Direct Talk

  • Rank #
  • Premiered: Apr 2016
  • Episodes: 1208
  • Followers: 0
  • Running
  • NHK
  • Daily at 19
  • Documentary

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Season 2018
2018x1
Osamu Suzuki: You're Never Too Old for a New Challenge!
Episode overview
Air date
Jan 16, 2018
Born in the 1930s, Osamu Suzuki still sees himself as a small-business owner. Taking personal interest in work efficiency, low-cost cars are his aim. He speaks on this, and the future of his industry.
2018x2
Eiko Ikegami: Appreciating Neurodiversity
Episode overview
Air date
Jan 17, 2018
Dr. Eiko Ikegami, professor of sociology at The New School for Social Research in New York City studies people’s experiences in the Virtual World.
2018x3
Julie Taymor: Adapting Theatrical Techniques from Asia
Episode overview
Air date
Jan 19, 2018
Tony-winning director Julie Taymor talks about how her experiences in Asia have influenced her stage productions, including the hit musical The Lion King and her newest Broadway play M. Butterfly.
2018x4
Alexandra Munroe: Promoting Discovering Contemporary Asian Art
Episode overview
Air date
Jan 26, 2018
Dr. Alexandra Munroe, the Samsung Senior Curator of Asian Art and Senior Advisor of Global Arts at the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum in New York City presents contemporary Asian Art on the global stage.
2018x5
Daito Manabe: A Technological Wizard Shaping Art
Episode overview
Air date
Jan 29, 2018
Daito Manabe uses drones, VR, and the latest technology to create entertainment. He's worked with famous pop musicians and is now exploring classical music. He talks about the potential of media art.
2018x6
Hiromichi Mizuno: Pension Management in Japan
Episode overview
Air date
Jan 30, 2018
Hiromichi Mizuno is the CIO of Japan’s $1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund. He talks about responsible investing that takes into account environmental, social, and governance factors.
2018x7
Trung Dung: Improving Access to Finance
Episode overview
Air date
Jan 31, 2018
Trung Dung is a Vietnamese American engineer who overcame hardships as a refugee to succeed as an IT entrepreneur. He talks of his ambition to improve access to finance for people with lower income.
2018x8
Tony Wu: Step Out onto Planet Earth
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 02, 2018
Tony Wu is an award winning photographer known for rare images of life underwater. He talks of what nature can teach us and how we need to step out of our comfort zones to know the real planet earth.
2018x9
Chieko Mizoue: Education in Japanese-Canadian Internment Camp
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 05, 2018
Chieko Mizoue is a professor whose research focuses on Japanese-Canadian internment experience. She teaches this lesser known history to students and hopes to create a future without discrimination.
2018x10
Haruhiro Tsujimoto: Developing Massive Hit Video Games
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 06, 2018
Video game developer Capcom is behind such renowned franchises as Monster Hunter and Resident Evil. President & COO Haruhiro Tsujimoto explains how it makes hit after hit that rises above the pack.
2018x11
David Field: Conservation Works!
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 08, 2018
David Field is the Zoological Director of the Zoological Society of London which oversees London Zoo. In Direct Talk he talks about the importance of conservation of animals and their habitats.
2018x12
Jiang Kun: Humor for the World from China
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 09, 2018
Xiang Sheng, ‘Chinese cross talk’, is a traditional folk art. As one of its most famous performers, Jiang Kun hopes to bring joy to both China and the world with his unique style of humor.
2018x13
Saburo Teshigawara: The Human Essence Through Dance
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 13, 2018
Award-winning dancer and choreographer Saburo Teshigawara is known for innovative pieces that introduce new, inventive movements to the vocabulary of dance. We spoke to him about his creative origins.
2018x14
Kommaly Chanthavong: The Spirit of Silk Weaving
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 14, 2018
Kommaly Chanthavong is a Lao silk weaver recognized for reviving the traditional art in Laos. She talks of the spirit of silk weaving, and the beauty of what it can teach as well as create.
2018x15
Jon Crowcroft: The Challenge of Artificial Intelligence
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 15, 2018
Professor Jon Crowcroft of the Alan Turing Institute says data science and AI will revolutionise society but systems need to be made more secure to protect both privacy and public safety.
2018x16
Tomoyoshi Noda: Nurturing Leaders the Asian Way
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 19, 2018
Tomoyoshi Noda founded ISL (Institute for Strategic Leadership) to nurture world-class business leaders and is now opening a graduate school. Noda explains his aims and thoughts on developing leaders.
2018x17
Masaru Kamachi: Arita Porcelain Goes Global
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 20, 2018
Arita porcelain has long been used to compliment Japanese cuisine, but Kamachi-toho has reinterpreted the style for Western dining. President Masaru Kamachi speaks about its beauty and potential.
