- 13 hours ago
- #japaneserailways
- #greatjourneys
- #traveljapan
Embark on a captivating journey through Japan's most scenic and historic railway routes in this premiere episode of Great Japanese Railway Journeys. Discover the intricate network of trains that connect bustling cities to serene countryside, offering unparalleled views and a unique perspective on Japanese culture and engineering.
This episode delves into the rich history of Japanese rail travel, showcasing iconic lines and their vital role in shaping the nation's development. Explore the engineering marvels behind high-speed Shinkansen and traditional local lines, providing insights into their design and operation.
Experience the breathtaking landscapes that unfold from the train windows, from verdant mountains and tranquil coastlines to cultural heartlands. Learn about the essential role these railways play in connecting communities and preserving heritage, offering a glimpse into the soul of Japan.
#JapaneseRailways #GreatJourneys #TravelJapan
This episode delves into the rich history of Japanese rail travel, showcasing iconic lines and their vital role in shaping the nation's development. Explore the engineering marvels behind high-speed Shinkansen and traditional local lines, providing insights into their design and operation.
Experience the breathtaking landscapes that unfold from the train windows, from verdant mountains and tranquil coastlines to cultural heartlands. Learn about the essential role these railways play in connecting communities and preserving heritage, offering a glimpse into the soul of Japan.
#JapaneseRailways #GreatJourneys #TravelJapan
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FunTranscript
00:04Japan.
00:05Michael, welcome to Japan, a railway paradise.
00:08Its huge population spread over long islands lives by its railways.
00:13I feel like I'm driving.
00:14My new adventure takes me through the land that launched the high-speed train.
00:19I love Shinkansen.
00:21Where millions of journeys are made each day through some of the most bustling stations on earth.
00:27Busy city.
00:28I'll ride Japan's vast railway network to uncover a land of bold innovation.
00:35Haven't quite got the hang of it yet.
00:37A place of enduring traditions, volatile geology and remarkable people.
00:44Kanpai.
00:45Join me on an excursion like no other.
00:48I'm too excited to sit down.
01:05I've traveled by train the length of Kyushu and Honshu islands.
01:11And now I'm making inroads on Hokkaido on the final stage of my Japanese adventure.
01:18I'm on a fine old diesel train on the island of Hokkaido.
01:23And this feels very different indeed from Tokyo where this leg of my journey began.
01:28Even though the island has been very thoroughly absorbed by Japan since it was annexed in the 19th century.
01:37This land historically belonged to the Ainu people whose origins and customs, language and religion had nothing to do with
01:46Japan.
01:46And as I conclude my journey to the north, I'll be asking what happened to those people.
02:00From the capital Tokyo on Honshu Island, via Fukushima and Sendai, I traveled through the Seikan Tunnel to Hokkaido Island.
02:09I explored the southern city of Hakodate and continued on to Lake Toya.
02:14I'll visit Lake Shikotsu, then head north to the island's capital Sapporo, before ending my journey at the port of
02:22Otaru.
02:29My first destination this morning is Tomakomai, on the Pacific coast, the island's fourth largest city.
02:37It lies in the Iburi region, an area closely associated with Ainu culture, and it's my alighting point for Lake
02:45Shikotsu.
02:5125 kilometres inland, the lake was formed by volcanic activity around 40,000 years ago,
02:58and takes its name from the Ainu word Shikot, meaning hollow.
03:15What a lovely sight.
03:18A magnificent stag with a full set of antlers enjoying the cool of the water.
03:29Ryoko-san.
03:31Hi.
03:32Hello.
03:33Michael.
03:34To explore the history and traditions of the island's original population, I'm meeting Ainu activist Ryoko Sususapno.
03:42Welcome to Hokkaido.
03:45Welcome to Hokkaido.
03:45Well, thank you very much indeed.
03:48Yankarapte.
03:50Yankarapte.
03:50Yankarapte.
03:51Yankarapte.
03:52Yankarapte means Ainu greeting.
03:54Oh, lovely.
03:54An Ainu greeting.
03:55Yes.
03:56Does it have a particular meaning?
03:59A deeper meaning is, may I touch your heart gently?
