For 3 days during the summer, the Japanese celebrate the Obon festival. It is a time when the ancestors' spirits return from the other side, to spend time with the living. All across Japan, Obon is celebrated in local, traditional ways. To discover the spirit of Obon, 2 explorers visit a small village in Aichi Prefecture.
Mount Fuji. The highest mountain and volcano in Japan. For centuries, the Japanese have feared Mount Fuji for its numerous eruptions. However, it has also been a symbol of worship, as a spiritual place where the gods reside. The Japanese continue to climb this mountain with wonder and fear.
KAGURA is a Shinto ritual to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest. Performances are held throughout the country from autumn, through to winter. Kagura is a celebration to enjoy the fruits of a hard year's work by singing and dancing along with the gods. To discover the spirit of Kagura, 2 explorers visited Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture.
Japan - a country of timeless wonder and mystery. The deep spirituality of the Japanese has captured the hearts of many explorers in the past. The journey to uncover the essence of the Japanese spirit, begins. Zazen: The practice of Zen meditation. Originally from China, Zen spread to Japan in the 13th century. Bring your posture and breathing into harmony and your mind will follow. This is the secret behind Zen philosophy. Kanagawa Prefecture, it's the holy place of the Zen religion more than 8 centuries. 3 travelers explore the spirit of "Zazen."
"Itadakimasu" is a short phrase that Japanese people say before each meal. What kind of meaning this short word has to Japanese people? The 2 explorers have traveled to Minamiboso in Chiba Prefecture. A local shrine here worships the deity of cooking which is very rare. Today we will explore the intriguing roots of "Itadakimasu."
February, Japan's coldest month. Nighttime. Devotees gather for the annual SOMIN-SAI Festival. The festival that men pray naked while standing the extreme cold. They pour cold water over themselves, purifying their bodies and their minds. Then they stand atop a bonfire, where the spark and smoke cleanse them further. At the climax of the festival, the men fight over a special "Somin bag" that is said to keep you free from sickness and calamity. What do the men feel in their hearts during this mix of cleansing and conflict?
Japan, it is world's best heavy snow country. How do Japanese people pass this severe winter season? We have visited New year's festival called "Kamakura Matsuri" in Akita Prefecture which have 450 years history. In the snow room called "Kamakura," there is altar and "Suijinsama" (water god) is enshrined. People have depended on "Suijinsama" through the winter season and pray for good harvest in Autumn. We will experience the "Spirit" of people's life spending more than 5 months of the year with the snow.
February 3 marks an important day for Japanese people: the Setsubun festival. Each year, people throw Mame (roasted soybeans) and recite the phrase "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi." This phrase means "fortune in, ogre out." For Japan, the ogre represents disaster, illness, famine and other calamities outside of one's own control. We visit Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan to explore region's long-standing ogre folklore and experience the Japanese spirit.
The Japanese art of Bonsai is a unique form of horticulture. What is behind the art of cultivating trees into aesthetically pleasing shapes in containers rather than allowing nature to take its course? We explore the essence of the Japanese spirit as reflected in the living art of bonsai.
Long ago, a belief in animism, the idea that deities are present in every aspect of nature, existed throughout the world. This spirit lives on today in Kumano, a spiritual heartland of Japan. Why does nature continue to play such an important role in Japanese spirituality? We visit a trio of revered shrines in Kumano to explore the roots of Japanese animism.
Mikawa, in central Japan. Fireworks have long held a special significance in this region. Every district in Japan has its own tutelary deity who protects the land and its people. Mikawa's traditional Tezutsu fireworks are held as an offering to this deity. The word Tezutsu literally translates to hand-held cannons. The Tezutsu carriers are responsible for making their own cannons. It is here that Antonio begins his journey to explore the spiritual link between fireworks and the people of Mikawa.
Since ancient times, Yamabushi were believed to acquire supernatural powers through the practice of rigorous mountain ascetics. In the 16th century, Christian missionaries to Japan regarded them with hostility, as "sorcerers in the service of the devil." Our spiritual explorers Andrea and Mandy seek to understand the spirituality of Yamabushi through a three-day ascetic program.
