Her Story (2015)

Nurse Chikako Ito is the only medical practitioner on Suwanosejima, a remote Japanese island that a mere 65 people call home. With no resident doctor, it's difficult to provide adequate medical attention to the elderly residents of the island. Chikako holds a weekly exercise class and visits the homes of the elderly as a form of preventive medicine, in the hope that they can lead happy and healthy lives on the island.

Melissa Yeung Yap buys unique goods cultivated by minority groups living in impoverished regions of the Philippines to use as ingredients at her restaurant in Metropolitan Manila. She also sells other products such as soaps and essential oils that incorporate these products she procures from regional villages. We introduce an entrepreneur whose business has greatly contributed to the standard of living for ethnic minorities in the Philippines.

Ivy Singh-Lim is a 71-year-old Singaporean farmer and YouTuber with a series in which she critiques perpetual problems such as economic status and employment in her home country, calling out to the government to enact reforms. As Singapore is gradually stripped of its natural environment, Ivy's views are a breath of fresh air for her viewers. Calling herself the "Gentle Warrior," Ivy shows her courage by raising a voice to those in power.

Abe Noriko operates a hotel in Miyagi Prefecture's Minamisanriku, one of the areas hit hardest by the Great East Japan Earthquake in March, 2011. When reconstruction efforts began, Noriko focused on encouraging tourism in order to stimulate the local economy. But with the recent spread of COVID-19, tourism has all but vanished under self-imposed isolation, and the region faces a new crisis. Noriko draws upon her past experiences, proposing idea after idea to cheer on the local residents.

3 women introduced on past episodes of Her Story make a return: In Malaysia, Kim founded a delivery food company helping refugees from war-torn nations. Cynthia, from Myanmar, opened a free medical clinic at the border of Thailand to support the disadvantaged. In the Philippines, Pia formed an inter-island community to protect the oceans by gathering and recycling plastic waste. Now, as the world struggles with the spread of the coronavirus, the efforts of all 3 are put to the test.

Over 5 years, Her Story has introduced 46 women from 19 countries and regions across Asia. They blaze new trails in fields commonly associated with men, stand with the disadvantaged to achieve a society where all can coexist, and save lives in the name of their cause. This episode touches base with 6 of them, taking a closer look at how their efforts have contributed to a better society for all.

Malaysia's Mangkok Village is a spot well-known for its natural mangroves and the sea turtles that migrate yearly to lay eggs. One local resident, Rusnita Binti Ngah, began holding eco-tours in the village. Women of the village, formerly encouraged to remain in their homes, are trained to work as tour guides for activities involving mangrove planting or release of the turtles. Rusnita's tours do more than just protect the environment: they give the women a chance to be involved in society.