2018x18
Wu Yushao: Facing the Aging Society
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 21, 2018
40 years since its One-child Policy was implemented, China faces the situation of one adult having to take care of several old people. Wu Yushao is working on ways to deal with China’s aging issues.
2018x19
David Vaughan: Antarctica - Key to the Planet
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 22, 2018
Professor David Vaughan, Director of Science at the British Antarctic Survey, says the Antarctic is the key to understanding the planet and warns about the dangers of rising sea levels in the future.
2018x20
Zhou Jian: Let's Build a Robot!
Episode overview
Air date
Feb 28, 2018
Robots will one day become a part of our everyday lives. Zhou Jian believes that letting children learn about robots and get used to the idea of living with them is an important part of education.
2018x21
Enrico Letta: Unity for the Future Europe
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 01, 2018
Enrico Letta, a Former Prime Minister of Italy, analyzes why the notion of separatism from EU has occurred. However, he believes that the unity of Europe is the only way to overcome its crisis.
2018x22
Onn Sokny: Different is Beautiful
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 02, 2018
Onn Sokny leads an inclusive arts organization working to bring down the barriers between people with and without disabilities. She believes everyone being different is what makes the world beautiful.
2018x23
Takahisa Takahara: Comfort from Discomfort
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 05, 2018
Unicharm sells diapers and personal hygiene products in over 80 countries. Industry leader and CEO Takahara pioneered the ‘pant-style’ diaper. He discusses product development and business strategy.
2018x24
Minami Tsubouchi: Leaders Forged Through Hardship
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 06, 2018
BEYOND Tomorrow provides educational assistance to young survivors affected by the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Minami Tsubouchi talks about her work to cultivate future global leaders.
2018x25
Carolyn Porco: Pioneering Planetary Exploration
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 07, 2018
An advocate for the exploration of space, planetary scientist Carolyn Porco leads scientists who have been analyzing images of Saturn and the outer solar system captured by the Cassini spacecraft.
2018x26
Chen Jie: Making a Difference in Journalism
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 08, 2018
Through his photos and stories, China’s well-known Investigative journalist Chen Jie has aroused both popular and official support for campaigns to deal with pollution and poverty issues.
2018x27
Mark Z. Jacobson: 100% Renewable Energy for the World
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 09, 2018
Climate change crusader Mark Jacobson proposes an innovative plan to completely replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. He discusses the realities and issues we'll face when realizing this idea.
2018x28
Tatsuo Miyajima: Life and Death Expressed Digitally
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 12, 2018
Tatsuo Miyajima is an artist known for frequently employing digital LED counters. He has exhibited his work in over 30 countries worldwide to much acclaim. What is the message behind his art?
2018x29
Edmund Yeo: Enhancing Social Compassion
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 14, 2018
Shocked by the discovery of refugee graves in his own country’s jungle, Malaysian film director Edmund Yeo made the award-winning feature film Aqérat to open discussion on the Rohingya refugee issue.
2018x30
Hélène Carrère d'Encausse: The Future of Putin's Russia
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 15, 2018
Authority on Russia and the Soviet Union, Hélène Carrère d'Encausse sits down with NHK General Bureau Chief for Europe to discuss the future of the “strong Russia” envisioned by President Putin.
2018x31
Dale Dougherty: Making the Future
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 16, 2018
Dale Dougherty founded Make magazine and Maker Faire to counter consumer culture and revive the DIY spirit among generations of tech-savvy enthusiasts. He talks about the importance of being a maker.
2018x32
Yutaka Sado: Lessons That Sustain Dreams
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 20, 2018
Conductor Yutaka Sado studied under the great composer Leonard Bernstein for three years up until Bernstein’s death in 1990. Sado talks lessons learned and what he hopes to pass on to the future.
2018x33
Mazlan Othman: Know Our Universe - Learn About Space
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 21, 2018
Mazlan Othman is an astrophysicist who pioneered Malaysia's space program and education in astronomy. She says we need to know the Universe around us to understand who we are and where we are going.
2018x34
Jeffrey Shaw: Art Revitalizing History
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 22, 2018
Media artist Jeffrey Shaw creatively employs the latest technology to conserve, document and display precious elements of cultural heritage, dramatically making the past meaningful to the present.
2018x35
Ivana Chubbuck: Empowering Through Acting
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 23, 2018
Ivana Chubbuck is a celebrated acting coach, best known for coaching award-winning Hollywood stars. We ask her what it takes to create a great actor.
2018x36
Wu Bin: Bring Chinese Martial Arts to the World
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 28, 2018
Leading figure in modern wushu, and instructor of Jet Li, Wu Bin is a global promoter of Chinese martial arts. Now in his 80s, he remains actively involved. He spoke with us on his lifelong passion.
2018x37
Patama Roonrakwit: Building Together to Transform Communities
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 29, 2018
Patama Roonrakwit is a Thai architect who works with people in poor neighborhoods to improve their housings and environments. She believes in building people's confidence to transform their community.