04:07Tell me about what you're wearing.
04:10This is Ainu traditional clothing.
04:13Mm-hmm.
04:13It's very, very lovely.
04:14And then you wear a headdress as well.
04:17Jewellery?
04:17Is this typical Ainu jewellery as well?
04:19Yes, that's right.
04:20Well, you look fantastic.
04:21Thank you very much.
04:22Are you hungry?
04:23We have Ohau.
04:24Ohau.
04:25It's a traditional Ainu soup.
04:26Are you able to prepare it out here?
04:28A picnic.
04:29Yes.
04:30Yes.
04:32The Ainu, thought to have emigrated from Northeast Asia over 10,000 years ago, settled throughout
04:39the Japanese archipelago.
04:41How lovely.
04:43Thank you very much.
04:46This Ainu soup.
04:49Salmon soup.
04:52Ah.
05:01Oh, look at the salmon's head.
05:04That must have given so much flavour.
05:06That looks wonderful.
05:07Well, that's a soup that looks me in the eye.
05:10It's chopsticks.
05:11Thank you very much.
05:18Mm.
05:19It's delicious.
05:21Seaweed, kombu.
05:22Mm.
05:23This, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the,
05:23base flavour.
05:25This is dried kombu.
05:28Oh.
05:29That's in here.
05:30Mm-hmm.
05:45Tell me about the religious beliefs of the Ainu.
06:04Following the Japanese colonization of Hokkaido in the late 19th century, the Ainu's way
06:10of life came under pressure.
06:12Their lands were confiscated and traditional practices of hunting and of worship were banned.
06:19My children were used byē.
06:21And gained a sense of time being learned Japanese byIDE,
06:23They were employed by horses by'.
06:25Andumanizing juparo in Taipei dort就是農業,
06:29They were very difficult when they had to buy Japan.'
06:38The existence of this delicately proved to beordon .
06:39Were you brought
06:40up as Ainu.
07:04In 2008, the Japanese government recognized the Ainu as a separate indigenous
07:10people. Four years later, the Ainu Party of Japan was set up to protect their rights.
07:16Today there are thought to be around 20,000 Ainu people living on Hokkaido.
07:39That is good news indeed.
07:40Do you want to see my family's pictures?
07:45Yes, please.
08:05That's a custom.
08:06Yes.
08:08So, I used the name of Suzusappu and I'm the singer of Ainu.
08:19Music and dance play a central role in Ainu culture.
08:23Konnichiwa.
08:26Ryoko and her friends are about to perform the traditional crane dance.
08:31Ryoko and her friends.
08:58Ryoko and her friends.
09:12The Ainu believe the crane to be a messenger from the god of the wetlands and their ancient
09:19dance mimics the bird's graceful movements.
09:24Ryoko and her friends.
09:29Thank you so much.
09:31Arigato.
09:45This afternoon, my train takes me around 40 kilometers north to the capital of Hokkaido.
09:53I'm looking forward to Sapporo, which is the largest Japanese city north of Tokyo.
10:00It's famed for the beer that bears its name and for having hosted the Winter Olympics 1972.
10:06The very heavy snowfall is caused by icy ocean currents.
10:12Now, I've heard, not surprisingly, that the city has a beer culture.
10:17And as the neon lights come on, so the bars and the restaurants and the pubs and the nightclubs
10:25give it a really zingy, nocturnal vibe.
10:29Watch out, Sapporo.
10:30I'm on my way.
10:52Japan's fourth largest city, Sapporo, lies on the vast Ishikari Plain, surrounded by mountains.
10:59It was founded in the second half of the 19th century by the Hokkaido Development Commission
11:05during the reign of Emperor Meiji.
11:09Some numbers about Sapporo that surprised me.
11:12In 1857, it had a population of seven.
11:17Today, it has a population of two million.
11:20And its annual snowfall is nearly 16 feet, which, amongst metropolises, is highly unusual.
11:29Settlers and soldier farmers known as Tondenhei came from across Japan to transform a small Ainu trading post into the
11:38island's administrative centre.
11:40Hokkaido grows a high proportion of the fruit and grain and rice for Japan.
