Seasoning the Seasons

At the foot of Mt. Asama, lies Karuizawa, one of Japan's most well-known resort areas. In the late 1880s, foreign missionaries began building holiday cottages in the town to escape Japan's fierce summer heat. Eventually, wealthy Japanese people began to join them, turning Karuizawa into the place to spend the summer. We take a deeper look at the lifestyles of those who enjoy summer in Karuizawa. The true appeal of the resort only reveals itself when you experience an extended stay.

Matsue, in Shimane Prefecture, is located in western Japan. The city borders Lake Shinji to the west, and the Sea of Japan to the north and east. Matsue Castle, a national treasure, stands tall in the middle of the city. The castle's moat, filled with abundant water, marks the gentle passage of time. In this episode, we welcome you to Matsue, a place surrounded by abundant water, and where prayers and lives are connected.

A group of well-loved shrines, with branches all across Japan, are affectionately known by the nickname of Tenjin-sama. These shrines are dedicated to the remarkable ninth century politician and scholar Sugawara Michizane, who was posthumously deified under the name of Tenjin. We visit a number of these shrines where Tenjin is venerated and loved as a symbol of learning.

The Sea of Okhotsk lines the coast of Hokkaido Prefecture, the northernmost main island of Japan. Once again, the season of drift ice has arrived. The ice has traveled 1,000 kilometers from the northern seas to get here. Local temperatures in winter drop to 20 degrees Celsius below zero. Phytoplankton thrive within the drift ice, attracting a variety of creatures in search of sources of life. In this episode, we take a look at stories of people living with drift ice on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.