[Craft Masters of Japan] Kunimasa Matsuba is a Japanese swordsmith who has received the prestigious excellence award ten times at the exhibition of newly made swords in Japan. His strong, muscular body has undergone years of training in the smothering heat which enables him to create beautiful swords that gleam...

[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,...

[Beauty of Japan Season 1] Nagano prefecture has the longest living population in Japan. Particularly this little village of Takayama is known as “the anti-aging village”. The village, with merely 8000 residents, is blessed with beautiful nature and climate. Preserving the healthy life and culture, it has been recognised as...

[Colors in Japan] “Kyobenirouge”, made from selected safflowers, has been a traditional craft and widely used throughout Kyoto City since ancient times. It is known for being very pleasing to the eye. Click here to preview this episode! Part of the "Colors in Japan" series!