[Craft Masters of Japan] The Sendai Tansu furniture was created around the end of Edo period (mid-19th century). Its fabrication process is based on 3 traditional techniques which were all inherited from the Edo period; ‘Sashimono (furnishing)’, ‘Urushi lacquer’, and ‘metal fitting’. Nowadays, the tradition is well harmonized with a...

[Craft Masters of Japan] The "Senkashi" washi paper is one of Japan's Intangible Cultural Treasures. Dating back to the Edo Period, its technique has been passed down for over 400 years. We take a look at Takashi Kikuchi, who is a washi maker specializing in this unique and historically rich...

‘Tanchozuru’, or red-crowned cranes, are designated as a special national monument which are seen in Kushiro wetland. In the Ainu language, they refer to this elegant and graceful bird as the 'sarurun kamuy' (god of wetland). The camera follows those working to preserve the environment, and who feed the cranes...