Web ARCHAEOLOGY
The Diplomatic Bluebook "...is an annual report on Japan's Foreign Policy and Activities published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan." (http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook) The Diplomatic Bluebook could be used to study Japan's foreign relations with the world from the present to almost 30 years ago. Because it is such a thorough account of Japanese history, it would give an accurate, albeit biased, view of the world from Japan's perspective. It could be used to write a DBQ on how Japan has interacted with the world from 1971-2013. Another source you could use to get another viewpoint about the same topic could be the US- Japan Security Treaty of 1951 as it gives another view of how Japan interacted with the world.
There is not much information on the Diplomatic Bluebook (i.e. there is no Wikipedia article on it), so there isn't much to be garnered from it without just reading it, which I am not to keen on doing considering there are over 30 different issues. I think it is an interesting series of documents and I am surprised that the US has no document like this that I could find (I'm sure there is one I just don't know what it's called).
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/1971/1971-contents.htm
There is not much information on the Diplomatic Bluebook (i.e. there is no Wikipedia article on it), so there isn't much to be garnered from it without just reading it, which I am not to keen on doing considering there are over 30 different issues. I think it is an interesting series of documents and I am surprised that the US has no document like this that I could find (I'm sure there is one I just don't know what it's called).
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/other/bluebook/1971/1971-contents.htm
Current Events
This article discusses the continuing dispute occurring between China, Japan, and occasionally Taiwan about who owns the Senkaku Islands. Japan claims ownership due to the fact that they searched the islands and found no traces of ownership and so they erected a flag and claimed the islands as their own. China claims ownership saying that the islands have been a part of Chinese territory since ancient times as fishing locations. The islands are important because it is believed that they contain oil deposits and are great locations for fishing. The article also discusses the various disputes that have occurred over who owns the island, like protests and riots and ridiculous arguments.
I connected this strange argument about the islands to the similar situation in the partition of India in 1947. Although the partition was much more violent, the two countries still fight over who owns a small region of land in northern India. This is similar because it should be blatantly obvious who owns the land; there has to be documents of some kind, and even if there isn't there are diplomatic ways of resolving conflicts like this. Unfortunately, none of the countries are interested in doing anything because the problem isn't the actual land it's the feelings of hostility the countries feel for each other.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11341139
I connected this strange argument about the islands to the similar situation in the partition of India in 1947. Although the partition was much more violent, the two countries still fight over who owns a small region of land in northern India. This is similar because it should be blatantly obvious who owns the land; there has to be documents of some kind, and even if there isn't there are diplomatic ways of resolving conflicts like this. Unfortunately, none of the countries are interested in doing anything because the problem isn't the actual land it's the feelings of hostility the countries feel for each other.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11341139
pop culture
One example of Japanese culture is their indie rock scene, which would be more accurately labeled as a combination of grunge/ punk and pop but whatever, and one of the most famous bands to be produced would have to be Eastern Youth. They have over 10 albums and are very popular here in America as well as in Japan. Our American equivalent would be the underground grunge movement of the late 90's/ early 2000's with bands like Green Day or Jimmy Eat World, as a more recent example. I noticed that although Eastern Youth is very popular, they are nowhere near as popular as some of the leading "indie rock" bands in America; the whole indie music scene in Japan isn't as big as it is, or rather was, here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkhEi-K4yNY - Eastern Youth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKsxPW6i3pM - Our American equivalent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkhEi-K4yNY - Eastern Youth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKsxPW6i3pM - Our American equivalent