Seasoning the Seasons

In Japan, fruits that line storefronts remind us of the seasons. As the season changes from summer to autumn, every fruit bears a story. On a remote southern island, merchants gather at a fruit store enjoying a chat. They bring seasonal flavors from their own fields. In the north, fields of akebia are plenty. A local unique custom involves sending the souls of the deceased on an akebia boat. In this episode of Seasoning the Seasons, join us on a journey of fruits from all corners of Japan.

The Mikuni Road stretches from Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture to Teradomari, 200 kilometers to the north in Niigata Prefecture. Mt. Mikuni, 1,636 meters high, lies on the border between the two prefectures. In samurai days, the route was used to take tributes to the Shogun in Tokyo, then called Edo. The Mikuni Road also played a key role in the silk industry, carrying cocoons and raw silk. This fall, we follow this storied road, which brought people together and carried the fruits of their labor.

Today in Japan, the Jomon period is experiencing a quiet boom. Jomon is a unique Japanese culture that lasted approximately 13,000 years in the pre-Christian age, within the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods in world history. It was a time when pit-buildings, pottery, and bows and arrows started to be used. Jomon ruins found throughout Japan number up to 90,000 locations. We go on a journey all over Japan to discover Jomon culture that is still alive.

The Ikegami line runs through southeast Tokyo linking Kamata with Gotanda. Trains take 22 minutes to cover the line's 10.9 kilometers. The line winds through local neighborhoods, also cutting through Tokyo's longest shopping arcade. Each of the line's stations is rooted in the community. While the time may pass and the scenery change, the line is integral to local people's lives. We take a springtime trip along this local Tokyo railway.