Japanland

Japan is a land of paradox, firmly committed to 21st-century technological innovation, yet always looking back to the heritage of its ancestors. The Japanese people value dignity, honor, and reserve, yet often spend their weekends in raucous recreations of the "way of the warrior." In Japanland, American Karin Muller (author of Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa, avail. from www.japanlandonline.com) presents a splendid account of her yearlong journey in Japan, visiting overcrowded bustling cities and remote rural corners. Along the way, Muller covers a wide variety of topics, including the private life of a geisha, Shinto and Buddhist festivals, the painstaking craftsmanship of the last of the samurai sword makers, the art of making saki, and the world of sumo wrestlers. Muller always finds something offbeat and interesting to say about subjects ranging from family life and self-discipline to education and metallurgy. Viewers may be surprised to learn that old samurai sword makers often tested the sharpness of their blades on condemned criminals, or that schools in villages often don't employ janitors, as students are expected to clean their own classrooms. Scenes of commuters being packed into trains or jammed into tiny overnight cubicles in Japanese hotels underscore the fact that space is at a premium, yet the film also reminds us of the people's love of nature and beauty, depicted here in unexpected snowfalls or a waterborne lantern festival honoring the dead. Nicely shot, well-organized, and smartly edited—with DVD extras including bonus footage and a narrated slideshow—the two-disc Japanland is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)