Journeys in Japan 〜Tanegashima: Guns, Rockets and Surf〜

[Music] Tanegashima island is surrounded by the strong Kuroshio blackcurrant [Music] this is where in the 16th century firearms were first introduced and manufactured in Japan since then Tanegashima has embraced things from the outside [Music] Dean Newcomb is a British model and social entrepreneur on journeys in Japan Dean explorers Tanegashima a laid-back yet enterprising place of great beauty [Music] Tanegashima is located 1,000 kilometers southwest of Tokyo long and narrow it is the 10th largest island in Japan with around 30,000 inhabitants so I've arrived in Tanegashima it's absolutely gorgeous weather with this lovely sea breeze blowing in and it's time for me to go and explore [Music] whoa Shh wow it's so loud go to our job sir go Desna hey matchlock guns were first introduced to Japan here in Tanegashima in the mid 16th century this gentleman is shooting an early model replica vector-a Mizuki Aikido today Tamano Cavallini in our a no t-shirt t-shirt sorry kayak no hmm three super-states did it they're here without Schmitt their first step now let's get the jacket Wow like a scalpel Keaney don't call mechanical where they you know you know cookie dough ready okay in 1543 a Chinese junk carrying Portuguese merchants became stranded on the island the lord of the island noticed the visitors matchlocks and acquired some of them later he entrusted his highly skilled sword smiths in replicating them [Music] after that the guns were widely adopted around the country as feudal lords coveted these new weapons Japanese warfare was forever altered over forty years ago the islanders got together to revive this heritage to pass along to younger generations progeny what era Hondo delicate okay sir step it up again analyze maharaja you what they're telling us what intention is to Murrieta you proton day captain ko sew-on Windhoek I don't know over steamers tourists a cop passione an Angus a monocot alone Jeevan mo mada shiranai no they came in the most a Tanegashima no Nick kankakee no cat initiative the English in Medina the moon the moon I type [Music] every August Tanegashima hosts a festival to celebrate its matchlock history the island slips back in time [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] it's a really cool souvenirs here they all have some really local produce it's like shells of the beach this looks like the unknown local sweet potato the arno variety of sweet potato is an island specialty used in many baked goods [Music] Oh some people working over here in the field konnichiwa hello emo that scarf I know you more right so why unknowing multi-max me no no Maya I'm more Benny - in this case or Hodja you are forever goggle correct on the show smotret old soap opera Django it doesn't obligate no no Clara come again soon as you need Sabina farmer Masonic Asano has been cultivating unknown for nearly 20 years nice the soil is so soft it's like it's like walking on sand miss MA - no se lo Mart the islands warm climate and relatively dry soil are perfect for raising this type of sweet potato [Music] the on Oh are covered to protect them from the harsh sunlight they have very delicate skin so roots and stems must be trimmed by hand it's a big job these guys really working hard because it's not so easy to do this job by hand and the potatoes never end Korea daughter's car sorry mother c'mon okay the NACA's oh no family all comes out during the harvest [Music] the tubers will be cured for a month to enhance sweetness [Music] the on ol brand is now famous all over the country [Music] - oh wow boy what a guy Ito more so they're good see Nick wasn't no mama see so solid that you want a car it's like when you buy into it just melts away into your mouth not a force as you would imagine super super sweet so this potato actually started off as a a potato from Sumatra but now it's known as and not emo which is a region of Tanegashima so it's it's come a long way it's come from abroad and now it's it's become famous from this region I'm not [Music] [Music] Wow look at that we've got this mini rocket here so I'm guessing this Minami Taneytown must be the town that's famous for the rocket launch on the island this town is home to the Tanegashima Space Center Japan's largest rocket launch complex [Music] look at that over there there's information about the next launch says rocket so you can kind of get this feeling that the whole town is getting excited about the next time the rockets going into space look at that cool Wow [Music] so it looks like one of the the fuel cells that pushes the rocket out you can see here a solid strap-on booster it looks so heavy Wow this shop also looks like has something to do with the Rockets so I'm gonna go inside and check it out it's like a grocery store in here it looks like showed you Japanese alcohol and each one has a picture of something from space Savoy is now let me tell you no but you know that I mmm she would do whatever I must name so of course my sister Santa Monica laughs which I rather have any Kenan no short your Botox good Wow unless he'll get him out yes [Applause] so we've arrived the Tanegashima Space Center and it's absolutely beautiful down here it's right by the coast and over here there's a big rocket and a building that looks like a museum so I'm gonna go and check it out [Music] Rockets launch better closer to the equator so Tanegashima southern location was deemed ideal when the space center was in planning fifty years ago konnichiwa any job Dean told us and watch the thing about mr. Hiroaki Yamashita