*Japanese Studies General Guide: Documentary and Educational Films

"The Nikko Grand Shrine was designated as a World Heritage monument in December 1999. The program covers fine examples of the architecture of the religious buildings, which are lavishly adorned with sculptures. At the same time, the program also introduces the working methods of te craftmen, and interviews them about what they think of their involvement in maintaining the historic religious buildings." -- NHK International’s online catalog. Narration in English, Japanese dialogue with English subtitles.

Great expectations: Looks at innovative, futuristic, utopian and sometimes bizarre architectural projects of the 20th century. Shows how contemporary problems like housing shortages, urban decay and pollution motivate architects to create changes in the way people live. Considers plans that have actually been constructed and animates some unrealized visions to see how they might have looked. Features works by Rudolf Steiner, Le Corbusier, Moshe Safdie, Oscar Niemeyer, Jacque Fresco, Peter Cook, Colin Fournier, Levitt & Sons, Antti Lovag, Peter Vetsch, and Paolo Soler. Narration in English. Some interviews in French, German or Portuguese with English subtitles.

A documentary that weaves together visually stunning stories of indigo’s cultural roots, its history, and its importance in global trade. In English, Spanish, Japanese, Bangla, and Yoruba with English subtitles.

"One day I had a vision: I saw the Earth as sculpture." In this program, Isamu Noguchi speaks through archival film and audio recordings about sculpting space by using sculpture to redefine its own setting and by reshaping the landscape itself into a vast work of art. Noguchi biographer Dore Ashton and others who knew Noguchi provide insights into his life and personality. Landmarks such as the UNESCO gardens, Bayfront Park, the Expo ’70 fountains, Black Slide Mantra, the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden, Moere Numa Park, and the artist’s home in Mure, Japan, are featured, as are Water Stone, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the stage sets he designed for Martha Graham.

The evolution of Kyoto architecture from the late 19th century up to the Second World War is explored. Buildings examined include Shimadzu Foundation Memorial Hall, Murin-an, the former JR Nijo Station, Gion-kaku Tower, Chochikkyo, Kyoto Kaikan Hall Annex, Kyoto Municipal Museum and Yasaka Kaikan Hall.

A documentary based on interviews with Korean comfort women who were forced into sexual servitude by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Their compelling testimony is presented side by side with interviews with Japanese soldiers, recruiters, and commentary by historians and a medical doctor. Some of their stories, portrayed in powerful dramatizations with their own voices flowing under stunning images, echo soulful sorrow and the amazing resilience of the human spirit. In Korean, Japanese and English with English subtitles.

"Use this program to illustrate connections between fish stock depletion and growing tensions over ocean resources. The exhaustion of West Africa’s fisheries is shown to have economic consequences a hemisphere away--specifically in Japan, which depends on Moroccan production for much of its octopus imports. Heavy fishing by European fleets in Senegalese waters-- and the 1995 "Turbot War" between Spain and Canada--provide concrete evidence that competition for the ocean’s riches is hardly a local problem. This is an effective study of the industrialized world’s consumption trends and their political and environmental fallout."--Distributor.

This documentary provides an in-depth view of Japan’s sumo wrestlers. Also includes footage from the first accredited sumo wrestling tournament held in the United States.

"Durable lacquerware, tough handmade paper, ultra sharp ’samurai swords’ and durable ceramics are among the traditional Japanese craftwares that are widely appreciated by artists and collectors all over the world for their unique beauty and functionality. But recently, these items, and the processes developed in their production, are attracting a new audience of admirers---the technicians, engineers and designers of the 21st century’s most advanced technologies. They way ’Some traditional crafts are pointing us an important new directions. Environmental problems solved with Urushi lacquer. Key materials for the IT age derived from Washi paper making techniques. A new space age material, that reflects the insights of a Japanese pottery expert. Even though they have been around for so long, traditional skills are still not fully understood, and some of their newly discovered secrets are leading us towards a brighter future." -- NHK International’s online catalog. Narration in English, Japanese dialogue with English subtitles.

"Teijun Ogawa, a proud and rare niso (female priest) of Japanese Shingon Buddhist Sect, dies after telling her story to Reiko and Max, a Japanese couple based in New York. The GateKeeper of Enmyoin is the product of their journey in search of Teijun’s unspoken feelings about her womanhood before and after her death. The story is told through Reiko’s voice, which reflects her own journey of trying to find freedom, balance and integration of her roles as a rebel, new immigrant in the U.S., woman, wife, and mother. Soon the simple unfinished portrait of Teijun develops into a genre-bending, personal detective documentary with rich narrative flavor and spiritual sustenance"--Production company’s website. In Japanese with English subtitles.

Dr. Robert Ballard leads a team of experts and four World War II veterans to Midway Island where the U.S. and Japan fought one of the fiercest battles of the war. They’re in a race against time to find at least one of the downed aircraft carriers including the U.S.S. Yorktown.

Four beloved stories of India, Indonesia, Korea, and Japan are told through masterpieces of visual art and the stirring performances these tales have inspired for centuries.

Features the films of Charles and Ray Eames, a husband and wife team renowned for their design work in the areas of architecture, filmmaking, science, communications, painting and furniture design.

Heroes of Iwo Jima: Looks at the historic WWII battle through the lenses of two photographers. Joe Rosenthal took the famous picture of six Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mt. Suribachi. Included are interviews with Charles Lindberg, Joe Rosenthal and James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers. In English, subtitles in French.