[Beauty of Japan Season 1] Kirikane is a decorative technique used for Buddhist statues and paintings. It requires high skills of cutting layers of gold leaves as thin as a hair, and placing them delicately onto Buddhist statues or paintings to create motifs. Chika Hasegawa is a young artist in...

[Beauty of Japan Season 2] The Akita dog breed is known for its cuteness, dignity, and for its loyalty to its owner (as described in the famous story of "Hachiko").  Angel, an Israeli living in Odate City, became a breeder after he was charmed by the Akita breed. Through his...

[Festivals of Japan Season 1] With energetic chants, a giant sea bream is towed by the excited townspeople of Toyohama, Aichi Prefecture. Originally a festival held to bless maritime safety and an abundant catch, it provides a unique spectacle for onlookers to enjoy. Five in total, the gigantic seabreams are...

[Craft Masters of Japan] Asakusa District in Tokyo is a popular tourist destination. Here in this vibrant area lies the best candy shop in Japan. Shinri Tezuka is a young candy maker working in this shop, and his masterful creations are so delicate and beautiful that they are almost too...