
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 -
Enchanted by the San'in- Daisen, Tottori Prefecture
2019 30 mins[Beauty of Japan Season 2] San’in, considered to be a mythical home of Gods, is a sacred place where the natural landscapes of Japan prevail. Richard Pierce was enthralled by its charms and has been organizing tours and acting as a guide. In 2017, he even cooperated with the locals...more details -
Colors in Japan
2021 25 minJapan's landscape overflows with various colors from its four seasons. This array of rich "coloring" is presented in vivid 4K through the stories of traditional arts and crafts that symbolize the regions across the country from which they were born. Episode List (click title to preview): 1. Paint It Black!...more details -
Spellbinding Yotaka Festival- Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture
30 mins[Beauty of Japan Season 2] Tonami City's Yotaka Festival is said to bring good harvests. Its show-stopping parade consists of 6-meter-tall red decorative paper lanterns, and its highlight is the great paper lantern fight. Fighting bravely but gracefully, it showcases the very moment in which the lanterns look the most...more details