Warriors of Tokugawa (Ep1)

Four centuries ago, Japan was unified under the mighty Tokugawa Shogun, laying the foundations for modern Japanese culture. Singaporean curator and scholar Peter Lee travels through Japan to chart this epic period in Japanese history, trying his hand at the ancient art of samurai swordsmanship, testing his skills at making fine porcelain, and getting behind the counter to make supersized sushi, the way it was before.

47m

Joseon's Defenders (Ep2)

Lasting over five centuries, the Joseon Dynasty was the Korean Peninsula’s longest reigning dynasty, and perhaps its most influential. Singaporean Peter Lee embarks on an adventure across South Korea to learn how this modern nation was shaped by Joseon-era traditions and milestones. Along the way, he meets a fashion designer reviving traditional costumes for the social media generation, tests his Korean language skills in a classroom, and joins in on a pop band’s rehearsal that takes inspiration from Pansori, traditional musical storytelling.

47m

Merchants of Ryukyu (Ep3)

Located to Japan’s extreme south, the Ryukyu Archipelago was the setting for the small but vibrant Ryukyu Kingdom that emerged 600 years ago. Peter travels to its idyllic island settings to see how the Ryukyu identity is finding new meaning today as he visits a tattoo studio reviving an almost-lost traditional style, goes on a beachside horseback ride with the islands’ native horses, and tests his skills with a weapon through kobudo martial arts.

47m

Descendants of Ainu (Ep4)

Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido is a must-see tourist destination for millions across the region, but not many know about its ancient inhabitants — the indigenous Ainu people. Singaporean scholar Peter Lee travels to the land of the Ainu, with its scenic landscapes and abundant natural resources, to learn more about how this resourceful people survived and thrived off the land. Along the way, he meets Ainu artisans who make textiles out of treebark. He visits a traditional Ainu Kotan, or Ainu village, and goes on a hike in the majestic Shiretoko Peninsula, on the search for wild bears.

47m