Over the last year, the author's students have become very interested in popular culture from Korea and Japan. In particular, the class liked the films of Hayao Miyazaki, an Oscar-winning director who is considered one of the foremost anime filmmakers. In this article, the author came to an idea while he and the first-grade class were discussing…

This art activity involves secondary students in sculpturing netsukes, Japanese carvings dating back to the seventeenth century, from bars of soap. How the activity can be adapted for use with elementary students is also discussed. (RM)

Presents an art activity for fifth- and sixth-grade students in which they create "netsuke," a small sculptural art used in Japan to convey social ideals. Includes background information about netsuke, the categories of netsuke, and the use of creative and critical thinking. (CMK)