Japan is a country of steep mountains surrounding wide flat plains where people have lived for thousands of years. On the largest plain lies the country's largest freshwater lake, Lake Biwa, which is not at all far from Japan's ancient, capital city of Kyoto. The slopes that stretch down towards the lake have been terraced. Here rice seedlings need shallow water in which to grow, and the neat, meticulously constructed paddy fields provide just this. Some of them have been cultivated continuously for thousands of years. Alongside them stand patches of woodland where, for centuries, the people have found their fuel and their food. This is a land that has been touched by people, yet the people tread lightly upon it. It's a land that has been ruled for centuries by the demands of the rice, yet it's still dominated by the rhythmic cycle of the seasons. Here is a landscape that the Japanese people hold so close to their hearts that they have a special word for it: satoyama.
Known as the "loveliest mountain of China," Mt. Huangshan has been acclaimed in art and literature throughout China's history and holds a great fascination for poets, artists and photographers alike. This Natural World Heritage Site located in southern Anhui Province boasts 72 peaks and a landscape that features "three wonders" of odd-shaped pines, spectacular rock formations and a sea of clouds -- all attributed to mighty thunderstorms. Much like a magnificent three-dimensional scroll painting, seasonal images capture the magnificent scenery of Mt. Huangshan existing in harmony with people.
Amid a backdrop of lush forests and craggy peaks, Zhangjiajie offers a treasure trove of plants abloom year-round. Plum trees or purple azaleas in winter are followed by the colourful flurry of over 3,000 types of plants blossoming at once in spring. Lakes, streams and waterfalls cool the heat of summer and give life to Davidia, or "Dove" trees. In autumn, yellow chrysanthemums blanket the entire area. Enter a rare and multi-hued world that is also home to an ethnic minority group with intriguing traditions.
Within China's largest valley area, newly renamed Shangri-la, three great rivers, the Yangtse, Mekong and Salween, flow in parallel between 5,000 m mountain plateaus. Bountiful nature includes snow-capped mountains and glaciers in between a 6,000 m vertical drop, lakes hidden like jewels in the innermost recesses of a great canyon and primordial forests. Along with a number of rare creatures exclusive to the region, people and their daily lives naturally blend into the landscape. Take a journey and feast your eyes on the magnificence of this untainted natural paradise.
The waters of the limestone ponds and lakes in Huanglong sparkle with emerald green, ultramarine, bright yellow and pale blue. The area's limestone caverns also thrill the viewer with their mystical beauty. The basin of the limestone-encrusted Huanglong Valley, shimmering with a golden color that is acce-nted by the deep green of the surrounding virgin forest, looks like a huge yellow dragon flying down the mountain. With high-definition cameras capturing these and other superb views, this program uncovers the natural mechanism that has created this sculptured beauty, called one of the wonders of the earth.
Mr. Kanamori, a teacher of a 4th grade class, teaches his students not only how to be students, but how to live. He gives them lessons on teamwork, community, the importance of openness, how to cope, and the harm caused by bullying.
Imagine a realm where the seasons' rhythms rule - where centuries of agriculture and fishing have re-shaped the land, yet where people and nature remain in harmony. Sangoro Tanaka lives in just such a paradise. At 83, he's a guardian of one of Japan's secret water gardens. Here - over a thousand years - towns and villages have developed a unique system to make springs and water part of their homes. From inside these homes, the streams pour into Japan's largest freshwater lake, Lake Biwa - an area 5 times the size of Paris - near the ancient capital of Kyoto. This is a habitat so precious the Japanese have a special word for it: "Satoyama" - villages where mountains give way to plains. They are exceptional environments essential to both the people who maintain them and to the wildlife that now share them.
Many cultures have crossed the narrow Straits of Gibraltar separating Western Europe and Northern Africa. Much of Spain's art, music and even food still reflect influences from North Africa and beyond. Its architecture often bears unmistakable characteristics of Islam. Moreover, influences from the early Roman Empire and the ancient Teutonic Goths are also abundant throughout Spain even today. In this two-part NHK documentary, we explore some of the 38 World Heritage Sites on the Iberian Peninsula, and examine the rich mixture of cultures and civilizations that created them.
In the ever-expanding world of biotechnology, cells taken from aborted fetuses are considered as an up-and-coming resource while creating a huge controversy. On one hand, fetal tissue is said to have several properties that make it superior to the use of mature tissue. It is proving promising and receiving acclaim for treating disorders such as Parkinson's disease as well as spinal cord injuries. Conversely, arguments over the sanctity of life hold sway. This program traces the use of fetal cells in Japan, the U.S. and China, presenting a cause for hope and an ethical dilemma.
On December 2, 1999, a polar bear named Peace was born at Japan's Tobe Zoological Park in Ehime Prefecture. After his mother rejected the cub, zookeeper Atsuhiro Takaichi took on the task of childrearing and subsequently succeeded in handraising a polar bear for the first time ever in Japan and the third time in the world. This program chronicles five years in the life of the young cub and the caring zookeeper from the critical time after Peace was born to the arrival of summer and the cub's first swimming lesson. As efforts continue toward bringing up Peace, we witness an unbreakable bond of mutual affection and trust.
The destination of the Qingzang road is Lhasa in Chinese Tibet. The Qingzang road runs for 1,937 kilometers at an average altitude of 4,200 meters. Starting out from Xining, an interesting mixture of Tibetan, Islamic, and Han cultures, the camera crew passes through the beautiful town of Golmud, dubbed the "Pearl in the Gobi," Namucuo Lake, which means the "Heavenly Lake," the Kunlun Mountains, where snow falls even in summer, and other stunning places, before finally arriving in Lhasa. Viewers will see the myriad faces of this huge expanse of nature, including scenes of areas where reporting by foreigners had not been permitted. This magnificent travel documentary also shows the lives of Chinese people struggling to survive in this harsh environment and even those of soldiers stationed at the highest military post in the world.
Japan's First Space Commander - Koichi Wakata's Mission
Underwater photographer Ikuo Nakamura has been photographing the seas around Japan for over 40 years. One of his life's goals has been to capture on camera one particular giant fish -- the Asian sheepshead wrasse. This over one meter in length fish with large protrusions commands the sea with its imposing dignity. One particular fish called Benkei, after the medieval monk warrior. For years Benkei was the authority of the waters, but recently his number two has been lying in wait to take over. The Monster of the Sea captures the power game between these monster fish in the beautiful arena of the Japan Sea.
Traversing some of the highest terrains in the world, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, in service since July 2006, makes the 4,064-kilometer trip from Beijing to Lhasa in 48 hours. It climbs to an ear-popping altitude of 5,072 meters above sea level passing through several tunnels that had to be carved out of frozen soil. It carries a wide range of passengers from businessmen seeking opportunities in Lhasa to pilgrims to the Potala Palace. They travel together along the "rooftop of the world." High Clouds Railway to Tibet showcases the magical allure of this breathtaking railway, including the latest technology used to overcome the harsh conditions like the icy ground and thin air.
Every year 130,000 Parisians flock to the world's largest chocolate trade show -- Le Salon du Chocolat. The event that garners most attention there is the chocolate competition, in which the world's finest chocolatiers display their skills as they try to outdo each other. The winner is promised success and fortune. Having selected from the best cacao the world has to offer, they proceed to add flavors such as rose blossom, mushroom or syrup candy to create inimitable jewel-like confections. Chocolate Alchemy follows these expert chocolatiers from the trial-and-error experiments in their kitchens to the grand stage.
Surrounded by sub-tropical trees and coral reefs, Amami-Oshima is a southern Japanese island richly endowed with nature. The island’s flora and fauna have uniquely evolved, developing a distinctive eco-system that still thrives today. One of the island’s endemic denizens is the black Amami rabbit, known as a “living fossil.” Other island creatures include the Ryukyu long-haired rat that lives in trees (just as squirrels do); and the Ishikawa frog, one of the most beautiful of its kind in Japan. Veteran photographer Futoshi Hamada, who has been capturing the natural beauty of Amami-Oshima for 25 years, reveals the habitats and behaviors of these rare creatures in a unique tour of the island’s dense forest area.
Brazil's Lencóis National Park is known as the whitest spot on earth for its sand dunes. Join us as we explore the animals and people who live in this environment.
Lencois, located in northeastern Brazil, is known as the whitest dunes on earth. However, when the rain comes every half year, this scenery of pure white sand stretching over 150 thousand hectares completely changes. Countless lagoons are formed, creating a startling contrast between the white sand and blue water. Even fish suddenly appear in these lagoons. Where do they come from? Through a year-long coverage of Lencois, this episode reveals the truth about this surreal nature's beauty.
Uyuni Salt Flats lies on the Bolivian plateau in the middle of the Andes mountains. Believed to have been formed 500 million years ago by the earth' s crustal movement, the salt flats extend 100 kilometers north to south and 120 kilometers east to west. The white carpet which spreads as far as the eye can see, turns into a spectacular mirror when it rains with the reflection of the entire sky stretching out to the horizon. Revealing the fascinating secret of its formation, this program takes the viewers into the miraculous world of the Uyuni Salt Flats.
Hordes of tiny terrors march through the rainforest: they are army ants. Known as the most feared animals in the equatorial forests of Ecuador, they hack and dice any unfortunate prey that gets in their path and bring the remains back to their nest. When they wipe out all food sources around the nest, they start a massive migration in search of a new nest, while carefully protecting their queen. This program introduces the unknown social lives of the army ants.
Manu National Park, Peru, which holds 13 species of monkeys among the various types of Amazonian fauna, is praised as a monkey kingdom. Deep in its jungles is a strange open spot about 20 meters in diameter where a peculiar behavior of monkeys can be observed. The monkeys spend a majority of their time up in the canopies of the rainforest, but come down to the ground to consume gluttonously the soil of the spot. The program looks at how this strange behavior most likely developed in the competition for survival in the Manu's rainforests during the ice age.
The beautiful, mysterious world of rain is visualized using the latest filming technology. Ultra-high speed cameras capture breathtaking images in Odaigahara, the rainiest area in Japan that receives an annual rainfall of 5,000 millimeters. On the ground form lakes that only appear after summer heavy rains, allowing rare frogs to thrive. In winter, a unique natural phenomenon called Glazed Frost takes place if rain falls unfrozen and the air temperature is below zero. Through poetic cinematography, we discover just how rain enriches the natural beauty in Japan, a country unusually blessed with rain.
The Gulf of California in Mexico is the home of the Munk's devil ray. It weighs about 20 kilograms but its width can reach over two meters. It sometimes shows a very unique behavior. A huge school of several hundreds of these devil rays amazingly jump more than two meters high over the sea surface again and again. But the reason of the jump is a mystery because very little is known about this species of fish. In fact they have been rarely observed. This program focuses on the mode of life of the Munk's devil ray to find the answers to their mysteries.
Nature Documentary hosted by Peter Venn, published by NHK broadcasted as part of NHK Wildlife series. Uganda, a richly forested country with year-round precipitation due to the presence of Lake Victoria, lies just below the equator on a plateau about 1,100 meters above sea level. Wild chimpanzees that are threatened with extinction live in its forests. These chimpanzees have the rare characteristics of being unafraid of humans. They also have their own "culture" which the parents pass down to their young, such as hunting in groups. Our cameras capture the behavioral ecology of these wild chimpanzees, focusing on their culture of teaching their offspring.
Killer whales living off of Peninsula Valdes in the Patagonia region of Argentina actually hunt at its beach. They move towards the beach at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, hit the shore, and grab unsuspecting South American sea lions. The whales judge the geographic features of the coastland, tide, and wind to pick the best time and place to hunt. NHK’s high-speed cameras follow the hunts and reveal the high intelligence and hunting techniques of the killer whales that seem to be taught within the family.
Downpours and Quakes Threaten Japan
We invited Hollywood director Oliver Stone to the NHK studios to share some of the insights that informed his unprecedented documentary series on the US history. In it he questions the commonly accepted belief that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were necessary to end the war. He also talks about the need for people to face up to history, and his first-ever visit this summer to the 2 atomic bombed cities, where he spoke to A-bomb survivors.
Mush! Dash across the vast Alaskan and Canadian ice fields in -30˚C temperatures with the aurora borealis glowing above. It's the toughest sled dog race in the world -- the Yukon Quest. Competitors cross numerous mountains covered in thick snow and brave frozen rivers to reach the goal 1,600 kilometers from the starting line. The key to victory: efficient teamwork between the dog team leader -- the musher -- and a team of 14 dogs. The leader must decide when to urge the dogs to run at full speed, when to let them rest, and when to take exhausted dogs off the team. Each year one third of the competitors are forced to drop out of this grueling race. This program captures the moving, heroic drama of the dogs and their handlers
Nature Documentary hosted by Peter Venn, published by NHK broadcasted as part of NHK Wildlife series in 2011. One of nature's greatest gatherings takes place in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska. For a short time each year, this remote and stormy ocean becomes packed with 10 million sea birds and 500 whales. This overwhelming assemblage of wild creatures, including krill, herrings, whales, and sea birds, invades the sea for just a few hours. Local people call it "Aleutian Magic" but not many have witnessed this phenomenon or even know where it occurs. The program will explore its spell with a team of scientists who seek to observe the marvel themselves and unravel its secrets.
New Guinea is a true garden of Eden for birds. Some of the most unique are birds of paradise. With plenty of food such as nuts and fruits and very few natural predators, they've been able to leisurely hone their courting skills. The ribbon-tailed astrapia flaps its long white tail feathers, while the blue bird-of-paradise unfurls its feathers to create a pulsating eye-like shape. Since they live deep in the jungle, their courtship displays have long been steeped in mystery. Tadashi Shimada, a wildlife photographer who's made numerous visits to New Guinea over the years, has for the first time ever captured images of the blue bird-of-paradise's courting behavior. This program delves into the fascinating world of these beautiful and mysterious birds. Nature Documentary hosted by Peter Venn.
