The "To-Kon Painters" add color to the lives of people who are short on cash. They're volunteers who will travel anywhere for a good cause, painting buildings and playground equipment free of charge. Most are former social dropouts who once belonged to biker gangs or quit school. We follow them to Lithuania, where they repaint a memorial honoring Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who helped 6,000 Jews flee the Holocaust during World War II. The painters must overcome cultural and linguistic challenges to get the job done.
American journalist John Hersey (1914-1993) opened the eyes of much of the world to the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. In this program, Cannon Hersey retraces his grandfather's footsteps and considers the domestic climate in the United States since the start of the Trump presidency. In 1967, amidst racial strife, John Hersey wrote that every white person bore some degree of responsibility for violence against African-Americans. Half a century later, racial and religious prejudices are again spawning attacks. The program explores the seeds of hate and what they might grow into.
n search of wanted criminals, the Japanese police have a secret weapon they use when all other investigative methods fail: miatari finders. In this day and age, when forensic science has become the norm, miatari finders comb the streets relying only on their memory and intuition. Hitoshi Morimoto of the Osaka Prefectural Police is known as the "god of miatari". He has arrested the most number of wanted criminals in Japan. Morimoto uses a unique technique of drawing the suspects into his mind. He talks to photos of the suspects and burns the images into his memory. This program follows Morimoto on his last days before his retirement.
In ancient times, Japan was once covered with trees. Traces of this primordial forest still remain in the deep, untouched woods of Yakushima Island, Japan's first World Heritage Site. A prime example is the Jomon Sugi, a large Japanese cedar that is more than 2,000 years old. However, according to legend, an undiscovered "giant cedar tree" exists on the island. Using cutting-edge technology, NHK began the search for this legendary tree. See what they discover on their quest to find and understand these spectacular cedars.
Fiona is a senior account manager for a company in Shanghai that promotes overseas luxury brands. Her days are occupied with international client meetings. She entertains herself by spending her money on nail decorations, expensive clothes, fancy dining and overseas vacations; however, these never brought her satisfaction. Sneaking away from her busy schedule, she trains herself in a boxing gym until her physical limit. Parents didn't expect much of her, as men are more valued under the one-child policy. She also failed exams to get in university under excessive academic pressure. We depict her struggle to survive through Chinese competitive society.
It all began with an unusual request: "Could you film everything about me until I die?" Masahiro Tanaka was a palliative care doctor and Buddhist priest who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was an end-of-life specialist who helped thousands of patients die peacefully. Now he had to face his own impending death. The film crew set out to document an "ideal death", but what they witnessed was quite different. This program offers an unflinchingly honest look at human nature at its most vulnerable
3 Japanese mothers who lived through the 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture make a special trip to the eastern European country of Belarus. Waiting for them are mothers who lived through the 1986 nuclear catastrophe at Chernobyl. By sharing their experiences, their pain, and making new friends, the Fukushima mothers not only come face-to-face with scars left by the disaster, but also discover hints for overcoming the past and for moving forward.
442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed of second-generation Japanese Americans, were sent off on a mission during World War II. Watch the untold rescue of the Lost Battalion.
Photographer Yoshikazu Shirakawa traveled the untouched corners of the world as part of a lifelong quest to rediscover the planet. At 82 his final global trip has the theme of Creation. He hopes the vast, untouched landscapes seen by the first humans will restore our humanity and teach us humility at a time when we are bloated with greed. He begins in the Colorado plains, shooting in extreme conditions. Photographer Yoshikazu Shirakawa puts his life on the line in pursuit of Creation.
Fusako Kunita is a 102-year old Japanese woman who has lived on the Korean Peninsula for more than 70 years. Like many other Japanese women who followed their Korean-born husbands back to their homeland after the World War Ⅱ, Fusako had no idea what awaited her. She faced discrimination, cultural differences, and sudden changes in diplomatic policy between Japan and South Korea. Fusako also dealt with sorrow and loneliness. But she endured, and worked to create a support group for other Japanese women. As she looks back on her remarkable and inspiring life, we'll learn more about the lives of the women obscured in the shadows of history.
The United States dominates the world in airpower. Behind the birth of the US Air Force is a little-known story about the deadly firebombing campaign against Japan at the end of World War Ⅱ. NHK combed through audiotaped interviews with 246 senior Air Force officials, including the leader of the air assault on Japan, Gen.Curtis LeMay. The interviews reveal how an "ideal" strategy designed to cause minimal civilian casualties ultimately went awry, and gave way to attacks with incendiary bombs that claimed some 400,000 Japanese lives.
During the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, an overwhelming number of people were slaughtered in ethnic conflicts between the Tutsi and Hutu. Rwanda has abolished the death penalty and scores of offenders who have completed their sentences are now being released from prison. Can they coexist with society? Many of the offenders live close to their victims' families, often in the same village. This program follows one offender's return home. Valens Habakurama was charged with the killings of 2 Tutsi brothers. After completing his sentence, he returns home to his wife and children. We documented his first 7 days out of prison – from his apology to the victims' family to acceptance and reconciliation.
72 years after the end of World War Ⅱ, a group of about a dozen people visited Japan. They were born and raised in Vietnam yet consider Japan their homeland in some sense. Their fathers were Japanese soldiers who remained in Vietnam after the war, to fight for the country's independence from France. About 70 of these soldiers had families in Vietnam but suddenly went back to Japan without saying a word. The group from Vietnam arrived in Japan in October of 2017, chasing their fathers' shadows.
On March 11, 2011, a huge tsunami generated by the Great East Japan Earthquake struck Japan's northeastern coast, including Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture. All life vanished from the sea. In despair, an oyster farmer named Shigeatsu Hatakeyama decided to rebuild his life. Though a fisherman, he also spent decades reforesting the surrounding hills and was sure the sea would recover. This program starts following Hatakeyama just after the disaster, showing how the sea and the forest are cleansed through mutual interaction. Featuring his moving monologue, it celebrates the miracle of resurrected life in a seaside village.
Setsuko Thurlow was 13 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Horrific scenes of pain and destruction were burned into her memory. She moved to the US and Canada and began to tell the world what had happened in Hiroshima. Her work with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) overcame resistance from nuclear powers and resulted in the adoption of a UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons. Their efforts earned the group the Nobel Peace Prize. This gripping documentary follows Setsuko's journey from a childhood wracked by war to international recognition.
In one form of the Japanese tea ceremony, the host serves traditional kaiseki cuisine, sake and finally tea to the guests. The ritual, established as an art form more than 4 centuries ago, is believed to be the foundation of Japan's omotenashi hospitality. One woman has decided to embark on a unique nationwide pilgrimage to immerse herself in the art. Tsuruko Hanzawa is a rare "catering chef" of tea ceremonies. At 70, she loaded her pots, pans and tools for making tea onto a van and set off in her kimono, serving food using local ingredients and tea to the people she met along the way. Exploring a life devoted to tea, this documentary follows Tsuruko for 2 years as she battles illness to continue her pilgrimage.
Going quicker, farther, and striving for more. Since when have we been living in this kind of world? We can't do without it. We can't stop it. The more we have, the more we desire. This is the "capitalism of desire". Here is the first part of the 2018 continuation of our unconventional look at capitalism. How do frontrunners in the world economy think that capitalism should be controlled in the midst of these uncertain times? Young Japanese economist Yosuke Yasuda (Osaka University associate professor) travels to Paris to speak with French economist Daniel Cohen about the future of capitalism. Additionally, genius Czech economist Tomas Sedlacek has a spirited discussion with philosopher Markus Gabriel (University of Bonn professor) in Bonn, Germany. How effective are the visions left behind by leading economists such as Keynes, Marx and Schumpeter today? We'll try and come to terms with the recurring cycle of creation and destruction that forms the basis of capitalism.
In the second half of our 2018 special look at capitalism, we delve into the source of humans' greed, the driving force behind capitalism. What exactly is money in the first place? Kabir Sehgal (America) and Tomas Sedlacek (Czech Republic) discuss currency theory, while Ulrike Herrmann (Germany) and Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University professor) analyze the harmful effects capitalism has on the state of big industries. What is the Marxist "power of darkness" that Schumpeter discovered? Take a look at the frontline of economics alongside these leading global minds and contemplate the methods used to survive in these constantly changing times.
In August 2007, 31-year-old Rie Isogai was brutally killed by 3 men who met online, in a case called the Underground Website Murder. After Rie's death, her mother, Fumiko, met and befriended her daughter's boyfriend. He shared stories about Rie and stayed by Fumiko's side, helping her find the strength to go on. We look at how Fumiko has lived with the unrelenting pain of losing her beloved daughter.
In 1998, 4 innocent people lost their lives when arsenic was mixed into curry served at a summer festival, in what is known as the Wakayama Curry Poisoning Incident. Masumi Hayashi, a housewife, was arrested and sentenced to death for the crime, but she still claims her innocence. Her son, who's now 30, was bullied and taunted after his mother's arrest. He has remained in contact with her during her detention, but he feels torn. Should he cut ties with his mother and start a new life? Or should he continue to shoulder the burdens of the past? We follow his struggle to decide.
