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Journeys in Japan
Season 12 • Episode 9 • Yamatokoriyama: Water Brimming with Goldfish
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Journeys in Japan Season 12, Episode 9: Yamatokoriyama: Water Brimming with Goldfish
Elegant and charming, goldfish have captured the hearts of people in Japan for centuries. One of the main areas where they are produced is the historic city of Yamatokoriyama in Nara Prefecture. Although this region of Japan does not receive a lot of rainfall, there is abundant groundwater. There are many rivers running through the city, and reservoirs have been built to make use of their water. Over the centuries, the terrain was modified until it was perfect for goldfish breeding, and it took off in a big way. This time on Journeys in Japan, US photographer Seri Nieves visits Yamatokoriyama to explore the deep connection with water and goldfish in this ancient castle town. Watch Journeys in Japan Season 12, Episode 9 Yamatokoriyama: Water Brimming with Goldfish in HD free online. Enjoy high-quality streaming of Journeys in Japan Season 12, Episode 9 and share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Episodes
29 episodes
Kyoto: Tango Chirimen
The Kyotango area of northern Kyoto Prefecture is known as the birthplace of Tango Chirimen, a variety of crepe silk with a finely crimped texture and luxuriously soft feel. For 300 years, this fabric has been an essential part of its history and culture. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, we meet the people who produce Tango Chirimen, from the craftsmen who maintain the traditional skills of weaving and dyeing, to the modern artisans creating contemporary designs. And we explore the deep connection of this fabric with the natural environment of the Kyotango area.
28 min
Tsu: A Path to the Heart
Tsu in Mie Prefecture prospered as a castle town during the Edo period (1603-1868). Situated close to Ise Jingu, one of Japan's most significant Shinto shrines, it has been a crossing point for pilgrims since ancient times. Tsu is known for its appealing post town architecture, as well as its historic shrines and temples. Dance performer, and local resident, Yuko tours the sacred sites while holding a wish for the pandemic's end in her heart.
28 min
Tsushima: Slow Living on a Frontline Island
The island of Tsushima, in Nagasaki Prefecture, lies between Japan and South Korea, just 50 kilometers from the South Korean port city of Busan. Thanks to its location, the island developed as a thriving hub for trade and cultural exchanges between Japan, the Korean Peninsula and mainland China. Tsushima has also played a strategic role on the frontline between the regional powers. From the Battle of Baekgang (663) and the Mongolian expeditions of Japan (1274 and 1281) to Japan's invasions of Korea under Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1592-1598) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-5), it has had a long and turbulent history but has overcome all challenges. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Brandon Chin explores Tsushima, meets the residents, and discovers the important role the island has played in Japan's history and international relations.
28 min
Moji: Gateway to the World
Moji, just over 800 kilometers west of Tokyo, is on the northernmost tip of Kyushu. Facing the Kanmon Strait -- an easy access route for Japan's main island and mainland Asia -- Moji prospered as a major sea transportation post from the Meiji to early Showa periods. Businesses catering to the port visitors, including foreigners, cropped up. And much of the Western-style architecture of the time has been preserved. On Journeys in Japan, Winnie Hsu strolls around the old port town, tracing its legacy.
28 min
Frozen Beauty at Dawn and Dusk: Hokkaido in Midwinter
Hokkaido Prefecture in mid-winter is a frigid land of snow and ice, where temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees Celsius for weeks on end. But this is the perfect time to see wildlife and natural phenomena that can only be glimpsed at this time of year. And, of course, it's a paradise for winter sports and other outdoor activities. This episode is presented by Bill Sullivan, the narrator for Journeys in Japan. He loves Hokkaido and the great outdoors. Right now, he can't make any trips, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But he hasn't stopped making travel plans. So this time he introduces 3 places and activities that are on his wish list, all in Hokkaido.
28 min
Poetic Beauty of Wintry Kussharo
Winter in Hokkaido Prefecture... It's a fascinating time to visit for the stunning snowscapes and natural phenomena caused by the severe cold. Kussharo, located in a huge caldera, is part of the Akan-Mashu National Park. Cradled by the outer rim of the crater, heavy, cold air accumulates and the temperature plummets below minus 20 degrees Celsius on windless days. Lake Kussharo is the largest lake in Japan that completely freezes over. Hot springs gush out from many spots, releasing steam. Snow, ice and the steam interact in the ultra-low temperatures to create mysterious and stunning natural works of art.
28 min
Otaru: Herring and Glassware; Keeping Alive Otaru's Tradition
The city of Otaru, on the Sea of Japan coast of Hokkaido Prefecture, was founded about 150 years ago and grew rapidly as the main port for shipping coal from mines in the region. It also became the primary fishing port for the massive herring catch. The fish were used as fertilizer by farms growing cotton. For this reason, demand was strong and herring fetched a high price. Many people made their way to Otaru hoping to prosper from the herring business, and the city's population grew rapidly. In response to this economic boom in Otaru, as many as 25 banks opened branches in the city and it became Hokkaido's financial and trading center. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Isis Berns explores the city of Otaru, delving into its history of fishing and glass-making, to discover the proud vestiges of its past prosperity.