11:47And during the country's modernisation, the Sapporo Agricultural College was opened in 1875, at a time when almost nothing else
11:57existed here.
11:58It soon acquired an American clock tower.
12:02And Americans taught here too, including Dr. William S. Clarke, who had been a colonel during his country's civil war.
12:10He is still remembered to this day for his valedictory remarks, which have surely been heeded by generations of Japanese
12:17people.
12:18Boys, be ambitious.
12:29As the day draws to a close in the city centre, the final evening of my journey awaits.
12:35I think Japanese cities measure themselves by the brightness of their neon, and Sapporo is not to be outdone.
12:46This is the Susukino district, one of Japan's largest nightlife hotspots, with more than 3,000 shops, bars and restaurants.
12:54Sapporo is famed for its cuisine, especially its ramen, the nation's favourite noodle soup.
13:02No city would be truly Japanese without an alleyway, and this one is called Ramen Alley.
13:10Thank you very much. Good evening.
13:13The restaurant Tashikaga prides itself on its authentic recipes.
13:19For dinner, I'm joining Sapporo resident and photographer Yuta Nakamura.
13:24I'm Michael.
13:25Yuta, nice to meet you.
13:27It's great to see you.
13:28How's it going?
13:29It's going very well.
13:31Ooh, I wouldn't mind a beer. Should we order a beer?
13:34Yeah.
13:34When you call someone, you say, sumimasen.
13:38Let me try that.
13:40Sumimasen!
13:45Sapporo is very well known for beer.
13:47Yes.
13:48It's a very new city, a very modern city.
13:51Mm-hmm.
13:51Is it also a young city?
13:53I would say so.
13:54There's a big university, and then it has like super urban, like energetic vibe.
14:01I think the light, the neon, that makes like Suffolk City special.
14:06In a weekend.
14:07Oh, our beers are ripe.
14:10There you go.
14:14I'm sure we order some ramen.
14:16There's heaps of options.
14:17Do you have a favorite?
14:18I usually go for this pork miso.
14:22Yeah, barbecue pork topped ramen miso soup.
14:25That sounds perfect.
14:27Sumimasen!
14:29Miso ramen, a Sapporo speciality, was created in the city in the 1950s.
14:35Made with slow-cooked pork bones and mixed with miso paste, the rich broth became a popular
14:41comfort food enjoyed during the region's cold winters.
14:45It's not small, is it?
14:47When do you tend to eat a ramen?
14:49I usually eat ramen at the end of the night.
14:53Yeah.
14:54To recover myself from like getting tipsy or getting drunk.
14:59Hangover food.
15:00Yeah.
15:01Very good.
15:02And it serves its purpose.
15:03It's pretty solid, isn't it?
15:05Mm-hmm.
15:05It's super thick and rich.
15:07Yeah, yeah.
15:08You can mix it up first.
15:09Yeah.
15:10Before you eat, I wanted to say you're good to slurp.
15:14Slurp?
15:15Slurp.
15:16Maybe like you think it's a Batman or a bat.
15:19But it's not.
15:20But it's okay, okay.
15:28It's good, isn't it?
15:29Mm-hmm.
15:30I didn't feel too comfortable slurping, but I'll get used to it.
15:33Actually, by slurping, we believe that we can enjoy the smell, smell of the ramen.
15:40Mm-hmm.
15:41And also the smoothness of the noodle going down.
15:44These noodles are good.
15:45Yeah.
15:46Full of flavor.
15:49This town has a great reputation for its nightlife.
15:53Is that right?
15:54Yes.
15:55Especially here in Suzukino, you have so many options.
15:59Rock music, punk, in the nightclub we have techno, like all kinds of music.
16:06And then there's a karaoke bar.
16:08Mm, not for me.
16:10And there's a magic bar.
16:12Magic bar?
16:12Yeah.
16:13That sounds intriguing.
16:14Yeah.
16:15It's quite interesting.
16:19As the night is still young, following Utah's advice, I'm on the search for some magic with my nightcap.
16:27In Japan, any business can be on any floor.
16:31The place I'm looking for is on floor five.
16:35No.
