I live in Japan, everyday is incredible. I walk between the old and the new, a great sense of community, incredible people, food and serenity. No society is perfect there are issues, but I love it here.
There may be more informative, sensitive and beautiful documentaries but, if so, I have not seen them. I've watched this several times and I continue to enjoy and learn from it. It is itself a work of art. Thank you, James.
I've been studying Japanese history and culture since 2006 I have to agree this is well put together and I know I'll be watching it several more times just like I watched the documantary-( tales of a secret empire). Starting from 1453 to the meji restoration 1860's.
wow! how do you only have 32.500 followers?? all that knowledge background and wit dripping out of the wording, the performance and in the interviews, not to mention the storylines and the connection of content and picture or of course the refreshingly balanced compositions. the whole documentary genre has been going south for decades. and here we are watching a three hour good documentary (western, chunky and journalistical maybe, but it shines through that they could do differently as well if they were sure the viewers would comprehend it). thank you.
Absolutely breath tacking.. Sensitivity at the chore of Beauty seen through Japan’s insight. A treasure to be retained in one’s ♥️ Many thanks for this transparency. So so meaningful.
At 47:00. I’m a huge consumer of Japanese art. So this was a wonderful overview of Japan’s art history, hitting the sweet spots. Just got to see Hokusai’s “36 Views of Mt Fuji” at the Montreal art museum. And got to see more ukiyo-e works at the Philadelphia art museum. Really took my time with both. Woodblock prints from Japan are truly marvelous achievements. I totally understand why Vincent Van Gogh fell in love with them, copying so many of their techniques that his art was radically transformed, from before Japanese prints to after Japanese prints. On that same vein, my favorite movie I’ve probably ever seen is “Grave of the Fireflies.” Thus Isao Takahata ranks high in my personal list of artists. That movie is heart-shattering. And mostly because it juxtaposes the cold beauty of nature with this incredible story of survival and death. This movie wouldn’t have hit me so hard if it didn’t have that meditative, painterly quality to it.
Thank you for this Dr Fox , I can see by ur body language that u have studied the Japanese traditions ! I watch many Japanese craftsmen on you tube I've always be seen so fascinated with there skills and dedication to their crafts ! Truly inspiring! Thank you!
One important fact, regarding Genji's acceptance of Kaoru, is that Genji, himself, cuckolded his own father by secretly fathering a son with empress Fujitsubo. This type of introspection and realization is an important part of the Genji.
One brief comment at 11:20, I noticed your ring. I had read that one should remove all jewelry for “fear/respect” of damaging the tea cup which can be very old and is often unique. I spent hours prying off my ring that I hadn’t removed in 30 years so as to participate in a tea ceremony in Kyoto. 😅
"You can easily find two condradictional characteristics of Japanese cultures or Japanese characters. One is elegance, one is brutality but these two characteristics are tightly combined sometimes and our brutality comes from our emotions....sometimes we become tired of it (elegance and beauty) and we need a sudden explosion of brutality to make us free from it" - Yukio Mishima.
I’m enjoying this documentary and all of the windows into Japanese arts and culture! Talking with various people as well makes it feel so much more personal and genuine. My one critique: the Japanese word pronunciations, particularly of any word with an “a” vowel. I would understand if it were some unfamiliar phoneme that English speakers aren’t used to, but our language is very capable of saying “a” as in “car” instead of “eh” or “a” as in “cat”.
As UN tries to police Japan's manga culture, one thing UN will never understand and is even culturally offensive against the idea of miyabi- the floating world. Woe to the ignorant arrogance of the UN!!!
Those old Japanese folk seem like they were just way more civilized than contemporary people in the west..we really must have seemed like barbarians to them when we showed up on their shores..barbarians with guns and canons
I am a western and I can say that western's view about Japan sounds ridiculous. They give the narrative a romantic aesthetic... annoying. If you really want to understand Japan, come here and live here and you can try to understand Japanese culture power beyond this western lents. This documentary is absolutely superficial.
