This study considers the teaching of historical and territorial issues between Japan and China for the current Japanese social studies curriculum. For research purposes, a lesson plan was designed and facilitated in Japanese elementary and junior high schools. This lesson addressed ongoing tensions between Japan and China over the sovereignty of the Diaoyu (China)/Senkaku (Japan) islands. Pre-tests and post-tests were administered, and results were analyzed through the lenses of border pedagogy and place-based pedagogies. Students' transformative understandings of their roles as global citizens and students' attitudes toward problem solving were considered.