Journeys in Japan
Season 16 Episode 6 - Gunma: Raking in Good Luck
For centuries, Daruma dolls have been popular in Japan as talismans to bring good fortune. The largest producer of Daruma dolls in Japan is Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, where there are about 40 workshops. The nearby city of Kiryu has a different good-luck charm: decorated rakes that are sold at fairs. A famous local specialty is Himokawa udon: the noodles are cut extra-long and wide as a wish for longevity. Euan Craig is an Australian potter and longtime Gunma resident. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, he digs deep into the history and culture of these talismans and meets some of the people who produce them.
Episodes in Season 16
The Mountain Spirit of Shiiba Village
28 min
Kyushu: Land of Samurai Swords
28 min
Enku's 120,000 Smiles over Gifu
28 min
Hokuriku 1: Foods and Flavors of the Trading Ships
28 min
Hokuriku 2: The Golden Age of the Trading Ships and Their Legacy
28 min
Gunma: Raking in Good Luck
28 min
Hida: Deep Winter Escape
28 min
Hokkaido Sapporo: Sensing the City through its Architecture
28 min
NIIGATA: SNOW COUNTRY WONDERLAND
28 min
Wakayama: The Cradle of Japan's Flavors
28 min
Kure Port, Kochi — The Lure of Katsuo
28 min
Izu Peninsula: Volcanic Beauty
28 min
Nagaoka: Water, the Wellspring of Abundance
28 min
Matagi: Yamagata’s Spiritual Hunter-Gatherers
28 min
Nishio: Whisking up the Global Matcha Boom
28 min
Tochigi: Life Away from the Sea
28 min
Okinawa: A World in Bloom
28 min
With Isabella Bird — Part 6: On the Road to Biratori
28 min
