James May: Our Man in… - Season 1 Episode 4

This time James is travelling from the megacity of Tokyo, to the ancient capital of Kyoto. And what better way to do this than on a motorbike, one of Japan's greatest contributions to the modern world. James joins a Japanese biker gang for a quick spin around the iconic Mount Fuji. The importance of this mountain to the people of Japan is hard to overstate; it's often described as the heart and soul of the country – but how can a lump of rock mean so much to the inhabitants? To discover its true meaning, James receives a lesson in philosophy and painting from an obsessive artist who's painted it every day for the past fifty years. But these lofty ambitions are brought swiftly back down to earth when a nearby tourist bus causes James – and the crew – to question the very nature of what they are doing. Next stop: Hamamatsu, home to the world's biggest grand piano factory. With its combination of exquisite craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology, this place typifies modern Japanese manufacturing. As a keen pianist and amateur engineer, James generously helps out with the construction process. But will he live up to their exacting standards? Spoiler alert: no, he won't. Kyoto beckons, and it's time for something a little more old-fashioned. James is entertained by a Geisha, a woman who follows a centuries-old vocation that is one of the defining symbols of a city rich in history. She treats him to a traditional tea ceremony, a dance, and a lesson in playing the shamisen – an instrument made from old pets. To add a modern twist to this ancient city, James hires a precocious robot guide to show him around Kyoto's famous temples and shrines, resulting in total cyber confusion. Returning to more familiar ground, James dips a toe back into modern Japan by taking a tiny car for a spin around a big track – Suzuka's Formula 1 circuit – before having his butt kicked by a woman half his size in an introduction to the martial art Aikido.