Japanland is a journey into the soul of Japan. For twelve months Karin Muller traveled from one end of the country to the other, living among the people and exploring Japan's ancient cultural heritage and its modern ways. Karin speaks Japanese and has spent the last nine years studying judo. This opened many doors into the secrets side of Japanese life. Karin followed the dervish mountain-cults as they undertook shamanistic austerities like fire walking, icy waterfall immersion and exorcism. She joined a samurai mounted archery team and learned how to handle a longbow on a galloping horse. She made a 900-mile pilgrimage in the footsteps of Japan's most famous saint, and helped light ten thousand floating lanterns during Obon, the Festival of the Dead. The result, Japanland, provides a rare glimpse behind the tatemai, or external image, to see the honne, or true inner character of Japan.

Running Time: 55 mins

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