In the savannah of western Uganda, Africa, there's a place known as "Hippo Paradise." There are more than 5000 hippos living there. Females spend seven years caring for their calves. They not only carry their young piggyback-style through the water they live in, but they suckle their young beneath its surface. This program features unique footage of hippo behavior never before caught on tape. A 4-ton hippo leaping as gracefully as a dolphin must be seen to be believed. A spectacular scene in which a hippo confronts an elephant is another awe-inspiring moment from this memorable program. Nature Documentary hosted by Peter Venn, published by NHK broadcasted as part of NHK Wildlife series in 2011
Over the centuries, the emerald green Tara River in Montenegro on the Balkan Peninsula has etched a canyon 1,300 meters deep. The views throughout the Tara Canyon are spectacular. Up to 700 varieties of plants blanket its undulating hills. Herds of chamois live on the steep slopes where no human can venture. They nimbly roam the rocky cliffs, in perpetual danger of falling. Golden eagles circle imperiously overhead, waiting for the chance to strike. Living on the Edge chronicles a year in the life of the magnificent Tara Canyon featuring an up-close look at the chamois that live there.
The Japanese government has started decontamination work in areas affected by the nuclear accident but the progress is slow amid mistrust and conflicts. We report from Fukushima communities in danger of collapse in the aftermath of the accident.
Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture One year has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Reconstruction initiatives are underway in many places, including the disaster-stricken areas. March to Recovery shows how the nation is recovering from the unprecedented disaster. The dilemma over iodine pill distribution to Miharu residents affected by radioactive fallout in March 2011.
The government has started decontamination work in areas affected by the nuclear accident but the progress is slow amid mistrust and conflicts. We report from Fukushima communities in danger of collapse in the aftermath of the accident.
Fukushima evacuees: Following the lives of Iitate residents forced to leave their homes due to the high radiation levels from the Fukushima nuclear disaster. One year has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Reconstruction initiatives are underway in many places, including the disaster-stricken areas. March to Recovery shows how the nation is recovering from the unprecedented disaster.
There are many things that make the Son Doong Cave in Vietnam a remarkable natural wonder; at about 9km in length, 200m in width and 150m in height, it is the largest cave in the world, with caverns capable of fitting entire city streets and skyscrapers. It is home to a river, jungles, and entire cave ecosystems. Only slightly less remarkable is the fact that, until 2009, we did not even know how grandiose and impressive Son Doong (or Mountain River) Cave really is. The Son Doong Cave in Vietnam was recognized as the world's largest cave in 2010. The program presents amazing images from deep inside the cave filmed for the first time using high-definition cameras.
The Arctic: Greenland. Recent global warming is causing unprecedented changes in this frozen land. The frequency of glacier collapse is rapidly increasing, and in some cases, the speed of glacial motion has doubled in the past 15 years. To understand these changes, the crew teams up with a French glaciologist and travels to the massive Greenland ice sheet. This episode introduces the frozen landscape and explores the deep mysterious ice caves that suck in meltwater.
The Canadian Arctic, where the temperature can fall to -40°C, is in the middle of the Aurora Belt. The area is known for its frequent aurora displays; however, it is rare for several aurorae to occur at once. This spectacular phenomenon is called an aurora breakup. Colors explode and whirl against the black of night as though the sky is alive. NHK's crew travels deep into Yukon where the sky is darkest by using all means at their disposal, including dog sleds, to chase after and film aurora breakups.
We explore the magnificent wild scenery of the Australian outback, with its gigantic 200-metre-long cliffs, striped mountains and deep underwater caves.
Surrounded by 2,000 meter-high mountains, the "miraculous wetlands" of Oze lie just 150 kilometers away from Tokyo. But this Shangri-la of green fields, dotted with crystal-clear ponds, seems a world away. Mist and sunshine create "white" rainbows on summer mornings and at night the Milky Way is mirrored in the ponds' surfaces amid dancing fireflies. In spring, the snowy fields mysteriously turn red. A recent study revealed this phenomenon is caused by an amazing ecosystem hidden from sight beneath the snow. This program documents the breathtaking beauty of Oze from winter to summer, uncovering the secrets behind its many miracles.
Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture Earthquake, tsunami, nuclear catastrophe. This is a record of people in that one town caught up in the triple disaster. Threatened by the unseen forces of radiation, what did the residents do? What was their state of mind? "Why should we evacuate, why do we have to flee?" Toshikazu Owada, Minamisoma City Official: They came in from the lobby over there. Self Defense Force personnel. Running and shouting, "The nuclear plant will explode. Evacuate to at least 100 kilometers." They were shouting in loud voices and rushing all around. Outside a steady stream of Self Defense Force vehicles was already heading out of town. Seeing them evacuate made me realize this was serious.
Japan might soon experience its own gold rush! Scientists are hoping to tap the vast deposits of gold, silver, copper, and other rare metals found in oceanic plate boundaries. State-of-the-art Japanese technology is being employed to locate and extract metals from these deposits, which are produced by the dynamic forces at work inside our planet. Japan was once referred to as "Zipangu" by Marco Polo, a land fabled for its gold. With all of the new gold deposits being discovered in Japanese waters, Zipangu might not be a myth after all.
Voices from 3.11: A Town Torn Apart; Namie, Fukushima Prefecture Namie, in Fukushima Prefecture, was hit by a tsunami after the Great East Japan Earthquake. A day later, people within a 10-kilometer radius of the local nuclear power plant had to evacuate before they could search for lost family members. It was more than a month before the search began. Survivors couldn't identify bodies that had been lying outside for so long. They're wracked with guilt for being unable to perform proper burial rites. This program highlights their heart-wrenching experience.
It’s been about 2 years since the accident. Nuclear power plants across the country still store huge amounts of spent fuel. No one has found a way to deal with the spent fuel. Nor no sites have been found for its final disposal. The spent fuel kept piling up. It now amounts to 17 thousand tons for Japan as a whole. Some nuclear plants could run out of storage space in about 2 years if they were to go back online. What can be done about this nuclear waste which has nowhere to go? We’ll explore several paths to resolving this critical issue
2 years after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, more than 150,000 people in Fukushima Prefecture are still forced to leave their homes and try to rebuild their lives amid the threat of radiation exposure. We'll look into the unprecedented challenges they are facing.
Predicting the Next Near-field Quake: Unearthing the Facts
Deadly Vibrations: Dangers of Long Duration Ground Motion
Two years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, an unprecedented disaster which resulted in profound and wide-ranging devastation. Global attention is focused on the repercussions of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, where, even two years after the disaster, many people are still living in dire straits. One Fukushima resident is Genyu Sokyu, a Buddhist monk and author who has vowed to remain in Fukushima, no matter what. In addition to playing an active role in restoration efforts, and proposing measures to contain the effects of radiation, he has been drawing attention to the plight of Fukushima by publishing a diary. He wrote day-to-day accounts of the disaster's aftermath for several months. "Even though I'm painfully aware of the countless numbers of people who are still suffering, there is a limit to what a single person can do. Our only hope is to pray. Yet realizing how powerless one is, and finding resilience through prayer, does not mean that one is content to do nothing. I believe that we are able to draw strength from our prayers, the strength that enables us to move forward." Robert Campbell visited Genyu at Fukujuji, his temple. Campbell asked Genyu about life in Fukushima, and about the values modern Japan needs to uphold. Campbell also met with several other residents of Fukushima who are involved in the restoration effort, including a young farmer who is tackling misinformation regarding the safety of Fukushima produce, and an Englishwoman who writes a blog about life in Fukushima. This program hopes to shed light on what life is really like in Fukushima today, and, by doing so, offer insights into Japan's future.
Soon after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a black rain containing radioactive materials fell from the sky. No detailed data has ever been released on where this contaminated rain fell, and the extent of this form of radiation. But at the end of 2011, enquiries by a doctor in Nagasaki led to the disclosure that investigators in the 1950s had collected data on some 13,000 people exposed to black rain. Why has this information yet to be released -- 67 years after the atomic bombings? And what might we learn from these cases today? Our investigation includes accounts from survivors.
It has been nearly 70 years since the end of the Pacific War. Over 800 people have been recorded by NHK bearing personal witness to their wartime experiences. The Japanese military expanded operations beyond the nation's capacity. Even as signs of looming defeat grew more ominous, many servicemen and civilians were sacrificed, the majority in the last year or so of the war. Why did so many people have to die? We hear from veterans who survived horrors, and from villagers whose loved ones never returned.
Fukushima Evacuees Face Difficult Choices After the nuclear accident at Fukushima, the government restricted access to the area within 20km of the power plant. But as radiation levels fell, the area was divided into a zone to which residents might be able to return and another that remains unlivable. This program focuses on 2 towns, Namie and Futaba that ended up with very different fates. We look at the hard choices residents had to make to move on with their lives.
Many Japanese were stranded in the Korean peninsula when the Second World War ended. Some escaped, but many starved or froze to death. Survivor stories are told and re-enacted.
At minus 30 degrees, the sea off Sakhalin freezes in just 3 hours! This great mystery of "The moment sea ice is born" has been filmed for the first time.
Japan faces the threat of massive earthquakes. This "MEGAQUAKE" series uses the latest technology to unravel the mysteries of earthquakes and examine emerging signs of an impending megaquake in the Nankai Trough.
More than 2.5 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Now, more and more people are returning to live in areas that were inundated by tsunami waves. This program takes a look at what should be done to protect these communities in the future.
The massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 triggered an accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, uncovering a huge risk inherent in running a nuclear facility. Terrorist attacks could wreak similar havoc. Now, Japan has no choice but to face a new risk of nuclear plant terrorism. Our program looks at the front line of security initiatives
Mount Fuji has recently been included as a site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Water is the key to understanding why the mountain is worshipped and why it continues to be an artistic inspiration. Standing alone in solitary grandeur, Mount Fuji receives a lot of rainfall throughout the year and at the foot of the mountain, it's rich with spring water. Even though it's sometimes called the mountain of water, its surface is free of rivers and streams. And what happens underground remains shrouded in mystery. This program uses the latest 4K camera to film magnificent natural wonders created by water, including a gigantic underground water vein, an ice palace deep within in a cave, and a hidden underwater tunnel. Welcome to the unknown waterworld of Mount Fuji!
Bejeweled green leaves glitter in the sunlight. Horsetails appear to be small dancing dolls. Beautiful, fantastic mushroom spores fly through the air. Such captivating visions of ordinary plants are captured by 82 year-old Hany Ciabou, a nature photographer. Even the simplest tableaus turn into amazing dynamic worlds through his lens. In addition to still photography, at the age of 75 he began making video recordings of flora. He aspires to catch the moment when seemingly motionless plants move. Hany Ciabou's amazing, microcosmic images depict the preciousness of life.
Beijing is said to have some of the worst traffic of any world capital. More than five million cars pack the city's ring roads each day. City authorities have tried in vain to restrict vehicular access to the inner city. In this program, we see how the traffic brings life to a near standstill as we track Beijing for 24 hours during the past sweltering summer.
What would you do if your best friend committed suicide because of bullying? This program focuses on a high-school student who cannot accept the death of his best friend three years ago. Tearfully, he admits, "If I look back now, there were many signs of his asking for help." Bystanders are important in preventing bullying, so why couldn't this boy stand up to his friend's tormentors? This program investigates the reasons behind the boy's reluctance to help, and follows the relationship between the boy and his best friend's father who is attempting to help the boy lessen his feelings of guilt.
Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire where most of the world's volcanoes can be found. It's a land densely clustered with volcanoes -- many still active. While making this program, the camera crew was able to capture footage from the sky and on the ground. They even got very close to the lava dome of the most dangerous volcano in Eurasia, and fumaroles -- fissures that release steam and volcanic gases. In addition, this adventure includes a visit to a mysterious caldera that creates a number of different minerals. Take a look at this peninsula, pulsating with the primal rhythms of the planet.
Mt. Rishiri (1,721 meters) floats in Japan's northernmost sea. In February, when seasonal winds blow from the sea, winter is at its harshest. Daisuke Sasaki, one of Japan's most famous backcountry skiers, dares to ski down 1,400 meters of unforgiving cliffs, some with a gradient of 50 degrees. But even before he can ski down, Sasaki must first face the ordeal of climbing the mountain with ski equipment on his back. This documentary follows Sasaki as he challenges-and ultimately succeeds in-skiing down the snowy mountain, despite the unavoidable risk of avalanches.
Nature Documentary hosted by Peter Venn, published by NHK broadcasted as part of NHK Wildlife series in 2013. In the jungles of Sulawesi, Indonesia, lives the crested black macaque, a monkey that values friendship over force. The secret to their peaceful lives is an extensive range of facial expressions that they use not only to win friends and find mates, but also to avoid trouble. The situation looks volatile as one troop of macaques meets another, but the rival troop is turned away with nothing more than a stinging glare. Crested black macaques look after one another, and even share childcare duties, and when problems arrive they work together to succeed. This program reveals the amazing lifestyles of these expressive macaques.
Lake Baikal not only is the world's oldest lakes, it is also the deepest. It's 1,600 meters deep. It's also the clearest, with visibility to a depth of 40 meters. The lake is home to many endemic species that have undergone unique evolutionary processes. Observing unfamiliar creatures living in remarkably crystal clear waters is a sight to see. The cameras rolled for three months between the end of winter and summer to capture the hidden mysteries of the lake, including the habits of these uncommon animals and the unique mechanism that produces Lake Baikal's clear water.
