Journeys in Japan - Season 15 Episode 23 : Tokushima: Heartland of Fermentation 2025

Tokushima Prefecture, in the eastern part of Shikoku Island, is renowned as a heartland of traditional fermentation. It is especially famous for its indigo dyeing tradition which brought prosperity to the region in premodern times. At the same time, specialist crafts were developed, such as Otani ware, a style of pottery that is known for its huge vats used for indigo dyeing. In this episode, Kanoa explores this distinctive fermentation culture and travels into the mountains to discover a unique kind of fermented tea called Awa-bancha.