『1/?』
(22) What is the 1/1800 person? Who lost his mountain climbing
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Dec 25, 2024
1 in 1800. Mountain climbing, which should be fun, can take a sudden turn with a moment of carelessness or misconception. The number of mountain climbing accidents identified by prefectural police in 2023 was 2,761, the highest number ever recorded. That works out to 1 in 1,800. It’s not just beginners who get lost. One veteran climber entered the mountain intending to do it for the day, but got lost and fell into a stream. He broke his leg and was trapped in the mountains for six days. What actions did he take to survive the extreme situation?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Jun Iizuka [Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(21) What is the 1/17 person? Young carers
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Oct 23, 2024
1 in 17. Young carers are children and young people around the age of 30 who are deemed to be excessively involved in daily care such as caring for family members. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare conducted a survey of about 30,000 elementary school to university students and found that one in 17 people are young carers. This program interviews two young carers who have taken on the responsibility of caring for their families and have continued to live their own lives despite their worries such as not being able to talk to those around them. Their words provide hints for life.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Kenji Nakamura [Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(20) What is the 1/8 person? Someone who likes handmade crafts
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Oct 16, 2024
1 in 8. Handmade items are becoming increasingly popular these days. This is supported by online handmade markets where anyone can easily buy and sell items. The most popular site has about 15 million app downloads. In other words, one in eight Japanese people is a “handmade fan.” Strangers connect with each other through handmade products. In this program, we interview a mother raising children in Niigata Prefecture who makes and sells handmade items. What is the appeal of making and selling things in your daily life?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Yoko Kobayashi [Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
The Old Man and the Sea Lion
Hokkaido Shakotan Sea lions swimming in the ocean
NHK Educational 59-minute program First broadcast date: Sep 28, 2024
Shakotan Peninsula, Hokkaido. Every year, a flock of sea lions come to the frigid sea. An old diver has been fascinated by their appearance and has been following them for many years. He looks at the crisis facing the sea through the relationship between sea lions and humans.
Diving instructor Hisao Fujita, 71 years old. For the past 40 years, he has been conveying the wonder of the crystal clear sea and creatures known as Shakotan Blue. He is particularly particular about showing people the sea lions swimming wildly through the sea. Sea lions are designated as a near-threatened species by the Ministry of the Environment, but they are also a target for extermination because they eat fish caught in nets. What is the way for humans and sea lions to coexist? A three-year record of closely following Fujita, who sticks to his beliefs while facing his illness.
[Narration] Yuma Konishi
[Director] Yuma Konishi
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
Status #2 Messiah Ultimate Stradivarius
NHK, 45-minute program, first broadcast on Sep 11, 2024
The Stradivarius violin reigns supreme among all musical instruments.
The one commonly known as the Messiah is considered to be the greatest masterpiece of all.
Its creator, Antonio Stradivari, never let it go throughout his life and it was rarely played, so it is said to have retained its original appearance.
This time, we set out on a reckless journey to produce the sound of the greatest “status symbol” of our time…
Cast: AHN MIKA, Koji Higashino, Sota Nakazawa
Narration: Yoshiko Sakakibara
Director: Kotaro Muta
Producer/Director: Toshimoto Uchida
BS Special: Resistors on the Border
~Record of a filmmaker exiled from Myanmar~
NHK BS 59-minute program First broadcast date: July 18, 2024
A coup took place in Myanmar three years ago. Many civilians became victims of the military’s crackdown. In the midst of this, some people fled to a town across the border in Thailand and are fighting back with cameras as their weapon of choice. A cameraman with a prosthetic leg reports on the front lines of the fighting, wanting to convey the current situation in his homeland to the world. A former Myanmar soldier broadcasts a program calling on his former comrades to surrender. Documentary filmmaker Toru Kubota, who was detained by the Myanmar authorities, records the resistance of these video creators.