works at the Space Center [Music] the center has exhibits for visitors including satellite replicas as well as different domestic rocket models Wow [Music] no put it on you or tell you what isn't it come on oh no look at me not even Wow this is part of a rocket that was to be launched 15 years ago Korea and all located on me hi Shawna begonia she was a holiday when assembled it's 50 meters in length and weighs about 260 tons [Music] the rocket parts were shipped to Tanegashima and assembled at the Space Center [Music] it's my first time to be up close to these Rockets like this and it's so hard for me to describe to you the scale of it just how big they are just how heavy they must be incredible engineering [Music] okay take it apart Oh God except to miracle / ba gua Kuryakin knowledge among hey homie - yes mr. toad is near hi Miko an ER with a kashirin alternate illega diet certain period - aah - aah - aah - mantis not only know almost surely she got merriam-webster ah ah she's missing on Tanegashima no she's in distance hi coconut look at the know Jagger to imitate my stuff ooh - ready tight my step no co2 I've made up we're taking her to get his name Gardi man I guess Mottola in my study godmother on the most ownin descaler more i can you know look at the tuna Tommy Mottola open-toe vital facts on which to watch this man Tony mo mo to the truth I did you tell me more territory well this ago I cannot kill me want me there no Jackie no - keenie Titus they are known Jeremy they stay together all right you have to save us it's been really interesting to learn how important this Space Center is to the island it's really become such a huge part of local culture and they even say that this island is the closest place in Japan to space [Music] Tanegashima is literally surrounded by beautiful beaches and you quite often see surfers out there catching the waves in fact the island is one of Japan's most popular surf spots [Music] see the sign origin so I heard the origin was the first search shop that was established on the whole island and I also heard that you can try surfing there [Music] I'm always happy put into our open you draw sir what was in that the other was a masseur Katya Sark I opened his shop nearly 20 years ago nah nah nah Miss Coco yo Shahenshah no kimochi equation solver Samoa Joe Cassano pro debater no startin tomorrow sweetie mr. O'Connell Tanegashima mama Mione I know Thomas Mara no they cure on surf lesson studies Oh convert agresar here today huh Yukiko makuta is an instructor at Sakai shop first Dean learns correct posture and board position what is of it [Music] [Music] [Music] that was amazing I had this image that surfing was so difficult I tried it before but many many years ago and so I really didn't know if I'd be able to stand up today but this guy is a great teacher I've got both and yeah I was able to stand up and it was enjoyable and I think I'm hooked on surfing now I want to get back out there they had to pull me out the water I want to go again I want to go again when Yuki was born here there was virtually no local surfing culture [Music] Jenica so Copernicus every day Chanukah psychic Utica winda Sanderson activate a automatic myself instead understand a Maori people that guy that means equal smartass anymore [Music] so all that sir things made me quite hungry I'm gonna go up and check out this little cafe see what's on the menu that from another guru now here for almost something oh yeah Gopi a yogi runs this cafe what's your goal keep for something oh yeah for surfing and just I want to live in Ohio yogi grew up overseas and relocated to Tanegashima with his family 49 years ago so there must be something special what about this island yeah biggest thing is some ocean environment it's very beautiful nice waves and also nice people there's a lots of people like me can from the other Island because of the waves and this they settled and they find jobs see homes and you have your own community do you feel pretty good this is taco rice so it's basically the taco ingredients on top of rice is Japanese fusion food and it's a little bit spicy as well [Music] come by come on local surfers invite Dean to their barbecue party nice to meet you no man can a nice to meet you can sorrow Telos Akhtar Oh och sure yeah nice to meet you never lovely and a mechanic Ashima he must come here Sahin got stuck sit on stuff so I slow like this man hey little sofa how are you this boy I moved here from greater Tokyo he serves regularly with his father none psycho dodging you know Satan go casaya it's question is anymore Nigeria the house - well done more for all ever you may well know [Music] a month ago file go into us [Music] if the island has been accepting foreign coaches since ancient times outsiders are now beginning to discover these qualities and create new communities on the island this is an island that's both diverse and very very active and I'm hoping I can come back here again really soon [Music] to reach Tanegashima it takes 1 hour and 45 minutes by plane from Tokyo to Kagoshima then it's another 35 minutes by air or you can take an express ferry from Kagoshima for [Music] local children guide visitors around the gun museum during the summer season [Music] now fireworks display marks the finale of the annual gun festival [Applause] you

Channel: NHK WORLD-JAPAN

Views: 33,470

Rating: 4.8877549 out of 5

Keywords: Tanegashima, island, Kagoshima prefecture, Gun, Tanegashima Space Center, Surf Shop, rocket, Cafe

Id: VviHCRRQSF8

Length: 27min 59sec (1679 seconds)

Published: Thu Feb 22 2018