
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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Chimugurisa ~Nanohana's Okinawa Diary ~
2018 Grand Prize at The Age of Regionalism Video Festival 2018 News program award winner at The Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association 2018 Nanohana Sakamoto, a 15-year-old girl born and raised in northern Japan, came to the island of Okinawa to attend a free school, Sangosya Score. Through her interactions with elderly...more details -
1300 Years of Prayers The Rebirth of the East Pagoda
2023 55 min.Yakushiji Temple is a World Heritage site in Nara. Its East Pagoda is a National Treasure of Japan and the only remaining building from the Heijo-kyo capital, built in the year 730. Yet due to severe deterioration and the potential threat of earthquakes, it became necessary for it to be...more details -
Paint It Black! A Calligrapher's Challenge (Yamaguchi Prefecture)
2021 25 minutes[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...more details -
Call Me Dad - In Search of a Treatment for Rett Syndrome -
2020 55 minutesThis documentary follows Tetsuji Tanioka over a period of 3 years, as he cares for his daughter with Rett Syndrome. A rare neurological refractory disease that occurs almost exclusively in females, the condition leads to regression in physical and linguistic ability. Worldwide, only one in fifteen thousand are afflicted and...more details