Since ancient times, people in Japan have held festivals to appease the deities and pray for protection against disasters and epidemics. Our spiritual explorers Zega and Foo seek to understand the significance of such festivals in a world ravaged by COVID-19. They explore 2 distinctive festivals -- one that originated as a religious ceremony to purge the capital of plague, another to pacify the deities of volcanic Mt. Fuji.
COVID-19 has forced people to practice social distancing, impacting communities all over the world. How have Japan's close-knit communities endured? Our 2 spiritual explorers visit 2 Japanese communities where, prior to the pandemic, annual festivals and events have played an important role in bringing people together. Explore how life has changed in the wake of the pandemic, and the ever-increasing importance of community life.
COVID-19 has sparked a growing awareness of nature and life, alongside an interest in animism, a philosophy which remains at the heart of Japanese beliefs to this day. But what is animism? Anthropologist Okuno Katsumi describes it as a sensibility that connects humans and other life forms. He joins 2 explorers who visited Kumano, the heartland of nature worship in Japan, to talk about Japan's embrace of animism as reflected in its culinary rituals and the relevance of animism in the post-COVID world.
Since ancient times, Japanese people have offered performances of the song, dance and music to the deities. Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara Prefecture boasts a 900-year-old festival which dedicates all kinds of performing arts to the divine. Ritual dances called Kagura are performed across Japan, including Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture, to thank the deities for a good harvest. How have these dances influenced the spirituality of the Japanese people? Our explorers discuss their experiences of Kagura with a Japanese musician and a historian.
Oni - demonic creatures with horns and fangs - have been feared in Japan for more than a thousand years as a manifestation of disaster and misfortune. Oni come in all shapes and sizes and often make appearances at festivals, but they are far more than a simple representation of evil: In some regions of Japan, they are even regarded as guardian deities. The ambiguous nature of Oni reveals to our 2 explorers a uniquely Japanese understanding that nothing in life is black and white.
The shakuhachi flute emerged during Japan's Edo period (1603-1868) as a tool to train Zen meditation through breathing. Shakuhachi player Kudo Lenzan, who collaborated with Sakamoto Ryuichi during the coronavirus pandemic, says that the sound of the natural bore bamboo shakuhachi expresses the spirit of Zen. It is especially relevant to the Japanese view of impermanence as depicted in Hojoki, written 800 years ago after a series of natural disasters. What role might the shakuhachi play in a world stricken by COVID-19?
Both a lethal weapon and a work of breathtaking art: The Japanese sword is an iconic cultural symbol. Even when used in battle, the katana was always regarded as a sacred treasure that embodied the samurai spirit. Swordsmith Kawasaki Akihira has inherited a thousand-year-old tradition: He welds, hammers and folds plates of steel again and again to create each unique blade. Explore the spirit of the swordsmith who forges beauty from steel.
Noh is a performing art with 700 years of history. The main actor wears a wooden mask, expressing the feelings of their unworldly character through set movements called kata. In Japan, it is believed that every aspect of nature has feelings that remain in the land. On Sado Island, which is closely associated with Noh founder Zeami, there are over 30 Noh stages on which islanders perform Shinto rituals. Join us for an exploration of the spiritual world of Noh.
Aikido is a relatively young martial art that promotes harmony and wellbeing. There are no competitions in Aikido; no winners or losers. Students work together in pairs, helping each other learn and improve. What is the essence of this harmonious martial art? In search of answers, our spiritual explorer visits a dojo in Kyoto Prefecture founded by Okamoto Yoko, a master with many years of experience teaching Aikido abroad.
Shojin ryori is an 800-year-old style of cuisine and Buddhist Zen practice that uses no animal products. Our spiritual explorer visits a Zen temple in Hiroshima to learn more about this culinary art, and how good posture, silent eating and resting one's chopsticks between mouthfuls allow one to face each meal with sincerity and self-reflection. Many Japanese people believe that eating is a way to extend and transform life into another form. Join us on an exploration of the philosophy of eating.
Mt. Hiei is home to one of Japan's most prominent monasteries: Enryaku-ji. For over 1,200 years, it has been a training ground for ascetics. One of the most grueling practices is the Kaiho-gyo, which involves walking and praying around the mountain through the night. Ascetics walk a 30km trail over 100, and sometimes even 1,000 consecutive nights. Join our explorers as they undergo a Kaiho-gyo experience, and observe the seeds of Buddhahood that exist throughout nature.
