
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.
Click here to preview this program!-
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 -
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 -
Mikoji -Jisa, Anesa, and a 19-year-old Spring-
2018 30 mins[Festivals of Japan Season 2] The "Mikoji Dance" is a 150-year-old dance performed during the Taromaru Shuuraku Spring Festival in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. In this dance, the sitting doll of an old man and the standing doll of a young woman comically dance to the accompaniment of vibrant drums,...more details -
Yoga in Nature ~The Ultimate Healing Experience~ - Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture
2018 30 mins[Beauty of Japan Season 2] Barry Grossman, originally from the United States, has lived in Japan for 27 years. He is a professor at the University of Hachinohe, and is also a yoga instructor. What is the ultimate relaxation experience that Barry talks about? Through following him on his yoga...more details