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An unusual documentary series that delves into human dramas through chance encounters with ordinary people at selected spots. Filmed over 72 hours in a single location, the show captures glimpses into people's lives as they open up and share their stories.
2012
Over a year after the disaster, we closely follow the Adatara service area, the gateway to Tohoku. Volunteers, travelers, weekend racers, and families returning home for the first time in decades. What are the thoughts of the people who happen to pass by? And where are they headed?
The film is set in Shin-Okubo, a sacred place for the Korean Wave. Surrounded by handsome cafes and other stores, there is a fruit and vegetable store that is used 24 hours a day by people who have immigrated from abroad. People from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and everywhere in between. They all have different dreams for the future, important family members, and various other concerns. There is a human touch to the downtown area that Japanese people have almost forgotten.
The stage is an onigiri restaurant in Sapporo Susukino, the most downtown area in Hokkaido. People who come around for twenty-four hours in search of a taste of fresh rice and warmth. In the midst of the recession that still covers the countryside, salaried workers who have been cut bonuses and young people in the water business who are thinking about the future discuss the truth and regain their smiles.
The setting is the Port of Hakata, Fukuoka. One after another, the largest passenger ships in history arrive from Shanghai, and 6,000 Chinese passengers land in Hakata. They have to eat, shop, and go sightseeing by the minute, and then return safely to the ship. The events happen one after the other. An unseasonably large typhoon is also approaching. What is the story behind the riot?
2006
The Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival was held in the middle of Tokyo. The moment when people living in different parts of the metropolis stop moving for a moment and look up at the same fireworks. What thoughts go through their minds? This film looks at the 72 hours between the preparation for the event and the start of normal life again.
The “Yamatani” area, once known as the “workers' town,” is now about to be transformed into a hub for foreign travelers. Word of mouth has spread about the inexpensive 2,500 yen per night simple lodging, and now there are even lodgings where 90% of the guests are foreign nationals. French people are crazy about Japanese youth fashion. An Englishman says Akihabara is his mecca. Accompanying foreign tourists who tour Tokyo while sleeping and waking in a room of only 2 tatami mats, we will explore the charms and wonders of Japan that Japanese people do not see.
Express buses connect Tokyo and regional cities at the lowest fares. The Yaesu South Exit of Tokyo Station is the largest express bus terminal in Japan, with more than 70 routes from Aomori in the north to Shimonoseki in the south. The purpose of the passengers varies. Wives and children who have come to see their husbands who have moved away from home. An elderly couple traveling around Japan for the last time in their lives. Couples who are reluctant to part from a long-distance relationship.... The camera is set up at an express bus terminal over a three-day weekend, and the film explores each passenger's earnest "reason for traveling.
Japan's largest blood donation room at Shinjuku East Exit, visited by 250 people a day. Blood products made from donated blood last only three weeks. Platelets last only 72 hours. The blood donation rooms offer free hamburgers, ice cream, palm readings, and massages to attract donors, but the inventory is always tight. This film follows the 72-hour process of blood delivery to medical institutions, using the Shinjuku East Exit Blood Donation Room as its main setting, and examines the reality of blood distribution, which is indispensable for medical care.
Cab cabs are small, intimate spaces. In the cab, away from the hectic pace of business and daily life, the driver and I tend to engage in honest conversation. The driver's real conversation is about the economy, his family's problems, or even his dissatisfaction with politics. What kind of picture would emerge if we were to link these conversations together? The film depicts the true feelings of ordinary people and the state of the world by following conversations in a Tokyo cab during the 72-hour period in which news of the inauguration of Abe's new cabinet was broadcast.
We follow a conversation in a cab car in Sapporo. Sapporo has been hit hard by the financial meltdown caused by the bursting of the bubble economy. Economic recovery has yet to be realized, and the entertainment district of Susukino continues to decline. On the other hand, there was positive news in 2006, when the local Nippon Ham Fighters team won the championship for the first time in 25 years. In late September, when the new Abe administration took office, we followed the conversations of Sapporo's taxi drivers for 72 hours to get a picture of the real feelings of ordinary people in Sapporo, which are different from those in Tokyo.
Yokohama Chinatown, the largest town of Chinese merchants in Japan, is packed with tourists from all over the country on weekends. In October, the town is busy preparing for one of the biggest festivals of the year, the Sohu Festival. The main attraction is the traditional acrobatic lion dance. Young graduates of the Chinese Academy in the center of town practice until late at night. Some have taken over Chinese restaurants, others have chosen to leave the city and live in Japanese society. The three days leading up to the festival provide a glimpse into the bonds of Chinatown and what it means to be an overseas Chinese.
Roppongi Hills has become a symbol of winning. Nearby is a mysterious building. Inside the building are a row of booths, each about 1 tsubo in size, each with only a desk and a telephone. Each of these booths is an egg of a “company” that aspires to become the Hills of tomorrow. In this age of IT, we follow these people from morning till night, as they go about their business, using their feet as poles, for three days, and capture an unknown aspect of the nightless city of Roppongi.
An hour and a half west on the Tomei Expressway from Tokyo. Ashigara Service Area is located there. Fuji, and even a bath, people from all walks of life stop by this popular rest area. Fuji, tourists with their pets, and truck drivers driving all over Japan. For three days, the camera stays at the 24-hour service area to follow the people who stop by, their purposes for their journeys, and the thoughts and feelings they hold in their hearts.
There are 3,000 Muslims living in the Toda City area of Saitama Prefecture. Although people tend to have negative preconceptions about Muslims after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the true face of Muslims is friendly and pleasant. In October, they observe Ramadan, a month-long period of daytime fasting. During the last three days of Ramadan, we closely follow the lives of these people and hear their frank opinions about their work, families, and faith.
You never know when you might suffer a serious injury or illness. At the Osaka Medical Center, a large hospital in the Kansai region, there is a place that offers help to patients who are at a loss after a sudden surgery or hospitalization: the “Medical Consultation Office” staffed by three young doctors. The consultation services offered are diverse. They offer a wide range of advice, from concerns about treatment and payment to family problems and how to make ends meet after discharge from the hospital. The film follows the patients and their families closely for three days, depicting how they try to live their lives one step at a time, despite their confusion about life in the hospital.
2007
Many people purchase “year-end jumbo lottery tickets” in hopes of winning a fortune. One of the most famous ticket offices is located in Nishi-Ginza. The five jumbo lotteries held there in 2006 produced 16 millionaires. For the year-end jumbo lottery, which attracts the largest number of buyers every year, there is a long line of more than 1,000 people. What kind of dreams do people place on 300 million yen? We pick up the dramas of each of the buyers who visited the site during the three days from the first day of the sale.
A batting center that is popular and pressed by game centers and manga cafes. However, there are regulars who swing the bat every day with the aim of becoming the "home run king" there. At the batting center in Osaka's Shinsaibashi, 24 and 70 have competed for the top spot. Why do they keep hitting for the sake of "honor" that can be said to be self-satisfied? Follow the human condition of the batting center at the end of the year for seventy-two hours.
An indispensable cake for the Christmas family. Convenience stores are rapidly increasing their sales. A convenience store that has spread all over Japan with convenience that can be prepared for everything from food to daily necessities. It is now possible to support family events once a year. What does the change reflect? It is a major chain that closely follows convenience stores in Ibaraki and Kasama City, which boasts the largest sales of Christmas cakes in the Kanto region, and approaches the lives of visitors.
In Ueno Ameyayokocho, which is known for its low-priced sales, there are more and more shops that are slightly different from the image of the city. It's a real coffee shop." The inside of the shop is very different from a regular coffee shop. It is divided into a small space like a box, and customers enjoy manga and the Internet in it. There are few people who stay in the hotel instead. It is said that it was a great success even at the end of the year. What are people looking for? For seventy-two hours, he is closely attached to a manga cafe in Ueno Ameyayokocho, and approaches the secret of its mysterious charm.
A huge amount of rubbish spewed every day. The amount of garbage generated in Tokyo’s 23rd district is said to be equivalent to nine cups of Tokyo Dome in a year. In particular, the collection volume of Setagaya Ward is the largest in Tokyo. The first collection week of the year when the garbage of the year-end and New Year holidays is served together is the hectic week of the year. In addition to collecting nearly twice the amount of ordinary gas in time, it is also necessary to deal with hazards such as fires caused by the unused gas cylinders. After three busy days of the collection staff, they follow the struggle behind the scenes of their lives.
A ski resort where people flock to enjoy the winter holidays. Young people called resort part-timers are supporting it behind the scenes. In the summer, they work separately, and in the winter, they gather from all over the country. They live together with their friends who love skiing and snowboarding, and immerse themselves in playing with their part-time jobs. But somewhere in my heart, I seem to have anxiety about the future. He places his camera at a ski resort in Yuzawa-cho, Niigata, and follows the young people of the resort part-time job who swing to the gap between dreams and reality.
With the popularity of online auctions, “buying and selling” used goods is becoming commonplace. In Nagoya City, there is a huge seven-story recycle store. The items it handles range from watches, precious metals, and brand bags to clothing, musical instruments, and electrical appliances. The shop is gaining popularity not only as a place to buy popular items at reasonable prices, but also as a place where people can easily sell items they no longer need. This article looks at the relationship between people and goods in Japan's consumer society, following the “reasons for selling” and “reasons for buying” of the people who visit these shops.
Fukuoka City has the largest number of yatai stalls in Japan. Even those who do not know each other can easily get to know each other by standing shoulder to shoulder in a small store of only about 2 tsubo (about 1.5 square meters). Over the course of three days, we will follow the unique charm of yatai and the drama of their owners and customers, as we visit a store that has been a place of relaxation for local businessmen for more than 30 years and a store where young artists' dreams come true.
The film closely follows the 1,200-kilometer one-way ferry route between Nagoya, Sendai, and Tomakomai. Some travel in groups with casual friends. Some return to their hometowns with broken dreams. And some are making a fresh start as new employees. Why do they choose a 3-day/2-night trip when an airplane is only an hour away? This film captures the various lives that pass each other on a ship.
Queer as Folk
1999
2013
The setting is a 24-hour flower store in Shinjuku Kabukicho, Tokyo. Who comes to buy flowers late at night and under what circumstances? An unfulfilled wish for a one-sided love. A thank-you note to a mentor approaching retirement. A surprise for his wife who is expecting a new baby. The graduation ceremony of a mother who has been studying on her own, or the parting of friends who have worked hard together to achieve their dreams. People live their lives today by entrusting flowers with feelings that cannot be conveyed in words alone.
Shibuya Station in Tokyo is used by 3 million people every day. Overnight, the platform of the Toyoko Line, a private railway line, was moved from the second floor above ground to the fifth floor below ground. The platform, which has a history of 85 years, holds many memories. People watched the last train leave the station with cheers. It is a tribute to a time that will never return.
A small, standing kushikatsu store that is attached to the wall of an underground passageway in Osaka's Umeda Station, it is always packed, sometimes with a long line of customers. The restaurant is always packed, and sometimes there is even a line of people waiting to get in. The customers, who are not related to each other, rub shoulders with each other at the counter, and soon become friends. They discuss their work problems, their families, and their hopes and fears for tomorrow. As their moods change, they are strangely empowered to face the challenges of tomorrow.
We closely follow the special three days that Yokosuka, a Maritime Self-Defense Force base, welcomes. In spring, most of the naval vessels gathered at Yokosuka base for the annual promotion examination. The 8,000 personnel do not hide their joy at being reunited and living ashore for the first time in a long time. From the submarine crew to the cooks who are masters at making curry, there are other reasons for the uplifting atmosphere. The day after the test, a “meet-and-greet” party is scheduled for 300 people. This is one of the few chances to get to know people of the opposite sex. Will you be able to meet the man of your dreams?
Every year, 16 million people pass through Sapporo's New Chitose Airport, on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. In spring, many dramas of greeting and parting play out as people come and go between the great expanses of the north and the megalopolis of Tokyo to the south. A surprise sendoff for a friend leaving to go to school in Tokyo. Tears flowing at the first big family reunion in 20 years. A foreign student's dreams for the future. It is a season of major life transitions.
The factory of a major manufacturer in Gifu Prefecture closed its 33-year history. At its peak, it had four thousand employees and had sent out products such as game consoles, but it ended its role in globalization. A skilled engineer who spares the heat of the past, a temporary employee who looks for a job from tomorrow. The end of the large factory will also completely change the atmosphere of the area. What do people think and what steps will they take in the last days?
Hitorikara" is the art of singing karaoke alone. Recently, specialty stores have also appeared. At a 24-hour restaurant in Shinjuku, Tokyo, 48 private rooms are available, and on weekends there is a long line of people waiting for their turn to sing. What are they trying to get rid of by singing? Young people who want to sing enthusiastically without worrying about others. Housewives who are busy raising children or working part-time. College students job hunting or looking for a new job. This is a microcosm of repeated “struggles” of people seeking a place where they can be at ease and take a step toward tomorrow by singing.
Near downtown Gion, Kyoto. There is a place visited by people from all over Japan who are troubled by their relationships. It is Yasui Konpira-gu Shrine, known as a "shrine for severing relationships. People who wish to break off bad relationships and take a new step forward write their thoughts on ema (votive picture tablet) and o-fuda (votive card). These include relationships between men and women, between parents and children, between siblings and other family members, and between people in the community, at work, and at school. From illness, injury, accidents, and disasters to computer and alcohol addiction, there are a wide variety of issues that confront us in our modern lives. What is the future that those who are confronted with bad relationships hope for?
In Japan's Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, a patient died after being turned away by a number of hospital Emergency Rooms. Other patients have similarly been put in jeopardy; and even for minor ailments, treatment is hard to get after hours or during holidays. In response, a pioneering doctor has established an after-hours clinic, assisted by equally dedicated nurses. Working in shifts through the night, they cope with wave after wave of walk-ins and ambulance admissions. Other medical practitioners help out part-time; but the clinic is caught between a sense of mission and some harsh limitations. We observe their grueling schedule during Japan's annual Spring holidays in May.
Got a PC or a smartphone? Media-sharing sites will let you stream live and interactively. It could be called "self-casting" and it's a whole world of its own. In a single day, via a single site, 100,000 people might be streaming in this way. What motivates people to participate in this form of social media? We go to an annual convention of these live-streamers near Tokyo, and then profile a number of "hosts" we encounter there. They're connecting via such sites with large and small circles of "friends" they might never actually see, let alone meet. It's a new kind of society.
Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture, is a bedroom community about an hour from central Tokyo by train. A 24-hour family restaurant in a corner of the city never ceases to attract customers from early morning to late at night. Elderly people go there every day to eat alone. Some businessmen are enthusiastic about acquiring qualifications, perhaps because of the recession. Single mothers who want to give their children as many happy memories as possible. This film delves into the charms of family restaurants, a mysterious space where various lives intersect at back-to-back tables.
The Akihabara district in Tokyo is known worldwide as a mecca for "otaku" or geeks. It's also where a number of girl groups dance and sing. The otherwise obscure "live theaters" where they perform have become major new attractions for the groups' wildly enthusiastic fans. But for these underground idols, the showbiz life is rough. They don't earn much. Rival groups are forever a threat to displace them. How old can the girls get before they lose their appeal? Yet they do not easily abandon their dreams.
Kochi Racecourse once produced the racehorse Harurara, whose dedication to his sport drew sympathy despite a losing streak of more than 100 races. It is still a “sanctuary for losers,” so to speak, where horses released from racetracks all over the country end up. The people who come to watch the races also associate their own lives with these unknown horses. Some continue to visit the racecourse to inspire themselves while battling cancer, while others are looking for a fresh start in a place where their dreams have been shattered. The film listens to the voices of those who have not been defeated and who have met at the racetracks.
The round, dull eyes are disproportionate to the huge body. The way they drift humorously and leisurely in their tanks. The sunfish is a mysterious creature that gives one an unrealistic sensation when gazed upon. At present, Japan's largest sunfish, measuring 1.8 meters, is being bred and exhibited at Hakkeijima Island in Yokohama. Many visitors come from all over Japan to see it, hoping to forget, even for a moment, their busy lives. What do people think and talk about in front of the giant sunfish? What do people think and talk about in front of the giant sunfish?
Kazo City, Saitama Prefecture. More than 100 victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake still live in an abandoned school in a corner of the city. They moved with the town office two years ago from Futaba Town in Fukushima Prefecture, where the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant suffered a serious accident. Although they cannot return to the town itself due to radiation, the town office has decided to relocate to another location in Fukushima. Will he go with them or stay with them? They are now at a crossroads. The residents of the town, who are mainly elderly, are in agony. This is a record of people who are far from their hometowns, but are searching for hope for their lives.
When summer comes, people from all over Japan flock to Mt. Fuji. After the mountain was designated a World Heritage Site in 2013, the crowds swelled even more. The Yoshida Trailhead is one point where those going up and those coming down cross paths. Conversations with climbers reveal some of the troubles and joys in their lives. An office worker comes seeking a sense of achievement... A college student comes with prayers of finding work... A tapestry of human drama unfolds on the mountainside.
The Shonan coastal region in Japan conjures up images of summertime, youth culture, fashion. We cast an offbeat video eye on an obscure but revealing Shonan location: a 24-hour coin laundry, during the rainy season. People stream in, clutching bags of laundry, mostly just to dry them. While they're waiting, most just relax. Some talk. Businessmen exhausted from their daily routine. People who have lost a beloved partner and now live alone. All of them are waiting for a spell of "clear weather".
For a low fee, you can enjoy to your heart's content a spacious bath and massage room, as well as a place to eat and take a nap at this health spa in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. During the day, it is a social gathering place for the elderly. At night, it is a place for workers to stay after work. On holidays, families line up at the entrance from morning for affordable leisure. What kind of future do these people look forward to as they go about their daily lives? In late July, when the nation was in a state of excitement over the Upper House election, I thought about the “happiness” of the Japanese people at a 24-hour health spa.
The Airin District, Osaka. Here live thousands of male day laborers, many of whom spend their nights in rooms so small they have no storage space at all. So they rely greatly on cheap rental lockers to store their essential belongings and prized possessions. Each locker contains a condensed life: a narrative. We set up at a locker rental establishment, and ask the patrons to share parts of their life-stories with us during the Obon season, when most Japanese go on holiday to visit hometowns and family graves. For these men, home is in their lockers.
The Yanaka Cemetery is one of Tokyo's oldest cemeteries. The greatest number of visitors come during the Obon holiday in the summer, when Japanese traditionally pay their respects to the dead. But though they come in droves, they each mourn in their own way. Some have finally been able to spare a few moments from their busy lives to tend to a grave. An elderly man is seen speaking to his absent spouse as he pours water ritually over her tombstone. A young man recounts memories of his deceased lover in front of her grave. This is a space for conversations between the departed and the bereaved.
In August, a small town on the outskirts of the peninsula of Kagoshima attracted the world's attention. The launch of the state-of-the-art rocket “Epsilon” carrying a planetary observation satellite. The town was inundated with inquiries from early on about a tour of the launch site. The parking lot on the hill overlooking the launch site received more than 20 times as many applications as it could hold. Then came the day of the launch. People from all over the country rushed to the launch site in search of romance. Local residents entrusted their dreams of revitalizing their town. What did they see in the midst of all these mixed feelings?
Yoshimoto Kogyo attracts aspiring young comedians from all over Japan. They believe that they are the funniest, and there is a place where they are first sifted through the ranks. Every year in September, a three-day, two-night “mountain retreat” is held. Three hundred people, divided into buses, gather at a lodging facility in Shizuoka. The participants go through a curriculum that can be described as a “comedy immersion” program, aiming to be selected on the last day of the camp as the best of the best. While some emerged as standouts, others found themselves at their limits. This is a coming-of-age graffiti of people who bet on laughter.
24-hour gyms are quickly gaining in popularity. Relatively inexpensive and open all hours, they're well-suited to busy modern life. A close look at patrons reveals many reasons why people want to tone their bodies. Some people must stay fit to keep their jobs; others need more strength to care for elderly parents; and some try to conquer something within themselves. This program examines the human motivations that bring patrons to the gym from early in the morning until late at night.
Outside Yokohama's main rail station is a 6-floor game center. New games come out all the time, but an old standby is a cash cow: crane games, accounting for 40% of revenue. From early morning till late at night, an endless stream of people pay to wage a fierce struggle with these cranes in an effort to win a prize. Overworked office workers, job-hunting college kids, independent students re-taking college entrance exams. What prizes do they seek beyond the prizes right in front of them?
Osaka Station: a major transportation hub for Western Japan. One popular service catering to travelers there is a Ladies Powder Room. Women who have traveled long distances without any makeup on, or others on their way to or from work or hanging out, stop by here to freshen up. Makeup can be thought of as superficial, but these women's ultimate concerns-work, love, their futures-are hardly trivial. So what are their present circumstances, and what is on their minds?
There is a street person who is said to have no one in the center of Hiroshima who is said to be unknown. His name was "Hiroshima Taro." God's demons are dead. He runs through the city on a bicycle to wear a flashy costume. It is said that many people are given "healing" and "encouragement" by their mysterious appearance and words and actions. What kind of person is Hiroshima Taro? Why are the people of Hiroshima attracted to him? I listened to the hearts of people living in regional cities while following the footsteps of one person.
Hitchhiking on the sea" is a way of traveling through the Seto Inland Sea by boat only. The starting point is Shodoshima Island, and for 72 hours, the group will aim westward. That's the only rule. The destination is simply left to the wind. As they call out to people they meet at ports and frantically search for a boat, they discover the diverse and rich lifestyles of people living with the sea. Businessmen who spend their post-retirement lives on yachts. A father and son are proudly engaged in the fishing industry. A couple who never wants to leave their remote island, where the population continues to decline. Three days of encountering life on the sea.
Nothing but sand, as far as the eye can see. The Tottori Sand Dunes on the Sea of Japan are a vast world of nothingness. 2 million visitors a year are drawn by scenery that is utterly different from their daily surroundings. But their motives differ. There are elderly people who feel the pull of eternity. Businesspeople who crave even a momentary liberation from the daily grind of numbers and memos in their cramped offices. Travelers from afar who hope to find themselves in the shadows of a night on the dunes. In this otherworldly milieu, we catch glimpses of people's "internal landscapes".
It occupies an entire floor of a large building in Shinjuku, a bustling district in Tokyo. An enormous travel agency, visited daily by a high volume of customers seeking discount airfares. In spite of the growth of Internet sales, people throng the 100 meters of counters here for the expert help they can get in making their dream voyages come true. For 72 hours we observe a range of customers, from meticulous long-range planners to those who, for whatever reason, simply must depart "tomorrow".
More and more these days, people communicate via texting, social media and email. Yet there are some who rush into the Shinjuku Post Office, a giant establishment in Tokyo open 24/7, at all hours of the day or night, with something that simply must be sent by post. Some want to send a special present to a special someone far away; others need a postmark to fix eligibility for an application process; others still are rushing to meet a deadline for submitting a résumé. We camp out by the counters to learn not only the "what", but the "why".
An unusually large number of passengers gather at a train station in Tokyo. They're taking a special night train to Izumo, a thousand kilometers to the southwest, on the Japan Sea coast. It's November, when, according to Shinto belief, the gods are in residence at the Izumo shrines, above all the Izumo Taisha, or Grand Shrine. Men and women of marriageable age, and others seeking better matchups in their professional lives, make this pilgrimage and say their prayers. We listen and learn.
Crammed together are magazines and novels, art books and technical treatises. In an era of increasing Internet book sales, streams of people are drawn to actual bookstores, in search of unexpected encounters. The bestsellers on display provide a glimpse of contemporary Japan. Books teaching "self-improvement" attract crowds of office workers on their way home; other shoppers, worn out by the daily grind, find themselves in the "spirituality" book section. All are wanderers in a forest of print.