[Director] Toru Kubota
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(19) What is the 1/3 person? New graduates who quit within three years of starting work
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: July 17, 2024
1 in 3. According to a survey conducted this year by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the employment rate for university graduates is 98.1%. However, one in three new graduates quit within three years of starting work. Resignation proxy services have become widely used in recent years, and at one resignation proxy service company, 40% of requests are from people in their 20s. The program interviews a 26-year-old man who quit the company he joined as a new graduate within three years and moved to a financial institution. What is the most important thing for the younger generation when it comes to work?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi][Director] Lee Sooyeon
[Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(18) What is the 1/2500 person? A person who has just started farming
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: July 10, 2024
1 in 2,500. 70% of the workforce is over 65 years old, and agriculture is facing a serious labor shortage. In 2022, 20-49 year-olds who started farming for the first time account for one in 2,500 people of that age group. Some people are jumping into farming from completely different industries. There is a lot of physical labor and the income is unstable, but more than that, there is an irreplaceable sense of fulfillment in knowing that “the people who eat it are happy.” As the number of people carrying on the work continues to decrease, we consider the future of agriculture, an important primary industry that supports our “food.”
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Takako Dasai
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(17) What is the 1/27 person? People who don’t own a smartphone
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: May 29, 2024
1 in 27. People pay for social media and games, some of whom have multiple phones or are addicted to them and look at them all day. According to a Cabinet Office opinion poll of 1,626 people, the number of people who don’t own a smartphone is “zero” among those aged 18-29. If you include those up to 69, the number is one in 27. The program interviews a man who chooses not to own a smartphone. It makes meeting up with people inconvenient and leaves his family unhappy, but he has a reason for actively not owning one. What kind of life did he gain by giving up his smartphone?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Kenji Nakamura
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(16) What is the 1/45 person? Who is addicted to gambling
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: May 22, 2024
1 in 45. The theme of this episode is “gambling addiction.” According to a nationwide survey in 2020, one in 45 people was suspected of having a gambling or other addiction. It is difficult for those around to notice, and there are many cases where it is a person who is… It is often thought to be a problem of willpower, but gambling addiction is a disease officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The program interviews a man in his 30s who overcame the threat of his family breaking up, broke away from his gambling lifestyle, and is trying to start a new life.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Jun Iizuka
[Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
Status #1 Chicken Cup
NHK, 45-minute program, first broadcast on April 3, 2024
In 2014, a small vessel belonging to a Chinese emperor was sold at an auction in Hong Kong for the high price of 3.8 billion yen, catching the world’s attention. It was called a “chicken cup.” It was made by an emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China in the 15th century, and has been shrouded in many legends ever since.
This time, we embark on a reckless journey to get our hands on the greatest “status symbol” of our time…
Cast: AHN MIKA, Koji Higashino, Ryuichi Hirano
Narration: Yoshiko Sakakibara
Director: Atsushi Ishitobi
Producer/Director: Toshimoto Uchida
『Seasoning The Seasons』Light of Hakodate
NHK BSP 4K, 59-minute program First broadcast date: April 1, 2024
Hakodate, a port town with a sparkling night view. In winter, the town exudes an exotic atmosphere, adorned with electric lights, and the clear air makes the lights of everyday life shine brighter. This is a story about the town that developed as the gateway to Hokkaido, and the light of the people who live there.
When you get off the ropeway at the top of the mountain, you will see a sparkle like stars scattered before your eyes. This is Hakodate, a port town known for its beautiful night views. The Western-style architecture on the slope and the red brick warehouses at the port also evoke a sense of travel. A father and daughter arrive in this town after traveling around the world, and open a hamburger shop covered in electric lights throughout the store. People are trying to protect the lights of the town by reviving historical buildings as stores. A novelist sees light in the ordinary people who are struggling to survive in the rough seas of the decline of the North Pacific fishing industry. A story of winter Hakodate, where the town shines with illuminations, and its people.
Voice: Matsu Takako
Directors: Hatanaka Kota, Kawaguchi Tsutomu, Nakamura Kenji
Producer: Yonemoto Naoki
BS Special『The Japanese Dream: Nepali Students in Japan』
NHK BS 59-minute program First broadcast date: Feb 29, 2024
The number of Nepalese students is increasing rapidly. They borrow a lot of money to cover their expenses, and after arriving in Japan, they balance their studies with part-time work. They come with the dream of settling down in the future, but they face the harsh reality of Japanese society. As of 2023, there are 45,000 Nepalese students in Japan, surpassing Vietnamese students and becoming the second most popular after Chinese. They work part-time jobs in the backyard, cleaning airplanes and sorting items for the transportation industry, which are out of sight, and support Japan, which is short of labor, from the ground up. There are few stable jobs in their home country, and if they work hard in Japan, they can build a house in their hometown, but there are many difficulties in finding a job and settling down. We closely interviewed the daily lives of Nepalese students who are becoming our neighbors for several years. We depict the current state of a society of coexistence with foreigners, which is progressing.
