
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!-
Castle in the Sky and Granddaddy's Cherry Tree
2021 60 minutesThe Takeda Castle ruins in Asago City are known as the “Castle in the Sky” as they are located on a mountain top and look to be floating in the sky. Wild cherry trees growing on the mountain slope are another symbol of the city. The trees, preserved over generations,...more details -
"Little Yuna" - His Daughter's Legacy after the Great East Japan Earthquake -
2024 2025 WordMediaFestivals Siver 2025 New York Festivals Silver Norio Kimura, who lost his wife and father in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster and whose 7-year-old daughter, Yuna, remained missing until a bone fragment was found nearly six years later due to nuclear zone restrictions, now channels...more details -
Nebuta Festival -Nebuta Master Creator's 365 days-
2018 30 mins[Festivals of Japan Season 2] Every year between August 2nd and 7th, the dynamic Nebuta floats of Aomori Prefecture are paraded around the city at night, providing a colorful and exciting summer spectacle for all to enjoy. The city's pride, the Aomori Nebuta Festival, was recognized as an Important Intangible...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