Time and Tide

Japan's capital moved some 20 times before settling in Kyoto for over 1,000 years. Religion, natural disaster and power struggle compel an emperor's agonizing decision. Kyoto's origins, uncovered!

Odawara Castle was built to protect the capital of the Edo shogunate. But its history stretches even further back. Learn the fateful story of Odawara Castle from the remains of stone walls and a moat.

Painted as a foolish ruler in works of fiction, fifth Tokugawa shogun, Tsunayoshi. But is this depiction justified? Even he has wisdom to share.

The fox, or KITSUNE also holds an identity as a supernatural creature commonly depicted at shrines, known for its ability to masquerade as humans to deceive them, or to provide divine messages.

The title role in the TV series "Shogun," based on James Clavell's eponymous novel, was modeled on Tokugawa Ieyasu. We reveal his secret strategy for building Edo, Nagoya, Osaka and Nijo-jo Castles.

From the 3rd to the early 7th century, Japan produced terracotta figures known as haniwa in many forms. These mysterious objects hold the key to Japan's birth as a unified nation.

Yoshimune, the shogun who saved the city of Edo. Through disaster and economic strife, alongside its people, his wisdom shaped the future of the place now called Tokyo.

With flashy armor and cunning tactics, samurai Maeda Toshiie struck fear in the heart of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and left a lasting cultural influence.

This castle, 200 km north of Tokyo, was a battleground in Japan's last civil war in the mid-19th C. Modern warfare did not bring it down. We look at the secrets to the its strengths and its lords.

Okayama Castle is unique and puzzles visitors. The keep shows a different face, depending on the direction, and each floor is a different shape. We look at how this mysterious castle was built.

Influential ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige's "100 Famous Views of Edo", a series of prints encoding his view of the changing face of Japan.

Whether outnumbered or laying siege to a seemingly impenetrable fortress, master strategist Kuroda Kanbei used his wits to win on the battlefield.

KIJIMUNA of Okinawa, a red-haired child spirit in banyan trees, brings fortune to fishermen but punishes betrayal, embodying nature in local life.

In this episode, we search for the Yarokamizu, told of in the Kiso River region of Aichi as a yokai that raises awareness of environmental disasters, and also recognized as a local deity.

Japanese fireworks have long enchanted people with their spherical shape and range of colors. We trace the rise of fireworks in Japan and also examine the 400-year-old mystery of the senko hanabi.

Sake is gaining attention worldwide for its rich and complex flavors. We explore various aspects of Japan's national drink, from the koji that determines the flavor to medieval innovations that laid the foundation for sake-making today. We also shine a light on heated sake, or kanzake, and examine the science behind how heat affects its flavor profile.

Starting with Ieyasu, the Tokugawa Shoguns made clever use of falconry beyond mere hunting. Uncover their deep connection with these majestic birds.