Five Frames for Love

Ryota never thought that a pole would change his life. Early in life, troubles seemed to follow him wherever he went. From his hometown to Tokyo, he had no place in the world. Even upon discovering a knack for pole dancing, he faced more hurdles as a rarity in the industry. What happened, to change his life from "hopeless" to "fabulous"? Now a world-renowned champion who rises above each and every obstacle, this is Ryota, the charismatic pole dancer.

Ryota never thought that a pole would change his life. After moving to Tokyo alone as a teenager, he met pole dancer Kaori, a revolutionary who changed the industry for dancers. Ryota discovers what a "chosen" family is, and learns to build faith in his abilities. Meanwhile, he shows us how pole-dancing mingles with Japanese spirituality. Now a world-renowned champion who rises above each and every obstacle, this is Ryota, the charismatic pole dancer.

When Yuri was given a toy camera in her youth, never did she think that as an adult she'd be pushing boundaries and keeping record of it on her grown-up cameras. When Yuri treats female bodies as natural and beautiful in the fashion world, she finds great success as a photographer who can straddle between style and "nude" photography. As a wife and mother of two, how does her work affect her life? And how does she navigate the societal pressures put on a working mom and female photographer?

When Yuri was given a toy camera in her youth, never did she think that as an adult she'd be pushing boundaries and keeping record of it on her grown-up cameras. Although her photos are in top magazines and she has her own fashion brand now, her career didn't exactly come easy. When her mom visits, they reminisce on the past, on losing her father, and her views on being a 21st century woman. Then, Yuri shows us what it means to be a leader and bring "nude" photography into the future.

Big-sister Michi and little-brother Yoshi have been through hell and high water, but have come out with a bond that is thicker than their blood. Known as "The Yoshimichi Siblings," they are breakout stars with fans that span the Asian continent. As a child, Yoshi became hikikomori (a shut-in), after experiencing bullying at school. His mental decline affected Michi and her family, until a special someone saved him. Now stronger than ever, the siblings are seen as heroes to the young generation.

Big-sister Michi and little-brother Yoshi are known as "The Yoshimichi Siblings" to their fans who see them as stylish Gen-Z heroes. Born in Taipei but raised in Tokyo, they grappled with keeping their Chinese heritage a secret, to avoid bullying. What happened when they let their secret out? Yoshi was a hikikomori (a shut-in) for 6 years, until a chance encounter in Harajuku propelled him and Michi to stardom. Now with a bond thicker than their own blood, this duo is ready to take on anything.

Plucked from obscurity, Yutaro set out on his path in the hallowed fashion streets of Harajuku as a "shop staff." Rising among those ranks, he became a style idol, thanks to his gender-bending sense discovered amongst old insecurities. What was it that broke him out of his "hikikomori" (shut-in) spell, setting him free to break the rules as he saw fit? And find out exactly what it means to be the most famous "shop staff" of Harajuku!

Plucked from obscurity, Yutaro set out on his path in the hallowed fashion streets of Harajuku as a "shop staff idol." But the fame didn't come easy, as we learn of Yutaro's struggle to break the rules set out by society on how men should look. And how has makeup played a role? We see how Yutaro is able to engage with his young followers who have grown up alongside him, as he shares openly about the precarious next step in his career: professional acting.

Yui wasn't born a genius, she trained to be one. It was love at first sight when she discovered the sport of Double Dutch, and since then she has shot up the ranks to be one of the most influential players in the entire world. Known for her innovative dance and acrobatics, she is also a style maven, bringing fashion into her performances to outstanding success. How far can she push the boundaries of this street sport, and will she play a part in it appearing in future Olympic Games?

Yui wasn't born a genius, she trained to be one. While her mother raised her as a little princess, Yui shunned dresses & frills for pants & sports. An identity struggle left Yui in search of a life free of labels, while she embraced her own sexuality and concentrated on her training. Yui's fortitude and unwavering passion for the Double Dutch sport has made her a beloved player in Japan and beyond. Now she's teaching a new generation what she's learned through her experiences and this dynamic game.

At age 21, Koki founded his NPO with a lofty goal: to provide Japan with a 24/7 accessible helpline to lend lonely people an ear, prevent suicide and modernize outreach. But can a college student solve what the government couldn't? With over 1,000 help requests per day, Koki's service is increasingly needed. Now, he must traverse the precarious world of government and inspire volunteers to join his cause. See how his generation is tackling societal problems, and securing a better future.

Koki, a college student, founded his NPO with a lofty goal: to provide Japan with a 24/7 accessible helpline lending lonely people an ear to prevent suicides, abuse, death by loneliness, and modernize outreach. His childhood was a difficult one, and a brush with suicide gave him an understanding and sympathy towards those who are desperate for help. It only took 1 person to bring him out of his darkness, and that is the basis of his successful NPO today. See how his generation is tackling societal problems, and securing a better future.