2017
In the days leading up to Christmas, the immigration inspection area at Narita Airport heaves with tens of thousands of tourists. Among the visitors having their passport checked are an Indian man coming to hold a wedding with his Japanese wife, and siblings here to see their mother for the first time in 10 years. Some visitors are denied entry and must leave without stepping foot in Japan. Measures to prevent smuggling and acts of terrorism are stepped up as the crowd peaks for the holiday season. For 3 days, we spoke to the visitors passing through this major hub and heard stories reflecting the current state of the world.
Omiya, a city where the largest train terminal in Saitama Prefecture links between the Tokyo metropolitan area and the suburbs. A step away from its bustling downtown streets is a slightly curious café. The interior is crowded with bizarre antiques, and all 300 menu choices come in massive portions. Open 24 hours a day, the café is visited by fans of its famous pasta; a local businessman with incredible love for Saitama; and even bar workers on their way home in the morning. We spent 3 days in this offbeat café, where people from the suburbs make a stop before going into the city and those coming from the city spend some time to relax.
In Miyazaki Prefecture, a brightly colored piano stands in a street side plaza. This "street piano" can be played freely by anyone at any time. Players range from an elderly woman playing a children's song, to young students performing a TV drama theme song. One man even taught himself to play by visiting the piano every day, and his performance is now applauded by those who gather to listen. The piano was placed in the plaza 4 years ago to liven up the city, and has quietly become a popular spot. What thoughts do people weave into the melodies they play on this street piano?
Beppu, the hot spring paradise. The stage is a 138-year-old traditional hot spring, known as the face of the city. The hot spring, which has only one old-fashioned, weathered bath, is visited by people enjoying a “bathside meeting” before work, those who came for hot spring therapy and ended up staying, and travelers passing through... In Beppu, where many people do not have baths at home, some visit multiple times a day. For three days, people from around the world gather in search of the ever-constant hot spring water.
The setting is a park in Yokosuka with a close-up view of huge warships. Passersby include local residents taking a stroll, families of US military personnel letting their children play, and enthusiasts who come to see the US Navy's Aegis destroyers and Japan Self-Defense Force escort vessels. During the three days in late January when the new President Trump was inaugurated across the sea, we listen to the voices of people moving through this place where “daily life” and “extraordinary events” intertwine.
Tokyo's Kita Ward. A three-day look at a cheap underwear store in a traditional shopping district that attracts 1,000 customers daily. Socks, underwear, and nightwear are priced at an unbeatable 60 yen or 80 yen. Among those who visit daily to enjoy the ever-changing selection are local housewives, a snack bar owner who says, “You really have to be careful about underwear,” and underground idols striving to save money. Women push large carts with excitement, enjoying conversations with staff. Over three days, the underwear they choose reflects the lives of women.
Chiyobo Inari (commonly known as Ochobo-san) is the god of commerce in Gifu Prefecture. There is a kushikatsu restaurant that shines like gold on the crowded approach to the shrine. The shop is decorated in gold from the walls to the tables for good luck, and on some days, it sells 40,000 skewers of katsu at 90 yen each. On the once-a-month all-night operation day, various people visit, from cabaret club staff wishing for business prosperity to clam fishermen praying for a bountiful catch, and single mothers hoping for remarriage. What are the wishes of the people who visit “Ochobo-san” and enjoy the katsu?
Since the Kumamoto earthquake in April last year, the zoo has been closed. During the suspension of animal exhibitions, a walking path where you can see giraffes and elephants basking in the sun from outside the zoo has become a popular spot. Residents jogging by to peek through the fence, people visiting regularly to watch the growth of a giraffe born after the disaster, and those sending photos of the animals to family members living far away... Over three days, people sought to regain a sense of normalcy while observing the giraffes and elephants leisurely going about their day.
Hong Kong, a city of the near future. Located on the city's main street is the somewhat suspicious giant building known as Chungking Mansions. Maze-like passageways are lined with currency exchange offices and restaurants, while the upper floors are packed with cheap guesthouses. People from more than 100 countries, including black and Indian people, come and go, making it a veritable giant human intersection. In recent times, with news of anti-immigrant sentiment spreading around the world, this three-day program explores the possibility of coexistence through the diverse community of Chongqing Mansion.
In a residential area of Tokyo is an unusual intersection where 7 roads meet. Bicycles, vehicles and pedestrians constantly weave along these roads. Though there are no traffic lights because of the intersection's complex layout, remarkably few accidents occur, apparently because people automatically and considerately let others go through first. The 7 corners are filled with a variety of shops including a greengrocer's and a small pub, and many people pass through this busy junction from early morning until late at night. For 3 days, we spoke to the many people whose lives meet at this intersection.
We spend 3 days in a long-established bag shop in Tokyo's Ameyoko Market Street. Parents and children come to buy school bags, their hearts filled with hope. A man picks out a large bag to carry equipment for playing airsoft games. Meanwhile, a woman stops by the store searching for a purse to use as she prepares for the final phase of her life. In the season of new beginnings, we catch a glimpse of the lives people lead from the bags they choose to carry.
Small, personal funerals are becoming popular in Japan. At a one-stop funeral facility near Tokyo, a family arranges a simple ceremony in accordance with a deceased relative's wish to spare the family from organizing a large funeral. Another family spends their last night with the deceased in a private room and fondly recalls their happy memories from years gone by. Before cremation, relatives repeatedly come and see their loved one's body as they gradually accept the reality. For 3 days, we spoke to people spending their final moments with someone dear who had passed away.
An hour's drive from Osaka, Mt. Kongo is the perfect mountain for a casual hike. Attracting many visitors is a live webcam located at the mountain top. The webcam captures a photo once an hour, and the image is posted on Mt. Kongo's website. Some people have made it a daily routine to be punctually photographed at their preferred hour. There's even a family that uses the camera as a way to indirectly communicate with their son who has become distant. Others meet for the first time in front of the camera, and become friends. We spent 3 days with people coming and going on the mountain top as they preserve a single moment of their lives on camera.
The Yoru no Mori area in Fukushima is famous for its cherry blossoms, with old trees lining a 2.4-kilometer stretch. Since the nuclear accident, few people visit, but in spring, former residents gather and the area bustles with activity for a short time. This year's cherry blossoms are a little special. In April, the evacuation order for part of the “cherry blossom tunnel” was lifted. Some people are returning to the village to restart their lives in sync with the cherry blossoms, but the remaining 80% of the tunnel remains in the “difficult-to-return zone,” where residency is still prohibited. For three days, people gather under the full bloom of the flowers, reminiscing about their hometown.
From colorful cloth to stylish buttons to costume wigs: a large craft shop in Shinjuku carries over 500,000 types of craft materials and accessories. A man comes to buy Gobelin tapestry fabric for a cherry blossom picnic, while a woman spends hours looking for "simple white cloth". A couple has even come from London in search of materials to make doll clothes. We spend 3 days talking to people as they find inspiration amidst the fabric and buttons.
Over 1,000 people a year come to this Zen temple in Kyoto to try training. The secret to its popularity is how easy it is to join. You can book from a few thousand yen per night for as many nights as you like, and since it shows up high in internet searches, modern people looking for a quick reset keep coming back. Monastic life runs from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., beginning with meal etiquette, followed by zazen meditation, and work duties (cleaning), creating a continuous series of cultural shocks. What is the mindset of those who seek to reflect on themselves through this somewhat rigorous training?
On one floor of a building in Shinjuku, awkward conversations between men and women can be heard from booths partitioned off like a net cafe... These “private room-style marriage counseling rooms” have been popular for about 10 years. Parties tailored to specific needs, such as “for plus-size women,” “for women who want to become mothers within three years,” and “for otaku,” are held one after another. The program delves into the true feelings of the men and women who visit, such as “I want to do marriage counseling without others overhearing my conversations” and “I want to have both a fulfilling career and personal life.”
One of the largest mosques in Japan, Tokyo Camii is a gathering place for followers of Islam living in Tokyo. People from over 50 countries come here to pray: a Pakistani who married a Japanese woman, a Japanese who became a Muslim, and an Indonesian student who came to Japan to pursue his dream. People interested in Islamic culture also visit the mosque. They include those who come with a guidebook in hand and those who are interested in taking an Arabic calligraphy class. We spent 3 days filming the daily life of this mosque.
Facing the Sea of Japan in Yamagata Prefecture is an aquarium with one of the world's largest collections of jellyfish on display. The most popular attraction is a 5-meter-wide tank in which 5,000 moon jellyfish serenely drift around. Aquarium visitors include a high school student who dreams of becoming a rocket engineer as he gazes at jellyfish resembling stars in space, and a woman who watches baby jellyfish for 30 minutes. In the evening, others participate in an overnight event and sleep at the aquarium. For 3 days, we asked why people feel so deeply about these mysterious creatures.
Long-haul truckers work and even sleep in their vehicles. A truck stop near a major distribution hub in Kyushu offers drivers a meal, bath and place to relax during grueling journeys across Japan. Truckers taking a break here include a female driver who has decorated her vehicle into what she calls "her home", and 3 work buddies who meet every Friday to go drinking. A former businessman who says that the truck driving job was meant for him, drops in before setting off on a 1,200-kilometer journey. Driving is lonely at times, but at others it offers total freedom. For 3 days, we spoke to the drivers about their passion for the job and their trucks.
The rooftop Ferris wheel in Matsuyama, western Japan, is an attraction that every local knows. During the slow 15-minute ride, people enjoy the view of the entire city and ponder over joy and sorrow. High school students say that it's a routine to hop on the Ferris wheel before their exams to refresh their minds. An old widow always takes a ride after shopping and reflects on her life. Why are people drawn to these enclosed capsules that simply go up and come back down? For 3 days, we spoke to the people as they take this 15-minute journey up to the sky.
Kitakyushu City has prospered as a steel town. The bar is located on a slightly retro and slightly shady street off the entertainment district. At the center of the bar is a machine that automatically pours alcohol. Amazingly, it's only 100 yen per drink. Attracted by the cheap, well-chilled drinks, the 24-hour establishment is bustling with unique patrons. A frugal couple discussing their future. A man who has escaped the underworld, savoring ordinary happiness—. From the tables piled with coins, the blues of each individual echoes.
Tama New Town, located in the suburbs of Tokyo, is home to over 200,000 people. The setting for this episode is a giant secondhand shop with a sales floor area of 1,500 tsubo (approximately 5,000 square meters) towering over the center of the town. Most of the 600,000 items filling the floor are things that have been brought in because they are no longer needed. From brand-new trendy items to a father's heirlooms, music equipment filled with memories of youth, and a “takoyaki maker” once enjoyed with children—each item holds a story. What do people think when they let go of these items?
The elderly care facility is located on a hill overlooking the sea in Kanagawa Prefecture. With an average age of 84, over 450 residents live quiet lives here. Some have spent over 30 years here. A 90-year-old former engineer says, “I never expected to live this long.” A 90-year-old couple who met after losing their spouses. An 80-year-old woman who dedicated her life to work now spends her days alone on the sofa, watching people come and go. In the era of a 100-year lifespan, the question arises: “What is happiness?”
Is this a restaurant or an amusement park? When the mountains in western Japan are enveloped by the darkness of night, this unique restaurant shines with vibrant colors. The restaurant which is modeled on a bandit hideout appeals to diners of all ages with its seasonal events, hearty portions and welcoming atmosphere. For many local young people, this is their first destination after they get a driver's license. For 3 days, we spoke to the customers who came to dine at this restaurant.
Summer Koshien. In Fukuoka, where strong teams abound, the prefectural East Chiku High School secured the representative spot for the first time in 21 years. Expecting a lively atmosphere, I headed to the town where the school is located for the first game. A barbershop that has been cutting the hair of baseball players for over 30 years. A couple who purchased an apartment with a view of the field to watch practice. A former baseball team member who works at a local bank, wiping sweat from his brow as he visits clients. What does the players' battle bring to the town? On the day of the decisive match, another drama unfolds.
It's the height of summer in Akita. From supermarket parking lots and national highways to tourist spots and even rocky areas where no one goes, colorful parasol stalls suddenly appear all over the prefecture. What they sell is ice cream served by women called “baba” using spatulas, commonly known as “baba-hera.” With over 50 years of history, Baba Hera is a summer tradition in Akita. What do people returning home for Obon think of this nostalgic taste of their hometown? A three-day documentary following the elusive Baba.
It's said that a man's shoes reflect his pride. This time, we spend 3 days in a street side shoeshine shop, a rare sight in modern-day Tokyo. The customers here are particular about polished shoes: from a man getting into the spirit for an important meeting; to a young businessman using stylish shoes to make an impression; to a man taking care of the precious shoes his wife gave him. We take a look at the lives these men lead, from the shoes up.
Fussa, Tokyo, home to the U.S. military's Yokota Air Base. In this area where American culture has taken root through music and fashion, there is a rock festival that has been going on for over 30 years. What sets it apart from other festivals is that the musicians performing on stage are a bit older. Most are in their 40s to 60s and work locally. What do the young people who once shouted “Love & Peace” shout now? What do their songs bring to the audience? A three-day documentary on a handmade rock festival at the end of summer.
Riding a motorcycle might be hot in summer and cold in winter, but many riders would never consider any other mode of transport. Some even cut back on buying a daily coffee to save money for their bike. There is a large parts store in Tokyo where riders come to seek new accessories or simply to show off their prized vehicle. Among the steady stream of riders drawn to this store are a 75-year-old man who started a part-time job to buy a new bike, a hydroelectric power plant engineer whose career was inspired by a bike, and a man who liked bikes so much he became a courier on 2 wheels. For 3 days, we spoke to these people about why they can't get enough of their motorcycles.
Could you get by if your smartphone stopped working? Our stage this time is a smartphone repair shop in Shibuya, Tokyo. The customers range from a young man wanting to restore precious photos of a summer spent with friends, to a female student worried about being unable to contact anyone. Their phones are filled with personal connections and the memories of daily life. What do they choose to save? What connections are most valuable to them? We spend 3 days filming this repair shop to catch a glimpse of what people keep on their phones.
Kyoto welcomes the autumn holiday. The setting is a library in a tourist area where talking is strictly prohibited. People head to their booths, maintaining absolute silence. Their reasons vary. Some are striving to survive in a rapidly changing industry. Others dream of finding new employment. Even elementary school students have clear future goals... Regulars who have been coming for over a decade say there's an odd sense of camaraderie among strangers. They want to be alone, but they don't want to be lonely. From the quietest place in program history, we glimpse the “distance modern people keep from loneliness.”
The Canary Islands are located 10,000 kilometers away from Japan. In September, Japanese-registered tuna fishing boats dock at the island's port. They repair their boats and refuel in preparation for fishing in the North Atlantic. The fishermen eagerly await their first vacation on land in months. The island offers a variety of restaurants open late into the night. For fishermen who lead a harsh life at sea, this is a precious time to relax and recover from their travels. The program follows the fishermen from their arrival in Japan and around the world until they set sail again three days later.
An English conversation school in Osaka's Umeda district that prides itself on one-on-one instruction. From the rows of booths, you can hear the slightly awkward English of people with various goals. A salaryman who was suddenly ordered to transfer overseas and started attending in a hurry. Others who believe that mastering English will lead to changes in themselves and their lives. Globalization, reforms in English education, the Tokyo Olympics... As the distance between people and English continues to shrink, we follow three days in the lives of those seeking their own unique paths.
3,000 yen per night. The setting is a low-cost accommodation facility called a “guest house.” Located in Kawasaki, this guest house can accommodate 200 people and is easily accessible to the city center. It is not only popular with travelers but also with working people. Construction workers moving between sites in the developing city center. Job seekers aiming for full-time employment using the guesthouse as a base. People who miss the last train after a drinking party and choose not to go home even though they have a place to stay. A space of about two tatami mats separated by curtains. This program delves into the guesthouse where diverse lives intersect.
Saitama City, a bedroom community with a population of 1.3 million. At a “massage parlor” in a residential area, customers with tired bodies rush in day and night. The causes of their muscle stiffness vary. An elderly woman overwhelmed by caring for her grandchild. A delivery driver constantly pressured by speed and efficiency. A regular customer who says that simply being touched by someone gives them the energy to move forward. What are the causes of both physical and mental stiffness? Over three days, we listened to the honest murmurs that slipped out from the comfort of the space.
In this age where the shift toward digitization and going paperless seems irresistible, one business in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district still goes through more than 10,000 sheets of paper each day. This 24-hour printing and photocopying shop attracts customers around the clock by offering services such as making posters, bookbinding and printing bulk volumes of beautiful, intricate images that only professionals can deliver. The shop's customers include a company employee desperate to print out materials for an important presentation, and an elderly man who has written his life story and wants it printed so he can leave copies for his family to remember him. What messages do customers want to convey or leave behind on paper? For 3 days, we spoke to people about their personal stories behind the pages copied and printed here.
The setting is Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara Islands, a 24-hour boat ride from Tokyo. The approximately 2,000 islanders look forward to the weekly delivery service. Thanks to the rapid expansion of online shopping, even this island, 1,000 kilometers from the mainland, receives all kinds of goods. Recently, the number of people moving to Chichijima from the city has been increasing. Who receives what items? For approximately three days until the deliveries are completed, we follow the delivery truck closely. We look into the lives of the people behind the small packages.
When the herring season starts and winter's icy grip tightens on northern Japan, the locals in the fishing town of Nemuro turn to a convenience store offering warming, satisfying meals with a difference. The 24-hour store close to the port is busy day and night as customers are seduced by its freshly baked bread and extensive range of handmade bento meals. It even sells 150 servings of its signature grilled meat "yakitori" bento each day. Nemuro boasts Japan's largest catches of saury, but the 2017 season was hit by a record-breaking poor haul. What are customers thinking about as they reach for a piping-hot bento at this convenience store? For 3 days, we listened to their personal stories at a store that warms the hearts of many people in Nemuro.
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2021
On a cold winter day in Japan, a piping-hot sweet potato baked so a natural sweet syrup oozes from its skin is hard to beat. An old-fashioned, no-frills shop in Ibaraki Prefecture sells these potatoes that warm the body and heart. Customers there include a woman sending potatoes as a gift; a mother buying a treat for her young daughter; and newlyweds sharing a potato and enjoying the simple things in life. For 3 days at the end of a year in which life was turned upside-down, we ask people about why they crave this simple, warming snack.
Tanga Market, a century-old market of 120 shops in western Japan, is known as the "kitchen of Kitakyushu." Although the market will soon be redeveloped, its old-fashioned charm keeps pulling in shoppers. Among the customers there were a man who feels at home at the market, even if he does not buy anything; an elderly woman grumbling about having to cook her son's meals; and a young couple bewitched by the variety of foods sold there. For 3 days in late December, we explored why this market remains so popular.
The Umihotaru parking area in the heart of Tokyo Bay offers 360-degree views of the surrounding area. Among the visitors we met over 3 days at the end of 2020 were a married couple who dropped plans to visit their distant hometowns over the New Year; a man who listens to pilots flying overhead communicating with air traffic controllers; and a couple who have been dating for less than a week braving the gale. At the end of a year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, we asked visitors what is on their minds as they take in the ocean scenery.
The setting is one of the country's leading “multinational housing complexes,” where 20% of the residents have foreign roots, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. How do they spend the New Year's holiday in a foreign country? A pair of Cambodian residents buying ingredients for New Year's. A Laotian couple who never fail to visit their neighbors to offer New Year's greetings. A girl with Vietnamese parents says she learned kindness in the housing complex. Due to the impact of COVID-19, it was an unusually quiet New Year's Eve. For three days, we listened to the voices of the people living together in the housing complex.
It has been 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami occurred, and nuclear meltdowns forced the town of Namie to evacuate. Work to decontaminate and rebuild this part of Fukushima Prefecture is still ongoing. For many workers here, a bento shop is a vital source of cheap, hearty food. The customers at the shop included a dump truck driver who says that the town still feels empty; a man who has been engaged in decontamination work for a decade; and an elderly woman who says that she prefers to be in Namie even if there's nobody around. For 3 days, we asked what this shop means to the customers - and this town.
A 72-hour spin-off project. A multi-location simultaneous documentary of a day under emergency declaration. Cameras are set up at health centers, special cleaning companies, PCR testing vending machines, and in front of Hello Work in Yokohama City. Public health nurses working hard to support positive patients. Cleaning companies contracted by companies with infected employees to perform disinfection. People who are unemployed due to the coronavirus but are still looking forward to the future. A society where normalcy has changed. What are people thinking as they face the present? A record of one day.
A convenience store inside a major hospital in Kamakura City, just south of Tokyo, is open around the clock for doctors, nurses, patients and their families. Among the customers were a nurse buying herself a sweet treat after finishing an emergency operation; a patient who bought more than 10 books to read and pass the time; and an on-duty doctor needing an energy boost in the wee hours. Even though many people are staying home during the state of emergency, the hospital remains as busy as ever. For 3 days, we asked the customers what they were buying and why they were there.
In Japan, spring is a time when many people move for school or work. A highway bus terminal linking Osaka Prefecture with over 60 cities is a magnet for people starting the next chapter in life. Among those we met at this terminal were a couple visiting their hometown for the first time in a year; a woman getting engaged to her long-distance boyfriend; and a newly grad moving out of his mother's home to start a new job far away. For 3 days in mid-March, soon after the COVID state of emergency was lifted, we asked people at the terminal where they were going, and why.
A uniform specialty store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, sells an exhaustive range of attire for medical staff, chefs, security guards and various other workers. What does a brand-new uniform mean to these workers? For 3 days in mid-March, we asked that question to customers including a dentist expanding their wardrobe; a restaurant part-time worker buying new shoes; and the owner of a traditional Japanese restaurant desperately trying to keep her business afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
For the approximately 1,100 residents of Kakeroma Island in southern Japan, water taxis that travel to Amami Oshima, a nearby larger island, are a vital mode of transport for going shopping or to work. Among the people using these boats during 3 days in late March were a woman who had stocked up at a supermarket; a family who had moved here from Tokyo; and a teacher being transferred after completing his post at a school with 18 students. We explored the role these boats play in daily life here and in keeping community ties strong.
The setting is a long-established snack specialty store in Ginza. It is a favorite among nearby bars and clubs, offering about 300 varieties of snacks such as rice crackers, nuts, and chocolate. A woman who opened a club in Hakata, Nakasu, came all the way to buy from here. A bar master who has been ordering their green peas for over 20 years. Lately, due to its wide selection, not only restaurants but also general customers often come to buy. Ginza, heavily affected by the pandemic. What life dramas can be seen through snacks?
A small, unmanned train station on the Noto Peninsula facing the Sea of Japan, is quiet for most of the year. But each spring, the station comes to life as about 100 cherry blossom trees flanking the tracks burst into bloom. The visitors included a woman and her elderly mother admiring the view of the petals, trains and nearby ocean; a man reminiscing about an inspiring high school teacher; and an elderly couple who helped plant some of the trees and who volunteer to keep the station clean. For 3 days, we asked people what the blossoms at this station mean to them.
Near the towering apartment buildings in Tokyo's Tsukuda area is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it alley. But tucked away down the narrow passage is a stone carving of a Buddhist guardian deity and a centuries-old ginkgo tree. Some people come to this small, secluded site to pray for good health, others for business prosperity or a better relationship with their spouse. Some just drop by to clear their mind. For 3 days, we asked visitors why they come to this unique spot loved by locals for almost 300 years.
The setting is a blood donation center near Skytree. Although the observation deck is closed due to the state of emergency, about 60 people come to donate blood every day. A company employee visits after hearing that there is a shortage of blood due to people staying home. A part-time worker says that coming here gives her a sense of relief amid her busy life. Some people feel confident because they can donate blood even though they are on leave from work. In a world where leisure time has decreased due to the pandemic, these are the people who donate blood for others. What are their reasons for coming here? We listened to their stories over three days.
The setting is a stand-style specialty coffee bean shop in the heart of Kyoto. Kyoto, known for its traditional Japanese culture, actually has the highest coffee consumption in Japan, and many people come here seeking beans roasted on-site. A university professor who says coffee is indispensable as a study aid. A man who finds roasting green beans himself helps him stay calm. The shop also sells coffee, and for some, this one cup is a lifeline in their busy daily lives. In these times, how are people taking a break? For three days, we listened to their stories.
