Time and Tide

SAMURAI CASTLES: Tenshu - The Tower Keep

Another Story: The Crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123

Time Scoop Hunter: A "Sangaku" Battle of Wits

Ukraine: Echoes of History

Another Story: Asama-Sanso Incident - Ten Days of Suspense

History Uncovered: Osaka's Tragic Folding Screen

Nagasaki: 188 Memories of the Bomb

Women Painting War

MUSASHI TRUTH

SAMURAI WISDOM - ODA NOBUNAGA

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – ZASHIKI WARASHI

Time Scoop Hunter: A Secret Mission - Release the Yabumi!

Another Story: The Abduction of Yokota Megumi - A Family's Struggle

Time Scoop Hunter: Edo's Substitute Farters

Time Scoop Hunter: The Timekeepers

Another Story: How Fist of the North Star Came to Be

Another Story: "SUKIYAKI" - Behind Japan's No. 1 US Hit

SAMURAI WISDOM: Takeda Shingen

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – HIMEUO

SAKURA TRUTH

Time Scoop Hunter: A Boiling-hot Tocha Battle!

SAMURAI WISDOM: Tokugawa Ieyasu

SAMURAI CASTLES: Hikone Castle

History Uncovered: Muramasa - Cursed Blade

The Japanese sword, a formidable weapon now appreciated as a work of fine artisanship. The samurai particularly valued M

SAMURAI CASTLES: Matsumoto Castle

RIKYU TRUTH

The Floating World - First Contact

Time Scoop Hunter: Restoration, Love, and English

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – TOMOKAZUKI

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – KONAKIJIJI

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – USHIONI

SAMURAI WISDOM—DATE MASAMUNE

History Uncovered: Tsukumo Nasu - Power in a Tea Caddy

MOUNT FUJI TRUTH

History Uncovered: Muramasa - Cursed Blade

The Japanese sword, a formidable weapon now appreciated as a work of fine artisanship. The samurai particularly valued M

History Uncovered: Chushingura - Tears of 47 Ronin

A long-beloved tale dating back some 300 years, Kanadehon Chushingura tells the story of the famed 47 ronin as they aven

SAMURAI WISDOM: UESUGI KENSHIN

Uesugi Kenshin: Japan's fiercest warrior fought not for glory, but to restore order. We learn from the wisdom of this su

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – HITOTSUMEKOZO

In this episode, we take a look at the single-eyed Hitotsumekozo, which is feared in Kanagawa Prefecture as a Yokai that

SAMURAI CASTLES: Matsuyama Castle

Matsuyama Castle with its main keep, which is a designated National Cultural Asset, turrets, stone walls and gates tells

SAMURAI CASTLES: Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is one of Japan's largest, covering over 100ha. The 30m stone walls and 90m moat are impressive. Why was su

SAMURAI WISDOM: THE SANADA

Sanada Yukimura remains a folk hero to this day. His clan used information and ingenuity to take on powerful foes, even

SAMURAI CHONMAGE TRUTH

The chonmage is the distinctive hairstyle of the samurai. Yet much about it remains unknown. Through interviews and expe

HOKUSAI TRUTH

Japan's iconic ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai left an indelible mark on the art world. We trace the development of "T

History Uncovered KIMONO DRESS - Japan's Clothing Revolution

In the 19th century, Japan opened its doors. The "Kimono Dress"—emblematic of a broader clothing revolution—sheds li

SAMURAI CASTLES: Kanazawa Castle

Kanazawa Castle has an elegant design not seen in other castles. It has plastered geometric-patterned walls; white, meta

SAMURAI WISDOM: TOKUGAWA IEMITSU

Solidifying Tokugawa shogunate rule, "born shogun" Iemitsu, third of his line, paved the way for dramatic change via pol

SAMURAI CASTLES: Himeji – The Defenses

Himeji Castle with its white keep is one of Japan's most famous castles. But its beauty is deceiving. The paths to the k

SAMURAI CASTLES: Himeji – The Keep

Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts the tallest, extant main keep in Japan. The elegant main keep and th

