A Cultural Journey into Japan

Year Published: 1980

Creator: Japan National Tourist Organization

Complete Record: 1980s, 16mm, color/sound, about 25 mins. “A Cultural Journey into Japan” This film features narration in English and it describes how 3 Japanese cities - Nara, Kyoto and Tokyo - each contribute to preserving Japan’s cultural heritage. NOTE: This film contains slightly more exotic and poetic images than some of the other Japanese films of the same series. The film begins with images of a big buddha statue, countryside, a martial arts group on the city streets, travel by bullet train. Long ago, the capital of Japan was located in the city of Nara. Rice fields and rice harvesting are shown. Rice appears on the 5 yen coin. Wild deer are seen in different settings. Cedar trees, shrines, temples. The same enormous bronze buddha statue shown at the start of the film. Buddhist temples attended by young and old. Paper prayers. The capital later moved to the city of Kyoto. Old palaces and zen sand gardens are shown. Children play, a girl sells flowers. The fine crafts of working with gold leaf and Kimono fabric painting. Women wearing kimonos. Temples. A monthly pottery fair in Kyoto. Walking among temples. A westerner talks about ancient and modern Japan. A woman remarks on the Western stereotype of the Japanese expressing no emotion. Zen garden. A father and son play minimal music in a sort of ceremony. A zen sand garden montage. Food displays. A traditional meal. Use of the chopsticks. Demonstration of a shamisen (3 string lute). A performance with shamisen, vocalist, and 2 women dancers in kimono with fans. Tokyo - city streets, skyscrapers, freeways, offices, fountains, the Imperial Palace and across the moat, the business district. City traffic, hotel with a garden. The subway - people commuting, going to work. City scenes. The area known as the Tokyo Champs Elysees - people strolling a long broad street. A flower arranging demonstration. Tokyo at night - neon lights, big stage performances with dancers. Street markets. The city of Kamakura - one hour south of Tokyo - another large buddha statue. Tourists are shown asking locals for information. Hakone - a town with famous sculpture garden surrounded by mountains. Views of mountains. The town of Nikko - shrines, an annual festival with men in soldier costumes, a big waterfall, a long montage of autumn tree leaves, followed by a montage of snowfall. Fish in a pond. Temples. Snow covered scenes of gardens and temples. A sacred fire ceremony at a shrine with families attending. Children hold burning ropes. A large bell is struck with a log. Statues.