August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was devastated by an atomic bombing. Yet some trees survived, brought back life and gave people hope. NY Artist, Cannon Hersey has visited Hiroshima many times, where he has been creating art about survivor tree, called Hibaku Jumoku. Cannon takes a journey from Hiroshima to New York, from Ground Zero to Ground Zero, to reveal the untold stories of the trees. What are they telling us? This is a story of the people and the trees that survived.
Japan is a psychiatric hospital superpower. About 20% of all the psychiatric hospital beds in the world are concentrated in Japan, where many patients are confined for long periods of time. The United Nations and the World Health Organization have criticized this situation as a serious violation of human rights, but the actual conditions have been largely hidden from sight in Japan. However, after the 2011 nuclear power accident, the problem has begun to come into view. There are people who have spent more than half of their lives in the hospital. Others never required hospitalized care in the first place. The program follows the lives of a number of these patients and examines the reasons behind this problem.
"Shoe Dog", the memoir by Nike founder Phil Knight, has been an unexpected hit in Japan. It candidly talks about how more than 40 years ago, Knight's fledgling running shoe business was in danger of going under – until a Japanese company came to the rescue. Just how did this happen? Interviews with people involved at the time reveal a group of businessmen taking on continuous risk during Japan's era of high economic growth. In this program, we chase after the hidden story behind a global company's beginnings and the spirit of the Japanese trading company employees who supported him.
There is a 15-hectare flower park on the island of Nokonoshima, 2km offshore in Hakata Bay in southwestern Japan. The park was created by a potato-farming couple about 50 years ago. Rape blossoms and azaleas in spring, sunflowers in summer, cosmos in the fall ... the park is filled with blossoms throughout the four seasons. After her husband died, Mutsuko Kubota (80) continued to live in the park, surrounded by flowers. The program chronicles a year in the life of Grandma Mutsuko and her park, and the visitors who find solace among the flowers.
Nearly 70 years ago, an American named Floyd Schmoe arrived in the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima on a mission of peace. Over 5 years, Schmoe, a Quaker and lifelong pacifist, led a diverse group of volunteers from the US and Japan in a project to build houses. In all, "Houses for Hiroshima" created 21 homes for atomic bomb survivors and their families. New information about Schmoe's efforts came to light in Hiroshima this year. Through historical documents and interviews with people who knew and worked with Schmoe, we trace the legacy of a grassroots peace builder.
Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan, has been venerated by local residents for centuries. A sea of clouds often envelopes its soaring ridge line, soaking the mountainside with abundant rain. Water takes many forms here, pooling in marshes, flowing in streams, rising in turbulent fog and freezing as rime and ice. It creates an awe-inspiring landscape of green mossy mounds and gorgeous tapestries of deciduous and evergreen trees. This program highlights some of the many delights that await visitors in all seasons.
American writer Susan Southard's Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War has garnered wide acclaim. The book project developed from the author's encounter with "red back" Sumiteru Taniguchi, a hibakusha (atomic-bomb survivor) who is famous from photographs of his severe burns, caused by thermal radiation. 5 hibakusha and their troubled lives in the aftermath of the Bomb are vividly depicted, in a history of Nagasaki that continues to move many Americans. The program follows the story to a college in the Midwest, where students are using the book as a text. In a region where it is widely believed that "dropping the Bomb was unavoidable", what lessons do young Americans discover in Southard's book?
Children who cannot hear learn through sign language at Meisei Gakuen, a school in Tokyo. Their small hands weave together many words. With no narration, the program explores the children's silent, vibrant world and the lives of alumni. The children's eyes sparkle as they recite, in sign language, the poem "The Song of Spring" from their textbook. They do not use their voices. But as we watch the silent recitation, the fresh early spring breeze caresses our cheeks, and tiny veronica flowers bloom in profusion before our eyes. For many decades, Japan's schools for the deaf gave priority to adapting to a society where hearing people are the majority. But at Meisei Gakuen, students are encouraged to embrace their deafness. We turn our eyes to that "boisterous world of silence" and perspectives on Japanese society, as seen by alumni of the school.
Behind the big city glamour of Shen Zhen, China, lie its back alleys, stretching out from the job allocation office of the San He Labor Market. Here, cheap internet cafes and flophouses are squeezed. Young people from the countryside arrive in droves in search of a better life, but many descend into a cycle of gambling, debt, sleeping on the streets and round-the-clock online gaming. From the depths of China's Silicon Valley, the program focuses on the realities of Shen Zhen's day laborers.
Beijing is staging the largest-ever relocation policy by moving entire remote villages to suburbs near cities to solve poverty. Many villagers are ethnic minorities. Beijing is investing $120 billion over 5 years to move 10 million villagers into the market economy and boost the flat economy. Media regulation had made details unclear, so we followed villagers from Banzigou, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, for a year. Part 1 depicts the villagers' expectations and concerns.
Beijing is staging the largest-ever relocation policy by moving entire remote villages to suburbs near cities to solve poverty. Many villagers are ethnic minorities. Beijing is investing $120 billion over 5 years to move 10 million villagers into the market economy and boost the flat economy. Media regulation had made details unclear, so we followed villagers from Banzigou, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, for a year. Part 2 shows the unexpectedly harsh reality of people stuck between traditional life and modernization.
7 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, actress Alice Hirose visits Otsuchi Town in Iwate Prefecture. She meets a father and son who lost 4 family members in the tsunami. The father was struggling with the guilt of not being able to save his beloved family. The son, Yuki, was 11 years old when he suddenly lost his mother, younger brother, and grandparents. He gradually began to close off his heart. Now at 18, Yuki is preparing his departure away from his hometown. He opens his heart up to Alice and shares his pains from the past 7 years. As they grow closer, Yuki and Alice find a common bond in their struggles as teenagers.
Aeham Ahmad was born and raised in Syria. Even during the civil war, he never stopped playing the piano and singing. Sharing his musical gifts brought cheer to children surrounded by the conflict. After fleeing to Germany, he continued to rely on his voice and his piano. In April, he held a concert in Hiroshima, Japan -- where he came across a piano exposed to radiation when the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945. He felt an immediate connection with the instrument ... after all, they both shared the experience of making music despite enduring the suffering of war. This encounter was a turning point for him ... He now teaches music to refugee children from Syria. In the program, we look at his efforts to use music to help these children at a time when xenophobic sentiment is on the rise in Germany.
120,000 Japanese Americans, born free and equal, were stripped of their basic human rights and imprisoned during WWII without any judicial procedures. Survivor George Takei and generations of families explore the campsite in Manzanar and Tule Lake and reveal their stories of trauma and scars of history as it is repeating itself again in the US. With breathtaking photography of Ansel Adams who documented the lives of the people behind barbed wire, the challenge of American ideal and reality are revealed.
80-year-old Dr. Kobori is as old as many of the people he cares for. Every day, he visits his elderly patients at their homes, offering advice and support as well as medical treatment. But sometimes the families who care for these patients require support as well. We follow this dedicated physician as he attends to people at the end of life, ensuring that their final hours are filled with comfort and dignity.
The Trans Japan Alps Race is an intense run through the massive mountain ranges that cut across Japan's main island. This 415km ultramarathon, which starts at the Sea of Japan and ends at the Pacific Ocean, is known as the most grueling race in Japan. Competitors must traverse trails across 3 ranges with peaks exceeding 3,000 meters in height, all while carrying packs stuffed with food, clothes, and tents on their backs. In August, 30 runners who passed the stringent selection process competed in a fierce 8-day battle for the goal. Along the way they were plagued by severe weather, extreme fatigue, and even hallucinations. And they receive no awards or prize money for finishing. So what keeps them going? We followed these superhuman athletes who test their mental and physical limits as they competed for glory with the majestic Japan Alps beneath their feet.
In 2016, a series of destructive earthquakes struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan. When seen from afar, badly damaged Kumamoto Castle is gradually recovering the stately appearance it's famous for. But many parts, such as the main tower, remain off-limits, making it hard to get a full picture of the castle's actual condition. This program takes an in-depth look at a major, 20-year project to restore it to its former glory. The team includes veteran masons tasked with re-laying an estimated 100,000 stones in the castle walls. Skilled carpenters are also working to restore historic structures. And experts are interweaving traditional and cutting-edge technologies to reinforce the castle against future disasters.
China's education system is undergoing enormous change. Many are unhappy with a decades-long focus on rote learning designed to help students pass university entrance exams. New approaches emphasize self-expression, classical literature, or even martial arts. What will China's educators learn from this transformation? And how will it affect the future of today's students?
To American photojournalist Regina Boone, her paternal grandfather was an enigma. He was a hard-working Japanese immigrant but was arrested on the day of the Pearl Harbor attack never to return home. Regina's father rarely spoke about him throughout his life. It was only 5 years ago on his deathbed that he asked Regina to find out the circumstances surrounding her grandfather's disappearance. Our camera follows her quest to uncover the trail of her missing Japanese grandfather.