This guy is pretentious to a whole nutha level. My friends say my love for japan is annoying, that’s how much I love japan. And I almost didn’t make it past the opening tea ceremony talking about the drinking vessel in a way that made a small amount of throw up enter my throat and then thankfully, I was able to put it back down and keep shampooing my carpets. If there is one thing I can’t stand about Japanese culture or maybe more so the foreigners describing it……it’s when they take a tea cup and try to mention the chi or spirit that someone with skills NEVER BEFORE WITNESSED IN THIS EARTH imbued upon the tea cup and while sitting in solace preparing for consumption of said tea they can feel the very inner nature of not only the cup and it’s maker, but the maker of the universe itself………omg STOP PLEASE
That’s how artists (or rather art reviewers) talk about art in general though. That’s not unique to Japanese or other foreign cultural objects. That’s the art world at large talking. It is a problem because artistic discussions have become very unnecessarily pretentious, but I don’t fault this guy for doing what literally every critic does when it comes to talking about art and cultural objects.
I live in Japan, everyday is incredible. I walk between the old and the new, a great sense of community, incredible people, food and serenity. No society is perfect there are issues, but I love it here.
Than you should know this documentary is not accurate.
@ what documentary ever is?
This was beautiful to watch ❤❤❤❤
There may be more informative, sensitive and beautiful documentaries but, if so, I have not seen them. I've watched this several times and I continue to enjoy and learn from it. It is itself a work of art. Thank you, James.
I've been studying Japanese history and culture since 2006 I have to agree this is well put together and I know I'll be watching it several more times just like I watched the documantary-( tales of a secret empire). Starting from 1453 to the meji restoration 1860's.
I absolutely love this documentary. It is so calm and respectful. Thank you so much for this.
wow! how do you only have 32.500 followers?? all that knowledge background and wit dripping out of the wording, the performance and in the interviews, not to mention the storylines and the connection of content and picture or of course the refreshingly balanced compositions. the whole documentary genre has been going south for decades. and here we are watching a three hour good documentary (western, chunky and journalistical maybe, but it shines through that they could do differently as well if they were sure the viewers would comprehend it). thank you.
This has to be the most comprehensive and best documentary on Japan . It’s a work of art on itself. Thank you.
Absolutely breath tacking..
Sensitivity at the chore of Beauty seen through Japan’s insight.
A treasure to be retained in one’s ♥️
Many thanks for this transparency.
So so meaningful.
Thanks!
We appreciate the Super Thanks!
At 47:00. I’m a huge consumer of Japanese art. So this was a wonderful overview of Japan’s art history, hitting the sweet spots. Just got to see Hokusai’s “36 Views of Mt Fuji” at the Montreal art museum. And got to see more ukiyo-e works at the Philadelphia art museum. Really took my time with both. Woodblock prints from Japan are truly marvelous achievements. I totally understand why Vincent Van Gogh fell in love with them, copying so many of their techniques that his art was radically transformed, from before Japanese prints to after Japanese prints.
On that same vein, my favorite movie I’ve probably ever seen is “Grave of the Fireflies.” Thus Isao Takahata ranks high in my personal list of artists. That movie is heart-shattering. And mostly because it juxtaposes the cold beauty of nature with this incredible story of survival and death. This movie wouldn’t have hit me so hard if it didn’t have that meditative, painterly quality to it.
Such an exquisite culture! Much gratitude
they used to commit suicide by self-disembowelment. Toss the rose-colored glasses, because there are multiple Japans.
A fantastic episode with great observations and insights to the Japanese culture! Love it, and thank you for creating this!
The best Japan documentary I have seen! Thank you!
One of my favorite places around the world. i will get there one day, KYOTO❤
Thank you for this Dr Fox , I can see by ur body language that u have studied the Japanese traditions ! I watch many Japanese craftsmen on you tube I've always be seen so fascinated with there skills and dedication to their crafts ! Truly inspiring! Thank you!
One important fact, regarding Genji's acceptance of Kaoru, is that Genji, himself, cuckolded his own father by secretly fathering a son with empress Fujitsubo. This type of introspection and realization is an important part of the Genji.
