Season 1 · 26 episodes
Do you know "Rakugo"? Along with Kabuki, it's a traditional Japanese entertainment of dexterous and comical storytelling that covers everything from people's everyday lives, customs, food to unique sceneries. On "RAKUGO NIPPON!", we follow…
Softpomz from Thailand dives into the behind the scenes of the ultimate Ekiben. Will she be able to convey the ekiben staff’s passion to the customers?
Softpomz from Thailand experiences the life in the deep snow of freezing Gokayama, a World Heritage Site where residents spend their winters in snow over 2 meters deep.
Thanks to their appearance in hit Asian films, locations throughout Japan are being thrust into the spotlight. Previously unknown to most travelers, these locations are now must-see spots for movie buffs from both in and outside Japan. We …
This time, we continue our winter journey to Hokkaido, the setting of hit Thai film One Day, with its star Nittha Jirayungyurn, also known as Mew. First, to a hot spring resort with a surprising name where Mew takes in breathtaking views. …
This program delves into traditional recipes to shine a light on unique food cultures across Japan, and discover the older generation's seasoned philosophies of life. Tami Hiyama, 92 years old, lives alone in Fukuoka City, where she has ta…
This program portrays artisans who make traditional crafts, artistic or industrial products or luxury items. They use what the local climate offers them to create lifestyle products. Our camera will follow them to capture the process of ho…
Culinary specialist Kentetsu Koh travels across Asia in search of great home cooking and person-to-person encounters. Join him as he experiences a diversity of tastes and lifestyles throughout the region. In this episode, Kentetsu tries a …
Culinary specialist Kentetsu Koh travels across Asia in search of great home cooking and person-to-person encounters. In the Thai town of Mae Ai, near the border with Myanmar, Kentetsu meets a woman of the Lahu ethnic minority and learns a…
Culinary specialist Kentetsu Koh travels across Asia in search of great home cooking and person-to-person encounters. When Kentetsu explores Taipei, he comes across a fragrant cup of tea. This leads him to a tea farm in an area called Beip…
Culinary specialist Kentetsu Koh travels across Asia in search of great home cooking and person-to-person encounters. In this episode, Kentetsu goes to Taiwan's Orchid Island, known for its coral reefs. There, he tries the native Tao peopl…
Ninja are now seen in popular media around the world. But as their profile rises, their reality gets muddied amid legends and fantasies. The truth about authentic ninja lies unknown, shrouded in mystery. This program carefully examines the…
Ninja are now seen in popular media around the world. But as their profile rises, their reality gets muddied amid legends and fantasies. The truth about authentic ninja lies unknown, shrouded in mystery. This program carefully examines the…
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa was built on an idea that the museum should be like a neighborhood park open for everyone. Many up-and-coming artists offer their talents for creating works that bridge tradition and mo…
RAKUGO NIPPON! KAMAKURA is a show that follows Rakugo performers' journey to tradition and nature rich KAMAKURA, where heart-moving experiences are turned into original English Rakugo performances.
RAKUGO NIPPON! CHICHIBU is a show that follows Rakugo performers' journey to the magnificent nature of CHICHIBU, where heart-moving experiences are turned into original English Rakugo performances.
The Hoki Museum is home to paintings that are strikingly similar to reality. Some 500 works by modern Japanese artists are exhibited in this museum located in Chiba Prefecture, just a 1-hour train ride from Tokyo. This episode focuses on t…
Sisters 69-year-old Akemi and 67-year-old Satsuki have embraced "shojin ryori," a kind of vegetarian cuisine practiced by Buddhist priests. What might seem a strict diet has evolved into a project of passion. The sisters have spent 2 decad…
The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama, located 40 minutes from Kansai International Airport, sits right beside Wakayama Castle, and reflects the castle's design in its architecture. Half of its 14,000-piece collection consists of Japanese pri…
The history of Kyoto Wire Weaving goes back more than 1,000 years. Used as kitchen utensils in Kyoto cuisine, these tools have been cherished by chefs and people in the city through the generations. Kana-ami weaver Kenichi Tsuji and his so…
The Aomori Museum of Art was built next to ancient ruins dating back some 5,000 years. The museum's architectural style is quite unique, reflecting the image of the nearby excavation site. The interior is laid out like a maze, letting visi…
RAKUGO NIPPON! IWATE is a show that follows Rakugo performers' journey to Iwate on a journey to experience the age-old culture of Tohoku.
RAKUGO NIPPON! IWATE is a show that follows Rakugo performers' journey to Iwate on a journey to discover all of Iwate's autumn flavors.
The Japan Folk Crafts Museum in central Tokyo, established over 80 years ago, collects tableware and clothing used in everyday life. Made by nameless craftsmen, the objects on display in its galleries suggest a hidden beauty within the pra…
The ninja employed over 400 special weapons and tools to accomplish their missions, and the shuriken is undoubtedly one of the most famous. In this episode, we'll examine not just how the shuriken was thrown, but ninja techniques for throw…
The ninja were often given the important mission of infiltrating enemy territory and bringing back key information. Meanwhile, their own residences were cleverly rigged to thwart intruders and hide the information they'd acquired. In this …