16:40Does that mean magic?
16:46Looks kind of tiny, but it is open.
16:49Yes.
16:50Magic bars, offering close-up tricks with your drink, are hugely popular in Japan.
16:57And over the past 20 years, they've opened in many big cities.
17:04Please call me Moyashi.
17:06Moyashi.
17:06Moyashi.
17:07M-O-Y-A-S-H-I.
17:08Moyashi.
17:09Gossip.
17:09Moyashi.
17:10Notebook.
17:11A notebook.
17:13Notebook.
17:13Notebook, here.真っ白.
17:15Absolutely blank. Blank.
17:17Three, two,
17:19one. Yeah.
17:21Yeah. Very good. Very
17:25good.
17:27Yay.
17:27Please take end card.
17:30Okay.
17:31Heart of the 10.
17:33Ten of hearts.
17:33Okay.
17:34Signature.
17:35Face side.
17:35Okay.
17:36Nice.
17:39Okay.
17:41Middle of the deck.
17:43Okay.
17:48Three, two, one.
17:49Okay.
17:52Moving fast.
17:54Three, two, one.
17:57Perfect.
17:59Perfect.
18:02Face up.
18:03Face up.
18:04Face up.
18:05Face up.
18:05Face up.
18:06Yeah.
18:07Oh.
18:09Oh.
18:14This is your card.
18:16Yay.
18:17He's good.
18:19Do you like Japanese green tea?
18:22Of course.
18:23Three, two, one.
18:26Perfect.
18:27Perfect.
18:28It's a pet bottle.
18:29This is a new bottle.
18:31Shield bottle.
18:32Okay?
18:33Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
18:34Remove the label.
18:36Remove the label.
18:38Take the label.
18:40It's bad.
18:41It's bad.
18:41I don't know.
18:43I don't know.
18:43I don't know.
18:44I don't know.
18:45Oh, green tea.
18:4810 nobhertz.
18:50And your signature.
18:52No.
18:54This is souvenir for you.
18:57Watching it close up, you can't see the trick.
19:00How did he do that?
19:03He is absolutely amazing.
19:06Thank you so much.
19:10I've still got my watch.
19:11I thought he might have my watch.
19:23This morning's journey is the last leg of my Japanese tour.
19:29I'm traveling just over 35 kilometers northwest along the coastline of the Sea of Japan to the port city, Otaru.
19:47I love a railway that runs by the sea and the water is so blue.
19:57Where has the British helped Japan to build its first railway?
20:00On Hokkaido, it was the Americans who supplied the expertise and locomotives from Pennsylvania and rolling stock from Delaware.
20:10The first railway carried coal from a mine past Sapporo towards the port at Otaru, on broadly the route that
20:18I'm following now.
20:20It also transported kelp, which was a valuable fertilizer.
20:24The railway enormously helped the island to develop, attracting vast numbers of immigrants from Japan who settled here.
20:36This is now part of the Hakodate main line, covering over 423 kilometers and connecting the island's western cities.
20:48And so ends my last railway journey in Japan.
20:59Where is the London chamber?
21:01There are more than a national gas station in Japan, providing a car to the platform, at Otaru.
21:05There is no to heart.
21:10Ah.
21:12You know, on the Shinkansen, all the stations are of steel and glass.
21:17And very impressive.
21:18But it's wonderful to come to a station that has history.
21:24It opened in the centre of Otaru in 1903, and this Art Deco entrance hall was added in 1934.
21:33By then the harbour was bustling with passenger steamships and freight barges.
21:39On Ishikari Bay, in the shadow of Mount Tengu, the new port is a growing centre for international trade.
21:4850 kilometres west along the coast, the town of Yoichi is the birthplace of one of Japan's most famous names.
21:56Although Sapporo is associated with beer, Hokkaido is also noted for having a splendid distillery making fine whisky.
22:06And the story concerns a determined young Japanese gentleman, called Masataka Taketsuru,
22:13who travelled to Scotland to learn the art of whisky making, and there met and married Rita, who returned with
22:21him to Japan.
22:23Taketsuru would become known as the father of Japanese whisky.
