Review of Japan: Earth’s Enchanted Islands (2015)

Seen in 2017.

There’s an amazing time-lapse shot of dusk in the island episode, but no mention of the native populations. As in Wild China (2008), the filmmakers defer too much to official narratives on race, and to superstition; this extends even to irresponsible speculation on the Yonaguni Monument. There isn’t much wildness left in Japan, of course; this is almost anthropology. As a more intelligently written alternative I recommend the Rare Earth Youtube channel’s season on Japan, from a couple of years later, but Earth’s Enchanted Islands makes for pleasant casual viewing.

moving picture non-fiction Japanese production cultural landscape series