NHK Documentary

Episode 1

Bunraku: Masters of Japanese Puppet Theater

Born in Osaka some 300 years ago, Japanese puppet theater—Bunraku—is a stunning yet refined spectacle. This program

Children Full of Life

Mr. Kanamori, a teacher of a 4th grade class, teaches his students not only how to be students, but how to live. He give

Satoyama II : Japan's Secret Watergarden

Imagine a realm where the seasons' rhythms rule - where centuries of agriculture and fishing have re-shaped the land, ye

The War in Iraq: Through Photographers' Eyes

Fetal Fix

In the ever-expanding world of biotechnology, cells taken from aborted fetuses are considered as an up-and-coming resour

Peace: The Handraised Polar Bear

On December 2, 1999, a polar bear named Peace was born at Japan's Tobe Zoological Park in Ehime Prefecture. After his mo

Heavenly Road to Tibet

The destination of the Qingzang road is Lhasa in Chinese Tibet. The Qingzang road runs for 1,937 kilometers at an averag

Deep-sea Astronauts - Japan's First Space Commander

Natures Unique Angles: The Monster of the Sea

Underwater photographer Ikuo Nakamura has been photographing the seas around Japan for over 40 years. One of his life's

Elephants Having Tales To Tell

High Clouds Railway To Tibet

Traversing some of the highest terrains in the world, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, in service since July 2006, makes the 4

Chocolate Alchemy

Every year 130,000 Parisians flock to the world's largest chocolate trade show -- Le Salon du Chocolat. The event that g

Nature's Unique Angles: The Mysterious Black Rabbits

Surrounded by sub-tropical trees and coral reefs, Amami-Oshima is a southern Japanese island richly endowed with nature.

Mystery of the White Dunes

Brazil's Lencóis National Park is known as the whitest spot on earth for its sand dunes. Join us as we explore the anim

Miraculous Mirror of the Sky

Uyuni Salt Flats lies on the Bolivian plateau in the middle of the Andes mountains. Believed to have been formed 500 mil

Predators in the Surf Killer Whales

Killer whales living off of Peninsula Valdes in the Patagonia region of Argentina actually hunt at its beach. They move

Crumbling Earth

Downpours and Quakes Threaten Japan

Fukushima: The Truth Behind the Chain of Meltdowns

Fukushima: Downwind From Disaster

Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture Earthquake, tsunami, nuclear catastrophe. This is a record of people in that one town c

The Sea of Zipangu - Deep Sea Gold Rush!

Japan might soon experience its own gold rush! Scientists are hoping to tap the vast deposits of gold, silver, copper, a

Meltdown: Oversights in the Reactor Cooling System

Successive meltdowns of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant resulted in significant nuclear contaminat

The Front Line of Alzheimer's Prevention

About 70% of dementia patients suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's causes brain cells to die, leading to loss o

The Gods Move House Mysteries of Ise and Izumo

Sengu is the ceremonial transfer of a god to its new home. The god moves house. By coincidence, Sengu was performed at J

Disaster Big Data: Preparing Tokyo Residents for the Worst

Experts say that a major earthquake will strike Tokyo within the next 3 decades. Disaster big data, a huge collection of

Challenging the Paranormal Episode 1: The Afterlife

Paranormal phenomena simply defy common sense. The world abounds with reports of events such as spiritual entities, near

Challenging the Paranormal Episode 2: Psychic Power

Paranormal phenomena simply defy common sense. The world abounds with reports of events such as psychic powers, telepath

Brown Bears' Fateful Journey: Life on the Shiretoko Peninsula

Shiretoko on the northern island of Hokkaido has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 70-kilometer-long pen

Marimo - Mysterious Living Spheres

Lake Akan on the Japanese island of Hokkaido is said to be the last place on Earth where algae balls called Marimo grow

Mach Stem: The Nagasaki bombing intensified

In 1945, US forces dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Last year, photos and a map of the aftermath were found, detailin

The Teotihuacan Enigma: A New Dawn of Civilization

For the first time, we are able to show full details of the excavation of a hidden tunnel, sealed and forgotten for 1,80

Big Data Revolution in Healthcare

The world of healthcare is currently undergoing a revolutionary transformation using a huge collection of information kn

Meltdown: Overlooked Mass-leakage

In March 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant experienced one of the worst nuclear accidents in history. Near

