Surrounded by beautiful blue ocean and fringed with coral reefs, the Okinawa islands lie in the far southwest of Japan. For 450 years, Okinawa was an independent nation, known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed its own distinctive colorful culture - especially its music. Gow has come here to discover the soul of Okinawan music.

In our final segment of a two-part series, reporter Gow travels to Japan's southern island of Okinawa to explore its unique culture and music. This week, she visits Koza-where the presence of the U.S. military base has influenced the music scene-and Bise, famous for its pristine beaches. She discovers the roots of Okinawan music along the way.

Tableware in Japan is still largely ceramic, and often called Setomono. "Seto" refers to Seto city in Aichi Prefecture, which is renowned historically as a pottery production center. Canadian John Gathright explores Seto and its pottery culture. He visits a ceramicist who creates objects using traditional methods passed down by an ancestor that traveled to China and brought back pottery techniques to Japan about 800 years ago. John is introduced to the pottery production process and enjoys a meal called gomo, which was a source of energy for potters working long days in the searing heat of the kilns. Meanwhile, he also discovers innovation: state-of-the-art speakers made with the same clay and traditional methods to produce ceramics, and recycled Seto tableware. He also visits a studio where non-Japanese can stay a month to experience the culture and pottery of Seto. Don't miss our feature Setomono culture and Seto potters.