
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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Wooden Barrels of Tochigi -Time Etched by the Color of Old Bamboo (Tochigi Prefecture)
2021 25 minutes[Colors in Japan] Tochigi City has a long history of producing wooden barrels for fermenting food. Despite the rise of plastic containers, one dedicated craftsman continues to make barrels using traditional techniques. The barrels are crafted from cedar heartwood and tied with local timber bamboo. Click here to preview this...more details -
At the Top of the Sky ~The Yarigatake Hut's 100 Years Story ~
2019 104 minIn April 2017, Daisuke decided to quit his job at a major mobile phone company and become the 4th generation successor of the "Yarigatake Sanso" mountain hut located on one of the most renowned mountains in the Japanese Alps. From an early age, he was brought to Yarigatake by his...more details -
Amezaiku (sugar sculpture) -A young artist blowing new life into tradition-
2015 30 mins[Craft Masters of Japan] Asakusa District in Tokyo is a popular tourist destination. Here in this vibrant area lies the best candy shop in Japan. Shinri Tezuka is a young candy maker working in this shop, and his masterful creations are so delicate and beautiful that they are almost too...more details -
Hikiyama Children's Kabuki -Cultured Entertainment for Common Folk-
2017 30 mins[Festivals of Japan Season 1] The Hikiyama Children's Kabuki in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, has a history of over 250 years. However, with the recent decline in birthrates and an increasing aging population, its survival has been put under threat. Amidst this problem, the children of Komatsu City try their...more details