2018x38
Charina Widjaja: Providing a Platform for Asian Designers
Episode overview
Air date
Mar 30, 2018
Charina Widjaja founded Digital Fashion Week to help independent Asian designers display their talents to the world as they struggle to survive between the high fashion labels and mass brands.
2018x39
Yoichi Ochiai: The Digital-Age Wizard
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 02, 2018
Yoichi Ochiai uses tech to conjure visual wizardry unlike any seen before. He is interested in the relationship between human society and computers. He talks about his concept of “digital nature.”
2018x40
Tomoyuki Kobayashi: Cutting No Corners
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 03, 2018
The Suwada Blacksmith Works makes sharp, high-quality nail clippers that are used everywhere from salons to medical clinics. The firm was heavily in debt, but Tomoyuki Kobayashi turned things around.
2018x41
Chang Sea-jin: Samsung, Chaebol, and Economy Reformation in South Korea
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 04, 2018
Chaebol Company like Samsung brought rapid economic growth, but also disparities and its dependency in Korea. Prof. Chang, a Chaebol specialist, thinks structural reform is required for true growth.
2018x42
Yoshio Yanagiya: Machines That Make Delicious Crab Sticks
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 09, 2018
Yanagiya has a 70% global share of the machines that produce “surimi” crab sticks. We talk with company president Yoshio Yanagiya about making imitation crab that tastes just like the real thing.
2018x43
Gen Terao: Appliances That Make Life Fun
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 10, 2018
Balmuda’s hit appliances include a fan that generates a natural breeze and a toaster that makes perfect toast. Founder Gen Terao talks about the company’s nonconventional product development process.
2018x44
Nick Bostrom: Protecting Humanity from AI
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 11, 2018
Nick Bostrom is director of the Future of Humanity Institute, and is considered one of the most important thinkers of our age. His work on artificial intelligence has influenced technological leaders.
2018x45
Patricia Rodriguez: Championing Women as Leaders in Football
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 12, 2018
Patricia Rodriguez is executive managing director of Spanish football club, SD Eibar. As the only female managing director in La Liga, she is trying to increase the number of women in football.
2018x46
Nicolai Bergmann: East Meets West Through Flowers
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 17, 2018
Nicolai Bergmann creates flower arrangements that combine elements of Denmark, where he was born, and Japan, where he is based. He recently held exhibitions at a series of shrines. What drives him?
2018x47
Marina Kaljurand: New Guardian of Cyberspace
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 18, 2018
Marina Kaljurand chairs the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace. With experts from government, hackers and the tech giants, it is pushing for a new code of conduct on cyber security.
2018x48
Setsuko Ono: Anger Can Be Beautiful
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 20, 2018
Setsuko Ono became an artist after working for the World Bank for 27 years. Like her sister Yoko Ono and her brother-in-law John Lennon, she uses art to express her fierce desire for justice.
2018x49
Tetsuhiro Shikiyama: Aquarium Innovation
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 23, 2018
The large-scale water tanks made by Nippura can be found at aquariums in over 60 countries. We speak with president Tetsuhiro Shikiyama about his company’s world-beating craftsmanship.
2018x50
Masaki Sato: Yarn Unlike Any Other
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 24, 2018
Masaki Sato is the president of spinning company Sato Seni, which produces exquisite knitting yarn coveted by some of the world’s most famous fashion brands. What makes its trademark yarn so unique?
2018x51
Ha Sang-hun: Hopes For South Korea, The Suicide Nation
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 25, 2018
South Korea’s suicide rate has long been the highest amongst the developed nations. Ha Sang-hun talks about the social disparities caused by rapid economic growth and his hopes for the future.
2018x52
Hartwig Fischer: Bridges Between Cultures
Episode overview
Air date
Apr 27, 2018
Hartwig Fischer is the Director of the British Museum. He believes that museums play a central role in showing the interconnectedness between different cultures and has radical plans for the Museum.
2018x147
Tamako Mitarai: Knitting the Future by Hand
Episode overview
Air date
May 01, 2018
Kesennuma Knitting was created to help recovery efforts in an area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Its high-end cardigans and sweaters are best sellers. CEO Tamako Mitarai talks strategy.
2018x59
Masahiro Kato: The Beauty of Furniture
Episode overview
Air date
May 08, 2018
Masahiro Kato is president of Tendo Mokko, a furniture maker that creates wooden chairs and tables characterized by distinct curves. What inspires the brand’s inventive designs and honed aesthetic?
2018x145
Chung To: Saving Children Affected by AIDS
Episode overview
Air date
May 09, 2018
For 20 years, Chung To has been helping children affected by AIDS in China by assisting with their tuition and job-hunting. He seeks a society where the children can thrive despite bias against AIDS.
