NHK World-Japan produced a television special that follows domestic cats as they explore landmarks in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.
By using feline perspectives to showcase regional culture and natural scenery, the program encourages viewers to discover lesser-known local charms in Japan.
The special, titled “Sendai: In Deep Green – A Cat’s-Eye View of Japan,” features footage captured by wildlife photographer and filmmaker Iwago Mitsuaki [1]. The program utilizes a vast collection of cat footage to guide the audience through specific sites in the region [1].
Among the featured locations is the mausoleum of the warlord Date Masamune. The footage depicts the historic site from a cat's perspective, blending local history with animal behavior. The program also visits a glass-making workshop located on a riverbank, where a forest-loving cat observes the artisans at work [2].
The Sendai segment of the broadcast has a runtime of 28 minutes [3]. This follows a preceding segment focused on Chichibu titled “The Great Outdoors with Cats,” which lasts five minutes [4].
According to the NHK World-Japan program description, Mitsuaki offers the best of his extensive collection of cat footage taken across Japan [1]. The series aims to highlight the intersection of everyday life, and the natural environment through the eyes of domestic animals [1].
The production focuses on the atmospheric quality of the Miyagi Prefecture, contrasting the stillness of the mausoleum with the industrial creativity of the riverside glass workshop [2]. By centering the narrative on cats, the program provides a non-traditional lens on Japanese tourism, and cultural heritage [1].
“Iwago Mitsuaki offers the best of a vast collection of cat footage he took in Japan.”
This production reflects a broader trend in regional Japanese media to utilize 'animal-eye' storytelling to revitalize interest in domestic tourism. By pairing high-profile wildlife photography with specific cultural landmarks like the Date Masamune mausoleum, NHK World-Japan leverages the global appeal of cats to make traditional history more accessible to international audiences.