Japanese filmmaker Kyoko Miyake visits a relative who lived in the area that was devastated by the 2011 tsunami and subsequent disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
During the winter months, Kushiro Marshland in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, is home to the celebrated red-crowned crane or "tancho." As temperatures plunge, these cranes flock to the marshland where an underground spring provides warmth and prevents the water from freezing, and the local people provide food to nurture the birds back from the brink of extinction. These mass gatherings are fraught affairs with limited space and predators close by, but as winter progresses one of nature's most spectacular courtship rituals begins where courting birds mirror each other's movements in graceful, spellbinding displays that can last for days. Against the ever-changing backdrop of Japan's great marshland, a love story unfolds
Successive meltdowns of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant resulted in significant nuclear contamination. How did the disaster unfold? NHK interviewed more than 400 people and conducted simulations based on volumes of data. Our independent investigation sheds new light on the accident 2 years after it occurred.
Nearly 3 years have passed since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, but leaking radioactive water is an ongoing problem. The plant's operator believes the leaks are caused by damage to the containment vessel in Reactor 1. A special remote-controlled boat equipped with a camera captured images of tainted water flowing down a wall inside the vessel. On this program, we explore the causes and potential risks of this hidden crisis.
North Korea has become increasingly isolated under a series of international economic sanctions. The country is in financial straits. How has the Kim Jong Un regime managed to stay in power? Our interviews with people who were once high-ranking officials in the leadership inner circle and an investigation in several countries revealed the existence of secret funds that only the Supreme Leader can freely use. The program will explore connection between power and money in North Korea.
The Sea of Okhotsk lies off Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. Drift ice arrives in abundance from northern waters 1,000 kilometers away. Clusters of sea ice form a swirl measuring up to tens of kilometers across. The Sea of Okhotsk is also known for a treasure chest of marine creatures, such as fish, water birds and whales. Researchers believe the swirling drift ice plays a fundamental role in the natural environment. We unravel the inner-workings of natural phenomena and their magnificent blessings.
The World on a Bike will take you on a smooth ride around the globe to encounter new people and landscapes. Today's tour - the Republic of Uzbekistan in Central Asia. We head from Toshkent to the ancient capital, Samarkand, the jewel of the Silk Road. More than 20 years have passed since Uzbekistan gained independence from the Soviet Union. We'll get a firsthand look at everyday life there.
In 1945, US forces dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Last year, photos and a map of the aftermath were found, detailing the bomb's destructive mechanism. They showed how the Mach stem - a shock wave that hyper-intensified the power of the initial blast - was responsible for destroying buildings with increasing force 500 meters from ground zero. Through a simulation of the blast and interviews with survivors, this program reveals how the bomb was exploded to maximize its catastrophic effect.
In 1954, the United States tested 6 hydrogen bombs on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Numerous Japanese fishing boats were operating in surrounding waters, and their crews were exposed to radioactive fallout. But the Japanese government has acknowledged the cases of just 23 crewmembers. Now, scientists from Hiroshima have shed light on facts that had been buried for 60 years.
For the first time, we are able to show full details of the excavation of a hidden tunnel, sealed and forgotten for 1,800 years, beneath a pyramid in Teotihuacan, Mexico. The ongoing excavation is producing a flood of discoveries that are not only shedding fresh light on the religious and intellectual life of the people who lived here, but also radically changing the way we think civilization began.
Join us for the 2nd installation of our "TOKUSATSU" series, featuring Japan's unique filmmaking technique! We report from the venue of the current hit exhibition in Japan, "TOKUSATSU - Special Effects Museum", brought to you by film director Hideaki Anno, known around the world for his popular robot animation series "EVANGELION". The exhibition features numerous miniature sets used in past Japanese tokusatsu films and television programs, and we take a close look at the rich history of Japanese tokusatsu as we walk through the exhibition. Witness the craftsmanship of tokusatsu technology, as well as the evolution of the latest tokusatsu film.
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was the site of one of the world's worst nuclear accidents. Recently discovered data suggest massive leaks of radioactive substances began sooner than previously thought. On this program, we look at how the materials managed to breach safety devices and escape.
What happens when Japanese pottery that highlights food is combined with an international cuisine? In this program, we planned a collaboration of Spanish cuisine and pottery from Okinawa, an island in southern Japan. Taking on this mission is Josep Barahona Vines, the master of Spanish cuisine. The pottery from Okinawa that Josep will challenge is called Yachimun in the local dialect. Will he be able to meet the potters, present food on their pottery, and win their hearts? Chef Josep's unprecedented challenge begins.
60 years after its first appearance on the screen, Godzilla continues fascinating moviegoers and Hollywood producers alike. The techniques developed by its creator Eiji Tsuburaya, including the use of full-body suits on carefully crafted miniature sets, are of particular interest at a time when computer graphics reign supreme. Hideaki Anno, best known for his animated series Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Shinji Higuchi, director of Attack on Titan, discuss the magic of Japanese special effects.
This NEWSLINE special covers the annual peace ceremony commemorating the atomic bombing of Hiroshima 69 years ago and looks into the city's role in worldwide efforts to abolish nuclear weapons.
This annual ceremony for world peace commemorates the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki. People from around the world gather to pray for the souls of the victims.
Sengu is the ceremonial transfer of a god to its new home. The god moves house. By coincidence, Sengu was performed at Japan's 2 most important shrines in 2013, at both the Ise Jingu and the Izumo Taisha. Why have these unique house moving rites been observed for more than a thousand years? We delve deeply into the ancient mysteries and interconnectedness of the 2 Sengu rites to discover what they can tell us about the origins of the nation we now call Japan.
Lake Akan on the Japanese island of Hokkaido is said to be the last place on Earth where algae balls called Marimo grow in the wild. The spherical shape makes photosynthesis difficult, so scientists have long wondered how Marimo survive. NHK obtained permission to film their habitat for a year, in the first project of its kind. Join us as we explore a spectacle of nature in Lake Akan.
Seventy years ago, Peleliu, part of the Palau Islands in the Pacific Ocean, was one of the most ferocious battlefields between Japanese and American troops during the Pacific War. However, the truth remained hidden and Peleliu eventually became forgotten. More than one hundred recently discovered films extensively document how the pressure on both sides increased as the war progressed. NHK has interviewed the cameraman who made those films as well as Japanese and American veterans still alive today. This program depicts the harsh realities of war that never stops once started.
A renowned musical theater group in western Japan has celebrated its 100th anniversary. The performers in the Takarazuka Revue are all single women. Audiences are especially enthusiastic about the actors who specialize in portraying men. They have been the driving force of the Takarazuka's success. What is it about them that fans find so appealing? We went behind the scenes with the 5 top stars to find out. Join us as we explore their world.
On March 14, 1954, a tuna boat named Lucky Dragon No. 5 returned to Yaizu, Japan after being exposed to hydrogen bomb testing on Bikini Atoll. This was the Bikini Incident, which shook the world. The crew suffered serious radiation poisoning, and their tainted tuna decimated the local fishing industry. This program features the crew of the Lucky Dragon and others involved in the fishing industry at the time, as well as citizens who started an anti-nuclear testing movement. They paint a picture of what the Bikini Incident did to Yaizu, and the suffering it inflicted.
NHK presents the amazing sights of the world's first national park, one of the continent's 2 hot spots where huge amounts of magma pour out continuously.
NHK explores the spectacular waterfalls, limestone caves and outstanding gorges in the rich forests of eastern Australia, fostered by abundant rainfall.
After World War II, the United States conducted nearly 1,000 nuclear tests in the Nevada desert. Radioactive particles blew in the wind and descended on towns many miles from the testing site. People in these towns are known as "Downwinders," and to this day only some of them have received compensation. The others are still fighting for recognition, and for information on the damage done to their health. Now, a previously unknown report has been uncovered, lending greater credence to their case. We take a look at the unknown and unhealed scars of the victims of nuclear weapons testing in America.
Lethal, yes, but the samurai sword has served as an object of sacred beauty in Japan for over a thousand years. Sometimes priced at more than 1 million dollars, it is highly appreciated by thousands of collectors around the world today.
Japan's Imperial family has long taken under its patronage craftsmen whose works now form a treasured collection handed down over generations. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), when trade with other countries was resumed after 200 years, the artisans' skills and creations became a matter of national prestige. From exquisite ceramics, cloisonné and tapestry to a masterpiece of metalwork that cannot be replicated, this is the little-known drama behind the Imperial Collection of Japanese art.
The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, covers a range of over 2,000 kilometers off the northeast coast of Australia. Magnificent spectacles of the birth of life unfold here every summer. Male and female surgeonfish swim at lightning speed toward the water surface and spawn; Tens of thousands of green sea turtles simultaneously come ashore under the star-filled sky to lay eggs; And the climax is a rare sight of some 100 varieties of coral all spawning at once within a timeframe of only 15 minutes. Enjoy the breathtaking moments successfully caught on an unprecedented scale by taking full advantage of the amazingly rich colors of high-definition 4K cameras. Immerse yourself in the mysterious drama of life under the spell of the moon, on a summer night.
Around 600 Stradivarius-made violins still exist, but the secret of its unrivaled sound remains veiled in mystery. Join Karen Gomyo, a New York-based Stradivarius player, and performers, artisans, and scientists on a 300-year journey tracing the saga of this sublime instrument.
With high radiation levels continuing to hamper work at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, experts are exploring ways to use remote-controlled robots. Expected to take up to 40 years to complete, what kinds of challenges will the decommissioning entail? This episode takes cameras to the front line to document the struggle with radiation containment and examines footage from more than 1,000 videotapes obtained by NHK that provide details on the nuclear decommissioning at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in the United States. http://pf.nhk-ep.co.jp/detail/1829
Karakami is a decorative Japanese paper used to ornament interior sliding doors during the Edo period. Woodblock-printed motifs, such as cherry blossoms and dragons, are said to have inspired several prominent European artists in the 19th century. This program examines the history of karakami through the work of a family in Kyoto that has preserved this traditional art form for nearly 400 years.
The program presents spectacular scenes from the world's biggest ice caves, created by glacial snowmelt and reveals why their ice never melts.
Ｉt is not just an ordinary fish market. It is the BIGGEST in the world with a traffic of 100,000 people going in and out of 850 stalls. 50,000 tons of fish is traded daily with hundreds of millions of dollars changing hands. Its famous auctions have attracted millions of tourists worldwide. But what lies beneath the surface of this amazing market? This episode is a visual feast of never –before –filmed sequences on how a 300-kg tuna is cut, and all the the unique skills of the fishmongers and the myriad varieties of seafood available
From manga to anime to video games, Comic Market (also known as Comiket) is a haven for subculture fans. Twice a year, in summer and in winter, fans gather at Tokyo Big Sight, an international exhibition center in Japan. Dojinshi or self-published works from a variety of genres are exhibited and sold. Considered the best of subcultural festivals, Comiket celebrates its 40th year in 2015. Unparalleled in scale and in history, the 3-day event brings 600,000 people from around the world. Despite its enormity, however, much remains unknown about the event. Who attends the event? What goes on inside? What new things are formed? This program offers an inside look at the seemingly familiar yet hidden world of Comiket. How does Comiket continue to attract more than half a million people every year?
This original documentary-drama looks at the life of American scholar Donald Keene, a pioneer in the research and translation of Japanese literature who laid the groundwork for putting Japan's prose and poetry on the world map. Hosted by actor Ken Watanabe, this program looks at Keene's appreciation of Japan and its traditional values, his first contact with the people of Japan during World War II, his relationships with great Japanese writers and his perception of the Japanese mindset.
On the 70th year since the end of World War Ⅱ, NHK gathered archival film of the Pacific War from home and abroad and took on the challenge of colorizing the material with the help of experts in various fields. Compiled from the restored footage, this documentary vividly revives the realities of the war, bringing to light what had been obscured in the black-and-white films and photos, and conveying with fresh intensity the experiences of those who were there through diaries and words.
In the heart of Tokyo lies the sacred forest of Meiji Jingu, one of the most visited shrines in Japan. Only a select few know the secret of this restricted forest. The seemingly primeval forest is a man-made creation, a result of a century-old grandiose experiment. For the first time, the outcome of this experiment is revealed and recorded on camera. Strange and wondrous flora and fauna are found. But how has such a rich forest taken root in a metropolis? Join us as we unveil the mystery of Meiji Jingu's sacred forest.
More than 50,000 Japanese nurses went to the frontlines in the World War Ⅱ to aid their country. But they were unprepared for the horrible reality that awaited them. As they worked to protect the soldiers, they faced threats to their own well-being. Wartime documents that had long been confidential, along with the testimony of former nurses, shed light on how they have struggled to come to terms with their wartime experiences.
In the depths of a Hokkaido forest in winter, the surface of Lake Shumarinai shimmers with the iridescence of snow crystals. The blanket of fine white powder also permits a number of hardy fish, including a giant "phantom" salmon, to flourish underneath. Few places on Earth get so bitterly cold - minus 41℃ - or have such heavy snowfalls - 25 meters a year. Special cameras (4K, thermo, underwater) reveal the structural beauty of the snowflakes and illuminate mysterious environmental phenomena. A fox "narrator" and 2 local schoolgirls give charming perspectives onto the wonders of a magical world.
Seventy years ago, some beautiful semi-tropical islands of Okinawa were turned into a battle zone of madness.
Michael and his family are feeling proud of themselves after eating their way across Japan over 100 days. However, when a culinary expert asks his views of "osechi", Michael is taken aback. So, he sets out to learn about this New Year's food, starting with the harvesting of rice. He and the family later revisit Japan during the holiday to get a taste of "osechi" for themselves.
Deep Inside is an educational entertainment program where our hosts gain entrance into otherwise restricted areas to take a deep look inside. As the hosts make you laugh, they'll unravel the mysteries of Japan.
