The Professionals (2006)

Kazutaka Sugimoto, Orthopedic Surgeon Knee pain affects 1 in 5 Japanese, and for some, the pain is so severe that they can barely walk. Prosthetic joint implantation is gaining attention as an effective method of treatment. Orthopedist Kazutaka Sugimoto, one of Japan's most experienced surgeons, has pioneered the development of prosthetic joints suited to the physiques and lifestyles of Japanese people. His goal is not simply to relieve pain. He endeavors to make his patients' dreams come true, so they can enjoy life to the fullest.

Makoto Kobayashi, Emergency Physician An air ambulance service uses helicopters to rush doctors to the scene of medical emergencies. Makoto Kobayashi, leader of an emergency medicine team at a hospital in Hyogo Prefecture, makes 1,900 air ambulance flights per year, more than any other doctor in Japan. His vision for emergency medicine is that it be a "vital cog in the community". The air ambulance provides peace of mind in a rural region where it would take a road ambulance an hour to reach some communities

Daishin Kashimoto, Violinist The Berlin Philharmonic is among the world's greatest orchestras. Since 2009, virtuoso violinist Daishin Kashimoto has played a leading role as concertmaster. In the complex world of orchestral music, it's impossible for the conductor to convey every single detail to the musicians. This is where Kashimoto is indispensable. He helps bring together the more than 100 members to create beautifully exquisite harmonies. It's a heavy responsibility, but Kashimoto says he focuses on fully enjoying the music, so the audience can, too. Achieving great success requires taking risks. As Kashimoto puts it, "No risk, No fun"

Koji Nakada, Winemaker For 23 years, Japanese winemaker Koji Nakada has been building a career in France's prestigious Burgundy wine region. He started from nothing; now his wines are sought after: exported to 22 countries and served in acclaimed restaurants. His success through ceaseless pursuit of "the perfect wine" is the fruit of his distinctive philosophy. While we followed him for 3 months in 2017, a hailstorm struck Nakada's vineyard. As he nurses the damaged grapevines back to health, we see his passion for uncompromising winemaking and determination to look optimistically forward even when facing setbacks like bad weather and bad harvests.

Naoaki Kawahara, Marine Life Specialist Naoaki Kawahara explores the world's oceans, seeking out rare marine life for a Japanese aquarium. Most aquariums rely on outside suppliers for the fish and animals they display. But at Tokyo Sea Life Park, Kawahara leads an in-house acquisition team that goes out and collects its own specimens. Kawahara is an expert at predicting fish behavior and figuring out the best way to catch them. We followed his wide-ranging expeditions over a six-month period. From seas near Japan's subtropical Ogasawara Islands to waters off southern Australia packed with unusual species, our underwater cameras capture this professional at work.

Noritake Sato, Lacquerer Enhancing the beauty of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, a World Heritage Site, is lacquer, a natural material closely associated with Japanese culture. Lacquerer Noritake Sato uses his expertise to preserve the shrine's brilliance. We follow him as he attempts to restore part of the Honden, or Main Hall. One corner of the supporting structure is exceptionally damaged, and Sato's careful research hints at the difficulties encountered by his predecessors. Reviving the lustrous beauty of 400 years ago – this is Sato's challenge.

Yoshihisa Fujishige, School Band Director Yoshihisa Fujishige has been directing high school bands for decades, leading them to 26 national championships, as well as international titles. In 2015, he took charge of a band at an all-girls' school in Nagasaki Prefecture that had never won a competition. The band at Kwassui High School has 120 students. Fujishige is able to tune into each individual player's sound and draw out her best. Under his demanding but fun direction, a band with no competitive track record aims to make it to Japan's marching band nationals for the first time. How far can they go?

Kazuyuki Takei, Ramen Shop Owner For more than 40 years, Kazuyuki Takei, a self-styled "ramen fool", has worked passionately to make the perfect ramen. At first glance, his traditional shoyu, or soy sauce, ramen may not look exceptional. But it leaves a lasting impression. Customers routinely line up outside Takei's shop in Fukushima Prefecture before opening time, and on holidays, the crowd swells to as many as 400 people. From the soup to the noodles, Takei makes his ramen entirely from scratch. Behind his original recipe is the story of a son's determination to outdo his dad, a man who was known as a ramen "genius".

Aki Shirasaka, Nightclub Operator In this episode, we meet Aki Shirasaka, who runs an exclusive hostess club in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district. Our cameras offer a rare glimpse into this enchanting world, where glamorous women captivate powerful men and capture their hearts through unsparing hospitality and feminine charm. We also meet a woman known as a living legend of Ginza. Shizuka Sonoda presides over one of Japan's most famous literary bars, a favorite haunt for decades of famous authors and manga creators. Go behind the scenes and meet the women who make Ginza's nightlife dazzle.