2018x56
Alf Dubs: Champion for Refugees
Episode overview
Air date
May 10, 2018
Lord Alf Dubs, the British politician, came to Britain as a child refugee escaping the Nazis. He discusses his battle on behalf of child refugees and his global campaign against the death penalty.
2018x143
George Takei: Advocating for Equality
Episode overview
Air date
May 11, 2018
Japanese-American actor George Takei spent his childhood in internment camps during WWII. He talks about racial injustice, his advocacy, and the musical “Allegiance” that was inspired by his story.
2018x53
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Vaccinating the World
Episode overview
Air date
May 16, 2018
In less than a decade, the Vaccine Alliance GAVI has saved nine million lives in the developing world. Direct Talk meets the Chair of GAVI, former Nigeria Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
2018x149
Hiroshi Ogasawara: World-first Industrial Robots
Episode overview
Air date
May 21, 2018
Yaskawa Electric is one of the world’s four big manufacturers of industrial robots. We speak with company president Hiroshi Ogasawara about the Chinese market and the future of industrial robotics.
2018x54
Anyango: Captivated by the Sound of Joy
Episode overview
Air date
May 22, 2018
Japan-born Anyango is the first woman in the world to play the nyatiti, a traditional stringed instrument played by the Luo people of Kenya. What drives her to spread its sound around the world?
2018x55
Yoshiharu Hoshino: Showcasing Local Charms
Episode overview
Air date
May 28, 2018
Yoshiharu Hoshino is the CEO of Hoshino Resorts. He began his career by turning around his family’s hot spring ryokan (Japanese-style inn). Now his company manages over 30 properties worldwide.
2018x56
Gen Bando: The Mission of Zoos
Episode overview
Air date
May 29, 2018
Asahiyama Zoo is known for unique exhibits that are designed to encourage animals to behave as they would in the wild. Director Gen Bando talks about his exhibits and the role of zoos in the future.
2018x60
Hidefumi Kimura: Adding Bubbles, Adding Fun
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 04, 2018
For 70 years, Kimura Drink has made ramune, a fizzy riff on lemonade. They also make drinks with surprising ingredients like curry and shrimp. Why? We asked the company’s president, Hidefumi Kimura.
2018x57
Satoshi Miyagi: The Power of Theater
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 05, 2018
Satoshi Miyagi is artistic director of the public theater company SPAC. He is internationally renowned for interpreting classic western plays through a traditional Japanese aesthetic. What drives him
2018x144
Noriko Arai: Living in the AI Era
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 07, 2018
Mathematician Noriko Arai, a top Japanese AI expert, warns that artificial intelligences will likely take jobs from humans in the near future. She discusses the keys to surviving in the coming AI era.
2018x58
Yan Lianke: The Explosive Writer's Spirit
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 08, 2018
Yan Lianke boldly reveals contradictions in China, repeatedly facing domestic publishing bans. This episode shows why he continues creative activities where freedom of expression is limited.
2018x148
Maria Isabel Legarda: Theater for Social Change
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 13, 2018
Maria Isabel Legarda is the Artistic Director of Philippine Educational Theater Association. She says theater can help people learn to have a voice, and contribute to social change and development.
2018x146
Paavo Järvi: The Joy of Classical Music
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 15, 2018
Paavo Järvi is one of the most gifted conductors of his generation. How does he draw out the best possible sound from an orchestra? We speak with Järvi about the present and future of classical music.
2018x61
Reiko Sudo: Dressing the World in Innovative Textiles
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 18, 2018
Textile designer Reiko Sudo brings together Japanese tradition and craftsmanship to design fabrics that are recognized as art by world-class museums. What drives her creativity and passion?
2018x62
Kentaro Ohyama: Problems into Products
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 19, 2018
The Iris Group makes everything from appliances to gardening tools and food and releases 1,000 new products a year. We asked chairman Kentaro Ohyama about the secret of this amazing productivity.
2018x63
Tatsuo Nomura: The Joy of Connecting Through Technology
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 20, 2018
Tatsuo Nomura is the creator of Pokémon GO. Following his passions took him from a modest childhood in China to Silicon Valley, where he’s a leading augmented reality game director.
2018x64
Takaaki Nishii: A World of Flavor
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 25, 2018
Ajinomoto intends to be one of the world’s top ten food companies by 2020. Created 109 years ago, it started out making seasonings. We spoke to CEO Takaaki Nishii about the company’s past and future.
2018x65
Senko Ikenobo: Even Withered Flowers Can Bloom
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 26, 2018
Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. Its origins lie in the 550-year-old Ikenobo school. Headmaster Designate Senko Ikenobo speaks about what she aspires to through her art.
2018x150
Robert Reich: Resurrecting the Common Good
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 27, 2018
Former US Labor Secretary and USC Professor of Public Policy Robert Reich analyses the ramifications of widening income inequality, money in politics, and the urgent need to revive the Common Good.