Lisa13 wants to rock out with the best of them on her guitar. But with a prosthetic hand, can she beat all of the odds to become a famous stylish musician? At a young age, Lisa discovered rock when seeing iconic Japanese guitar players perform. Now, she's rockin' in a band, in spite of a birth defect which affects her right hand. A handmade prosthetic pick and a lot of positivity has seen her reach new heights; including the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games closing ceremony!

Lisa13 was born with a birth defect which affects her right hand, but that doesn't stop her from dressing up and rockin' out on her favorite guitar. She finds the courage to step onto the stage with a little help of a prosthetic device made with love by her family. But did her family always accept her disability? And how did she snag the chance to play the biggest gig of them all; the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games closing ceremony? See how far positivity & passion can take you!

Kana is a clinical psychologist, who draws upon hurtful experiences in her past to bring awareness to mental health and sexual abuse in Japan. On a dating site, Kana met her former partner, which started her journey as a pansexual woman. What is it, and how did it inform who she is today? Through her NPO and personal online channels, she fights for marriage equality and other LGBTQ+ issues, and is striving for an overall safer future for all people in her community.

Kana is a clinical psychologist, who wants to knock down the barriers to talking openly about mental health in her community. After a friend is diagnosed with schizophrenia, it sets her life into motion as a licensed advocate for better care. And through her NPO, she seeks to educate students and adults on sexual consent and abuse, a topic that is considered taboo in education curriculum. By being a relentless activist offline and online, Kana is making society a safer place for many.

Gyutae is a makeup artist and beauty influencer, with a talent for transformation from the inside out. Able to dramatically change himself into different characters, gender and even ethnicities, his skills are so good he's been called a plastic surgeon of makeup. And while he's flying high with a legion of fans now, his talent was born from "alopecia areata-universalis," or medical hair loss, that forced him to assess what true beauty really is. Join Gyutae as he impresses and inspires.

In the beauty scene, Gyutae is a force to be reckoned with. Hit with medical hair loss, he was forced to find the beauty within, and turn that into outer perfection. Growing up in the countryside, Gyutae dreamed of making it big in Tokyo. But his disease, alopecia, was getting worse, provoked by bullying. He looked to his single mother for support, while learning the joy of makeup from her. Now, his skills are said to rival plastic-surgery, with incredible transformative designs.

Naka Mitsuki is a Gen-Z artist changing the perception of digital art one masterpiece at a time. A brush with paralysis at 10 years old left her bedridden, with only a thumb and a smartphone to draw with. That experience taught her to paint on a screen, and the importance of living for today. Now, her energetic pieces sell out real exhibits. How does she make her digital art truly one-off to sell? And how did she overcome trauma & insecurity to thrive? See this new art genre's budding impact.

This Gen-Z artist's work hangs in galleries and at auctions, and can sell out exhibits. But it's been created with her finger to a tablet or smartphone screen, not unlike an artist's paintbrush to a canvas. Once traumatized with paralysis and now the death of her mentor, her desire to leave a lasting impact and make the most of every moment translates into energetic art. Now, her goal is to change the art world's perception of it, and show that digital tools can create "priceless" art.

Aoki Hitose is a veteran in the real estate industry now, but she was once a charismatic cabaret club girl. In Japan, the "night worker" culture is a phenomenon in itself, where club girls and hostesses socialize and serve alcohol to paying customers. But this industry comes with the kind of stigma that finds workers unable to secure homes to rent. What are Hitose's techniques to secure contracts for them? And what kind of childhood did Hitose blossom from? See this CEO work her magic.

This real estate CEO has found a niche in her "night worker" clientele, and as a former cabaret club girl she knows it well. She strives to reduce stigma and secure rentals for those legitimately working in the night entertainment industry. Hitose learned early on that heavy responsibility is rewarded with freedom; but at what price? As she ramps up her business, she recruits former night workers for all of her positions. What does she see in them, and how does she view the future of her work?

This artist calls herself a "Photo-Artist," a title she coined for herself to stand out in the ever-competitive industry of photography. She creates images that transport us to different worlds, often forward to the future, with cyber or fantasy themes. What do her peers think of this storytelling style? Also, once a figure skater, Arisak suffered an accident that seemed to set her back to zero. But now, see how she combines skills to be a talented force ready to take the world stage.

Arisak is a "Photo-Artist"; part photographer and part art director, forming her singular vision into many collaborative art projects. What is it about her that compels so many talented artists to work with her? And how will her futuristic cyber style be received by the general public at her big photo exhibit? And Arisak meets legendary figure skater Mai Asada on the ice to shoot a work of art that only an ice skating photographer could produce. See the other-worldly result in this episode!