[Craft Masters of Japan] Automata are Western mechanical dolls. Kazuaki Harada is one of the very few automata artisans living in Japan. However, he has been gathering steady attention and fame worldwide with his unique creations. Harada's automata are very comical and alluring and manage to make people laugh and...

[Colors in Japan] Ainokura Gassho-zukuri is a World Heritage site in Toyama Prefecture's Gokayama region, known for its heavy snowfall. To endure these harsh winters, the village's people have preserved traditional wisdom and techniques, reflected in their unique thatched-roof houses. Click here to preview the program! Part of the "Colors...

[Festivals of Japan Season 1] Mooka, in Tochigi Prefecture, is a city that prides itself on its steam locomotive, cherry blossoms, and rape blossoms. Within the city, there is an area called "Sakuramachi," where 1,000 cherry blossom trees line the railway line. Every spring, the steam locomotive runs through a...

[Beauty of Japan Season 2] The Ogaki Festival is held in the samurai town of Ogaki and has a long history that dates back to the Edo period. Thirteen floats are paraded across town during the festival and are considered moving pieces of art. Decorated with minuscule carvings, gorgeous embroidered...