NHK Documentaries
For nearly a quarter century, Telecom, a Japanese film crew, has periodically visited the Tudor family on our quiet homesteads in the hilly Vermont forest to capture the Tudor lifestyle on film. Along the way, a wide assortment of programs were created for Japanese television in cooperation with NHK. After airing, some of the early programs were released on DVD for sale in Japan or via international websites.
In 2017, The Stillwater Story documentary "explored the lifestyle of the great American illustrator and book author Tasha Tudor, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 92. Directed by Matsuya Mitsue, who documented Tasha's final years.
Living in the beautiful garden Tasha created in the Vermont mountains surrounded by flowers and animals, Tasha's popularity as the "mother of the slow life" spread as far as Japan. The camera follows her austere but spiritually enriching way of life and shares hints for enjoying life to its fullest that she bequests to people living today." The Stillwater Story was released in theatres and later for sale on DVD.
From November 2020 to August 2022, NHK produced a monthly documentary series, From Tasha’s Forest. Episodes featured the creative, nature-based life and philosophy as seen over four generations of Tudor family Vermont living. For more information or to find out when re-runs are airing, please visit NHK's From Tasha’s Forest website.
In 2023, Telecom and NHK created a new program using new and archival footage. This program visited Tasha's garden paradise and documents the lifestyle of her grandson Winslow's family. Winslow repairs one of the stone walls in Tasha's garden, as he did during one of the earliest filming visits. Tasha's great-grandchildren Ellie and Katie inherited Tasha's joy of gardening and crafting, creating their own gardens from seeds and learning to spin yarn from wool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I watch these programs in the U.S.?
We understand that some cable subscribers have been able to watch the episodes in the U.S. about a week after they originally air in Japan. We don't have cable or television here on the Tudor homestead so it is all a bit mysterious to us.
Will you release this in the U.S. at some point?
These programs were produced by two Japanese companies NHK Enterprises and Telecom Staff. Though we have shared your requests for viewing access, distribution is in their hands.
How do I purchase the DVDs?
Unless you live in Japan, finding copies of the programs is difficult. But try all the usually online shopping sites like eBay and international Amazon sites.
Are these programs in English?
Each one is different. Some have on-screen Japanese translation, others have Japanese voice-overs. The narration is usually in Japanese.