Droves of refugees have descended on the Turkish port city of Izmir since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. Compounded by the emergence of Islamic State militants, this unending flood of refugees risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea. They seek peace and a new life in Europe as terrorist attacks have fanned the flames of anti-refugee sentiment. This documentary offers an unflinching look at the harsh realities faced by Syrian refugees.
We take you into the living rooms of people settling in Japan from around the world. From traditional wooden "minka" houses and average apartments to high-end residences, we discover this country's unique housing situation. How to go about renting or purchasing? Is Japan really an expensive place to live?
5 years have passed since the 3.11 disaster. Have people in the stricken areas in Iwate Prefecture managed to regain their lives? How is the recovery progressing in the communities?
NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN has received more than 5,000 expressions of encouragement from across the globe since the Great East Japan Earthquake. A number of notes came from listeners who themselves were living amidst calamity and strife. NHK WORLD has delivered the messages to people affected by the disaster. Some felt inspired to move forward with restoration of their communities. Others decided to take action in other countries to show their gratitude. 5 years after the quake, interaction between the Tohoku region and the rest of the world is lifting the spirits of senders of the messages and their recipients.
Fukushima Reborn recounts Yauemon's passionate campaign to save the region he loves so much. The documentary looks at life in present-day Fukushima, a beautiful part of Japan struggling to get out from under a dark cloud.
5 years ago, the fishing industry in the prefecture that proudly calls itself Fishery Miyagi was devastated by the tsunami. How is the recovery of the marine resources progressing?
Global hitmaker Sérgio Mendes heads Part 1 in collaboration with Aki Yashiro, a singer renowned throughout Japan. Young people from Fukushima also add excitement with a taiko drum performance. Uplifting music envelops the people of Fukushima, who have taken a new step toward the future..
The 5th International Image Festival held in the small island kingdom of Brunei, and the theme is 'Happiness'. Competing are young creators from 8 different Asian nations. We introduce the steps they took on the road to creating their pieces up to the day of the festival.
Kjetil Jikiun, Norwegian sake brewer, was the first to make sake commercially in Europe. He started out as a pilot. One night in Japan, he tasted high-quality sake. Blown away by its wonderful flavors, he returned to Japan to learn at top breweries. In 2010, he added a sake department to his brewery in Grimstad, Norway. Though the Norwegian sake market is small, it's growing. Kjetil has bought land in Greece, to make craft beer. But his plan is to make sake with Greek rice, an all-European sake.
Fukushima Prefecture has become a familiar name worldwide as a result of the nuclear accidents in 2011. Ever since then, the world has been concerned about what's happening regarding radioactive contamination in the prefecture.
There is a hugely popular Hawaiian-themed amusement center in Fukushima. After the disaster, it became the base for recovery support provided by Hawaiian artists. See performances by popular Hawaiian group ManoaDNA, Japanese jazz pianist Senri Oe and singer Junko Yagami, residents of the US who have been supporting recovery efforts. New ties are created between Hawaii and Fukushima!
Paul Duffield is an acclaimed British manga artist and animator. His comics are the perfect synthesis of Japan's iconic comic culture with his own deep worldview. Although manga (Japanese comics) is often recognized for its distinctive aesthetics, Paul knew there was more to manga than just its looks. By searching for manga's deeper soul, he identified what gives manga the unique spirit and strength to make it the largest comic industry in the world.
Masahiro Kikuno is a master craftsman who belongs to an exclusive international group of independent watchmakers. These consummate artists create timepieces that reflect their deepest ideals, with no connection to commercial watch manufacturers. Kikuno's creations are deeply influenced by traditional Japanese culture. He's fascinated by a masterpiece called the Myriad Year Clock, which was built by a 19th-century Japanese mechanical genius. Containing over a thousand hand-made parts, the clock is a marvel of complex and precise engineering.
The final part of Music for Tomorrow features a fabulous collaboration between Bob James and friends. His performance with leading Japanese singer-songwriter Kazumasa Oda is not one to miss. Bob James has written a new song of support for Fukushima's high school students who were forced to live in evacuation shelters following the accident at the nuclear power plant. High school students who are the future of Fukushima premiere the song.
Tawaraya is the oldest inn in a city that knows something about longevity, Kyoto. Many prominent personages have stayed beneath its roof within the past 300 years, including John-Paul Sartre and Alfred Hitchcock. Tawaraya has only 18 guest quarters, but it's filled with fascinating details, among them: rooms joined with the garden, unconventional layouts, and impeccable timing in the serving of meals. Mystery writer Frédéric Lepage helps reveal the inside story of the inn, which usually does not allow filming. Tune in and immerse yourself in hospitality.
When the massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan's Tohoku region 5 years ago, life as people knew it was instantly gone. What remained were feelings of loss, devastation and pain. Among the survivors were children, who experienced the disaster and its aftermath at an impressionable time in their lives. NHK NEWSLINE FOCUS shares 5 stories of those children.
With her Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up series stirring up phenomenal sensations all over the world, KonMari visits New York to help people distressed about tidying. Gina Kruger, who lives with her husband and 2 sons, is helpless as things pile up uncontrollably in her house. KonMari comes to rescue.
Her Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up series has stirred up phenomenal sensations all over the world. Emily Newhouse, who lives alone in New York, needs to tidy up her place so that her boyfriend can move in.
Indonesian actor Hamish Daud reveals the appeal of Ise-Shima to Muslim visitors. Although the area is not so well known overseas, Ise-Shima offers much to see: Ise Jingu, one of Japan's largest shrines; Iga, an original ninja site; and Ago Bay, a place where pearls are plentiful.
Ise Katagami has been practiced for a thousand years in the Ise region. This use of stencils for dyeing kimono contributed to the "Japonism" influence on European arts around the start of the 20th century. These days, it takes on new shapes as dyed pictures, interior decorations and accessories.
The huge earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan 5 years ago swept vast amounts of debris across the Pacific. Many objects reached the U.S. State of Oregon, including the crossbeams from the gates of a Shinto shrine dedicated to the safety of local villagers who depend on the sea. Thanks to the all-out efforts of people in America, those precious artifacts made the long journey home. NHK NEWSLINE FOCUS tells the story of how this incredible homecoming formed bonds of friendship between people living an ocean apart.
Masaaki Hatsumi, 84 years old, is a living ninja in modern times. As the grandmaster of Togakure-ryu, an amazing legacy of ninja's martial arts, left and remained throughout the history of 900 years, has drawn attention from FBI and other government agencies as ultimate survival skills of dodging enemy attacks and saving one's life.
A young wrestler from Egypt has taken the world of sumo by storm under the apt name of Osunaarashi - or "Great Sandstorm" in Japanese. It took him only 18 months to reach the top makunouchi division, where only 42 of all 600 wrestlers are admitted. That's the fastest rise ever among foreign-born wrestlers. But fighting his way up through the ranks was no easy task.
The Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 turned the surrounding towns into a desolate land, making the area into a "radioactive forest". Without human presence, the land is roamed by wildlife like civets, macaques and wild boars. A project is underway to study the deserted areas by attaching a camera to wild boars to record the conditions of the former farmlands. 5 years after the disaster, we take a close look at how radiation has affected the wildlife, and what it entails for us humans.
For millions of years, insects have come out ahead in the struggle for survival. From painless mosquito stings to high-performance dragonfly wings, advanced 4K high-speed cameras and digital microscopes can now provide extraordinary new views of the world of bugs. Join us as we take a look at the amazing mechanisms hidden inside their bodies and the new man-made technologies they have inspired.
Designing shoes for Lady Gaga garnered a lot of attention for contemporary artist Noritaka Tatehana. Now he's turning his talents to staging Japan's traditional puppet theater in Paris. Collaborating with bunraku master Kanjuro Kiritake, Tatehana serves as an art director for a story steeped in Japanese aesthetics. The master himself is giving the grand role of the courtesan Akoya its premiere outside of Japan, bringing the soul of the character to the present. The program documents the 2 men's efforts to discover new dimensions of bunraku.
Charles Chibana, a 26-year-old judoka, is a 3rd-generation Japanese-Brazilian seeking Olympic glory. His family has practiced judo for generations, and his father still teaches it to the children in their 40-person household. Charles' grandparents left Okinawa for South America after World War II, leaving a home that had become a war zone and raising their children while maintaining their Japanese heritage. This program focuses on the achievements, hopes and dreams of this remarkable family.
Kaoru Ogura dedicated his life to telling the world about the Japanese city where the first atomic bomb was dropped. He brought public figures from other countries together with survivors in postwar Hiroshima, even though he himself was born and raised in the U.S. The devastation shocked the visitors, causing them to spread the word internationally. They eventually began supporting the victims and joining in the anti-nuclear movement. The program recounts the life and work of those activists and the experiences of Kaoru Ogura.
This special edition of NHK NEWSLINE covers the peace memorial ceremony to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.
This program is based on that original movie and Tanabe's body of work as well as NHK's Hiroshima Broadcasting Center records and testimonials to create an updated and reworked version of the original movie. In the hope of reinforcing the uselessness of war and the desire among people for peace, NHK WORLD presents a new take on the events of August 6, 1945 in the actual words and drawings of the few people left that survived to tell their story.
Commemorating the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki, the program looks at the current status of the world's nuclear weapons and the global movements toward abolishing them.
This time, we'll travel on trains through Shimane Prefecture, a spiritual part of Japan where Japanese gods and humans have a strong bond.
Actor Ken Watanabe has continued to support the Tohoku region since just after the Great East Japan Earthquake. 5 years have now passed since the disaster and again he returns to the area to revisit acquaintances, to get a sense of the positive developments there and learn what is now giving people cause for concern.
Having lived for 88 years, Minatoya Koryu has plenty of tales to tell. She has performed as a Rokyoku storyteller for 70 years, 50 of those on the road. The art of Rokyoku storytelling - performing stories sung along with the melody of a shamisen - was the most popular performing art in Japan from the end of the 19th century to 1960's. It was all but forgotten during Japan's high economic growth era. Now, it's being rediscovered by a younger audience. The program shows the relationship between Koryu and her young disciple Koyuki, introducing the appeal of the tradition to a modern generation.
Held every 5 years, the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition attracts the world's top young pianists vying fiercely for a chance at stardom. But for the 4 piano manufacturers who supply instruments for the contest, the event also provides a supreme opportunity for public exposure. How many pianists will select their piano to play? What instrument will the winner use? In the latest competition held in the autumn of 2015, the fates of the instrument makers rested with company piano tuners who were nearly all Japanese.
A Burmese couple who escaped persecution by the military government finally returned to their own country in May. They had taken part in the 1988 pro-democracy movement before fleeing to Japan. After quarter of a century, they were prompted to return home to help their country following the historic birth of a democratic government in the spring. They travelled extensively, seeking ways to educate young people. We look at what the democracy movement meant to them and how they rekindled their resolve to work for their country's future, despite the many difficulties.
The thalidomide poisoning incident of the early 1960's was the first of a series of drug poisoning cases in Japan. In 2014, the Japanese government released results of a survey of the present condition of the thalidomide victims. Physical examinations using cutting-edge medical technology and interviews with victims revealed a wide array of disabilities that had previously been undetected. The never-ending consequences of their poisoning have forced the victims to reexamine their lives. Following individual victims as they once again confront the nature of their exposure, a portrait of a half-century of "the poison of thalidomide" emerges.
The long-awaited completion of the Sagrada Família in Spain, Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, is scheduled for 2026. Meanwhile, the symbolic Nativity façade was finished in December 2015. A Japanese sculptor, Etsuro Sotoo, created the 8 gates in the Nativity façade. Without any blueprints left by Gaudí, how did he create them? Unveiling Gaudí's message, this documentary captures the moment of the façade's completion and stunning images of Sagrada Família never before seen.
The Onda Festival is held at the Aso Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan every summer on July 28. A tradition going back more than 800 years, it's the shrine's largest festival and features a procession of 200 people who pray for a good harvest. In 2016, a huge earthquake destroyed much of the shrine, but parishioners resolved to hold the festival anyway. This program features a festival veteran of more than 40 years and a young man who plays a leading role for the first time, channeling prayers for a stricken community.
Badly affected by the Kumamoto earthquakes of April 2016, the town of Yufuin, Oita Prefecture, one of Japan's top hot spring resorts, experienced a dramatic drop in visitor numbers. Desperate to revitalize the area, local inns and other businesses banded together with residents to rebuild. Last time Yufuin was hit by a major quake, 41 years ago, some residents established a traditional Japanese taiko drumming group to boost people's spirit in the midst of hardship. Those performers' activities once more took on renewed significance this August, at a summer festival held to bring energy and excitement back to the town.
Robocon 2016 was held in Bangkok, Thailand. In this edition, the young engineers gathered from 16 countries and regions had to go up against the clock with 2 robots: the Eco Robot and the Hybrid Robot. The Hybrid Robot must use forces such as magnetic power and wind power to move the Eco Robot to the finish line without directly touching it.
"Go, Kitchen, Go!" visits Okinawa Prefecture, a small island in the south of Japan with Taiyo Sugiura, an actor and Ema Koeda, a fusion cuisine specialist. Let's find out its local ingredients, such as Abasa or porcupinefish, or Kandabaa or sweet potato leaves, and Irabuu or sea snakes. The mission of chef Koeda is to create her original and tasty dishes using such ingredients found in Okinawa.
91-year-old Sunao Tsuboi is a hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivor, from Hiroshima Prefecture. His postwar journey has taken him from all-consuming anger and an attempted suicide to reconciliation and activism in the name of peace. On this program, we trace Tsuboi's transformation and explore the latest chapter in his remarkable life - a meeting with the president of the United States, the country that dropped the bomb, and the launch of a grass-roots campaign aimed at ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
The Paralympic Games are now one of the world's biggest sporting events, and they also impact society by transforming people's attitudes toward disabilities. Tokyo's vision for the 2020 Games is to raise awareness of unity through diversity among people around the world. How can we create a truly inclusive society? What role can sports play in achieving this goal? On this program, we discuss these issues with top athletes and global leaders in the field of social inclusion through sports.