2018x66
Cherrie Atilano: Farming is the Future
Episode overview
Air date
Jun 29, 2018
Cherrie Atilano is a Filipino farmer and social entrepreneur. She’s working to make farming attractive, sustainable and profitable, to alleviate poverty, ensure food security and enrich people's lives.
2018x67
Ayato Takada: The Battle Against Ebola
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 02, 2018
Ayato Takada is a virologist who tracks down new and mysterious strains of disease. He recently discovered an antibody that can fight Ebola. We asked him about studying viruses on the front lines.
2018x68
Tohru Yamai: Camping Gear with a Unique Philosophy
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 03, 2018
Representatives from companies worldwide visit camping gear maker Snow Peak to catch a glimpse of President and CEO Tohru Yamai’s manufacturing philosophy at work. Yamai himself offers some insights.
2018x69
Margrethe Vestager: Playing by the Rules
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 04, 2018
Margrethe Vestager is the European Union’s commissioner for competition. A former Danish politician and Economics Minister, she has a reputation as the rich world's most powerful trust-buster.
2018x70
Tilo Kunath: A Future without Parkinson's
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 05, 2018
Dr Tilo Kunath, one of the world’s leading stem cell researchers, talks about his pioneering work and contribution to finding a cure for Parkinson’s, a disease that’s increasingly common in Asia.
2018x71
Hiroyuki Sasa: The Road to Recovery
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 09, 2018
Olympus has a 70% share of the global gastrointestinal endoscope market. But, in 2011, it was revealed that the company had been hiding massive losses. Sasa steered Olympus through this turbulent era.
2018x72
Sayuri Kinoshita: Into the Deep Blue
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 10, 2018
Sayuri Kinoshita is the first Japanese woman to set a freediving world record in a competitive discipline where divers use no fins—and of course, no scuba gear. What drives her to seek the depths?
2018x73
Willis Wee: The Future of Southeast Asian Startups
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 11, 2018
Willis Wee is the founder of one of the biggest tech startup events in Southeast Asia. He says the region's diversity presents unique challenges and opportunities for startup founders and investors.
2018x74
Liu Hongjun: Reconstructing Ancient Musical Instruments
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 13, 2018
Liu Hongjun is a Chinese musician active around Asia. Over 35 years, he has reconstructed more than 50 ancient musical instruments preserved in China and Japan to revive the music of 1,000 years ago.
2018x75
Dhammananda: The Power of Equality and Inclusive Thinking
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 18, 2018
Dhammananda is a Thai Buddhist monk working to achieve gender equality in religion. She talks about how exclusion of others impacts society and how inclusive thinking could change the world.
2018x76
Pashon Murray: Compost for a Zero Waste Future
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 20, 2018
Compost entrepreneur and “zero waste” educator Pashon Murray has made sustainability profitable by turning food waste from corporations into healthy soil for Detroit’s urban farmers.
2018x77
Yuuki Watanabe: The Power of Biologging
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 23, 2018
Yuuki Watanabe is a marine biologist who specializes in biologging—the tracking of individual wild animals—particularly the biologging of penguins. He tells us about the surprising habits of animals.
2018x78
Shuhei Hasado: Walls That Coexist with Nature
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 24, 2018
Shuhei Hasado is a plasterer—“sakan” in Japanese. He uses traditional techniques and natural materials to design innovative plasterwork. What is his approach to the craft of making things?
2018x79
Emma Lawton: Living Life to the Fullest with Parkinson's
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 25, 2018
Emma Lawton, a graphic designer living in London, was diagnosed 5 years ago with Parkinson's disease. She was only 29. In spite of her condition, she has become an award winning campaigner.
2018x89
Manuel Barange: Protecting Our Oceans
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 26, 2018
Manuel Barange is Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the FAO. He believes that protecting our marine life and oceans for future generations must be a priority.
2018x80
Kinohachi: Building on Tradition with New Music
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 27, 2018
Kinohachi plays the shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute. He joined a rock band in his 20s and continues to compose unique music, gaining fans worldwide. What is it that pushes him forward?
2018x81
Yoshinori Isozaki: Bringing Beer Back
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 30, 2018
As its name suggests, Kirin Holdings is the holding company of Kirin, a large beer and soft drink maker. As Japan’s beer market shrinks, CEO Yoshinori Isozaki tells us how his company is responding.
2018x82
Tokiko Kato: Song Transcends National Borders
Episode overview
Air date
Jul 31, 2018
In June 2018, Japanese singer Tokiko Kato held a concert in Sakhalin, in the Russian Far East, as part of a cultural exchange between the two countries. What was the message she wanted to convey?
2018x83
Luciano Benetton: New Challenges for a Fashion Giant
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 01, 2018
The Benetton Group is globally known for fashion. Its co-founder Luciano Benetton, now in his 80s, has returned to lead the company’s apparel division. He speaks on his bold vison for the brand.
