Spring Colors of Ibusuki

In this episode, photogravure artist Peter Miller travels to Ibusuki City, a hot spring town at the southern tip of Kyushu, in search of spring. Ibusuki has a warm climate and more than 800 hot springs. The first place Peter visits is a field of nanohana mustard flowers, and he feels the breath of spring in the bright yellow blossoms. He then visits a field of soramame broad beans, a spring vegetable, and is struck by the lushness of the fields, spreading out like a green carpet. After enjoying the colors of spring, Peter then visits the hot springs. He goes for a sunamushi sand bath, which is heated by the hot springs on the beach, and feels the greatness of mother nature. At Unagi Onsen in the mountains, he is impressed with how the people use the steam vents found all over the village for their cooking. The last stop on his itinerary is a factory making katsuobushi, dried bonito. Katsuobushi is an important ingredient that serves as the foundation of Japanese cuisine, and Peter admires the profoundness of its method of production.