Voice: Tomohiko Imai
Director: Dipesh Kharel, Asami Saito
Producer: Naoki Yonemoto
Magome Bunshi-Mura Fantasy Theater Festival
“Magome Bunshi-Mura Fantasy Theater Festival” is an online theater project launched by the Ota Ward Cultural Promotion Association and the Yamanote Jijosha Theater Company to introduce the charm of “Magome Bunshi-Mura” which once existed in Ota Ward. ﹅﹅ is participating in the video direction.
[Video Director] Naoki Yonemoto
*Currently streaming on the theater video streaming service “Kangeki Zanmai”
“Yokobue” Original story: Tatsuji Miyoshi Composition, choreography, direction and performance: Kitamari
Miyoshi Tatsuji looked up to Hagiwara Sakutaro, a poet representative of Magome Writers Village, where many cultural figures have moved, as his mentor, and at his invitation became one of the Magome Bunshi. After working as a translator, he became famous as a lyric poet.
Set in a 100-year-old traditional Japanese house, Kitamari will express the world of Miyoshi Tatsuji’s poetry through music played on the horsehead fiddle, thick-necked shamisen, and shakuhachi, as well as songs that combine completely different singing styles such as chanting, throat singing, and rap.
“One Arm” Original story: Yasunari Kawabata, Composition and direction: Kazuhiro Saiki, Cast: Yamanote Jijosha Theatre Company
Kawabata Yasunari, a Nobel Prize-winning author and one of Japan’s most famous writers, was once a resident of Magome Bunshi-Mura. Although he was a quiet man who had difficulty socializing, he ended up getting caught up in the turmoil that befell Magome.
“I’ll lend you one of my arms for a night.” This work depicts the strange overnight interaction between a young woman’s right arm and the middle-aged man who takes charge of it. Kawabata Yasunari’s mysterious and lascivious words intertwine with the voices and bodies of the actors, dancing wildly across the screen.
『Seasoning The Seasons』Kumamoto Minamiaso Railway
NHK BSP 4K 59-minute program First broadcast date: Jan 9, 2024
Life in a caldera is rare even in the world. It is because of the abundant spring water. In the water town connected by the Minamiaso Railway, people give thanks to the water god and live with the grasslands. A journey through the land where a hundred years seem like an instant.
The Minamiaso Railway runs through the Aso caldera. It is a local line with a total length of 17.7 km and only 10 stations. Nicknamed “Minami-tetsu,” it has been loved by locals and tourists. It was severely damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, and last year it resumed full operation for the first time in seven years. The area along the line is rich in water. The spring water irrigates the fields and supports people’s lives. In autumn, a sumo wrestling match is held to give thanks to the water god, and cattle herders on the grasslands begin preparing for winter. We visit the lives of people living on land that still bears the memory of earthquakes.
Voice: Matsu Takako
Directors: Nakamura Kenji, Lee Sooyeon, Muta Kotaro
Producer: Yonemoto Naoki
『The Unknown Master of Restoration episode 3』
NHK, 44-minute program, First broadcast on Jan 2, 2024
There is a man who goes by the nickname “God Hand.” He is a ceramic restorer, Koji Mayuyama. He has restored over 5,000 treasures, including a 450-year-old black Raku tea bowl handed down in the Sen family of tea ceremony, and a large Imari plate destroyed in an old castle in Vienna. His skills were nurtured by a number of “hidden jobs” that cannot be shared. He has restored many damaged items entrusted to him by art professionals from all over the country to the point where no damage can be seen even if you look closely. There are quite a few works by Mayuyama in art museums around the country. This is the third installment of a series that depicts Mayuyama’s unknown superb skills and his life of trying to pass on the treasures of humanity to future generations! He was given permission to film the restoration of a Qing Dynasty vase and a Joseon Dynasty white porcelain worth several billion yen.