Y’all are so weird calling people cucks pornsick brain rot
Very inspiring and well presented
🙏
SOOOOOO MANY commercials 😤 It's a shame too because the show is so good.
One brief comment at 11:20, I noticed your ring. I had read that one should remove all jewelry for “fear/respect” of damaging the tea cup which can be very old and is often unique. I spent hours prying off my ring that I hadn’t removed in 30 years so as to participate in a tea ceremony in Kyoto. 😅
That’s quite the compliment to the experience! “Worth removing your ring after 3 decades for”
"You can easily find two condradictional characteristics of Japanese cultures or Japanese characters. One is elegance, one is brutality but these two characteristics are tightly combined sometimes and our brutality comes from our emotions....sometimes we become tired of it (elegance and beauty) and we need a sudden explosion of brutality to make us free from it" - Yukio Mishima.
48:45 what a rare moment you got, he passed away in 2018 😢
Isn't that quite an old documentary? Feels, as if I'd seen it many years ago...
4:30: Murasaki novel: at best the oldest novel to survive until now, and Apuleius would probably protest :)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
i want to become a samurai and interested in Japan culture 😑 is word okina(butt) connected to okinawa? 🧐
or its o shiri? butt. okina o shiri
I’m enjoying this documentary and all of the windows into Japanese arts and culture! Talking with various people as well makes it feel so much more personal and genuine. My one critique: the Japanese word pronunciations, particularly of any word with an “a” vowel. I would understand if it were some unfamiliar phoneme that English speakers aren’t used to, but our language is very capable of saying “a” as in “car” instead of “eh” or “a” as in “cat”.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
As UN tries to police Japan's manga culture, one thing UN will never understand and is even culturally offensive against the idea of miyabi- the floating world.
Woe to the ignorant arrogance of the UN!!!
I feel Japan lost its unique and beautiful culture in the twentieth century.
The Western woke culture and agendas has corroded it more.
No the tales of Gengi was written by an African woman you guys didnt know that?
Those old Japanese folk seem like they were just way more civilized than contemporary people in the west..we really must have seemed like barbarians to them when we showed up on their shores..barbarians with guns and canons
CC is abysmal
Beside the pretentious pompous C(_)/\|T pressenter, I could enjoy the video only by the compelling subjects of this piece 😭😭😭
I am a western and I can say that western's view about Japan sounds ridiculous. They give the narrative a romantic aesthetic... annoying. If you really want to understand Japan, come here and live here and you can try to understand Japanese culture power beyond this western lents. This documentary is absolutely superficial.
So, you start "Japanese" culture in the 700s in Kyoto? Good grief what a tragedy.
What’s wrong with it?
Really, a travesty. *sigh*
does a random guy walking around in suit wondering whats his next meal gonna be really necessary in this kinda shit?
And the first Samaria and shugun was african....
racist supremacist!
This guy is pretentious to a whole nutha level. My friends say my love for japan is annoying, that’s how much I love japan. And I almost didn’t make it past the opening tea ceremony talking about the drinking vessel in a way that made a small amount of throw up enter my throat and then thankfully, I was able to put it back down and keep shampooing my carpets. If there is one thing I can’t stand about Japanese culture or maybe more so the foreigners describing it……it’s when they take a tea cup and try to mention the chi or spirit that someone with skills NEVER BEFORE WITNESSED IN THIS EARTH imbued upon the tea cup and while sitting in solace preparing for consumption of said tea they can feel the very inner nature of not only the cup and it’s maker, but the maker of the universe itself………omg STOP PLEASE
HAHA, I was thinking to myself, "am I jumping to conclusions...calling this guy a weaboo?"
You have shag rugs. Is that where you have your tea cermony and comtemplate your inner nature?
That’s how artists (or rather art reviewers) talk about art in general though. That’s not unique to Japanese or other foreign cultural objects. That’s the art world at large talking. It is a problem because artistic discussions have become very unnecessarily pretentious, but I don’t fault this guy for doing what literally every critic does when it comes to talking about art and cultural objects.
Boo bear allright.
Thanks!
We appreciate the Super Thanks!