Seasoning the Seasons

Totsukawa Village is located on the southern tip of Nara Prefecture in the center of the Kii Peninsula. Most of the village is covered with steep mountains, and the residents live in more than 50 settlements. It is the villagers themselves who are responsible for keeping the traditions and opening up the future of the village. The running of the settlements is thoroughly discussed by everyone involved. This is an autumn story about a village different from any other in Japan.

Shinbashi is one of Tokyo's leading business districts. 7 train lines converge at Shinbashi Station. When you veer away a little from the transfer passage at Shinbashi Station, you will find yourself at an entrance to a labyrinth. It is a bar area with a complexity of alleyways that you wouldn't know was inside a building. It's a paradise where Japanese businessmen forget about their work for a while. Let's begin a journey of stories that happen deep inside countless buildings.

Nagasaki Kaido is a road leading north-east out of Nagasaki City, through the neighboring Saga Prefecture, ending 223km later in Kokura, in the north of Fukuoka Prefecture. For more than 200 years, beginning in the early 17th century, Japan closed its doors to the outside world. Nagasaki was the only Japanese port open to foreign ships during that time. Unusual goods from overseas traveled down the Nagasaki Kaido to other parts of Japan.

In this episode of Seasoning the Seasons, we present a story of local train lines across Japan. Deep in the mountains, there is a tranquil station with only 5 trains stopping a day. Some stations are run by unusual station-masters. Running modestly, but still going strong: Local train lines help run the lives of folks all over Japan. Let's go on a journey along local train lines close to the hearts of people. All aboard!

The University of Tokyo in Hongo, Bunkyo Ward, one of Japan's national universities, was founded in 1877. Its central campus is in one of the highest parts of the neighborhood. Down the years, the university has attracted many young people with a passion for shaping the future of Japan, some of the country's brightest minds. This is the story of people involved with the University of Tokyo.

Ishigaki Island is located about 400km southwest of Okinawa Prefecture's main island, surrounded by a sea of coral reefs. 50,000 people live on the island. Once, many came to the island in search of a new frontier across the ocean. Life on the island is built by a mix of people of various histories and cultures. Facing one rough wave after another, life on Ishigaki Island is inherited from one generation to the next.