Asia's biggest trail running race taking racers across the mountains around the circumference of Mt. Fuji - a designated World Heritage Site. This year was the 5th edition and over 2,300 racers from 39 different countries and regions gathered to take on the challenge of participating in one of two races going all the way around or half way around Mt. Fuji. However, on the day of the race, the weather was bad and heavy rain warnings were issued. The water levels along the race course rose and the risk of landslides also developed. Race headquarters were faced with a difficult decision. Would they actually be able to start the race?
It was the biggest data leak in history. Or more like a dam burst. Suddenly, 11.5 million documents came pouring out of a Panamanian law firm. These so-called Panama Papers provided shocking details of how the superrich use tax havens to hide their wealth. They were leaked to the media by an anonymous source, then shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, or ICIJ. 400 journalists from 80 countries analyzed the data. The unprecedented collaboration led to some of the most powerful leaders in the world. In June, NHK joined the ICIJ project and delved into a huge number of documents linked to Japan. In this program, we’ll look into each case and expose some previously unknown ties between the Panama Papers and Japan.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, from Japan, and Ailee, one of the bright lights of South Korea's K-Pop, joined performers from 11 other nations and regions in this year's "ABU Song Festival" held in Bali. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu performed a medley of "Fashion Monster" and "Sai & Co" for the occasion. It was her first time to sing in Bali, and she took the opportunity to try out some of the island's dance traditions.
The Hisatsu Orange Railway runs across the west coast of the island of Kyushu, connecting Kagoshima and Kumamoto Prefectures. Television personality Thane Camus takes a ride from Yatsushiro to Sendai Station. Along the way, he catches views of the blue sea, mingles with commuters and students, and stops off at places they recommend. From Kagoshima's samurai traditions to Kumamoto's hot springs, the trip is filled with experiences to remember.
In 2016, NHK WORLD started GRAND SUMO Highlights, a program that delivers the thrills and excitement of sumo to a global audience. In this review show, our commentators are back to recount the highlights of the year, including the rise of a new hopeful for Yokozuna. We also reveal the winning secrets of the most powerful wrestlers, many of whom weigh over 150kg, and explain some of the sport’s mysterious traditions.
In August 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on humans for the first time in history. That year alone, more than 210,000 people lost their lives in the A-bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. US President Harry Truman later explained that he had made the decision to drop the bombs in order to save thousands of American lives. But declassified military and government documents have now revealed that the decision may not have been made by Truman. How were the bombings ordered, and by whom? Seventy-one years after the bombings, this documentary examines the evidence, including audio recordings of the director of A-bomb development, in pursuit of the truth.
The spirit of Japanese hospitality has been nurtured over the centuries, through the spiritual connection of the people with a myriad of gods. The god of the fields, for example, watches over rice cultivation. After the harvest, farmers invite the god into their homes for a meal. In parts of the country that get a lot of snow, the mountain god comes down to the village once a year. Children cower, but residents still invite it inside for a meal. As the source of both blessings and disasters, nature is revered in Japanese tradition. The gods are believed to dwell in everything: in forests, rivers, rocks, and an endless array of other places. This program, shot with 4K video equipment, allows viewers to sense the mysterious-yet-delightful relationship between Japanese people and their countless gods.
A student photography contest took place in 2016, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Japan's entry to the United Nations. The theme was "My View on Sustainable Development Goals". Contestants addressed challenges such as poverty, hunger, education and climate change. 622 pictures came in from 47 countries. The judging was led by Leslie Kee, known for his work with Lady Gaga and other celebrities. This program visits Cambodia, Myanmar, and other sites of the selected photos, to hear the photographers' thoughts.
An unlikely new group has emerged onto Japan's "Idol scene". With an average age of 84, the members of KBG84 are from the small Okinawan island of Kohama. Wearing headbands, the group excites crowds with their dynamic singing and dancing. Their concerts in Tokyo and Osaka were sold out. And in December 2016, they expanded overseas! Media Corp, the Singaporean TV company found Grandmas' singing on Youtube, and invited them for a concert! They want to discover "Why are these Grandmas so full of vitality?" This program looks at their way of life and find clues for the beautiful life in old age.
Every year, NHK WORLD holds a "Radio Personality Contest in Chinese" in connection with its "Chinese Talk Show" program. Japanese and Chinese people pair up to put on talk shows. Those that made the cut this time included a duo of high school students and a Japanese-Chinese married couple. The contestants had only 19 days from the time of their selection to the on-stage performance. Follow the teams as they struggle to create their scripts and hone their speaking skills.
Through decades of combat in war-torn Afghanistan, a Japanese man has been waging a different battle, against the ravages of drought. Tetsu Nakamura is a 70 year-old physician. Beginning in 1991, he opened 3 clinics to provide medical service in the mountainous eastern region of the country. However, a historic drought that began in 2000 led to shortages of water and food, causing the deaths of many people. From the perspective of providing medical care, "One irrigation canal will do more good than 100 doctors!" Nakamura shed his physician's white coat and set out to build an irrigation canal. 16 years later, the plains have turned green again and local people have begun to return to farming with renewed security. Nakamura declares, "Weapons and tanks don't solve problems. The revival of farming is the cornerstone of Afghanistan's recovery". The program follows Nakamura's 16 years of unrelenting effort, to examine the question of what kind of aid will assist Afghanistan the most.
Shinji Sogo was the 4th president of Japanese National Railways. With imagination and determination, he made sure that the Shinkansen bullet train service started in time for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The news brought attention from around the world and revived the railway industry. It also laid the groundwork for high-speed railways being planned and built in Europe, the US and Asia today. This program examines rare documents and firsthand accounts of how Sogo's leadership brought the ambitious Shinkansen project to fruition.
Our journey takes place in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, where we travel to the northernmost railway station using local trains. The harsh Hokkaido winter scenery passes outside the windows, treating passengers to dreamy frozen landscapes bustling with wildlife. We even catch one of the few trains in Japan that runs through areas of heavy snowfall, as well as visit a travel lodge built in the style of an old train station, and even indulge ourselves with some famous eki-soba. This two-night/three-day trip will fill you with the magic of Hokkaido's winter.
The area that covers the alpine resorts in southwestern Hokkaido is collectively referred to as Niseko. Its popularity among skiers abroad has exploded in the last 20 years, attracting aggressive foreign investment. The reasons lie in the top-quality powder snow and the efforts of the locals to ensure visitors' safety and pleasure.
Niseko has become synonymous with hitting the slopes in Hokkaido. The fine snow lures skiers from Japan and abroad. Tune in to take a ride on the lift and revel in breathtaking views of Mt. Yotei. This episode also features rare footage of wild birds and fish related to char. Join our reporter for some easy trekking amid the great nature of Niseko.
For 30 years, Sayuri Yoshinaga, one of Japan's top film actresses has volunteered her time to read poems by survivors of the World War II atomic bombing of Hiroshima. She is joined by the internationally renowned Academy Award winning musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, who says "Unless there is peace, we can't enjoy art. So, for me, there has to be peace". The poems express sorrow and suffering, a belief in the strength of humankind to overcome hardship, and messages of hope for peace.
apan's railway system can take you to all corners of Japan without much hustle. So, one way to enjoy Japan is to hop on any of these trains, get off at some random station, and take a stroll around. In this program, we get on Odakyu Odawara Line, one of Tokyo's major railways, to take you on a journey to explore some hidden charms along the way. The train travels 82.5km from the nature-abound area of Odawara City to metropolitan Shinjuku through a suburban Tokyo landscape. Get on board!
Welcome to #TOKYO! This program brings you the latest Tokyo travel information by analyzing large volumes of collected social media content and big data. Find out about the interesting parts of Tokyo people are talking about. In this episode, we will take you to the tallest open sky deck in Tokyo, as well as popular free spots where you can enjoy beautiful Tokyo scenery. We also go back into history to see how people continued to enjoy the view from the top throughout the generations. We will give you many useful tips to enjoy the city. Come and join our Tokyo virtual tour.
Snow-bound and still impacted by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the people of Tohoku wait eagerly for that springtime symbol of hope and life: the blossoming of cherry trees. Northern Japan boasts many varieties of cherry trees and some very beloved ones -- a tree strong enough to grow through a boulder and another whose lineage stretches for a thousand years. Some of these trees are cared for by generations of the same families, people who know each bud on their trees and the best places to view the cherry blossoms.
The March Grand Sumo Tournament opens with huge expectations for newly promoted Yokozuna Kisenosato, who won the previous tourney in January to finally reach the sport's highest rank. The strong contender for the championship in Osaka will have to contend with Yokozuna Hakuho, who'll be aiming for his 38th title, and his first since May 2016. In addition to the yokozuna battle, the preview show also looks at up-and-coming wrestlers who could shake up the March tournament.
Takano Hospital is located in a town only 22 kilometers away from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The 81-year-old hospital director, Dr. Hideo Takano, has continued to provide medical care during difficult times as an active physician. The environment surrounding the hospital has changed drastically since the nuclear accident in 2011. Other hospitals closer to the damaged facility have closed, so the ambulances come thick and fast. With local medical services in disarray, Takano Hospital is the last refuge for the "new citizens" engated in decontamination work and elderly patients who lost their homes when the disaster struck. The program follows Dr. Takano over a period of 2,000 days as he struggles on alone.
When traveling in Japan for the first time, what phrases do you need? The programs also offer tips for getting around the country. Remember the phrases and make your trip more fun.
This film unveils a hidden history which starts in the Dutch East Indies under Japanese occupation during WWII. The protagonists were born of Eurasian mothers and Japanese fathers as children of the enemy. They moved to the Netherlands with their mothers while their fathers went back to Japan after the war. The absence of their fathers becomes a missing piece in their lives, and the ensuing search stretches across continents. One of the protagonists, Nippy Noya, is the percussionist in a Netherlands-based rock band called Massada. In his career, he also recorded with artists such as John McLaughlin and toured with Billy Cobham and Chaka Khan. The film starts with his soulful drum playing in the ruins of the former Jewish transit camp, Westerbork. On his journey, he discovers the secret of his musical gift, just as the other protagonists each experience their own emotional rebirth.
Japan's Yayoi Kusama is one of the most closely watched female artists on the planet. Her works sell for millions of dollars. The allure of her art transcends borders and she constantly stages grand touring exhibitions around the world. Kusama is 87 years old, but she continues to paint at a frenetic pace of one painting every 2 or 3 days, as part of her "My Eternal Soul" series. This program uses 8K cameras to follow Kusama through the process of producing new works, from the initial brush strokes right through to completion. With high-definition video and original music from artist/producer Towa Tei, the program portrays the moment of creation in a striking and dynamic way.
This program introduces you the best of Japanese entertainment. This time, we'll be introducing you to one of Japan's top guitarists, Tomoyasu Hotei. Not only is he an amazing guitar player, with history of collaborating with The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Iggy Pop to name a few, but he is also a well known composer and producer who has written music for Hollywood films and often tours Europe and US. We talk to him about his new home of London and find out what drives him to continue pursuing his passion for music worldwide.
This documentary follows a group of students at the sensitive age of 15 as they try to move on in the wake of a major disaster. In April 2016, 2 earthquakes measuring between magnitude 6 and 7 struck the town of Mashiki in Kumamoto Prefecture. More than half of the students at a local junior high school had their homes damaged. They were forced to live in a shelter in the middle of their broken town.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, Kumamoto Prefecture's popular mascot Kumamon visited disaster-stricken areas in the Tohoku region many times to warm the hearts of countless people. Last year, Kumamon's own home of Kumamoto Prefecture was shaken by many massive tremors and he has been busier than ever helping people in a variety of ways. Kumamon has encouraged the people of Kumamoto to share their stories by using a Twitter hashtag resulting in over 9,000 tweets. In this program Kumamon visits some residents and is touched by people's kindness.
By 2060, 40% of Japan's population will be 65 or older. Such extreme population aging has not yet been experienced by any other country. How does it affect people's lives? Who will support the elderly as this process unfolds? And how does it influence our perception of life and death?
In March 1974, Former Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda surrendered on a small island in the Philippines 30 years after World War II ended. Praised and pardoned by then-President Ferdinand Marcos, the Japanese straggler received a hero's welcome on returning to his homeland. But during their decades of evading capture, Onoda and his comrades had done great harm to the islanders. Newly released secret documents show that Japan and the Philippines saw Onoda's return as a sensitive political and diplomatic matter.
In the tiny coastal community of Omuro in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, the folk performing art known as "Omuro Nanbu Kagura" has been handed down over the generations. For about a century, the tradition was passed from family to family, parent to child. But when an earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011, everything Omuro's residents had held dear was gone. Kagura performers lost family members, and a key member of the local kagura group went missing.
In 2007, an unknown Japanese youth with severe autism wrote a book of essays in Japanese titled The Reason I Jump. Authored by Naoki Higashida, it reveals the inner heart of a person with autism and has become an international bestseller translated into over 20 languages. This success is due to author David Mitchell, who has an autistic son.
English Rakugo storyteller Kimie Oshima and Kaishi Katsura visited Ishikawa Prefecture Kanazawa city and Saga Prefecture Arita town, and they will show off what they were impressed by traveling and making heartbreaking episodes as English-style Rakugo! In the theme of "WAGASHI" in Kanazawa, and "Porcelain" in Arita. It is a Rakugo program that introduces Japanese fascination, fun and fun! Please enjoy Japanese traditional entertainment "RAKUGO" comparable to Kabuki!
