
Zuigan-ji (2016)
Majestic Zuigan-ji Temple in northeast Japan is a national cultural treasure. Completed 400 years ago by the feudal lord of the region, Date Masamune, it’s famous as a lavish and glorious example of the culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period (mid-1500s to 1600). The main hall is decorated with beautiful period-style art created by painters and master craftsmen summoned from Kyoto. With ground subsidence now causing its pillars to tilt, Zuigan-ji has been undergoing comprehensive repairs and restorations since 2009, called "the great Heisei restoration." An essential consideration when repairing Japanese cultural properties is that old and weathered parts must not be replaced and existing original materials must be reused to the greatest possible extent. The restoration's greatest challenge was to reinforce the structure to protect against earthquakes. This program follows the Japanese engineers and craftsmen, striving to clear the hurdle with their conviction and ideas, to preserve the national treasure.
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The 40th Otsuna Festival -Invigorating a Community-
2018 30 mins[Festivals of Japan Season 2] Half-naked men pull on a giant white rope. Eighty meters long and about a ton in weight, the rope is the central focus of the Tosa City Otsuna Festival. Originally an Edo Period tradition, the festival was brought back by people hoping to energize a community...more details -
The Wind’s Song
2006 Commended, TV Drama Category, ABU Prize, 2010. The Yagizawa family, made up of three generations, owns a hops farm in Furano, Hokkaido. But after appearing in a beer commercial for a new product, the young couple reveals they’ve been thinking of abandoning the farming business for good. Father and son...more details -
An Eden for Two
2016 US International Film & Video Festival 2017 Entertainment Category Gold Camera Award After World War 2, Japan experienced an economic boom and became a wealthy society. One couple fought against materialism, choosing otherwise to live deep in the mountains without electricity, a telephone, or plumbing. This program shows how these...more details -
Our Lives as Immigrants- Iiyama, Nagano Prefecture
2019 30 mins[Beauty of Japan Season 2] An American and English couple have lived in Iiyama City for 3 years. They earn their living through teaching English at schools within the vicinity, but wish to become farmers instead. Their excitement expands as they map out their future lives growing safe and healthy...more details