Some of the secrets to Okinawans and their long life expectancy are profiled.

Toshogu (東照宮) in Nikko is one its main attractions and is the most famous of all Shinto shrines in which Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined.  The shrine is known for its architecture and vividly colored sculptures (there are over 3000 of them).  A long line of traditional craftsman (metal, lacquer, and paint)  have been able to upkeep the beauty of the shrine over the generations.

Japan built its first railway in the 1860s - and the nation has been at the forefront of railway innovation ever since and would go on to develop one of the world's most intensive passenger rail networks, with 27,000 km of track reaching into every part of the country.  Rail travel forms a close and familiar part of every Japanese person's life.

The unique sounds of Japan

An episode of 一期一会 (Ichigoichie aka 151a - opposite youths meet) where two girls; one a seiyuu idol in the geinokai (entertainment business) in Tokyo, the other a regular schoolgirl from a small city meet and visit each others respective towns.

High quality Japanese paper is known as washi or wagami (和紙).

Washi comes from wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper. The term is used to describe paper made by hand in the traditional manner. This paper is used in a variety of traditional Japanese arts such as ukiyo-e, shodo, and origami as well as for clothing, furniture, and other everyday objects such as umbrellas, wrappings, and toys. It is commonly made using kozo (paper mulberry) fibers and is usually stronger than paper made from wood pulp.

The ryokan (旅館) is a traditional type of Japanese inn. They typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and enjoy each others company. They date back to the Edo period (1603–1868) when they served travelers along Japan's highways.

Hakata Gion Yamakasa (博多祇園山笠) is an annual summer festival held by Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka from July 1 to 15.  Hakata is the old name for Fukuoka and yamakasa are large 1-ton floats that are elaborately decorated for this festival.  Men carry the yamasaka and race through the streets at full speed.

Sashimono is an Edo Period method of furniture making using only mortise-and-tenon joinery (no nails or glue is used to hold the wood together).  Edo sashimono avoids lavious decorations and the techniques used resulted in a very sturdy product.  The furniture and woodwork crafts created were mainly used by the samurai and town merchants.  Master craftsman Toshio Toda is also featured in this video clip.

LittleTGV is a cosplay cafe in Akihabara with a railroad theme.

The instrument is a precursor of the Japanese shamisen and consists of a snakeskin-covered body, neck and three strings.  It bears a close resemblance in both appearance and name to the Chinese sanxian which isn't surprising since the old Ryūkyū Kingdom (pre-Japanese Okinawa) had very close ties with China. In the 16th century, the sanshin reached Sakai (a Japanese trading port) in Osaka. The sanshin evolved into the larger shamisen in mainland Japan.

Tomo, a maid at MIA (Maid in Angel) Cafe provides information on how to get to their shop from JR Akihabara.

The Kyoto State Guest House was built for welcoming guests from abroad and to help them understand Japan in order to help deepen and foster friendship with the country.  The design was in a traditional Japanese style so that it would be in harmony with the natural environment of the area and the historical sites in Kyoto.  The free architectural design includes a decorative alcove called Sukiya and a hip-and-gable roof called Irimoya.  Another special feature is the formal style fence called Tsuijibei which is made by pounding a mixture of mud and clay and placing it between wooden frames.

Going beyond the maid cafe and catering to he geek crowd, this is a Maid Restaurant in Ginza which also has a special "princess" room that caters to female patrons for special occasions

Harajuku - Sweet Lolita - Chihiro

Arisa, a maid at Cafe Mai:lish provides on overview of the cafe.  This flojin.com clip is from 2006

Short video topic about Spring in Japan with a focus on the well known traditional custom of cherry blossom (sakura) viewing known as hanami (花見). From late March to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan.  Specific sakura blossom forecasts known as sakurazensen (桜前線) are announced by the weather agency in order to provide information for hanami planners. Hanami consists of an outdoor party beneath the sakura during daytime or at night (hanami during the evening is called yozakura).