This spring, Tokyo's NHK Symphony Orchestra and its Chief Conductor Paavo Järvi embarked on their first European tour together as a part of the orchestra's 90th birthday celebrations, with concerts at prestigious venues in 7 cities across 6 countries. Currently in his second season as Chief Conductor, Järvi commented, "our biggest mission is to introduce the orchestra as one of the great orchestras in the world to European audiences". This program brings you the orchestra's brilliant performances at the Berlin Philharmonie along with stories from behind the scenes.
In his last years, Katsushika Hokusai, world-renowned ukiyo-e artist, painted a final masterpiece. Destroyed by fire in 1923, the 3-meter work has now been recreated based on the only surviving image, a single early 20th century monochrome photo. Leading edge image analysis technology combined with traditional art restoration techniques brought this magnificent work back to life in all its glory.
The theme of this program is the journey to explore the "Spirit of Japan" by visiting temples and shrines. This time we will visit Mt. Yoshino. Mt. Yoshino places in the south of Nara Prefecture and we will look for the roots of "Sakura (cherry blossoms)" which the flower that Japanese people love so much. Yoshino is the mountain which is covered with over 30,000 of SAKURA and it is known as a sacred place for mountain worship. This worship is developed focusing around "KINPUSENJI (temple located in Mt. Yoshino)". Through this journey, we will find out the Japanese people's feeling for the SAKURA.
In May 2016, a handshake in Hiroshima between a sitting US president and a hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivor, became front page news. The survivor, Sunao Tsuboi, was in his 20's when the atomic bomb hit. He just barely escaped death, and for years afterward, he was consumed by hatred of America. But a chance meeting led to a change of heart. He has since dedicated his life to ridding the world of nuclear weapons while fighting the aftereffects of radiation. At 92, his journey for peace goes on.
Koko Kondo was 8 months old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. As she grew, she struggled to come to terms with the bomb's legacy, and with being a hibakusha, or survivor. While still a teenager, she fled Hiroshima and eventually moved to the US, where she hoped to marry. But when her engagement was called off due to radiation fears, Koko returned to Japan. She then made it her life's mission to share her experiences with people from all walks of life, to pass on the torch of peace.
This series examines how the Paris Agreement on climate change has affected businesses around the world. The first episode focuses on the financial industry. On Wall Street, fossil fuels are increasingly seen as "stranded assets" to be divested. The program looks at what the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, among others, is doing. The second episode concerns electric power.
This program promotes Japanese culture by introducing "Noh", Japan's traditional performing art, in a way that can be easily enjoyed by anyone, not just aficionados of Japan. Noh employs various elements of theatrical expression, such as Noh masks and costumes
Major electric companies in Germany are pulling out of the fossil fuel business and shifting their mainstay to renewable energy sources. Can they compete with clean energy, which is said to be unstable and comparatively high in prices?
A challenge taken by a man who was described by Queen Elizabeth as a gardening magician. Kazuyuki Ishihara is known around the world for his designs. He has won 8 top prizes in various categories at London's annual Chelsea Flower Show. In 2016, he received the President's Award, an honor given to a work chosen from all categories. This year, Ishihara is competing once again, aiming to be the first person to win the President's Award twice in a row. Tune in and watch his gardening magic.
This program takes food connoisseurs to some of the beautiful places in southern Japan. Surrounded by lush mountains and deep-blue ocean, residents have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. Our guide is Alex Kerr, a scholar in Eastern culture who specializes in reviving traditional Japanese houses. He argues a period of constantly chasing what's new is over and that the passage of time is what truly creates and nurtures authenticity. During his trip, he comes across modern-style cafés that embody the lifestyle of "Satoyama", the traditional way of living side by side with nature. We travel through Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture to Nagasaki Prefecture's Goto Island, where Christians maintained their beliefs in secret for several hundred years when their religion was banned.
Bunraku puppet plays have been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. 3 puppeteers work as a team to perform these serious and adult dramas. Renowned puppeteer Kiritake Kanjuro explores this extraordinary art through "Kagamiyama Kokyo no Nishiki-e", a tale of revenge, and "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami", a historic tragedy. Kiritake's team of 3 puppeteers perform with the leading doll in the studio, showcasing the full depth and breadth of emotion of which bunraku is capable.
The Sewol, a South Korean passenger ferry, sank in 2014. 295 people died in the tragedy. Many were high school students on a field trip. Mothers of victims whose bodies were not recovered lived at a port near the accident site for the 3 years to be close to their loved ones. They steadfastly campaigned for a search to be conducted for those still trapped inside the ferry. We document their struggle.
Nearly 70 years after the detonation of the first nuclear bomb, the threat of nuclear proliferation continues to advance. North Korea's nuclear development progresses as it continues to conduct test-launches of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. For responding to future provocations by the North, the US says "all options must remain on the table".
"Who will do it without me doing it". The blue-eyed reformer is struggling with the crisis of Japanese heritages. His name is David Atkinson. He is an English man who is currently the president of a long-established restoration company with a history of 350 years. Although he collided with craftsmen, he has been promoting the restoration of the famous cultural heritages including ones of Nikko and Kyoto with his innovative ideas. The camera has scooped the moment of his unique strategy for saving the cultural heritage throughout Japan.
The theme of this program is the journey to explore the "Spirit of Japan" by visiting temples and shrines. This time we will visit TODAIJI in Nara Prefecture. TODAIJI is one of Japan's most legendary temples which originally built more than 1,200 years ago. The Japanese people have been prayed to Buddhist statues from ancient times. Among the numerous Buddhist statues found in Japan, "TODAIJI's DAIBUTSU (giant Buddha statue)" is one of the most prominent and popular of them all. Visitors from all over the world come to TODAIJI to catch a glimpse of the world's largest Buddhist statue.
Belarus writer Svetlana Alexievich, winner of a 2015 Nobel Prize, is known for her unique testimonial documentary style. She strives to capture the voices of "the little people" -- those at risk of being buried in the histories of their states. She is especially known for her chronicle of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, to which she devoted 10-plus years. Her birthplace was contaminated, and she lost her sister to cancer after Chernobyl, where Alexievich went immediately to gather the stories of survivors of those killed and others who were exposed. Part 1 follows the writer as she travels to pursue her stories, featuring footage NHK began to film in 2000, to depict the experience of Chernobyl through the eyes of "the little people".
Virtual singer Hatsune Miku and Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble Kodo. These 2 world renowned artists blew music fans away with their first collaboration concert this past March. In our next episode, we will be giving you an up-close look at the new generation of Japanese music with footage of their performance, a collaboration between a virtual singer made using the world's leading digital technologies and a traditional Japanese group that is connecting the past to the future through taiko drums.
The Chernobyl nuclear accident devastated Alexievich's home country of Belarus, spurring her to document the disaster and explore the problematic relationship of humans and the atom. After the March 2011 Fukushima disaster -- like Chernobyl a Level 7 major accident -- she hoped to visit Fukushima Prefecture to hear the voices of "the little people" there. More than 5 years after the accident, her hopes were realized in November 2016. In Odaka and Iitate, towns that were completely evacuated, she encounters people determined to carry on, and others whose family committed suicide in despair. What do Chernobyl and Fukushima share? What does the future hold? We examine Fukushima today, through Alexievich's eyes.
A community whose population now includes thousands of workers at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. A temporary school in evacuation tries to keep the children from losing memories of their hometown. These are just some of the episodes of daily life in Fukushima Prefecture, 6 years after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster of 2011. This program documents the new day-to-day of a place that's still battling the consequences of the nuclear accident.
The theme of this program is the journey to explore the "Spirit of Japan" by visiting temples and shrines. "Miwa" places in the northern part of Nara Prefecture and it is known as where an ancient Japanese monarchy was founded. Our journey for this time is "OMIWA JINJA (OMIWA Shrine)" which is told as the oldest shrine in Japan. Enshrined at OMIWA JINJA, is Mt. Miwa.
Pulitzer Prize -- winning journalist John Hersey caused a sensation when he published "Hiroshima", the first account for American readers of the horror experienced by victims of the 1945 Hiroshima atomic bomb attack. "Hiroshima" stunned readers with its descriptions of the terrible aftermath of the bombing, yet Hersey never spoke about his experience in Hiroshima. Intrigued, his grandson Cannon Hersey visited present-day Hiroshima to trace his grandfather's footsteps as he worked to understand his grandfather's feelings when he was writing the book.
Pulitzer Prize -- winning journalist John Hersey caused a sensation when he wrote "Hiroshima", the first account for American readers of the horror experienced by victims of the 1945 Hiroshima atomic bomb attack. First published as a reportage essay, "Hiroshima" brought home to American citizens the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. Wishing to unravel the reasons his grandfather never spoke about Hiroshima later in his life, Hersey's grandson Cannon Hersey, an artist, visits Hiroshima.
During World War II, Japanese-Americans formed the 442nd Infantry Regiment to show their loyalty to the United States. Despite discrimination at home, they served with distinction on the Western Front and were regarded as heroes. In October 1944, the team responded to an emergency order to rescue soldiers who were surrounded by German troops. 211 men of the "Lost Battalion" were saved but at the cost of more than 800 casualties throughout the month. This program explores the bravery of the 442nd Infantry Regiment through recollections of its members and confidential records.
Everyone on earth is motivated by greed and affected by the economic trends, forcing us to pursue immediate profit. The movement of capital extends beyond borders and never stops. But at the same time, there is an increasing need to stop and re-examine our economy. In the first half of this program, through interviews with experts of the global economy including Joseph Stiglitz, Alvin Roth and Tomas Sedlacek, the crises which capitalism is facing today become clear. Was Adam Smith wrong? What is the nature of money? The second half discusses the economic state of play in 2017 with reports from Europe, the U.S., and Asia by analyzing the complicated economic system we know as capitalism. In the last half (part 2), destiny of globalization, nature of desire, and future of capitalism are discussed by experts of the global economy. Is legendary economist John Maynard Keynes misunderstood? Can we control capitalism of greed at all? This documentary contemplates the past, present and future of the Capitalism of Greed.
A magnificent panorama of more than 3,000 stone columns soaring as high as 200 meters into the air! Welcome to Zhangjiajie, a region of natural wonder in China that's registered as a World Heritage Site. Although a popular destination for tourists and a model for the scenic backdrop of the film Avatar, much of the area has restricted access and is virtually unknown. With the permission of local authorities, we succeeded in filming this wonderland with a high-resolution 4K camera mounted on a drone. Join us as we explore the mystery of a mountain with a giant hole located 1,000 meters above the valley floor; discover rice paddies cultivated on steep precipices; and document the lives of local minority peoples. Travel back in time to retrace the ancient roots of Zhangjiajie in the Han dynasty, and explore the secrets of geologic change that gave rise to these dramatic columns of stone. And, as a special treat, witness the rare occurrence of the miraculous Torrent of Mist issuing from the mountain hole like white smoke from a dragon's mouth. Our bird's-eye view highlights the special appeal of Zhangjiajie for all to see!
World-renowned Western-style painter Koji Kinutani and his daughter Kanako, a Japanese-style painter, collaborated on a work which successfully harmonized the 2 worlds of his burning color and her monochrome ink painting. Titled "Shining Life", the work is being shown this summer at a major exhibition in Kyoto and attracting great attention. This is the heartwarming story of the intense relationship between father and daughter as they proceed toward the birth of a joint masterpiece.
Taisetsuzan, a cluster of mountains known as the "roof of Hokkaido", is a garden in the sky boasting some of the largest alpine meadows with the greatest variety of alpine plant life in the world. A close examination of each flower growing here reveals various ingenious strategies that allow plants to pass on the gift of life to succeeding generations in the midst of a harsh environment. Using 4K cameras and other advanced video technologies, this program captures the fascinating spectacle of this tiny, hidden world.
Within Japan, there's a place that's like another world: Gion, in Kyoto. When night falls in this historic district, nearly 100 geiko, or traditional entertainers, make their way to teahouses to perform classical arts, such as music and dance, for carefully selected guests. Kimi Ota, 77, is proprietress of a 200-year-old teahouse. Throughout its history, it has always been run by a woman. The proprietress cannot marry, and must have a daughter who can someday take over. Peer behind the curtain into the unique and alluring world of Kyoto's teahouses.
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
Many people believe the Hiroshima atomic bomb instantly incinerated nearly everyone in the Japanese city. That was true at ground zero, but not everywhere. Hiroshima government officials have been tirelessly collecting records on those killed to find out how they died. Using this "big data", NHK created a visualization of the movements of the 557,000 victims of the August 6, 1945 attack. Some did indeed perish instantly. Others burned to death in collapsed buildings. But what about the people who died in a strange "donut zone of death" days after the bombing and in areas more than 2 kilometers from ground zero? This documentary goes beyond big data to provide heart-rending accounts from people close to victims and survivors, revealing the true story of what happened on that dark day more than 70 years ago.
It's no overstatement to say that Katsushika Hokusai changed the world of art. The master of Japanese ukiyo-e influenced the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists in Europe, affecting fashion, music, anime and even social thought. In this program, super high-definition 8K cameras get up close to the recent Hokusai exhibit at the British Museum. Tune in to discover the enduring appeal of Hokusai.
To discover the true essence of Japanese cooking, it's crucial to leave the big cities behind and head out into the countryside! 3 food experts from the U.S. and Britain visit Toyama Prefecture, located about 400 kilometers from Tokyo, to learn all about washoku, traditional Japanese cuisine. They explore Toyama's diverse food culture and are introduced to unique ingredients such as tofu, miso and kombu. They also create innovative dishes for a bento together. Join them on their journey!
An American magazine calls Katsushika Hokusai one of 100 people who left the most important achievements of the past millennium. Assisting him behind the scenes however was a woman: his daughter, O-Ei. For the first time, NHK WORLD brings a historical drama presented in high definition 4K, telling O-Ei's story.
