Focus Japan

  Screening of NHK documentary films on Japan’s history, literature, art, culture and heritage. Organised with the support of NHK World and Embassy of Japan, New Delhi

 Ogawa Jihei Gardens | (28 min; 2020; English and with subtitles)
 
From the late 1800's to the early 1900's, dominant political and business figures owned villas in neighbourhoods at the foot of the Higashiyama mountains flanking the eastern part of Kyoto. Many of their gardens were built by the pioneer of modern Japanese garden, Ogawa Jihei VII. Rather than bending the style of European gardens to Japanese tastes, or blending foreign and domestic styles, Ogawa’s gardens were firmly grounded in Japanese landscaping traditions, which he evolved to fit the lifestyles of those who were driving the country’s rapid social and technological change.