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I was watching this documentary on the Oasis channel that featured a farming region in Chokijo. It was such a beautiful program, it made me feel so nostalgic for an old fashion lifestyle and just a simpler way of being. It makes you think of the beauty and fertility of the land, family traditions and customs and makes you reflect on how we live. It was one of the best programs I've seen in a while and I highly recommend it. You'll feel richer for seeing it, I promise.

Summary of Oasis' Gift From The Groves:

For over 400 years the Igune woods of Chokijo in northern Japan have protected humans and wildlife from fierce winds. They and their residents are the worlds’ apart from the nearest city, only 5 kilometers away. Cedar, zelkova, chestnut and walnut trees- some 300 years old- have been carefully maintained by the local resident. Great-grandchildren work alongside their elders to grow vegetables, cultivate rice, and upkeep the local shrine. Each generation learns that what one takes from the land must be replaced. Filmed over a one year period, Igune captures the important role the forest plays for those who live within its protective circle in harmony with nature.

Since this show was about Japan it reminded me of another documentary I saw a while back called Japan: A Story of Love and Hate. I found it incredibly interesting and you can't help but feel more conscious of your empathy/sympathy after watching it. A summary follows:

Documentary which tells an unusual love story of survival in the world's second richest economy. Naoki, 56, had it all in Japan's bubble economy days - he ran a business with 70 staff, drove a brand new BMW and lived in a six-bedroom house. But when Japan's economy crashed in the early 1990s he lost everything, ending up divorced and penniless.He was saved from homelessness by his new girlfriend, 29-year-old Yoshie, who took him in despite living in a tiny one-room apartment. At his age, the only job Naoki can find is part-time at the post office, which means working seven hours a day and earning just 4,000 pounds a year. Yoshie now has to find extra jobs to support him, working 15 hours a day in three jobs. Each evening she leaves Naoki at home to do the housework and heads to a sleazy chat bar, where she is paid to drink, flatter and flirt with married men.Naoki sees his relationship with Yoshie like father and daughter and admits that since losing his business he has lost his confidence in both his professional and social life.