Journeys in Japan · SEASON 17
Kokuto Okinawa Island Sweetness
Episode 8 · 2026-04-14
- Documentary
Episode overview
Kokuto is Okinawa's traditional form of sugar, which is made simply by boiling down sugarcane juice, a method first introduced from China about 400 years ago. Despite Okinawa's turbulent history, the skills have been passed down through the generations, and artisan kokuto continues to play an essential role in the life and culture of the prefecture. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Michael Keida visits the island of Ie-jima, as well as Okinawa's main island, to explore the enduring appeal of this home-grown source of sweetness and the deep roots of Kokuto culture.
28 minutes
Season 17 episodes
1. Hiking the San'in Coast: Hyogo-Kyoto2026-01-06
2. With Isabella Bird - Part 7: On the Road to Ise2026-01-13
3. Noto: Lighting a Torch for the Future2026-02-10
4. Akan: The Sacred Winter World of the Ainu2026-02-17
5. Hokkaido: Voices from the Northern Land2026-02-24
6. Kushimoto: Life at the Water's Edge2026-03-17
7. Northern Yatsugatake: Adventures in Snow Hiking2026-03-24
8. Kokuto Okinawa Island Sweetness2026-04-14
9. Toyama MINGEI: Beauty in the Everyday2026-05-12
10. Tsuruoka: Gastronomy Rooted in Tradition2026-05-26
11. Komatsu: Stone Stories2026-06-16
12. Maze: A Museum Without Walls2026-06-23
13. Tokunoshima: Bull Sumo on Subtropical Island2026-06-30
14. Kihoku: A Wonderful Waterside World2026-07-07
15. Okayama: Traditions of the Seto Inland Sea2026-08-04
16. Aichi, Nagoya: Savoring its One-of-a-Kind Food Culture2026-09-01
17. Arimatsu: Nagoya District Shaped by Shibori2026-09-08
18. Kitakami: Land of the Demon Dance2026-09-29
19. Furumachi: Niigata's Hidden World of Geigi2026-10-13
20. Miyako Islands: Living with the Ocean and Gods2026-10-27
21. Miyagi: A Walk Through Sendai, City of History and Style2026-11-10