"Invisible" Children: Unheard Cries for Help

There are children who have disappeared from society. To better understand the situation, we surveyed children's welfare

Deadly Warnings for Earthquakes

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 exposed the threat of active faults lurking beneath our feet that can generat

A Historic 3.11 Rescue Operation

Disaster Big Data: Mapping a Safer World

4 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Many people lost their lives due to delayed delivery of relie

Global Battle over Beef

People in China have developed a voracious appetite for beef. China's production of beef can't keep up with demand: the

Medical Revolution: Curing Allergies

One out of every 3 people in industrialized countries has some type of allergy to substances including pollen, animals a

Memories of Tsunami Videos

Residents of northeastern Japan recorded videos during the March 11, 2011 disaster showing the raw power of the tsunami

Medical Revolution - Halting Dementia

In recent years, researchers around the world have reported success with unconventional approaches to fighting dementia.

The Plant Hunter

Imagine going on adventures to remote places to collect exotic plants and trees, then showing them to create an emotiona

Meiji Jingu Forest: A 100-year Experiment

In the heart of Tokyo lies the sacred forest of Meiji Jingu, one of the most visited shrines in Japan. Only a select few

Atomic Espionage: The Race for the Bomb

It is 70 years since the advent of the atomic bomb, the most extreme weapon humankind has ever produced. Why did nuclear

Beneath the Mushroom Cloud

The program explores the reality people faced beneath the mushroom cloud in Hiroshima Prefecture on August 6, 1945. Digi

Girls' Diary: Life During World War Ⅱ

A 197-page diary created during the last days of World War Ⅱ by young girls in a small Japanese town. They documented

The Pacific War in Color

On the 70th year since the end of World War Ⅱ, NHK gathered archival film of the Pacific War from home and abroad and

Beyond Seeing and Hearing

Hisayo and Yoshihiko Umeki live in a remote village in Japan. Hisayo is blind and deaf, and Yoshihiko is her interpreter

Medical Revolution: Preventing Dementia

Scientists have discovered that walking speed is a good indicator of a person's risk for developing dementia. Irregulari

Consolidation of Power: PM Shinzo Abe's Leadership

With public opinion divided, Japan's Diet enacted new national security legislation in September 2015. This enabled Japa

Fukushima Fallout: Tracking the Radioactive Waste

Radioactive substances fell across eastern Japan following the accident at a Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ma

Exploring Life in Class - A Year at a Tsunami-hit School

"What is life?" was the theme of a special class at a school hit by the March 2011 tsunami disaster. The goal was to hel

88 Hours - The Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown: Episode 1

88 Hours - The Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown: Episode 2

Decommissioning Fukushima: The Ongoing Battle against Radiation

At the accident site of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the decommissioning of reactors involving the removal

A Challenging Homecoming: Naraha Town, Fukushima

The 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan forced 88,000 people to evacuate their homes. In September 2015

Origins of Land: Nishinoshima Island

Located 1,000 km from Tokyo, Nishinoshima Island suddenly emerged from the water in 2013. The land is formed from an und

Rediscovering Ancient Asia: Angkor, Cambodia

The Angkor complex in Cambodia has remained a mystery for centuries due to the loss of the civilization's records. But n

Rediscovering Ancient Asia: Bagan, Myanmar

Glittering gold towers, beautiful symmetrical temples, gigantic statues of Buddha. This is scenery from the ancient ruin

Rediscovering Ancient Asia: Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, China

In 1974, thousands of life-size terracotta soldiers were unearthed near the Mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor, Qin Shi

Rediscovering Ancient Asia: Jomon Culture, Japan

The prehistoric Jomon culture is said to be the origin of the Japanese people. It has received high acclaim from special

Inside The Tsunami

Inside The Tsunami is a definitive and human story documentary of the 3.11 Giant Tsunami. It investigates what happened

Aid for the Displaced

During 5 years of civil war, more than 4.6 million Syrians have fled their country. Many have risked their lives to cros

The Phone of the Wind: Whispers to Lost Families

On a hill overlooking the ocean in Otsuchi Town in northeastern Japan is a phone booth known as the "Telephone of the Wi

Escaping the Fallout: Seven Days Revealed

The Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 caused a series of accidents at a nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefectur

Jakuchu: The Divine Colors

"My paintings will be understood 1,000 years from now". Japanese painter Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) left these mysterious w

Science of Motherhood

Children bring joy, but also challenges. Mothers can experience feelings of anxiety and loneliness, or have difficulty l

Radioactive Forest

The Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 turned the surrounding towns into a desolate land, making the area into a "radioa

Evolving Artificial Intelligence: Blessing or Curse

An artificially intelligent program recently stunned the world by crushing the foremost player of the ancient board game

Decommissioning Fukushima: Removing Nuclear Debris

In 2011, 3 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant suffered meltdowns. The operator plans to decommission

Miracle Body: The Revival of Japan's Judo

Although long renowned for the skills and strength of its heavyweight judo division, Japan was once overwhelmed by the w

Killer Stress: The Causes

If you think it's "just" stress, think again. Intense stress can ruin your health and even take your life. Recent studie

Killer Stress: The Remedies

Stress can kill. Recent studies have revealed that extreme stress can be life threatening, and cause serious mental diso

Miracle Body: Russia's Golden Mermaids

The world's top synchronized swimmers Natalia Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina have an impossible stunt called The Russi

The Last Isolados: Unknown People of the Amazon

"Isolados": This is the name given to indigenous people deep in the Amazon who had almost no contact with the outside wo

Road to Redemption

7 decades ago, 2 men stood on opposite sides of the front line in World War II. Mitsuo Fuchida was the chief commander o

Running in God's Territory: Patagonia's Extreme Trail Race

Runners battle rough terrain in what is called the toughest race in the world. Competitors race all day and night in a n

Executive Non Decision: A-Bomb History Rewritten

In 1945, the United States dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan. Then President Harry Truman explained the decision was made

Autonomous Driving, The Revolution

Once a dream car, today the autonomous vehicle is becoming a reality. The global competition to develop such vehicles is

Ambush in Cambodia: Death of a Japanese Police Officer

In 1993, a Japanese civilian police officer taking part in a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cambodia was kille

A Village among Active Faults

2 active faults triggered an earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture that measured a maximum 7 on Japan's seismic intensity sc

Medical Revolution: The Gut Microbiome

Secrets of Centenarians

Many centenarians around the world are still going strong. They hold the secrets to living a long time while staying bot

China the Great Dragon: Exodus of 100 Million Farmers

China's economy is supported by a cheap labor force of farmer laborers who have flowed into big cities from rural villag

Onbashira: Mystery behind the Sacred Trees

The festival of Onbashira, or the "honored pillar", takes place in Suwa, Japan, once every 6 years. Few tree-centered fe

Negotiations on the Northern Territories

Negotiations on the issue of the Northern Territories are often called the last post-war settlement. In December 2016, J

Medical Revolution: Glucose Spike Uncovering a Hidden Threat

A serious threat to human health is getting global attention and prompting action. It is glucose spike, the sudden rise

Decommissioning Fukushima: Ballooning Costs

Decommissioning TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is a huge, and complex, project. The plant's operator and

China the Great Dragon: Feeding Personal Wealth to Growth Industries

In China today, 12,000 startups are created every day. Investing into these ventures is an estimated 17 trillion dollars

Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki

3 years ago, the Academy Award-winning animated film director Hayao Miyazaki shocked the world when he announced his ret

Inside the KIMDOM: North Korea Exposed

The socialist dictatorship North Korea has continued to rattle the global community with nuclear tests and ballistic mis

Precision Medicine: The Cancer Treatment Revolution

Cancer treatment is undergoing a revolution. Unlike conventional anti-cancer medications, a new type of drugs uses a com

Bacchan: Granny's Table

Chikako Nakamoto, affectionately called "Bacchan" or "Granny", is known as the city's Mother Theresa. For years, she's b

What You Taught Me About Happiness

The book "The Reason I Jump" introduced readers around the world, for the first time, to the true emotions of a person w

Money World: Fate of Capitalism - Part 1

Will Global Growth Continue? Economic disparities are widening around the world. Wealth is increasingly concentrated in

Money World: Fate of Capitalism - Part 2

Mega Corporations vs. State Sovereignty The rise of giant multinational corporations is shaking up the capitalist order.

