[Festivals of Japan Season 2] The Omanto Festival of Aichi Prefecture is a much-loved festival passed down since the Edo period. The highlight of this festival is held at a circular run where young men display their courage by jumping onto horses traveling at 40 km/hour. The locals of this...

[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...

[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...

[Festivals of Japan Season 1] Akayu Hot Spring in Yamagata Prefecture lost much of its bustling energy due to large fires that occurred in the late 1800s. Wishing for the recovery of their city, local volunteers created Eboshiyama Park. Later, as vitality slowly began to return to the city through...