Meeting in person isn't easy these days, so sending a written message is a personal way to stay in touch. A stationery shop in Ginza, Tokyo, has over 5,000 items in a two-floor card and letter pad section. The customers included a man writing to his wife on their wedding anniversary for the first time; a company worker sending messages to clients she cannot meet due to coronavirus restrictions; and a woman cheered by handwritten letters from her grandmother. For 3 days, we asked what messages they would write.
The stage is a giant tropical fish store, one of the largest in the country. The aquariums contain 400 species of fish, including betta, discus, medaka, and arowana, making it look like an aquarium. An 80-year-old regular customer says he enjoys just staring at the fish. A family that started keeping medaka, which are currently popular, says it has increased family conversation. A nurse affected by the pandemic shares how she found solace in caring for small fish while struggling to connect with others. As people spend more time at home, what emotions do they feel toward these tiny lives? Over three days, we listen closely to their stories.
Leaving the National Stadium, the 42.195 km course loops around Asakusa, Tokyo Tower, and other landmarks before returning to the starting point. This was the planned course for the Tokyo Olympics marathon before it was moved to Sapporo. What kind of encounters would you have if you walked this phantom course during the Olympics? A woman worried about COVID-19 goes to an idol concert. The owner of a bookstore in Jimbocho who regrets that it was once a viewing spot. Three days of walking through the night, listening to the voices of people encountered by chance along the way, and observing the present state of Tokyo.
As bonito season peaks in mid-July, the port in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, buzzes as fishermen unload their catches and prepare to return to sea. A portside store selling food and other vital supplies is a magnet for these men. Among the customers were a tuna fisherman soon to depart on a yearlong voyage; saury fishermen buying compact futon for their onboard sleeping quarters; and a captain stocking up on snacks for his 23 crew members. For 3 days, we asked these men about the lure of this store - and the ocean.
From handheld sparklers to skyrockets and novelty fireworks, a small shop in Yamanashi Prefecture sells over 400 kinds of fireworks. Locals and visitors flock to this shop during a summer when many large fireworks displays were canceled. Customers included a family buying fireworks with a curry fragrance; an elderly couple buying an assortment for their grandchildren; and a worker at an elderly care facility hoping to give the residents a colorful thrill. For 3 days, we asked people why fireworks were special to them.
A store in a Tokyo suburb selling short-dated, surplus or imperfect yet edible food items cheaply is a magnet for thrifty shoppers. They can find vegetables costing just 27 US cents, a bottle of beer for 30 cents, and a pack of meat costing less than 1 dollar. The customers included a young woman trying to stretch the food budget for her family of 9; a woman and daughter who drive for an hour to buy meat; and a man thrilled by finding an unexpected bargain. Why do people come to this store that also reflects the huge volume of food discarded in Japan? For 3 days, we talked to customers hunting a bargain while filling their shopping baskets.
The huge underground parking lot at Tokyo's Kasai Station can hold about 10,000 bicycles. Each day, from very early until very late, workers, students and other commuters store their bikes at this facility. They included a cleaner heading to central Tokyo on the day's first train; 2 high school girls staying close to home due to the coronavirus; and a woman holding down 2 jobs to support her family. For 3 days, we asked parking lot customers about where they were going - and why.
Akihabara is one of Japan's leading electronics districts. The stage is a specialty store that handles about 5,000 types of audio equipment, such as earphones and headphones. With the increase in online meetings and classes, the demand for earphones is growing. A businessman came to buy the latest wireless earphones. A parent and child tried out gaming headphones. A man who visits every week to carefully select earphones costing over 100,000 yen, planning to buy them with his winter bonus. Over three days, we listen to the worlds they envision beyond the earphones they seek.
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are used in a variety of fields, such as aerial photography and disaster assessment. They also attracted attention at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. The setting is a drone training ground in the suburbs of Chiba. Parents and children are enthusiastic about small drone races. A man practices aerial photography, saying it's like seeing the world from a bird's eye view. Some people have just started because they believe it is an industry with a promising future. Drones require a bit of effort, such as obtaining an amateur radio license and submitting applications. What are people seeking when they fly them? Over three days under the autumn sky, we listen in.
With half of the face covered by masks, eyebrows can make a big statement. About 80% of the customers who visit the hair and makeup salon in Namba, Osaka Prefecture, come to get their eyebrows done. Among the customers we met were an office worker who became conscious of his bushy brows during video calls, and a woman freed from her eyebrow issues from the past. Roughly a third of the customers are male, including businessmen who come not only to groom their brows but also to calm their mind. For 3 days, we asked the people about their reasons for coming to this salon.
A 24-hour bento shop located in Okubo, Shinjuku Ward. All bentos, including fried chicken, grilled meat, and mapo tofu, are priced at 290 yen each, making them extremely affordable. Over the three days spanning the House of Representatives election and Halloween, customers with various circumstances come to the shop. College students drawn by the low prices, struggling comedians and hosts. Chinese immigrants nostalgic for their homeland, drawn to the Asian-style side dishes. Men working night shifts always visit at 4 a.m. What are they seeking here? A glimpse into the present of the metropolis.
A large 24-hour skateboard park in an industrial area of Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture, is popular with skateboarders of all ages and abilities. It is free and packed with fun obstacles; this facility attracts skaters including a 60-year-old who often comes on weekends, a mother taking a break from the hectic days of raising a young family, and men from overseas who work in the nearby auto industry plants. Why are they so passionate about doing tricks and jumps on 4 wheels? For 3 days and nights, we asked them.
The setting is a local “water pumping station” where natural groundwater flows. Located between apartment buildings in Koganei City, Tokyo, it's an inconspicuous spot, yet people keep coming to fetch water. A local woman brings a large number of plastic bottles. A nearby college student holds a kettle in one hand, saying he was asked by his mother. A nearby vegetable shop uses water from this well to cook dishes in large pots. This area is known for its high-quality groundwater. What are the reasons behind each person's decision to come here to collect water? Over three days, we listen to the stories at the street corner water well.
A huge used clothing store in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, has racks filled with 100,000 garments including jackets, jeans and sweaters. The customers at this clothing treasure trove included a woman who prefers wearing oversized men's clothing; a man who likes a quiet drink while admiring the second-hand clothing he displays at home; and a high school student who wears her father's clothes. For 3 days during an autumn lull in the coronavirus pandemic, we asked shoppers what they came to buy to jazz up their wardrobes.
2016
The stage is set at a 24-hour tonkatsu restaurant in Yokohama's entertainment district. From early morning to late at night, people from all walks of life come to scarf down the meat. A man is on his way to the neon district to get himself in shape. A cabaret girl who has come to finish off her drink. There are also men taking a break at dawn after working all night. The year 2015 was filled with flashy news, such as soaring prices of condominiums and increased profits of major corporations. How are people celebrating the end of the year? We spent three days at a tonkatsu restaurant in a nightless city, looking at the human condition of people in all their sorrows and joys.
Kappabashi Street in Tokyo is a place like no other in the world, with 170 shops that stock everything from cooking utensils to tableware. Here professional chefs inspect knife blades with discriminating eyes, and a young man stocks up on supplies for the noodle restaurant he's about to open. Others shop for pots, bowls and knives as they mark life's turning points with new homes, new families and new lives. We spent 3 days watching shoppers come and go in Japan's kitchen equipment capital.
As Christmas approaches, people flock to Sapporo's terminal for expressway buses that connect this major city with destinations across the vast prefecture of Hokkaido. From early morning until late at night, passengers travel on buses that offer attractive fares for those on a budget. Among them, a young man who traveled for 5 hours to spend Christmas time with his girlfriend; a woman who regularly makes a journey of several hundred kilometers to go and take care of her elderly mother; and a time-strapped businessman using an overnight bus as he departs on a business trip. For 3 midwinter days, we listened to the tales of the people starting or finishing journeys at this bus terminal.
Tokyo Tower, where the New Year's Eve has arrived, is the stage for this episode. Many people come to the observatory to pray for the first sunrise and make wishes at the shrine on the observatory. Office workers praying to meet their fiancé this year, families wishing for the healthy growth of their children, and foreigners wishing for world peace. Foreigners praying for peace in the world. Outside, young men and women, eager to make a leap forward in their careers, brave the northern winds as they climb the fire escape. For three days between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the dreams of the New Year intersect in the tower in the sky. We asked people what was on their minds.
In Osaka you'll find Tenjinbashi-suji, one of the longest shopping arcades in Japan. At the end of the bustling, 2.6-kilometer arcade is a row of benches. We took our cameras there and spent 3 days talking to some of the folks taking a break there. Some use the benches to get work done. Some just watch people go by. And some share fascinating details of their personal lives. For 3 days, we meet people who have a seat, enjoy a talk or a laugh or a drink, and then get back up and keep going.
In a small zoo in Kichijoji, Tokyo, there is the oldest elephant in Japan. Her name is "Hanako. At 69 years old, Hanako is visited by all sorts of people. They all have their hearts set on Hanako's huge body and call out to her in their own way. Hanako is a mysterious elephant who attracts many people. She accepts her loneliness and continues to stand in the square every day, even when she is old, until she has only one tooth. People take a step forward with a little cheer from Hanako. We listen to her voice for three days in the zoo in the middle of winter.
In the middle of rice fields in the snowy Tsugaru plain, there is a public bathhouse “100 yen Onsen” where you can enter for only 100 yen. The rule here is to show the coin to the person taking a bath before you and put it in the fare box. The bathhouse attracts a wide variety of people, including elderly people who start taking a bath at 5:00 a.m., young people who take a bath after work in the evening, and housewives who enjoy chatting with each other about all sorts of things. The film depicts the human condition in Tsugaru, where people support each other and live together in the harsh cold weather, in a small hot spring that warms both body and soul.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, there is a unique shrine dedicated to a deity of love. The approach to the shrine and its gate are adorned with hearts, and it has become a magnet for people in love, dreaming of getting married, or hoping for wedded bliss. But recently, a surprising number of visitors say they have never fallen in love with someone. People in love with the idea of falling in love come here to ask for divine help in finding their ideal partner. For 3 days around Valentine's Day, when the shrine is at its busiest with over 1,000 visitors from across Japan, we listened to the thoughts of people placing their hopes in the shrine's deity of love.
In Korea, there is a fixed-point observation program similar to “Documentary 72 Hours” in Japan. The name of the program is “Documentary 3 Days”. This time, the program is a collaboration with the “3 Days” program. Crews from Japan and Korea will each go abroad to film 3 days around the world. Korea's KBS filmed three days at the “World's Largest Chinese Restaurant” in China, while NHK introduced a specially edited version of “New York Laundromat Theater,” which was broadcast last year. Program watchers Osamu Suzuki and Anne Suzuki speak passionately about 72 Hours of Japan-Korea.
The stage is set at a store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, that specializes in Showa-era songs. The store is visited by a wide variety of people, including middle-aged and older adults who have overlapped their lives with idol songs, young people who discover new charm in the clarity of the songs and lyrics, and foreigners who become enamored with the rhythms of the Showa era. The store has 30,000 records and CDs. Rare songs are sometimes priced at tens of thousands of yen. While sales of new CDs are sluggish, Showa-era songs are once again attracting attention. What kind of feelings do people put into these songs? The program will look at the human patterns projected in the songs for 72 hours, along with nostalgic classics.
In a small building in Yoyogi, Tokyo, there is an “animal shelter” that takes in dogs and cats from public health centers and protects them. So far, they have sheltered 1,300 animals. Dogs and cats come to the shelter for a reason. The circumstances vary from those who are too old to keep the animals to those who are forced to give them up because they have moved away. On the other hand, people who want to take in pets come to the “transfer meeting” held once a month. This three-day exhibition looks at the current state of society as reflected in the lives of people and pets.
Auto race is a sport in Japan where motorcycles without brakes compete on asphalt tracks at speeds up to 150 km/h. In this episode we visit the Funabashi Auto, the sport's birthplace that closed in March 2016 after thrilling spectators for 65 years. See the last 3 days as fans go wild for their local racers. Some cheer with their parents or their children, while others feast on famous offal stew. In its last 72 hours, Funabashi Auto delivers drama and excitement beyond anyone's expectations!
A udon vending machine for 200yen per cup at a store in Akita Port. In March, he introduced the 72nd hour of the human condition of the people who gathered there, and the response exceeded expectations was received, and it also ranked first in the popular vote of viewers for the year. This machine will be removed with the closing of the shop. Then, many people from all over the country rushed to the vending machine, not only the local area but also from all over the country. So this time, we will deliver an enlarged version of the document until the removal and the people I met last time!
The slogan of a 24-hour restaurant in Sendai, in northeastern Japan, is "born and raised on rice". For people fond of rice, this is a paradise. Serving rice in large bowls that hold 4 times the amount of a regular bowl, this restaurant has been filling the bellies of locals for years. Since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, many people who left their family behind to come and work in reconstruction projects have also become regular diners. 5 years on from the disaster, what do people still trying to rebuild their lives think about as they gobble up a bowl of hot rice? For 3 days, we listened to the customers at this restaurant serving up a taste of home.
The stage is a long-established stamp store in the Korean town of Shin-Okubo. Most of the customers are foreigners. In Japan, hanko are used in many situations. In April, when new life begins, many foreigners rush to this stamp store. Although they are bewildered by the Japanese “hanko culture,” these foreigners are trying to follow their dreams and take a new step forward. This 72-hour film looks at the reality of Japan's gradual internationalization from the perspective of a single stamp.
In the countryside town of Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, among flat fields that go on for miles, there is a gigantic shopping mall. In this episode we visit the mall's most bustling area, the food court. With cheap eats and no rush to leave, it's a favorite for all sorts of patrons. Our conversations with the diners over these 72 hours reveal some insights into their lives, from young men who quit school, to elderly friends sneaking in some sake, to a mother recovering from cancer.
Route 439 is a national highway that cuts across the mountainous island of Shikoku, in southwestern Japan. In some spots, it is barely 2 meters wide and poorly maintained. People come from all over Japan to drive along the 340-kilometer-long rugged road connecting many small villages. Some people living along this route are self-sufficient and live on a diet mostly consisting of edible wild plants, freshwater fish and even Japanese pit vipers. Residents live a free life surrounded by lush nature. Over 3 days, we drive along Route 439 to meet people living amid Japan's traditional landscape.
In this episode we take a ride on a ferry to Sakurajima, an island with an active volcano just off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. It makes the 15-minute journey all day and night, carrying over 10,000 passengers a day for work, school, shopping and more. It's also a lifeline in case of disaster. Living alongside an active volcano presents a unique set of challenges. We spent 72 hours listening to the ordinary and extraordinary stories of the people who live and travel in this unique environment.
For 62 years, a rickety roller coaster that has a top speed of just 42 kilometers per hour has been a popular attraction at Hanayashiki, an amusement park steeped in history in Tokyo's Asakusa district. Many of the people riding this slow roller coaster are adults, screaming as the ride takes them back to their younger days. Why are people drawn to this aging roller coaster? For 3 days, we listened to the stories of people coming to this nostalgic ride.
When the locals in Kyoto want to relax, they stroll upstream along the Kamo River to a spot called the "Delta". This scenic area apart from Kyoto's tourist attractions has served as the setting for a number of novels and movies. There's something liberating about skipping across the stepping stones. From students relishing the springtime of their lives to adults reflecting on days past, the people we encounter over these 72 hours have lots of stories to tell among the gorgeous spring scenery.
In Shinjuku Kabukicho, the largest entertainment district in Japan, there is a 24-hour Go club, which is rare in Japan. It has been in business for 34 years, and the sound of Go stones echoes from midnight to early morning. Since it is open 24 hours a day, meals and drinks are served. The extensive menu is just like an izakaya (Japanese-style pub). On weekends, people who have finished work stay over to play Go. What is the drama that unfolds over three days as people are captivated by the magic of Go?
In May, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima for the first time as the incumbent president. How did the people of Hiroshima feel as they welcomed him on this day that caught the attention of all of Japan? The program closely followed the plaza near Peace Memorial Park where people were coming and going. Some were young people who said they had no interest in the event, and others were a couple from Denmark who came to Hiroshima for the occasion. What was the discussion that started late at night in the square? The program brings to light the thoughts and feelings each person had in their hearts on this historic day.
From reasonable breakfasts to ice cream sodas to sweet bean paste on toast, our stage this time is a Nagoya café. Tea culture has thrived in Nagoya from the days of old, and cafés now make up 40% of its dining establishments. It's not unusual for families to spend mornings here, or even for customers to come multiple times a day. Sit and relax on a dark red sofa, and your heart will belong here. We spend 3 days in an old café in Nagoya, surrendering ourselves to the nostalgic retro atmosphere.
From a second-hand ambulance to someone who will visit a grave for you, almost every imaginable item and service is sold and bought on online auctions. Since these sites were launched in Japan around 20 years ago, they have developed into a huge market, where more than 100 million transactions are made each year. Some people sell items to rustle up some extra money, while others earn enough to make a comfortable living. What kind of people use online auctions to sell things? For 3 days, we traveled around Japan to meet real-world people selling unusual things through the Internet.
Brazil is booming with the hosting of the Olympic Games, a symbol of modern capitalism. Behind the backdrop of a developing society, people are said to be entrusting various wishes to traditional “black magic”. In this program, for the first time ever, a Japanese TV station will be in close contact with a “sacred place of witchcraft” located in the suburbs of Sao Paulo. Love, marriages, employment problems.... What do people pray for when faced with problems that cannot be solved no matter how much society develops? This special edition is set in Brazil just before the Olympics.
For crimes ranging from drugs to murder, the number of women being sent to prison has multiplied in Japan over the last 20 years. How do they spend their days? What is on their minds? In this program, we take a close look inside Wakayama Women's Prison, one of Japan's largest. Inmates do menial labor in a workshop in the day and watch TV during evening recess. And what do model prisoners say when they learn they'll be released on parole? Witness 3 days of life behind the giant prison walls.
In mid-August, families across Japan get together to celebrate Obon, when it is believed the spirits of their ancestors return to visit. In Nagasaki Prefecture, this traditional event is marked in a remarkably boisterous way: people let off skyrockets at their ancestors' graves and light firecrackers. For 3 days, we film a long-established fireworks shop in Nagasaki. Among the customers, 2 brothers fondly remembering their mother who raised them singlehandedly; and a man spending 400,000 yen on firecrackers to send off the spirit of his father who died this year. As tears fall and fireworks explode, what were the customers feeling as they thought about their dearly departed?
An ice shop in Fukui that is open 24 hours a day, a rarity in Japan. The slowly frozen ice, ranging from huge sheets of ice to ice scraps, has a reputation for being "delicious and melting slowly. In the early morning, the store is crowded with anglers heading to the sea, and in the afternoon with people buying large quantities of ice for summer festivals. At night, bar-goers and drinkers from the nearby downtown area come to the ice shop to buy ice. One new mother of a snack bar says, "I'm getting divorced and I'm going to be independent, so I'm going to use this ice to make a water mix. Three days in summer, touching on “each happiness” born beyond the ice.
There's a monster-catching smartphone game that took the world by storm in the summer of 2016. And a park in the Kinshicho area of Tokyo has become the go-to spot for players looking for rare monsters. It's packed all day and night with people staring at their phones. There's a culinary school dropout on a 10-hour streak, an elderly couple catching monsters on a date, and young guys looking to pick up dates as well. For 3 days we meet monster hunters at this mysterious park in Tokyo.
From the outside, this butcher shop in Hiratsuka, a city just southwest of Tokyo, looks like any other. But lining its shelves are many kinds of meat rarely seen for sale in Japan, such as cow kidney and even pig's blood. Among the shoppers drawn by this vast array of meat are Peruvians buying for their usual weekend barbecue with family and relatives, and a Filipino woman cooking for her large family. The large volumes of meat purchased at this shop are transformed into ethnic dishes in people's kitchens. We listened to the stories of those who eat hearty, meaty meals while living far from their country of birth.
An hour's train ride from Ehime Prefecture's capital, you'll find Shimonada Station. This tiny, unmanned rail stop on the Seto Inland Sea coast is a serene but popular destination. With its charming bench facing the vast ocean, visitors of all ages flock to take in the picturesque scenery. An ailing man visits 2 days in a row just to get a picture of the sunset. Another man stops by whenever he has trouble at work. For 3 days we listen to visitors' stories at this placid little stop.
A golf driving range in Tokyo's Adachi Ward is one of the largest in the city and is open around the clock throughout the year. Golf has a reputation for being a "rich man's sport" in Japan, but 1,000 people visit this driving range each day and come for a myriad of reasons. A mother comes to practice late at night after her children go to sleep, a group of elderly men regularly meets up early in the morning, and one man even silently tees off because he feels uncomfortable being at home with his family. What are they thinking about each time they hit a golf ball into the distance?
There's a huge art supply store in Tokyo with Japan's largest selection. From 50-cent pencils to necessities for painting and sculptures, its 5 floors are filled with everything an artist could want, and 4,000 of them visit every day. Over these 3 days we meet shoppers from overseas looking for sketchbooks and calligraphy pens, a manga artist who just got published, and a painter who can't stop despite his family's protests. Peek inside their minds and discover why they love to create.
When the autumn leaves are at their finest, a huge tent village pops up in a valley in the Northern Alps in Nagano Prefecture. At night, lights inside these seemingly countless tents give off a colorful glow. Among the campers is a group of coworkers who usually hit bars in the city but traveled all the way for a drinking-party with a difference, and a man who dreamed of sleeping in a tent with his young daughter. Each tent pitched on the rocky ground at an altitude of 2,300 meters is there for a unique reason. For 3 days, we spoke to the people seeking something "a little different" under the starry sky.
Nakasu in Fukuoka Prefecture is one of Japan's largest nightlife districts. Tucked away among the 2,600 dining and entertainment establishments, here is a daycare center open from 7 a.m. until 2 a.m. the next morning. During the day, workers at the nearby office district drop off their children, while in the evening a steady stream of parents who work in Nakasu leave their kids in its care. The center has a busy period around midnight as parents pick up their children. They include an elegant restaurant manager wearing a kimono, and single parents working hard to earn enough to raise their children. For 3 days, we listened to the parents and children whose lives are supported by this daycare center.
In October 2016, an unusual mayor election was held for Iitate Village in Fukushima Prefecture. A ballot box was taken on a journey to reach the villagers, who had evacuated to scattered locations after the 2011 nuclear disaster. One candidate argued for a return to the village, while the other argued it was still too dangerous. Voters wanting to return did not want the village to end with their generation, while those opposed to returning were still concerned about the radiation. In the end, what hopes did the 5,200 voters place in the traveling ballot box?
At the end of October, 20,000 people of all ages and nationalities descend on the main intersection of Tokyo's Roppongi district to join in the Halloween festivities. Their costumes run the full gamut, from U.S. presidents to iconic Japanese anime characters. The revelers include young men who wear masks to pluck up the courage to chat up women, and a barber who grew his hair for a year as part of his costume. These Halloween activities grew naturally over a decade ago in Roppongi, an area popular also with expats. We spent 3 days uncovering the stories of the people behind the masks.
In the streets of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, the air is filled with a dozen foreign languages as people dance the samba and hula in the "Worldwide Uchinanchu (Okinawan) Festival". Around 7,300 Okinawan descendants have returned home from around the world to participate. They are those who went abroad for various reasons, some to find work and some driven from their homes after WWII. Others are 2nd and 3rd generations of Okinawans, and have come to learn more about their ancestral roots. We pay a visit to Kokusai Street, the heart of the festival, to listen to their voices.
2020
A liquor store in Ginza, Tokyo, boasts a selection of over 3,000 types of mainly wine and whiskey from around the world, including a bottle that costs over 18,000 US dollars. Their tastings attract many drink lovers: customers can choose from over 1,000 bottles, with each sample glass costing just a few dollars. There, we meet a man who has a collection of over 100 types of whiskey at home and a proprietress of a bar who has survived 40 years of fierce competition. A Chinese company president-cum-sake sommelier who exports sake shares a nugget of wisdom: if you like it, it's a good drink, regardless of the price. For 3 days, we asked liquor store customers about their drink of choice.
