｜Length : 25min ｜Year : 2016 ｜

Kumamoto Prefecture was hit by a devastating earthquake in April 2016. The Kobayashi Troupe, a traveling group of actors, was caught in the quake. Fortunately, no one suffered any life-threatening injuries, but the theater where they had been performing, so they were forced to evacuate. Theater owner Ryuji Genkai, who is also an actor, has opened up his facility to people in need, sharing his well water with people in the town with no running water due to quake damage. Ryuji and Makoto, the leader of the Kobayashi Troupe, make a pact, swearing that they will put on a play together again at this theater, to entertain the people who need cheering up after such a devastating experience. They overcame many difficulties and uneasiness in order to resume their performances.

｜Length : 23min ｜Year : 2016 ｜

Nagano Prefecture, in the heart of Japan, is renowned for its fine crafts, culture, and natural beauty. It’s also home to many skilled artisans showcasing these treasures to the world. This program ‘Making Music’ introduces such talented residents of Nagano, including some makers who craft guitars and violins for world-famous musicians in Nagano’s manufacturing center of Matsumoto city. It also takes viewers behind the scenes into the workshops where these specialized instruments are crafted, and shows their incredible handmade design and sound. Then, discover a rare analogue record master-making factory, one of only two in the world, where craftsmen continue applying traditional methods to manufacturing analogue records.

｜Length : 24min ｜Year : 2016 ｜

26-year-old Chiaki Nagai is living her childhood dream of working on a construction site. A modern girl with a stylish bob and a love of nail art, she lives in an on-site dorm and leads a team of 40 men working on a major tunnel project. And away from the digging, there are always piles of paperwork waiting for her back in the office cabin.
Since becoming forewoman in late 2015, Nagai has worked hard to gain acceptance among her male colleagues, but has faced a unique set of hurdles. She has to direct industry veterans who are old enough to be her father, and in the hazardous construction environment, when her orders put staff in danger, Nagai faces some harsh criticism of her own. We follow Chiaki Nagai, balancing joy and anxiety as she works towards her eventual goal of running an entire site.

｜Length : 24min ｜Year : 2016 ｜

Akiotacho is the least populous town in Hiroshima prefecture. Here, in his workshop along the local shopping arcade, 29-year-old Kazuyoshi Akita silently pounds metal. He moved to the town four years ago to open a smithy. Though he attended art college with the dream of becoming an artist, it was in one class that he realized how the most beautiful items must also have practical uses.
Having already decided to craft tools instead of artworks, Akita found an online article about a blacksmith who was looking for a successor before he went out of business. Picking up the mantle, he inherited tools, a workshop, and a client list, setting up his own business without investing any money at all. Every product, mostly consisting of farming equipment like hoes and machetes, is made to order. And despite concerns about his fluctuating income, Akita finds pleasure in working with his beloved metal.

｜Length : 24min ｜Year : 2016 ｜

25-year-old Yusuke Minato recently took over the management of an 80-year-old bathhouse in Kyoto. A love affair with Japan's public baths that began while he was at college has since seen him visit more than 600 nationwide. After graduation, his interest in fashion initially led to a job with a clothing firm. But he quit to take over the historic bathhouse in a bid to stop such sites from disappearing.
What Minato loves most is the communication between strangers that public baths encourages. But along with a wealth of history the bath he is in charge of has a lot of equipment that needs repairing! The daily cleaning and collection of firewood is a lot tougher than he expected. But Minato's fierce desire to protect these public spaces helps him overcome such problems as he continues in his efforts to revitalize Japan's public baths.