Joanna Lumley has got a killer charm that would win over the most cynical viewer. Where some TV travel guides patronise both their audience and their interviewees, Lumley is genuinely not just interested but really 'into' Japan and the Japanese, and it pays off handsomely in terms of the warmth of the finished TV product. She's not just ticking boxes from her bucket list, she takes the time to find out the stories behind the pretty travel sights such as the ice festival and the indigenous people and the hot springs and the artists who portray Mt Fuji. She walked a section of the trail from Kyoto to Tokyo, which involved slowing down and reading placards beside the path; and talking to tea peddlers and map makers who responded very well to her genuine interest in them. One even sang to her! Which as a tourist would be amazing. She really should give classes on how to host this kind of TV show. It's a delight from start to finish.
9 Reviews
Joanna goes Japanese
SnoopyStyle31 August 2018
Famed British actress Joanna Lumley does another one of her travelogues. She has created a niche of gentle journeys to foreign lands with a good amount of social commentary. In this one, she travels to the land of the rising sun, Japan. It's a short and sweet three episode series. The first episode has her start from the north. She visits a sake brewery, monkeys, the Fukushima exclusion zone, and an old man from a disappearing minority. The second episode has her visiting Tokyo and Kyoto. The last episode has her island-hopping south. Among her stops are a fertility Buddhist temple, a robot hotel, a school in Nagasaki, a radish farm in the shadow of an active volcano, Okinawa, and a singing group of elders.
The first episode's emotional highlight is the old man and his daughter. It's interesting to see sake being made. The second episode is a bit bland. Tokyo has been done to death and it's a little silly to see her overjoyed at shopping. Lots of this feels touristy. The girl group is a little creepy. It's like National Geographic going to and admiring a strip club. It's weird. Otherwise, it still has plenty of charming old school Japan. The third episode is fun, charming, and touching. The kids bowing to peace is poignant. I like Joanna going to out-of-the-way places and presenting different people. She does go too far at times pushing her social views. One does know what to expect from her.
The first episode's emotional highlight is the old man and his daughter. It's interesting to see sake being made. The second episode is a bit bland. Tokyo has been done to death and it's a little silly to see her overjoyed at shopping. Lots of this feels touristy. The girl group is a little creepy. It's like National Geographic going to and admiring a strip club. It's weird. Otherwise, it still has plenty of charming old school Japan. The third episode is fun, charming, and touching. The kids bowing to peace is poignant. I like Joanna going to out-of-the-way places and presenting different people. She does go too far at times pushing her social views. One does know what to expect from her.
Lovely
mikeiskorn1 February 2021
Joanna and Japan are a delight
safenoe6 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
What an impressive and delightful look at Japan from the eyes of Joanna "Trail of the Pink Panther" Lumley. In episode one Joanna took a serious look at Japan and the various people and places she visits. One of the most touching was when she visited Naoto Matsumura, a hero of Tomioka, Fukushima, as he looks after abandoned animals left behind by residents fleeing the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
I loved the nice touches where Joanna enthusiastically got her book stamped at each destination! Her commentary on the Sapporo snow buildings was spectacular, as was her visit of the cranes. Absolutely wonderful.
There was a road trip element in this series, with Joanna driving around Japan to each of her destinations (in Japan they drive on the left hand side). I liked her awe at the vending machines in Japan.
I loved the nice touches where Joanna enthusiastically got her book stamped at each destination! Her commentary on the Sapporo snow buildings was spectacular, as was her visit of the cranes. Absolutely wonderful.
There was a road trip element in this series, with Joanna driving around Japan to each of her destinations (in Japan they drive on the left hand side). I liked her awe at the vending machines in Japan.
Lives from Turkey
ikbalttimur27 September 2020
I laughed, I cried, I learnt with this amazing, sentimentale, humanist and beautiful woman. So many feelings, sense of humour and love. I amire you the unique woman.
I Saw the series in Bloomberg Ht in Turkey. Thanks.
Joanna is perfect
tonytangney20 January 2021
A gentle journey from the very north of Hokkaido to the bottom most island of Japan near Taiwan. Joanna is the ideal travel guide for this, to western eyes, most alien of cultures. Fun, courteous and wondrous, appreciative of her surrounding, without an ounce of condescension . Wonderful insight into a wonderful country and its lovely people.
Joanna Lumley and Japan.
craigmichilis-6433427 April 2021
What's not to like about that. In my view What makes this a standout is the curiosity, open mind and absolute joy that Joanna Lumley brings with her on her journey through this spectacular and unique country. I'm sure it's the secret to her youthful beauty. I can't wait to watch the entire series. 👏🏼
Great Series
royhectorkabanlit20 January 2021
A great Limited 3-Part Series, each around 45 minutes long and made 2 Years before Joanna Lumley's other great Series, the Silk Road Adventure. I've never been to Japan, my first thoughts about is about Modernity and Progress.
But here Joanna Lumley shows us it is a lot more than that, there are great Sceneries, great History and Culture. I love the Drone Shots, they made a lot of them, almost every Place they featured. It captured wonderful Panoramic Views of the Areas.
Also one thing I noticed was how Clean, Neat and Orderly almost all the Places in Japan were, whether it was in the Major Cities or in the Rural Areas.
The Series also gives a good Presentation of Japan's Geography, like what its major Islands are, their differences, History, etc. For me this is a Must See Travel Adventure Series.
But here Joanna Lumley shows us it is a lot more than that, there are great Sceneries, great History and Culture. I love the Drone Shots, they made a lot of them, almost every Place they featured. It captured wonderful Panoramic Views of the Areas.
Also one thing I noticed was how Clean, Neat and Orderly almost all the Places in Japan were, whether it was in the Major Cities or in the Rural Areas.
The Series also gives a good Presentation of Japan's Geography, like what its major Islands are, their differences, History, etc. For me this is a Must See Travel Adventure Series.
Worth watching regardless of some inaccuracies
bert_collin11 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Having lived and travelled in Japan myself, it warms me to see Joanna traversing the land, meeting interesting people and experiencing the best of both countryside and metropolis. She seems honest in her interest for the Japanese culture and inhabitants, and treats them with respect as she visits hot springs, temples and homes of local people.
As a Japanologist, I have to add that I was slightly disturbed by some inaccuracies, minor or not. Some of the things she says in the documentary, are outright incorrect. For example, she impressively states that sake or rice wine is much, much stronger than regular wine. This is not true; although varieties of sake with alcoholic content of 30% and up exist (like the Awamori kind popular down in Okinawa) , the great majority, including the one she tries in the first episode, are between 13% and 15%, equal to or only slightly stronger than wine.
However, since the focus of this mini-series is obviously not on providing thorough and well-researched information, this doesn't influence the great imagery and experience that are central to the concept. Therefore I rate this documentary a 7 out of 10.
As a Japanologist, I have to add that I was slightly disturbed by some inaccuracies, minor or not. Some of the things she says in the documentary, are outright incorrect. For example, she impressively states that sake or rice wine is much, much stronger than regular wine. This is not true; although varieties of sake with alcoholic content of 30% and up exist (like the Awamori kind popular down in Okinawa) , the great majority, including the one she tries in the first episode, are between 13% and 15%, equal to or only slightly stronger than wine.
However, since the focus of this mini-series is obviously not on providing thorough and well-researched information, this doesn't influence the great imagery and experience that are central to the concept. Therefore I rate this documentary a 7 out of 10.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