Narration: Min Tanaka
Director/Producer: Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(14) What is the 1/278 person? Who publishes novels online.
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Jan 1, 2024
1 in 278. A novel submission site where novels can be freely published online. The largest site in Japan, with approximately 2.5 million registered users, has 438,000 people publishing their works every day. In the past, novelists were a profession that only a handful of people could achieve, but now, through the internet, there are more opportunities for readers to read their works. Even within the literary industry, internet-based novels account for 40% of the market share. We take a look at the surprising realities of people who write as “part-time writers,” including doctors and company employees.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Yoko Kobayashi
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(15) What is the 1/830 person? Who is with a hunting license
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Dec 31, 2023
1 in 830. Yamamoto Akiko moved to a depopulated area in Tottori five years ago. Encouraged by local people, she obtained a license and makes a living by hunting in the morning and working from home in the afternoon. Currently, there are approximately 150,000 people with hunting licenses in Japan, a decrease of more than 60% in the last half century. Meanwhile, the number of deer and wild boars has increased, and in mountainous areas plagued by animal damage, some people are abandoning their fields. While it is difficult to make a living as a hunter alone, Yamamoto is also working hard on wild game. What is the path for people and animals to live side by side?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Matsui Itaru
[Producer] Yonemoto Naoki
New On the Highways “Hisatsu Road”
NHK BS 59-minute program First broadcast date: Dec 13, 2023
This is a series of travels along the “Reiwa Highways” with the travelogue “On the Highways（Kaido-wo-yuku）” by author Ryotaro Shiba. This time, we will travel the “Hisatsu Road” from Higo to Satsuma with singer and actor Koji Kikkawa. Records show that two highly independent peoples, the Kumaso and the Hayato, lived in “Higo” and “Satsuma” since the time of the ancient Yamato Imperial Court. These two areas have contrasting histories from the Edo period to the end of the Edo period and the Meiji period. During the Edo period, “Satsuma” cultivated its own unique spirit under the Shimazu clan and pushed forward with the Meiji Restoration and the Seinan War, while “Higo” was given the role of suppressing them. Koji Kikkawa, who once played Saigo in a historical drama, will visit this fateful area.
[Starring] Koji Kikkawa
[Reader] Min Tanaka
[Director/Producer] Tatsuya Sano
『1/?』
(13) What is the 1/156 person? Transgender
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Nov 23, 2023
1 in 156. Transgender people are those who wish to live with a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth. In a nationwide survey of 60,000 people, 1 in 156 people answered that they were transgender. Some people change their gender in their daily lives, and some change the gender on their family register. In a society where understanding is still low, we follow people as they go about their daily lives, working, marrying, and having fun.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Moe Wada
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(12) What is the 1/50 person? Families who have lost a new life
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Nov 11, 2023
1 in 50. The theme of this episode is “Families who have lost a new life.” Every year, newborn babies are born. However, according to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, about one in fifty children die each year in the mother’s womb or shortly after birth. The reality is that the grief of families who have lost children is difficult to talk about in society. In this program, we interview a couple who lost their second son two hours after birth 15 years ago. How have they dealt with the lingering sadness?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Yusaku Mitsuwaka
[Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(11) What is the 1/85 person? Sign language interpreter
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Sep 24, 2023
1 in 85. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there are approximately 340,000 people with hearing or speech disabilities. Meanwhile, only 4,000 people are qualified as sign language interpreters. That’s one for every 85 people. Without this qualification, it is impossible to serve as an official interpreter in court or other situations. However, considering how difficult the qualification exam is, the pay for interpreters is often low, and there are few people who want to become interpreters. We cover the scene where a deaf woman who aspires to become an artist is supported by a sign language interpreter. An “awareness” of the word “sign language” communicated in a deaf world.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Matsui Itaru
[Producer] Yonemoto Naoki
『1/?』
(10) What is the 1/23 person? Who have multiple living bases
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Sep 18, 2023
1 in 23. The theme of this episode is “people with multiple bases in their lives.” Attention is being paid to a lifestyle in which people travel between two or more bases, such as a city and a rural area rich in nature. In a survey of people aged 20 to 79, one in 23 people live a “multiple-base life” (excluding those who are transferred for work or who need care). The program interviews a woman who is a graphic designer in Tokyo and runs a cafe that serves breakfast in Yamanashi. What joys has she found in living in two bases?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Jun Iizuka
[Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
“From Elections Around the World: Central America, Guatemala”
NHK 29-minute program First broadcast date: Aug 26, 2023
The world is full of “elections.” Democracy is currently in a state of flux. This is why we ask “What is democracy?” in a way that is incredibly cheerful. The setting is Guatemala! A village where many indigenous Mayans live. We follow the villagers for a week leading up to the village mayoral election! The only road in the village is jammed with election cars! Furthermore, alcohol is banned the day before and the day of the election. This is to prevent people from getting drunk and being unable to vote, voting for the wrong party, and to avoid fights. The candidates’ campaign promises are also unique, including the “construction of a graveyard apartment building.” It is different from Japan in every sense. What kind of democracy will emerge?