In December, in the Shimokita Peninsula of Aomori, there is a unique entertainment district in the center of Mutsu City. With over 200 snack bars and restaurants, “Shinto Shrine Alley” has been beloved by locals for years. An elderly woman runs a small drinking spot, a fisherman's son serves freshly caught fish at a pub, and a young person who moved from the city opened a stylish bar. This entertainment district is home to diverse shop owners. As the harsh winter approaches, this is the story of people living resiliently in a small town.
A store in Akihabara, Japan's biggest electronics town, sells over 100,000 electronics parts, including resistors, capacitors and circuit boards. Around 1,000 people come to the store every day, from professional engineers to people who like to build their own electronics for fun. Among the people we meet are a musician who makes his own effects units; a graduate student who makes drones to take a break from job hunting; and a man whose hobby of fixing car audio systems has turned into a job. For 3 days, we peeked inside the store to find out what it is people come to buy and what they hope to create with it.
Every winter, anglers from across the country flock to one of Japan's most popular surf spots - Ishizakihama, in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan. They all come in the hopes of catching the mulloway, a fish that approaches the shore around this time of year and can measure well over a meter in length. However, the chances of catching one is said to be as slim as winning the lottery. For 3 days, we spoke to the avid anglers who make every effort to capture these elusive creatures, and forge new friendships in the process.
The Great East Japan Earthquake and the ensuing Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 forced all the residents of Namie Town to evacuate. When the evacuation order was partially lifted in 2017, some residents began returning to their hometown. In the summer of 2019, a large supermarket opened its doors to eager shoppers. In this episode, we spent 3 days at the supermarket during the busiest time of the year - around New Year's - and asked customers how their lives have changed since the disaster, and how they will be spending the holidays, 9 years on.
Recently, “street pianos” have become a common sight in shopping districts and stations across the country. The piano installed in the underground shopping street of Kobe Station attracts over 100 people on busy days to play it. Interestingly, this piano was once used at a kindergarten in the city during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and the scars from that time still remain. Whether aware of this history or not, many people come to play the piano. Twenty-five years have passed since the earthquake. What has changed, and what remains the same? This program explores the present-day lives of people living in Kobe.
The setting is a 24-hour yakiniku restaurant in downtown Tokyo. Lunch starts at just 500 yen. People flock here day and night in search of hearty portions of meat at affordable prices. A group of security guards stopping by after their night shift, a couple living together who treat themselves to this once a week. Gathering around the charcoal grill, people share their true feelings that they wouldn't normally express. Meanwhile, there are also customers who quietly grill meat alone. This program takes a close look at a 24-hour barbecue restaurant in Tokyo's downtown area, where the aroma of delicious food fills the air.
For junior high or high school graduates, or drop-outs struggling to find their place in society, landing a well-paid, steady job can be almost impossible. But one training center in Tokyo teaches these disaffected youngsters practical skills during a six-month internship and transforms them into workers that companies need. About 400 people have completed this program at the center, and many of them have found excellent jobs at major IT firms and other companies. For 3 days, we closely watched the youngsters determined to turn their lives around and start climbing the career ladder.
Two brothers in their 70's operate this unpretentious street stall that has only one item on the menu - coffee. The stall is set up each evening in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, and has been a popular haunt for locals and visitors for almost half a century. Among the customers we met were: a successful psychiatrist who runs several hospitals; a company employee who always ends his week here; and a man who has been coming here since he was a little boy. For 3 days, we asked the customers about what makes this stall so special, and why they keep coming back.
By late June, about 1 month after Japan's coronavirus state of emergency had been lifted, people had gradually returned to Tokyo's Inokashira Park. Among the visitors to the popular park's lush greenery and large pond were friends catching up after a long time being unable to meet; a comedy duo practicing to achieve their goal of finding fame; and a company employee leisurely reading a book and enjoying the outdoors after being stuck inside during the previous months. What inspired these people to come here? For 3 days, we asked visitors about what the park means to them.
A large 24-hour sports gym in Tokyo's Harajuku district has members of all ages, sizes and strength levels. Among the people who come to lift weights are a man who started training to impress women; a woman finally spending time doing what she wants; and a man who used to be bullied in school but who is now a professional personal trainer. For 3 days, we asked members about what motivates them to continue coming to this gym.
Many people in Japan celebrate the Tanabata Star Festival -- a tradition marked each July 7 -- by writing a wish on a thin sheet of colored paper and tying it to a bamboo branch. Zojoji Temple, which stands near the base of Tokyo Tower, holds an annual festival during which visitors write their deepest wish in the hope it will come true. Among the visitors to the temple in the days leading up to Tanabata were a woman longing to meet a man she has had a crush on for 10 years, a couple worried that the coronavirus pandemic might jeopardize their bonuses and an Australian woman who comes every year with a message for her deceased father. For 3 days, we asked people at the temple about the wishes -- ranging from the modest to the extravagant -- they penned and the stories behind them.
A rare sandy beach road in Japan where you can drive along the shoreline. The setting for this episode is the Nagisa Driveway in Ishikawa Prefecture. The sand grains are fine, and when seawater seeps in and compacts them, they become hard enough for cars to drive on. This mysterious sandy beach attracts a variety of people. Young people come to enjoy the exhilaration, couples celebrate their birthdays here every year, and families return to reminisce about special memories. What kind of memories have they carved into this sandy beach? Over three days in summer, we listen to their stories by the shoreline.
A road near Tokyo's Roppongi district is an oasis for taxi drivers who are allowed to park here for as long as they like. There, the drivers can relax, eat and even sleep on a break. As the coronavirus pandemic rumbles on, how do drivers feel about their jobs? The drivers we met included one who started this career after the pandemic erupted, one thinking of quitting because his income has plunged and another who cannot quit because he has a family to support. For 3 days, we asked drivers who parked along this road about their job and what the future holds.
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival, which usually colors Tokyo's summer, has been canceled. During this quiet summer, we spend three days walking around the Sumida River promenade. We meet people who talk candidly even though they have just met, and young people whose dreams have been shattered by the coronavirus. A man who fell in love with Asakusa and plays the guitar by the river, and an elderly man who comes every day to reminisce about his late wife. Through the lives of the various people encountered along the river, this program documents the present moment, which is shifting despite the turmoil caused by the novel coronavirus.
The stage is a specialty store for wind instruments that boasts one of the largest selections in the country. With over 1,000 saxophones, trumpets, and other instruments on display, and repair services available, it attracts enthusiasts. People who have come to buy the instrument they’ve always wanted, or those who are thrilled to resume practice and play again. A blind music teacher repairing a clarinet for an autistic student. The world of music has fallen silent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What are people thinking as they face their instruments and play? We listen closely for three days.
The closure of Tokyo's Toshimaen amusement park in August 2020 marked the end of an era. For decades, El Dorado, the park's wooden carousel, was a popular attraction with visitors young and old. In the days before the park closed, visitors flocked to the carousel for a final ride, including an elderly couple who came on dates here before they married; a young man reminiscing about happier times with his family; and a woman who wants her late mother to see that she is back on her feet. For 3 days, we asked why this ride held such a special place in the hearts of so many people.
As many people have spent more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic, gardening has become a popular hobby. Tokyo's garden megastore with over 100,000 varieties of plants is the go-to place for people wanting flowers, vegetables, bonsai trees or rare shrubs. The center's customers include a man inspired by a cactus' power to survive, a woman who buys weakened plants so she can help them recover and a woman who feels most relaxed when she tends to her plants. For 3 days, we asked what plants mean to them.
The setting for this episode is a long-established cabaret in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district that closed its doors in February of this year, much to the regret of many. The establishment, which retains a strong atmosphere of the Showa era, attracts a variety of customers. There are men who come to enjoy their last conversation with their favorite hostesses. There are women who used to work as hostesses here and have come to pay their respects to their former colleagues. A singer who says she learned about life here takes the stage for the last time. A cabaret where various lives intersect. A look at the three days leading up to the closure. *Filming took place in February.
A Tokyo store selling cheap, good-quality kitchen equipment is a boon for restaurant owners, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. The store sells over 9,000 kinds of products, ranging from fridges to pots and pans to cutlery. Among customers we met were an owner of a Japanese-style bar who started meal deliveries; and a couple opening their dream café. The store also receives a steady stream of requests to buy equipment from restaurants that have shut their doors. For 3 days, we asked operators who shop here about what's on their minds as they search for their new equipment.
It's small and has only a few large animals, but a hilltop zoological park in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, has captured the heart of locals for decades. It is home to about 60 different species and is frequented by many, especially since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which has made it difficult to travel far. Among the visitors to this free admission zoo are people on family outings; a woman who comes on various milestones in her life; and a young couple who come at night to find nocturnal creatures in the park. For 3 days, we asked visitors why this seemingly ordinary zoo has become a special place for so many people.
With over 40 kinds of handmade sandwiches including egg, mince cutlet and even fruit available, it could be the wide selection that draws customers to this small shop near Sapporo's Susukino entertainment district. However, this shop has another major attraction: it is open 24 hours a day. Among the customers we met, include a female owner of a nearby bar; a mother preparing breakfast for her family at 4 AM; and a nightclub host needing a snack before work. For 3 days, we spoke to the customers dropping by this shop that never sleeps.
A major furniture outlet store in Chiba Prefecture boasts a stock of roughly 1,400 items from beds, sofas to tables. Customers are increasing since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic as people are staying in more and seeking to make their homes more comfortable. Among the customers we met were a man searching for a dining table hoping to spend quality time with his family, and a woman who is replacing all her furniture to surround herself with only the things she loves. The choices they make tell us something about who they are, and the changes and challenges they face in life. How do they picture their future? For 3 days, we listened to their stories.
The setting is a pet cemetery in Fuchu City, Tokyo, which has been in operation since the Taisho era. It has graves and columbariums for pets such as dogs and cats, and former owners visit daily to pay their respects. A woman who says her beloved dog helped bring her family closer together. A man who visits every weekend to pay respects to his guinea pig, which helped ease his loneliness. Funerals are also held at the cemetery, and some owners attend the cremation. As pets become increasingly integrated into families, what are the thoughts of those who visit here? Over three days, we listen to their voices.
A small dry cleaner in a western Tokyo commuter town is known for removing stubborn stains from garments and items that are precious to the owner. Among the customers are a woman who skipped getting her winter clothes cleaned during the coronavirus state of emergency; a nightclub waiter who gets his tailor-made suit cleaned monthly; and a woman who has taken it upon herself to raise her granddaughter. For 3 days, we asked customers about the tale behind each item getting carefully cleaned.
The 70-kilometer Shimanami Kaido cycling route, which links Honshu and Shikoku via a chain of bridges and islands, is a magnet for cyclists from across Japan - and even further afield. Among the people we met pedaling along this route were a father and son who come every year; a farmer reliving his youthful days on 2 wheels; and a middle-aged couple now able to spend more time together. Why is this route so special to them? For 3 days, we spoke to cyclists riding the Shimanami Kaido, come rain or shine.
2019
The setting is a 24-hour music studio in Shinjuku. Not only amateur musicians, but people of all ages and occupations come here. Office workers gather after work to prepare for a colleague's wedding reception. A group of housewives who used to be in a “girls' band.” Young people who are shy around others but love to sing. Who are they, what are their motivations, and what songs do they play? We spend three days immersed in the loud studio.
In this episode, the scene takes place at a so-called table-sharing lounge in Sendai City, where men and women of all ages and backgrounds come in the hope of finding someone special while they are matched with random strangers. The customers we encounter include a group of young women who say that there's a lack of men in their town, a hairstylist trying to get over a difficult breakup, and a 23-year-old farmer who wants to get married. The spread of social media has made it simple to contact someone in an instant, but many people we spoke to say they hardly meet anyone new in person. Who are they hoping to meet at this lounge? For 3 days around Christmas 2018, we follow the men and women trying to give Cupid a helping hand.
Since opening in 2015, Narita Airport's Terminal 3 for low-cost carriers has attracted more passengers each year as travelers swoop on the cheap airfares these airlines offer. Even though it lies about 600 meters from the nearest train station -- a bit of a challenge for people carrying bulky luggage -- around 20,000 people use this terminal every day. For 3 days in late December 2018, we spoke to people at this airport, including its 24-hour departure lobby and adjoining food court. As the year draws to a close, where will travelers fly off to?
On the first weekend of the new year, we visited a campground at the foot of Mount Fuji. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, people kept arriving and setting up tents. Winter camping is popular because “the air is clear and the scenery is beautiful” and “there are no bugs.” A company employee came alone for “solo camping.” A 50-year-old veteran camper showed off his favorite gear. The campground is buzzing with excitement over the boom that has returned after more than 20 years. What are everyone's thoughts as they gaze at Mount Fuji?
The redevelopment of the area around the station in Yotsuya, Tokyo, is progressing. In an alley off the main street, there is a small taiyaki shop that has been in business for 60 years. Every day, dozens of people line up, and the colder it gets, the longer the line becomes. The flavor is “grain-based red bean paste” only. The taiyaki, baked using the same mold that has been in use since the shop's founding, sells for 150 yen per piece, with 2,500 pieces sold daily. As Tokyo undergoes constant transformation at the end of the Heisei era, this traditional taiyaki shop continues to operate without changing its style. What kind of people, with what kind of thoughts, enjoy eating it?
If you start with a charm that supposedly brings good luck and offer to barter it with passersby on a bridge in Osaka Prefecture's Dotonbori district, what sort of trades will happen and people will you meet? For 3 days, we put this question to the test. The people who swapped items with us included a Frenchman who fell in love with Osaka and decided to live there, a women's soccer team visiting the city on a university graduation trip, and an elementary school student traveling with his father after participating in a national karate tournament. Through a series of trades, a connection gradually forms among strangers who otherwise would have no link with each other. When 72 hours are up, what has the "bringer of good luck" turned into?
A lottery ticket sales office in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. Despite sub-zero temperatures, people continue to flock to the office. This is a “legendary sales office” known for producing many big winners. Over its 70-year history, it has produced 38 millionaires, with total winnings exceeding 10 billion yen. In the past, there was a 50 million yen winning ticket hidden among the losing tickets, and there was also a small business owner who won 10 million yen just before his company went bankrupt. What kind of dreams do people entrust to the lottery? The story of those who dream of striking it rich.
This episode focuses on a small real estate agency near Fukuoka Prefecture's Nakasu entertainment district, the biggest in Kyushu. Despite being tucked away on the 3rd floor of a multitenant building and displaying no signage, this agency receives a steady stream of customers who have seen its online listings. This agency offers everything from dirt-cheap apartments where monthly rent costs less than 20,000 yen (about US $180) to commercial properties seeking new tenants. The growing range of properties handled by this real estate agency reflects the recent increase in Fukuoka's population. Moving to a new apartment or home can herald the start of a new chapter in life. What sort of people come to this real estate agency, and why do they want to rent a place?
In February, we took a close look at the “Giant Job Fair” held in Tokyo. Over 300 companies participated during the three-day event, attracting over 10,000 job seekers from across the country. People considering a career change due to the gap between their ideal job and reality, those who left abusive companies, and those forced to change their work hours due to family circumstances—the reasons for attending varied widely. For companies, it was a fierce competition for talented individuals. They desperately promoted their company's potential. Over the three days, the fair supported people standing at a crossroads in their lives as they took their “next step.”
The bay area of Osaka City, surrounded by rivers and canals. This episode focuses on the city-operated ferry. The fare is free, and it serves as an indispensable mode of transportation for local students and factory workers. A woman says she uses it to visit her tea-drinking friends. Someone uses it daily to care for their parents. A foreigner mentions heading to a night shift. Amidst the diverse daily lives of its passengers, the time spent on this ferry is a precious moment to switch one's mindset. In just one minute, what kind of stories will unfold?
“I rent myself out to do nothing.” There is a man who offers this strange service. Despite the fact that he does nothing but simply be present, requests for his services continue to pour in, and his Twitter followers exceed 100,000. People ask him to accompany them when filing for divorce, to observe their civil court cases, or to attend their weddings... These are requests that cannot be made to family or friends, but who are the people who need someone to simply be there?
Spring in Japan is a time of new beginnings and also goodbyes. On Fukue Island, the largest of the Goto Islands in the far west of Japan, locals have made sending off people moving away an intrinsic part of life. In the closing days of March, when many people move for work, education, marriage, or other reasons, the terminal building at the island's ferry port - and its wharf - fills with relatives, colleagues, classmates, former students, and friends who come to bid farewell. These high-spirited goodbyes feature a mixture of hugs, tearful messages, songs, and signs. For 3 days, we watched the people embarking on the next chapter of their lives away from Fukue, and the locals ensuring they get a farewell to remember.
Takadanobaba is home to dozens of universities, university preparatory schools, and vocational colleges, making it one of Tokyo's most popular student districts. An ordinary open space inside the rotary in front of the station is a regular meeting spot for students going to parties or club activities at all times of the day and night. Among the people we meet assembling at this hive of activity are university students going out for a few drinks after their soccer training, and a group of middle-aged men who have come for a reunion to take a walk down memory lane in a district where they spent a several years of their youth. For 3 days straddling the end of one academic year and the start of a new one, we asked the students, past and present, about why this iconic location holds a special place in their hearts.
At a large cemetery in a Tokyo suburb, cherry trees grow in between rows of traditional gravestones. The trees themselves are also graves - a form of tree burial called "jumokuso" gaining popularity across Japan as more people express their wish to return to nature after they die. For 3 days during cherry blossom season, we meet people flocking to the cemetery to pay their respects, including a man on his weekly visit to the grave of his late wife, who stood by him through difficult times; 3 brothers who always visit their father's grave together around this time of the year; and a woman who talks to her late husband as she sips on a beer, as they used to enjoy doing together.
Tokyo Freight Terminal is Japan's largest distribution hub, with goods from across the nation arriving and being shipped out 24 hours a day. Train drivers, engineers, truck drivers and forklift operators are among the army of workers who keep this vital facility running smoothly. The volume of freight shipped by rail in Japan is growing annually due to the rise in online shopping and a shortage of truck drivers. For 3 days, we spoke to the men and women making sure these cargoes reach their destinations - safely and on time.
A few minutes' walk from the famous intersection in Shibuya, Tokyo, is a 24-hour post office. In recent years, this post office has handled an increasing volume of packages for delivery, mainly due to the popularity of online flea market apps among people of all ages. In late April and early May 2019, Shibuya was abuzz as people celebrated the dawn of the Reiwa era. For 3 days spanning this period, we spoke to customers around the clock at Shibuya Post Office, including a woman sending clothes she sold online, an elderly man who has collected stamps for over 60 years, and a woman sending heartfelt messages to her 3 adult children. What else were people posting? And what sentiments were being delivered along with their postcards and packages?
As you drive through the farm roads of Chiba Prefecture, a mysterious spot suddenly appears. People dressed in camouflage uniforms run around a vast field with air guns in their hands. This is survival gaming, commonly known as “Saba-ge,” which is currently gaining popularity. It's not just children and young people who are hooked. There's an older man who came to find a hobby after retirement. There's also a woman who came alone, away from household chores and childcare. What is it about this activity that captivates adults?
Amid the ongoing health boom, many people have been tempted to try "short-term fasting" to improve their physical and mental condition. Visitors to a facility in Izu Kogen in Shizuoka Prefecture, willingly fast for several days not only to become healthier, but also to shake off feelings of gloom and unhappiness. The visitors include a man who manages a real estate agency who says that the fasting has given him a whole different perspective on life, a woman needing a break from caring for her elderly father, and a woman who took over her husband's design company after he died of cancer 10 years ago. During their stay, they eat only a rice porridge and a bland bowl of miso soup each morning and night. What do these people want to change, and what do they hope to achieve by fasting at this facility?
A few minutes' walk from Asagaya Station, Tokyo, is a traditional goldfish fishing pond that has been operating in a quiet residential area for more than 90 years. Anybody can casually stop by and drop a line in the pond, which is popular with adults and children alike. The customers we encountered included a man who has been regularly fishing there for more than 50 years, a man who drives for 3 hours every weekend to try his luck at the pond, and a woman who catches up to 200 goldfish in just one day. What are they thinking about as they sit around this pond richly stocked with various varieties of goldfish?
For some people, a wig is a "secret item" that dramatically transforms their appearance and mood. An underground shopping mall in Shinjuku, Tokyo, is home to a wig shop that has been providing all manner of wigs to men and women, young and old, for more than 40 years. Some of the customers we meet include a woman in her 40's worried about her thinning hair, a fitness instructor seeking a wig that would suit her costume for a dance performance, and a middle-aged man who enjoys cross-dressing. Each customer carefully selects a wig that matches their needs. What are they hoping to change about themselves, and who do they want to become?
A huge footwear store in Kobe attracts customers from far and wide. About 100,000 pairs of shoes, sandals, and boots fill the shelves of this store, which covers over 3,000 square meters. But the biggest surprise inside the store is the prices. Sandals are priced from just 499 yen (less than $5), pumps start at 980 yen, and 2 pairs of business leather shoes cost a total of 5,000 yen. Every day, customers seeking a bargain on footwear are drawn to this store. But for many of them, shoes are more than just something worn on their feet. For 3 days in early summer, we listened to the personal stories of the customers who come here to save money for the next step in their life.
An indoor climbing gym in Kawasaki City, near Tokyo, gives climbers a venue to test their physical limit and improve their skills while experiencing thrills - and a sense of achievement - not often found in daily life. The facility's 4-meter-tall bouldering wall and towering climbing walls more than 10 meters high provide challenging obstacles for enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, ranging from novices to some of Japan's finest climbers. For 3 days, we spoke to the climbers determined to reach the top of these walls - and to overcome other challenges they face in life along the way.
Okinawa is seeing an increase in tourists every year. Construction of hotels and department stores is booming throughout the city. Behind the scenes, driving schools where you can obtain truck and bus licenses are also bustling. A woman in her 20s is changing careers and aiming to become a large truck driver. A man who retired and moved to his dream destination of Okinawa, now aspires to become a bus driver. A college student who is attending driving school with money earned from part-time work dreams of becoming a civil servant in the future. What are the dreams they envision beyond obtaining their licenses?
Japan's population continues to gravitate to the Tokyo area, but some people long to move from the capital to different corners of the nation. A consultation center in Tokyo's Yurakucho district is a magnet for anyone considering such a shift. At the center, consultants from 39 prefectures offer free advice, information, and handy tips about housing, employment, and any other aspect of daily life that awaits new residents. About 70% of people who come seeking for advice are aged 40 or younger. Among the visitors we met over 3 days was a man in his 60's looking for a new place to live after a recent divorce, and a man who took early retirement so he could return to Kyushu and spend more time with his children. Why do people want to move from Tokyo? And what do they hope to find after moving to their new home?
The setting is a self-service car wash in Shinagawa, Tokyo, where people line up to wait their turn. Using spray bottles filled with water and detergent, they take their time polishing their beloved cars. A woman who bought a car for work but has since become so fascinated by it that weekend drives have become indispensable. A couple who wash their car instead of going on a date. A man in his 70s who is considering returning his driver's license. Each with their own circumstances, they silently wash their cars. At the end of July, after the rainy season ended, what do they want to wash away along with the dirt on their cars?
As Japan's society continues to gray, the nation's hospitals are facing a chronic shortage of beds. At the same time, a growing number of people want to spend their final days at home rather than in a hospital, and others would rather care for ill relatives in their own home. Home care nurses provide invaluable support for people who choose to receive medical treatment at home. For 3 days, we followed the home care nurses that look after more than 190 patients living in Higashikurume in western Tokyo. What do these visits mean to the patients, who ranged from young children with cerebral palsy to the city's increasingly elderly residents?
