[Beauty of Japan Season 1] Katsushika ward in downtown Tokyo is one of a few cities where many craftsmen known as “Shokunins” still exist. Many of them work with skills used since the Edo or Meiji periods (late 19th century). The traditional crafts that they create through careful study of...

This is the second season of the Festivals of Japan Series, which introduces various festivals around Japan. In this season, we will explore the festivals themselves, their histories, and the people responsible for preserving, cherishing, and passing on their traditions. From ancient processions, giant paper floats, fire festivals, and even...

[Beauty of Japan Season 2] Jack Lee Randall is a shadow artist from the United States. He made the fateful decision to settle down in Toyama Prefecture after visiting there on one of his shows. His shadow performances evoke a sense of nostalgia in his spectators, and are full of...

There are 2.5 million people from all over the world currently living in Japan. How did they end up there? What drew them to come to Japan in the first place? Or more importantly, what made them want to stay? In this series, we take a look at various non-Japanese...