Japan Video Topics 2008/11
The Healing Powers of the Jellyfish
Jellyfish have always been common in the seas around Japan, but just recently the Japanese have begun looking at these graceful, translucent creatures in a new light. The old image was of a stinging animal one tried to avoid when swimming, but the unexpected success of one aquarium's jellyfish displays has made people realize the soothing, healing effect of watching jellyfish swim. For example, customers at a bar in central Tokyo find that watching its large tank full of exotic jellyfish is an ideal way to unwind and relax after s stressful day at work.
Ready to Eat. Instantly, Anywhere
Over 100 billion instant noodle meals are now eaten worldwide each year - huge change in our eating habits that began 50 years ago with a new technology invented in a Japanese garden shed. Flash-frying in oil to quickly dry noodles created a tasty product that was easy to cook and had a long shelf life. Today, we can choose from a vast variety of instant meals, not just noodles. They are eaten at home, at the office, and even by astronauts in space. And they have proved especially valuable as emergency food suppliers for disaster zones.
Bamboo's Deep Roots in Japanese Life
The bamboo has been an ever-present, well-loved part of Japanese daily life and culture for centuries. You see it in house exteriors and interiors, children still play with traditional bamboo toys like stilts and tops, and it's widely eaten in season. Traditional arts like the tea ceremony feature fine accessories and utensils crafted from bamboo. It is modern too - the first electric light bulbs used Japanese bamboo filaments, and innovative new bamboo products continue to be developed, ranging from silky textiles to bamboo charcoal soaps and anti-allergy products.
Traditional Crafts, Modern Design - That's Kanazawa
In its golden age from the 17th to the 19th century, Kanazawa was one of Japan's greatest centers of culture and commerce. The old city retains much of its samurai era atmosphere, and its many highly-sophisticated traditional arts and crafts such as Kaga Yuzen dyeing, Kutani ceramics and fine gold leaf work continue to prosper. Today, the city is encouraging these local craft industries to apply their traditional artistic skills to modern designs, aiming to make beautiful hand-made objects, from fashion to jewelry and tableware, once again part of people's daily lives.
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