[Festivals of Japan Season 2] The "Mikoji Dance" is a 150-year-old dance performed during the Taromaru Shuuraku Spring Festival in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. In this dance, the sitting doll of an old man and the standing doll of a young woman comically dance to the accompaniment of vibrant drums,...

[Festivals of Japan Season 2] Kintaikyo is one of the three most famous bridges in Japan. Located in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the bridge provides the stage for the annual Kintaikyo Bridge Festival in spring. Welcoming its 40th time, the festival showcases a colorful reenactment of feudal lords returning from...

[Craft Masters of Japan] In the city of Nanto, Toyama Prefecture,  textile production has been an essential part of its history since the Sengoku Period, around the 16th century. Within this city, there is a factory called Matsui Weaving Industry, which specializes in the production of Shikekinu Silk. Shikekinu Silk...

[Colors in Japan] Gasho Nishioka, a renowned “sho” (calligrapher) from KudamatsuCity, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is pushing the boundaries of traditional Japanese calligraphy. Known for using only black “sumi” ink, Nishioka seeks to innovate while preserving the timeless beauty of this ancient art form. Click here to preview the episode! Part of...