2018x84
Beatrice Fihn: The People’s Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 02, 2018
ICAN’s Beatrice Fihn earned the Nobel Peace Prize by introducing a treaty to the UN to abolish nuclear weapons. She continues to mobilize people worldwide by making nuclear arms a human rights issue.
2018x85
Francisco J. Núñez: Together with Music
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 03, 2018
Francisco J. Núñez is the founder of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC). Through music, he teaches a diverse group of children about the joy of life and the value of cooperation.
2018x86
Kotaro Nishibori: The Beauty of Wagasa
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 06, 2018
Kotaro Nishibori is the fifth-generation head of a time-honored company making wagasa—traditional Japanese umbrellas. What draws him to his craft, and what is the new direction he envisions for it?
2018x87
Alexander Sokurov: Portrayals of Power
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 10, 2018
World-renowned Russian film director Alexander Sokurov tells us why he constantly portrays power in his movies and presents his thoughts on the effects of war on humanity and culture.
2018x88
Meik Wiking: The Danish Recipe for Happiness
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 15, 2018
What makes Denmark the happiest country in the world? According to Meik Wiking, the secret lies in a lifestyle that includes social welfare and the uniquely Danish concept of “hygge.”
2018x89
Elena Shifrina: Future Food Now
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 16, 2018
The outstanding Russian entrepreneur Elena Shifrina talks about the very first all-natural healthy snack bars she launched in Russia and shares her views on the future of global food culture.
2018x90
Craig Hatkoff: NY to Hiroshima, Beyond Ground Zero
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 22, 2018
Journeying from New York to Hiroshima, Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Craig Hatkoff looks for ways to share stories to come to terms with 9.11, overcome hatred, and never cause another Ground Zero.
2018x91
Toshio Hosokawa: Music to Portray the Pain of the Times
Episode overview
Air date
Aug 24, 2018
A main motif of Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa is the relationship between Nature and humans. He talks about composing to reflect social strains and the importance of facing pain through music.
2018x92
Thomas Bach: The Power of Sports
Episode overview
Air date
Sep 05, 2018
This episode has no summary.
2018x93
Dmitri Trenin: Russia’s Future in Asia
Episode overview
Air date
Sep 07, 2018
Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, tells us why he believes Russia needs to consolidate its diplomatic strategy regarding Asian countries.
2018x94
Hiroshi Saito: Tasty, Affordable Cakes for Everyone
Episode overview
Air date
Sep 10, 2018
Chateraise is Japan’s largest Western-style confectioner in terms of number of locations, with shops throughout Japan. Chairman & CEO Hiroshi Saito talks about his company’s unique business model.
2018x95
Raymond Moriyama: Transforming Society Through Architecture
Episode overview
Air date
Sep 14, 2018
This episode has no summary.
2018x96
Nobuo Sugino: A Message of Botanical Beauty
Episode overview
Air date
Sep 18, 2018
Pressed Flower Artist Nobuo Sugino forgoes tradition to create vivid, unconventional works of stunning beauty. What is the allure of pressed flowers, and what does he strive for through his art?
2018x97
Kazuhiro Tsuji: Following Your Life’s True Passion
Episode overview
Air date
Sep 21, 2018
Contemporary artist and Academy Award winner for Best Makeup and Hairstyling Kazuhiro Tsuji, discussed his journey from a self-taught special-effects makeup artist to a hyperrealist portrait sculptor.
2018x98
Tetsuji Honna: Cultivating Harmonies with the Vietnamese
Episode overview
Air date
Sep 25, 2018
Tetsuji Honna has been serving as Music Director of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra for 17 years, overcoming cultural barriers in his quest to create a world-class orchestra. What drives him?
2018x99
Noriko Hayashi: Every Little Voice
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 01, 2018
Documentary photographer Noriko Hayashi has captured images in dozens of countries, in some of the most far-flung regions on earth. We spoke to her about her work process and about what drives her.
2018x100
Toshiyuki Otsuki: A Chair That Soothes the Soul
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 02, 2018
Fuji Medical Instruments was the first in the world to mass-produce massage chairs, and today its popularity is growing in East Asia. CEO Toshiyuki Otsuki reflects on the past and looks to the future.
2018x101
Hisataka Kobayashi: Changing the Future of Cancer Treatment
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 03, 2018
Dr. Hisataka Kobayashi gained attention by successfully killing cancer cells without side effects using near-infrared light. He talks about future cancer treatment and advanced medical care research.
2018x102
Tristram Hunt: Showcasing Human Ingenuity
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 04, 2018
Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, explains his vision for the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design.
2018x103
Megumi Sasaki: A Whale of a Tale
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 05, 2018
Megumi Sasaki says her film “A Whale of a Tale” is not all about the whaling debate; it’s about how to co-exist in a divided world. She hopes her work will expand viewers’ knowledge.