[Directors] Tatsuya Sano, Kenji Nakamura
[Producers] Tatsuya Sano, Toshimoto Uchida
『Seasoning The Seasons』Summer Prayer
NHK BS Premium 59-minute program First broadcast date: Aug 15, 2023
On the 78th anniversary of the end of the war, we look at the “memories of war” and the “prayers” that live on in the local cultures of various parts of Japan. The Showa War has left a variety of war memories in towns and villages throughout Japan. The air raid shelters that remain in the military city of Sasebo, the memorial fireworks in Tokushima that were started by local citizens to pass on the story of the tragic kamikazes, the village of Karuizawa that was developed after the war by villagers who were pioneers of Manchuria-Mongolia immigration, the mining town of Akita that continues to commemorate the workers who were forcibly taken from China, the scars of the air raids that remain in Asakusa, and the prayers that continue on a small island in Oita. 78 years after that summer, the “memories” are where they are today.
Narration: Matsu Takako
Directors: Yonemoto Naoki, Nishihara Yuki, Yorozu Hajime, Haraga Shin
Producer: Yonemoto Naoki
『1/?』
(9) Who is the 1/23 person? A young man with a sleep disorder who can’t wake up in the morning
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: July 26, 2023
1 in 23. The theme of this episode is “sleep rhythm disorder,” a disorder in which the cycle of “sleep” and “wake” is disrupted. The most common among young people is “delayed sleep-wake phase disorder,” in which people go to bed extremely late and are unable to wake up in the morning. One in 23 people aged 15 to 30 suffer from this disorder. Some people find it difficult to lead a social life, such as being unable to go to work or school. In this program, we interview young people who suffer from this disorder. What kind of “diversity in life” do they wish for?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Takako Dasai
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(8) What is the 1/11 person? Female managers
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: July 25, 2023
1 in 11. The theme of this episode is “female managers.” Japan ranks 125th out of 146 countries in the Gender Gap Index, which measures gender inequality. One of the main reasons for this is the “low number of female managers.” In Japan, only one in 11 managers is a woman. The program follows a training camp held in Japan to increase the number of female managers. What are the “barriers” that the career women who participate face?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director/Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『The Dream’s Aftermath: A Record of Japanese Ruins』
NHK BS4K 89-minute program First broadcast date: June 17, 2023
NHK BS Premium 89-minute program First broadcast date: July 8, 2023
There are many traces of dreams in this country. We will go to find out what we were looking at beyond those dreams. “A place where dreams end, and sometimes new dreams begin.” A story of “remains” that are ubiquitous in Japan. In this program, we visit six remains across Japan. 1. Former Nara Prison, 2. Remains in Kobe (Suma conveyor belt and Maya Tourist Hotel), 3. Yokohama Negishi Racecourse and other horse viewing stands, 4. Matsuo Mine in Hachimantai, Iwate, 5. Former resort site in Hokkaido, 6. Ikeshima Coal Mine in Nagasaki. Each theme is [Departure], [Growth], [Transition], [Scars], [Fleeting], and [Closed]. What will we find when we see the remains of our dreams? A huge spectacle unfolds before our eyes, using high-precision 4K footage and drone footage in abundance.
[Director] Tatsuya Sano
[Producers] Tatsuya Sano, Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(7) What is the 1/2 person? Who don’t drink alcohol.
