Pokemon Go! Japanese Mythology in Popular Culture

Introduction

Are you ready to become a Pokemon Master? Join us for a supernatural journey of a lifetime as we read Japanese myths, discuss the Japanese religion of Shintoism and learn how the supernatural have influenced the creation of Pokemon characters!  We will be learning about how geography affects belief systems. We will read about how the world of Pokemon reflects the importance of harmony between all living things. We will be exploring Japanese pop culture and how it celebrates the new and the old. Finally, you will be creating your own Pokemon character by playing “Pokemon Go,” studying geography and creating maps, developing and designing your character and writing a journey story (manga, interview, film) that teaches a lesson. Along the way, we will use Pokemon characters and commands to practice grammar, vocabulary and conventions.

Essential Questions

• How does geography affect the development of religion and belief systems?
• How did Japanese mythology influence the creation of different Pokemon characters?
• How is Japanese popular culture a combination of traditional and modern elements of culture? 
• Why do we use grammar?

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate understanding of how Japanese pop culture represents traditional and modern beliefs and influences
• Demonstrate understanding of the Shinto religion and how its’ beliefs and values are reflected in Pokemon
• Create their own Pokemon character and story (written, manga, animation, interview)  through the reading of a Japanese myth, and show how the characteristics of this Pokemon character reflect the beliefs and values of Shintoism.