Begin Japanology - Season 2 / Year 2009

Begin Japanology - Season 2 / Year 2009

Season 2 / Year 2009

Network
Episodes41
DatesJan 19, 2009 - Dec 18, 2009
Previous SeasonNext Season

Episodes

Nishijin-ori
Year 2009Episode 130 min

Nishijin-ori

Jan 19, 2009
Kyoto Lacquerware
Year 2009Episode 230 min

Kyoto Lacquerware

Jan 26, 2009
Sake
Year 2009Episode 330 min

Sake

Feb 2, 2009
Katsura Rikyu
Year 2009Episode 430 min

Katsura Rikyu

Feb 9, 2009
Bonsai
Year 2009Episode 530 min

Bonsai

Feb 16, 2009
The Four Seasons
Year 2009Episode 630 min

The Four Seasons

Feb 23, 2009
Hina Dolls
Year 2009Episode 730 min

Hina Dolls

Mar 2, 2009
Nagasaki
Year 2009Episode 830 min

Nagasaki

Mar 9, 2009
Five-Story Pagodas
Year 2009Episode 930 min

Five-Story Pagodas

Mar 16, 2009
Cherry Blossoms
Year 2009Episode 1030 min

Cherry Blossoms

Mar 23, 2009
Chopsticks
Year 2009Episode 1130 min

Chopsticks

Apr 3, 2009
Aizome
Year 2009Episode 1230 min

Aizome

Apr 10, 2009
Bunraku
Year 2009Episode 1330 min

Bunraku

Apr 17, 2009
Kiriko Cut Glass
Year 2009Episode 1430 min

Kiriko Cut Glass

Apr 24, 2009
Traditional Folk Houses
Year 2009Episode 1530 min

Traditional Folk Houses

May 8, 2009
Tea Ceremony
Year 2009Episode 1630 min

Tea Ceremony

May 15, 2009
Soba
Year 2009Episode 1730 min

Soba

Affordable, casual and tasty, soba noodles are one of the most popular foods in Japan. Whether as a light lunch, as part of an evening's carousing, or at special once-a-year ceremonies, these nourishing noodles made from buckwheat flour are enjoyed throughout the country. The custom of eating soba caught on more than three centuries ago as an affordable street food among the ordinary people of Japan. It was a specialty of the shogun's capital, Edo (modern-day Tokyo), where it dovetailed perfectly with the busy lifestyle of the townspeople. There are various types of soba noodle, and they're prepared in many different ways - cold, with a simple dip; hot in a rich, savory soup; or served with a variety of tasty toppings, such as tempura, egg, deep-fried tofu, or slices of duck meat. These preparations are enjoyed year-round. Generations of soba craftsmen have developed techniques to draw out the flavor from the plain-tasting buckwheat grain. There are still many restaurants that make their noodles in the traditional way. In recent years, there's also been a boom for home-made noodles. Soba-making classes attract plenty of aspiring soba-makers, often middle-aged or older men aiming to take their love of soba to the next level. Discover how these simple noodles developed from a humble street food and are now prized by local gourmets.

May 21, 2009
Origami
Year 2009Episode 1830 min

Origami

May 29, 2009
Imari Porcelain
Year 2009Episode 1930 min

Imari Porcelain

Jun 5, 2009
Folding Fan
Year 2009Episode 2030 min

Folding Fan

Jun 19, 2009
Kaiseki Cuisine
Year 2009Episode 2130 min

Kaiseki Cuisine

Jul 10, 2009
The Sounds of Japan
Year 2009Episode 2230 min

The Sounds of Japan

Jul 17, 2009
Masks
Year 2009Episode 2330 min

Masks

Jul 24, 2009
Satoyama
Year 2009Episode 2430 min

Satoyama

Jul 31, 2009
Kendo
Year 2009Episode 2530 min

Kendo

Aug 29, 2009
The Fragrances of Japan
Year 2009Episode 2630 min

The Fragrances of Japan

Sep 4, 2009
Spinning Tops
Year 2009Episode 2730 min

Spinning Tops

Sep 11, 2009
Rock and Stone
Year 2009Episode 2830 min

Rock and Stone

Sep 18, 2009
Ink Brushes
Year 2009Episode 2930 min

Ink Brushes

Since ancient times, people in Japan have devoted themselves to the traditional art of calligraphy, shodo. Writing characters with ink on paper, they create works that express the inherent beauty of the Japanese written language. In shodo, brushes are used for applying the ink to the paper. The expressiveness of the characters derives from variations in the speed and force that the calligrapher uses to move the brush. The brushes themselves are simple objects, made from bundles of animal hair or other materials bundled together and fixed to a shaft. The actual materials used will depend on the style of calligraphy that is desired. Around 80 percent of Japanese ink brushes are produced in Kumano, Hiroshima Prefecture. There are numerous workshops in this town where skilled craftsmen still make the brushes by hand in the traditional way. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we examine the history, development and contemporary applications of ink brushes, introducing these simple implements that have been so essential to the development of Japanese writing and painting.

Sep 25, 2009
Tsukemono
Year 2009Episode 3030 min

Tsukemono

Oct 2, 2009
Dogs
Year 2009Episode 3130 min

Dogs

Oct 9, 2009
Ramen
Year 2009Episode 3230 min

Ramen

Oct 16, 2009
Rice
Year 2009Episode 3330 min

Rice

Oct 23, 2009
Shinto Shrine
Year 2009Episode 3430 min

Shinto Shrine

Oct 30, 2009
Festivals
Year 2009Episode 3530 min

Festivals

In Japan, festivals are known as matsuri. Many matsuri are colorful and boisterous occasions. Matsuri are typically associated with a Shinto shrine. Local people gather to pray and give thanks to the enshrined deity for agricultural bounty, health, safety and security. Over the years, these gatherings have evolved into elaborate events that frequently feature dancing, masks and magnificent floats. Entire local communities may be drawn into the preparations for festivals, which have nurtured some of the most refined arts and crafts in Japan. Even the sophisticated Noh theatre has festival origins, and, in some communities, apprentices will spend years learning a craft such as woodcarving specifically for its application in an annual matsuri. Some festivals involve breathtaking demonstrations of courage and skill, and all contribute to stronger family and community bonds. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we present some of the most famous festivals in Japan and consider the links to community and culture.

Nov 6, 2009
Shinkansen
Year 2009Episode 3630 min

Shinkansen

Nov 13, 2009
Gagaku
Year 2009Episode 3730 min

Gagaku

Nov 20, 2009
Marriage
Year 2009Episode 3830 min

Marriage

Nov 27, 2009
Shogi
Year 2009Episode 3930 min

Shogi

Dec 4, 2009
Nabe Cuisine
Year 2009Episode 4030 min

Nabe Cuisine

Dec 11, 2009
Sword
Year 2009Episode 4130 min

Sword

Dec 18, 2009

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