Journeys in Japan

Journeys in Japan provides an eye-opening look at the many unique places to visit in Japan. English-speaking visitors travel the length of the country, exploring the culture, meeting the local people, visiting historic sites and offering travel hints rarely found in guidebooks.

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Created By
Status	Returning Series
Original Name	Journeys in Japan
First Air Date	February 2, 2010
Last Air Date	March 24, 2026
Seasons	17
Episodes	551
Episode Runtime	28min
Language	Japanese, English
Original Language	English
Production Countries	Japan
Production Companies	Japan International Broadcasting (JIB)NHK
Networks	NHK WORLD-JAPAN

S17E08

Kokuto Okinawa island sweetness

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.

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