Japan Video Topics 2007/2
A Day Trip Across Tokyo Bay
Thanks to the "Tokyo Bay Aqua - Line" expressway that goes right across the bay, it's now a drive of just 15 minutes to the Minami Boso area, where spring arrives early. The Boso Peninsula has traditionally had a thriving flower-growing industry because it is near Tokyo, the major market for flowers. Besides the shipping of flowers, the local communities have recently been making efforts to promote tourism, including the serving of dishes that use flowers as ingredients combined with seafood. This segment introduces a day-trip to enjoy the early arrival of spring in Chiba Prefecture that offers the fruits of both the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay.
The Charm of Modern Paper Craft
Japanese "paper craft" models made from card are popular with foreign tourists for their careful construction and exotic air. This segment introduces a recent new trend in the world of Japanese paper craft. Keisuke Saka, who describes himself as a "paper engineer", is well known even abroad for producing models featuring delicate movements. He uses both computer design and his fingers. His works, including "Hesitation" and "Ready to Fly" are distinguished by their simplified and stylized shapes and colours, unlike the realistic scale models that are common in other countries. Another reason behind the popularity of contemporary Japanese paper craft models is their imaginative renderings that reflect the aesthetic of Japanese animation.
Cleaning Water with Carbon Fibre
Carbon fibre has drawn a lot of attention as a new material for golf clubs, bicycle frames and, most recently, for aeroplane construction. A Japanese scientist has discovered that it is also extremely useful for purifying water. Professor Akira Kojima of Gunma National College of Technology happened to discover that pond water became clean when some carbon fibre was dropped into it, and he began research into practical application of this mechanism. He now travels not only all over Japan but also in China to give instructions on restoring water quality using carbon fibre, and he hopes to expand his tours around the world. This segment introduces the mechanism of water quality purification using carbon fibre and Professor Kojima's activities.
Revitalizing a Town with Ume
Along with cherry trees, the Japanese have been very fond of ume, the Japanese apricot, since ancient times. Umeboshi, pickled ume, are an essential element in the traditional Japanese diet. Ume have been drawing attention recently in connection with the present trend towards healthy living. Oyama-cho in Oita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu is a unique town that has set ume cultivation as a pillar for its farming business since Japan's period of high economic growth. The residents promoted farming modernization using the slogan "Let's Plant Ume and Chestnuts and Go to Hawaii!" Following their success, Oyama-cho actually became the Japanese town with the highest percentage of residents holding passports. The town is still making innovative efforts today; in a business tie-up with major brewer, it has developed a new type of apricot liqueur using local ume. This segment introduces the unique ways Oyama-cho is continuing to revitalize itself in line with the recent popularity of ume.
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