NHK Documentaries

The Divine and the Invisible (2017x1)

Ausstrahlung: Jan 01, 2017

The spirit of Japanese hospitality has been nurtured over the centuries, through the spiritual connection of the people with a myriad of gods. The god of the fields, for example, watches over rice cultivation. After the harvest, farmers invite the god into their homes for a meal. In parts of the country that get a lot of snow, the mountain god comes down to the village once a year. Children cower, but residents still invite it inside for a meal. As the source of both blessings and disasters, nature is revered in Japanese tradition. The gods are believed to dwell in everything: in forests, rivers, rocks, and an endless array of other places. This program, shot with 4K video equipment, allows viewers to sense the mysterious-yet-delightful relationship between Japanese people and their countless gods.