Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima
By Angela An
Situated on the northern half of Japan’s largest island, Fukushima Prefecture is Japan’s third largest administrative region. It is renowned for its stunning natural vistas, clear lakes, snowy mountains, sake production, and friendly, welcoming people. But there’s something else: western Fukushima Prefecture was one of the last strongholds of Japan’s legendary samurai warrior class.
Often for good reason, samurai are among the most romanticized warriors in all of modern history. But what did that title really mean? What is the samurai spirit? Is it still relevant in modern Japan, and if so, how is it expressed and practiced in contemporary culture?
Thankfully, there are experts who dedicate their lives to answering these questions, and in Samurai Spirit of Fukushima Prefecture, 7th-dan kendo kyoshi (advanced practitioner of kendo and sword master) and Kansai University professor Alex Bennett guides us from historical legacy to the living presence of Japan’s samurai spirit:
This video, "Samurai Spirit of Fukushima Prefecture", was produced by Tokyo-based media firm DIGITALHUB.JP. The video was shot in and around Fukushima City, Aizuwakamatsu City, and Nihonmatsu City in February of 2018. The producers hope that this video will help remind the world of the natural beauty and profoundly important history of Fukushima Prefecture.
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