Japan Video Topics 2014/15
SNOW MONKEYS (4’14”)
A 1970 Life magazine cover brought world fame to a tribe of Japanese monkeys that spend winter soaking in a hot spring. Today, over 140,000 visitors a year, many from overseas, come to see these monkeys at their Jigokudani Yaen-Koen hot spring, in a remote mountain region of Nagano. Why did they begin bathing? We take you to this unique spot, the only place in the world where wild monkeys allow humans to come so close.
SATCHELS FILLED WITH MEMORIES (4’02”)
Randoseru is the name of the satchel Japanese children carry throughout their six years in primary school. It’s a unique design, going back almost 130 years. Recently, these bags, familiar to all Japanese from childhood, are taking on new roles as adult fashion items and popular tourist souvenirs. We look at how randoseru are being used today, and the craftsmanship that makes them so distinctive and robust.
CHANGING CORPORATE CAFETERIAS (3’36”)
Companies have always provided convenient, inexpensive canteens for their employees. Today’s corporate cafeterias provide a far wider range of functions, many becoming the main hub of in-house communications. We look at some of the changes happening in modern Japanese corporate cafeterias, from versatile designs that are transforming their usefulness, to the healthy, delicious menus that make them more attractive choices for lunch.
WHITE IMPULSE (4’11”)
Aomori Airport serves a part of the northern Tohoku region where annual snowfall exceeds 10 meters. These local conditions have produced a runway snow removal team that’s acknowledged as Japan’s best. The White Impulse team can clear a 550,000 m2 area of runway in just 40 minutes, operating their fleet of specialized vehicles with unique skills and techniques. We watch White Impulse in their daily winter struggle to keep Tohoku’s air access open.
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