In August 2019, more than 2,000 motorcycle fans from across Japan assembled at a remote parking area in the volcanic Mount Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture. They came to be photographed with their prized two-wheelers for an album produced at an event held only once every 10 years. Many attendees have been to all of the event's 5 editions since it started in 1979. How have the participants' lives changed over the decade since the previous event? And what has stayed the same? For 3 days, we spoke to the motorcyclists who made this journey that was also a trip down memory lane.
We follow a blood donation bus on its journey from town to town in Hokkaido Prefecture. Japan as a whole faces a chronic shortage of blood donors, but Hokkaido has the highest donor rate in the nation. In a prefecture where the population density is low, this bus is what makes it possible to collect everyone's blood donation by traveling from one town to another. Some of the donors we meet are: a man who has donated blood 289 times, a woman who is donating blood as an act of gratitude and a nursery school teacher who feels refreshed by having blood drawn. We spend 3 days visiting small towns in Hokkaido, on a mission of compassion.
Working styles are changing with the times. People no longer have to be physically present at their office at a certain time, and not everyone wants to be an "employee" at a company. In this episode, we visit a shared office space in Nagatacho - home to the National Diet Building and the center of national politics. In this place, which resembles a cafe more than an office, there are several co-working spaces and rental offices. A variety of people spend their day here - from freelancers and entrepreneurs, to people who have an office elsewhere but who use the space as a satellite office. We spent 3 days following them, as they search for their own unique work styles and chase their dreams.
Osaka Castle, which stands in the heart of Osaka City, western Japan, is surrounded by a park covering more than 100 hectares. Each year, over 2.7 million people visit this urban park famous for its castle, gardens and multipurpose hall. This green oasis is open 24 hours a day, so people come here around the clock. For some, it is a place to do exercise; for others, a place to relax or sightsee. For 3 days, we asked visitors what makes the Osaka Castle Park special and why it holds a place in their hearts.
This episode is a Chinese version of “Document 72 Hours” produced by a Chinese production company. The setting is Kunming, Yunnan Province. Blessed with a warm climate throughout the year, in autumn, flocks of black-tailed gulls arrive here from Siberia. There is a large pond in the park in the center of the city, where thousands of seagulls rest their wings for several months until spring. In the spring, when the seagulls fly away, what kind of feelings do people have as they see them off?
A dentist's office in Fukuoka, southern Japan, has people streaming in around the clock to be relieved of their pain or to improve their smile. Some of the patients include: a man who lost 3 of his front teeth in a fight back in high school; an older man who has had dentures since he was in his 40's; and a university student who says that getting her teeth fixed gave her a more positive outlook on life. Each chip, crack, cavity and missing tooth has a story behind it. For 3 days, we hear about some of the drama in these patients' lives.
A liquor store in Ginza, Tokyo, boasts a selection of over 3,000 types of mainly wine and whiskey from around the world, including a bottle that costs over 18,000 US dollars. Their tastings attract many drink lovers: customers can choose from over 1,000 bottles, with each sample glass costing just a few dollars. There, we meet a man who has a collection of over 100 types of whiskey at home and a proprietress of a bar who has survived 40 years of fierce competition. A Chinese company president-cum-sake sommelier who exports sake shares a nugget of wisdom: if you like it, it's a good drink, regardless of the price. For 3 days, we asked liquor store customers about their drink of choice.
In this episode, the stage is a low-budget wedding hall in Tokyo, where 30-40 couples shuffle through every day for affordable, small-scale, short notice wedding arrangements. For many of the couples, the simple weddings are a display of best effort in the face of the demands of work and family. Some skip the ceremony altogether, opting to just have pictures taken to commemorate a turning point in their lives. For all the couples, the weddings represent a profound triumph over adversity, and celebration of a new life together. People from all walks of life, and their small wedding stories.
Every autumn, people from across Japan flock to a large observation area about 1,600 meters above sea level in the mountainous village of Achi, Nagano Prefecture. The picture-postcard views include forests of vibrant autumn leaves, starry skies and a sea of clouds. Many visitors arrive in the wee hours so they can reach the summit and watch the morning sunrise above the horizon - often making a wish as the new day dawns. For 3 days, we asked people why they come here and what is going through their minds as they soak up the views.
The setting is a little-known amusement facility in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. With billiards and table tennis available from 100 yen for 30 minutes, the facility is bustling with customers day and night. During the day, you'll see elderly people returning from shopping, groups of middle-aged and older adults sweating it out at table tennis, and at night, young people quietly enjoying games. Some reminisce about their youth, others try to distract themselves from loneliness, and still others cherish the time spent with their families... This program delves into the amusement facility where various lives intersect.
2014
As the recession continues to hit Hokkaido, Japan, a small pro wrestling group fights an uphill battle to energize the prefecture. The group was started about 10 years ago by a pro wrestling-loving salesman who became saddened at the plight of his home prefecture. Since then, the wrestlers have toured Hokkaido to conduct morale-boosting events, even as they have struggled to make a profit. It is now December, and the group is preparing for its 3-day winter event. They will tour Yubari where the local government has gone bankrupt and 2 other cities. This program captures the wrestling group as it travels from town to town, raising the spirits of a local population that actively supports each other so that they can all get by.
In 2013, one of Japan's largest "sharehouse" or shared-living apartment houses, opened in Tokyo. It can accommodate 260 people. Open to men, women and couples, it instantly reached full occupancy. There are aspiring artists, foreigners on short-term stays for work or study...people with all sorts of ambitions. In the evenings, in the common spaces, strangers lend each other a sympathetic ear. Parallel lives, intersecting lives: we encounter a variety in the course of 3 days spent getting to know the denizens of this remarkable establishment.
An “Entrepreneur Contest” was held last year under the auspices of a global IT company to discover talents who can give shape to innovative ideas more quickly. The duration of the contest was three days and two nights. Participants were divided into teams and worked frantically to come up with new ideas, and then worked tirelessly to brush up their ideas for a presentation on the final day of the contest. The contest not only tests the participants' ability to come up with ideas, but also their ability to coordinate and execute their teams. If they win the competition, they will advance to the world competition and can expect to receive funding from sponsors. This is a coming-of-age story of young people struggling to achieve success.
The far north of Hokkaido, with a view of Sakhalin in the distance. At Cape Soya, where a severe snowstorm blows, there is "Japan's northernmost bus stop. In winter, there are few visitors to the bus stop, and the only view is of the Sea of Okhotsk, but for a few days during the year-end and New Year's holidays, many people gather there. Company employees rethinking their lives, cab drivers returning from migrant work, motorcyclists who have traveled hundreds of kilometers in the snow...these are just a few of the people who gather at the bus stop. For three days, they put aside their usual titles and huddle together as "travelers. What are they seeking in their journey to the north?
In downtown Naha City, there is a barbershop that is open 24 hours a day, a rarity in Japan. Customers include children with shaved heads, employees of nearby restaurants, and office workers who can only get their hair cut at night due to their busy work schedule. The three days leading up to the coming-of-age ceremony in particular draw crowds of newcomers who want to enjoy a one-day hair style. Some have returned to Okinawa after having broken their dreams of working outside the prefecture, and others are bidding farewell to their teenage years of wild fun... What are the true feelings of Okinawan men that cannot be experienced on a sightseeing trip?
Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. Along the road to the nuclear power plant, there is a supermarket that has seen a significant increase in sales since “that day”. The main products are boxed lunches and side dishes. In the evenings, many workers at the nuclear power plant and decontamination workers come to the supermarket on their way home from work. The city is said to be conversely bustling with people who have come to the area since the accident to help with reconstruction. The program looks at Fukushima today at a supermarket where “local housewives buying ingredients for dinner,” “people who evacuated from villages near the nuclear power plant,” and “workers helping with the recovery” pass by.
With the ubiquity of digital cameras and smart phones, we live in an age of easy photographs. It's easy to print them out, too, using machines at a home electronics store. One patron prints daily photos of meals he's made; another prints a picture of his deceased father; and a long-distance couple exchange photos of each other to mark their love. This is the story of people who treasure time they've spent with special people and capture irreplaceable memories in the form of printed photographs.
For people with time, car ferries are an inexpensive mode of travel in Japan, which is surrounded by water. Each year, about 200,000 passengers ride one ferry line that connects Nagoya, Sendai and Hokkaido. All kinds of people board the ship, such as laborers going to booming Nagoya to find work; college students taking economical and easy graduation trips; and temp employees seeking relaxation. What will we learn about present-day Japan through the people we meet onboard over a 3-day period?
A giant discount store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, has 40,000 items for sale. It pulls in customers around the clock. This episode shoots during the 3 days just prior to a near-doubling of Japan's consumption tax, so the store is inundated with "rush-demand" shoppers. People loading up with daily necessities. Others losing perspective and buying items they don't really need. The guy who rushes in on the final night, and... We are prompted to consider the meaning of "shopping" and of "consumption".
The Tokyo SKYTREE opened in 2012 as Japan's tallest structure. Each day 100,000 people flock here to try to take photos of the giant radio tower. They come from all walks of life, including a poor student hoping to save enough to go up to the observation deck someday, and an Indonesian couple marking their golden wedding anniversary. At night, the tower is also a favorite destination for young people. This program documents 3 days at the foot of the SKYTREE, Tokyo's new tourist attraction.
Over 80% of Japanese college grads landed jobs last spring, the main hiring season. However, in Shibuya, an area of Tokyo known for its youth culture, more than 200 young jobseekers a day paid a call on Youth "HelloWork", a special division of the government's job-matching program. Some say they want satisfying regular employment, not temporary work. Some, entering their 30's, hope the favorable economic climate can help them transition into a different job. But 30% of newly employed college grads quit within 3 years. What, then, do young people want? We listen in and find out.
Ueno Park is a huge park representing Tokyo. Surrounded by offices, downtown, and residential areas, people spend their time in this vast park. During the cherry blossom season, the park is said to attract 2 million visitors from all over the country. This program closely observes the three days of the weekend when the park is at its busiest. Some locals do exercises while watching the cherry blossoms every morning, some businessmen put all their energy into their company's cherry blossom viewing event, and some people look back over the flowers and think about their farewells in the old days.... Various lives intersect amidst the dancing snowstorm of cherry blossoms.
Uguisudani is one of the least-frequented stops on Tokyo's Yamanote mass-transit loop line. But it's well known for its nightlife. The transition is a stark one, from sparsely traveled daytime sidewalks to a garish neon nighttime of "love hotels" and other establishments of the adult services industry. This episode focuses on an all-night eatery that for 3 decades has provided a welcome sanctuary for the weary, the hungry, the thirsty and the lovelorn. An intermission from the dramas of their lives.
Recently, all across Japan, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people turning to self-service storage to keep things they have no room for at home, or to keep "treasures" away from other family members. This episode interviews clients of a huge self-storage facility in Osaka, over the course of 3 days. The facility contains over a thousand units, large and small. In these rentable units, accessible 24/7, clients keep everything from treasured family mementos to secret collections. Getting people to display such private possessions on camera was far from easy, but what they showed us was...
When people die, they go "to the mountain". So holds the folklore in the Tohoku (northeastern) region of Japan, referring to Mt.Osore, in Aomori Prefecture. During the national holidays in May, pilgrims travel to this holy place from all over the country. Some, like a couple who lost a child, go there ritually. Others try to communicate with deceased loved ones via a necromancer. Still others are tourists, there to collect a certificate. The bleak landscape matches the emotional desolation of many of the visitors. We spend 3 days with folks on the borderline between life and death.
Yokosuka - Machida - Hachioji - Kasugabe and "National Route16" connects the Kanto suburbs. The townscape where there are only large shopping malls and chain stores is attracting attention as "a landscape that symbolizes modern Japan". It took three days to run on the 250km ring road. Listen carefully to what people you meet on the road are happy. A young man who does not want to leave his comfortable hometown, and a homeless man walks silently on the way late at night. What is the happiness of Nippon seen from the 16th Line?
Akune city is located in rural Kagoshima Prefecture. More than 40% of its population is over 65 years old. Its famous 24/7 supermarket is stocked with 390,000 items, from groceries, cars, tombstones to hoof trimming tools. 80% of the locals visit the supermarket each day including the elderly who come to socialize and young people who hang out there at night, lamenting the lack of job opportunities. While big cities thrive, people living in the countryside get a lot from simple pleasures.
In June, the Shonan coast overlooking Enoshima Island. On a clear day, people who cannot wait for summer to arrive come to see the sea. Families frolic in the water by the waves, couples huddle together. Among the happy people, there is one figure that stands out: a solitary person staring at the sea. Tired office workers, women in love. Even at night, people with various circumstances appear one by one on the quiet beach.... What do people think about on a beach where there is nothing but the sea and the sky? A story of three days waiting for summer.
It's a June weekend, and the rainy season in Japan's central Kanto region is being inaugurated with an apparently endless deluge. But in spite of the drenching, people must travel. Where are they all going in the pelting rain? At a 24-hour gas station, we meet a soaked construction worker obliged to cease work because of the rain, a traveler going to meet a child living elsewhere, a man working a night job to support his family...As they pause at the gas station to fill their tanks, they tell us their stories. Then, hoping for the rain to cease, they resume their journeys.
Along a national highway in the suburbs of Saitama. There is an indoor fishing pond where men dangle their fishing lines until late at night. Twenty species of fish, including carp and Hakurei, swim in the 20-meter-long pool. You can rent a Saomote, but it is not easy to catch the fish, as they are used to being caught. Visitors include businessmen looking for new jobs, young people discussing their future, and mysterious men in sunglasses who appear late at night. What are the thoughts floating in the minds of these men as they wait patiently for the float to sink? Three days in which life can be seen beyond the fishing line.
In Shibuya, Tokyo, there's an animal hospital taking emergency cases 24/7. It was founded 46 years ago. Doting pet owners from all over Tokyo take their beloved charges here when sudden need arises: the dog mauled by a feral cat; the hamster with a broken leg; the cat injured in a traffic accident; some 100 cases daily. We meet a couple caring for a dog with dementia, an elderly woman whose cat has lived with her for 23 years.... Pets and owners can forge bonds that transcend even family ties.
The glamorous world of women spreads out in a room of a building in Kabukicho. It is a nail salon that stays open all night until 8 am. Some are cabaret girls who go there to “please customers,” while others draw pictures of the sea or sunflowers to "give their nails a summery look. Their goal is to enjoy “girl talk that you can only talk about here” in addition to having their nails done. During the three hours it takes to get their nails done, they enjoy chatting about everything from work complaints to relationship advice, which they would not be able to talk about in front of a man. The true faces of the women are revealed through their beautiful nails during these three days.
Within 20km of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant - site of the 2011 nuclear disaster - is the town of Naraha. The train line that passes through the town was closed after the disaster, but was reopened in June. Although residents are not legally allowed to stay in Naraha, a variety of people come and go from the town's Tatsuta Station. The program captures these visitors - who include residents making short visits, staff at the nearby Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant, and travelers coming for their own reasons - over 3 days.
It was August 6 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. While the familiar annual solemn peace ceremony is broadcast live on TV, people from all over the world flock to the area around the event site, making their own arguments and performances. Young people singing songs about the atomic bombing, religious groups offering prayers, foreign tourists in a tourist mood, people shouting radical ideas.... Sixty-nine years have passed since the end of the war. In a corner of the park overlooking the A-bomb Dome across the river, three days were spent looking at different forms of peace.
In southern Chiba Prefecture, a 24-hour convenience store opened 3 years ago in a huge general hospital. It offers everything from reduced-sugar snacks to loose clothing, and it's busy all the time. One young customer narrowly escaped death. Another patient comes first thing in the morning to buy a newspaper. Doctors working late at night slip in between surgeries to buy instant noodles. Get a unique look at the human condition in this "oasis" at a hospital isolated from our everyday lives.
On the last weekend of summer vacation, Haneda Airport is crowded with travelers and people returning home. I spent three days in front of the departure and arrival counters, holding my camera. A girl is excited to travel alone for the first time during her summer vacation. An elderly couple reuniting with their son who has left their hometown for the first time in a long time. And there are those who are flying off to faraway places to start their new lives in September. People who are taking a new step forward and those who are seeing their departures off. This is a story of encounters and partings captured at one of the world's largest airports, used by 68 million passengers annually.
Asakusa is a world-renowned tourist attraction. North of Sensoji Temple, in the deep “back Asakusa” area that does not appear in guidebooks, there is a coffee shop that has been in business for over 40 years. Its specialty is Neapolitan. The store opens at 9:00 a.m. and stays open until 5:00 a.m. The store is full of locals, including Asakusa entertainers who live nearby, former innkeepers, and rickshaw drivers. At midnight, the store is rented out to cab drivers who take a break.... This is a story of Edo nikko (people of Edo) whose true feelings are exchanged without any pretense of decoration.
Underneath the lively Ameyoko Market in Tokyo's central district of Ueno is a far less well known below-ground market for foreign foodstuffs. Follow the scent of exotic spices down to that basement floor, and you'll hear a rich mixture of Japanese, Chinese, Tagalog, English.... Then you'll see Shanghai Crab, frogs, mysterious fish and unusual vegetables. It all started 3 decades ago with a single vendor of Chinese foodstuffs; now it's greatly expanded. The customers are 90% foreigners. We get a glimpse into the expatriate life of foreigners in Japan, longing for a taste of home.
In front of JR Gotanda Station, where offices and bars line the streets. From a room in a small building, you can hear the sound of a boxer hitting a sandbag. It is a long-established boxing gym, open from 6:30 a.m. to midnight. The gym is famous for having produced a number of world champions, but people come to the gym for a variety of reasons. Some are company employees who come to relieve stress from work. A junior high school student who comes to the gym because he admires his father, a former professional boxer. A former delinquent boy who is determined to make a fortune.... What are these people fighting against in this corner of the city?
Koenji, Tokyo. An old-fashioned wooden building stands in an alley past a pure shopping street. It is a long-established public bathhouse that is open until 2 am. The baths are filled with workers returning from construction sites, young people living in cheap apartments and pursuing their dreams, parents and children who have been going there for 60 years, even a mysterious long-haired man... Men and women of all ages who happen to be there sweat in the same bath, talk about trivial matters, and drink coffee milk in one gulp. Once they hit it off, they went to an izakaya across the street for a quick drink. This is a story of an old-fashioned public bathhouse that is disappearing from the city.
The Yamanote Line is Japan's most famous loop line. In the blink of an eye, you are whisked to the next station, where yet another distinct side of Tokyo is unveiled. In recent times, an increasing number of people have walked or cycled along the Yamanote Line tracks to experience the diversity of the city. In this program, we spend 3 days walking along the entire 35-kilometer line. What dreams do people have as they live their everyday lives? We met various people - including aspiring singers, foreign students and a plumber - along the line and recorded the "real" Tokyo of today.
Hey," he said! Hey!“ ”Is this bento ready yet?“ ”A big bowl of rice!" The men shout with authority at a 24-hour bento shop in the port of Kisarazu, Chiba. The store is crowded from early morning to late at night with workers from ports and steel mills. An elderly man who comes to the restaurant every day and spends all his time there receives a special soft rice ball.... Three days in a corner of Tokyo Bay, a bento shop fills people's hearts.
Shibetsu Town, Hokkaido, Japan, is a place where the wind blows with a steady breeze. Every autumn, during the salmon fishing season, a group of young people gather from nowhere. They have dreadlocks and large earrings. They are known as “Shakebai,” an unusual-looking group. They work part-time at a salmon processing plant in response to a call from the fishery cooperative, which is short on staff. Backpackers travel the world with the money they earn as “shakelabai,” and seasonal workers travel all over Japan, from Okinawa to Hokkaido. What is their new way of life as they wander and work?
There is a leisure building in Osaka's Minami district that is familiar to anyone in the Kansai region. The Ajien Building was once home to a huge cabaret that was said to be the best in Japan and a dance hall where Pink Lady used to take the stage every night before her breakthrough. The cabaret was closed due to the prolonged recession, but young people opened small izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) one after another in its place. It has become a center of Osaka's underground culture, including comedy and cosplay. Three days in the old and new “mecca of nightlife”.
Shinjuku Ni-Chome is one of the deepest spots in Japan. In a corner of the area, there is an unusual teishoku-ya (set meal restaurant) that opens only late at night. The popular menu consists of hamburgers and grilled fish. The menu includes hamburgers and grilled fish, which are popular with gay and lesbian customers, who enjoy a bowl of white rice with these dishes as a side dish.
2015
3,400 babies per year. In Kumamoto Prefecture, well known for Kumamon, there is an obstetrics and gynecology clinic that boasts the highest number of births in Japan. Mothers fight day and night against labor pains and give birth to a new life with all their might. The program set up a camera in the waiting room of such a hospital to listen to the voices of families anxiously awaiting the birth of their newborns. A young father weeps in the hallway, nervous and moved. A little brother is bewildered by the arrival of his new family. The story of each family member who can only watch over their mother, but pray hard for the birth.
At the end of last year, the long-established bowling alley “Milano Bowl” in front of the Shinjuku Koma Theater closed its 47-year history. It had gained popularity for its all-night hours of operation until 6:00 a.m., but its closure was decided due to a decline in the bowling population that could not be halted. People gather to lament the last days of the bowling alley. Young people drop by to say goodbye after a night of drinking. Elderly men come first thing in the morning. Some are in tears when they learn for the first time that the restaurant is closing.... And those who met by chance at the bowling alley played the "last game.
At Christmastime in Sakae, a busy district of Nagoya, people are rushing to an unexpected place: the lost and found office, where items left on buses and subways are collected. Each year more than 100,000 articles are turned in, ranging from the usual umbrellas and gloves to the amazing, like dentures and wooden grave tablets. The office's storage is awash with items forgotten by Christmas shoppers and year-end partygoers. Who will retrieve them? Hear some of the stories behind the lost articles.
Awake, my lost dream, wake up." The residents of the student dormitory at Hokkaido University, which has a history of more than 100 years and is home to 400 students, are one of the few self-governing dormitories in the country that are run entirely by the students themselves. Rent is about 10,000 yen per month. Some stay up late at night drinking with their friends, others devote themselves to their studies, and so on. Recently, many students enter the dormitory for financial reasons, but some gradually fall in love with it and end up staying. This is a coming-of-age story of the “bunkaras” who still live and breathe in the northern lands of Japan.
Since Japan's bubble economy burst in the early 1990's, saving money has become an established part of life for many people. Shops selling discount coupons and cheap tickets are a magnet for people seeking to stretch every last yen. One such shop in Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo measures only a few square meters, but more than 400 customers go there daily. A temp worker buys subway coupon tickets to save 10 yen; a woman buys vouchers that save her 36 yen so she can enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant; whilst another woman sells vouchers she does not need for a tidy sum of cash. What dreams and happiness are people seeking as they save a few yen here and there? This program looks at people and money, as seen from the counter of a tiny shop.
Slugs in the bathroom.“ ”Assemble the plastic model by tomorrow!" Calls for help ring out throughout the night from a Tokyo handyman, who receives 300 requests a day, many of which are small matters that he could have asked his family or friends for in the past. Many of the 300 requests a day are for small things that one could have asked family or friends for in the past, such as “just a little companionship,” or "buy a cake from the store I remember. The number of one-person households is on the rise, and neighborhoods are becoming less friendly. What are the real wishes of modern Japanese people hidden under the seemingly trivial advice?
The Akabane region of Tokyo is a "sacred ground" for drinking, with inexpensive bars and pubs lining the streets. On one corner stands a small shop that serves oden, a winter stew that's a Japanese soul food. From security guards finishing their night shifts, to mothers buying dinner to take home for their families, to office workers enjoying a night on the town - these are the stories of the people who line up at the counter and washes down oden with sake for warmth from the winter chill.
Pai-yama," as it is commonly known, is located in front of Sannomiya Station in the heart of Kobe. An object resembling a boob in the center of the square has become a landmark for people waiting to meet. In January of this year, 20 years after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the atmosphere of the plaza changed drastically. Countless people headed for the memorial service even in the dim light of day. Young people began to talk about their own experiences of the disaster in front of the cameras.... What are people thinking as they live their lives in this city that has recovered?