2018x104
Eriko Yamaguchi: Quality Products from Developing Countries
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 09, 2018
For Eriko Yamaguchi, who started a fashion brand in Bangladesh, it’s not about making things cheaply and quickly, but making the most of a developing country’s resources. What is her brand vision?
2018x105
Song Zhenghuan: In Pursuit of an Ideal Stroller
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 10, 2018
In 1990, Song Zhenghuan, president of Goodbaby, a top global parenting product company in China, designed a stroller that became a huge hit. He talks about product development and company management.
2018x106
Elif Shafak: Our Common Humanity
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 11, 2018
Elif Shafak is Turkey’s most widely read female author. Her books explore identity, language and gender and she believes that literature reminds us of our common humanity.
2018x107
Yuko Shimizu: Finding Her Artistic Voice
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 12, 2018
New York-based illustrator Yuko Shimizu followed her dreams to a successful career, creating images for America’s leading publications, in a style playing on traditional Japanese techniques.
2018x108
Eri Machii: Bringing Medicine to the African Backcountry
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 15, 2018
Eri Machii, chairperson of the NPO AfriMedico, uses a uniquely Japanese method of marketing medicine to bring the miracle of medicine to the furthest reaches of rural Africa. What drives her efforts?
2018x109
Wendy Young: Creating the Future for Immigrant Children
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 17, 2018
KIND President Wendy Young talks about protection and relief work for unaccompanied undocumented children and creation of a society that prevents children from becoming refugees in the first place.
2018x110
Tero Vauraste: Connecting the Arctic
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 18, 2018
Tero Vauraste, chair of the Arctic Economic Council and CEO of Finland’s Arctia, explains how melting sea ice is transforming the Arctic and why the region needs sustainable development.
2018x111
Hitoshi Kaneyuki: The Unique Business of Transport Vehicles
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 22, 2018
Canycom is Japan’s market leader for transport vehicles used in agriculture. We speak with Hitoshi Kaneyuki, Canycom’s chairman, about the company’s manufacturing philosophy.
2018x112
Charles E. McJilton: Don’t Feel Responsible, Respond
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 23, 2018
Charles E. McJilton runs a food bank in Japan, collecting food from manufacturers and retailers that is for various reasons safe but unsellable, and provides them to those in need. What drives him?
2018x113
Chris Redlitz: Programming a Brighter Future After Prison
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 24, 2018
Chris Redlitz, an IT venture capitalist, set up programming classes in US prisons to prepare inmates for work outside. He explains this project is a good investment for both the inmates and society.
2018x114
Tong Zhilei: Digital Reading Within Reach
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 25, 2018
Tong Zhilei, President of ChineseAll, started up in 2000 as the pioneer of digital publishing in China. He tells us the necessity of books and the social contribution.
2018x115
Robert Wilson: Art Can Unite Us
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 26, 2018
Robert Wilson, iconic experimental theatre director and founder of The Watermill Center in NY, reveals his early influences, how his minimalistic style developed, and why he continues to create.
2018x116
Hidetaka Yoshikawa: Chairs for the World’s Beauty Salons
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 29, 2018
Takara Belmont is the world’s biggest maker of chairs for barbershops and salons. We asked CEO Hidetaka Yoshikawa about how the company has driven innovation in the hair & beauty industry.
2018x117
Yoshiharu Kaihara: Superior Denim from Rural Japan
Episode overview
Air date
Oct 30, 2018
Yoshiharu Kaihara is CEO of Kaihara Corp., a denim manufacturer supplying fabrics to global apparel brands like Levi’s and Uniqlo. How does the 100-plus-year-old company make its world-class denim?
2018x118
Tetsuya Kumakawa: Ballet for the Soul
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 05, 2018
Former principal dancer of the Royal Ballet Tetsuya Kumakawa serves as artistic director of his own company, which performs many classics as well as original works. What goes into world-class ballet?
2018x119
Rick Stanton: The Most Ambitious Rescue Ever
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 07, 2018
Rick Stanton from England is one of the most experienced cave divers in Europe, and led the diving team that rescued the twelve children and their coach trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand.
2018x120
William Trubridge: Diving with Respect for the Ocean
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 08, 2018
William Trubridge holds the world record for freediving to a depth of 102 meters. His deep respect for the ocean is rooted in his early years, spent traveling the world by boat with his family.
2018x121
Margaret Cho: Comedy Gives Voice to Diversity
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 09, 2018
Known for her candid and uncensored content, bisexual Korean-American comedienne Margaret Cho uses the power of comedy to give voice to diversity and enhance communication in a divided world.
2018x122
Keishi Ikeuchi: Creating a Sustainable World
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 12, 2018
Ikeuchi Organic is a firm that makes towels using organic cotton. We spoke to president Keishi Ikeuchi about how his company prioritizes safety and quality in its production methods.
