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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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