Shima Tassin, Household Helper Shima Tassin is a virtuoso chef turned household helper who specializes in cooking. She's in such high demand that she's known as a "legend". Working in clients' kitchens, she whips up more than 15 dishes, or about a week's worth of meals, in just 3 hours. And her repertoire of French, Japanese and Chinese cuisines spans more than 600 recipes. Most of her clients are women juggling careers and raising children. "Working moms are really busy", says Tassin. "If they have even just a little more time to relax and enjoy conversation over a meal with their families, I think they'll be much happier". Tassin creates delicious meals that support moms and their families, and bring smiles.

Shunsuke Saegusa, Chocolatier Chocolate lovers flock to the shop of Shunsuke Saegusa in the business district of Tokyo for his meticulously crafted "bean to bar" confections. He brings in the finest cacao beans from growing regions across Africa, Asia and South America. Then, he painstakingly works out the roasting time and temperature that will best express the distinctive flavor profile of each bean. Saegusa began his career as a patissier and operated a chain of cake shops, before a life-changing encounter sent him plunging into the world of chocolate-making. At age 57, he closed his patisseries and dedicated the rest of his life to creating "the ultimate chocolate". For generations, chocolatiers have sought to coax new flavors from chocolate. Saegusa's own quest takes him to a Caribbean island 14,000 kilometers away from Japan -- is that where he'll find the key to the ultimate chocolate…?

Naoki Kusumi, Plasterers Plasterer Naoki Kusumi began his training at age 3 with his father, who was himself a highly revered craftsman in the plastering field. At age 20 Naoki was selected to work on the restoration of the imperial palace in Kyoto, a highly prestigious job. Now 46, he's one of the most prominent plasterers in the world. This program presents the portrait of a man who is never sure what the outcome of a job will be until it's finished. If he finds even the slightest flaw in his work, he'll readily tear it off and start again until it's perfect. On a huge construction project for a temple in central Tokyo, he agonizes about the final finish of a wall until the last minute before making his decision. For Naoki, indecisiveness is the path to excellence.

Masatomi Yokoo, Bereavement Cleaner When a person dies, those they leave behind can face a daunting task: sorting through and disposing of the deceased's personal belongings. We focus on a professional who has dedicated his career to supporting people during this difficult time. Masatomi Yokoo, 49, is Japan's leading bereavement cleaner. This line of work emerged less than 20 years ago. But as Japan's population ages and more elderly live on their own, the number of such cleaning companies has topped 10,000. Yokoo himself has worked at more than 10,000 sites, and he outpaces the competition in requests and contracts. A funeral, Yokoo says, is a physical farewell, while cleaning out a home is an emotional farewell. He believes that more than just organizing objects, his work is about helping the bereaved come to terms with their grief.

Puddings and cakes made with milk from farmer Katsuhiko Tada's cows fly off the shelves of a popular Tokyo sweets shop. Kunio Yanagita wrote that the stories in The Legends of Tono should make "people in the lowlands shudder." Today, Tada develops and markets a range of original products following his motto – to "surprise people." His latest pursuit is a collaborative venture with young business people from his hometown, Tono, in Iwate Prefecture. Working with a pickle company president struggling with flat sales and the manager of a grilled meat restaurant, Tada attempts to unearth delicacies from Iwate to develop a new product for the overseas market. We follow him as he pushes Tono's next generation of business leaders to ask themselves what it means to be independent.

With countless international awards under his belt, 79-year-old Satoshi Kuribayashi is a leading name in the world of insect photography. His goal is to see the world of insects through their eyes. That desire led him to develop his own equipment, which he uses to capture astonishing and revealing moments of beauty and dynamism. From his country home in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, he takes richly evocative photographs throughout the seasons. In the summer of 2018 he put everything on the line to capture images of dancing fireflies, leading to unexpected challenges. Did his dedication pay off?

Akihiro Yamamoto, the president of a credit union in Hiroshima Prefecture, has attracted attention in financial circles throughout Japan. Every day, he passionately lectures his employees about what financing should really be: "We have to dig in and really assist. That's our mandate as regional bankers!" He shuns speculative deals, focusing instead on supporting small and medium-sized businesses. At age 72, he still visits 5 clients a day, learning about their businesses directly on the shop floor. In the summer of 2018, he sets his sights on helping a struggling company. Will his efforts pay off? We follow the daily challenges of a lender who strives to nurture people and the local economy.

From a five-star hotel to a line of popular sweets, and a shopping mall for a new era that has grabbed the spotlight -- these are some of the hits created by Yoko Shibata, a brand producer who excels at capturing the mood of the times. With a client list of top Japanese firms, she taps into the core values of companies and their products to dream up new brands that resonate with consumers. In the summer of 2018, Shibata juggles 2 major jobs -- rejuvenating a major café chain, and devising a brand concept for an innovative new beauty business. Follow a hit maker who creates brands with value that withstand passing fads, and stand out in a world flooded by goods and services.