Documentary
The Unsung Experts of Japan | Japan in Focus | Discover Asia | Japan’s Unsung Masters - Live! | NINJA | BOSAI: Be Prepared |
The Unsung Experts of Japan | The Drum Taiko – The Brothers Who Create Drums –
DC029612
ワザあり！にっぽん ｜ ド迫力！五尺太鼓皮張り 加賀400年の響き・兄弟太鼓師 [CTV]
｜Length : 27min. ｜Year : 1996 ｜
The "taiko" is more than merely a musical instrument--this large drum has its origins in religious ceremonies and holds the power to inspire awe in the listener. Witness the painstaking process of crafting a "taiko" drum as demonstrated by the Asano brothers of Ishikawa Prefecture, heirs to a 400-year-old family tradition of drummaking.
The Unsung Experts of Japan | Doncho – The Theatrical Curtain Weavers –
DC029611
ワザあり！にっぽん ｜ 紅白梅 大緞帳に咲く！京都3代手織り技 [CTV]
｜Length : 27min. ｜Year : 1996 ｜
The Japanese dramatic art of "Kabuki" is steeped in tradition, extending even to the curtains used: elaborate "doncho" curtains are woven by hand with seasonal motifs and weigh up to a ton. Meet the many craftsmen involved in their construction and discover the work that goes in before the curtain goes up.
The Unsung Experts of Japan | The Master Potter – Crafting Traditional Mortars –
DC029610
ワザあり！にっぽん ｜ 再発見！台所のロングセラー 筑前・小石原焼すり鉢 [CTV]
｜Length : 27min. ｜Year : 1996 ｜
Master potter Takahiro Ohta of Koishiwara, a small town with a rich pottery tradition, demonstrates the arduous process of making a large mortar. Though losing ground to electric mixers, these mortars are still valued for their utilitarian charm, and Ohta's son plans to carry on the trade.
The Unsung Experts of Japan | The Old Man and the Bees – Natural Honey from the Japan Alps –
DC029509
ワザあり！にっぽん ｜ 南アルプス天然はちみつ 秘伝の古代養蜂 [CTV]
｜Length : 27min. ｜Year : 1995 ｜
Japanese beekeeping goes back over a millennium, but there are fewer and fewer farmers who are willing to use the technique since western honeybees are regarded as more productive and easier to tend. 84-year-old Yoichiro Uchikura, however, is an exception. Gentle and self-effacing, Yoichiro has been producing honey in his remote village high in the Japan Alps for more than 60 years - a good man who truly lives in harmony with Nature. This is a story with a message.
The Unsung Experts of Japan | Japan Blue – The Art of Indigo Dyeing –
DC029508
ワザあり！にっぽん ｜ 藍玉を育てる 体にやさしい天然藍染め [CTV]
｜Length : 27min. ｜Year : 1995 ｜
"Japan blue" is a rich indigo blue dye that has been produced by dedicated craftsmen for centuries. Yoshino Chiba is one of those traditional artisans, who, at 85, has devoted more than 60 years to the craft. This fascinating documentary shows the whole process from production of the "indigo balls" to the final dyeing. We also meet other dedicated craftsmen such as Yoshino's daughter-in-law Matsue and pattern engraver Chuji Miura who help keep this ancient art alive.
