“Unearth the North, Iwate,” Iwate Prefecture’s tourism promotional video, has been released.

“Unearth the North, Iwate,” a tourism promotional video to introduce Iwate Prefecture, is now available for viewing.
The video presents the astonishing natural beauty of Iwate Prefecture, Joboji lacquer ware created from the rich blessings of the lacquer forests, and interactions with the people and animals that live there.
The music for the video is an original song, with words and lyrics written by Atlanta-based rap duo, Zenarchy, and DJ/singer-songwriter, haer, especially for the video. Please enjoy the video.

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Lyrics for Unearth the North, Iwate:
Blue waves hitting my soul the new and the old meet Iwate, a celebration of life and love and the family nothing comes in between I know this is just where I should be
One day we all will find a way Holding our memories here to stay I see the sun fading away And it warms my heart in every way.

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Information about filming locations

• Kuzumaki Kogen Ranch

Dairy farming, Kuzumaki’s core industry, has continued to grow since the first Holstein cows were introduced in 1892. The industry continued to develop and Kuzumaki is now the Tohoku region’s largest dairy farming town.
At Kuzumaki Kogen Ranch, visitors can get in touch with nature and try their hand at a variety of offers fun experiences, such as looking after calves and sheep, cultivating shiitake mushrooms, and making ice cream.






• Joboji Lacquer Forest

The lacquer forests of Joboji were certified as Japan’s first “hometown cultural asset” in 2007. A hometown cultural asset forest refers to a forest that supports the repair of historic buildings that are cultural assets. In Japan, which produces only 3% of its lacquer needs, about 70% of domestically produced lacquer comes from the town of Joboji in Iwate Prefecture’s Ninohe City. From early summer through to autumn, the lacquer craftsmen move around the forest, tapping the trees to harvest the lacquer.






• Tekiseisha

Tekiseisha communicates the charms of Joboji lacquer ware by displaying and selling lacquer ware made at its workshop, as well as lacquer ware made by artisans who insist on Joboji lacquer. It also holds workshops on an irregular basis.






• Jodogahama Beach

Jodogahama Beach, located in the center of the Sanriku Fukko National Park / Sanriku Geopark, is Miyako’s most famous scenic spot. The name, Jodogahama, which means “Pure Land Beach”, is said to have originated from the exclamation of delight made by the Buddhist priest, Reikyo, who described it as “like Amitabha’s Pure Land” some 300 years ago.






• Tono Furusato Village

Tono Furusato Village recreates the scenes of an old farming village, with seven nanbu magariya houses that were built in the area from the Edo Period to the Meiji Period, which have been relocated to the facility, alongside rice paddies, fields, and a waterwheel. Local old folks who uphold the culture and traditions of Tono Village are there to greet and entertain visitors.






• Densyoen

Denshoen recreates the old lifestyle of farmers in the Tono region. Visitors can experience traditional ceremonies, folk tales, and demonstrations of folkcrafts, and even try their hand at those crafts themselves. The park is also home to Oshirado Hall, where Oshirasama, the house god worshipped in the Tohoku region, is enshrined.