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For Cherry Blossom Festival 2022, NHK WORLD-JAPAN is generously releasing a series of free documentary videos. Topics are wide and range from sake tasting, samurai-era castle building, and a four-part miniseries about the renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki. Check out this year's selection below!
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NHK World Prime: Samurai Wall
Castle design evolved in 17th century Japan with stone walls as a key feature. Sakamoto in Shiga Prefecture became famous for its mason's expert techniques for dry-stacking. They traveled across Japan to complete their commissions. But when feudalism ended 150 years ago, many castles were destroyed. While most of the masons lost their jobs, one family in Sakamoto survived by refurbishing old ruins. But the 15th-generation master Suminori Awata is worried about the future. One day he receives an unexpected request to build a castle-style wall in Texas. Awata's journey begins. (49min.) 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki
Since 2007, NHK has been granted exclusive access to the studio of legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, documenting his creative process for 10 years. While his films have won international acclaim for their stunning visuals, this four-part documentary series explores the gritty reality behind the scenes. Miyazaki is shown as a passionate artisan, a father going head to head with his son, and a steadfast trailblazer. (49 min.×4 episodes)
Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4SAKE R-EVOLUTION: A Fever Brewing Across the Globe
Once, the true taste of sake could only be experienced in Japan, due to its complicated brewing method and conditions unique to Japan. But that‘s not true anymore. Through Japanese retailers’ efforts to apply new technologies and the passion of the foreign sake-lovers, sake is now becoming a global beverage. In the first of 2 episodes, we visit Africa, Europe and America to witness sake‘s skyrocketing popularity and the devotion behind the opening of genuine sake breweries outside Japan. (44min.)
This video will be available on this site until August 8, 2021.SAKE R-EVOLUTION: Heady Milestones in a New Era
In the second of 2 episodes, we focus on Japan and France, countries known for their many connoisseurs of fine beverages. France is a top producer of wine, and now the French mindset is bringing about a revolution in the sake tradition. One Japanese brewer adopts the concept of terroir and starts using French rice, and the former cellar master at Dom Perignon attempts to make the ultimate sake by combining Japanese craftsmanship with the art of "assemblage." What are the results? (44min.)
This video will be available on this site until August 8, 2021.消えた祖父の謎を追う～戦後も隔離された日本人～A Vanished Dream: Wartime Story of my Japanese Grandfather
To American photojournalist Regina Boone, her paternal grandfather Tsuruju Miyazaki was a mystery. He was a hardworking Japanese immigrant and built a family with an African-American woman. But he was arrested on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack never to return home. Regina's father, a prominent journalist and founder of a prestigious Virginia newspaper, hardly ever spoke about Miyazaki throughout his life. It was only 5 years ago on his death bed, that he asked Regina to find out why her grandfather vanished and to search for their family's roots in Japan. Our camera follows her quest to uncover the untold story of Japanese immigrants who became lost after detention in wartime America. (49 min.)
This video will be available on this site until August 8, 2021.Voices of the Children: 10 Years After the Disaster
In 2011, the lives of thousands of children were disrupted by the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster. Many lost parents and other loved ones. A decade later, some of them cannot share their feelings, even with their families. A young man whose mother and brother died deals differently with their loss than his father does. A teenaged girl is trying hard to build a real family with her new mother. Ten years after that fateful day, this is a record of the voices of these children. (49min.)
This video will be available on this site until August 8, 2021.NHK Newsline Focus - A Pacific
The huge earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan 5 years ago swept vast amounts of debris across the Pacific. Many objects reached the U.S. State of Oregon, including the crossbeams from the gates of a Shinto shrine dedicated to the safety of local villagers who depend on the sea. Thanks to the all-out efforts of people in America, those precious artifacts made the long journey home. NHK NEWSLINE FOCUS tells the story of how this incredible homecoming formed bonds of friendship between people living an ocean apart. (46min.)
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(These videos are co-sponsored by NHK WORLD-JAPAN in cooperation with the Consulate-General of Japan)
Want to Watch More?
NHK World is available on television, for free via over-the-air-antenna on channel 28.2 (most of the Puget Sound region) 15.2 (Centralia) and on cable: XFinity channel 115. Programs range from documentaries, international news, business, technology, and science information, as well as lifestyle, culture and travel programs produced and presented from Japanese and Asian perspectives.
