The wilds of the rising sun

I don't have this particular disc, but I've seen two of three episodes of the original BBC series, “Wild Japan”. It's definitely worth watching.

The second episode takes us to Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, with active volcanoes, monkeys, huge forest-living crabs (yes, really), hammer sharks, sea snakes…and two old ladies catching the venomous snakes for food. An interesting kind of sushi! Unexpectedly, we also get a close up of the Yonaguni Monument, the “Pacific Atlantis” explored by controversial mavericks Graham Hancock and Robert Schoch (who are not featured in person, however). I admit that the structures look man-made and even somewhat sinister! The third episode shows Hokkaido, Japan's northern island, where both climate and animal life is more akin to Siberia. Japanese cranes, the oversized Stellar's sea eagle and brown bears are featured.

My main problem with these productions is that they sometimes feel like tourist brochures and downplay the environmental destruction plaguing Japan (as all other industrial nations). The whole thing comes close to propaganda sometimes. That being said, I nevertheless recommend “Wild Japan” to all lovers of nature documentaries (and things Japanese) out there…