Money World: Fate of Capitalism - Part 3

The Extreme Wealth Gap and Beyond Capitalism has generated both enormous prosperity and staggering inequality. A report

Moon Bear Chronicle: Unraveling the Mysteries

The Asian black bear, or moon bear, is the largest mammal on Japan's main island of Honshu. Catching sight of them is ex

China the Great Dragon: China's E-commerce Revolution

Chinese leaders are trying to transform their economy and prepare it for the future. And they're hoping the e-commerce b

China the Great Dragon: Citizens Battle to Clear the Skies

"We will become an environmental superpower", China's leaders have declared. This program explores the daunting challeng

The Symbolic Emperor

Japan's Emperor Akihito is the head of the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. He's the first to succeed

Dad, Are You Watching Us?

Can time heal all wounds for a family that lost its main anchor in Japan's 2011 disaster? What do the surviving family m

A Tiny Universe at Our Feet

Nobue Kai is an 86-year-old picture book author whose illustrations focus on a subject full of wonders many people know

A Mother Panda's Love: The Secret Behind Successful Breeding

Giant pandas, now on the verge of extinction, must be bred in captivity. The zoo in Shirahama, Japan, is one of the worl

Japan's Constitution: The Birth of a Peace-Loving Nation

70 years ago, as it began to rebuild from World War II, Japan enacted a new Constitution. Since that time, not a single

Discovery of the Century: The Great Dinosaur of Japan

It's considered the discovery of the century in Japan -- the unearthing of a complete fossilized skeleton of an 8-meter

Underwater Universe of the Orda Cave

Located beneath Russia's Ural Mountains, Orda Cave is legendary among divers for its unique beauty. The cave's waters ar

Revisiting the Dhaka Terror Attack

On July 1, 2016, Islamic terrorists killed 22 people at a restaurant in Dhaka. 7 Japanese nationals were among the victi

A Tale of Love and Honor: Life in Gion

Within Japan, there’s a place that’s like another world: Gion, in Kyoto. When night falls in this historic district,

AI: Into the Real World

From chess to shogi, artificial intelligence has swept aside the grandmasters of humans' most challenging board games. N

Visualizing Atomic Deaths: New Facts on Hiroshima's Victims

Many people believe the Hiroshima atomic bomb instantly incinerated nearly everyone in the Japanese city. That was true

Tokyo Black Hole: Year Zero in Post-WWⅡ Japan

Tokyo Black Hole reveals the rarely discussed truth about real-life events in "Year Zero" of post-war Tokyo. It follows

Unwitting Combatants: The Battle of Karafuto

A radio address by Emperor Showa on August 15, 1945 was supposed to mark Japan's exit from World War Ⅱ. But for people

Okinawa's Nuclear Secrets

In the 1950's, as the Cold War intensified, the island of Okinawa Prefecture was transformed into a nuclear fortress, wi

Mega Crisis: Skyscrapers in Aseismic Danger

Skyscrapers are symbols of big cities. But the mega earthquake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 2016 proved that

Mega Crisis: Forecasting Super Typhoons

Meteorologists around the world are concerned that accurate forecasting is becoming more and more difficult. The biggest

Science to the Rescue! The Science of Adolescence

Adolescence – a time when children suddenly become rebellious teenagers. The latest research suggests the changes are

Science to the Rescue! The Science of Marital Misunderstanding

In Japan, one couple gets divorced every 2 minutes. Often, the wife initiates the split. Many women say their partners d

Unit 731: Elite Doctors and Human Experimentation

Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army secretly developed and tested bacteriological weapons on human subjects in Manchu

With Ayumi

In July 2016, a man stabbed 46 people at a care center for the disabled, killing 19. The ex-employee arrested in the cas

Kuroshio: Wondrous Current of Life

Kuroshio is an amazing ocean current that flows north along the Japanese archipelago. It's had a great impact on Japan's

Home Gadgets at Risk

From laptops to refrigerators, some 17 billion household gadgets worldwide are linked to the Internet. As part of the In

Research Misconduct: Japanese Science in Question

In August 2016, NHK received a 50-page letter of accusation. The writer raised suspicions of misconduct in research pape

Wrongful Conviction: 20 Lost Years

Keiko Aoki spent 2 decades in prison after being convicted of killing her 12-year-old daughter. In 2015, a court reverse

Lives Shaped by Loss: 23 Years After the Kobe Earthquake

When the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, also known as the Kobe Earthquake, struck in 1995, more than 400 children lost

