Stream It
Ume Plums
The flowers of the ume plum are a harbinger of spring. While the winter chill still lingers in Japan, the blossoming of the ume plum is a sign that spring is on the way. At this time of year, famous plum-viewing spots around Japan attract lots of visitors. The ume plum originally comes from China. It is said to have been brought to Japan about 2,000 years ago, along with rice agriculture. The fruit of the ume plum has long been used as food, flavoring, and medicine. And its charming flowers are so loved in Japan that they have been widely employed as a motif in confections, kimono, and crafts. Recently, a number of new businesses based on ume have also blossomed. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is ume plums. We will explore the charms of a tree that has figured prominently in Japanese culture for countless generations.
Aired: Mar 07, 2013 Genre: DocumentaryCasts: Peter BarakanDuration: 28m Rating: 0 Country: Japan, United Kingdom Production:
Episodes
01: Sumo02: Bathroom Scales03: Enka04: Small Factories05: Japanophiles - Azby Brown06: Japanophiles - Ernst Seiler07: Japanophiles - Yasokichi Konishiki08: Ume Plums09: Storehouses10: Wagyu11: Uniforms12: Rice Cookers13: Burial Mounds14: Stationery15: Bread16: Pine Trees17: Parcel Delivery18: Pro Wrestling19: Strawberries20: Calculators21: Television22: Lake Biwa23: Expressways24: Beer25: Japanophiles - Mike Harris26: Japanophiles - Karl Bengs27: Japanophiles - Kenny Omega28: Shakuhachi29: Convenience Stores30: Used Books31: Women's Nylons32: Remote Islands33: Characters and Mascots34: Grapes35: Makeup36: Ukiyo-e37: Buses38: Parties and Gatherings39: Conveyor Belt Sushi40: Pets