Japan Video Topics 2013/14
Landscape Gardener (3’54”)
Japanese gardens express nature using seasonal colors from planted trees, rocks, and ponds. They are a leading symbol of Japanese culture. Eleventh-generation gardener Jihei Ogawa from Kyoto is one of the Japanese Landscape Gardeners who performs the planning, maintenance, and carries on the ancient tradition of landscape gardening, as well as teaching the techniques he has learned to the next generation. It is the daily maintenance that produces a feeling of comfort similar to being in nature, and gives Japanese Landscape Gardens their universally appealing beauty.
Getting Together! The Latest Cafés and Bars (3’25”)
Japanese towns feature many unique cafés and bars that are distinctly Japanese. A cat café on a busy downtown street. People come here who cannot keep cats. At a sewing machine café, people come who want to make various clothing using a sewing machine. People gather at train bars who like trains. Japan’s cafés and bars are sure to continue evolving as people’s interests diversify.
The Japanese Crested Ibis - Starting Over from Zero (3’58?)
The Japanese Crested Ibis. Its scientific name is Nipponia nippon. This bird holds a special place in the hearts of Japanese people. However, this bird went extinct in Japan. Efforts are underway to bring the Japanese Crested Ibis back. The Japanese Crested Ibis is being brought back in Sado City, located on an island in the Sea of Japan. This Japanese Crested Ibis Conservation Center breeds and protects the birds. Furthermore it trains them to live in the wild, and then releases them. Currently, as of 2013 there are about 80 Japanese Crested Ibises living in the wild.
Communication Robots (3’23”)
In Japan, the land of the robot, development of robots that focus on communication is advancing in a number of ways. There are robots that alleviate the lack of communication astronauts face, robots that connect hospitals and homes, and robots that communicate with the elderly at facility homes. With their potential to increase communication among others, expectations are rising for the benefits of communication robots.
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