Japan Video Topics 2010/02
Wasabi (3'25")
As indicated by its scientific name - Wasabia japonica - wasabi originates in Japan. Not just anywhere in Japan - this sensitive plant requires constant pure water in mountainous environments that stay cool and mild all year round. This hot spicy root first became popular in Japanese cuisine 200 years ago, along with the habit of eating raw fish as sushi. As well as adding a pungent, spicy taste, wasabi is an anti-bacterial that protects against food poisoning. The world knows grated wasabi root from sushi, but the stems and leaves are also used in many Japanese dishes to add a uniquely hot and aromatic flavor.
Rebun - Island of Flowers (4'23")
The small island of Rebun split off from the mainland of Hokkaido after the last ice age. Isolation protected its unique environment and allowed the local plants to flourish undisturbed by invasive species. A northerly location and frequent sea mists keep temperatures low even in midsummer, and as a result, this low-lying island is home to many alpine flowers normally only found above 2000m. Take the hiking trail in summer from Cape Sukoton in the north to Momoiwa in the south, and you can enjoy up to 300 species of alpine plants, many of them found nowhere else in the world.
Japan's Advanced Vending Machines (3'53")
There are probably more vending machines on the streets of Japan than anywhere else, selling an ever wider range of items. New technology keeps adding more convenience, such as machines serving both hot and cold drinks, varied to match seasonal needs. Choose your type of coffee, cup size, cream and sugar amounts - and watch your cup being brewed on an eye-level monitor. Internal elevators improve accessibility by delivering purchases at a convenient height. And because these machines are everywhere, they make a useful place to provide emergency medical or survival equipment.
Tenugui - The Handy Cloth (3'46")
Used for centuries as an all-purpose hand cloth, the tenugui is a 90 by 35cm strip of unhemmed cotton, usually printed in a colorful pattern. In the 17th century, in a fashion started by kabuki actors, people began also wearing tenugui as a stylish head covering, inspiring the vast range of patterns and motifs we can buy today. At any shrine festival or traditional event, you can see people wearing these head cloths just the way they did in the 17th century. The versatile tenugui is still in common use in roles as varied as dishcloths, dust covers, wall hangings, tablecloths and tourist souvenirs.
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