The opening program of the series, ASEAN Now and the Future – Connectivity and Economic Corridors, looks back over the history of cooperation for peace, stability, growth and prosperity between Japan and ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and explains how the broadcasting stations of the four participating countries in this program production assistance project – Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar – tackled the program production work.
The program tours the infrastructure of the East-West and Southern Economic Corridors which support the high annual growth rates of over 6% and visits projects developed with Japanese assistance, including the Tien Sa Seaport, Noi Bai International Airport, Nhat Tan Bridge, the local production of a measles rubella vaccine, Vietnam-Japan University and an electronic customs clearance system.
Part Three of ASEAN Now and the Future – Connectivity and Economic Corridors, was produced by the Laotian state-run broadcaster, Lao National Television (LNTV). Laos, with its population of 7 million, is ASEAN’s only landlocked country but it enjoyed an average annual GDP growth rate of 7.85% for the 4 years of 2012-15. This economic growth is underpinned by the expanding infrastructure for the rapid transport of people and goods. The focus this time, carrying on from Vietnam, is the East-West Economic Corridor, starting from the town of Dansavanh on the Vietnam border. We cross Laos on from there on the East-West Economic Corridor’s National Route 9 to Savannakhet on the border with Thailand.
The program introduces the bridges built by Japan, which have contributed to solve these problems. We also travel along the Southern Economic Corridor connecting Cambodia to Vietnam via the Tsubasa Bridge, the 3rd bridge built by Japan, visiting the border town as well as Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, connecting the country to not only other ASEAN countries but the world.
The program introduces how Myanmar is overcoming the political turmoil and stepping out for a better tomorrow, looking at the links with other ASEAN countries and how those links are supported by Japan. The East-West Economic Corridor links Myanmar to Vietnam. In the near future, an electronic customs system will also be introduced on the Thai border, and a bridge being built with the latest Japanese technologies on the road to Yangon should further accelerate the flow of goods. In the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, the governments of Myanmar and Japan and the private sector are working hand in hand to help the Myanmar economy lift off.
oung engineers around the globe compete with handmade robots in the ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest, or Robocon, and in August 2017 robots from the world over gathered in Tokyo. In the past 15 contests, China and Vietnam boast the most number of wins with 5 titles each. Japan has only won twice, but this year, both the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Tokyo will enter for the chance to regain the title for Japan after 4 years. Come witness behind-the-scenes footage of the battle to be number one.
Mone Kamishiraishi playing Mirai and Thai actor Thiti Mahayotaruk playing Samut star in "Gata no Kuni kara: Message from the Mudflats". Samut, a Thai celebrity, disappears from the production while filming a TV show in Saga Prefecture. He longs to see the mudflats (Gata) so he can re-experience the joy he felt as a young boy. He meets Mirai, a local high school girl while on the run and convinces her to take him to the mudflats. Even though, the show's director and his staff are in hot pursuit, Mirai and Samut manage to make it to the mudflats, but... How will it all end? Though the two of them do not speak the same language, they are able to communicate via Mucchi, Mirai's pet mudskipper, due to an extraordinary power he possesses. What could this extraordinary power be?
The program features Japanese actress Mone Kamishiraishi as Mirai, a Japanese high school girl, and popular Thai actor Thiti Mahayotaruk as Samut, a big name Thai celebrity who is filming a TV show in Saga Prefecture. Samut runs away from the production and convinces Mirai to take him to see the mudflats (Gata). But it is high tide when they finally arrive, so the mudflats are underwater. He acknowledges that "knowing when to give up" is important. Mirai then promises to help him see the mudflats. Finally, with the help of others, they are able to visit the mudflats at low tide and really see them. Just before they reach the mudflats, the show's director appears and tries to convince Samut to return to the production. But suddenly, Samut and Mirai run towards the mudflats.
Festivals hold a special place in people's hearts in Japan. Passed down over generations, they express the spirit of local communities, and people's hopes for safety and prosperity. In 2016, UNESCO added 33 Japanese festivals featuring elaborate floats to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Among them are five from the southwestern island of Kyushu. Showcasing the cultural diversity of local communities, these festivals have been integral to creating a sense of local pride and belonging.
The Battle of Imphal resulted in 70,000 Japanese casualties. What are the facts regarding the WWII operation to invade India from Burma? We take an in-depth look at the brutal fighting and retreat.
Good health is something that everyone wants, and interest in fitness, healthy eating, and other aspects of disease prevention awareness has been growing each year.
Kumamoto Castle was seriously damaged by a massive earthquake registered as a 7 on the Japan's seismic intensity scale last year. NHK has obtained a permission to conduct a survey on the restricted area. And the results showed that most of its collapsed
Skyscrapers are symbols of big cities. But the mega earthquake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 2016 proved that even earthquake-resilient high-rise buildings can shake greatly and suffer severe damage. The culprit is the long period seismic pulse, which is lurking in active faults throughout the world. Simulations of this motion showed that tall buildings shook 3 times more, causing them to tilt. This episode depicts the destructive power of the long period seismic pulse, and the latest counter measures to combat this threat.
North Korea has continued to rattle the global community by going ahead with nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, without fear of international sanctions. This documentary unveils the mysterious "Kingdom of Kim" based on material obtained exclusively by NHK. A classified national file in excess of 12,000 pages contained on one USB memory stick, apparently leaked from the Korean People's Army, reveals the strategic plan of leader Kim Jong-un. What's the meaning behind the series of purges of top executives? Why is the country obsessed with having nuclear arms at the forefront of its military strategy? Classified documents and numerous interviews with intelligence agencies, North Korean specialists, and former North Korean army soldiers expose the unknown inner workings of this shadowy country.
Alain Ducasse is a world-famous French chef and owner of restaurants worldwide, including Tokyo. He's fascinated by Japanese cuisine and makes several visits a year to explore local ingredients and culinary techniques. We follow him on his search for premium winter ingredients such as sea urchin, pole-and-line fished cod and traditional Kyoto vegetables. After commenting on the beauty of the way in which they're prepared Japanese style, he demonstrates his unique style of French cuisine.
More than 22,000. This is the number of people either dead or missing in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. For surviving family members and friends, the pain and sorrow of losing loved ones do not fade, even after 6 years. Ever since the disaster, NHK has shared on its website photos of loved ones sent in by survivors, along with messages to them. There are now more than 500 of them. Among them are a family portrait from a daughter who lost her parents; a photograph of a woman and her husband, who is still unaccounted for; and one of a smiling wife who lived close to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. We tell the stories of the years since the disaster – stories that should never be forgotten.
Do you know "Rakugo"? Along with Kabuki, it's a traditional Japanese entertainment of dexterous and comical storytelling that covers everything from people's everyday lives, customs, food to unique sceneries. On "RAKUGO NIPPON!", we follow the travels of Rakugo performers in the beautiful land of Japan, and discover how they transform their heart-moving experiences into original English Rakugo performances. This episode will follow English Rakugo Performer Kimie Oshima to Toyama Prefecture, where local splendors such as the Winter Yellowtail of Himi and the traditional cast metal crafts of Takaoka await her. Just what kind of original Rakugo will her journey usher? Sit back and enjoy!
Self-taught artists are claiming respect and recognition for themselves and their work. Marie Suzuki is one such person, a creator of what has come to be known as art brut, made by artists who have learned on their own. She cultivates her skills primarily to please herself. Nevertheless, others have taken notice. The program features an exhibition of Japanese art brut in Nantes, France, including that of Suzuki. Tune in to see how boundless imagination turns into expression beyond words.
The "Tokyo Girls Collection" fashion show has become a social and economic phenomenon. Teenage audience members -- some 20,000 in all -- buy the clothes the models are wearing right in front of them, in real time. Their social media posts affect the year's clothing trends. People in Kitakyushu, quite a distance from Tokyo, thought their community could use that sort of event. So, they staged their own version of it. Tune in to see young people taking to the catwalk as their industrial city finds itself in fashion.
Situated as the gateway to the Japanese archipelago from the South China Sea, Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Until the 19th century, it was an independent island chain known as the Ryukyu Kingdom. Then during WWⅡ, Okinawa was the location of the first ground battle in Japan. Countless civilians died, both young and old. The former Kingdom's Shuri Castle was also burned down. It was only in 1992 that it was restored to its former glory. In its long and turbulent history, Okinawa's songs never ceased to offer hope and support. Artists symbolizing Okinawan folk music have gathered at Shuri Castle, now a World Heritage Site, to perform a series of songs celebrating the islands and their culture.
Satoyama are areas where people have formed a close interdependent relationship with nature. These timeless landscapes are deeply embedded in the Japanese psyche and a recognizable feature of Japanese culture around the world. Yet the countryside is facing a crisis of epidemic proportions: a graying and decreasing population; wide swaths of unused farmland; and numerous empty or abandoned buildings and houses. But a ray of light has shown from a hopeful source: the younger generation. Leaving urban areas behind, they've quietly revitalized their adopted communities, and in the process, have found renewed energy and passion. American writer and Japanologist Alex Kerr takes us to the aging castle town of Taketa in Oita Prefecture where new value and old traditions work hand in hand. Kerr notes that this change occurring in the satoyama may alter assumptions of life in the countryside and economics in general.
The Paris Agreement aims to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050, which has sped up the growth of "zero-carbon" business worldwide. Part 3 of Zero Carbon Ahead looks at this trend. The world's biggest solar power station is currently being built in the deserts of the United Arab Emirates -- the power it generates will be far cheaper than coal. Dramatic decreases like this in the cost of renewable energy mean that many businesses hope to eventually use renewables for 100% of their energy needs.
Thanks to their appearance in hit Asian films, locations throughout Japan are being thrust into the spotlight. Previously unknown to most travelers, these locations are now must-see spots for movie buffs from both in and outside Japan. We visit these new tourist hotspots with the stars of the films that made them famous, hearing the behind-the-scenes stories of those hit movies. Plus, an inside look at what makes each location special, including local places, faces, food, history and more.
A ravaged high school piano, soaked by the tsunami, sat stoically after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Renowned musician Ryuichi Sakamoto came across it when visiting the disaster area. The sounds were divorced from conventional tonality, and Sakamoto employed them in his first album in 8 years. He also attached sensors to the keys, transforming the instrument into a machine that converts seismic waves into sounds. It was his way of conveying the message that the disaster should never be forgotten. Watch and listen as the teacher and a student who had used the "tsunami piano" before the quake react to its new melodies.
William Perry served as US secretary of defense for 3 years, beginning in 1994. He granted NHK 20 hours of exclusive interviews, focused on the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis and tensions surrounding American military bases in Okinawa Prefecture that occurred during his tenure.
They are in the prime of their life, but a growing number of people in Japan have all but disappeared. They're the country's missing workers, people who have been unemployed for protracted periods of time and have given up looking for jobs. They're not even included in unemployment statistics. Japan has 1.03 million missing workers in their 40's and 50's, outnumbering the 720,000 unemployed persons in the same age group. These individuals have a similar profile: many are unmarried, and have to take care of an elderly parent, forcing them to quit regular jobs. This riveting report shows the harsh, hand-to-mouth life these people lead and tries to find solutions for this growing problem.
"Oshin" is a Japanese TV drama that has taken the world by storm. It's been aired in more than 60 countries. The story was set in Yamagata Prefecture, which is known for its beautiful, snowy landscape. In this series, Win Morisaki, an actor from Myanmar who's based in Japan, visits the places where the drama was shot.
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.
A tsunami is approaching from the sea. You start to run, but water rushes in from the river in the opposite direction. During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, such "river tsunamis" charged in from the sea and barreled upstream, claiming many victims. A huge quake in Japan could cause a massive tsunami that would inundate urban areas. Squeezed between tall buildings, the water would rise, increasing its force and allowing no time to escape. With a heightened sense of crisis, officials are responding. This documentary uses computer graphics and eyewitness accounts to explore the dangers of river tsunamis and how people can stay safe.
It's considered the discovery of the century in Japan -- the unearthing of a complete fossilized skeleton of an 8-meter long dinosaur. It was dubbed Mukawaryu based on the name of the town in Hokkaido where it was uncovered. The find opened up a new world of dinosaur research in Japan. But it also created another mystery because this land dinosaur was discovered in a location that, eons ago, would have been in the ocean. How did the fossil get there? The amazing answer is revealed in this documentary, using CGI to re-create how dinosaurs lived 72 million years ago.
Mount 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.
In 2018, Japan celebrated the 50th anniversary of the return of the Ogasawara Islands. This World Natural Heritage Site, 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo, is home to a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic community that has flourished since the 19th century. The islanders' dedication to one another allowed them to endure the Pacific War and subsequent US military occupation. Nowadays, they enjoy life amid the flora and fauna that make their piece of the world unique.
In this episode of "THE BODY," takes us back to the starting point for all human beings - birth. From a fertilized egg, through the division of microscopic cells, the formation of internal organs, to the first cries of a newborn in the delivery room, we trace the complex interactions between mother and baby that transform a tiny fetus into a living, breathing person. The latest imaging technology helps you witness the process from the inside to help you understand the wonders of human development.
Against the background of Asia's growing economies, we focus on the latest Japanese business trends, corporate strategies and technologies. We look behind the scenes and look at their global impact from various perspectives.
In Fukushima Prefecture, the site of a nuclear accident in 2011, so much radioactive material fell in a wooded area that it has become a radioactive forest. NHK has visited the area several times since the accident to see how the radiation is affecting its flora and fauna. Using state-of-the-art technology to survey the forest, scientists have found severe contamination in flowers and nuts, and even irregularities in the chromosomes of animals. We examine how the contamination is circulating inside the forest.
