Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture: City of Sumi
Episode 4 · 2012-01-31
- Documentary
Episode overview
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.
28 minutes
Season 3 episodes
1. Walking the Historic Nakasendo2012-01-10
2. Samurai Days in Satsuma2012-01-17
3. Mikuni, Fukui Prefecture: The Supreme Winter Delicacy2012-01-24
4. Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture: City of Sumi2012-01-31
5. Furano, Hokkaido: White Wintry World2012-02-07
6. Ohenro Shikoku Pilgrimage Part 1: Tokushima Prefecture2012-02-14
7. Ohenro Shikoku Pilgrimage Part 2: Kochi Prefecture2012-02-21
8. Life in the Deep Snow2012-02-28
9. Kingdom of Udon: Kagawa Prefecture2012-03-06
10. Dancing Among the Gods: Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture2012-03-07
11. Treasures of the Ancient Capital: Nara Prefecture2012-03-13
12. Beppu City, Oita Prefecture: Nature's Gift: Hot Springs2012-03-20
13. Okinawa: Inspired by the Sea and Land, Crafted by Hand2012-03-27
14. Yanagawa, Fukuoka Prefecture: Spring on the Waterways2012-04-03
15. Gourmet Adventure: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture2012-04-10
16. Time Travelling in Shiga2012-04-17
17. On Two Wheels to Aso2012-04-24
18. Getting Lost in Pink Petals2012-05-01
19. Ohenro Shikoku Pilgrimage Part 3: Ehime2012-05-22
20. Ohenro Shikoku Pilgrimage Part 4: Kagawa2012-05-29
21. A Classic Steam Train Trip: The Oigawa Railway2012-06-05
22. Pristine Paradise: Iriomote, Okinawa2012-06-12
23. Life in the Slow Lane: Taketomi, Okinawa2012-06-19
24. Pure Alpine Waterscapes: Azumino and Kamikochi2012-06-26
25. The Cinematic Cityscape of Kitakyushu2012-07-03
26. Sapporo: The Good Life2012-07-10
27. Going with the Flow: Ehime Prefecture2012-07-17
28. Kumano Kodo Iseji Route2012-08-07
29. Rishiri: From Sea to Summit2012-08-14
30. Rebun: A Floating Garden2012-08-21
31. Vibrant Colors, Ancient Tradition: Kanazawa2012-08-28
32. Bounty from the Mountains, Sea and Plain: Yamagata2012-09-04
33. Forest Sanctuary: Shirakami2012-09-11
34. Samurai Spirit and Natural Treasures: Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture2012-09-18
35. Japan's Traditional Blue: Tokushima's Indigo2012-10-02
36. Craftsmanship Close to Nature: Asahikawa2012-10-16
37. Beauty in the Everyday: Mashiko2012-10-23
38. Rivers Run Through It: Beautiful Morioka2012-10-30
39. Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture: Miso, the Taste of Tradition2012-11-06
40. Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture: Taste the Tradition of Fukuoka2012-11-13
41. Japan's Wine Country: Katsunuma2012-11-20
42. Abundant Sea: Sanriku Coast2012-11-27
43. All About Matcha Green Tea: Matsue2012-12-04
44. Haiku Poetry, Autumn Foliage: Otsu & Ogaki2012-12-11