China's Westward March

China's new monumental project, "Belt and Road initiative", aims to create a vast economic zone across Eurasia. The Chin

River Tsunami: Lessons Seven Years Later

A tsunami is approaching from the sea. You start to run, but water rushes in from the river in the opposite direction. D

Radioactive Forest 2018: Cycle of Contamination

In Fukushima Prefecture, the site of a nuclear accident in 2011, so much radioactive material fell in a wooded area that

Disaster Trauma: Mother-Child Dialogue

Many children in northeastern Japan are still suffering psychological trauma from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Yui S

Meltdown: Cooling Water Crisis

Recently discovered data show that about a week after the March 2011 disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Pla

Ghost Blood Vessels

99% of human blood vessels are said to be capillaries. With age, these tiny tubules break, becoming hollow "ghost" vesse

Cryptocurrency War

In January 2018, more than half a billion dollars' worth of a cryptocurrency was siphoned from a major exchange in Japan

Shrinking Japan: Tackling a Worker Shortage

After an era of growth, Japan's population has begun to plummet. Japan has lost 10 million members of the working genera

Missing Workers

They are in the prime of their life, but a growing number of people in Japan have all but disappeared. They're the count

THE BODY: Our Remarkable Inner Network

The brain was once thought to be the body's control tower, issuing commands to the other organs. But scientists are disc

THE BODY: Kidneys - Keys to Health and Longevity

In this episode of "THE BODY", we focus on a pair of small, often-overlooked organs: the kidneys. When people think of t

My Grandfather's War: Battle of Luzon

NHK presenter Fumie Ono lost her grandfather on Luzon Island in the Philippines during World War Ⅱ. In 8 months of fig

Station Children: Japanese Orphans of WWⅡ

All alone in an uncaring world: that was the fate of many Japanese children who lost their parents during World War Ⅱ.

THE BODY: Fat and Muscle - Powerful Allies for Health

In this episode of "THE BODY," we look at fat and muscle, organs whose importance is often misunderstood. Many people be

THE BODY: Bones - Fountain of Youth and Power

In this episode of "THE BODY," we turn our attention to the bones. You might think of them simply as part of our basic a

THE BODY: Gut - Key to a Healthy Immune System

Nebuta 2018: Love and Rivalry

The Aomori Nebuta Festival brightens up the short summer of northern Japan, enchanting 2.5 million spectators every year

A Big Circus Family

A circus family with 10 children performs around Japan. Every 2 months, they pack up their entire household and pitch th

THE BODY: Brain - Mechanisms of Inspiration and Memory

In this episode of "THE BODY," we delve deep inside the brain. Dreaming up new ideas, speaking and writing, creating art

THE BODY: The Beginnings of Life - Prenatal Chats of Mother and Baby

In this episode of "THE BODY," takes us back to the starting point for all human beings - birth. From a fertilized egg,

THE BODY: Longevity - Secrets of Aging Well

In this episode of "THE BODY," we explore one of mankind's oldest desires – finding the secret to a long, healthy life

Sperm Crisis

Something abnormal is happening inside men's bodies: sperm is in crisis, with low counts, near-zero motility, and DNA da

Finding Einstein's Brain

When Albert Einstein, the 20th century's most renowned theoretical physicist, died in 1955, a pathologist removed his br

Hiroshima: Solving the Genetic Puzzle

The atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945 exposed survivors, the Hibakusha, to large amounts of radiation. In the

AI: Shaping the Future

Explosive advances in artificial intelligence have made it possible to accurately forecast what is to come. It's already

Roots of TOKYO: Edo, City of Water

More than 150 years ago, Tokyo was called Edo. It had the highest population of any city in the world, surpassing both L

Roots of TOKYO: Edo, City of Fire

More than 150 years ago, Edo, the forerunner of Tokyo, had the highest population of any city in the world. But it was r

Orcas: Mysterious Gathering at Shiretoko

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

The Choshi River: Seeing the Unseeable

In Japan, many rivers are known for their clear, beautiful water. But the Choshi River is so free of dirt and sediment t

Tokyo's Lost Islands: Minami Iwo-to

In Tokyo, there are unapproachable "lost islands" with unspoiled environs and rich wildlife. Minami Iwo-to, part of the

