
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.
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Hikiyama Children's Kabuki -Cultured Entertainment for Common Folk-
2017 30 mins[Festivals of Japan Season 1] The Hikiyama Children's Kabuki in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, has a history of over 250 years. However, with the recent decline in birthrates and an increasing aging population, its survival has been put under threat. Amidst this problem, the children of Komatsu City try their...more details -
A French man striving to enrich a village with forestry- Totsugawa, Nara Prefecture
30 mins[Beauty of Japan Season 2] Totsugawa in Nara Prefecture is the largest village in Japan. Jolan settled in this village from France after he fell in love with its serenity and beauty. Using his expertise in European forestry, he works to revitalise the Japanese forests as well as the local...more details -
Miracle of Symphony No. 9 - 6 Years with Yutaka Sado & Ikutokukan Orchestra -
2025 75 minutesIn a breathtaking collaboration that was six years in the making, the Ikutokukan school orchestra - a rare find in Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture - achieved the impossible. They performed Beethoven's 9th Symphony, led by Yutaka Sado, the world-renowned maestro. This program follows the interactions between the legendary conductor and the...more details -
No Gambling!
2022 2022 World Media Festivals Silver Yokohama, a cosmopolitan metropolis close to the capital city of Tokyo, appeared to be the perfect location for major casino operators of the world to develop a new resort location. However, one man stood up to their casino development plans - 91-year-old Yukio Fujiki, a.k.a....more details