Side By Side (2014)

Over 900,000 people from the Akha, Hmong, Karen and other indigenous communities live in the mountains of northern Thailand. Each with their own language and culture, they rely on local fields. Nakano Hozumi wants to improve lives and incomes by farming organic coffee. She previously built a student dorm for local children and has worked with these communities for over 30 years. Explore how organic coffee is bringing change.

Lacking a national healthcare system, some 10 thousand children under the age of 5 die every year in Laos. Most deaths are caused by preventable illnesses or treatable injuries. In 2015, NPO "Friends Without A Border" built a children's hospital with the latest equipment to tackle this problem. Built in the historic former capital of Luang Prabang, its construction was overseen by Japanese nurse Akao Kazumi. She and a team of local nurses also run an outreach program, visiting children in mountain villages who can't travel to the hospital. Meet the team and learn more about their work.

Siem Reap in Cambodia is the home of Angkor Wat, and also a free art school. Former Japanese art teacher Kasahara Tomoko set it up in 2008, and it now has around 100 pupils. Many teachers were killed under Pol Pot and there are still no school art classes. Kasahara believes that drawing freely as a child is deeply important to personal growth. Six of her former students now teach at the school themselves. Follow their efforts to revitalize the spirit of art among Cambodia's children.

Matsuoka Shuji developed original materials so children in rural Cambodia can learn by playing board games. As some struggle with literacy, he used QR codes and images, as well as a game for teaching Khmer. Cambodia's schools closed in 2021, switching to online classes due to the pandemic. But poor internet access means many remain excluded. Matsuoka's new materials could help them learn at home. Meet Matsuoka and the Cambodian teachers ensuring the next generation have the opportunity to learn.

Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA recalled its 2,000 international volunteers during the pandemic. Vietnam's early success against the virus meant 4 volunteers returned in November 2020, completing their two-year stint in April 2021. Follow occupational therapist Nishiyama Noriko who updates rehab techniques at a geriatric hospital, and special needs teacher Shimizu Sayuri who helps an underdeveloped educational field. After 8 months away they work alongside colleagues to tackle new challenges and find new solutions.

Sustainable farming methods that eschew agrichemicals. Former consumer co-op worker Kawasaki Hiroto is promoting these techniques in a small village on the northern reaches of China's Yellow River. At 66 he visited over a hundred Chinese farms to promote the use of compost and cyclical farming methods, but to no avail. He was at his wits' end when he met Li Wei, a farm owner in Henan province who'd struggled with organic farming. Together they rebuilt his farm with sustainable techniques, sharing their experiences through social media and training courses.

Kon Aya moved to Mongolia 20 years ago and is now a volunteer who visits towns, villages and encampments across the country to read picture books to children. Nomads rarely own books because of their weight and bulk. Many other families can't afford to buy their children books. Kon's work is supported by the students of the National University of Mongolia. Kon is a part-time Japanese teacher and has helped over a thousand students. Meet Kon and the students helping her even in the midst of a pandemic.

A young Japanese entrepreneur who had observed various social issues in Mongolia such as economic disparity, air pollution and a lack of work opportunities, launched a leather brand in a country with few industries. Domestic manufacture using local materials is now creating jobs and it's attracting attention on an EC site in Japan. The program introduces the challenges being faced by young Japanese and Mongolians striving to create a new era through manufacturing high-quality leather bags.

Kenya, Africa. In 2015, pediatrician Kumon Kazuko opened a learning and rehabilitation center for children with severe disabilities. She wanted to support such children and their families by providing them with a safe space. Discrimination and social stigma against disabilities are deep-rooted in Kenya, and mothers with disabled children are isolated from society, often facing domestic violence and divorce. Specialist medical equipment and facilities are rare. Kumon and her team are working to change the situation by providing care to children and their families, as well as raising social awareness.

The White Canvas Art Competition, held since 2020, discovers and connects unknown artists in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia to the international art market. The idea of one Japanese person grew into an international project, which accepts submissions on any theme, in any medium. Each country's winning art is shared with the world via a virtual gallery. A system has also been put in place to support artists in selling original work. Find out about the unique ways this competition uses IT, and the thoughts of those involved.

Prosthetic leg maker Ricardo Rookie Anievas makes house calls all over the Philippines. 1.2 million people in the country need prosthetic legs, primarily due to amputations following complications from diabetes. Rookie works at the Manila office of a Japanese company led by engineer Tokushima Yutaka, where a dedicated team has developed technology to make 3D-printed prostheses. The 3D-printed legs cost just one-tenth that of a regular prosthesis, making it possible for many more Filipinos to get their lives back on track.

As COVID-19 cases remain high in Cambodia, volunteers from NGO Japan Heart can't visit its medical center. It takes children with illnesses and cancers that can't be treated elsewhere. Local doctors and nurses are assisted by volunteers from Japan, who are now hampered by travel restrictions. But pediatric surgeon Dr. Yoshioka Hideto is still providing life-saving surgeries. After 5 years on the team, Cambodian Dr. Bisiphan is following in his footsteps. Meet the team saving lives in a pandemic.