Discover Japanese culture with this archive film, produced in 1970. Japanese culture and sensibility is very much aligned to nature and the seasons. This film looks at a range of traditional crafts and festivals, which celebrate this association throughout the course of the year. Japan has a strong textile tradition, passed down through generations over more than a millennium. Most pigments used to dye or paint cloth are plant based, and nature is reflected in floral designs, such as the spring flowering cherry blossom, symbol of purity and the transience of life. The crimson colour obtained from the summer safflower growing on the main island of Honshu was once used as rouge by Kyoto geishas. The Yuzen technique uses delicate brushwork and gold leaf to recreate the richness of nature on fabric. In early May the streets are filled with carp kites to celebrate Children's Day. In Kurashiki, heavy rains follow, helping the bamboo plant to flourish. Master craftsmen use bamboo's properti...