NHK World Special Programs

Barakan Discovers Tohoku (2020x8)

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Almost immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake 9 years ago, people in the Tohoku region started talking about encounters with ghosts. The region's culture and history may account for the reports. The area has experienced countless disasters and famines, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of people. Over the years, residents started to see the deceased as "beings that live together with the living" and offer encouragement. Host Peter Barakan looks into how Tohoku citizens view the loss of loved ones and incorporate that loss in their own future.