Customer Reviews

Japan: Samurai, Geisha and Technology

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first saw this video, I thought it was pretty good. Because the presentation is made by a software company, I felt that the cinematography was outstanding, but that the naration sounded like it was from someone that would work at a software company (ie: somewhat nerdy). I had debated whether to show this to some of my mentally ill clients that I work with. I finally opted to show it. To my surprise, they loved it. Comment ranged from "They really packed a lot in an hour", to mentioning about specifics (the snow monkeys, the high tech section, the robots, the gardens, etc.). As a matter of fact, I thought that I would have a difficult time ending the group on time because they were fascinated with the high tech, and cars section. But almost on cue, it ended with a shot of Mt. Fuji. The company may get some more business that they wouldn't have gotten, as several co-workers, and clients asked me where I got it. So (as you can see) this review isn't mine alone, but several people. And considering that a ten spot wont even fill up a car anymore, it makes this video a great getaway. And because it's from a software company, (more than likely) this video will NOT be shown on Discovery, Travel, NG, or any of the other major cable networks. My advice, for the cinematography alone, it's more than worth the ten spot. Get it.

My husband and I are both Japanese who own a small Japanese restaurant where we serve authentic Japanese cuisine. We started showing (with permission) Japan: Samurai, Geisha & Technology. We constantly receive many wonderful comments.

Our customers who used to live in Japan or have visited Japan are glued to the video and start refreshing many special memories from Japan. Japanese women married with Americans and have lived in the States for many decades could feel homesick. In addition, this bilingual DVD is a wonderful tool for a bilingual study. We hope this DVD will be used in world geography/culture classes, Japanese language classes as well as at home.

This DVD covers a wide range of sites including: Tokyo - shop in Ginza, see the world's largest fish market (where your sushi dinner originates), beautiful parks and Tokyo's nightlife and museums. See Japan's most famous sites: Kamakura - the Land of Samurai and Shogun; Kyoto - the Land of Geisha and Temples, Gion Corner, and Japan's Hollywood; plus Himeji, Hiroshima, and spectacular scenic areas such as Miya-jima and Matsushima Bay. Visit stunning ski resorts and spas in Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu. Even climb Mount Fuji and see magnificent castles, and famous historical sites. The videos are spectacular and it's in both Japan and English.

Review from AMG - "This program provides viewers with a guided tour of many attractions in Japan including Mount Fuji, the shopping district in Ginza, temples in Kyoto and more. This program also includes advice for planning a trip to or through Japan as well as a look at the development of Japan as a nation throughout the 20th century." All Movie Guide

I was given this DVD as a gift. With that said, even if it was not gifted to me, I would have no problem spending $10 on it. As someone who has long been enthralled with Japanese culture, I enjoyed this unique view of Japan. While it hits the major themes repeated in many other shows and specials on the country, it also offers looks into some of the lesser known, overlooked aspects of the country. A pleasant and inexpensive alternative to a real tour of Japan.

Japan: Samurai, Geisha & Technology" is an impressive DVD video that has unique benefits for both first time and repeat visitors to Japan. The narrator provides "been there. done that" observations that complement the eye-catching videos. Having made several previous visits to the country I was impressed by the wide range of venues covered by the video; some that I definitely plan to visit in the future!

I run a small family Japanese restaurant in northern England and we show this video to my customers (we got permission to show it from the producer). This video is the perfect Japanese tourist guide and it is a great way to get our customers to spend more time in my restaurant.

The Japan video was amazing. I have not been to Japan and it definitely makes me want to go. I now know of a few locations that are on my visit list thanks to this DVD.

I have made several business trips to Japan but each trip left very little time to explore and enjoy this unique country. Now that I have retired, I plan to vacation in Japan. Fortunately a friend directed me to this DVD. It now serves as my basic resource to plan the anticipated vacation. It covers all of the sites I want to explore including Tokyo's museums and nightlife, Kyoto's temples and Kamakura's samurai plus much much more. I found the camera work to be outstanding; the DVD's many scenes covered more of the country than I had expected from a one hour video..

I am also purchasing the DVD for my children so they can view the sites I plan to visit. They will also enjoy the fact the narration includes both English and Japanese

This video is great! I liked the music and video quality and it has a lot of good information about Japanese history. I live in Japan and speak English, but for Japanese who cannot understand English, you can change language from English to Japanese so you can listen to a native Japanese speaker.

I'm Japanese and this DVD was obviously made by Americans who love Japanese culture. You can learn about traditional places for sightseeing such as Kyoto's temples or Hokkaido's spas. And since its bilingual Japanese can also study English. This video reminds Japanese of our fantastic traditions and customs from the perspective of a foreigner.