With travel restrictions ongoing, many cultural centers, museums, and experiences that once relied on tourism are looking to go virtual with their exhibits and experiences in the hopes to gain future interest and visits once tourism reopens.
One such project by the Agency for Cultural Affairs is working to support these cultural organizations by helping them move their content online into web content, video, and 360-degree virtual tours. The shows are meant to be enjoyable for foreigners, both in Japan and around the world and the ticket prices directly support the local museums and craftsmen.
Sword VR
Sword VR takes us back in time and shows us a look into the historic craft of sword making. Enjoy this show while it lasts as this is a very limited initial run, planned over the next two days for rental (longer for purchase). After renting the program, it is available for 48 hours.
The Sword VR program is an exclusive look into the daily toiling life of a Japanese sword maker. The skill and expertise, the sweat and energy, and the history that goes into every part of the process of making a single sword are finely detailed in this series.
From the comfort of your home, visit Bizen Osafune Sword Village in Okayama Prefecture where centuries of sword-making have grown deep roots into the area and the culture of the city. Listen to the English narration as the guide takes you along each part of the sword-making adventure. Have a look at a wide variety of swords and experience sword making from the perspective of the craftsmen themselves.
Hot-red sparks billow into the air with every strike of the hammer; steam spits and plumes as the tamahagane steel is dipped into the water; artisans’ hands carefully engrave handguards and carve out scabbards—every moment is a taste of pure art and power.
How to watch
360 Channel is a VR distribution service website and your go-to spot for discovering many facets of Japanese culture. Unfortunately, and perhaps dauntingly for many, the site is in Japanese (even though the video is voiced-over in English). Don’t let this deter you from watching though. Here’s a step-by-step guide showing you how to watch this exciting event program.
A direct link to the program is the easiest way to access the show. Once you have selected the show Sword VR in English (刀剣VR <英語版>), simply choose whether you want to have access to the program indefinitely (購入) or for a limited two-day period (レンタル中). You can find these options on the right side of the screen.
After you have chosen indefinite or rental, pay for your purchase, and click the large orange button labeled ‘watch all’ (全編).
From here, you can watch the video event at your leisure, even on repeat to catch every detail, until your viewing expires (if you rented it). Click on the screen at any time to change the camera angle and gain an advanced appreciation of the craft and art of Japanese sword making.
