Face To Face

Nanami Shiono (82) is the best-selling author of historic novels set in the Mediterranean, which have been translated into English, Chinese and Korean. During her 50-year career, her work has covered a span of some 2,500 years, allowing her readers to travel back in time. Since releasing her final historical novel in 2017, centered on Alexander the Great, her interests have evolved. Robert Campbell visits her home in Rome to discuss their mutual fascination with a culture other than their own.

Kodan is a traditional storytelling art that is enjoying a spectacular revival thanks to Kanda Hakuzan (36). Although he made his debut just 13 years ago, tickets to his performances sell out in no time. He manages to bring historic characters to life with his energetic performances that are grounded in solid technique and style. In February 2020, he assumed the highest rank possible in Kodan, the fastest rise in history. He joins us for a chat on Japanese culture as reflected in Kodan.

An illustrated book that explains the law in simple terms has sold over 500,000 copies in just over 6 months. Aimed at children, the author Soichiro Yamasaki hopes that understanding the law will help address the ongoing issue of bullying. Yamasaki is not a legal expert. Instead, he draws on his own experiences to drive home the point that bullying is a crime. He talks about how he hopes that the book will not only discourage kids from becoming bullies but also help kids protect themselves.

Symbolic of Japanese tradition and culture and imbued with the spirit of the samurai, the Japanese sword is both a deadly weapon and a work of art. Yoshihara Yoshindo is considered to be the greatest swordsmith alive. His works are displayed at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. Using techniques developed 1,000 years ago, he continues to forge swords at his small workshop in Tokyo. Why? Find out the answer to this and more on Face To Face.

Flower artist Azuma Makoto continues to stun the world with mind-blowing ideas that include launching a bonsai into the stratosphere and floating a huge floral sculpture out at sea. Since his work requires removing flowers from their natural state, he feels it's his duty to transform them into inspirational works of art so that their lives would not have been cut short in vain. His latest project involves bringing hope to those stricken by COVID-19, as he reveals in his talk with Robert Campbell.

Hirofumi Seo is a medical doctor turned CG designer. He is making the most of his expertise to create 3D animations that are helping to break new ground in medicine. Doctors say his work allows them to feel as if they've been shrunk to microscopic size to examine a patient's body from within. Seo is now using his skills to put a face to the invisible threat of COVID-19. Find out more about what he hopes to achieve by bridging the worlds of medicine and computer graphics.

Aoki Ryota is a young potter known for his distinct use of glazes. They not only decorate and make ceramic surfaces impermeable and waterproof, but allow him to produce innovative textures and shades. He develops his glazes through trial and error, creating around 15,000 test pieces a year. To make his works readily available to the public, he's also set up a crowdfunding project to mass-produce works at low cost. He shares with us his dreams of breathing new life into the world of ceramics.

In 2017, concern over the depletion of Japan's fishery resources led French-cuisine chef Ishii Shinsuke to call on other like-minded chefs to launch a group to promote sustainable seafood in Japan. Making the most of their influence on both consumers and producers, their proposal to incentivize cooperation across the board won the top prize at an international competition. Ishii, who has just opened a new restaurant, shares his vision with us on Face To Face.

In Japan, the number of Kodokushi, in which people die alone and remain undiscovered, is on the rise. The rooms where these people die tend to be filled with rubbish, representing the inner turmoil of those who have lost the will to live. Kojima Miyu's job is to clean up after these lonely deaths. To help shed light on this social problem, she began making miniature replicas of the rooms she's worked on, and has published a book chronicling her experiences. She shares her thoughts on Kodokushi in Japan.

Die-hard anime and manga fans are falling in love with 2.5D musicals. These are productions that exist somewhere between the 2D realm of anime and manga and the 3D realm of theater. Pioneering this new genre is theater producer Matsuda Makoto. He transposes the essence of the original manga or anime to live theater that far exceeds the expectations of fans. Matsuda provides us with an insight into what goes into the making of 2.5 musicals, and his belief in their universal appeal.