Journeys in Japan
Season 3 Episode 4 - Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture: City of Sumi
Since ancient times, people in Japan have produced a form of ink known as sumi, which is used for calligraphy and traditional ink wash painting. Prepared in the form of ink sticks, sumi has to be diluted in water to create a black liquid. Until about 100 years ago, sumi was one of the most popular items sold at stationery stores. Today, ink sticks are rarely used in everyday life, but they are an essential aspect of traditional calligraphy. Shodo, the art of writing kanji characters with sumi ink, remains very popular. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, John Gathright travels to Suzuka, in Mie Prefecture, where sumi has been produced for centuries. He meets a traditional ink-stick master craftsman and discovers the vibrant art of calligraphy.
Episodes in Season 3
Walking the Historic Nakasendo
28 min
Samurai Days in Satsuma
28 min
Mikuni, Fukui Prefecture: The Supreme Winter Delicacy
28 min
Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture: City of Sumi
28 min
Furano, Hokkaido: White Wintry World
28 min
Ohenro Shikoku Pilgrimage Part 1: Tokushima Prefecture
28 min
Ohenro Shikoku Pilgrimage Part 2: Kochi Prefecture
28 min
Life in the Deep Snow
28 min
Kingdom of Udon: Kagawa Prefecture
28 min
Dancing Among the Gods: Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture
28 min
Treasures of the Ancient Capital: Nara Prefecture
28 min
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture: Nature's Gift: Hot Springs
28 min
Okinawa: Inspired by the Sea and Land, Crafted by Hand
28 min
Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture: Spring on the Waterways
28 min
Gourmet Adventure: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
28 min
Time Travelling in Shiga
28 min
On Two Wheels to Aso
28 min
Getting Lost in Pink Petals
28 min
Ohenro Shikoku Pilgrimage Part 3: Ehime
28 min
Ohenro Shikoku Pilgrimage Part 4: Kagawa
28 min
A Classic Steam Train Trip: The Oigawa Railway
28 min
Pristine Paradise: Iriomote, Okinawa
28 min
Life in the Slow Lane: Taketomi, Okinawa
28 min
Pure Alpine Waterscapes: Azumino and Kamikochi
28 min
The Cinematic Cityscape of Kitakyushu
28 min
Sapporo: The Good Life
28 min
Going with the Flow: Ehime Prefecture
28 min
Kumano Kodo Iseji Route
28 min
Rishiri: From Sea to Summit
28 min
Rebun: A Floating Garden
28 min
Vibrant Colors, Ancient Tradition: Kanazawa
28 min
Bounty from the Mountains, Sea and Plain: Yamagata
28 min
Forest Sanctuary: Shirakami
28 min
Samurai Spirit and Natural Treasures: Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture
28 min
Japan's Traditional Blue: Tokushima's Indigo
28 min
Craftsmanship Close to Nature: Asahikawa
28 min
Beauty in the Everyday: Mashiko
28 min
Rivers Run Through It: Beautiful Morioka
28 min
Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture: Miso, the Taste of Tradition
28 min
Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture: Taste the Tradition of Fukuoka
28 min
Japan's Wine Country: Katsunuma
28 min
Abundant Sea: Sanriku Coast
28 min
All About Matcha Green Tea: Matsue
28 min
Haiku Poetry, Autumn Foliage: Otsu & Ogaki
28 min
