
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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Ms. Chii’s Little Band: Bringing Songs and Smiles to the Children of Cambodia
2012 2013 New York Festivals Silver Award. In this program, a female teacher from Hokkaido travels to Cambodia alone to teach music at the country’s largest elementary school in Siem Reap. She reveals the struggles she encounters in her efforts to help her students. Chigusa Tanaka (33) is a volunteer for...more details -
Oshima and Jacques the Baker- Niihama, Ehime Prefecture
30 mins[Beauty of Japan Season 2] Oshima is a small island on the Seto Inland Sea with a population of just 250 people. Swiss native, Jacques moved to the peaceful island with his wife Etsuko. He runs a small bakery and a farm on this remote island, enjoying a peaceful and...more details -
Meoto Iwa-Enchanted by the Rising Sun Miracle (Mie Prefecture)
2021 25 minutes[Colors in Japan] MeotoIwa (The Married Couple Rocks), a famous rock formation in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, offers a unique natural spectacle during the summer solstice. We follow photographers who flock to the site to capture the awe-inspiring phenomenon of the sun rising over Mt. Fuji between the rocks. Click...more details -
Partnership of "Seven Craft Masters" -Hikone Buddhist Altar-
2015 30 mins[Craft Masters of Japan] Hikone Butsudan, or Buddhist altar, is traditional craftwork from the castle town of Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture. Its origins can be dated back to the Edo Period. There are seven steps in the creation process of the altars, which are conducted by the ‘Seven Masters’. Each...more details