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: June 14, 2023
1 in 2. In Japan, drinking alcohol is said to facilitate smooth communication, and social gatherings are also valued in the workplace. However, in reality, one in two people do not drink alcohol. This program will listen to the voices of both drinkers and non-drinkers. While there are young people who refuse company parties, there are also those who like alcohol and say that it helps them socialize smoothly. In addition, a couple who gave up drinking after many years and opened a non-alcoholic bar will also appear. We will consider new lifestyles for adults.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director/Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(6) What is the 1/4 person? Their mothers are “toxic parents”
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: June 13, 2023
1 in 4. We often hear the term “toxic parents.” They are said to be parents who control their children’s lives and harm them. According to a 2022 survey, one in four people think that their mother or family member was a toxic parent. In this program, we interview women who have suffered at the hands of toxic parents and have painful pasts. Even after becoming adults and getting jobs, they continue to live with difficulties in life. Some even cut off ties with their families and start a new life. What are the worries and hopes of these women who were raised by toxic parents?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi][Director] Tsutomu Kawaguchi
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『The Unknown Master of Restoration Episode 2』
NHK BS Premium 59-minute program First broadcast date: June 3, 2023
There is a man who goes by the nickname “God Hand.” He is a ceramic restorer, Koji Mayuyama. He has restored over 5,000 treasures, including a 450-year-old Kuroraku tea bowl handed down in the Sen family of tea ceremony, and a large Imari plate destroyed in an old castle in Vienna. His skills were nurtured by a number of “secret jobs” that cannot be shared. He has restored many damaged items entrusted to him by art professionals from all over the country to the point where no damage can be seen even if you look closely. There are quite a few works by Mayuyama in art museums across the country. This is the second installment of a series that depicts Mayuyama’s unknown superb skills and his life of trying to pass on the treasures of humanity to future generations!
Scratches and damage on national treasure-class ceramics worth hundreds of millions of yen. There is a father-son restorer who has the skills to completely erase them. They are called “God Hands.” The camera sneaks into the forbidden scene! (Photo: Collection of the Kurita Museum of Art)
Narration: Min Tanaka
Director/Producer: Toshimoto Uchida
BS1 Special『Japani: Five Years with a Nepalese Family in Japan』
NHK BS1 49-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 25, 2023
“Japani” (broadcast in June 2020) chronicles the life of a Nepalese family who runs a curry restaurant in Tokyo, traveling between a village at the foot of the Himalayas and an apartment in Ikebukuro. It depicts the complex emotional turmoil of Bipisha, a young girl who was separated from her parents shortly after birth and raised by her grandparents in Nepal. Three years have passed since then. Her father in Tokyo has contracted COVID-19, and her mother has lost her job. In the midst of these hardships, the couple gives birth to a boy. Bipisha has complex feelings about her younger brother, who is being raised by her parents in Japan. It depicts the reality of a family living in an immigrant society.
[Directors] Dipesh Kharel, Asami Saito
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(5) What is the 1/25 person? A man who wears makeup every day
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 25, 2023
1 in 25. Cosmetics for men have been gaining popularity in recent years. According to a survey by a marketing company, the number of men who wear makeup every day has increased to 1 in 25. We interviewed a male web designer in his 30s who has been wearing makeup for 5 years. He says he started wearing makeup because he wanted to hide his rough skin, but it wasn’t just his appearance that changed… What do you think about the magic of makeup?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi][Director] Jun Iizuka
[Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(4) What is the 1/1000 person? Who have served as jurors
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 25, 2023
1 in 1000. This figure is the percentage of people who have served as jurors in Japan. What if one day you were suddenly chosen to be a juror and had to judge someone? A woman who served as a juror for an attempted murder case when she was 20 years old decided to participate in a social gathering for former jurors. At this gathering, people who have experienced the extraordinary life of a juror gather together and talk about experiences that they find difficult to talk about with others. What does it mean for one person to judge another? For that day that may come to you someday.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi][Director] Jun Iizuka
[Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『Seasoning The Seasons』Severe winter in Oku-Aizu
NHK BS Premium 59-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 24, 2023
The Oku-Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture is one of Japan’s snowiest areas. It is precisely because of this long history of being cut off by deep snow that the activities that have been built up over the years remain. A heartwarming story set in a freezing winter. The story unfolds along the Tadami Line, which was damaged in the heavy rain disaster of 2011 and was fully restored last fall. The “Nanakado Naked Pilgrimage”, a winter tradition that has continued for over 1,000 years. An “oasis in snow country” that has been open for over 60 years in a village cut off by snow. Snow removal work that takes place every night on the 12km mountain road leading to the village. A mobile sales business started by a woman who returned to her hometown and returned to the origins of her family business, a “lifeline” for a depopulated village. The story depicts the current state of people who have supported each other to survive in this frigid land.
