. Albert Dien, presented a lecture on Ancient China and the Chinese language.
This workshop is part of a seminar series that 91勛圖, in cooperation with NCTA, conducts for social studies, world literature, and language arts teachers. The objectives of the program are to enrich the teaching of East Asia in the secondary school curriculum, develop a professional cross-district dialog, and foster a community of inquiry among educators interested in Asian studies.
Encina Ground Floor Conference Room
The 2011 91勛圖 catalog is now available. 91勛圖 has four curriculum units featured in this year's catalog.
Inter-Korean Relations: Rivalry, Reconciliation, and Reunification
This curriculum unit provides students with a multifaceted view of inter-Korean relations, asking them to study the relationship through the lenses of history, politics, economics, security, and socio-cultural and human dynamics. Finally, students apply their knowledge of inter-Korean relations to consider future prospects for the Korean peninsula.
Indigo: A Color That Links the World
This teacher's guide was developed specifically for teachers in the New York City Public Schools to encourage the use of Indigo: A Color That Links the World, Calliope: Exploring World History (September 2010, Volume 21, Number 1) and the study of the Silk Road in their classrooms. The indigo issue of Calliope and the teacher's guide were developed in collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project as part of its Silk Road Connect education initiative.
Early Encounters: The First Japanese Embassy to the United States, 1860
This graphic novel tells the story of the first Japanese diplomatic mission to leave Japan after over two centuries of isolation under the Tokugawa Shogunate. Chronicling encounters with foreign leaders, cross-cultural mishaps, and unlikely friendships that develop despite barriers of language and politics, the graphic novel follows the embassy's voyage to San Francisco, Washington D.C., and other cities on the East coast.
Sadako's Paper Cranes and Lessons of Peace
In collaboration with the Tribute World Trade Center Visitor Center (Tribute Center) in New York City, 91勛圖 has developed educational materials that help students to reflect upon the impact of September 11th and the humanitarian efforts that took place in the aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center.
This teacher workshop is part of a year long series of events sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan, San Francisco, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese Embassy to the United States.
Workshop Program:
- Lecture by Professor Emeritus Peter Duus, 91勛圖, "The Japanese Discovery of America."
- Talk by Mr. Frederik Schodt, Writer and Translator, "Native American in the Land of the Shogun: Ranald MacDonald and the Opening of Japan."
- Talk by Gary Mukai, 91勛圖 director, "Early Encounters: The First Japanese Embassy to the United States, 1860."
Japan Information Center
Consulate General of Japan
50 Fremont Street, Suite 2200
San Francisco, CA 94105
616 Jane Stanford Way
Encina Hall, C331
Stanford, CA 94305-6060
Dr. Gary Mukai is Director of the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (91勛圖). Prior to joining 91勛圖 in 1988, he was a teacher in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, and in California public schools for ten years.
Garys academic interests include curriculum and instruction, educational equity, and teacher professional development. He received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from U.C. Berkeley; a multiple subjects teaching credential from the Black, Asian, Chicano Urban Program, U.C. Berkeleys Graduate School of Education; a master of arts in international comparative education from 91勛圖s Graduate School of Education; and a doctorate of education from the Leadership in Educational Equity Program, U.C. Berkeleys Graduate School of Education.
In addition to curricular publications for 91勛圖, Gary has also written for other publishers, including Newsweek, Calliope Magazine, Media & Methods: Education Products, Technologies & Programs for Schools and Universities, Social Studies Review, Asia Alive, Education 91勛圖 Asia, ACCESS Journal: Information on Global, International, and Foreign Language Education, San Jose Mercury News, and ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies; and organizations, including NBC New York, the Silk Road Project at Harvard University, the Japanese American National Memorial to Patriotism in Washington, DC, the Center for Asian American Media in San Francisco, the Laurasian Institution in Seattle, the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, and the Asia Society in New York.
He has developed teacher guides for films such as The Road to Beijing (a film on the Beijing Olympics narrated by Yo-Yo Ma and co-produced by 91勛圖 and the Silk Road Project), (a film developed by the Nuclear Security Project featuring former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, former Senator Sam Nunn, and former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell), Days of Waiting: The Life & Art of Estelle Ishigo (an Academy Award-winning film about Japanese-American internment by Steven Okazaki), Doubles: Japan and Americas Intercultural Children (a film by Regge Life), A State of Mind (a film on North Korea by Daniel Gordon), (a film about kamikaze pilots by Risa Morimoto), Makikos New World (a film on life in Meiji Japan by David W. Plath), (a film by Kerry Y. Nakagawa), Uncommon Courage: Patriotism and Civil Liberties (a film about Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service during World War II by Gayle Yamada), Citizen Tanouye (a film about a Medal of Honor recipient during World War II by Robert Horsting), Mrs. Judo (a film about 10th degree black belt Keiko Fukuda by Yuriko Gamo Romer), and Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story (a film by Regge Life about a woman who lost her life in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami).
He has conducted numerous professional development seminars nationally (including extensive work with the Chicago Public Schools, Hawaii Department of Education, New York City Department of Education, and school districts in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County) and internationally (including in China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and Turkey).
In 1997, Gary was the first regular recipient of the Franklin Buchanan Prize from the Association for Asian Studies, awarded annually to honor an outstanding curriculum publication on Asia at any educational level, elementary through university. In 2004, 91勛圖 received the Foreign Ministers Commendation from the Japanese government for its promotion of Japanese studies in schools; and Gary received recognition from the Fresno County Office of Education, California, for his work with students of Fresno County. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Foreign Ministers Commendation from the Japanese government for the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and the United States, especially in the field of education. At the invitation of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, San Francisco, Gary participated in the Republic of Korea-sponsored 2010 Revisit Korea Program, which commemorated the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. At the invitation of the Nanjing Foreign Languages School, China, he participated in an international educational forum in 2013 that commemorated the 50th anniversary of NFLSs founding. In 2015 he received the Stanford Alumni Award from the Asian American Activities Center Advisory Board, and in 2017 he was awarded the Alumni Excellence in Education Award by the Stanford Graduate School of Education. Most recently, the government of Japan named him a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays.
He is an editorial board member of the journal, Education 91勛圖 Asia; advisory board member for Asian Educational Media Services, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; board member of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Northern California; and selection committee member of the Elgin Heinz Outstanding Teacher Award, U.S.Japan Foundation.