The Professionals (2006)

Takeru Furuta, age 75. They call him the King of Cleaners. How good is he? Individual customers use his services, of course, but so do department stores, luxury brand boutiques and even other cleaners! The most challenging cleaning jobs from around Japan are sent to him. Using an arsenal of advanced cleaning methods, Furuta and his team rejuvenate these wardrobe treasures to like-new condition. Whenever he works, he always remembers that his customers have entrusted him with precious memories. Every piece of clothing has a story. Furuta revives not just garments, but the memories within.

He has amazed the world with creative endeavors across a stunning range of media and venues: figure skating exhibitions, concerts for pop supergroup Perfume, video for Tokyo's 2020 Olympic bid, high-profile TV commercials and much more. He is Daito Manabe, and his philosophy for creative expression is extremely simple: Do stuff nobody else does.

The Number 83 Saga Myojin Maru has landed the biggest annual haul of skipjack tuna four times since 2004. This boat's captain is Manabu Myojin. Skipjack tuna swim a different route every year, making them difficult to find. Myojin uses unique methods to track them, studying tidal currents and sea temperature. His detailed analysis and hi-tech equipment have opened up new fishing grounds and led to record-breaking catches. His bold, trailblazing spirit has other captains and fishing researchers calling him a genius.

Kyogen is a world-famous Japanese comedic stage art, and actor Mansai Nomura embodies that tradition. Many kyogen pieces skewer the powerful from the perspective of the common man and paint amusing portraits of human desire and vanity. Born into the venerable Nomura kyogen family, Mansai began acting career at age 3. His life was "fated", and even now his artistic path appears endless. People are bound by their past. Mansai will continue to use the skills he acquired in his childhood training. His strong resolve and pride are evident as he continues to explore the life of a kyogen actor.

It was 13 years ago that the iPod digital music player took the world by storm. The eye-catching shiny metal case of this iconic device catapulted metal polisher Kazuo Kobayashi, who applied the mirror finish to the device, to fame in the manufacturing world. You would never guess from the look of his small factory, surrounded by rice fields in rural Niigata Prefecture, that he is booked solid with orders from all around Japan for polishing medical devices and other precision components.

"I want to have this precious garment fixed". Requests to restore damaged clothing pour in from around Japan to Takao Matsumoto, a wizard of the art known as "invisible mending". The technique involves removing threads from the pockets and hems of damaged items, and using them to make repairs. In a career spanning 55 years, Matsumoto has even worked on synthetic fibers and leather. Such materials can't be fixed using conventional invisible mending methods, but Matsumoto uses his precise and detailed skills to make them like new.

It is now 40 years since Japan's postwar construction rush, but a lack of earthquake resistance, and buildings falling into disrepair have recently triggered a new rush - this time in high-rise demolition. It was against this backdrop that Hideki Ichihara developed a new method of deconstruction that solves the issues of noise and dust associated with more conventional demolition techniques.

Airports, train stations and buildings: In places where lots of people gather, cleaning staff play an invaluable role.

30% of Japanese households have a pet, making veterinary medicine a booming field. One vet who has won the absolute trust of countless families is Motokazu Hasuoka. The clinic he runs is small, but it draws dozens of people and their precious pets each day - often, the animals' cases have been called hopeless by other vets. Hasuoka gives care to a wide range of furry and feathered patients, no matter how small, from cats and dogs to hamsters and baby chicks. Hasuoka's strength is his careful examination procedure, which leads to astute diagnoses. He takes his time feeling each pet all over, checking breathing rhythm, body temperature and whether any internal organs are swollen. When he notices something unusual, he works to get to the bottom of it. By not rushing his examinations, he can make the best recommendations for treatment.