[Voice] Takako Matsu
[Narration] Announcer Seiko Nakajo, Announcer Jiro Inoue
[Directors] Shohei Shimakoshi, Kotaro Muta, Kenji Nakamura, Hirokazu Kishida
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『Can’t show my face for some reason.』“CASE 3: The person who fires the XX gun”
NHK 29-minute program, first broadcast on Mar 22, 2023
Politics, crime, entertainment…Weekly Bunshun is a magazine that unearths scoops that make waves in the world one after another, and its articles have even been nicknamed “Bunshun Cannon” due to their destructive power. While its shocking accusations have caused a stir, it is also true that some people have a negative view of it, such as “You don’t have to go that far…” or “You’re making a living off other people’s misfortunes…”. However, it takes an extraordinary amount of hardship for an article to see the light of day. If the content is inconvenient for the interviewee, the interview is even more difficult. Aiming for questioning, long stakeouts, surprise interviews where you can’t read the other person’s reaction… What kind of people are the reporters who still take on these challenges?
The program follows the crime reporters of Weekly Bunshun, depicting the unknown aspects of their interviews and their passion for their work. Although they cannot show their faces for “some reason” due to their job, we will convey their spirit and thoughts.
[Directors] Naoki Yonemoto, Tsutomu Kawaguchi
[Producers] Naoki Yonemoto, Toshimoto Uchida
『Merry Christmas to you far away -Three Stories of Christmas Eve-』
NHK BS1 49-minute program First broadcast date: Dec 31, 2022
How will we feel on this night of December 24, 2022? Amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, repeated conflicts and clashes, and the uncertainty of the future, billions of people around the world celebrate this night and pray quietly. This program is a documentary about people who left their home countries for various reasons and spend the night in Japan. Their reasons and length of stay in Japan vary, including refugees and migrant workers. Their appearances reveal the difficulties and hopes of our neighbors. The world has always been intolerant of people with different positions and ways of thinking, but at the end of the year, we quietly think about our neighbors.
[Directors] Hirotoshi Takeoka, Lee Sooyeon, Yuma Konishi
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
Magome Bunshi-Mura Fantasy Theater Festival 2022
“Magome Bunshi-Mura Fantasy Theater Festival” is an online theater project launched by the Ota Ward Cultural Promotion Association and the Yamanote Jijosha Theater Company to introduce the charm of “Magome Bunshi-Mura” which once existed in Ota Ward. ﹅﹅ is participating in the video direction.
[Video Director] Naoki Yonemoto
“Chiyo and Seiji” by Yamanote Jijosha Theatre Company
Writer Chiyo Uno and painter Seiji Togo start living together on the day they meet. In fact, their seemingly scandalous encounter has hidden circumstances for both of them. However, their relationship gradually matures.
Japanese radio show “Hanamonogatari Gokko”
This work depicts the interactions between female students, based on the first chapter, “Lily of the Valley,” from Yoshiya Nobuko’s debut work, “Flower Story,” by the master of girls’ novels. It expresses the girlishness that exists in everyone’s heart through its mysterious worldview.
『Seasoning The Seasons』Vacant house
NHK BS Premium 59-minute program First broadcast date: Dec 23, 2022
There are approximately 8.5 million vacant houses across Japan. People are starting new lives and activities while making use of the memories engraved in these houses. A story of revitalization of vacant houses, where new connections and hometowns are born. The number of vacant houses continues to increase due to the declining birthrate, aging population, and depopulation, and the total number is approximately 8.5 million nationwide. But now there is new hope. In Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture, vacant houses are being used to open one after another, such as stores run by immigrants and offices of IT companies. In Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, a former landmark commercial building has been renovated and the shopping district has been revitalized. In Iki, a former red-light district has been turned into a guest house, in Ishinomaki a former futon shop has been turned into a movie theater, and in Ibaraki a former supermarket has been turned into a religious facility for foreigners living in Japan. A journey around vacant houses across Japan, and stories of revival and regeneration.
