
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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Shiretoko Peninsula’s Kingdom of Brown Bears
2003 “Era of Local” TV Festival 2010 Grand Prize. Shiretoko Peninsula, Japan’s final frontier, is the last kingdom of brown bears where their life in the wild can be observed. Surrounded by the ocean, the Shiretoko Peninsula is densely inhabited by brown bears, which is proof that Shiretoko is blessed with...more details -
The Secrets of the Village with Japan's longest living population Takayama city, Nagano Pref.
2014 30mins[Beauty of Japan Season 1] Nagano prefecture has the longest living population in Japan. Particularly this little village of Takayama is known as “the anti-aging village”. The village, with merely 8000 residents, is blessed with beautiful nature and climate. Preserving the healthy life and culture, it has been recognised as...more details -
I'm Taking a Little Trip to North Korea
2023 2023 World Media Festivals Gold 2023 New York International Film Festival Silver 2023 US International Awards Silver The Repatriation Project saw nearly 93,000 people migrate from Japan to North Korea between 1959 and 1984. While the project was mainly aimed at native-born Koreans looking to return to their homeland, approximately...more details -
New Life Blossoms in an Old Village: Seven Years of Struggle and Hope
2013 The aging of Japan's population is steadily hollowing out the country's agriculture. Realizing the gravity of the situation, a struggling farming community in Ishikawa Prefecture called Sugaike began trying to attract young residents. Hiroyuki Yago is one of the people who came. He moved from Osaka to Sugaike in order...more details