NHK Documentaries

The Tokyo National Museum is home to a collection of some 120,000 objects of beauty and interest, mainly Japanese art and craft pieces along with work from the Asian mainland and historical artifacts. The museum houses 89 items deemed by the Japanese government to be of especially high value and designated as national treasures. Paying a visit to this historic museum that is celebrating its 150th anniversary are Andy and Shaula, hosts of NHK WORLD-JAPAN's popular program DESIGN TALKS plus. They marvel at the majestic building, visit an exhibit that offers insights into 30,000 years of creativity in Japan, and revel in the first ever exhibit of every national treasure in the museum's possession — an experience that will surely make art aficionados across the world jealous. The two also get a glimpse of the future of museums, experiencing high-definition imagery, 3D computer graphics, and other cutting-edge digital technology. Come join us on this 50-minute adventure exploring the Tokyo

Sometimes it takes a lifechanging event to help us realize what truly matters. For Kimura Tomoharu, that event was a massive earthquake and tsunami. In 2012, he sought a fresh start in a remote part of Akita Prefecture. He moved into a long-abandoned hamlet, where he pursues his goal of being almost entirely self-sufficient — living off the land from season to season. But he's not alone. Kimura has a family, and he must now balance his own ideals with those of his two young children.

Keiko Ogura, age 85, has spent her life talking to the world about her experiences as an A-bomb victim in Hiroshima. Feeling helpless in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she decides to participate in a symposium in a small college town in Idaho, U.S.A., where many people accept the existence of nuclear weapons. Determined to hear their side of the story, she engages in dialogue and discovers circumstances she had never understood before. When it's her turn to give a presentation, how does she convey her own beliefs?

The prestigious entertainment quarter of Gion in Kyoto Prefecture is one of the largest in Japan. As an area priding itself on traditional hospitality, Gion was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several geiko and maiko lost their places of work, and without any opportunity to pass down traditional ways to the new generation, the art itself seemed in danger. The revival of the Miyako Odori, a large-scale dance performance to be performed for the first time in three years, is their only hope. We join some young maiko who fell in love with this wondrous district and life in Gion as they attempt to overcome adversity. We bring you rare footage from inside the okiya where they live and train; a side of life normally unseen by outsiders. Young maiko work hard to realize their dreams in the sometimes strict, sometimes kind world of Gion.

Half a century since the birth of video games, we explore how legendary titles have shaped our ideas and created a new culture. "DEATH STRANDING" won new plaudits for its uncanny predictions of our experiences during the pandemic. Program guests share their love for the game, and why it's captivated so many. Renowned developer Hideo Kojima guides us on a deep dive into his creation and explores his inspiration and motivations. A special, expanded episode with new footage in response to the reaction to the original broadcast.

In April 2023, a memorial was held to remember James Hatsuaki Wakasa, a Japanese immigrant who was shot dead in a wartime internment camp on US soil 80 years ago. The killing of the 63-year-old caused an uproar among the internees at the time. But the episode was largely forgotten until a Japanese American journalist investigates Wakasa's life and death. Her findings lead to a surprising discovery of a stone believed to have been demolished forever.

Keeping track of CO2 emissions can give travelers a new perspective. Can a 1,250km journey from Kyoto Prefecture to Shiretoko in Hokkaido Prefecture be done in just two days, with emissions limited to just 100kg? If our travelers make their goal, they'll be rewarded with a nature experience in a Natural World Heritage site. But if they exceed the set CO2 limit at any point during their journey, they'll be sent home immediately. Two students with very different views on the environment use various means of transport to make their way to their goal, facing unexpected obstacles and problems along the way. A 21st-century travel show that grapples with the global problem of CO2!

"What did you bring from Ukraine?" Amidst uncertainty over when they can return, hastily packed suitcases contain fragments of these refugees' lives. We focus on the personal stories of some Ukrainians seeking refuge in Japan, whose treasured keepsakes remind them of a better time, connecting them to cherished memories, as their former lives threaten to fade in the shadows of war.

Japan's biggest trail-running race covers 100 miles around Mt. Fuji, and for the first time in four years it's back as a truly international event. Zhao, a speedy runner from China, has claimed 28 victories in 6 years. He competes against Japan's Kawasaki, a local to Mt. Fuji, who trains at high altitude. Both are chased by Lee, an American runner on his first visit to Japan. Zhao shares the painful reason he's determined to win the race. Meanwhile, one female runner just wants to finish the race before the cut-off time. No matter how many times she falls down, she gets back up. Will she make it in time?

There are now 1.8 million foreigners working in Japan, including real estate agents, taxi drivers and garbage collectors. NHK WORLD-JAPAN has introduced over 100 such hardworking foreigners, and this program compiles some of the best stories. We look at how they struggle in the face of cultural differences, but bring about change in Japanese companies and society. The host is Sanyutei Kouseinen, a rakugo performer from Sweden.

In the town of Uda, in Nara Prefecture, visit Japan's oldest private garden dedicated to medicinal herbs. Meet the elderly couple who tend the 300-year-old plants that have taken root in this botanic time capsule, and discover a flourishing sanctuary of the local culture and history.

A pair of explorers enters an extraordinary gorge in the Himalayas to film an area where none has ever dared to venture. Extremely narrow at little over ten meters, but tremendously deep at over 200, the origins of the Seti Gorge are shrouded in mystery. Numerous waterfalls tumble into its abyss, and even for the experienced Japanese adventurers, the descent using a single rope tests their courage. Freezing winter temperatures, torrents of water – a gripping journey unfolds on camera. The latest research reveals the geological saga that created this massive gorge.

The Himalayan mountains, with an elevation of some 5,000m, conceal a valuable "elixir." Caterpillar fungus is a parasitic fungus growing on insects that is especially valued in China for nutritional and anti-aging properties. High-quality specimens sell to wealthy buyers for as much as $70,000 per kg. In order to seek out this buried treasure, impoverished residents of Nepal's villages climb the snowy mountains to seek out the fungus from May through July, when it briefly becomes visible. In this program, a young man accompanies his father on this journey, joining the "Himalayan gold rush" to hopefully provide a better life for their family.

100 years have passed since the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Although filmed records of its aftermath exist, the footage held flaws making it difficult to identify locations or times, obscuring the reality of how citizens of Tokyo faced this overwhelming disaster. To understand these details, we remastered the film into 8K resolution, and attempted to colorize it, while also making full use of audio accounts by survivors and a variety of scientific analyses by specialists. This program opens a new window into the events surrounding the disaster that had once been shrouded in mystery.

Soccer player Andrés Iniesta has had a stellar career as part of FC Barcelona and later as captain of Japanese squad Vissel Kobe, where he guided the team to great success. During his five years in Kobe, he developed a deep affection for the city and its tenacious inhabitants, a feeling that was returned by droves of supporters who see the team as a symbol of the city's rebirth after the major earthquake there in 1995.

Even after the quake itself subsided, the tragedy of the Great Kanto Earthquake was only beginning. An unlikely "fire tornado" consumed a site where 40,000 evacuees had gathered, leaving few survivors. Meanwhile, emotionally exhausted people began to spread baseless rumors that fueled erratic behavior and violence against foreign residents. Part 2 of the documentary follows the timeline of the aftermath and beyond, applying the century-old vision of Tokyo to the modern era.

World War II tore apart families of Japanese immigrants in the Philippines. For eight decades, they have been dreaming of being reunited. But time is fast running out.

Visit hot springs hidden away in Aomori, Akita and Fukushima Prefectures to experience a variety of healing waters, taste the local cuisine and meet with the locals.

China's Highway of Beauty, running through the Tianshan Mountains, reveals some of the country's most incredible natural scenery, among which diverse ethnicities of people enjoy traditional lives.

Clothes can spark joy, but mass production has heavy environmental costs and clothing waste is a major, growing problem. Japanese firms and designers are taking up new projects to tackle the system.