[Voice] Takako Matsu
[Director] Tatsuya Sano, Kenji Nakamura
[Producer] Tatsuya Sano
『Will your voice be heard? Secret footage of the 1969 Shinjuku West Exit Underground Plaza』
NHK BS1 50-minute program First broadcast date: Nov 26, 2022
“Folk Guerrilla” was a major movement in which young people opposed to the Vietnam War gathered in the underground plaza at the west exit of Shinjuku Station to sing anti-war songs. The footage obtained by the program recorded the overwhelming enthusiasm of a crowd of 7,000 people singing and discussing. Based on this valuable footage, we interviewed people who were present at the scene at the time. How are the “voices” of young people being heard in the present day? This documentary intertwines the 1969 film with the people featured in it in 2022.
[Director/Producer] Tatsuya Sano
Sunday Art Museum: “My Friends, My Photos: My Days with Photographer Shigeo Gocho”
NHK Educational 45-minute program First broadcast date: Oct 30, 2022
“He was always conscious of the time he had left in his life, and lived his life in a hurry.” Photographer Gocho Shigeo, known for his casual portraits of family, friends, neighborhood children, and others. He continued to create despite physical difficulties, and passed away at the age of 36. 40 years after his death, amid a growing momentum for reevaluation, photographer Miura Kazuto, a friend of Gocho’s since their student days, attempted to print Gocho’s negatives in the summer of 2022. A quiet conversation between Gocho and Miura begins.
[Director/Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『Art Dash: Masahiro Motoki in Gold and Black』
NHK BS Premium 59-minute program First broadcast date: Oct 1, 2022
Actor Masahiro Motoki, who has a unique sense of aesthetics, sprints around the country with his own legs and sensibilities. He sees and touches top-class artworks such as national treasures directly, not through glass, and unearths the source of Japanese beauty. The first installment is the bold and detailed world of beauty, the Rinpa school. He comes face to face with Ogata Korin’s “Red and White Plum Blossoms Screen” (national treasure), struggles with gold leaf canvases, learns from Tawaraya Sotatsu and challenges himself to apply ink, and has many conversations with cutting-edge contemporary artists. Masahiro Motoki sprints through art covered in gold and black!
[Director/Producer] Tatsuya Sano
『1/?』
(3) What is the 1/10 person? Who got married through online
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Sept 25, 2022
1 in 10. In recent years, the percentage of people who get married using online matchmaking services has been increasing. For men and women (aged 20-49) who got married in 2020, it was roughly one in ten. The members of “Showa Girls,” a group of five YouTubers, have experience using matching apps to meet people and find a partner. Among them, MANAMI, who is currently seriously looking for a partner, is using several apps to find a partner. The current state of society as seen through the numbers from “Nanbunnoichi.”
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi][Director/Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(2) What is the 1/100 person? Men who have taken parental leave for more than a year
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Sep 23, 2022
1 in 100. Is “parental leave” something that women take? The theme of this episode is “parental leave for men.” In Japan, one in seven men whose spouses have given birth take “parental leave (childcare leave).” The most common period is “less than two weeks,” with over half of the men taking parental leave. Meanwhile, among men who have taken parental leave, one in 100 take “more than a year.” The program follows a man who has taken a year of parental leave and is devoting himself to raising his two children and doing housework. His daily life gives us a glimpse into “Japan today.”
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi][Director/Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(1) What is the 1/30 person?
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Sept 23, 2022
1 in 30. The number of patients suffering from mental illness in Japan today is 4.19 million. In other words, roughly one in 30 people suffers from some kind of mental illness. We report on a “re-work program” where people who can no longer go to work due to mental health issues participate in order to return to work. We follow a woman who is worried about being unable to do the same things as other people. There are people around us who have various circumstances that we don’t know about. We unravel the numbers of “Nanbunnnoichi” and look at the diversity of this society in which we live together.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi][Director] Tsutomu Kawaguchi
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto