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Three abstract, humanoid figures with elongated limbs and multicolored brushstrokes stand bent forward. Handwritten Japanese text is present on both sides of the figures, evoking the atmosphere of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum's Permanent Exhibitions.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum | Permanent Exhibitions

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, though located in Hiroshima, offers permanent exhibitions available for free and easily accessible online. Housed within the museum are items of material culture that represent the victims of the bombing of Hiroshima, in which a single atomic bomb killed tens of thousands of the city’s inhabitants, most of whom were civilians. The museum stands as a testament to the permanently altered way of life led by the survivors, and as a memorial to those who perished. Those who visit the museum’s virtual exhibitions can navigate the site’s user friendly pages to view the entire permanent collection. This interactive resource is encouraged for use in history classrooms in particular.

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A person with long hair tilts their head back and opens their mouth as rain falls, raindrops sketched in lines and hair blown sideways—a scene reminiscent of images from MIT Visualizing Cultures: Ground Zero 1945.

MIT Visualizing Cultures: Ground Zero 1945 

The MIT Visualizing Cultures project is an online database of historical images accompanied by essays that teach world history, and one of their most important pages is “Ground Zero 1945.” This page teaches about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through drawings from survivors and an essay by John H. Dower. This is a great interactive resource for high school history classes that will allow students to visualize this unimaginable event. Please note that, though the atomic bombings are a crucial part of history to include in classrooms, the drawings in this resource are graphic depictions of painful and disturbing events. Discretion is advised.

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Performers in red costumes showcase a traditional drum routine on a street in San Jose, with decorative lion heads and large flags, echoing the vibrant celebrations often seen in Vietnam.

Voyage to Vietnam | Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

The Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose offers an immersive set of online resources for children to interactively learn about Vietnamese culture. The exhibits feature a variety of topics, such as traditional foods, clothing, ancestor altars, musical instruments, and festivals, with a special focus on the Tet Festival. These engaging resources can be adapted for use in grades K-6, providing meaningful and educational pathways to explore aspects of life and culture in Vietnam.

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A person is writing gold calligraphy in Vietnamese on a red envelope with a brush, wearing a green ring, at a wooden table—an elegant moment reminiscent of Omniglot’s celebration of world scripts.

Vietnamese | Omniglot

This resource guide provides an overview of the Vietnamese language, including its linguistic features and writing systems. It covers the history of Vietnamese script, offers sample texts and videos, and includes practical materials for learning Vietnamese phrases and words. The guide also provides links to further information and educational resources for deeper exploration of Vietnamese language and culture.

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A large crowd gathers at night in front of an ornate, illuminated temple gate in Taiwan, surrounding a decorated boat and holding up phones to take photos, celebrating the vibrant religious traditions at the Heart of Asia.

Religion | Taiwan the Heart of Asia

This guide by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau discusses the many beliefs present within the country, a brief history of religion in Taiwan, and complementary images that display the beauty and originality of religious practices in Taiwanese culture.  

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Wooden plaques with handwritten messages hang on display at a shrine, illustrating traditions in Japanese religion, while people write at a nearby table in an outdoor setting.

Japanese Religions | Freeman Spogli Institute

This resource from Stanford University contains an overview on Japanese religions. The content presents Shinto in a comparative framework alongside Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity. This approach allows students to explore both the uniqueness and the interconnectedness of Shinto within East Asian religious thought. The site is well-suited for teachers planning world religions or global culture units.

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A procession of people dressed in traditional Japanese attire, reflecting Shinto traditions, walk in a line, each holding a yellow paper umbrella, outdoors on a gravel path.

Shinto | Asia Society

This short educational overview from Asia Society introduces Shinto as Japan’s indigenous belief system. It explains the role of kami (divine spirits), purification rituals, seasonal festivals, and the deep spiritual connection to nature. Designed for middle and high school classrooms, the page includes clear explanations and engaging visuals, making it a helpful resource for teaching cultural or religious traditions in Japan.

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A person in traditional attire walks under a large red torii gate at a Japanese shrine, reflecting the influence of Shintō, the indigenous Japanese religion, with mountains and a clear blue sky in the background.

Shintō | Asia for Educators

This educational page from Columbia University’s Asia for Educators provides a concise, accessible overview of Shinto’s origins and development in early Japanese history (1000 BCE– 794 CE). It explains the concept of kami, early ritual practices, and how Shinto shaped Japanese cultural and spiritual life. Designed for teachers, the site offers clear content suitable for classroom use, particularly in world history or religion units.

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