Mitsubishi
Electric US Sponsors Public Television's Japanland
Karin Muller documentary on Japan to air nationwide
CYPRESS, Calif., November 1, 2005 --- Mitsubishi Electric US Holdings, Inc. will sponsor Japanland, a four-part, four-hour series on Japan that will air on public television stations nationwide in the months ahead. Produced by internationally acclaimed author and documentary filmmaker Karin Muller, the program chronicles her epic journey across Japan, and introduces viewers to little known traditions, ceremonies and places.
Japanland is a journey into the soul of Japan and provides a rare glimpse behind the tatemae, or external image, to see the honne, or true inner character of Japan. For 12 months 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.
Muller speaks Japanese and has spent the last nine years studying judo. This opened many doors into the secrets side of Japanese life. Muller 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.
Muller’s 900-mile journey follows the footsteps of Japan’s most famous saint, and takes place well off the beaten path, allowing her to experience Japanese life, culture and mysteries unseen by many until now. From her first hike along the ancient Tokaido Road to the last of steps of a 900-mile trek, viewers travel with her to places unknown to most Westerners. Muller shares in the rituals of a 63 year-old geisha, and the colorful and dangerous samurai festival. She examines the sophisticated discipline and morals of the art of sumo in a rare visit to a sumo stable, and from a 24th generation sword-maker learns of the weapon’s revered place in Japanese culture.
Please see below for the most recent airdates.
For more information about the documentary, visit http://www.japanlandonline.com.
About
Mitsubishi Electric US Holdings
Mitsubishi Electric US Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi
Electric Corporation, is the umbrella organization for six US affiliates of
Mitsubishi Electric, and provides business support to those affiliates, such as
financial reporting and tax payment on a consolidated basis. Mitsubishi
Electric’s affiliates in North, Central and South America conduct research and
development (R&D), as well as engage in engineering, manufacturing, sales and
after-service in a variety of business areas. Principal businesses include high
definition projection televisions, DVD players, business-use digital printers,
business-use large-scale display systems, optoelectronic and microwave devices,
automotive electrical components, industrial mechatronic devices, elevators and
escalators, HVAC products (including air conditioners), industrial-use factory
automation devices, and infrastructure equipment (including electric power
transmission and generation equipment). There is also a technical research
facility that conducts R & D in a wide variety of business fields, including
imaging, information and biometrics. For the fiscal year 2004, sales in North
America are expected to total approximately $2.0 billion, with
30 locations and 4,000 employees. For
more information visit
www.MitsubishiElectric.com.
# # #
Japanland will air on the following dates. Please check your local public television station for additional broadcasts.
KUEN (Salt Lake City, Utah)
3/15/2006: 8pm
3/16/2006: 11pm
3/22/2006: 8pm
3/23/2006: 11pm
3/29/2006: 8pm
3/30/2006: 11pm
KTXT (Lubbock, Texas)
3/5/2006: 5am
3/19/2006: 5am
3/26/2006: 5am
Contact:
Mark S. Scott
Mitsubishi Electric US Public Relations
714.220.6896