28 min
Eye on Nagoya: A City's Identity through Architecture
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28 min
Yamatokoriyama: Water Brimming with Goldfish
Elegant and charming, goldfish have captured the hearts of people in Japan for centuries. One of the main areas where they are produced is the historic city of Yamatokoriyama in Nara Prefecture. Although this region of Japan does not receive a lot of rainfall, there is abundant groundwater. There are many rivers running through the city, and reservoirs have been built to make use of their water. Over the centuries, the terrain was modified until it was perfect for goldfish breeding, and it took off in a big way. This time on Journeys in Japan, US photographer Seri Nieves visits Yamatokoriyama to explore the deep connection with water and goldfish in this ancient castle town.
28 min
Minami Shinshu: A Solo Alps Journey
Outdoor guide Daniel Moore gets a taste of deep mountain life on a drive around Minami Shinshu in southern Nagano Prefecture. On his way he stays in an abandoned old post town, hikes with a hunter, visits a master wood artisan, camps under a blanket of stars, shoots down the Tenryu River in a traditional boat and sips tea high up on a farmer couple's terraced slope.
28 min
Rainy Nights, Summer Mysteries
As spring changes to summer in Japan, there is a period of about a month when rainy, cloudy conditions persist. This transitional season is known as Tsuyu. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, we introduce some of the beautiful, mysterious natural phenomena that can be seen at this time of year, as well as an event traditionally held in rural communities across the country. The program is introduced by Michael Keida, who has a smallholding near Tokyo where he cultivates around 200 different kinds of vegetables and other crops using organic methods.
28 min
Go Deep! Underwater Paradise
Islands -- stringing along 3,500 kilometers, north to south, in the Pacific -- so narrow that no point is ever far from the sea. Coastlines alone spanning 35,000 kilometers… We dip under the waves to explore the Japanese archipelago's epic world of water. Tagging along with Michael Keida, and on one dive with Bonnie Waycott, we delight in tropical and temperate zone marine life, corals, 2 shark species and a friendly Asian sheepshead wrasse. Michael reminisces in the studio about his adventures with narrator Bill Sullivan.
28 min
Toba Islands: Life and Love in a Traditional Community
The Ise-Shima National Park is one of Japan's most popular sightseeing areas, but not so many people visit the islands that lie offshore from Toba City. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Ogawa Niki visits 2 of those islands. In Toshijima he explores the back alleys of a fishing town, where the distinctive tradition and local culture remain strong. And in Kamishima he discovers the setting for a novel that has become one of Japan's most popular love stories.
28 min
Cultivating a Taste for Summer Vegetables
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28 min
The Trail to Chiyanoki: Mountain Biking Revives Village
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28 min
Lifting the Spirit through Architecture: Nikko Okinawa Osaka
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28 min
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28 min
Ascending the Sacred Peaks
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28 min
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28 min
Creative Solutions Spark Rural Revival
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28 min
Legacies of Samurai Culture
When people think of the samurai they imagine fearless warriors skilled in the martial arts. But that's just one side. In this episode, we look at how elite samurai promoted artisanal culture and works of art even outside Edo (old Tokyo) and Kyoto. We trace their footsteps in Kyushu, Ishikawa Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture and Aomori Prefecture.
28 min
Hokkaido: Catching the Northern Lights
On Journeys in Japan, photographer Alfie Goodrich framed his lens on Hokkaido Prefecture's Muroran and Rausu in 2019. Muroran is an industrial city that flourished on steel. Though it fell on some hard times, it is coming back with events targeting youth culture fans. Rausu is a sliver of a town nestled on the Shiretoko Peninsula -- a World Natural Heritage Site. It is famous for its untouched nature and wildlife, as well as its prized kombu kelp.
28 min
Oki, Iki, Tsushima: Frontline Islands in the Stream
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28 min
Shinto Rituals: Linking Communities and Deities
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28 min
Northern Alps for All Seasons
The Northern Alps, which extend some 150 kilometers, are the most popular among climbers in Japan. Many of its peaks tower more than 2,000 meters with 10 topping 3,000. Along the ridgeline alpine views rarely identified with Japan stretch out. Due to strong seasonal winds, climbers can enjoy nature that changes dramatically through the seasons. And, along with the show's director, that's just what we do this time on Journeys in Japan.
28 min
Rising from the Ruins
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28 min
Michinoku the Legend of Gold
This time, we trace Japan's legend of gold. The precious metal was actually first mined in Michinoku -- an old name for northern Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures -- in the 8th century Nara period. A photographer visits Hiraizumi and its golden Konjikido, meets a gold leaf artisan, ducks into an old mine and even pans for gold.
28 min
Kasama: A Pottery Community in Evolution
The traditional pottery town of Kasama lies about 100 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, about 1.5 hours away by train or car. Surrounded by verdant hills, it enjoys an abundant natural environment. Until the early Showa era (1930s-1940s), Kasama was a major production center of ceramics for everyday use, such as pots and mortars. In recent decades, along with changes in people's lifestyle, the focus of Kasama ware has shifted to tableware and interior goods. Thanks to the town's relaxed atmosphere and openness to outsiders, many potters have moved there from other parts of Japan, producing their own individual works, often using methods they have developed themselves. Euan Craig is a potter from Australia who has lived in Japan for about 30 years. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Euan visits Kasama, to meet the local craftspeople who live and work in this evolving pottery town.
28 min