Journeys in Japan

tv show

poster for Journeys in Japan

526 total episodes

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16 seasons

First Aired February 02, 2010

Overview

Journeys in Japan provides an eye-opening look at the many unique places to visit in Japan. English-speaking visitors travel the length of the country, exploring the culture, meeting the local people, visiting historic sites and offering travel hints rarely found in guidebooks.

tv poster

Nanmoku: Afterglow of the Silk Road

Season 11 - Episode 17 - 0h 28m

Air Date

October 27, 2020

Overview

Nanmoku is a village that lies deep in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, which blossomed during the period of Japan's modernization over a century ago. It grew and prospered thanks to sericulture -- raising the silkworms whose cocoons were the source of raw silk, an essential cornerstone of Japan's efforts to bring in foreign currency and new technology. However, the development of synthetic fibers led to a drop in demand for raw silk, and this led to the decline of Nanmoku as well. Its population has dropped from over 10,000 some 60 years ago to only about 1,700 residents now. But thanks to its remote setting, the village has been spared large-scale development, and its traditional culture and buildings have been preserved much like a time capsule. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Teodora Forgo from Hungary explores the beautiful natural setting and fascinating history of Nanmoku Village, deep in the mountains northwest of Tokyo.