In 1855, a schooner departed from the Izu Peninsula, and set sail towards Russia. Newly-discovered documents tell an untold story of friendship between Russia and Japan. The events occurred when Russia's Admiral Putyatin travelled to Japan to negotiate a peace treaty. While he was approaching to the peninsula, disaster struck. An earthquake and tsunami sunk Putyatin's ship, putting his delegation of 500 in grave danger. However, local residents not only saved their lives, but helped them build a brand-new ship. Japan had spent over 200 years in isolation, and for a settlement of 3,000 people, the arrival of 500 foreigners was unprecedented. Local shipwrights worked closely with the Russians, via trial and error. The techniques they learned became the cornerstone of modern Japanese shipbuilding. The schooner was named Heda, after the village where it was built. It symbolizes a tale of international exchange in the closing days of Japan's shogunate age.
On March 11th, 2011, a huge earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan. Three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant soon went into meltdown, spreading radioactive materials throughout the region. Doctors from across the country were sent to the site to treat evacuating residents, and the Self-Defense Force members, firefighters, and others trying to handle the emergency. The thousands of photos and videos these doctors took reveal the dire situation they faced.
THEN and NOW meet in this first-ever "split-screen documentary" about the town of Namie in Fukushima Prefecture, devastated by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident. Footage of the same locations shows the situation soon after the disaster in 2011 and more recently in 2019. Reconstruction is well underway, but radioactive waste continues to pile up. The future of the community remains unclear, and some wonder whether it can ever truly be restored.
There is a 15-hectare flower park on the island of Nokonoshima, 2km offshore in Hakata Bay in southwestern Japan. The park was created by a potato-farming couple about 50 years ago. Rape blossoms and azaleas in spring, sunflowers in summer, cosmos in the fall ... the park is filled with blossoms throughout the four seasons. After her husband died, Mutsuko Kubota (80) continued to live in the park, surrounded by flowers. The program chronicles a year in the life of Grandma Mutsuko and her park, and the visitors who find solace among the flowers.
24-year-old Takamasa Kobayashi has been trying to find his true gender since childhood. Born as a girl, he was one of the first students in Japan to persuade a junior high school to accept a female as a boy. At 20, he underwent surgeries so that he could legally become a man, the youngest case in Japan. But this was just the beginning. Takamasa then discovered that he is not a man either and is now searching beyond binary genders. We followed Takamasa for 9 years on his journey through genders.
The largest Buddhist academy in the world lies deep in the mountains of the Chinese province of Sichuan. Larung Gar is a holy place of Tibetan Buddhism, where some 10,000 monks and nuns train. Here, under the auspices of a Chinese government antipoverty program, infrastructure "betterment" projects have been launched, aiming to turn the area into a tourist destination. The government has also pushed the resettlement and concentration of Tibetan nomads, education in Chinese language, and patriotic indoctrination. The past 3 years have brought major changes to the lifestyles of Tibetans, who have preserved their unique culture and religious traditions for over a millennium. This carefully documented, on-the-ground report provides the world's first window on these developments.
A third-generation Japanese-American, Satsuki Ina, was born in 1944, Tule Lake internment camp during World War II. Her experiences there shaped her career as a trauma therapist. Her extensive clinical records reflect the Japanese Americans' postwar history. These days, she finds that migrant children in detention centers in the US are experiencing the same sort of distress that she did. Tune in to learn how her decades of research and outreach help ease the suffering of people and community.
During World War II, more than 20,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly relocated in Canada. Many of them were interned in camps set up in a frozen wilderness. Camp life was going to deprive the teenagers of a proper education, but female missionaries stepped in to lend a helping hand. They set up high schools and provided the students with moral support and inspiration. This is the little-known story of the search for hope in the dark days of wartime Canada.
Hidehisa Nishimura is a national champion of kendo - one of Japan's traditional martial arts. His signature move is the so-called "Lightning Kote." He flings into the opponent's arms at the perfect timing and gains a point. It is the skill Nishimura, who is rather short as a kendo competitor, polished to win. But now he always attacks and wins without retreating. This is quite opposite to his previous style. He decided to change his style when he saw the victims of the Kumamoto Earthquake he rescued. We followed him spending days on a thorny path trying to master kendo without regret under the pressure of winning for 2 consecutive years.
Since ancient times, mountain people known as "matagi" have supported themselves in the snow country of Japan by hunting bears. One of the last "matagi" communities that continues the traditional ways is located in the foothills of Mt. Chokai, a famous peak in the northern Tohoku mountains. There, bears are worshipped as messengers of the mountain gods, and bears that are shot are considered divine blessings that provide crucial sustenance. Today the "matagi" have nearly vanished because of depopulation and environmental changes that make it difficult to sustain their lifestyle. Yet, some continue to pursue the traditional way of life while seeking a harmonious relationship with nature.
Some 6,500 children are believed to have lost their parents when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima Prefecture in 1945. Many wandered the streets. Some died of hunger and disease, but others were able to survive thanks to helping hands. A number of Americans backed a movement to support the orphans. In South Korea, poor people helped a parentless child with love, as if they were all family. The program shows the goodwill that war could not destroy.
In the late 60's and early 70's, anti-establishment political movements led by young people spread throughout the world, and Japan likewise entered an era of intense political activity. From the caldron of this activism, one group in particular -- the United Red Army -- emerged, calling for armed struggle to overthrow the government and establish an idealized society. However, the group increasingly lost sight of its goals, ultimately killing a dozen of its own members in lynching incidents and taking a common citizen hostage during an armed standoff with the police. 47 years after these incidents took place, surviving members of the group were interviewed. While aiming for an ideal society, these activists made profound mistakes that took the lives of numerous people. As their troubled journey continues, they wrestle with the implications of the actions they took.
After WWII, more than 40,000 Japanese "war brides" married American soldiers and moved to the U.S., risking everything on a future with their former enemies. In the first part of this series, we meet several of these courageous women and learn how they made their decision to begin a new life from the ashes of war.
After WWII, more than 40,000 Japanese "war brides" married American soldiers and moved to the U.S., risking everything on a future with their former enemies. In the second part, we explore the adversity they faced in the U.S., adapting to survive in an entirely foreign nation while shielding their children from prejudice.
Japanese rugby players once felt outmatched by larger competitors, including those from England, where the sport was born. But then a Japanese coach created a strategy that changed everything.
In China, many ordinary members of the public have successfully become internet celebrities known as "wanghong." There are 3.5 million people active on social media trying to achieve celebrity status. With content focused on youth culture, including music and fashion, they have amassed a total online following on 600 million people. Some companies are now trying to harness the influence of "wanghong" to make money in the Chinese e-commerce market, the world's largest. Some "wanghong" use stealth marketing to promote traffic to e-commerce websites. Other "wanghong" even run their own online shops. The most successful "wanghong" pockets an incredible $14 million a year. One reason behind the growing influence of "wanghong" is the Chinese government restrictions on Internet content, which makes it difficult for people to access overseas information. Our program follows a company pioneering the business to strategically employing "wanghong" and their young hopefuls searching for online success.
In the town of Henoko in northern Okinawa Prefecture, major construction at an American base is underway. Since the Marine Corps built Camp Schwab there in the 1950's, when Okinawa was under US administration, the people of Henoko have shared their fate with the American military. How did Henoko become a "base town"? Why have its fortunes been tied so closely to the base, and what has this meant to the people in the district? The program uses newly uncovered archival materials and new testimony to depict the postwar history of the town, which symbolizes the heavy burden of American bases that Okinawa continues to bear.
It's over a century since Brazil opened its doors to immigrants from Japan, and Japanese Brazilians have built a solid foothold for themselves in Brazilian society. However, during World War II, an eviction of Japanese immigrants occurred. Several thousands of Japanese immigrants were forced to leave their homes. 70 years later, the facts of the eviction still remain largely unknown. A list of the names of those evicted was found 3 years ago that has attracted public attention. This list revealed who had been evicted and what exactly happened. To ensure that something like this never happens again, Japanese Brazilians are seeking an apology from the Brazilian Government.
Plastic pollution litters the world's oceans. It's damaging marine wildlife and ecosystems. A war on plastic is breaking out. In part 1 of this 2-part series, we meet Dutch young pioneer Boyan Slat's team working to clear plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. They have developed a system based on a 600-meter long floating tube. We also look at how microplastics affect living creatures and explore a shocking study that shows how plastic is contributing to rising levels of greenhouse gases.
Plastic pollution litters the world's oceans. The move away from the use of plastic is currently gaining steam around the globe. In part 2 of this series, we look at business trends leading us away from a world of plastic and towards circular economies. One example is a Japanese startup hoping to sell its proprietary recycling technology abroad. And also we look at disposable plastics regulation strategies in France and New York City. Can we find ways to leave our plastic civilization behind?
Castle design evolved in 17th century Japan with stone walls as a key feature. Sakamoto in Shiga Prefecture became famous for its mason's expert techniques for dry-stacking. They traveled across Japan to complete their commissions. But when feudalism ended 150 years ago, many castles were destroyed. While most of the masons lost their jobs, one family in Sakamoto survived by refurbishing old ruins. But the 15th-generation master Suminori Awata is worried about the future. One day he receives an unexpected request to build a castle-style wall in Texas. Awata's journey begins.