For 40 years, a vending machine has stood in a quiet corner of Akita Port, in northern Japan. Even when a winter snowstorm batters the area in mid-January, a constant trickle of customers is drawn to this time-worn machine that sells plain soba and udon noodles in a steaming-hot soup. A father and son out in the blizzard; a designated driver on his way home from work; and a cancer patient reminiscing about the past. Even though the machine has become prone to breakdowns that have weakened the flavor of its soup, customers come around the clock for a warming bowl of noodles. Why is it so popular? This program reveals why many customers keep coming back.
There's a driving school in a suburb east of Tokyo that prepares learners for all kinds of vehicle licenses, from cars, trucks and buses to construction equipment. Each spring the school is packed with people of all ages; a high school student getting her driver's license, a former hairstylist starting a new career as a truck driver, a care worker from the Philippines. These are the stories of people who seek to gain new skills in order to grasp new opportunities in work and in life.
Men lying naked in the blue light.... A cold wind blows in February in Ikebukuro. In a tanning salon inside a multi-tenant building, men in wheat-colored tanning suits are sweating, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a tropical country. The men close their eyes and say, "Tanning is vitality. Their minds are filled with thoughts of their failing jobs, their estranged wives, and their uncertain futures. What will people grasp by getting dark skin here?
Capsule hotels have quite suddenly become a popular choice of accommodation nowadays in Japan. Travelers from around the world have become fascinated with capsule hotels as word gets around about their low prices and the novelty of staying in a small cave-like "room". At one major capsule hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo, languages from every corner of the globe ring out each day. Convenience is not the only reason tourists and locals come to this hotel. Some people stay here while they chase their dreams; others need a place to stay because they cannot go home for certain reasons. For 3 days, we filmed the myriad of people that converge in this remarkable facility, and discovered the diverse life stories that inspired them to stay in its tiny capsule rooms.
Four years have passed since “that day” in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. In this episode, we listen to the unpretentious conversations between passengers and drivers that take place in cabs. A person involved in the nuclear power plant goes out for a drink in between hard work. Fishermen gather at a snack bar because they are unable to go fishing due to the disaster. As reconstruction progresses, the number of people moving to Iwaki from the surrounding areas is rapidly increasing. What kind of conversations are going on in the cab cabs driving through the ever-changing city? The tweets inside the cabs reveal the real daily life of the people.
A study, a ritual room, a school infirmary.... People dressed in anime and game cosplay pose and shutter each other in various settings. The cosplay building in Koto-ku has 80,000 members, and more than 20 studios are visited daily by women who come to take pictures of themselves in a completely different way than usual. Some of the women say, “I want to erase myself to become a character,” or "I'm cosplaying in memory of my deceased lover. What are the thoughts of these women in their gorgeous costumes?
It's spring, a time for new beginnings. And what better way to start a new stage in life than with a new set of wheels. This is Auto District Avenue, a mile-long stretch of a national highway where people can compare new and used cars at 30 different dealers. Here we look at used car dealers where we meet fathers helping children start new jobs, a young man who buys a sports car with a loan, and families saying goodbye to special memories. Behind each car is a story about life and dreams.
In April, Kanto was intoxicated by a blizzard of flowers. One of the most “famous places for secret cherry blossom viewing” is the Tama River, which runs 138 kilometers from Haneda to Okutama. In this program, the participants loaded their bicycles with cameras and rode along the riverbanks in search of cherry blossoms admired by the locals. Fishermen in Haneda look up at the cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms in Setagaya, where he has fond memories of his children. The young men we met late at night along the 2-kilometer-long row of cherry trees in Fussa. This is a three-day flower journey in search of cherry blossoms that are not well known to everyone, but are important to each of us.
Thousands of years old giant trees tower in the forests of Yakushima, a World Heritage Site. Many people from all over Japan are now visiting the island to see the “Jomon cedars,” which can only be seen by climbing a half-day mountain trail 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo. A young man says he visits whenever he feels lost in life. Fathers travel with their sons who are on the verge of adulthood. The 30-meter-high giant tree sometimes glistens in the drizzle, sometimes glows red in the morning sun, and changes its appearance from moment to moment. What do people think when they see the awe-inspiring Jomon cedars?
“I won gum!” How was your class change?" The lively voices of children echo in a candy shop in Hyogo Ward, downtown Kobe, where a girl, clutching a 10-yen coin, ponders what to buy. A boy spends his time at the store until his working parents return home. At night, young people who used to be regular customers come to the store to soak up the nostalgic atmosphere. They eat candy, fight, make up again, and grow up. The camera is set on the small but profound "world of children.
A stone's throw from Tokyo Tower and the main Roppongi intersection is a 24-hour Turkish kebab restaurant whose clientele hails from every corner of the globe. Cheap, fast and convenient, the kebabs attract businessmen from foreign-affiliated companies during the day, and in the evening many foreigners who work in Roppongi's nightspots drop in for a meal. The area never sleeps and is at its busiest after the last trains have left. For 3 days, we listened to the innermost thoughts of the foreigners who frequent this restaurant in a Tokyo nightlife district.
Three days in Mt. Takao, an “easy mountain” that can be reached in an hour from central Tokyo. During the season of fresh green leaves, the summit is crowded with people who have escaped from the urban hazards. People drinking beer with the city in the distance, children on excursions, people contemplating.... At night, however, the atmosphere changes drastically. Couples aim for the summit in the darkness as flying buzzards fly overhead. A man walks alone along a dark mountain path. We listen to the hearts of city dwellers on Mt. Takao, which is said to have the most climbers in the world.
In April, a huge container was brought into a small port town in Iwate, where bare land from the tsunami was noticeable. It is an impromptu mobile karaoke box loved by the locals who have few entertainment options. Some mothers bring their children to the box because they cannot speak out loud in their temporary housing. A young craftsman sings Go Nagabuchi songs with his friends. A former fisherman who sings only songs about the sea.... What kind of feelings will people entrust to the songs in the six-room container box?
The May holidays were a time of excitement in Japan, with people traveling abroad and returning home. In the residential areas of central Tokyo, where the number of people had decreased, there was one place that was secretly bustling with activity: a 24-hour video rental store. Couples who dare to spend this time of year in the heart of the city, enjoying their free time. Women who stay home to watch horror movies instead of returning to their hometowns. Men who work tirelessly to provide for their wives and children who live far away from home relax with dramas set in foreign countries. Somewhere other than here.... We looked at the people who visit these places in search of the “other world” that fiction invites them to.
Oldies playing from the jukebox. An old lady chomping down on steak and an American soldier chomping down on fried rice. This is an old drive-in along Route 58, which runs through the main island of Okinawa. The restaurant, which began serving U.S. soldiers during the occupation, still offers the same nostalgic scene as it did in the U.S. in the 1960s. Some came from Taiwan during the Vietnam War, while others followed their loved ones to the United States. What is the soul food of the Okinawan people who have lived with the swell of the times?
At a little shop in Ibaraki Prefecture, there's a goofy but adorable cat with thick black "eyebrows". She's called Hachi for her distinctive marks that resemble the Chinese character "8". That's a lucky number, so customers always come to buy lottery tickets and make wishes for anything from big jackpots to good test scores. All the while Hachi pays them no mind, sleeping on a bookshelf or hiding behind the counter. We spent 3 days talking to the many visitors who make wishes on this lucky cat.
Along the national highway in Hitachi City, the castle town of a giant corporation, there is a mysterious retro space that seems to have slipped back to the Showa period. It is commonly known as Hanawayama Cabaret, a row of tin taverns and other establishments along a narrow unpaved alley. It has been about 50 years since it was born during the high-growth period of Japan's economic boom. More than a dozen establishments have hung their signs in the area, providing a place for factory employees and local residents to relax. Some are fun and boisterous, some are open to complaints, and some are like a relative's home. This is the story of three days in the life of the customers and mothers who are attracted by the atmosphere of "Hanakaba.
Kurume is the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen. There is a ramen restaurant along the national highway that is visited by 3,000 people every day. On holidays, a couple always sips “morning ramen” together. A truck driver stops by on his drive from Aomori to Kagoshima, and an industrial worker who has been coming here after night shift since he was 15 years old and will soon reach retirement age. Founded in 1958 when Tokyo Tower was built. We listen to the stories of each of them as they tell us about their ramen lives at the restaurant, which was one of the first in Japan to open for business 24 hours a day and has continued to warm the stomachs of its customers.
Gentlemen and ladies dance gracefully to the sensual melodies played by a live band. The stage for this program is a dance hall in downtown Tokyo, where the heat of the Showa period still lingers. As one of only two remaining authentic dance halls in the city, it is visited by 500 people a day on weekends. The ladies enjoy the feeling of a princess as a reward after work. A young man is polishing his steps for a competition. Men enjoying conversation and drinks with female teachers in the salon after lessons. We listen to the hearts of the people who gather at this adult social gathering place.
Hiroshima's streetcars are still active in people's daily lives and boast the highest number of users in Japan. People with various dramas ride the streetcars, which run slowly at an average speed of 10 km/h. A grandmother on her way to the hospital after giving birth to her grandson, a student stuck in his job search, and a Carp fan basking in the afterglow of victory. The train reopened three days after the atomic bombing, marking the first step toward reconstruction. This is a story that unfolds over three days on board the tram, which has been in operation for more than 100 years, and has been in the lives of the citizens of Japan.
There is an old-fashioned but very popular hotel for men in the middle of rice fields in the Niigata Plain. Its charm is not only its cheap price. The first floor is a 24-hour drive-in with retro vending machines selling toasted sandwiches and other items, attracting enthusiasts from all over the country. There is also a game corner, where people from all walks of life come to enjoy "a lot of fun for 100 yen. Peddlers who save money on lodging. People relaxing after a long day of work or nursing care. People discussing their lives with a can of coffee in one hand. Three days in a mysterious hotel.
The first overseas feature on "72 Hours! The setting is a 24-hour laundromat in a corner of New York City. Many people of different races and nationalities come to New York, where many people live without washing machines due to housing conditions. Immigrants from Central America who came to the city in search of a more affluent life. An elite lawyer who leaves everything from folding clothes to taking care of the laundry. An otaku who loves Japanese anime. What is the real America as seen through three days at the laundry?
This is the program's first overseas feature! The second installment is a Japanese food supermarket in Dalian, China. Many Japanese companies have established operations in Dalian, where there is a high fever for learning Japanese, and 6,000 Japanese people, including expatriates working in call centers, live there. They all use this supermarket to buy everything from Japanese candy to air-freighted fresh fish. For three days, the camera will be on the people living in Dalian, China.
The 120-meter-high Daibutsu (Great Buddha) is located in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture. One of the largest cemeteries in the Kanto region spreads out at its foot. During Obon, many people come to visit the graves of their loved ones. Parents share their memories of their sons who passed away from cancer, young people visit the grave of a friend who died in an accident, and children polish the grave of their mothers who raised them alone with gratitude. The film closely observes the cemetery looking up at the Great Buddha for three days in midsummer before the fireworks display for the memorial service. We listen to the mysterious dialogue between the living and the deceased.
The setting is a convenience store that attracts the largest number of customers in Japan among a certain chain of stores for three days in mid-summer. Many people are on their way to the Comic Market (Comiket), a subculture festival held nearby. The store serves as a front-line base for buying drinks and other items. Young people immersed in the dream world of anime cosplay and office workers who make it their life's purpose to meet up with their game-loving comrades come and go. The human drama of the convenience store is agitated by the "Summer Comic Market.
Streets in front of the National Diet Building are the stage for numerous protests. People opposed to national security bills and nuclear power, among other causes, assemble to express their views in Japan's political nerve center, which decides the nation's future and is home to the Prime Minister's Office, lawmakers' offices and central government agencies. The Diet Building has also become a popular tourist spot and a magnet for visitors and students on school excursions, and the nearby tree-lined streets also attract joggers and Tokyoites walking their dogs. For 3 days and nights in September, as deliberations on the security bills neared completion, we filmed the people on the streets around the Diet.
The main building of a long-established hotel in Tokyo, which has been loved by both domestic and foreign guests, has been closed for reconstruction. The Hotel Okura, which has served as the “face of Japan” for more than half a century, is currently operating in its annex. During the last three days, many people with precious memories came to the hotel. Families who reserved rooms out of filial piety. An elderly couple warming the memory of their wedding day. An architect with his eyes glued to the interior design that blends Japanese tradition and Western modernity. The drama of life unfolds in the reborn Honkan before the next Tokyo Olympics.
There is a port where fishermen gather from all over Japan in pursuit of the finest squid. It is the port of Kottoi in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The squid caught offshore is known for its clear, shiny beauty and delicious taste, and is served at restaurants for several thousand yen per fish. Away from their hometowns, the fishermen sleep in cramped cabins, hoping to make a fortune at each catch. Some are veterans with 40 years of experience, while others are young Indonesians who have come to learn the art of fishing. The film follows the drama of these men in a small port where squid fishing is booming in the summer.
There is a town in Tokyo called "Little Manila. It is a corner of Takenotsuka, Adachi-ku, where about 50 Filipino pubs are concentrated. There is a famous one that is open 19 hours a day from early morning to late at night. In the morning, it is a diner that welcomes drivers coming off the night shift with a salmon set meal, in the afternoon it is a place of relaxation for pensioners who enjoy conversation at the bar, and in the evening it is a paradise for adults who come to drink because it is cheaper than in the city center. We closely observe this mysterious restaurant where people of all ages, genders, and sexes gather. We spent three days observing the human characters woven into the fabric of the place.
In Tokyo there's an audio and video transfer shop, where people bring old film reels, VHS tapes and cassettes they can no longer play and have them brought back to life as CDs and DVDs. In these 72 hours, we meet a young woman who wants to make a DVD of her high school play for a reunion, a father recalling when his children were young, a woman who discovered a video of her late brother, and more. These are the stories of people replaying old movies and revisiting treasured memories.
Kansai International Airport is a 24-hour gateway to western Japan. 16 low-cost carriers operate out of this airport in Osaka, making it Japan's largest hub for budget airlines. Cheap air tickets bring a wide spectrum of passengers traveling domestically and overseas to and from the airport, including a young woman on her first visit to Japan waiting alone to be picked up after midnight; a businessman returning on the day's last flight from a work trip that began early the same day; and a woman who had visited her elderly parents to take care of them. Passengers have their own unique reasons for traveling on low-cost carriers. For 3 days, we watched the diverse personal stories that unfold in the airport's terminals.
In Kabukicho, Shinjuku, there is a dispensing pharmacy that is open only at night. People rush in one after another to the store, which stocks everything from nutritional drinks to birth control pills that require a doctor's prescription. A woman in the water business drinks down a drink that is said to be effective for the liver. A young man who had a headache while working late at night. And a restaurant owner who returns to his workplace only to make small talk. The store has become a kind of “infirmary” in the town, where people look forward to talking with the pharmacist. The film depicts the human drama of the nightless city.
The world's largest antiquarian bookstore district in Kanda, Tokyo, is home to more than 160 stores, where you can find amazing treasures such as medieval books priced at 10 million yen and unpublished manuscripts of great writers. A company employee buying his favorite boys' manga, a mother searching for an out-of-print picture book for her child, or a job-hunting student picking up a philosophy book in search of inspiration. Together, they slip back in time to the labyrinth of old books. We took a peek into their deep world for three days.
Fortune tellers are said to draw long lines in times of anxiety. People from all walks of life come to the store in the heart of the city to have their future predicted based on their palm readings and date of birth. Office workers who have fallen out of love and are waiting to meet the man of their dreams, single mothers who are busy with work and child-rearing, and people who have been working overtime day after day and are looking for a new job. A single mother who is busy with work and childcare; a man who is beginning to think about changing jobs after working overtime day after day. What do these people who confide in the fortune teller about their problems that they have been carrying around all by themselves reveal?
A mood-detecting dog collar? A wind instrument with a keyboard? You'll never believe the ideas blooming at this workshop in Akihabara. For around $120 a month, members get space to work and access to 3D printers and other cutting-edge tools. Among the users are ham radio enthusiasts and inventors hoping to become the next Steve Jobs. Some even get the chance to present their ideas to investors. We spent 3 days at this creative playground in the heart of Japan's otaku culture.
2018
Hanazono Shrine is located near Kabukicho in Shinjuku. In late November, just before the end of the year, the shrine grounds are bustling with activity. This is the “Tori no Ichi” festival, which attracts 600,000 visitors every year. People purchase rakes symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. As their businesses expand, companies continue to buy larger rakes each year. A self-made businessman says, “It's for peace of mind.” Families entrust their modest dreams to small rakes. Over three days, we listen to the wishes of merchants at this Shinjuku shrine, which has weathered the economic storms.
In a residential area in Koto Ward, Tokyo, is a bakery open 24 hours a day. Their Danish Bread, rich with butter and fresh cream, sells over 1,000 loaves each day. Many people come to buy this bread not only for themselves, but as gifts for others as well. From people sending it as a casual present to friends and family, to businessmen buying it as a thank-you gift, we spend 3 days looking at who buys this sweet, delicious bread.
It's midwinter at Tsugaru Strait, where a huge ferry connects the 120 kilometers between Aomori Prefecture and Hakodate, Hokkaido. With showers, a game center and even suite rooms with beds, the spacious ferry can carry 600 passengers. At the end of each year, crowds of people head back to their hometowns on this boat. From a father living away from his family for work, to a couple excited about their new life together, everyone has a different reason for crossing the strait. We spend 3 days traveling between Aomori and Hakodate, and take a look at the stories of the people we meet.
In Tokyo's Takadanobaba district, there is a game center known as “the gamers' holy land.” On weekdays, 500 people visit, and on weekends, up to 1,000 game enthusiasts gather. What catches the eye are the rows of fighting games. Strangers engage in intense battles, and a strange sense of camaraderie fills the store. A salaryman who wants to feel the thrill of “winning or losing.” A woman who says, “The serious battles transcending age and gender are irresistible.” Three days following the unknown battles of gamers.
Just a short walk from Asakusa's Kaminarimon Gate, there's a new hotspot that's been getting more and more visitors over the past few years. It's a batting center with a giant glove sculpture as its landmark. For some reason, it's popular with foreigners too, with hundreds of people coming every day to the small space with only five batting cages. A man who visits for health reasons swings the bat at both left and right batting cages, saying, “Even if I miss, it's okay.” Next to him, a group of foreigners experiencing the batting cages for the first time cheer with each pitch. Discovering Cool Japan in an unexpected place, exploring its charm.
What kind of people and things will you encounter if you take a single flower into town and continue bartering with people you meet by chance for three days? This time, we challenge a “72-hour bartering journey.” A young man aspiring to be an actor brings out a teapot he has used for 10 years. A YouTuber says, “I want to keep doing what I love.” A young man who brought out a brand-new notebook—what was he planning to write in it? The unexpected dramas revealed through bartering. What will he end up with after 72 hours?
Located near Narita International Airport, Sakuranoyama Park offers visitors close-up views of planes arriving at and taking off from this major gateway to Japan. At times, several hundred people visit the park each day to catch awe-inspiring glimpses of huge aircraft flying overhead. Among the visitors were avid photographers, an elderly man who has never been on a plane, and a man fondly recalling the days when he flew all over the country on business trips. People at the park superimpose their own lives and dreams on the planes flying to distant corners of the world. For 3 days in early spring, a season for new beginnings, we listened to the stories of park visitors gazing at the planes up in the sky.
We followed a rat extermination company in Tokyo. In early spring, they receive as many as 1,000 requests per month and work around the clock to exterminate rats. Calls come in from restaurants in bustling areas, apartments, schools, hospitals, and even temples and embassies. In severe cases, rats chewing on wires can cause phone and internet outages. The “rat problem” is said to be exacerbated by redevelopment projects and vacant housing issues. This report follows the exterminators as they work to address the issue, offering a glimpse into “Tokyo today.”
Route 45, a national highway that snakes along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region, is a vital link between areas devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Starting on the disaster's 7th anniversary, we travel from south to north to meet people living near this road. Over 3 days, we talk to people including an elderly woman taking a break near the spot where her house once stood, and a researcher who moved from Tokyo to study Tohoku's natural environment. Reconstruction is progressing well in some areas, but not so in others. As signs of the long-awaited spring appear, what thoughts are on the minds of residents here?
This time, the setting is a “legal consultation office.” People with problems they cannot solve on their own rush to the consultation office in Shinjuku, Tokyo. From serious concerns involving money, such as “I am troubled by high charges on the internet but cannot talk to my family about it” and “My relationship with my neighbor has deteriorated due to noise problems,” to domestic disputes. The issues brought to the lawyers reveal the pitfalls of daily life and the fragility of human relationships. Over three days, we examine modern society through the lens of the issues that flood the city.
“Beauty salon delivery” is rapidly expanding. “Visiting beauty services” provide haircuts and perms at the homes of people who find it difficult to go out, such as those in nursing care facilities. Mothers who say, “At least during my time at the beauty salon, I can be selfish,” and elderly people who bring photos from their youth to request their favorite hairstyles. When they see themselves with neatly styled hair, their expressions soften. Despite their aging bodies and daily fatigue, these people wish to be beautiful. This program explores the hope that lies beyond “beauty.”
For 3 days, we follow a library truck stocked with 2,800 books. In Matsuyama City, a public truck service has been delivering books to the surrounding mountains and islands for 45 years. Many locals use this service, including a retired couple looking for new hobbies, elderly islanders full of curiosity to keep learning, and a pair of friends reunited by the truck who now meet there regularly. We explore how books have touched the lives of the people who gather at the library truck.
For a few days in spring, the normally quiet fishing town of Toyama Prefecture becomes festive as people gather from throughout the country. Their goal: to await the firefly squid. Around the new moon, when conditions are right, the squid will inundate the coast in massive numbers, covering the nighttime shore in their dazzling pale blue light. With baskets and nets in hand, young and old alike wait in the darkness with determination. Will they see the miraculous sight of the squid? We spend 3 spring days with them, waiting for the arrival of the squid.
Nishinari, Osaka, is undergoing redevelopment. In one corner of the town, there is a restaurant that has been open 24 hours a day for over 40 years. The restaurant's selling points are its large portions and its attentive owner and manager. Customers come here to talk about their complaints and worries to the two of them. A male temporary worker who came to Nishinari in search of work. A single mother struggling with childcare. A man who once worked part-time at this restaurant says he hopes his children will also work someday. Human dramas unfold across the small counter.
Along the national highway near Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, there is an area densely packed with pachinko parlors. Inside, rows of low-cost pachinko machines, such as “1-yen pachinko,” line the floors. A 70-year-old woman who moved in with her son's family after the earthquake but started playing pachinko because she felt uncomfortable at home. A man job-hunting who says, “Pachinko doesn't require talking to people.” Some spend the day in the rest area without even approaching the machines. The world of pachinko, incomprehensible to outsiders. Listening to the whispers amid the clamor.
Sales at department stores have been sluggish in recent years, but the stores' cosmetics sections are providing a ray of light with their robust growth. In 2017, sales at these sections jumped 17% from the previous year and topped 500 billion yen. Each day, about 2,000 customers buy their preferred makeup products at one long-established department store in Nagoya offering an array of famous brands. These customers include an 88-year-old company executive who never goes without makeup, a young woman setting on a new path in life by changing her job and her makeup, and an art dealer who considers cosmetics to be a vital part of her "combat uniform" worn during business battles. How do women want to present themselves and to be seen? For 3 days, we watched the customers quietly – but excitedly – finding their ideal makeup.
Akita's secret hot spring, Tamagawa Onsen, is said to heal various illnesses. Upon entering, a barren landscape of rocks unfolds, with steam and hydrogen sulfide gas emanating from various points. Many of those who visit here are cancer patients undergoing treatment. People from across the country spend about a week here for rock bath therapy. Their expressions and conversations carry a certain brightness. Having come to this place to heal their illnesses, they eventually confront the question of “why and for whom they live” through repeated visits.
