Hida speaks to the soul

Japan’s ancient city and remote villages bring back memories of yesteryear.

In Hida no Sato village, Suezo Yamaguti, 91, demonstrates the ancient craft of shingle-making. He painstakingly shaves a hardwood slab with a hand-adze, making precise and steady strokes as befits a master craftsman. The 22nd century may have already arrived in Tokyo, but in this part of Japan, the old ways of doing things linger on.