｜Length : 25min ｜Year : 2024 ｜

Unprecedented inflation is putting immense pressure on our daily lives. In Japan, where a large amount of essential goods, petroleum, natural gas, and other energy resources are imported, over 99% of exports and imports are transported by sea. Tokyo Bay, in particular, is one of the busiest maritime areas in the world, teeming with cargo ships from across the globe. It is also one of the most difficult waterways to navigate, due to its complex geography and average depth of only 15 meters.
Ensuring the safety of this critical hub around the clock are maritime pilots. Specialists in the bay’s navigation, they board incoming ships and assist captains in safely steering through these treacherous waters.
Our cameras followed their work and the efforts of those who support them behind the scenes. Among these indispensable partners is the TOKYO WAN Vessel Traffic Service Center, or Tokyo MARTIS. Known as the “police of the sea,” they monitor all ships within Tokyo Bay to ensure operations run smoothly and on schedule.
Summer brings its own set of challenges, particularly as typhoons strike the Tokyo area. Navigating rough seas can lead to collisions and other accidents, making cancellations the general rule. But this can result in substantial disruptions to schedules, so how do they maintain safety while keeping operations seamless?
This program sheds light on the unseen frontlines of those working tirelessly to keep Japan’s lifelines running safely and efficiently.

｜Length : 25min ｜Year : 2024 ｜

For centuries, bamboo has been an integral part of Japanese culture, valued for its resilience and flexibility. It has been used to craft items like baskets, chopsticks, and even buildings. Bamboo shoots are a staple in Japanese cuisine as well. But in turn, unmanaged bamboo forests have become a growing concern, where the rapid spread of bamboo has led to forests dying out. The shallow roots of densely packed bamboo are interconnected, increasing the risk of landslides during heavy rain.
In recent years, however, bamboo’s potential has been rediscovered. Beyond traditional uses, it is now utilized in products like clothing and detergents. Among these new developments, one captivating art form has emerged: Take-Akari or “bamboo lights.” Two Kumamoto-based artists, Chikao Ikeda and Kenshi Mishiro, are at the forefront of this movement. They repurpose abandoned bamboo, crafting intricate, original designs by drilling patterns inspired by waves, clouds, and willows. These designs, illuminated by candles or LEDs, transform spaces into magical, dreamlike settings.
Their Take-Akari installations are now in high demand, featured on stages of famous artists, in theme parks, hotel gardens, and more. But their efforts don’t end with creating beauty; when their works reach the end of their lifespan, the bamboo is recycled into products like charcoal. This sustainable approach has earned them widespread recognition, including a role in the artistic production for the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023.
Now, the two artists are embarking on even greater ventures: collaborating with a world-renowned Taiwanese artist, lighting up Kumamoto Castle, and designing a bamboo light installation for a garden in Aix-en-Provence, France. Guided by their motto, “Bringing light to those who’ve never seen Take-Akari,” these two artists are on a mission to illuminate the world.

｜Length : 49min ｜Year : 2023 ｜

Okinawa Prefecture is a group of subtropical islands in the south of Japan. It previously thrived as a separate country called the Ryukyu Kingdom, which maintained its independence for 450 years. It did this by accepting and incorporating foreign influences. That approach proved useful once again in the 20th century, during the postwar US occupation. In this program, broadcaster Peter Barakan meets people who worked hard to heal the wounds of war, and reconstruct Okinawa's cultural heritage.

｜Length : 24.45min ｜Year : 2023 ｜

Keiko Ogura, age 85, has spent her life talking to the world about her experiences as an A-bomb victim in Hiroshima. Feeling helpless in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she decides to participate in a symposium in a small college town in Idaho, U.S.A., where many people accept the existence of nuclear weapons. Determined to hear their side of the story, she engages in dialogue and discovers circumstances she had never understood before. When it’s her turn to give a presentation, how does she convey her own beliefs?

｜Length : 47.13min ｜Year : 2023 ｜

Yoshinari Ishimura is a 29-year-old autistic man from Japan. He’s also a prolific artist who primarily paints animals. Overflowing with vivid color and life, his work has captivated art lovers globally. Much like his art, Yoshinari is vibrant, tenderhearted, and brimming with passion.
Yoshinari's family learned he was autistic when he was young. Determined to teach her son how to overcome the challenges in his path, his mother raised him strictly but with immense care. Though she tragically passed away when he was a child, Yoshinari's life has been unmistakably shaped by her love and guidance.
In 2023, a large exhibition of Yoshinari's work was held. He worked tirelessly for a year to create a 26-meter-long masterpiece titled Animal History for the event. The piece overflows with emotion, from Yoshinari's unwavering enthusiasm to the love of his departed mother. In all his work, Yoshinari hopes to convey a poignant message.