A gym in a residential area of Tokyo offers classes for a slightly unusual activity where going backward is actually a sign of progress - doing backflips. These lessons are becoming increasingly popular among children, housewives, and company employees who drop by to master their technique after work. Among the people at this gym are a man in his 40's who has long admired Jackie Chan and a young woman who hopes doing backflips might give her cosplay photos a stylish edge. For 3 days, we spoke to people determined to find out if doing a complete backflip will also help their lives take a turn for the better.
The Japanese Derby is an annual race that draws over 100,000 spectators. Many fans start lining up near the entrances to Tokyo Racecourse several days – the first ones more than a week – before the race, which lasts just two and a half minutes. Among those lining up are a man for whom the racetrack brings back happy memories of his late wife, and a man who recently quit his job due to office politics. As the clock ticks down to the race, a special sense of unity develops among those waiting in line. What do they think about, and how do they spend their time, during the tremendously long wait?
We cover an old hospital, built in the year of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, as it moves to a new building. The new hospital is only 250 meters away, but to ensure treatment is uninterrupted, all patients must be moved in a single day. What's more, the movement of beds and medical machines must also follow a tight schedule, transferred to the new building one truckload at a time. In preparation for this day, the doctors and nurses started holding meetings over 6 months before. Just how will this massive project turn out?
In June, a long-established department store beloved by the local community in Nagoya closed its doors after 75 years of history. Once the largest department store in western Japan in terms of sales floor area, it had fallen on hard times after the bubble economy collapsed. Regular customers lamented the closure of the store they had grown accustomed to. Meanwhile, many employees were left with uncertain futures, harboring mixed feelings. Most customers described the store as “friendly,” and for citizens, it was “a place that had always been there.” We follow the final three days leading up to the closure, as the store prepares to close its doors.
In a corner of a major industrial zone on Tokyo Bay sits a park from which people can fish at any time of the day or night. More than 20 kinds of fish, including horse mackerel and sea bass, can be caught from the waterfront park, which attracts fishing fans around the clock. Among the people who come to drop a line in the water are a shipyard worker from the Philippines, a freelance illustrator hoping to catch a big fish with her brand-new fishing rod, and a young man who has worked in construction since he was a teenager to support his family and dreams of becoming a photographer. For 3 days in July, as Tokyo sweltered in record-breaking heat, we asked the people at this park about why they went fishing there.
It is 780 meters long, dead straight and has few distinguishing features, but the undersea pedestrian tunnel running 60 meters underneath the Kanmon Straits in southwestern Japan attracts a steady stream of visitors. Many people use the tunnel to travel between Fukuoka Pref. and Yamaguchi Pref., but others have different purposes in mind. The visitors are diverse: from a woman in her 20's who brought her boyfriend to the tunnel that is filled with childhood memories, a man who comes to secretly train for a marathon, to a woman who walks there every week with old friends no matter how busy she is. What draws them to this nondescript tunnel that remains unchanged, day after day? We spend 3 days looking at who walks through this underground passage.
Coast Guard officers protect Japan's maritime security. They enforce regulations against illegal fishing and sometimes rescue people from danger, acting as the “police of the sea.” The school that trains these officers is the setting for this program. At the academy in Maizuru, Kyoto, more than 500 men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 live together in a communal setting. These young people train rigorously day and night. A teenager who has dreamed of becoming a Coast Guard officer since childhood. A woman who is working hard to overcome her dislike of swimming. At the end of July, when long-distance swimming training takes place, we get a glimpse into the lives of the “Sea Monkey” candidates.
Shimbashi, Tokyo, where office workers thrive. When they need refreshment, they head to a local, long-running juice stand. Ingredients range from peach and watermelon, to turmeric and aloe. Over 150 customers come each day, seeking colorful juice made with seasonal fruits and vegetables. A businessman rushes in before a negotiation, a woman in her 30's comes by to care hungover. Another man, in his 70's, has been a regular customer since before he retired. We spend 3 days in this oasis, listening to the thoughts of people who come here for a break.
Our stage this time is a remittance office in Okubo, Tokyo, where 40% of the population is international. Foreign workers visit this office in an endless stream, where money can be sent to 150 different countries for a fee of about 1,000 yen. An Indonesian woman sends tuition money for her sister's children, while a man from Africa transfers money to fly his son in to live with him. We listen to customers' stories as they send money, and love, to the people they hold dear.
On September 16, the “Princess of the Heisei Era,” Namie Amuro, retired. At the fashion building in Shibuya once known as the “holy land of Amura,” a special shop opened, attracting large crowds of fans every day. Many of them were women in their 30s and 40s. Even those who once wore platform boots now lead busy lives juggling work and childcare. A former Amura nurse and single mother raising two children. What kind of lives have these women, who say they were inspired by Amuro-chan, led?
About 5 million people visit Hakodate in Hokkaido Prefecture, but in recent years this picturesque northern city has become known for another down-to-earth attraction: a hamburger restaurant that offers huge servings. Its unique hamburgers include fillings such as deep-fried chicken and crumbed pork cutlets. Many customers who come for a hearty lunch get so full that they do not need to eat dinner. Although Hakodate often tops surveys of attractive places to visit, the city also suffers from a falling population and high unemployment rate. For 3 days, we asked customers at this restaurant that has been loved by locals for decades about what they define as happiness
Each day, more than 1.8 million people pass through Tokyo Station. For 50 years, the Gin-no-suzu (silver bell) waiting area inside the station has been a popular landmark and a favorite spot to meet up with others. Countless reunions and farewells take place under this huge bell that adorns the center of the waiting area. The people waiting there include a group of elderly men who meet there on each other's birthdays before heading off to celebrate, and far-flung fans of a pop band who met online and are going to a concert together. But for some, finding Gin-no-suzu inside the sprawling station is not so easy and rendezvous plans do not work out as expected. For 3 days, we talked to the people waiting at this iconic spot -- and to the people they were meeting.
Last month, Tsukiji Market closed its doors after 83 years of history. The setting is a standing soba noodle shop located on a street outside the market. Despite the early morning darkness, the shop is packed with people. Men working at the market are slurping down soba noodles in preparation for the upcoming auction, heading off to work. Some have lived in Tsukiji for years, while others have ended up there for various reasons. What kind of place was Tsukiji Market for these workers? Over the final three days, we listen in at a nearby soba shop.
In a quiet mountain town in Kumamoto Prefecture, there's a flight of 3,333 stone steps. Measuring 2.1 kilometers, it's the longest in Japan and takes the average adult about 90 minutes to climb. The steps attract people who want to put themselves through a strenuous challenge for various reasons. One group of university students makes the climb knowing they will go their separate ways after graduation. An elderly beautician takes on the steps with apprentices who are like sons to him. Some visitors go up and down several times a day. With anguished looks and trembling legs, they test their limits. We spent 3 days meeting people going up and down the 3,333 steps.
One hour by car from Osaka toward Nagoya and Tokyo. The stage is the Shiga/Kusatsu Parking Area, which boasts the largest parking space in western Japan. With facilities such as a 24-hour food court, gas station, and coin-operated showers, approximately 10,000 people stop here every day to take a break. Young people repeatedly hitchhike in search of “something.” A man returning home after 30 years... People with various circumstances along the way. Where do they come from, and where are they heading?
Our stage this time is one of the largest home centers in Japan, located in a suburb east of Tokyo. From daily necessities to building and gardening materials, every product imaginable can be found here. A couple with a shared love of DIY (Do It Yourself) pick out lumber to rebuild a fence destroyed in a typhoon. Meanwhile, a woman working in rehabilitation looks for materials to make a device to help a patient. We listen to the stories of these people as they attempt to improve their lives through DIY.
The stage is set at a workwear store in Hiroshima frequented by craftsmen from various industries. The store offers sturdy, user-friendly tools and denim workwear, which is currently popular. A man who runs an interior design company orders workwear embroidered with his company name and name. “The embroidery on the chest serves as my business card,” he says. While a veteran struggles with labor shortages at construction sites, a young person from a completely different industry has chosen the path of carpentry. In an era where “how we work” is being questioned, we asked those who sometimes face danger while working, “What does it mean to work?”
2022
The 200 students at a nursing college in Nara Prefecture, Japan, range from new high school graduates to people seeking a change in career. Among the students were a woman inspired by nurses who treated her in hospital; a woman who felt nursing would be more rewarding than her sales job; and first-year students preparing for a test they must pass before starting clinical training. For 3 days, we asked why nursing appealed to them as a career, especially while the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect society.
As 2021 draws to a close, workers in Tokyo's Shimbashi business district flock to a long-established western-style sweets shop famous for its cream puffs and other tasty delights. Among the customers were a boss buying treats for his hard-working subordinates; a construction worker treating himself after an exhausting day on the job; and a father buying a gift of appreciation for his family. For 3 days, we asked customers seeking a sweet treat if 2021 had been bitter or sweet for them.
Kashiikaen, an amusement park in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, closed at the end of 2021 after 65 years of operation. News of the closing prompted a wave of visitors, including a local woman who brought along her neighbor, and a family of 3 generations determined to ride their favorite attraction. Some even came after the gates were closed, just to see the park from the outside. What made them come to bid farewell? In the park’s final 3 days, we listened as visitors shared their stories and memories.
The Tsugaru Railway runs through a remote and snowy part of Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan. As well as being a vital mode of transport for locals, especially in winter, the train has a potbelly stove and views of magical wintry landscapes that attract visitors from afar. Among the passengers are a high school student poised to move to Tokyo, and a man who returned here to his hometown after several decades away. For 3 days in midwinter, we hopped aboard the rustic train and asked the passengers what this railway means to them.
A small truck loaded with vegetables, meat, snacks and other items – a mobile supermarket – is a lifeline for residents in remote communities in northern Kyoto Prefecture. Among the customers were an elderly couple buying a week's worth of ready-prepared dishes; and a woman wanting snacks to eat while she chats with a friend. What is life like in these small communities with falling populations? For 3 days near the end of winter, we talked to people buying groceries from the supermarket on wheels.
The Yuriage district in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March 2011. March is also a season of new starts and farewells in Japan, so this month is especially busy for a florist in a new commercial complex in the district. Customers included a teacher buying flowers for graduating students, residents mourning loved ones who died in the tsunami, and people adding a splash of color to their lives. For 3 days around the disaster's 11th anniversary, we asked customers what flowers mean to them.
Smartphones have become a vital part of modern-day life. Many people flock to a large cell phone store in Tokyo's Shinjuku district to buy the latest phone models, get their gadgets repaired and seek advice on other services. Among the customers in mid-March, a time for new beginnings in Japan, were an elderly couple fond of watching videos on their smartphones, a man struggling to spend less time glued to his phone, and people starting a new job or school year. What do phones mean to these customers? For 3 days, we asked them.
Photo sticker booths are a magnet for teenagers at a video arcade in Tokyo. Over 3 days in mid-March, we met 2 friends about to graduate from high school; a teen applying makeup to create the appearance she craves; 2 best friends who attend different schools; and a couple in their 20s. The booths have added many new features since they first appeared in 1995. Why are they still so popular? We asked youngsters at the arcade why these stickers mean so much to them.
A large plastic model kit store in Osaka Prefecture sells models, miniature trains, diorama supplies and other items. The model market has grown while people of all ages spent more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The store's customers include a man who makes model buses to relieve stress; a middle-aged woman crazy about making dollhouses; and a woman making a diorama as a birthday gift for her mother-in-law. For three days, we asked customers why this hobby is special to them.
A pebbly beach on Niigata Prefecture's Sea of Japan coast contains pieces of real jade. Some people who come here for a natural treasure hunt find jade right away, others have no luck despite picking through the stones all day. Among the visitors were a family on a trip; regulars who come from far and wide; and a woman whose visits here helped her become more socially outgoing. What is it that lures them so much to this beach? For three days in early summer, we asked the people hunting for treasure at the water's edge.
An unmanned stall in a residential area of Tokyo's Nerima Ward uses coin-operated lockers to sell locally grown vegetables including cabbage, radishes and spinach. The customers at this down-to-earth stall include a mother buying lettuce harvested from a field right in front of her house; and a keen jogger who frequently buys fresh veggies to stay in his wife's good books. For three days in early summer, we asked customers why they choose to shop at this stall that resembles a large vending machine.
A theater for rakugo comic storytelling in Tokyo's Asakusa district has been tickling funny bones for decades. Visitors to the theater include comedy fans from across Japan, and an admirer of a storyteller being promoted to rakugo's highest rank. Backstage, a teenager new to the industry completes a myriad of tasks, and a seasoned storyteller of more than 30 years prepares to go on stage. For three days, we peeked into the various lives of people in the audience and behind the scenes, and asked them about the appeal of this traditional performing art.
Rows of yellow handkerchiefs fly in the breeze at a small train station in the Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture. Right behind the platform lies the Ariake Sea. The unmanned station attracts a stream of visitors who come to enjoy the view and write their wishes on the handkerchiefs. Among the visitors were a couple wearing matching outfits, and a railway photographer who drove all the way from Tokyo. The locals, too, are charmed by the station and wish for the railway to continue in the years to come. For three days, we listen to the stories of the people who've come from near and far to visit this remote station.
Children enjoy playing with mud, making fire, and water slides. The setting is a playground called “Play Park” in Kawasaki City. It is a municipal facility and admission is free. With the support of adult staff, what children want to do is respected. There is a boy absorbed in woodworking, parents and children playing while soaking wet, and children who cannot find a place at school. How are these children living in this day and age? We will listen carefully to their voices during the three days of rain
Kakigori, shaved ice drizzled with flavored syrup, is a summer staple in Japan. An ice shop in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, has been popular for decades thanks to its light, fluffy ice made of "pure ice" that has been slowly frozen. Among the customers were a regular for over 40 years and his children; two university students who will soon graduate and move away; and a mother and son reminiscing about a father who adored kakigori. For three days in summer, we asked customers about what this sweet treat means to them.
A 24-hour fishing gear shop in southern Chiba Prefecture is a haven for anglers stocking up before heading to the coast to try their luck. The shop sells about 6,000 items such as bait, rods and lures. The customers include a man looking forward to fishing for squid with his grandson; a couple whose self-designed boat fits on the roof of their car; and a mother taking a break from her hectic daily life. Why are they so hooked on fishing? For three days, we asked the people stopping by this shop.
Why are no-frills udon noodle vending machines irresistible for drivers passing by a small rest area on a busy national road in western Shimane Prefecture? People stop here around the clock for a cheap bowl of noodles. The customers included a couple returning from a trip to their hometown; a boy and his parents who drove all the way from Fukuoka Prefecture just to try these noodles; and a man about to start his shift delivering milk. For three days around the Bon Festival period, we asked what makes these noodles so special.
Korokke pan, or bread rolls filled with deep-fried potato croquettes, topped with sauce are a specialty of a family-run shop in Minamisenju, a down-to-earth Tokyo suburb. Among the customers craving this cheap, filling snack made at the shop were a regular who has been coming here for over 50 years; a man buying some for himself and his friends; and a man currently between jobs. Why have locals become so fond of a snack made exactly the same way it was decades ago? For three days, we asked them.
A new type of documentary program by the “72 Hours” production team, in which the camera is not stationed at a single site, but rather at multiple sites, filming an event simultaneously. This time, the Brazilian presidential election. Four cameras started shooting at the same time at a polling station for Brazilians living in Japan in Oizumi-cho, Gunma, a supermarket selling Brazilian food, a church, and a bar in Rio de Janeiro. What kind of drama will be spun out?
Ohta-kun, Futa, Elf, Cowcow... are four of the sixteen cats that live on the grounds of a temple at the foot of the mountains of Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture. The former head priest began providing care for abandoned cats, and today, the temple is visited by many cat lovers from near and far. Among the visitors was a man who comes to get away from the stress of his job, and a former cat owner who overcame the death of his cat by coming to this temple. There's a story behind not only the people who come to visit but the cats that have made their way to this temple. For three days, we listened to their stories.
A small back space of a liquor store in Tokyo's Asagaya neighborhood is a no-frills standing bar where customers can drink their purchases. Patrons dropping in for a tipple come from all walks of life, including a company employee on his way home from work and a married couple able to spend more time together now that the husband has retired. For three days, we asked customers drinking in this liquor shop's back room about why they come here and raise a glass.
A live broadcast of a scene from the show, as well as information on what happened to the characters after the show!
A live broadcast of a scene from the show, as well as information on what happened to the characters after the show!
2023
In the fall of 2022, Musashino Art University in Tokyo welcomed the public to its annual art festival for the first time in three years to see paintings, sculptures and other artworks created by its students. The exhibitors included a group building a huge sculpture of a mythical creature; a puppet show club with a declining membership; and students feeling anxious about their future. For three days ahead of the festival, we watched the students putting the finishing touches on their creations.
Three old apartment buildings lined up near the Port of Osaka. Built in 1965, when the shipbuilding industry was thriving, about 70 households still live in these buildings. The apartments have a hangout where residents gather, and some even drink alcohol in the morning. An elderly woman who lost her husband and moved here a few years ago. A man chooses to live here alone so that his son and his family will not be troubled. There are couples who have lived here for more than 30 years because they feel comfortable here. In the midst of the changing times, we will spend three days looking at the days in the apartment, which continues to remain unchanged.
A small shop selling okonomiyaki savory pancakes and obanyaki cakes has become a staple for locals in a part of Kobe devastated by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Among the customers fond of these dishes are friends who stop by while on a walk; a boy buying lunch and snacks for his family; and people who simply enjoy chatting with the staff. The shop was razed in the disaster, but the owner did his best to reopen as soon as possible. For three days, we talked to the customers and got a glimpse of the area's long road to recovery.
A simple pier, almost at water level, extends 160 meters out into Tokyo Bay from a beach in Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture. In the early 1900s the pier was used for landing fish, but that stopped decades ago when a new fishing port was built. Now it's a hidden gem for tourists. We encounter a local man walking his dog, a farewell party for a colleague and a couple who fell in love with the area and moved there. The pier attracts all sorts of people, and means something different to each of them.
A cheerful greeting rings out over the radio in an island dialect: "Ugamin shoran! (Hello!)" This time, we visit a station broadcasting in Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Many of the presenters are straight out of the local community, including seniors who read out news items in dialect. A high schooler home for the holidays makes a live appearance. People who have moved away call in to share their stories. We invite you to settle into the soothing rhythm of an island radio station.
A 60-year-old mountain lodge located 1,350 meters above sea level on Mount Adatara in Fukushima Prefecture. Adatara at 1,350 meters above sea level in Fukushima Prefecture. Climbers aiming for the summit spend time here to rest their bodies and release tension. The lodge has a hot spring and overnight accommodations are available. A group of four climbers prepare their gear after taking a break, and then set out to reach the summit. A man brings in food from the base of the mountain and enjoys cooking for himself. Some groups hold year-end parties here every year. People who dare to climb the severe snow-covered mountains and visit here at the end of 2022. For three days, we will listen to their hearts.
In the final days of 2022, an expressway bus terminal in Fukuoka Prefecture heaves with passengers traveling on over 1,000 buses that arrive or depart here daily. The people at the terminal included a woman visiting her father by bus because this mode of transport is cheaper than going by train; a teenager seeing off her boyfriend; two young men determined to hit the big time in Fukuoka; and a man excited about a 15-hour ride to Tokyo. For three days over the New Year period, we asked people where they were going, and why.
Outside in winter. People sipping ramen in the bitter cold. This time, a ramen stall on a street corner in Osu, Nagoya, attracts many people to its four seats for a bowl of ramen for 500 yen. Regular businessmen bring souvenirs from their business trips. Many of them have known the 75-year-old stall owner for a long time. What exactly does eating ramen under the cold weather satisfy?
Judicial scrivener, condominium manager, state civil servant, social insurance worker labor consultant ... Lots of qualification exams. The stage is a major preparatory school where people who aim to pass the pass go. Looking to the future, I am in my 30s who take a course of judicial scrivener while working. A child-rearing woman who is aiming for a career consultant qualification for re-employment. Some people quit their jobs to get out of non-regular employment. In the early days when it was difficult to see the future, how did everyone feel when they went to their desks? Listen to your heart for three days.
The Hokkaido village of Shosanbetsu is home to about 1,000 people and a single convenience store. Residents rely on this store as a source of fresh food and basic necessities, especially in midwinter. Among the customers were a woman who uses a sled to carry her shopping home; an octopus fisherman who shops there three times a day; and a hair stylist who knows everybody in Shosanbetsu. For three days as a blizzard buffeted the area, we spoke to the store's customers to get a glimpse at life in this village.
Beautiful eyes so elaborate that they could be mistaken for human eyes. The market for dolls is said to be worth as much as 10 billion yen. In Akihabara, there are several stores specializing in dolls in commercial buildings, and many people visit them. Some office workers are looking for a doll to heal them after a hard day's work, and some women are looking for a doll to do what they cannot do. Some people come all the way from overseas to buy dolls. They are neither people nor things, but mysterious beings. For three days, we will take a peek into the fascinating world of dolls.
A large parking lot and hearty servings make a 24-hour restaurant a haven for truckers in Okayama Prefecture. For three days, we spoke to diners taking a break before hitting the road again.
A small newspaper company with 30 employees in the city of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, which was devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, has been a valuable source of local news for 65 years. A team of seven reporters, many of whom are from the region, uncover and write stories of interest to residents. For three days, we went on assignment with these reporters and behind the scenes at the office as they prepared newspapers issued around the disaster's 12th anniversary.
Each year, Hofu Tenmangu shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture holds a "doll appreciation festival" at which people can give their now-unwanted dolls a proper farewell. Among the shrine's visitors were a man bringing dolls he displayed to bring his daughter luck when she was young; a grandfather who displayed dolls for his grandchildren for 30 years; and a woman who made a doll as she prepared to marry decades ago. What do people feel as they say a final thank you and goodbye to their dolls? For three days, we asked them.
Takeshita Street in Harajuku, a trend-setting area. The stage is set at a 100-yen store along the street. The shop sells 18,000 items, including daily necessities, cosmetics, and miscellaneous goods. A high school student comes to the shop to buy materials to make goods to cheer up his favorite character. A 21-year-old man who moved to Tokyo to find a job said he buys all his daily necessities here. Many of those who used to go to Takeshita-dori when they were young are now parents and visit the street with their children. We look at the realities of young people over three days in spring.
Each spring, Iwagi, an island in the Seto Inland Sea is painted pink with sakura cherry blossoms. It's home to some 4,000 cherry trees. Highlights include Mt. Sekizen, at the center of the island, which is wreathed in blossoms. Visitors and locals alike gather to enjoy the flowers in many different ways. But why are there so many sakura trees here? And what is their significance for the people of Iwagi? Join us as we explore an island in full bloom.
Rush documents overseas. Packages to my family at home. Moving procedures. This time, the setting is a post office on a street corner in Minami, downtown Osaka. Every day, many people visit the post office for various purposes. An American struggles to send a tourist souvenir to his home country. A parent and child sending a package for their daughter who is moving to Tokyo. Some people sell their precious items on the Internet auction and come to send them. In spring, the season of new milestones, who do people send and what do they send? For three days, we will look at the circumstances of each person who sends things.
Each spring, about 30,000 black-tailed gulls flock to a nesting site around a shrine in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. The gulls, which are called umineko or "sea cats" because of their cat-like cries, form an impressive site as they soar through the sky. Among visitors to the shrine were an American woman living in Aomori and her visiting family; an elderly man who enjoys chatting to the birds; and locals fond of these feathered harbingers of spring. For 3 days, we asked people what the umineko mean to them.
A 24-hour bento store in Ginowan City, Okinawa, serving everything from 120 yen per bowl of Okinawa soba noodles to taco rice, pork cutlet bowls, tebichi, and sataa and ghee. Locals come here from early in the morning until late at night. An auto mechanic stops by after working late. A college student studying to become a nurse on a remote island. Some men change their jobs for family reasons and come to eat at 4:00 am. For three days throughout the night at this location, where the Futenma Air Base is located nearby, we looked at the real Okinawa.