In Japan and South Korea, fact-finding research has begun to reveal the human costs and political backdrop of the North Korean repatriation program, which began in 1959. The program saw more than 90,000 Korean residents of Japan resettle in the North. Repatriates have previously described the difficult circumstances they faced there, but we now know that their lives were at the mercy of shifting policies and the flux of international affairs -- the Cold War contention between the US and the Soviet Union, as well as the changing configuration of Japan's relationship to the 2 Koreas. This documentary features former repatriates who fled North Korea at the risk of their lives. The untold of 60 years of hardship is depicted through new testimony.
Miyako Yoshida's precise and delicate performances earned critical acclaim at the Royal Ballet of England. She remained true to her Japanese sensibilities in becoming the company's first Asian female principal dancer. A year before her retirement, however, she faced injury, emergency hospitalization and separation from a loved one. The program follows Yoshida for 300 days, culminating in her memorable final appearance.
Doctors at Osaka University performed the world's first transplant of heart muscle cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). It is a promising treatment for many patients with heart disease. NHK worked closely with Kyoto University which generates iPS cells and Osaka University where the transplant surgery was conducted on a long-term project to record on an 8K Ultra HD camera mounted onto a microscope. For the first time in the world, the images will reveal the entire transformation process of iPS cells which can turn into any type of cell in the body.
An American famous photographer, Richard Misrach, and a Mexican contemporary composer, Guillermo Galindo, have worked together to create pieces with the artifacts that have been sporadically left during the migration on the 2,000-mile border between the U.S. and Mexico. The border is also known as the edge of life and death where hundreds of human remains are discovered every year. Be ready to experience a unique collaboration, "Border Cantos," which expresses the harsh reality unknown.
Since the end of the Cold War, the threat of apocalyptic, all-out nuclear war may have receded from most people's minds, but with close to 14,000 nuclear warheads still spread across the globe today, the catastrophic possibility is never too far away. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a diplomatic crisis between the US and the USSR veered terrifyingly close to triggering nuclear disaster. We explore the political miscalculations and very human mistakes made by the leaders of both superpowers.
Following its historic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the Refugee Team is heading again to this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Record numbers of people have been forced to flee from their homelands in recent years -- currently more than 70 million. Some of them are turning to sports and setting their sights on the world's biggest stage. We follow refugee athletes from Syria, South Sudan and Cameroon who are overcoming formidable challenges on their long road to Tokyo.
Sadako Ogata served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees during a decade of ethnic conflict after the end of the Cold War, transforming the framework for humanitarian assistance and winning the respect of the world. "Advanced nations must not turn inward and fixate on their own national interests." As she made this plea for internationalism, how did she view the world? Looking back at her work and her words through NHK's archives, studio guests discuss the secrets of her adept leadership, her unbending convictions and behind-the-scenes episodes in her career.
"Digital Detectives" explores how Open Source Investigations have sparked a revolution in journalism. In their quest for the truth, experts around the globe use an extraordinary range of techniques to analyze social media, satellite images and seemingly innocuous websites. Major international media outlets and think tanks are in a race to secure the most talented people, who have shed light on some of the biggest stories of our times - including the downing of a civilian airplane in Iran, and the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. We meet some of the top investigators at the frontlines of this emerging digital battlefield, including the groundbreaking team known as Bellingcat.
Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) celebrates their 10th anniversary in April 2020. Professor Shinya Yamanaka, who developed the method to produce iPS cells, serves as the director for the center. How much progress have they made in the past 10 years toward clinical application? What vision does the director have for CiRA for the next decade? The program looks at how Yamanaka runs the organization as well as the past and future challenges of CiRA.
Nowadays, there is a movement called "Constructive Journalism" occurring worldwide, in which citizens and the media gather information to solve local issues and everyday problems. In the United States, the distrust caused by the highly sensationalized and speed-focused news, as well as the weakening of local media outlets, has led to a series of regional media companies going bankrupt. Additionally, the voting rates for elections have declined, and "news deserts," which are considered to be a crisis for democracies, have been expanding rapidly. To counter this, American media companies have crossed boundaries to collaborate and provide investigation reports to verify national and state policies. In Denmark, a public radio station has broadcast their citizens' worries as well as their solutions, and has grown to the point where it has influenced national policies. Similarly, in Japan, local newspapers have cooperated with each other to thoroughly address their readers' questions and worries, and have succeeded in solving national issues from a regional perspective. This is a documentary in the frontlines focusing on "Democracy in the Age of the Internet."
Noh-Kyogen is allegedly the most ancient existing form of theater. Among its repertories, "Okina-Sanbaso" is performed only on special occasions, such as the new year. Unlike other Noh and Kyogen pieces, this 600-year-old masterpiece has no apprehensible synopsis, but is considered more of a sacred ritual which prays for peace and for abundant harvest. "Okina-Sanbaso" reflects a mixture of Buddhism, Shintoism and various Asian cultures that arrived through China and Korea. With enigmatic origins, it is a sacred rite that only the selected few Noh actors are allowed to perform. In 2019, under cherry trees in full bloom, the most prominent Noh performers of Japan staged "Okina-Sanbaso" in Tanzan Shrine, Nara Prefecture. Kanze Kiyokazu, the direct descendant of Noh founders Kan'ami and Zeami and the 26th head of Kanze school, danced the first part, "Okina." Nomura Mansai, dancing the latter part, "Sanbaso," is an actor representing Japan. World-renowned musician, Ryuichi Sakamoto, who is also deeply interested in this unique piece, will animate throughout the program our exploration of the performance in an attempt to decipher the underlying spirituality of Japanese culture, in regard to concepts of "Multicultural symbiosis" and of "Animism."
The assassination of US President John F. Kennedy is still shrouded in mystery. With the help of top experts, NHK takes a new look at the incident through reenactments and fresh theories on the case. Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who killed JFK, was once a US Marine stationed in Atsugi, Japan who later defected to the Soviet Union. While his own upbringing played a role in his decisions, there is also a possibility that a certain organization was manipulating him behind the scenes. The testimony of Oswald's wife, Marina, also reveals a failed assassination attempt by Oswald in the months leading up to Kennedy's death. We follow the little-known footprints left by this infamous assassin.
6 months before JFK was killed, Lee Harvey Oswald attempted a separate assassination. Our coverage reveals the possibility that this attempt served as a focal point that linked Oswald to the JFK killing. The day of that killing, Oswald brought a rifle into a Dallas building. The US government report says 3 shots from that building killed JFK, but we take a new look at witness testimony and speak to 66 prominent campaigners to ask: was the assassination really the work of a "lone wolf"?
The coronavirus crisis has pushed many to the brink of poverty. A lifeline has been provided by Article 25 of the Japanese Constitution -- the "right to existence," a guarantee of a minimum livelihood. This clause was modeled after Germany's Weimar Constitution. Recently, scholars have begun to reassess the key role of Suzuki Yoshio, who studied the Weimar Constitution before World War II and encouraged Japan to adopt the right to existence early in the postwar era. Forced from his position as a professor for criticizing military training at Japanese schools in 1930, Suzuki became a lawyer and defended numerous intellectuals who were facing political repression. After the war, he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he worked to incorporate newly emerging ideas from around the world into Japan's postwar constitution -- the right to existence of Article 25, the pacifist stance of Article 9 and other provisions. Interviews and dramatic recreations based on the archival record tell the untold story behind the birth of Japan's constitution.
For months now, the Japanese have found themselves on an emotional rollercoaster every evening when the count of new coronavirus cases is confirmed. To document how the pandemic has affected our day-to-day lives, we asked people from all walks of life to make "selfie diary videos" that are broadcast on the evening news program Shibu Goji. Participants include a tour guide who had zero income in April, and a man with cancer wondering if he can outlive the coronavirus. These and other voices from real life help us to look back on the unprecedented past few months and perhaps orient ourselves to the new normal.
Hanzawa Tsuruko is a master of "chaji," a tea ceremony that starts with an exquisitely prepared meal and finishes with matcha tea served from the heart. The purpose of this four-hour event is to treasure every encounter in life, knowing that it will never recur. Tsuruko has been traveling around Japan to encounter new people and share "chaji" with them. Last autumn, at the age of 76, she set off on a tea journey across Germany. The program chronicles her month-long odyssey.
We fear what we cannot see. Much of the terror caused by the novel coronavirus is because this mysterious enemy is invisible to the naked eye. CG designer and medical doctor Hirofumi Seo uses his background to decode the latest research, as well as interview experts in infectious diseases and viruses. The result is a visual model of our invisible foe. Take a visual tour of the mechanisms behind infection, replication, symptom progression and potential treatment in this scientific documentary.
"The 72 Pentads of Yamato" produced by NHK Nara has garnered more than 2 million views online from around the world. Each pentad, or five-day season, reflects on the Japanese ideal of living in harmony with nature in Yamato, the ancient name for Nara. The series is created by Nara videographer Hozan Koichi and Kawakami Mine, a pianist who has performed in Spain. Follow Kawakami in her preparations for their next project -- the pinnacle of the series -- a devotional offering at Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Using the latest AI technology, can we defeat our "invisible enemy," the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19? It was AI that first detected and warned about the infection outbreak, a homepage uses AI to collect and display the latest infection data, and 4 million AI experts are cooperating in a huge online project... In the first part, we report on how researchers on the frontline of the pandemic battlefield are fighting against the explosion of infections with the help of AI.