Osorezan is one of Japan's most sacred sites, drawing some 200,000 visitors annually from across the country. The mountain's eerie and otherworldly volcanic landscape stoked the belief that Osorezan is the entrance to the afterlife, where the living can encounter the spirits of the dead. Minami Jikisai, the acting chief priest of Osorezan Bodaiji Temple, encourages visitors to reflect on the meaning of death. Explore the unique Japanese perspective on life and death.
The Tsugaru shamisen is a traditional Japanese string instrument characterized by its dynamic sound, produced by striking the strings with a bachi or plectrum. Born of the hot summers and whiteout winters of Japan's northern Tsugaru region, the Tsugaru shamisen offers a boundless freedom of expression, allowing players to bare their soul in their music. Experience the spiritual vibes of an instrument once played by blind musicians to earn a living.
Oga Peninsula in northern Japan is home to mythical, ogre-like deities called Namahage. On New Year's Eve, human personifications of Namahage descend upon villages wearing frightening masks and costumes. The head of each household welcomes them with sake and food, and in return, they stomp and roar at the entrance to exorcise evil spirits and bring good luck. Our explorer visits the village of Anzenji to gain insight into how the imagination of the ancients inspired this fearsome protector.
Japanese drums or taiko are among the most powerful of all percussive instruments. Used since ancient times to send messages to faraway people and heavenly deities, today they feature in one of the most dynamic of Japan's performing arts. Kumidaiko is a taiko ensemble comprised of drums of various sizes and shapes, each played with a different rhythm and dynamic choreography, producing thunderous beats that shake both body and soul. Explore the spirituality behind kumidaiko.
Japan's southernmost islands of Okinawa were once ruled by the independent kingdom of Ryukyu. The kingdom prospered through trade with its more powerful neighbors, maintaining diplomatic relations based on the spirit of honor and respect. This spirit survives today through the traditional kata or forms of karate, a martial art that evolved from the bare-handed fighting styles of Ryukyu, practiced to develop body, mind and soul to discourage rather than initiate an attack. Follow our explorer's journey through the spirituality of Okinawa culture.
Okinawa, the southernmost islands of Japan, was once ruled by an independent kingdom with close ties to its Asian neighbors. Its heritage of embracing foreign influences is reflected in its distinctive pottery called Yachimun, which are part and parcel of everyday life, encompassing everything from tableware to roof tiles, shisa guardian statues, and burial urns. Our explorer meets with skilled artisans to gain an insight into the spirituality of the Okinawan people as expressed through its Yachimun.
For more than 700 years, the residents of Nishimonai in Akita Prefecture have welcomed their ancestral spirits home for the annual Obon festival through a Bon Odori. These dances are held across Japan, but the Nishimonai dancers don hoods and straw hats to become anonymous. They make patchwork costumes by sewing together pieces of old family kimonos to feel as if they are dancing with the spirits of the departed. Explore the spirituality of Nishimonai's unique Bon Odori.
The biwa is a stringed instrument that came to Japan from ancient Persia via the Silk Road. For over 800 years, it has been used to accompany the telling of Buddhist tales and epic stories such as "The Tale of the Heike," which follows the rise and fall of the powerful Taira clan. The distinctive sound of the biwa pulls at the heartstrings, drawing the listener in and highlighting Japanese ideas of impermanence. We explore the spiritual connections of this unique instrument with Biwa player Goto Yukihiro.
Our explorer takes a dive into Japan's culture of cleaning schools, shrines and temples, and how it influences local mindsets and values.
The Kishiwada Danjiri is a 250-year-old festival in which 200 people pull a 4-ton cart at top speed through the streets. Explore the spirituality behind this audacious ritual.
The bow and arrow, once a deadly weapon, has developed into the martial art of kyudo. We explore the way of the bow as a means to achieving peace of mind.
The spirit of the samurai is very much alive in kendo, a martial art using bamboo swords. Our explorer visits a dojo to gain an insight into the training of spirit, body and mind.
Japan is home to over 3,000 onsen. Our explorer visits two old hot springs to learn the significance of bathing to the Japanese spirit.