2018x123
Kosuke Kuji: Raising a Sake Glass
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 13, 2018
Kosuke Kuji is president of Nanbu Bijin Sake Brewery, an international award-winning sake producer based in northeastern Japan. What drives his efforts to bring sake to a wider global audience?
2018x124
Haiyan Zhang: Expanding Your Mind
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 14, 2018
Haiyan Zhang, Innovation Director at Microsoft Research, Cambridge, has made a name for herself as an inventor, specializing in technologies to help those living with disabilities and illness.
2018x125
Katsuji Nousaku: Flexible Tableware
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 19, 2018
Nousaku Corporation developed the world’s first 100% tin tableware. We asked president Katsuji Nousaku about his hopes of revitalizing the traditional metalworking area where his company is based.
2018x126
Toyo Ito: Building Architecture for Life
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 20, 2018
Internationally renowned architect Toyo Ito seeks not only to refine design and function, but also build architecture that understands how people actually live. What is his vision for architecture?
2018x127
Akiko Horiba: Keeping Hope Alive
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 22, 2018
Akiko Horiba works in conflict zones across Asia to end violence by laying groundwork for peace. We spoke to her about how she supports the peace mediation process, and her passion for peacebuilding.
2018x128
Shigeaki Nomizu: Creating with the Customer
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 26, 2018
Twinbird is an electric appliance maker based in a Niigata city known for craftsmanship. We speak with CEO Shiegaki Nomizu about listening to every comment from the customer, no matter how small.
2018x129
Kaiji Moriyama: The Joy of Embodiment
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 27, 2018
Internationally renowned dancer Kaiji Moriyama is known for out-of-the-box dances where he uses his body to express abstract concepts like “katana” and “human viscera.” What does dance mean to him?
2018x130
Vinesh Sinha: Turning Waste into Wealth
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 29, 2018
Vinesh Sinha is a young Malaysian entrepreneur who created an environmentally friendly business that makes biodiesel from waste oil. His work has sparked environmental awareness in Malaysia.
2018x131
Pete Teo: Changing Malaysia Through the Arts
Episode overview
Air date
Nov 30, 2018
Malaysian musician, filmmaker, and actor Pete Teo highlights social issues through his work and has had a big impact on society. What does he consider the key to coexisting in a multiethnic world?
2018x132
Carl Pope: Working Together on Climate Change
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 03, 2018
Carl Pope, a former executive director of the Sierra Club has been working for environmental issues for more than forty years. Through his experience, Pope tells us how we can overcome climate change.
2018x133
Riusuke Fukahori: Goldfish Art
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 11, 2018
Artist Riusuke Fukahori uses a self-developed process to paint lifelike three-dimensional goldfish. His work has garnered him fans around the world. How does he breathe life into his creations?
2018x134
Riccarda Zezza: Nurturing Experience as Power
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 13, 2018
An Italian social entrepreneur Riccarda Zezza has come up with the idea that nurturing experience learned during maternity leave can be useful at work.
2018x135
Yang Liping: The Peacock Princess
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 14, 2018
Yang Liping is a popular Chinese dancer and choreographer. Her ‘Peacock Dance’, based on the folk dances of her hometown in Yunnan Province, has been highly praised all over the world.
2018x136
Akiko Yazawa: Backgammon Taught Me Everything
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 17, 2018
Akiko Yazawa won the backgammon world championships for the second time in 2018—the culmination of a long road to recovery after being diagnosed with cancer in 2012. How did she gain the advantage?
2018x137
Brillante Mendoza: Shedding Light on the Dark
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 21, 2018
The works of award-winning Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza depict social issues in the Philippines. By shedding light on the dark side of society, he hopes to inspire discussion and change.
2018x138
Shinichi Inoue: The Wings of Innovation
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 24, 2018
Peach Aviation began operations in 2012 as Japan’s first low-cost carrier. Shinichi Inoue, Peach’s CEO, tells us about the unique strategies that have led to success in a competitive industry.
2018x139
Michihiko Yanai: Promoting Fukushima
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 25, 2018
Fukushima Prefecture has produced “MIRAI2061,” a musical film set 50 years after the Tohoku Earthquake. Fukushima-born creative director Michihiko Yanai speaks about the region’s present and future.
2018x140
Steven Johnson: A New Era of the Internet
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 26, 2018
Science writer Steven Johnson analyses the problems of social media, personal data and the Internet and explains how blockchain technology can solve the issue by using an open, decentralized system.
2018x141
Mao Danqing: Stepping Forward with Mutual Respect
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 27, 2018
Author and professor Mao Danqing explains Japanese culture to readers in his native China. He encourages youth in the two countries to deepen understanding of each other through cultural exchange.
2018x142
Makhar Vaziev: The Innovator of Tradition
Episode overview
Air date
Dec 28, 2018
The Bolshoi is one of the world’s oldest and most renowned ballet companies. Makhar Vaziev, its artistic director since 2016, talks about creating a new ballet company that doesn’t rest on its laurels.

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