The Mark of Beauty

Japanese families set up Hina dolls in early March to pray for the healthy growth of daughters. One root of this ritual, known as the Girls' Festival, is said to go back 1,000 years or more to the Heian Period. The theory is that a tradition of using dolls as surrogates to take on their daughters harm merged into doll play, and then took its present form in the Edo Period, which lasted from the 17th to 19th centuries. The Hina dolls vary greatly from one region of Japan to another. We feature the beauty of several local versions of Hina dolls.

Camellia is a well-loved flower in Japan. Indigenous to this country, it is found in every region except for Hokkaido in the north. Many cultivars were produced in the Edo period, from the 17th to 19th centuries, and today there are more than 2,000 varieties. The blooms are charming and richly colored. Besides its uses in bonsai and alcoves at home, we also introduce famous camellia beauty spots in Kyoto and see how camellia brightens up the gardens of ancient temples. Furthermore, how did camellia come to be associated with ladylike qualities in the West? We unravel the history and discover applications from bridal hairpieces to nail art.

Sushi, a food for special occasions, is an encapsulation of the Japanese sense of beauty. Aside from the familiar nigirizushi on oblong beds of rice, there are many regional variations, too, each representing the local concepts of luxury through color, shape and ingredients. What then is the essential beauty of sushi, handed down since olden times? Besides, sushi is also changing now in startling ways abroad. The international sushi boom has produced distinctive new aesthetic approaches and even works of contemporary art! Today, we journey to the multifarious aesthetics of sushi.

Spring in Kamakura! Colorful flowers adorn the temples and shrines and it is the perfect time to visit. Reflections of cherry blossoms ripple gracefully in the ponds and relaxing temple compounds become the places to savor delicate blooms. Today, we discover another face to this city that the samurai built by taking a trip to floral Kamakura.

Today's theme is the kimono. The striped cotton kimono is comfortable to wear and even just seeing it makes you feel cool. It's a popular kimono for the early summer. There are countless different striped patterns and you're sure to find one which suits you. Striped kimonos can be enjoyed both as everyday wear and as an adult way to dress up. We discover the fullness of their charms.

Mamezara refer to the small plates in traditional Japanese tableware that can fit into the palm of your hand. The plates come in assorted shapes and patterns. Reasonable prices also make them easy to collect. These small plates are commonly seen on any Japanese meal table. Many people outside of Japan are also captivated by them, even in Paris. What are the tools artisans use to produce the distinctive patterns that are not found in larger plates? Mamezara bring together traditional craftsmanship and the spirit of Japanese-style hospitality. This episode focuses on what makes these plates so special.

The Japanese have long been familiar with aizome, a traditional form of indigo dyeing. It is enjoying renewed popularity today. What are the techniques artisans employ to produce the distinctive blue color? What is it like to live in a home surrounded by these indigo-dyed fabrics? What are the artistic insights a group of young dyers bring to t-shirts and sneakers? This episode delves into the aesthetics behind what is known as "Japan Blue", which is also the color for Japan's national football team.

The lightweight kimonos referred to as yukata are very much part of any Japanese summer. We go to Kyoto, the ancient capital, which is renowned for kimono, to view a whole range of colorful and elegant yukata. We hope you will enjoy watching traditional designs and innovative originals.

Ohenro refers to the pilgrims visiting 88 temples in Shikoku associated with the eminent priest, Kukai (or Kobo Daishi), who reinvigorated the Buddhist religion in Japan in the 9th century. So what do the pilgrims get to see on their arduous 1,200km journey around the island? And how are they treated by the local residents they meet along the way? We delve into this 1,200 year-old tradition of pilgrimage.

The air plants of Central & South America grow in extraordinary forms. The only function of their roots is to entwine themselves around rocks and trees. These amazing plants live by absorbing moisture from the air through their leaves. Why are the leaves so twisted and wavy? What surprises wait in the hothouse of the Japanese with one of the world's great collections? How are they arranged in interior design? The more we learn, the deeper the fascination of these plants of such distinctive beauty becomes.

The "engawa" is a distinctive feature of traditional domestic Japanese architecture, a long and narrow veranda, or deck, which runs along the outside of the lower story of the building. It is a space of nostalgia for the Japanese. In plush houses built in the early decades of the 20th century, the "engawa" was a place of beauty all around from the speckled light of garden trees to the breeze and dancing rainwater. In recent years, "engawa" cafes have emerged as natural gathering spaces. We discover the astonishing attractions of the "engawa", a space that is neither inside nor out.

Kyoto has a rich tofu culture. The people of Kyoto all have their preferred types. Tofu comes in diverse colors, shapes and flavors. This time, we savor the beauties of the tofu cuisine which blossomed in Kyoto.