All alone in an uncaring world: that was the fate of many Japanese children who lost their parents during World War II. Desperate and hungry, they drifted to train stations in big cities and lived in underground passages, and were called and known as "station children". They were forced to beg and, often, to steal. Some just waited for death. NHK found survivors who reveal the largely unknown plight of these war orphans. A woman recalled caring for her brother and sister in the dark hell beneath Tokyo's Ueno Station. A man, spurned by relatives, described living on the streets, nearly blinded by illness and losing his best friend to suicide. These heartbreaking accounts offer an important message for modern Japan.
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 2. 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.
The brain was once thought to be the body's control tower, issuing commands to the other organs. But scientists are discovering that communication flows between all the organs in our bodies. They transmit messages that can boost immunity, improve memory, strengthen bones and even lengthen lifespan. Innovative treatments are being developed to harness the power of this hidden network. But what happens when there's a communication breakdown? We look for clues using the latest technology.
In this episode of "THE BODY," we focus on a pair of small, often-overlooked organs: the kidneys. When people think of the kidneys, one thing probably comes to mind - the role they play in producing urine. But they are key nodes in a vast, internal network of organs that constantly communicate with one another. And some of the messages the kidneys transmit help control blood pressure and maintain the body's supply of oxygen. They have a significant influence on human health. We use cutting-edge imaging technology to explore the power of the kidneys to determine how well – and how long – we live.
In this episode of "THE BODY," we look at fat and muscle, organs whose importance is often misunderstood. Many people believe that fat simply stores energy and muscles just move the body. However, recent research has revealed that both organs have an unimaginable variety of functions. They discharge special substances that transmit vital messages throughout the body, manipulating desire, affecting immune function, enhancing memory and even fighting cancer. Using the latest research, we'll explore how their surprising power can protect us from deadly disease.
99% of human blood vessels are said to be capillaries. With age, these tiny tubules break, becoming hollow "ghost" vessels that cause wrinkles in the skin. Scientists are now finding they are also tied to higher risks from age-related ailments, including osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. Using the latest in biological imaging and super-high-resolution 3D CGI, this program delves into the mechanism behind broken capillaries. It also examines how to slow down or even repair the damage to help people live longer, healthier lives.
When the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, also known as the Kobe Earthquake, struck in 1995, more than 400 children lost one or both parents. NHK has followed these children into adulthood, documenting how the tragedy has shaped their lives. A woman who was orphaned at 12 has lived for 23 years with a longing to join her late mom and dad. A young man, just an infant when his parents and sister died, has struggled with the feeling that he must make up for their lost lives. Another young man dedicated his youth to his younger twin brothers, determined to nurture and protect their family bond
Orcas are huge and powerful. That's why they're called the Kings of the Sea. But not a lot is known about the habits of orcas in the waters off Hokkaido Prefecture's Shiretoko Peninsula. Here they gather in great numbers and engage in a puzzling display, arraying themselves in straight lines. Using drones, underwater sound equipment, satellite transmitters, and other tools, marine researchers and NHK undertake an in-depth investigation over 2 years. They learn that the nutrient-rich waters off the coast of Shiretoko make the area a magnet for orcas. And the key to their mysterious behavior might be found in their highly developed social intelligence and strong family ties.
In Japan, many rivers are known for their clear, beautiful water. But the Choshi River is so free of dirt and sediment that you can "see the unseeable." Creatures and plants far below the surface that would not be visible in other rivers can easily be viewed. What's the secret behind the Choshi's amazing clarity? Join us as we explore the geology and ecology of this remarkable river.
More than 150 years ago, Tokyo was called Edo. It had the highest population of any city in the world, surpassing both London and Paris. But how did the world's largest city come to emerge in a remote corner of Asia? Clues are coming to light not only in Tokyo but also around the world. One drawing shows the castle surrounded by a water-filled moat, which turns out to be a crucial element that enabled Edo to expand further. Let's experience the mystery and wonder of Tokyo 150 years ago.
More than 150 years ago, Edo, the forerunner of Tokyo, had the highest population of any city in the world. But it was ravaged by large-scale fires more frequently than any other major urban center. Yet after each conflagration, Edo rose from the ashes like a phoenix. We'll take a look at how the city managed to overcome such huge disasters and continue to grow.
In the mid-1920's, during the so-called "Taisho Democracy," people in Japan were embracing political liberalism and Western ideas, and enjoying unprecedented freedom. But just 10 years later, nationalism and militarism were on the rise and the country was rushing toward war - urged on by a nationalist newspaper called The Nihon Shimbun. Why did this one media outlet have such a profound influence on political life in Japan?
In February 2019, after hurtling 300 million kilometers from Earth, the Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 landed on the asteroid Ryugu. We follow the team behind the mission, as they sample parts of the asteroid and return it to our planet.
How can we cope with this tricky virus now rampant worldwide? The key to this battle lies in our immune system. Through the high-tech “eyes” of next-generation microscopes, we will see how our immune defense corps combat against pathogens and what mechanism is expected to help develop treatment.
In the series "2030" we tackle the critical choices facing humanity over the next decade. In this episode, we explore the revolutionary gene-editing tech now giving humankind the freedom to redraw the blueprint of biological life itself. We investigate not only the tremendous potential the technology holds, whether in the fight to eliminate diseases or in transforming agriculture to adapt to unprecedented climate extremes, but also probe the inherent risks involved and the potential for widespread abuse, dangers that could take our future down a very dark, dystopian path.
Located just 3 kilometers from the crippled nuclear plant, Futaba is the only evacuated town in Fukushima Prefecture whose residents have yet to return. Although other municipalities are recovering and welcoming back their residents, Futaba remains deserted. From the 60s to the 80s, the town flourished on so-called nuclear money, with its people enjoying steady jobs and government subsidies. This documentary depicts 10 years of Futaba residents' nuclear exile and the true cost of atomic energy.
As authorities worldwide announce ambitious new targets, the internal combustion engine, heart of the modern automobile, faces an uncertain future in the race to zero emissions. Dubbed the "EV shift," carmakers are scrambling to replace gasoline and diesel vehicles with battery-powered models, as they bet on the future of transport. Worldwide EV (Electric Vehicle) market share has seen Japan's automotive giants trailing in the wake of other global brands. Amid the greatest upheaval to the industry in over a century, we turn our lens on how Japan's automakers are riding the wave of change.
In the waters off Hokkaido Prefecture, in Japan's far north, a number of mysterious natural phenomena have been observed in recent years. Echoing the secret truth of an ancient Ainu proverb, the winter sea is transformed into a white expanse overnight, covering several kilometers of coastline. Elsewhere, a large whirlpool suddenly appears in the sea, as if out of nowhere, hinting at a surprising spectacle in the depths; and in a bay off the Sea of Okhotsk, a vast battalion of shellfish appears to march across the seafloor. Employing cutting-edge underwater camera technology, our specialist crew set out to investigate these intriguing oceanographic events.
A Buddhist nun, Goto Mitsuei, lives in a temple located a 40-minute climb up a steep mountain path. In 2016, NHK began documenting her life, how she responded to the changing seasons, and carefully prepared vegetarian dishes for frequent visitors from near and far. But COVID-19 interrupted the flow of guests. In 2021, we visited Mitsuei and found her still engaged in her modest but rich daily life, once again welcoming people with wisdom and ingenuity, and celebrating the joys of mountain living.
Since taking power in a coup last February, Myanmar's military has been suppressing civilian protest by force. Young protesters have taken up arms against the junta and the military has responded with indiscriminate attacks that have killed even unarmed civilians. The UN estimates that more than 730,000 people have been displaced so far. We take a look at how the situation in the country has developed into a conflict with no end in sight.
Young carers, children under the age of 18 who act as caregivers to family members, carry a tremendous burden, one that can profoundly impact their own health, education and life opportunities. Yet social ideals of self-responsibility, and a lack of outreach and support services from local authorities, all contribute to many never even seeking help. As we meet current and former young carers, we learn about the pressures faced both by child caregivers and family members, as well as the efforts being made to better support those who all too often end up bearing such hardships in silence.
In Japan's rapidly aging mountain villages, the animals are taking over. The remaining farmers feel defenseless against wild boars, monkeys and other creatures that eat crops and destroy fields. Many have turned to Masane, a nuisance-animal researcher and expert in wildlife control, whose methods focus on changing human behavior. In some villages, residents are revitalizing the community and strengthening bonds among neighbors by transforming a problem into a community asset.
As the world enters a phase of aggressive competition over untapped ocean floor resources, countries are scrambling to stake their claims. The vast economic potential on offer has made the seabed the ultimate frontier in a new Age of Exploration. China's research vessels in particular have been active in waters right across the globe. Through our exhaustive analysis of huge volumes of Chinese ship tracking data, from sand dredgers to survey vessels, we piece together a puzzle that reveals a new hidden power struggle over increasingly critical submarine resources.
How does life as a journalist change when your own country becomes a war zone? Even as Ukraine's capital Kyiv came under heavy shelling, the national public broadcaster Suspilne stayed on air, running operations out of a makeshift bunker studio. We follow Suspilne's reporters on the ground, working under pressure as they bear witness to the horrors of war and strive to keep the public informed. Yet how to maintain journalistic objectivity when the mindless death and destruction of war is right on your own doorstep?
Japanese swords fascinate collectors around the world. A special kind of steel called tamahagane is required to make them. This miraculous material is strong, flexible, rust-resistant, and produced through the ancient process of "tatara" ironmaking which takes place over three days and nights. Due to the COVID pandemic, there was only one production run in 2022, which was hit by a series of problems. Did the team meet the challenge? This documentary captures the essence of Japanese craftsmanship.
On August 6, 1945, the first-ever nuclear bomb deployed in war was dropped on the city of Hiroshima Prefecture, leaving an estimated 140,000 dead in its wake by the end of that year. Among the victims, one particular age group stands out for the sheer number of fatalities sustained: 12 and 13 year-olds, children of first year junior high school age. We investigate the tragedy of this lost generation, piecing together surviving records and speaking with survivors, for whom the memories of children robbed of their futures that day are still burned deep in their memories, nearly eight decades on.
Every day at the COVID-19 ward of St. Marianna University Hospital is a desperate struggle for life. With no established treatment plan for this unfamiliar virus, the staff are essentially fighting in the dark. But they have faith in their patients' will to survive. The doctors say some have made recoveries that are nothing short of miraculous. An NHK crew spent two-and-a-half years following the staff and patients of the COVID ward. This is the chronicle of one hospital's long battle against the coronavirus.
Sometimes it takes a lifechanging event to help us realize what truly matters. For Kimura Tomoharu, that event was a massive earthquake and tsunami. In 2012, he sought a fresh start in a remote part of Akita Prefecture. He moved into a long-abandoned hamlet, where he pursues his goal of being almost entirely self-sufficient — living off the land from season to season. But he's not alone. Kimura has a family, and he must now balance his own ideals with those of his two young children.
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.
A pair of explorers enters an extraordinary gorge in the Himalayas to film an area where none has ever dared to venture. Extremely narrow at little over ten meters, but tremendously deep at over 200, the origins of the Seti Gorge are shrouded in mystery. Numerous waterfalls tumble into its abyss, and even for the experienced Japanese adventurers, the descent using a single rope tests their courage. Freezing winter temperatures, torrents of water – a gripping journey unfolds on camera. The latest research reveals the geological saga that created this massive gorge.
100 years have passed since the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Although filmed records of its aftermath exist, the footage held flaws making it difficult to identify locations or times, obscuring the reality of how citizens of Tokyo faced this overwhelming disaster. To understand these details, we remastered the film into 8K resolution, and attempted to colorize it, while also making full use of audio accounts by survivors and a variety of scientific analyses by specialists. This program opens a new window into the events surrounding the disaster that had once been shrouded in mystery.
Even after the quake itself subsided, the tragedy of the Great Kanto Earthquake was only beginning. An unlikely "fire tornado" consumed a site where 40,000 evacuees had gathered, leaving few survivors. Meanwhile, emotionally exhausted people began to spread baseless rumors that fueled erratic behavior and violence against foreign residents. Part 2 of the documentary follows the timeline of the aftermath and beyond, applying the century-old vision of Tokyo to the modern era.
14 years ago, Hasegawa Kazuo was diagnosed with lung cancer. He recounts his battle with stage four cancer, and his mission to change how patients receive care.
We revisit the highland village where their doctor not only provides care for its aging residents but is also reinvigorating the community, helping revitalize the area with his energy and fresh ideas.
This shrine in Kumamoto Pref. was razed in the 2016 earthquake. The seven-year restoration fused traditional craftsmanship with the latest technology.
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.
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.
Thirteen years since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, the government's plan to decommission the plant is at a crossroads. We take a close look at the efforts to secure Fukushima's future.
Our topic is the Gaza Crisis. Is there a path to a lasting solution? We seek fresh insights from two experts: A scholar in the US with roots in Israel and a Palestinian scholar in Canada.
In Japan, many people with dementia leave their homes, wander off, and are never seen again. Now, communities are developing measures to locate the missing and reunite them with their loved ones.
Wengding Village in Yunnan Province, home of the Wa people, is known as "China's last traditional village." After a fire in 2021, it was rebuilt and is now managed by a tourism developer. Local residents were relocated to a new village 1.5km away and now work as day laborers in their old village, where their sacred ceremony has been repurposed into a major attraction. Some villagers hope this will improve their lives, but others fear their traditional culture will be lost among tourism.
Russian athletes competing internationally have been accused of doping. We look at the life of one young skater, Kamila Valieva, and the effect that such allegations have had on her career.
Pianist Fuzjko Hemming passed away this year, at 92, after a rich but tumultuous life. We follow the artist's final five years, where she tirelessly pursues her art even as she faces her demise.
In Japan, there are almost daily reports of voyeurism and sexual abuse targeting children. This two-part series turns a spotlight on a disturbing threat looming at the edges of society.
The sale of sexual videos and photographs of minors is a lucrative international industry. Part two of our series examines this burgeoning trade and what can be done to stop it.
