STATUS SYMBOLS #4 Space Travel
NHK, 45-minute program, first broadcast on June 18, 2025
Space is now in the “era of the private sector.” As venture entrepreneurs enter the space travel business in earnest, the possibility of us going to space is increasing. However, if only we had the money… After thorough research to see if there was an opportunity lying somewhere, we found a faint ray of hope!
However, what awaited us was the existence of an incredibly powerful rival. If you go to space, your social status will skyrocket!
Who will achieve status symbols?
Cast: AHN MIKA, Koji Higashino, Satoshi Takamatsu
Narration: Yoshiko Sakakibara
Director: Jun Iizuka
Producer: Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(27) What is the 1/2 ? Unmanned station
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: May 28, 2025
1 in 2. Everyone has used a station at least once in their life. Due to depopulation and the car-oriented society, the number of unmanned stations is increasing. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, there are 4,776 unmanned stations out of 9,390 stations. On the Tenryu Hamanako Railway in Shizuoka, 32 out of 39 stations are unmanned. However, there is a movement to take advantage of this and utilize station buildings along the line. One man wanted to make use of the local station he has been familiar with since his student days, so he renovated the station building into a lodging facility. The role of stations changes with the times.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Kenji Nakamura
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(26) What is the 1/5 person? People who support their idols
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: May 21, 2025
1 in 5. “Oshikatsu” was nominated for the 2021 Buzzword Award and became a hot topic. It is the activity of strongly supporting your favorite idols and characters, making friends, posting on social media, and “pushing” them. According to a survey by a marketing company, it now accounts for one in five people (aged 20 to 69). We interviewed women who travel around the country for “pilgrimages to sacred places” and concerts in between work and child-rearing. We get a glimpse into the reality that “Oshikatsu” can lead to a sense of purpose in life.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Takako Dasai
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
STATUS SYMBOLS #3 Penthouse
NHK, 45-minute program, first broadcast on May 12, 2025
Penthouses, which occupy the entire top floor of a building, captivate the wealthy from all over the world.
The highest asking price for a penthouse in Billionaire’s Row, a prime location overlooking New York’s Central Park, is 36 billion yen! Anyone would want to stay in a dream penthouse at least once in their life.
A director who has dreamed of New York since his student days travels around with a desperate determination. Where will this reckless journey lead?
Who will achieve status symbols?
Cast: AHN MIKA, Koji Higashino, Azabu Keibajo
Narration: Yoshiko Sakakibara
Director/Producer: Toshimoto Uchida
『1/?』
(25) What is the 1/27 person? Children not attending school
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 19, 2025
1 in 27. The number of children who are not attending school for reasons other than illness or economics will exceed 340,000 in 2023, the highest number ever. That’s now one in 27 elementary and junior high school students. At a free school in Ikoma City, Nara, where children attend instead of going to school, everyone spends their free time as they please. Parents who were worried were also comforted by the sight of their children who have difficulty going to school growing up freely. Let’s think from the child’s perspective, rather than fitting into the adult mold.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Takako Dasai
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『1/?』
(24) What is the 1/19 person? Elderly people living alone
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 12, 2025
1 in 19. According to the 2020 census, there are approximately 6.72 million people aged 65 or older living alone, making up one in 19 people. By 2040, this figure is predicted to reach 40% of the elderly population. In a marginal village in snowy Nishiaizu, the only grocery store in the village of 500 people runs a mobile food business, patrolling the area and visiting elderly people living alone. The woman who works there also lost her husband and has been living alone for many years. But she says, “Now is the happiest time.” What does she really mean?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Itaru Matsui
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『Seasoning The Seasons』A story of all kinds of ways to eat winter
NHK BSP 4K 59-minute program First broadcast date: Feb, 2025
Since ancient times, people have racked their brains to obtain food to survive the scarce winter, and have also tried all possible ways to make it delicious to eat. This is a winter story woven with wisdom, ingenuity, stubbornness, and dedication to food.
Foods unique to winter that are passed down all over Japan. Experts catch mosquitoes deep in the mountains in the Tenryu River in Nagano Prefecture and turn them into sweet stew, while the ovaries of sea cucumbers caught in Noto are turned into the delicacy kuchiko. In Kaga City, people throw Y-shaped nets into the air and compete with ducks in a battle of wits. The finest duck meat is jibuni. In Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture, the most anticipated New Year’s treat is shark dishes, also known as wani. In Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, there is a tradition of “yukina, a vegetable that grows under the snow.” A journey through the traditional flavors that adorn the winter dining tables when the bounty is scarce.
[Voice] Matsu Takako
[Directors] Sano Tatsuya, Dasai Takako, Nakamura Kenji
[Interview] Rensho Naruse
[Producer] Yonemoto Naoki
Sunday Art Museum「Seeing sound, listening to time Ryuichi Sakamoto x Art」
NHK ETV, 45-minute program, first broadcast on Feb 2, 2025
How well did we know Ryuichi Sakamoto?
A work of art that transcends music.
There What he really wanted to convey…
[Narration] Nami Morimoto
[Director] Akira Miki
[Producer] Toshimoto Uchida
『New TV（Atarashii TV）』
NHK, 59-minute program, first broadcast on Jan 1, 2025
Every New Year, “New TV” talks in detail about the “now” and “future” of media contents. What kind of contents will the creators and connoisseurs of the topic be hooked on in 2024? Where does the future of contents?
[Director] Yuki Nishihara [Producer] Toshimoto Uchida