(37) What kind of person is the 1/50 mean? Female Pilots
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Apr 30, 2026
1 in 50. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, out of 7,274 pilots working for major airlines nationwide, only 142 are women. That’s one in 50. Decades ago, the number was even lower. Behind this were restrictions based on physical conditions such as height. However, these standards have now been relaxed, and opportunities are expanding. We interviewed a woman with 25 years of experience as a pilot. We depict the changes since she joined the company, the technological advancements that have led to the increase in women in the pilot profession, and the thoughts that have supported her.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Ryo Kamata
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
(36) What kind of person is the 1/４ mean? Young people who are planning for the end of their lives.
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Apr 23, 2026
1 in 4. End-of-life planning—preparing to face the end of life in the best possible way. While it might seem like something you only think about in old age, a survey by a funeral company shows that one in four people in their 20s are engaged in it. At an “end-of-life planning bar” where you can experience getting into a coffin, young people openly discuss death. We interviewed a woman in her 20s who is writing down her ideal funeral in an end-of-life notebook and organizing her digital assets, such as data from her smartphone. Will confronting death change her way of life?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Tetsuya Uda
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
“World Greedy Traveler” Da Nang, Vietnam
NHK BS8K 59-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 29, 2026
Our destination this time is Da Nang, often called the Hawaii of Vietnam. We’ll enjoy this city full of attractions, including a 10-kilometer stretch of white sand beach and the World Heritage-listed Old Town (Hoi An), over two nights and three days!
[Traveler] Asada Masashi（Photographer）
[Director] Lee Sooyeon
[Producer] Yonemoto Naoki, Uchida Toshimoto
This is how we became warriors: The true face of Myanmar’s “student troops”
NHK Educational 59-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 28, 2026
“It’s the darkness before sunrise,” said university student Okka as he headed into the jungle to take up arms. Five years after the military coup, why did these young people who longed for democracy transform into soldiers? A director raised in Japan, after being imprisoned and risking his life to return to the region, witnesses a student he knew back then becoming a commander leading an armed group. This shocking record delves into the struggles and unknown resolve of young people burning with the desire for freedom in the forgotten battlefield of Myanmar’s jungle.
[Director] Tura Win
[Researcher] Arai Kunikazu
[Producer] Yonemoto Naoki
『Seasoning The Seasons』Pufferfish and Anglerfish
NHK BS 59-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 24, 2026
NHK BSP 4K 59-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 29, 2026
When it comes to the “kings of winter delicacies,” it’s “pufferfish in the west and anglerfish in the east.” Anglerfish are huge, slimy fish that require a special method of preparation called “hanging and cutting.” Pufferfish are poisonous and can only be handled by licensed individuals. These are delicacies where danger and skill go hand in hand. Amidst changing fishing grounds due to climate change and other factors, fishermen continue to pursue these beloved seafoods of the Japanese people, and chefs meticulously prepare them down to the last detail. Enjoy the flavors of pufferfish and anglerfish.
[Voice] Matsu Takako
[Director / Producer] Sano Tatsuya
[Interview] Nakamura Kenji
Dance Drama “Breakthrough Journey” Documentary footage (short)
Expo 2025 -A Stage Featuring 100 Dancers from 11 Countries and Regions-
Released on Mar 6, 2026
“Breakthrough Journey” is a stage production bringing together dancers from diverse Asian countries with varied physical and cultural backgrounds. This short documentary follows the creation and performance process, exploring the difficulties, uncertainties, conflicts, and human connections behind their expressions.
Aiming for a performance at the Osaka-Kansai Expo in October 2025, the dancers are rehearsing in their respective countries, preparing for the big day.
From daily life in each location, to the creative process, and backstage just before the performance—this documentary follows their journey of self-discovery, questioning what expression is and why people dance.
Filming & Direction: Yuma Konishi, Itaru Matsui
Producers: Naoki Yonemoto, Nozomu Makino, Kyoko Suzuki
Editing: Itaru Matsui
Organizer, Planner, Producer: BiG-i International Communication Center for Persons with Disabilities
Watch on YouTube here:
Japanese Ver. / English Ver.
BS Special
A Beacon of Hope: Asian University for Women – Women Paving the Way to the Future
NHK BS 59-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 13, 2026
The Asian University for Women was established in Bangladesh in 2008. It accepts outstanding students from countries where women have a low status, and its philosophy is to cultivate future leaders. Women from 20 Asian countries study at the university. One student secretly fled Afghanistan, where higher education is prohibited for women. Another is a Rohingya refugee student who persuaded her parents to enroll, hoping to gain knowledge that will help save her compatriots. This film depicts the daily lives of female students who strive to carve out a future despite the hardships they face, such as discrimination against women, ethnic discrimination, and poverty.
Narrator: Sawako Watanabe
Director: Dipesh Kharel, Asami Saito
Producer: Naoki Yonemoto
『One in Every Japanese』
(35) What does the 1/2 mean? Companies Without Successors
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 9, 2026
1 in 2. In a survey of approximately 270,000 companies nationwide, 138,000 responded that they either have no successor or have not yet decided on one. This accounts for roughly half of the total. The reasons for this include the aging of business owners and an increasing number of cases where family members do not want to take over the business. There is also the risk of losing skills and jobs if the business goes out of business. A kamaboko shop in Fukuoka that was founded 135 years ago has had its business taken over by a third party who is not a family member. We interviewed a young president who continues to take on new challenges while meeting the expectations of the local community.
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Misato Moriuchi
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
『One in Every Japanese』
(34) What does the 1/390 mean? Visually Impaired People
NHK Educational 5-minute program First broadcast date: Mar 2, 2026
1 in 390. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there are approximately 320,000 people nationwide with visual impairments, roughly one in every 390 Japanese people. Five years ago, a man began to lose his sight due to an incurable disease, and for a time he was overcome with anxiety, thinking, “If I can’t see, I won’t be able to do anything.” However, he continued to explore what he could do without his sight, and has taken on new hobbies, not only in his work but also in running and mountain climbing. What is the light he found in the darkness that he didn’t notice when he could see?
[Narration] Takashi Nagazumi [Hanaregumi]
[Director] Hiroki Horiguchi
[Producer] Naoki Yonemoto
STATUS SYMBOLS #7 Private Island
NHK, 45-minute program, first broadcast on Jan 12, 2026
Blue seas, white sandy beaches. Your own kingdom, a “private island.” A status only available to those with incredible wealth. At least once in your life, you’d like to set foot on this forbidden “sanctuary” where ordinary people are not even allowed to land! So begins another seemingly reckless journey.
Cast: AHN MIKA, Koji Higashino, Masanobu Sato
Narration: Yoshiko Sakakibara
Director & Producer: Toshimoto Uchida