NHK Documentaries

Karakami is a decorative Japanese paper used to ornament interior sliding doors during the Edo period. Woodblock-printed motifs, such as cherry blossoms and dragons, are said to have inspired several prominent European artists in the 19th century. This program examines the history of karakami through the work of a family in Kyoto that has preserved this traditional art form for nearly 400 years.

The program presents spectacular scenes from the world's biggest ice caves, created by glacial snowmelt and reveals why their ice never melts.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) refers to "the availability of health services related to health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation to all citizens when needed at a cost they can afford." The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the issue in 2005, which led to the United Nations General Assembly passing a resolution to promote universal health coverage in December 2012. This program will look at how Japan achieved universal health coverage back in 1961, and at the issues it faced then and now, and what is being done to improve the quality of universal health coverage. It will also feature examples of JICA assistance in the health and medical sector. The program will focus on the experiences of a number of people in Saku, Nagano prefecture to describe how universal health coverage works in Japan. It will also focus on initiatives by the local Saku General Hospital, which helped make the region a pioneer in preventative medicine.

From manga to anime to video games, Comic Market (also known as Comiket) is a haven for subculture fans. Twice a year, in summer and in winter, fans gather at Tokyo Big Sight, an international exhibition center in Japan. Dojinshi or self-published works from a variety of genres are exhibited and sold. Considered the best of subcultural festivals, Comiket celebrates its 40th year in 2015. Unparalleled in scale and in history, the 3-day event brings 600,000 people from around the world. Despite its enormity, however, much remains unknown about the event. Who attends the event? What goes on inside? What new things are formed? This program offers an inside look at the seemingly familiar yet hidden world of Comiket. How does Comiket continue to attract more than half a million people every year?

Ｉt is not just an ordinary fish market. It is the BIGGEST in the world with a traffic of 100,000 people going in and out of 850 stalls. 50,000 tons of fish is traded daily with hundreds of millions of dollars changing hands. Its famous auctions have attracted millions of tourists worldwide. But what lies beneath the surface of this amazing market? This episode is a visual feast of never –before –filmed sequences on how a 300-kg tuna is cut, and all the the unique skills of the fishmongers and the myriad varieties of seafood available

Document 72 Hours: The "Rain, then Fine" Coin Laundry

In the heart of Tokyo lies the sacred forest of Meiji Jingu, one of the most visited shrines in Japan. Only a select few know the secret of this restricted forest. The seemingly primeval forest is a man-made creation, a result of a century-old grandiose experiment. For the first time, the outcome of this experiment is revealed and recorded on camera. Strange and wondrous flora and fauna are found. But how has such a rich forest taken root in a metropolis? Join us as we unveil the mystery of Meiji Jingu's sacred forest.

During the final days of World War II, a fierce battle between Japan and the United States took place in Manila, resulting in 100,000 civilian casualties. Elpidio Quirino, who would later become President of the Philippines, lost his wife and three of his children. He hated the Japanese. Yet, eight years later, as President he decided to grant pardons to Japanese war criminals, sending them home to Japan. Why did Quirino do this against the strong wave of opposition? Through interviews with his surviving family and other witnesses of the battle, we document Quirino's inner conflict, and the division between hatred and forgiveness shown by the people of the Philippines.

On the 70th year since the end of World War Ⅱ, NHK gathered archival film of the Pacific War from home and abroad and took on the challenge of colorizing the material with the help of experts in various fields. Compiled from the restored footage, this documentary vividly revives the realities of the war, bringing to light what had been obscured in the black-and-white films and photos, and conveying with fresh intensity the experiences of those who were there through diaries and words.

This original documentary-drama looks at the life of American scholar Donald Keene, a pioneer in the research and translation of Japanese literature who laid the groundwork for putting Japan's prose and poetry on the world map. Hosted by actor Ken Watanabe, this program looks at Keene's appreciation of Japan and its traditional values, his first contact with the people of Japan during World War II, his relationships with great Japanese writers and his perception of the Japanese mindset.

More than 50,000 Japanese nurses went to the frontlines in the World War Ⅱ to aid their country. But they were unprepared for the horrible reality that awaited them. As they worked to protect the soldiers, they faced threats to their own well-being. Wartime documents that had long been confidential, along with the testimony of former nurses, shed light on how they have struggled to come to terms with their wartime experiences.

In the depths of a Hokkaido forest in winter, the surface of Lake Shumarinai shimmers with the iridescence of snow crystals. The blanket of fine white powder also permits a number of hardy fish, including a giant "phantom" salmon, to flourish underneath. Few places on Earth get so bitterly cold - minus 41℃ - or have such heavy snowfalls - 25 meters a year. Special cameras (4K, thermo, underwater) reveal the structural beauty of the snowflakes and illuminate mysterious environmental phenomena. A fox "narrator" and 2 local schoolgirls give charming perspectives onto the wonders of a magical world.