Tokyo's Lost Islands: Sofugan

In Tokyo, there are unapproachable "lost islands" where unspoiled environs cradle rich wildlife. Sofugan is a 100-meter-

Rescue Triage: Learning from Disasters

Japan has been hit with an increasing number of earthquakes and other natural disasters. Rescue teams must decide where

Black Tsunami

8 years after the March 2011 disaster in northeastern Japan, experts continue to learn new truths about the devastating

Aurá: Last Survivor of An Unknown Tribe

30 years ago, 2 members of an unknown tribe - nicknamed Auré and Aurá - emerged from the Amazon jungle. The language t

Decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi: Tackling Nuclear Fuel Debris

8 years after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster, a robot touched nuclear fuel debris deep inside the damaged facility for t

Nobel Laureate Salaryman: Staying Ahead in Science and Technology

Over the past few decades, the number of Nobel Prizes awarded to Japanese scientists has increased dramatically. They re

Yui and Bailey the Therapy Dog

Scientists are discovering what's behind the strong bonds that can form between dogs and humans. And few bonds are stron

New Roles in a Changing World: The Japan Self-Defense Forces

The 30-year-long Heisei era was a period of profound change. During that time, the Japan Self-Defense Forces underwent a

AI Robots: Friend or Foe?

From bartending to hotel room deliveries and fruit picking, robots equipped with artificial intelligence are making inro

US-China Tech War

In addition to artificial intelligence, China is pressing ahead with blockchain -- an advanced encryption technology use

From Despair to Recovery: The Era of Regenerative Medicine

NHK's 3-year investigation into regenerative medicine treatment followed 2 patients suffering severe paralysis. In this

Who Will Protect You? Global Warming Unleashes Torrential Rain

In 2018, western Japan was hit with its worst rain-related disaster in 30 years. Researchers have determined that it was

A Right to the End

The questions are simple yet profound. Would you prefer control over the manner of your death? Could you accept a wish f

Death of a Dream: Vietnamese Workers in Japan

The Japanese government's Technical Intern Training Program, a solution to the country's severe labor shortage, is makin

Han-gure: An Emerging Threat to Society

Han-gure, or informal gangs, present an all-new breed of criminal group without the close-knit organization or tradition

Hyakumikai: A Rare Glimpse into Kyoto's Inner Parlors

Japan's ancient capital is filled with centuries-old establishments tasked with protecting its timeless food culture. Bu

A New Peace Memorial Museum: Passing on Hiroshima's Message

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum has undergone the largest makeover in its history. The survivors of the bombing have

The People and Their Emperor

Japan's Imperial system is said to have over 2,000 years of history. A series of esoteric rituals accompany an Emperor's

The Fall of Freedom - How a newspaper led Japan to war

In the mid-1920's, during the so-called "Taisho Democracy," people in Japan were embracing political liberalism and West

The Great Metropolitan Blackout: Preparing for Crisis

In September 2018, an unprecedented large-scale blackout wreaked havoc on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido Prefecture

Death Doulas for Businesses: End-of-Life Care for Dying Companies

Many Japanese businesses are experiencing "lonely deaths," closing their doors with little fanfare or preparation. Over

The Words of Emperor Showa: Records of Imperial Audiences

A series of records kept by a top aide to Emperor Showa (Hirohito) in the postwar years have come to light. "Records of

The Supreme Imperial Collection: The Shosoin Treasures and the Birth of Japan

The Shosoin treasures were created by leading artisans 1,300 years ago. Historians long believed these treasures were br

The Leonardo da Vinci Enigma: Unraveling the Secrets of Genius

Revered as one of the greatest artists and scientists of all time, Leonardo da Vinci was a pioneering thinker and resear

My Notebooks: Seven Years of Tiny Great Adventures

Schoolboy Asuka Umeda has been filling his "Self-Learning" notebooks for the past 7 years. For the socially awkward Asuk

Living Dementia

Dr. Kazuo Hasegawa, 90, recently revealed that he is suffering from dementia. A pioneer in dementia research, Dr. Hasega

The Children of the Earthquake

Children who survived the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake saw their lives change forever. The loss of family members

The Huawei Shock

With substantial implementation of 5G just around the corner, the worldwide tug-of-war is heating up for dominance in th

COVID-19: Fighting a Pandemic

In just over 3 months, the new coronavirus has spread around the world, killing thousands and paralyzing the global econ

Invisible Homeless: People Living in Cars

More and more people in Japan are living in their cars. And many can be found parked in rest areas in roadside facilitie

The Corona Shock: Can We Avoid an Economic Crisis?