A garden with seasonal flowers and a clear view of the sky. Its location? The roof of a hospital in Ochanomizu, Tokyo. Patients and family members stop by this peaceful garden. A father with his sick child. A man on crutches catching some fresh air. A cancer patient recovering from lung surgery. A visit to the hospital can be a trying experience. What does this space offer them? For three days, we listened to the stories of the people who came by.
The ceiling of a narrow tunnel under a railway line in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, is so low that adults must stoop over to pass through. Despite this, what locals have nicknamed the "Manbow Tunnel" remains a busy and vital passageway in daily life. Among people using the tunnel were a woman taking the shortest route to the supermarket, and a family who likes the thrill of this unusual path under the tracks. For three days, we took a closer look at this tunnel and its role in the local community.
An old stone-paved road in dappled sunlight. We take a walk on the Kisoji, a mountain road connecting Nagano and Gifu Prefectures. A key route during the Edo period, today it attracts visitors from across Japan and the world. A group of 3 families on an 8-kilometer hike. A man going for a run on the uneven trail. People taking the time to be alone and reflect. For 3 days in early summer, we spoke with people travelling on the old road.
Izakaya (Japanese-style pubs), snack bars, small restaurants, and bars. In August 2023, the curtain will come down on 70 years of history of “Drinking Alley” in the back alleys of Tateishi, Katsushika-ku. After the decision to redevelop the area, the number of stores has been gradually decreasing, and now only about 10 stores are in business. A man who has been a regular customer for 30 years sings karaoke enthusiastically. A young man says he comes here five times a week to visit his parents. There is even a mother of a tavern that has been here for 40 years and has yet to decide on a new location. For three days, we set up our cameras to find out how they are feeling in their final days.
About 300 yen per cup. Warm udon noodles from an old machine. This is a trip to visit the dwindling number of “udon vending machines” throughout Japan. This time, we will visit the eight remaining udon vending machines in Gunma, Japan, where we will have 72 hours to visit all of them. A man who has been a regular customer at a drive-in restaurant for 30 years. At a 24-hour store, young people and couples who love cars can be seen even late at night. What kind of drama will you encounter when you visit the udon vending machines born in the Showa period?
Osaka Prefecture's Ikuno Ward is home to Osaka Korea Town, a neighborhood packed with shops selling Korean food and other items. Inspired by a recent boom in South Korean pop culture, what originally was a market for people with roots on the Korean Peninsula is now visited by two million people annually. Among the visitors were three Japanese nurses buying cosmetics; a grandfather who lives nearby visiting for the first time; and shoppers of Korean descent. For three days, we took a look at a shopping district where cultures intersect.
Many insect fans are drawn to a store in Tokyo, Japan, that sells about 100 different species and equipment for keeping them. For three days, we explored why people adore these tiny creatures.
Fuji Rock Festival, Japan's largest music event, was held normally for the first time in four years this summer with more than 200 musicians and a total audience of over 110,000 people. Japan's largest music event was regularly held for the first time in four years this summer. Many people came from all over Japan to the Naeba ski resort in Niigata Prefecture, where the festival was held. Families were there to see the musicians they wanted to see. Some people spend their time relaxing in the rich natural surroundings. Some people say that coming here makes them feel kind. We will listen to the hearts of these people for three days to find out what makes them so enthusiastic about the festival.
It depicts various thoughts that cross the day of destiny. A new documentary program sent by the "72h" production team, which shoots an event at the same time with multiple cameras. This time, Koshien is a high school with a regular communication system. It is also called another Koshien, and ball children in a different situation from the full-time system fight for the top. During the day, students who had transferred to the communication system due to their work and the situation. If you turn the camera around at the same time on the bench or stand, what kind of drama you'll encounter?
We visit "Yomotsu Hirasaka" in Shimane Prefecture. It's a place linked to the underworld, referenced in Japanese mythology. For 3 days, we spoke with those drawn to this special place.
With betting tickets in hand, customers at a no-frills bar near a motorboat racing stadium in Fukuoka, ride the ups and downs of the exciting races. For three days, we followed their fortunes.
Kabukicho, Shinjuku, a nighttime district of glittering neon lights. The story takes place in a 24-hour beauty parlor located in a corner of the town. The town is regaining its pre-Corona vitality, and a variety of customers come to get their hair done. A male host dyes his hair to improve his mental health. A woman who became a gym trainer after working at a cabaret club comes to the salon late at night. An office worker who has been coming to the salon for more than 15 years since he was a host also comes. A room in a building in Kabukicho. We look at the real face of the town that never sleeps through the true feelings that spill out.
At Shirakaba Pass in Nagano Prefecture, many are gathered here to watch hawks as they migrate to Southeast Asia. We find out what these watchers feel as they gaze at the hawks overhead.
A beloved old chairlift on Mt. Myoken in Hyogo Prefecture. People flock here before the facilities close permanently in December 2023. What do the visitors feel as they ride the lift one last time?
The menu at a 24-hour Chinese restaurant in western Tokyo includes ramen, gyoza dumplings and a wide range of set meals. For three days, we asked customers why they come here to fill their bellies.
2026
2025
Bananas called mackerel, tilapia, mutton, frogs and hot spices. The stage is a multinational food shop in Kinshicho, Tokyo. It is lined with ingredients from more than twenty countries, mainly in Asia, and people from various countries living in Japan visit. A man from Bangladesh who has been in Japan for forty years, but sometimes wants to eat his native food. A Vietnamese woman in her 20s who started working at a Japanese hotel last year. What do you eat in a foreign country in Japan and how do you live?
Many customers at a drive-through restaurant in Niigata Prefecture order "Italian" - fried noodles topped with meat sauce. For three days, we asked them why this comfort food always hits the spot.
The first series of hospitals! A cake shop in a hospital that is rare in Japan. Nagasaki University Hospital has more than 870 beds. The shop is lined with strawberry and peach cakes, and visitors visit the clinic, including outpatients and hospitalized patients, accompanying families, and working doctors and nurses. A woman who has been in the hospital for many years and returns home every time she buys a cake for her family. After the surgery, parents and children buy to celebrate. A doctor who buys for his colleagues. Christmas at the hospital. What is everyone looking for for a cake?
2nd series of hospitals! Moving to a huge hospital. In January 2025, the University of the Ryukyus Hospital in Okinawa was fully relocated. Eighty-five patients, from critically ill patients in the intensive care unit to children in pediatrics, are transported to a new building nearly ten kilometers away in a single day. The end of the hospital, which has seen life for a long time, and the beginning of a new hospital where more advanced treatment can be done. What are the thoughts of working health workers and patients who continue to treat patients? From the move to the start of the new hospital, I looked behind the scenes.
The only supermarket in Nishiwaga, Iwate Prefecture is stocked with a dazzling array of products. We spend three days meeting customers as they trek through heavy snowfall to visit this food hub.
Oku-Noto-Suzu. There are sento that continue to be crowded even though it is in the midst of repeated disasters. In the midst of the widespread water outage immediately after the earthquake, groundwater was pumped up, wood from collapsed houses was burned, and business resumed early. Some people provided a valuable bath, and there were people who met again and confirmed their safety. A year since that. A lot of people come here. Locals, volunteers, and people working in demolition work. The sento became the source of the people, and the danran was born. Listen to people’s voices and minds here.
Hot meat buns full of toro toro-toned pork, bamboo shoots, and chrysanthemums. Set in a stand-style Nikumanten on the street corner of Kokubun-cho, an entertainment district in Sendai. It is open until five o'clock in the morning, and various people visit throughout the night. A fellow colleague at work who stopped by after drinking, a person who bought it for the second store to enter the second store, a man in black clothes at a club who finished work, and a mother of a snack shop. The steam that stands up in Sendai in winter. Under the cold sky, I looked at each situation of smiling meat buns.
The stage is a botanical garden in the middle of Tokyo. Some people visit for something, even though they think that there are few highlights during the winter. Some people say that they came to see plums at the turning point of their lives, and people who say that there is a taste when they see the appearance of standing withering. Some people sit on benches and look at the trees. People who dare to face the plants in the winter. What’s ahead of that look? We spent three days together.
Omelet rice, grilled fish, potesara, ramen, beer and shochu. The stage is a long-established popular restaurant near Kawasaki Station. Many people say that they work late at night or on work holidays, and the appearance of drinking alcohol from noon is conspicuous. A group called a childhood friend who grew up in Kawasaki. A senior junior at a company called the launch of work. Even if you come alone, it is not uncommon for people who happened to be sitting at the table and have a flower in a conversation. A popular dining room on a street corner crowded from morning to night. If you put your camera here for three days, you’ll see what it is now.
An amusement arcade near Tokyo has row after row of token-operated games. For three days, we asked people about the appeal of games that offer no cash or prizes, no matter how many tokens are won.
In Nishiyanagigase, Gifu City, there is a shopping street where nearly ninety percent of shops have shuttered. The bustling days of the night's prosperity as a city are gone, but people's activities still remain. A snack mom who has been working for nearly 50 years. An elderly man cleaning the shopping street with a part-time job. Young people planning events using empty buildings. After the war, it flourished in the textile industry, and was known throughout the country with its hit song "Yanagigase Blues". What would you see if you installed a camera here in the shutter city now?
Draft beer, edamame, fried horse mackerel, yakisoba. The stage is a Japanese-style izakaya in Seoul, Korea. The owner was a Japanese and opened in 2004. Every day, it is crowded with Korean customers. A fellow colleague at work who usually eats Japanese food. A family that has been going for more than ten years and is good friends with the owner. There are many couples and couples who visit. The real thing is to spill out with a drink in one hand. What are you all talking about here? 45min Expanding SP! There is also a mini-corner of various Japanese food in Seoul.
Locals have slurped down bowls of noodles at a 24-hour ramen restaurant in Fukuoka for five decades. For three days, we asked customers why this simple ramen is more than just a cheap meal.
Colorful breads lined up on the bed of light trucks, such as red bean bread, bread, tuna dogs and donuts. This time, it is three days to closely follow the moving car of the bread movement. Sales cars go around various places in Yokohama, such as condominiums in the suburbs where there are no convenience stores nearby, facilities where elderly people can not go out for shopping, companies and schools where people are busy working. For the sake of someone, from children to the elderly, for each person waiting for the bread. What will we meet in the spring?
Nozokizaka, a steep hill in Tokyo's Toshima Ward, takes people's breath away in more ways than one. For three days, we asked people why they go up and down this road that's also a test of stamina.
Half of the residents of a university dorm in Oita Prefecture are from outside Japan. Students cook food, bathe communally and stay up chatting. We learn about their friendships and frustrations.
A small prefab restaurant in Aomori Prefecture sells only noodles and oden hotpot. For three days, we asked local customers why this no-frills business holds such a special place in their hearts.
Bonsai is a living art form that requires attention to detail and patience. For three days, we asked visitors to a hub of bonsai nurseries near Tokyo about the appeal of bonsai in a fast-paced world.
The venue is set at a small zoo for free. This zoo in Yamagata Prefecture is popular for its elderly deer and peacocks, and has been popular for more than seventy years. Some animals have been protected from injury or illness, such as birds that are injured and unable to fly, and foxes that have been in traffic accidents. Various people visit here, think about something, and leave, such as people who come every day and talk to animals, and people who repeat themselves to the injured and protected animals.
A roaring golden lion statue outside Shinjuku Station is a donation box for disaster relief and youth support. Many walk past while others offer small kindnesses. Who donates over 72 hours, and why?
One hundred years since its founding, it is set in a hardware store in Chiba Prefecture. From pots and knives to carpentry tools and farm equipment, there are twenty thousand kinds of items to be handled. A carpenter who comes to buy indispensable business tools such as nails and scoops. Farmers seeking barbed wire to deal with wild animals that ravage the fields. In addition, there is also a request to repair the mulberry that parents love for a long time ... What kind of life do you see if you put your camera on the “town yorozuya” that is close to the problems of the local people? Three days of "preparation" before the summer.
There are places where many travelers come to the Nagoya specialty Kishimen. A stand-up restaurant on the platform of Nagoya Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen. There are only eight seats at the counter, and it is large enough for people to pass each other. However, there are still few customers who can stop. People who always eat kishimen before a business trip, people who go all the way to buy admission tickets, and people who come to check the taste of memories before visiting their mother. Why can’t we stop by each of these things?
Newsstands have all but disappeared from the area around Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Yet, one still operates, even as sales keep falling. For three days, we asked customers what they bought, and why.
What are all the people looking for in Shohei Ohtani and what kind of days are they spending? The stage is a park near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, USA, and a park in Otsugi, Iwate, the hometown of Otani. We will shoot at two places at the same time and look at the feelings of the people of Japan and the United States for heroes. A person who repeats Otani in his own situation, a person who gets courage to continue to challenge. Protests against immigration in Los Angeles. What will come of the life of those who look at Otani? An expanded 72-minute version.
An outdoor community pool in Ehime is super cheap even with a competition pool and water slides. It's been a local hotspot for 50 years. Meet the visitors making midsummer memories over three days.
From affordable petit plastic to high-class depacos. In the station building directly connected to Osaka Station, there is one of the largest cosmetics shops in western Japan. I want to be beautiful, I want to be beautiful, I want to express myself. Everyone has their own reasons for making-up. A woman who likes herself better than her makeup, and a man who says skin care is an investment in ten years. Some people don't really want to wear make-up, but they can't match it around them. To hide or hide. Three days to meet people who are looking for their ideal self that they have not yet seen.
A bus terminal in front of Nagasaki Station where five thousand people come and go a day. Buses connecting all over Kyushu and Nagasaki are coming and going one after another. In August, which is especially crowded with homecomings and travel, various lives are intersected in this place. A man who travels with the memory of his late wife in his heart, and his father returns home for the first time in months after working in the distance. There are also people who miss the bus and come with a special feeling on August 9th. People who travel, visitors, and each person has their own circumstances, where to go
"Karaoke Izakaya" is located in Nishinari, Osaka, near the Tsutenkaku Tower, where you can drink and eat and sing. For a hundred yen, anyone can sing their favorite song whenever they want. Former civil servants who sing hit songs of the 70s, men who work late at the factory, people who come from other prefectures to stay overnight, customers with various circumstances visit and sing songs as far as they can. You can sing alone in your own world, or you can have fun with the customers next to you. I listened carefully for three days in this place where people gather day and night.
Streetcars have been rolling through the streets of Kochi City for more than 120 years. For three days, we asked passengers of all ages where they were going and why they chose to travel by streetcar.
A gold mine in Kagoshima has 190 staff, from teens to veterans in their 60s, who work to extract gold used in jewelry and electronics. Spend three days with people toiling above and belowground.
A yakiniku grilled meat restaurant in Tokyo's busy Shinbashi district is tailored to solo diners. Why do these customers prefer to eat alone? For three days, we got down to the meat of the matter.
An apartment building in Kobe offers residents on-site care. The lounge is open to the public, and locals and kids gather to socialize. We spend three days in the comforting warmth of a shared home.
Tokyo's Akihabara is a hub of maid cafe culture. Once catering mainly to male customers, these cafes now also attract women and families. For three days, we went inside to explore one cafe's appeal.
A 24-hour bookstore in Tokyo attracts a diverse range of customers. For three days and nights, we asked people what they are buying — and why — in an age of digital books and online shopping.
2024
The setting is a “rental room” inn in Beppu, a hot spring resort. Accommodation is inexpensive. There is no formal service. But its mysterious charm attracts people. The inn began by renting out rooms to hot-spring cure guests, but now it attracts a wide variety of visitors, including a person who has been staying in a room for three years, two women who came for a trip before giving birth, and a man who continues to travel alone. There was also a couple who came for a hot-spring cure for an illness. For three days, we listened to the voices of visitors and wondered what they were thinking when they stayed in the rental rooms.
On the east side of Lake Biwa there's something simply known as "the bench." What goes on in the minds of visitors as they take a seat? We spent 3 days by this lakeside bench.
A community garden in Okayama City is a popular spot for people from all walks of life to try their hand at farming. For three days, we watched the produce and relationships they grew here.
A discount women's clothing store in Ueno, Tokyo. The shop attracts customers for many reasons. We spent 3 days listening to their stories.
Sweat dripping from the body at temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius. This time, the setting is a long-established sauna. Located in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, known for its towels and shipbuilding, it has long been a favorite of men working in factories. The style of the sauna, with its small talk and the owner's homemade cooking, is distinctly different from the recent sauna boom, and has remained unchanged from the past. A construction site worker who visits every Sunday with his friends, a former towel manufacturer who has been a regular customer for 20 years, and a man who has been a regular at the sauna since the Showa Era (1926-1989). This film focuses on the daily lives of men in saunas that have been around since the Showa period.
A drugstore in Tokyo's busy Shinjuku district sells medicine, cosmetics and snacks around the clock. Why do people shop there? For three days and nights near the end of 2023, we asked them.
Kerosene home delivery is a key lifeline for residents of Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture. For three days in midwinter, we followed trucks delivering this heating oil and spoke to people who rely on this service.
In the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture, there's an ice cream shop that people go to, even during winter. This shop has been with the locals for 3 decades. We spent 3 days listening to the stories of visitors.
A 24-hour laundromat in Osaka Prefecture is a vital part of daily life for residents from all walks of life. For three days, we asked customers why they wash and dry their clothes there.
Motsu stew, fried rice, stamina set menus, curry, and more. National Route 4 stretches north from Tokyo. The setting is a 24-hour drive-in along the road in Fukushima Prefecture. At first glance, it looks old-fashioned, but many people come here day and night. A man on his way home from Yamagata to Tokyo, carrying his belongings. A son who has joined the workforce and treats his parents to a meal. A man who has memories of his late father who was a truck driver. Each person's life path. Where are they all headed?
A 24-hour supermarket in Osaka Prefecture is known for its brightly colored exterior and very cheap bento meals and prepared foods. For three days, we talked to people filling their shopping baskets here.
It is close to Kagoshima Airport in the spring and the season of departure. Parents who see off their children who are leaving for work, friends who are separated from their children when they go to school, the airport at this time of year is full of drama. What kind of thoughts will everyone have in this place that connects large cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and remote islands such as Yakushima and Amami Oshima by air? For three days, I stared at the moment when the story of life was condensed.
Anime goods such as dolls, key chains, and badges. The story takes place in a store that buys these items. Located in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, the anime town, many people come here every day with something. Some people sell bags of their favorite characters because they have changed their favorite anime. Some are giving up their goods when they move far away for work. Others come to bring closure to their feelings. What kind of present can we see from the circumstances of each person parting with their favorite things?
There's a soba joint in Akita City that opens late at night until lunch the next day. All kinds of people come for drinks and food. Amidst the late March snow, we document this midnight soba shop.
An electronics retail store in Yokohama, Japan, has six floors filled with home appliances. For three days in spring, we asked customers what they came to buy in this season of new beginnings.
In Asakusa, there is a mysterious underground shopping arcade that is said to be the oldest in Japan. Going down the stairs, one is in a different world. 69 years old, this old underground shopping mall is full of unique stores, such as a yakisoba noodle shop that has been in business for nearly 60 years, a fortune teller, and a barbershop. While some are long-established establishments, others are new stores opened by young shopkeepers. One wonders what kind of people come underground, away from the bustle and noise of the touristy streets. We spent three days underground.
Banei Horse Racing" in Obihiro, Hokkaido, is the stage for this year's event. The horses are large horses that were once used for farming. This is a rare race in the world in which contestants compete for strength by pulling sleds weighing up to one ton. There are two mountains on the course. The horses stop to rest and regain their strength, while they diligently work their way over the mountains to the finish line. I wondered what people were thinking as they cheered on the horses as they pulled hard under their burdens over the course of the three days of the race.
Meatball soup, stewed tofu and crucian carp. This time the setting is Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. It is a rented kitchen in a back alley. In fact, a large hospital specializing in cancer treatment is located nearby. Many of the people who use the kitchen are family members of hospitalized patients, and they cook meals here and bring them to the patients in their rooms. A mother makes vegetable soup for her daughter who has ovarian cancer. A young man quits his job and comes here every day to take care of his father. Cooking food that connects the lives of our loved ones. What kind of feelings do these people have as they prepare these dishes?
A ferry takes 16 hours to sail between Niigata Prefecture and Otaru, Hokkaido Prefecture. For three days, we asked passengers why they take this leisurely mode of travel when faster options are available.
The Nagara River is a clear stream that flows through the city of Gifu City. The river is also known for its cormorant fishing, which attracts many people to its riverside during this season. During the day, parents and children play in the water on the riverbanks, and anglers fish for big fish. At night, groups of classmates enjoy fireworks and friends listen to music. Many locals visit without any particular reason because of its proximity to the city center. It is a clear river that has been flowing near their lives for a long time. What kind of time do people spend here? A look at the days of early summer.
A 24-hour gas station with prices that entice drivers from both near and far. From a couple who travels and sleeps in their car to a professional driver, join us as we listen to customers' stories.
What are the most popular Japanese manga in Paris today? The setting is a manga cafe on a street corner in Paris. It has 20,000 French-language Japanese manga. With a system similar to Japanese manga cafes, such as time-based rates and unlimited drinks, many French people visit the café every day. A graduate student visiting to relax after exams. Sisters who traveled 5 hours by bus. There are even people who say their lives were changed by encountering manga. This 45-minute program includes a ranking of the most popular manga!
A huge "danchi" housing complex in Chiba is home to 7,000 households. Built in the 1960s, this complex is a community in itself. For three days, we asked residents about what life is like there.
A public library in Kanazawa resembles a sublime theater and offers more than 1.1 million books. For three days, we asked people what books piqued their interest and how they spend their time here.
Gum, chocolate, candy and snacks are crammed into a penny candy shop in Akabane, Tokyo. What is the store's enduring appeal to customers of all ages? Explore the answer over three summer days.
Up to 12,000 vehicles pass through a service area on Awaji Island every day. People stop for a break at the food court, observation deck or even the Ferris wheel. We find out where they're headed.
Inadani, Nagano Prefecture is home to a farmers' market which sells a wide array of vegetables, mushrooms, game and even edible insects. Explore local food culture and approaches to life in rural Japan.
On the coast overlooking the Sea of Japan, there are twenty thousand graves. The stage this time is "Hanamigata Cemetery" in Kotoura Town, Tottori Prefecture. It is a natural cemetery that was formed before it, and its origins are not well understood. Every year during the Obon period, many people visit the cemetery. Each grave is lit up, countless lanterns are lit, and at night, a fantastic scene spreads only at this time of year. People who care for their dead families and ancestors and try to mourn. Look at the Obon of the huge cemetery on the mysterious seaside.
Tens of thousands of glasses are lined up in a glasses shop. There are a wide range of glasses, from attractive products with a cheap lens for less than 4000yen to fashionable items from overseas brands. Seventy percent of Japanese people wear glasses now that their eyes tend to be tired. People who want to change their image with glasses, people who have become old eyes, and various customers come. What kind of life can you see on the other side of your glasses? I looked at it for three days.
A mobile food cart selling a traditional Japanese sweet has been plying the streets of Fukuoka for over 75 years. For three days, we talked to customers fond of a snack unchanged over the decades.
A shrine in Tokyo is dedicated to a deity believed to control the weather. For three days in fall, a season of fickle weather in Japan, we asked people why they wanted divine help for sunny skies.
At a family diner, we meet customers of all ages, from solo diners to families and big groups. These diners' stories may seem ordinary, but all kinds of quiet dramas lie within these everyday moments.
Bargain-hunters and people decluttering their homes flock to a huge thrift store near Tokyo. For three days, we asked customers what drew them to this place filled with an array of second-hand goods.
From beginners to pros, this gym in Tokyo welcomes people of all ages and skill levels. Each member has a unique reason for training here. We find out what they're wrestling with in their lives.
A national road winds through a rugged mountain range on the Kii Peninsula. We drove the length of this road over three days to meet some of the residents in this remote region.
