Journeys in Japan
Season 11 Episode 20 - Omi-hachiman: Historic Merchant Town on Sacred Lake
Omi-hachiman is an old castle town that flourished as a transportation hub on Lake Biwa. It retains the remnants of the olden days, including grand merchant homes and the Hachiman-bori moat, which served as a logistics base. William Merrell Vories, who came to Japan from the United States before World War II and designed 1,600 significant buildings across Japan, made Omi-hachiman his home for over half a century. His residence in Omi-hachiman has been converted into a museum. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, James Kohlman, a musician and actor from the United States, traces the footprints of Omi Merchants, who crisscrossed Japan from their base in Omi-hachiman, as well as the remarkable William Merrell Vories. And he meets people in whom their spirits live on.
Episodes in Season 11
Asago: Hidden Gem of Heritage and History
28 min
Suo-Oshima: Finding Hawaii in the Inland Sea
28 min
Unlocking the Mysteries of Ancient Asuka
28 min
Yokohama: A Port Town with It All
28 min
Mishima, Fukushima: Keeping Alive the Folk Craft Tradition
28 min
Tsugaru: Deep Snow, Warm Hearts
28 min
The Magic of Winter in Akita
28 min
Hateruma: Life on a Distant Island
28 min
Hakkoda's Backcountry Magic
28 min
Asahikawa: Adventures on Sleds and Wheels
28 min
Rivers of Life: Kaizu and Kuwana
28 min
Ishigaki: A Look to the Future
28 min
KAGAWA: Treasure House of Modernist Architecture
28 min
Atami is Back
28 min
Otoyo: Bringing Fresh Life to a Traditional Community
28 min
Rural Reboot: Kamiyama's Renaissance
28 min
Nanmoku: Afterglow of the Silk Road
28 min
Work-Life Bliss in Itoshima
28 min
Ogawa Village: Laidback Living with Mountain Vistas
28 min
Omi-hachiman: Historic Merchant Town on Sacred Lake
28 min
South Iwate: On the Trail to Recovery
28 min
Passion on the Vine: Yamanashi and Its Winemakers
28 min
Ashio: Memory of the Forest
28 min
Miyagi: On the Trail to Recovery
28 min
Ojiya: Deep Roots in Snow Country
28 min
Revisiting Ibaraki's Autumn-Winter Flavors
28 min