Using the latest AI technology, can we defeat our "invisible enemy," the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19? In Part 2, we hear from researchers on the pandemic battlefield frontline who are fighting against the explosion of infections with the help of AI. They include the solo data scientist whose predictions of COVID-19 deaths are the most accurate, the researcher who can detect viral infections from voices and researchers making full use of Fugaku, the world's fastest supercomputer.
The Ryukyu Kingdom (15C-19C) flourished in present-day Okinawa through international trade, and developed a unique culture known for its beautifully dyed and woven textiles. While craftspeople have made painstaking efforts to revive some of these traditions after their loss in the Battle of Okinawa (1945), one textile called "ton-byan" remains to be a mystery for many. Leading textile designer Sudo Reiko is among those who have been attracted to "ton-byan" for many years. As she travels Okinawa in search of traces of this craft, she uncovers the history and wishes for peace at the core of Ryukyu textiles.
75 years ago, Japan and the US each developed chemical weapons and trained their troops to use them. Near the end of the Pacific War, the Imperial Japanese Army stockpiled vast amounts of poison gas for use as a last resort. The US military, meanwhile, drew up chemical weapons plans that would have devastated Japan. After the war, both the US and Japan concealed the truth concerning these weapons. But newly unearthed documents and personal accounts shed light on this dark legacy.
NHK is collaborating with 12 public broadcasters around the world to promote a project called "FACES" to tackle against bullying. FACES is a vast collection of 2 minutes testimony from people who have experienced being bullied. By using the network of partnership in FACES, this special edition aims to share specific efforts to tackle with bullying. Also dialogue between cross-country protagonists using online meeting, we deepen mutual understanding, be considerate, and follow in detail until we find a solution together.
A historic music pub reopened in Koza, Okinawa Prefecture, near Kadena Air Base, in 2019. The owner, rock musician Miyanaga Eiichi, performed for American soldiers who were en route to the front lines during the Vietnam War. Now he tells audiences about how the music expressed soldiers' desires for peace, and recounts the history of the base town. Others whose paths crossed in Koza include a resident whose family home was seized for the air base, a former worker at bars catering to US soldiers, and a US veteran who joined the antiwar movement while in Okinawa. The complex history of a base town is explored.
The final stages of World War II... The islands of Okinawa turned into a theater of war the United States military called "hell." The Battle of Okinawa claimed the lives of at least 120,000 islanders. Women and girls were forced in as army cooks or nurses, boys in their mid-teens molded into soldiers... and sent to the frontline. As most records were lost, families are still wondering how their loved ones were mobilized... and what became of them. But recently discovered documents reveal their unknown stories.
Using footage shot at the center of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, we bring you a story of horror and heroism during one of history's worst catastrophes. Vast areas along Japan's Pacific coast were devastated. Entire communities were washed away and residents were forced to evacuate. An accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant created a radioactive no-man's-land. But in the days that followed, amid the chaos and confusion, countless people sprang into action to assist victims and search for survivors.
After the mega-tsunami hit Japan in 2011, survivors who'd lost everything struggled to recover. Many people lost not only their homes, but loved ones and livelihoods as well. Beloved traditions were in danger of disappearing. Rumors of radioactive crops devastated farms and fisheries. And many residents feared that those who'd been forced to evacuate would never return. Follow their year-long effort to rebuild their communities with exclusive footage filmed at the center of the disaster.
In a year when countless sporting events were canceled, an unprecedented long-distance race was born: "UTMB for the planet." Online participants ran a set distance at places around the world. Top pros from Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and world-class runners from Japan were among those involved in the intense challenge. Watch passionate runners bring the world together, at a time when the pandemic has kept people apart.
Dr. Oichiro Kobori (82) cares for dying patients at their homes. Many live with middle-aged and older children who are cut off from society. One man in his 50s, whose father has terminal cancer, hasn't worked since he was young and has psychological problems. Under Dr. Kobori's guidance, the son learns to care for his father and slowly becomes more engaged with the world around him. Follow the two-year journey as Dr. Kobori and his team help patients and families find comfort at the end of life.
On March 11, 2011, Japan was rocked by the Great East Japan Earthquake that tragically claimed the lives of more than 15,000 people. Since then, Actor Ken Watanabe has repeatedly visited the area, met more than 20,000 people, and heard their stories. Watanabe eventually opened a café in Kesennuma, a port city in Miyagi Prefecture, and has been working to help people connect and network throughout the disaster areas. NHK documentary crews have continuously followed Watanabe on his visits to the region and have produced TV specials to mark the first, second and fifth anniversaries of the disaster. For the 10th anniversary, he returns again, and visits with a variety of people and finds out they have had surprising changes in their lives. Discover the stories that Ken Watanabe reveals through his compassionate view over the past 10 years, and learn where people now stand on their way to recovery from the catastrophic disaster.
The global commons - our forests, oceans, climate and biodiversity - belong to all who dwell on Earth. And they are facing a crisis. Without major changes over the next decade, their destruction will be irreversible, leading to more abnormal weather and deadlier pandemics. What must be done to ensure our planet remains livable? The Tokyo Forum 2020 brings together the world's foremost thinkers to explore green investment, new business opportunities, and the movement for change in Africa.
It's said that victims of war die a second time if their remains aren't returned to their families. This is the case for over one million Japanese nationals who were killed during World War II. And recent reporting has revealed serious flaws in the government's repatriation efforts. The award-winning 2019 program and related reporting by NHK triggered a change in government policy. The English version is edited to reflect this development.
Ever since a massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan in 2011, NHK WORLD-JAPAN has been following the lives of children from the disaster area. In "Generation 3.11" we follow their progress a decade on. Some are working to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten. Others are finding ways to help their hometowns flourish once again.
Following the March 2011 accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, everyone within a 20km area was ordered to evacuate. Matsumura Naoto alone stayed put. For 10 years, he has taken care of animals abandoned by those who left. Only a few people have since returned, but the reconstruction is in full swing. Matsumura's home is changing beyond recognition. In Fukushima Monologue, we hear his story. It gives us a chance to reflect on resilience, and what is truly important.
The itinerant monk Enku traversed Japan in the 17th century, carving religious sculptures along the way. More than 5,300 distinct statues have been accredited to him to date. Enku is an enigma, but successive findings in recent years have added pieces to the puzzle. One discovery provides more perspective on his elusive early life. What is the significance of the mirror and paper fragments secreted within a wooden statue he carved? New research sheds light on Enku's life and inner workings.
The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan disrupted supplies of gasoline to many communities causing huge shortages of this vital fuel. A dedicated team of train engineers in Fukushima Prefecture stepped in to help out during the crisis. Some sections of track were unelectrified, so they decided to use old locomotives. The team was made up of engineers nearing retirement and relative beginners. But they came together to tackle a host of problems. This is a story about bravery and hope.
After the massive earthquake of March 11, 2011 struck his hometown Minamisanriku, photographer Sato Shinichi quickly evacuated to high ground with nothing but his camera. A tsunami of unprecedented scale would soon claim the lives of many of his fellow residents. In its aftermath he created a photographic record of what followed. Some 300,000 images in all. 10 years later, we peer through his lens to discover the despair and regret as well as the hope and will to recover of his fellow survivors.
Under his motto, "shine a light on a small corner of the world," Dr. Nakamura Tetsu devoted his life to aiding the people of Afghanistan, until he was shot to death there in December 2019. For decades, he treated patients and built clinics to provide ongoing care to underserved people. When devastating droughts hit the country, he launched projects to build irrigation canals. Assisting the doctor's efforts were about one hundred young Japanese, who the doctor referred to as "workers." Some came after suffering setbacks in Japan. Others arrived with a vision of making a difference in the world. In this program, they reflect on how their time with Nakamura changed their lives, and how the doctor's voice reverberates in their hearts still today.
The January attack on the US Capitol shocked the world. In the crowd that day was retired teacher Jennifer Marler protesting that "Our voices are not being heard." In the midst of the pandemic, divisiveness has accelerated, rocking the foundation of democracy. What is at the root of people's discontent and anger? We interviewed a father and daughter who clash over immigration policy and the income gap, and a woman who spread QAnon conspiracy theories on the Internet. Social scientists weigh in on the question of where the world is headed.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a global problem. The World Health Organization is sounding the alarm. In Japan, more and more reports show that myopia is increasingly serious among children, and that it continues to worsen when the children grow up. The latest research shows that myopia increases the risk of eye disorders such as cataracts and glaucoma. It also reveals a correlation with depression, dementia and other conditions that have no obvious connection with the eyes. This documentary investigates what is happening to our eyes, and how we should change our lifestyles to protect them.
Seek nothing, just sit. This is the zen practice pursued at Antaiji, a Soto school zen temple hidden deep in the mountains of northern Hyogo Prefecture. Residents, including several non-Japanese from abroad, engage in 1,800 hours of zazen sitting meditation per year and lead the self-sufficient lifestyle that is the zen ideal. Growing their own food, engaging in other hard physical labor, and sitting long hours in meditation to clear their minds of idle thoughts, they follow a rigorous practice focused on self-understanding. Among them are young men who question the meaning of life and experience deep distress. What answers will they find? This program follows daily temple practice over the course of a year.