The spread of the coronavirus has rocked the global economy. Containment policies, including restrictions on foreign tra

The Mystery of the 40-Meter Tsunami: The Great East Japan Disaster

The tsunami that struck northeast Japan in March 2011 was among the largest in Japanese history. But it didn't correlate

COVID-19: Preventing an Explosive Surge of Infections

The fight against the coronavirus has entered a new phase in Japan. Tokyo and other major cities are experiencing a surg

Battle on the Brink: The Coronavirus Crisis

Based in Tokyo, within the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, is Japan's Coronavirus Response Team, made up of over

COVID-19: Japan Under a State of Emergency

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Japan continues to rise, experts warn that deaths could soar, and the medical system

The Coronavirus State of Emergency: Medical and Economic Prospects

In response to the spread of coronavirus disease, Japan declared a nationwide state of emergency. People's lives and wor

COVID-19: Battle on the Cruise Ship

Japanese authorities faced their first large cluster of COVID-19 infections in early February when the Diamond Princess

Coronavirus: Exit Which Way?

Japan's state of emergency has been extended, but some local governments are already thinking of their own ways to ease

COVID-19: Big Data Battles the Virus

The fight against the novel coronavirus is entering a new phase, as people worldwide begin to resume normal life alongsi

The Path Forward: Surviving the "With Corona" Era

70 days after the declaration of the coronavirus pandemic, the global economy is on the move again. But the damage to pr

We're In This Together: Life with the pandemic

NHK asked people to film their lives during the pandemic. They include health care workers on the front lines, an Italia

The Iron Road

Before the Silk Road, another route carried iron eastward from Western Asia to Japan. Recent discoveries along its path

Oswald and JFK UNSOLVED CASES Part 1: The Pawn

The assassination of US President John F. Kennedy is still shrouded in mystery. With the help of top experts, NHK takes

Oswald and JFK UNSOLVED CASES Part 2: The Chessmaster

6 months before JFK was killed, Lee Harvey Oswald attempted a separate assassination. Our coverage reveals the possibili

A Fight on Two Fronts: Floods and the Coronavirus

Each year, the rainy season and typhoons increase the threat of flooding in Japan. This year the coronavirus will make d

COVID-19: The Next Wave

People around the globe are trying to feel their way forward as the pandemic continues to rage. Japan is no exception. A

Bearman of Hokkaido

Hokkaido Prefecture's Shiretoko Peninsula is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The area includes one of the world's

Deadly Rain: Finding the "Switch" to Save Lives

Extreme rainfall is unleashing severe damage in communities from southwestern to eastern Japan. And each year, torrentia

Battling the Virus: On the Front Lines of Medical Care

3 months on the front lines in the medical battle against the coronavirus. Inside ICUs and isolation wards, cameras clos

Tokyo Miracle City: Gourmet Capital - Keeping Alive the Spirit of Tsukiji

In the series Tokyo Miracle City, we unravel the secrets behind some of the capital's most intriguing wonders. In part o

Abe Shinzo Resigns: What Next for Japan?

The sudden announcement of the resignation of Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Abe Shinzo, sent shock waves throu

COVID-19 Pandemic: 132 Critical Days (Part 1)

An initial case in mid-January set off Japan's first wave of COVID-19. Unlike many of its Asian neighbors, Japan entered

COVID-19 Pandemic: 132 Critical Days (Part 2)

This two-part program examines the challenges Japan faced over 132 days in the first wave of the novel coronavirus outbr

Civilians in the Crossfire: The Battle of Okinawa

75 years ago, near the end of World War II, Japan and the US engaged in a desperate battle in Okinawa. The Americans use

Tokyo Miracle City: Gargantuan Rail Network - The Passionate Pursuit of Punctuality

In the series Tokyo Miracle City, we unravel the secrets behind some of the capital's most intriguing wonders. In this s

Leaving No One Behind

Watanabe Shinji is a teacher known among students for his passionate teaching style. For the past year, he's been pursui

Tokyo Miracle City: Anime - Captivating the World Frame by Frame

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