22:27Today the company that he founded, Nikka, is one of Japan's largest producers, with distilleries and plants across the country.
22:36But Yoichi is where it all began.
22:39This distillery reeks of tradition, and also of course of the smell of whisky.
22:46And in this case of coal, inside these stills, the first distillation is occurring,
22:53and the temperature is raised still, traditionally, using coal.
22:58And I'll tell you what this site reminds me of, something I've seen so often, the shovelling of coal in
23:04an old steam locomotive.
23:07I'll explore the company's history with its head of global education and public relations, Emiko Kaji.
23:15Emiko-san, it's a very attractive distillery.
23:19The colour of the stone reminds me of Scotland.
23:22It doesn't look to me at all like Japan. When was it built?
23:26Yoichi Distillery was built in 1934.
23:29The interesting character here is Taketsuru.
23:32Yes.
23:33Tell me about him.
23:34He was born into a sake brewing family in Hiroshima.
23:38He learned chemistry at the university, and he was supposed to take over the family business, sake brewing.
23:44But he was more interested in the western type of alcohol beverages.
23:48Was whisky made in Japan? Was it known in Japan?
23:52There was the product labelled whisky, but it is not actually authentic whisky, kind of a mixture of neutral alcohol
24:00and flavouring and colouring.
24:02He met Rita, whom he would marry. How did that happen?
24:06So after arriving in Scotland, the University of Glasgow allowed him to enter.
24:11So there he met Rita's younger sister, Elva. So one day he visited Elva's house. There he met Rita for
24:19the first time.
24:20I mean, Rita must have been quite brave early in the 20th century to go to Japan as an English
24:27wife of a Japanese gentleman.
24:28International marriage was not common. So both families were opposed to their marriage at the time.
24:34But Rita decided to immigrate to Japan to support Masataka's dream to make whisky in Japan.
24:41After gaining experience with other companies, Takatsuru planned his own distillery and chose Yuichi as the perfect location.
24:50There were local barley and local peat and also the environmental conditions are quite similar to Scotland.
24:59Cool climate and crisp air and also rich water source were available.
25:04Launching his first whisky in 1940, Takatsuru insisted on traditional Scottish coal-fired distillation,
25:12in which the company to this day takes pride. Emiko has invited me to sample their range.
25:19This is a tasting bar. Excellent.
25:23These are all single modes from Yuichi distilleries, quite different from each other.
25:27But I think you will find similar smokiness due to the coal-fired distillation.
25:33You can start with this single mode classic. So it has a present PT node.
25:38It is widely sold even in the UK and across Europe.
25:48Mm, certainly getting the peat in this. Yes.
25:52Oh, lovely warmth, lovely fire in the throat. Very nice indeed. I believe this is a first for me.
25:59I'm not sure I've ever tasted a Japanese whisky before. Really?
26:02And that is a very pleasant start. Yeah.
26:04So this is one of the limited editions only available at the distillery shop from the new American oak barrels.
26:12Some vanilla flavour. Less peaty? Yes, less peaty.
26:22Smoother. Mm. I personally am slightly missing the peatiness. I like a peaty whisky.
26:28So that brings us maybe to number three. That is another limited edition. I think that will fit your palette.
26:34So this is called peaty and salty. Mm. Deeply peaty. Yes.
26:42A lovely whisky. Just thinking back to your founder, is the company still inspired by his example, do you think?
26:50Yes. And when I try to do something new or challenging, I always think whether he will be happy with
27:00that or not.
27:01So he is kind of the benchmark. I think all the people feel the same way.
27:06That's very moving. And I raise my glass to the memory of Takeshi.
27:23You can make the great railway journey of your lifetime in Japan.
27:29I have been whisked by Shinkansen and by every variety of train from one end of the country to another,
27:37from towering cityscape to awe-inspiring scenery.
27:41I've been made welcome by the politest people on earth, and I've feasted on one of the great cuisines of
27:48the world.
27:50I've been fascinated and mystified by the culture, but isn't that one of the benefits of travel?
27:57I'm convinced that in Asia, Japan represents islands of decency and democracy and defends and promotes values that I share.
28:38Transcription by CastingWords
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