There exists in rural Niigata Prefecture a collection of traditional Kominka homes that have been renovated to create what is known as the "Miracle Village." Join us as we spend the summer months with the couple behind the renewed vigor of this community, German architect Karl and his wife Tina. By renovating deteriorating vacant homes into beautiful habitations, they have attracted new people to the village, including families with young children. Both long-term residents and new transplants revel in the abundant nature of the village's environment. The charming interiors of the refurbished Kominka fuse Japanese and Western aesthetics, while the gardens that surround them flow with water from local springs. Tina's delicious dishes feature another area highlight: homegrown vegetables. This is summer in the Miracle Village.
NHK has been given access to startling audiotapes that provide a new perspective on the maneuvering carried out by Japan's wartime ambassador to Germany, Oshima Hiroshi, to bring the 2 countries into alignment, spelling catastrophe for his homeland.
A curious sight has emerged in the economically flourishing cities of China: Apartment buildings in which construction halts midway. Locals refer to them as "ghost castles." Residents of one such building in Wuhan live in rooms without water or electricity, struggling under the financial weight of repaying the mortgage for an unfinished home. This program examines the shadow behind real estate development through the turmoil faced by the residents who have become victims of a ghost castle.
Witness the tears, laughter and true history of Japanese-Brazilians. Japan has seen a sharp rise in foreign workers, starting with the Japanese-Brazilians who came some 30 years ago. How did Japanese society appear in the eyes of these immigrants who traveled from the other side of the globe? Issey Ogata, one of Japan's most celebrated actors both at home and abroad, presents a solo performance based on true stories of apartment life, factory work and long lines at the payphone in a Japanese-Brazilian housing complex. Written by the eminent screenwriter Kankuro Kudo, the show was performed and recorded publicly before an audience that included immigrants who were interviewed.
Kyoto Prefecture's entertainment districts, called Kagai, are famous for the young maiko girls who live and work there. The maiko serve guests and entertain with high-quality performances of Japanese traditional arts. Yamanaka Emiko, age 92, has been putting maiko's hair up in their unique styles for half a century. She is like a grandmother to the young maiko. In the hour or so they sit and get their hair tied up, the girls talk about what's on their minds and share their innermost feelings. As the coronavirus raged on in early 2021, the Kagai districts were forced into a predicament. This documentary features no narration, and the conversations between Yamanaka and the maiko acutely portray the struggles they face under the current situation.
Actor Sahel Rosa was 4 when she became an orphan in war-torn Iran. After losing everything, she settled in Japan with her foster mother, Flora, who lovingly raised her despite their extreme hardships. Years later, Flora is stricken with cancer. It prompts Sahel to embark on a journey of self-discovery in Iraq, Bangladesh and her homeland. The experience not only helps her forge lasting bonds with other young victims of misfortune, but also find the answers she's been seeking most of her life.
A diverse student body thrives at a middle school in western Japan known for its inclusive education. Some have disabilities, while others are coping with family issues. Guided by its eccentric, guitar-playing principal, the school empowers the students to be themselves. But how does this unique experience prepare them for high school? One student, Yuji, introduces us to his classmates and guides us through an eventful 6 months before graduation.
In the waning days of World War II, Japan and the US fought a fierce battle on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. In the aftermath, an American soldier picked up a Japanese soldier's message book. It was a memento, full of words of encouragement and drawings by the soldier's friends. However, it contained only his last name, Kondo, making it impossible to tell who it belonged to. Now, by using clues found within the book, we attempt to learn who Kondo was.
As the coronavirus affects people the world over, the newfound attention on viruses has brought historical events related to infectious disease and the Pacific War to light. During the war, Japanese soldiers engaged in a fierce land battle. While the fighting itself was intense, it is said that 60% of their forces were lost to starvation and disease. To combat infection, the Japanese military set up the Southern Army Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Department. Japan's monopoly on the wonder drug quinine gave them an initial advantage over the United States in the fight against malaria, but they soon found themselves in a difficult situation. Other infectious diseases were becoming rampant. A vaccine was desperately needed, but Japan's harsh vaccine development process resulted in the deaths of many Indonesians. The grim reality of the Department's activities has been revealed via new documents and testimonies.
As the coronavirus affects people the world over, the newfound attention on viruses has brought historical events related to infectious disease and the Pacific War to light. During the war, Japanese soldiers engaged in a fierce land battle. While the fighting itself was intense, it is said that 60% of their forces were lost to starvation and disease. To combat infection, the Japanese military set up the Southern Army Epidemic Prevention and Water Supply Department. Japan's monopoly on the wonder drug quinine gave them an initial advantage over the United States in the fight against malaria, but they soon found themselves in a difficult situation. Other infectious diseases were becoming rampant. A vaccine was desperately needed, but Japan's harsh vaccine development process resulted in the deaths of many Indonesians. The grim reality of the Department's activities has been revealed via new documents and testimonies.
In 2020, the Communist Party of China celebrated its centenary, hailing its own legacy as a so-called "red gene." What does that "red gene" actually mean for ruling a country of 1.4 billion people under a one-party state? We spent 3 months embedded with Party branches in 2 rural communities to chronicle the disparities in development, prosperity and ideological indoctrination. As the Party gears up to mark its 100th year, the supreme leader of China, Xi Jinping, pushes a "back to the roots" strategy of indoctrination called "passing on the red gene." How is the Party's history being presented to the people of China today? How are local cadres dealing with social disparities driven by big-money capital flows? See the real face of today's China as we spend 3 months in frontline rural Party branches.
Eighty years have passed since the attack on Pearl Harbor led to the start of the Pacific War. It has recently come to light that, soon after Japan's defeat, Emperor Showa spoke at great length about the path to war. This discussion was recorded in the Haietsuki (Records of Imperial Audiences) by Tajima Michiji, the grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency. The emperor spoke repeatedly about his regrets over the failure to rein in the insubordination of the Imperial Army that began with the Zhang Zuolin Incident in 1928. In addition, the journals of the emperor's grand chamberlain Hyakutake Saburo were made public in September 2021. The journals record in elaborate detail the emperor's anguish as efforts to peacefully resolve the Sino-Japanese War ended in failure and the conflict escalated into all-out war. These newly available historical documents, coupled with dramatic recreations, are used to examine the decision-making of the emperor and his close aides in the period leadin
Soon after Japan's defeat, Emperor Showa spoke at great length about the path to the Pacific War. This discussion was recorded in the Haietsuki (Records of Imperial Audiences) by Tajima Michiji, the grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency. The emperor spoke of his remorse over the inability to restrain the Japanese military during a time of international upheaval. In addition, the journals of the emperor's grand chamberlain Hyakutake Saburo were made public in September 2021. In 1941, the emperor had high expectations for negotiations with the US, while he lost sleep over the outbreak of war between Germany and the USSR. Japan's advance into southern French Indochina (now Vietnam) brought American economic sanctions (prohibition of oil exports to Japan) that had not been anticipated, and calls from the Imperial Navy for a speedy commencement of hostilities became more insistent. In the end, the emperor ordered Tojo Hideki to form a Cabinet, and went on to sanction the beginning
This is the bizarre story of a worldwide hunt to find a mysterious Japanese man named Satoshi. It started as a puzzle in an "Alternate Reality Game" where players were provided with a single photo of the man with the words, "Find Me." The search grew into a global obsession with thousands of people looking for him online. He was not in hiding yet he was nowhere to be found … even after 14 years! Who is Satoshi? Why did a simple game last so long? All will be revealed in this special documentary.
Unable to properly bid farewell to deceased loved ones, especially during the COVID pandemic, many have sought solace at Mt. Osorezan, a Buddhist temple long viewed as a portal to the underworld. Minami Jikisai has been a monk there for 16 years. Fujita Ai cared for patients at their homes when hospitals were filled to capacity. Their deaths left her traumatized and searching for relief. How can we learn to accept death? This program will take you to a place where people go in search of answers.
A powerful tool for curbing climate change is right beneath our feet ... soil! Carbon farming, also called regenerative agriculture, is a revolutionary method that traps carbon from the air into the ground to produce nutritious food. Instead of tilling and using agrochemicals, farmers let the natural ecosystem do the work. We visit pioneers of this method, including Gabe Brown in the US and Yoshida Toshimichi in Japan.
Tezuma is a form of magic unique to Japan that uses tools and movements not seen in Western magic. Some of the captivating performances embody a Japanese outlook on life. Fujiyama Taijyu is one of the rare young successors of the art and has an impressive track record of becoming number 1 in Asia in an international magic competition. His wish is to show the entire world, the traditional Tezuma magic. In order to revive Tezuma, which took a backseat to Western magic after WWII, Fujiyama will be bringing back a long-lost performance. Come join us as we follow his challenge up the premiere.
Mayuyama Koji is an art restorer who works with antique dealers and museums nationwide. His unique skills allow him to flawlessly restore broken works to their former conditions, earning him the nickname "God Hand." The practice originated from his father in the postwar period, when many antiques would be repaired secretly through underground means. This documentary reveals the details of his techniques, as well as his mission not just to restore art, but to preserve it for generations to come.
