Hara Masaaki makes white charcoal called Kishu Binchotan in the deep forests of Wakayama Prefecture. He thinks of himself as a guardian of the ancient woods. His charcoal provides the country's top chefs with a stable, high heat source with no odor and little smoke -- an essential fuel for grilling. But now, some kilns lie abandoned. All that remains is the metallic sound of Binchotan reverberating from oak trees. Through the haze of smoke, we look at the memories of those families who've passed down their craft in the mountains.

There are more than 1,300 companies in Japan that have been in business for over 200 years. How have these companies, which have survived challenges such as wars, natural disasters and economic crises, continued to operate for so long? This episode features a fan company founded in 1590. How did the firm survive repeated fires and disasters? Learn the secrets of its longevity.