Time Scoop Hunter: The True Face of the Ninja

Sawajima Yuichi travels to the Warring States period, when three ninja receive a top-secret order to steal an enemy cast

SUSHI TRUTH

Sushi is an iconic dish of Japan, with nigirizushi being the most popular style. We take a look at its evolution and the

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – NAMIKOZO

This episode features the aquatic Namikozo, which warns locals in the area of the Enshu-nada Sea of coming changes in th

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – UBUME

The Yokai Ubume was said to be a ghostly woman appearing at night, asking passersby to hold her child under threat of de

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – MUJINA

In this episode, we pursue the shape-shifting trickster Mujina. This being associated with raccoon dogs is known on Niig

Time Scoop Hunter: Matchmaking in Edo Period

Sawajima Yuichi investigates matchmaking in the Edo period. Matchmaker Oume is known for her skill in finding successful

SAMURAI WISDOM—ASHIKAGA YOSHIMITSU—

Clad in shining gold, Kinkakuji stands out even in Kyoto Prefecture. What inspired the samurai who built this stunning t

History Uncovered: The Armor of Japan - Beauty in Defense

Iconic Japanese armor, worn for defense. 16th-century helmets featured outlandish shapes like a giant crescent moon or t

History Uncovered: The Secrets of Kyoto - Thousand-Year Capital

Japan's capital moved some 20 times before settling in Kyoto for over 1,000 years. Religion, natural disaster and power

SAMURAI CASTLES: Odawara

Odawara Castle was built to protect the capital of the Edo shogunate. But its history stretches even further back. Learn

SAMURAI WISDOM—DOG SHOGUN TOKUGAWA TSUNAYOSHI—

Painted as a foolish ruler in works of fiction, fifth Tokugawa shogun, Tsunayoshi. But is this depiction justified? Even

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore – KITSUNE

The fox, or KITSUNE also holds an identity as a supernatural creature commonly depicted at shrines, known for its abilit

SAMURAI CASTLES: Shogun Special

The title role in the TV series "Shogun," based on James Clavell's eponymous novel, was modeled on Tokugawa Ieyasu. We r

History Uncovered: A Message in Clay

From the 3rd to the early 7th century, Japan produced terracotta figures known as haniwa in many forms. These mysterious

SAMURAI WISDOM—TOKUGAWA YOSHIMUNE—

Yoshimune, the shogun who saved the city of Edo. Through disaster and economic strife, alongside its people, his wisdom

SAMURAI WISDOM—MAEDA TOSHIIE—

With flashy armor and cunning tactics, samurai Maeda Toshiie struck fear in the heart of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and left

SAMURAI CASTLES: Aizuwakamatsu

This castle, 200 km north of Tokyo, was a battleground in Japan's last civil war in the mid-19th C. Modern warfare did n

SAMURAI CASTLES: Okayama

Okayama Castle is unique and puzzles visitors. The keep shows a different face, depending on the direction, and each flo

History Uncovered: The Hiroshige Code

Influential ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige's "100 Famous Views of Edo", a series of prints encoding his view of the ch

SAMURAI WISDOM KURODA KANBEI

Whether outnumbered or laying siege to a seemingly impenetrable fortress, master strategist Kuroda Kanbei used his wits

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore - KIJIMUNA

KIJIMUNA of Okinawa, a red-haired child spirit in banyan trees, brings fortune to fishermen but punishes betrayal, embod

YOKAI: Exploring Hidden Japanese Folklore - YAROKAMIZU

In this episode, we search for the Yarokamizu, told of in the Kiso River region of Aichi as a yokai that raises awarenes

JAPANESE FIREWORKS TRUTH

Japanese fireworks have long enchanted people with their spherical shape and range of colors. We trace the rise of firew

SAKE TRUTH

Sake is gaining attention worldwide for its rich and complex flavors. We explore various aspects of Japan's national dri

History Uncovered Wings of the Tokugawa

Starting with Ieyasu, the Tokugawa Shoguns made clever use of falconry beyond mere hunting. Uncover their deep connectio