"What should be cherished? What should be passed on?" After the Fukushima nuclear accident, Matsumura Naoto stayed put in his hometown of Tomioka to look after abandoned animals. A decade later, Matsumura is now battling to revive a rice field in a decontaminated wasteland. As once-treasured farmland is lost to various new forms of development, Matsumura's solitary struggle to carve out a different path to the community's future casts the theme of post-disaster reconstruction in a new light.
The decommissioning of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant continues to produce contaminated water. Filtered to remove much of its radioactive content, it is stored on the site as treated water, now filling 1,000 massive tanks. In April 2021, the Japanese government announced plans to dilute the water to contamination levels far below legal limits before discharging it into the sea. However, people in the local fishing industry continue to harbor deep distrust. Why has this problem become so entrenched? The program explores a plan that was proposed soon after the accident 11 years ago, to build an impermeable wall around the plant and prevent the buildup of contaminated water, and why this plan was abandoned.
Ukrainians know the value of freedom. In the past, they have staged revolutions and given up nuclear arms in the name of democracy. But now, Russia's invasion is exposing the fragility of their independence like never before. This crisis is more than 30 years in the making – the culmination of an increasingly tense period dating back to the end of the Cold War. Here, people on both sides discuss a tragedy that has displaced millions of civilians, and robbed many of their livelihoods and loved ones.
Siblings Aru, age 3, and Kino, age 1, have 3 parents: father Fumino, who is transgender; mother Honoyo, Fumino's partner who gave birth to the children; and father Gon, a close gay friend who donated his sperm. The 3 are now raising their children together, struggling repeatedly to find their own way of being a family. This program covers their first 3 years of parenting. And it asks an important question: What does it take to be a family?
Nestled in rural Niigata Prefecture is a village of traditional Kominka homes that have been renovated by German architect Karl Bengs since he moved to the area with his wife, Tina. In the winter of 2021, the village found itself under more than 4 meters of snow after the heaviest snowfall in 40 years. The blanketing of snow posed various challenges, but the community made the most of the winter wonderland. There was Tina's special stew, pizza baked in a wood-burning stove, and scenes of children frolicking outside. As Karl walked along in the freshly fallen snow, he said to himself, "This is the most beautiful village in the world." After the harshness of winter, the arrival of spring offers fresh joys. One woman who recently moved to the area prepares items for a picnic with the elderly women of the village. Join us as Karl and Tina take us on a tour of winter life and show us how the villagers prepare for the season of new beginnings.
Even in the depths of war, people maintain their daily routines – cooking, dressing up, even falling in love. NHK has been asking viewers to share their experiences and turning them into animations. Now, young people in Japan are interviewing World War II survivors to learn what life was like back then, hoping to pass their stories down to future generations. What can they learn from the war 77 years ago? What can they do to ensure it doesn't happen again?
In March, the Russian army was closing in on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, and it was expected to fall in a short period of time. But in fact, many citizens chose to remain in their beloved city and provide resistance in whatever way they could. Despite daily missile attacks and the fear of an impending urban war, they were united in their efforts to protect their freedom and democracy. This documentary looks at the people of Kyiv through the eyes of a Ukrainian filmmaker.
The Seto Inland Sea, with over 700 islands, historically prospered from fishing and farming. These island communities are now enjoying a revival thanks to visitors drawn from around the world by the Setouchi Triennale art festival. Our guide, Non, is an actor and artist with a deep interest in our connections to nature, a theme that runs through the festival's artworks. Non meets artists inspired by the islands' history and landscapes, and islanders whose lives have been changed by the festival.
Karakuri are traditional wooden automata. Since their heyday in the 17th century, they have become the source of mechanisms still used in moving toys today, and they are seen as a key step in the evolution of Japanese craft and manufacturing. Tamaya Shobe IX runs a Nagoya workshop that has been building and repairing karakuri since 1733. We join him as he takes on the challenge of recreating a karakuri set thought to be Japan's oldest surviving example, at an estimated 270-plus years old.
We follow 21 dancers from Ukraine's famed National Opera and Ballet Theater on their summer Japan tour. Since Russia's invasion, many company members escaped Kyiv for cities across Europe to continue practicing their art. But they have conflicted feelings about leaving their families back home. In their first overseas tour they reunite in Japan to perform in 16 cities and honor their country. NHK cameras capture the company members' month-long emotional journey.
"Japan is a developed country. A good country." That's what many Vietnamese people believe when they come to Japan as technical intern trainees. For four years, NHK has followed 10 Vietnamese intern trainees who arrived with a dream, but were subjected to harsh conditions, long working hours, wage theft, and violence. The COVID-19 pandemic made their lives even more difficult. Then, six of them fled from their workplace. What became of them? Our investigation uncovered the dire situation that they and many others like them face, including illegal lenders, unwanted pregnancy and abortion, and the coronavirus itself. What can be done to change this harsh reality?
Situated in Niigata Prefecture is a village of distinctive Kominka traditional houses. Join us as we revisit some of the residents who make the village special and see signs of summer passing into autumn. We drop in on German-born architect Karl, responsible for renovating many of the local homes, and his wife Tina as they prepare the evening meal on a summer afternoon. We also meet a woman who came to try out village life for just six months but ended up marrying a local and becoming a resident. Then there is the member of Karl's team who dreams of starting her own fruit-growing operation. We also encounter a mother who hopes that her new life in the village will allow her to make a fresh start with her daughter. We see locals enjoying honey and vegetables that are the bounty of summer, even as the harvest festival and autumn foliage usher in a new season.
Journey with Cannon Hersey as he explores parallels between battles over voting rights today and the historic struggles of the 1964 Freedom Summer in Mississippi. With his grandfather, famed writer John Hersey's groundbreaking "A Life for a Vote" as a roadmap, Cannon reveals how black farmers cultivated freedom by tending the earth, and are still striving to overcome a legacy of systemic oppression.
The Japan-North Korea Summit 20 years ago took on the Japanese abduction issue and DPRK's nuclear threat. A Japanese diplomat quietly made it all happen. We follow these behind-the-curtain negotiations, sharing interviews with former US diplomats as well as an abductee's family member.
Near the 4,000 meter peaks of China's Qilian Mountains reside the Tu people. Blessed by rich nature, they live traditionally, herding white yaks and horses known as Chakouyi steeds. A recent archaeological discovery revealed that their lineage dates back to a kingdom that prospered in the era of the silk road. But now, the history they have cherished for 1,400 years is at risk of dying out due to regional prohibition of herding. In this program, we follow in the footsteps of a noble tradition.
In May, people in Japan's southwestern islands of Okinawa marked 50 years since the American military rule came to an end. Though the fierce battle scars linger, the islanders are now caught up in the rising tensions between the US and China over Taiwan. And the nation's Self-Defense Forces are boosting their presence. We look at how the new geopolitical situation poses big security questions to the islands. And we follow young people there, who are joining the SDF, to gauge their swinging emotions.
COVID-19 brought the threat of unknown viruses to global attention. This documentary, an international co-production with France, explores what's necessary to prevent another pandemic. Scientists assert that pandemics are inevitable under an international capitalistic economy. The risk from zoonotic diseases — those passed from animals to humans, such as bird flu is particularly high. The program reports on experts known as "virus hunters," working all around the world. We see how deforestation and poaching are contributing to the spread of viruses.
Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo in November of 2022 assumed the name Ichikawa Danjuro XIII in an important milestone in his career. The names of performers are passed down for generations in the world of kabuki and actors may have several names over the course of their career. The first Ichikawa Danjuro established many well-known kabuki traditions 300 years ago and quickly rose to prominence. Those who have assumed the Danjuro name have created many popular works such as Sukeroku and Kanjincho, and the name has become one of the most venerable in kabuki. Ichikawa, who has become the 13th-generation Danjuro, is undoubtedly the world's most famous kabuki actor, having performed at the Palais Garnier in Paris and in the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Join us as we take a look at a special performance to mark the name change and some of the highlights of his repertoire in a program that will entertain and educate both kabuki novices and aficionados.
In part two of a two-part series, we learn the importance of protecting biodiversity. This connects to a concept called "One Health," which involves treating human, animal and environmental health as a unified whole.
The midterms are said to predict the next presidential election. Support for President Biden and the Democratic Party is starting to waver, and former President Trump's influence is strong within the Republican Party. We hear from senior citizens struggling with the rising cost of living in Oregon, members of Generation Z in Arizona, a famous swing state, and a family in Florida, shaken by the introduction of a law prohibiting LGBTQ+ education in schools. How will they vote?
The Communist Party of China rules the country's 1.4 billion people. At its 20th National Congress, held in October 2022, Xi Jinping was re-elected as General Secretary for an unprecedented third term. Why did so many Party members offer their support? We visit a regional Communist Party school to discover how training and guidance are used to reinforce loyalty to Xi and the Party.
Okinawa Prefecture is home to US military bases, and cases in which American servicemen abandon local women and leave them to raise their children alone are not uncommon. For 28 years, American attorney Annette Callagain fought for those mothers to obtain child support. Though Annette left Okinawa, she came back to help a woman who was separated from her Japanese mother soon after birth. We follow Annette in her efforts to give the women a voice and shed light on this social issue.
