NHK Documentaries
Miracles of Oze Marsh
2012 • E12
Surrounded by 2,000 meter-high mountains, the "miraculous wetlands" of Oze lie just 150 kilometers away from Tokyo. But this Shangri-la of green fields, dotted with crystal-clear ponds, seems a world away. Mist and sunshine create "white" rainbows on summer mornings and at night the Milky Way is mirrored in the ponds' surfaces amid dancing fireflies. In spring, the snowy fields mysteriously turn red. A recent study revealed this phenomenon is caused by an amazing ecosystem hidden from sight beneath the snow. This program documents the breathtaking beauty of Oze from winter to summer, uncovering the secrets behind its many miracles.