Dr James Fox continues his Japanese art exploration by taking a journey through Japan’s mountainous forests, marvels at its zen gardens and admires centuries old Bonsai. He does this to explore the connections between Japanese culture and the natural environment. He examines how the country’s two great religions, Shinto and Buddhism, helped shape a creative response to nature which is extremely different to the West. However, Dr James Fox also takes a closer look at modern Japan’s changing relationship to the natural world and travels to Naoshima Art Island to see how contemporary artists are finding new ways to engage with nature.
In this landmark series, art historian Dr James Fox takes us on a captivating journey through the art and history of one of the world’s most enigmatic cultures. Travelling the length of Japan, James explores every inch from the falling cherry blossoms to the dazzling modern cities. Along the way James will discover for himself the importance of art and aesthetics to the Japanese life and culture. He will learn the secrets behind brush-painting, block-printing, bonsai-trimming as well as the importance of the Japanese nature and it’s historical value and traditions that surround each element.
47 Comments
Just simply love it.
Thats why when u buy a small Japanese table garden they come with the rocks, sand, and "brush" or "sand broom"…. U can change it everyday if u wish… Itis the Japanese soil mandala… I love it.
Everything about their gardening has always enchanted me… The bonsai… Their paisagism… Some ppl think it's nostalgic or borred but it exists patience and vision ro your own limitations to even just be creatively intelligent to find ways of #hows
I would love to know who was the person which 500 years ago started building that bonsai.
Anyone knows anything about it?!?
Please.
Thank u.
I love the blue flowers painting where they are reflection of each other up side and down…
That's awesome and so realistic.
The gold been as the sun sky on summers and the water where it was reflecting was an amazing way to show even the place where it was envisioned…
This series is spectacular, a tour through the nature, culture and art history of Japan. Magnificent images packaged in a narrative full of information and curiosities about a different, very, very distant country that becomes an intimate friend through the series' videos. One of the best series that appeared on my YouTube home page.
Enchanting story told beautifully. Thank you.
The enthusiasm of the presenter is catching! And to slighly mirror the Lady's comment beneath mine, there is nothing nicer than a man dressed as a man. Great documentary.
Why are you wearing a suit and tie why not a kimono?
Re: That stone 'garden'…it's not about the final destination, it's about the journey. The creator of the garden left us a huge clue in the fact that you cannot see the entire garden from any one position; to see the whole, and to orient yourself with regard to it, you MUST move around it
Japanese: the beautiful melancholic zikada, Brit: this intensly irritating insect😂
Best documentary.⛩️
23:00
Great vid but could've bothered to pronounce japanese words properly.
Why in the hell do you feel the need to whisper, regardless of where you are or what you're talking about? ANNOYING AS HELL!
Great job but I think tou should use a mask when you take a nasterpiece like Hokusai Great Wave ,same with bonsais and Wood /Yvory pieces in rhe beggining .
I am suddenly disappointed by all toggles.
"nature in Japan is ignored at one's peril…" said shockingly. This script is so awful and filled with cliches. What a jerk, on top of it. Wow, he even tasted the food. really went out on a limb, guy. His description of the Bonsai made me seriously consider cyanide.
Many thanks 🤩
What a beautiful documentation 👌
Thank you for sharing 🙏
That was naturally created by the Aborigine of Japan not the Racist YT asians
I'm kind of suprised he never used the word "sublime" nor made a comparison to Victorian interest in "the sublime" in thier art.
If Mr. Fox wouldn't be so in love with his appearence, he could deliver much more visual information.
Art and beauty are heavily ingrained into their daily life, it is a very interesting concept. Art is what is dropped from much of western practices, especially when necessity becomes upfront. But the art, beauty, and tuned with nature creates something that is much longer lasting…you can see it in their still standing country homes and structures.
I do admire what you are doing, Dr. James Fox!
I want to marry a Japanese man
Beautiful
Thank you
thanks you ! i like your video. But don't forget Japanese whalers kill whales in a protected area and despite protection laws. #freepaulwatson
I love your “In the beginning….” fairy tale legend 😂😂😂
If it's "Japanese" or made in Japan it is durable… Good quality… 👌
I have watched two of these videos on Japan. I wish I’d seen them before I went to live and work there. I’ll be watching the rest…thank you.とても面白い
Culture of detail!
Weird how a country of Shinto paved over so much.
You seem to forget – again – that all this belongs to a small elite. Every other Japanese was subservient, all the way up from the nominated house head, village elder, daimyo etc. I can't imagine why, in 2024 you are so ignorant of context. Minimalism enshrined abject Feudalistic poverty.
What's particularly interesting is that Japan never actually considered any of these synonymous aesthetics of their culture as art until the western world labeled them as such.
The Hokasai work is devine
The 36 views of My Fuji😮😮😮.
I like your suite
Ja mon
Japan hid there culture from the westerners❤
Some of these places I have visited with my husband (Nachi falls, Kyoto zen gardens, Naoshima) ant though no video can capture the true feeling of beeing there, it is great to watch it, great dokumenty. The shinto shrine at the end of the documetary, when we were zhere, we actually cried of how touched we felt when we walked out of the shrine to the light ant the sea. Undescribedly moving.
Undoubtedly the WORST annunciated (pronounced) video narrated by a very ignorant gaijin who didn’t bother to study the CORRECT PRONUNCIATION of the Japanese language.
It's a enternity before detail
originated in china cherry blossom, tea, bonsai, origami
The suit he wears is a sign of respect for himself and sacred nature.
I wish Japanese people show as much love for bonsais equally love for dolphins and whales . Stop eating them.
This "video on Japan", looks like the presenter's ignorant ethnocentric, egocentric, self promotion.⚡⚡⚡
Wonderful ❤