Volodymyr Demchenko has been deeply involved in the defense of his Ukrainian homeland in the years since the street protests of the 2014 Maidan Revolution. He has recorded a great deal of his part in this effort to defend Ukraine and sent dispatches around the world. His video diary of more than 500 hours offers a raw, up-close account of a kind not seen elsewhere and provides a glimpse of a nation's harrowing experience of conflict.
Bunpuku is a dog like no other who lives in a nursing home for the elderly in Kanagawa Prefecture. Whenever an elderly resident is in their last days of life, he licks their face and leans up against them. Owing to this behavior, Bunpuku is known as the mitori-inu, which literally translates to "dog who is present at one's deathbed." However, Bunpuku is not the only pooch at the home, as residents are allowed to bring their beloved dogs with them when they move in. The hounds provide company for people in the autumn of their lives. The relationship between the dogs and the elderly here is based on mutual affection, as we can see in this selection of footage filmed over a period of six months.
Fukashima is a small island in the southwest of Japan that had a prosperous fishing industry until the early 20th century. But the population declined from 200 to just 13, far outnumbered by their beloved cats. Most remaining islanders were very old, and it seemed that Fukashima had no future until one young family decided to reverse the trend. With the first children to be born here in many years, Abe Tatsuya and Azumi are raising a fresh generation to inherit the island's culture, history and rich nature.
There are artists devoted to creation, not for others, not even for themselves, but only for the sake of creating. This film looks at the life and creations of a man who rarely leaves home and never stops painting. Why do people create? Nishimura Issei (44) began making art when he was 19 years old. He left Nagoya and moved to Tokyo with a dream of becoming a musician, but mental illness forced him to return home. For the 25 years since, he has been in his room painting like the canvas was his savior. He almost never leaves the house and doesn't even attend his own exhibitions. This documentary records a year in the life of Nishimura; the cameras witnessing him create his art, a scene no one besides his family has ever seen. Astonishing works by a proud and solitary artist ask "What is art?" and "What does it mean to live in this world?"
Steve Jobs was a titan of tech. He masterminded the iMac and iPhone, and changed the world. He had a deep love of Japanese culture, from woodblock prints to ceramics, and the inner workings of electronics giant Sony. Here, close friends, colleagues and design experts shed new light on how this came to be.
Tokyo is famous for its wholly original street styles—launching various fashion "tribes" and "kawaii culture." Takano Kumiko, editor-in-chief of ACROSS, has been a witness to three decades of this constantly evolving scene. Her snapshots and interviews with young people in Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku reveal a unique history of the world of Tokyo's vibrant street fashion. And her work goes on.
Located just off the coast of China, the islands of Kinmen and Matsu are rich in history and culture. Long exposed to strong winds blowing from the mainland, the islanders have experienced the fluctuating modern Chinese history of tension and calm. In this travelogue documentary, we visit the islands in spring, and observe the people celebrating Chinese New Year with hopes for peace.
Just eight days after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, an NHK program began recording the messages of survivors. The program continues to this day, offering people a place to express their hopes and fears. We follow up with the survivors we've met over the years, and hear from people who were directly involved with the government's reconstruction policies. We examine what "reconstruction" means now, 12 years after the disaster.
Kateryna Novytska is a Ukrainian caught between two worlds. Russia's relentless attacks threaten the lives of her family and friends back home, as she carves out a television career from the relative safety of Japan. Now, she's turning the camera on herself. This is her personal struggle, as she works out how best to help her war-torn country, thousands of miles away in a foreign land.
A family and a village, documented over the course of five decades. Tsubayama in Kochi Prefecture, a steep mountainside village, is said to have been settled by a defeated samurai of the Heike clan some 800 years ago. There, brush-burning agriculture and mountain worship were carried on for centuries. But the population aged, and the village was abandoned. Three years ago, a man returned and began living there alone. He cut the weeds, caught wild boar, prayed to the mountain. Memories of past generations filled his life. Soon, other former residents began to gather in Tsubayama. What does one's home village mean to the Japanese? The story is told against the backdrop of the traditional Taiko Dance.
Issey Miyake, the world-renowned clothing designer, died in 2022 at the age of 84. As a child, he lived through the dropping of an atomic bomb on his hometown of Hiroshima. It was an experience he rarely spoke about, but those close to him say it was one of the reasons he decided to pursue a career in design.
Dazaifu Tenmangu enshrines Sugawara Michizane, the deity of learning, culture and the arts. Exiled from the capital in the 9th century, he died an untimely death. Why was Michizane deified by later rulers? Why is he still embraced by so many today? The shrine's grounds have become a sanctuary for wildlife, adorned with beautiful trees and flowers, protected by those who honor Michizane. The shrine has gathered people's prayers for a thousand years, exuding mystery and charm alongside the vibrant colors of the seasons.
Japan's local elections in April featured a record number of female candidates. Ranked 116th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, Japan is now changing at the grass-roots level. We spent three months following two candidates: a woman in Ibaraki Prefecture busy raising children while campaigning on social media, and a single parent in Nagasaki Prefecture gathering local support. This documentary offers a rare glimpse of a local election system that has changed very little in decades, and what two women bring to that challenging reality. Will our two candidates win?
Mayuyama Koji is thought by afficionados of fine Japanese ceramics to have "hands of god" able to restore the finest vintage pieces to pristine beauty. As an artisan first and foremost, Mayuyama has never before shown outsiders the workings of his craft. He has allowed NHK to observe his work on an early Edo period porcelain horse valued at more than 700,000 dollars from the famous kilns of Imari in Saga Prefecture. Koji and his son Yu are also seen restoring a vintage platter from Arita in the same prefecture.
In 1994, Ukraine's leaders gave up a formidable nuclear arsenal. But the country is now mired in war. We follow one young man who asks his fellow citizens if they'd have been better off keeping what is often dubbed the ultimate deterrent. His grandfather advocated disarmament as a government minister. So did William Perry, the US defense secretary tasked with overseeing the dismantlement process, who reflects on his work now that Russia threatens to use the most destructive weapon of all.
In 2015, novelist and playwright Yu Miri moved to Minamisoma City in Fukushima Prefecture and opened a book café and a small theater. In the summer of 2023, she decided to produce a play based on the effects on young people of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the nuclear power plant accident and COVID-19. She interviews local actors and high school drama club members about their experiences back then, and together they write and present the play.
Two and a half years since Myanmar's coup d'état, its military maintains control of the government. Armed groups continue their long struggle for democracy, and amid tightening restrictions on journalism, some reporters are joining the front lines. Their cameras capture intense fighting that draws civilians into the struggle, and volunteer soldiers who continue to fight despite a lack of guns and ammunition. One independent media group has launched a top-secret project to develop information sources within Myanmar's borders. Meet the journalists risking their lives to report from the front lines, and the civilian volunteers battling to regain their stolen democracy.
Filmmaker Yang Yonghi is a second-generation Korean resident of Japan. Her internationally acclaimed films have focused on her family, torn between Japan and North Korea. Her parents, activists in a pro-North association of Korean residents of Japan, sent Yonghi's three brothers to live in North Korea when they were still in their teens. During the decades of separation that followed, Yonghi has used her films to explore conflicted feelings about her family. Her search for identity continues, striking a tenuous balance of love, politics and history.
China enforced the One-Child Policy for 36 years from 1979 to 2015 in order to combat overpopulation. In it, any family having more than one child would be subject to harsh fines. Due to the status associated with male heirs, the policy led many families to give up their newborn daughters, ending up in international adoption. Now that over two decades have passed, those daughters have become adults, and many wish to be reunited with their biological parents. In this program, one such woman makes the journey to her homeland to meet her birth parents for the first time.
Okinawa, Japan. Momoko loved the piano and attended a school that had one. Then the war arrived and she was drafted to work in an army hospital. Could she survive the war through the power of music?
Matsubara Hidetoshi, one of Japan's last traditional falconers, resides in rural Tohoku with only the company of his birds. A sudden request by a young city-dweller may be key to retaining his legacy.
Inmates at a prison in Japan record themselves reading picture books as a way to reconnect with their children. In the process, they make some life-changing discoveries about themselves.
As snow blankets their remote mountain community with its traditional Japanese houses, Karl and Tina Bengs gather with neighbors to celebrate the season, and look forward to the arrival of spring.
Mayuyama Koji is an art restorer tasked by antique dealers and museums with returning broken works to their former glory. His previously unrevealed techniques earned him the nickname "God Hand."
Returning home after five years, a Ukrainian journalist living in Japan confronted the harsh realities of war. She created an intimate documentary, showing how life has been upended.
Sam Bankman-Fried was a young billionaire before his cryptocurrency exchange collapsed and he was convicted of fraud. Was he a visionary or scammer? We explore the wild and disruptive world of crypto.
In Fukushima, an "Abukuma Romantic Road" photo contest was held in 2010, the year before the nuclear accident. We seek out the people behind the photos and discover how life has changed for them.
An increasing number of Nepali youths are traveling to Japan to study, hoping to repay their migration debts and make lives for themselves, but they face the harsh realities of Japanese society.
This shrine in Kumamoto Pref. was razed in the 2016 earthquake. The seven-year restoration fused traditional craftsmanship with the latest technology.
The herders of Thoe Village uphold a long tradition of grazing their sheep at the distant Island of God, but the trek there requires them to guide 2,000 of the animals across a vast frozen lake.
