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March 11 marks the 12th anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan, triggering a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. In this program we focus on people of Fukushima who are working tirelessly to rebuild their communities.
Efforts are underway in Japan to revive the country's seafood culture in a sustainable way.
People are coming up with solutions that could boost the fishing industry ... as well as showing a potential way forward for other countries.
Nobel laureate Svante Paabo discusses his pioneering work on discovering ancient genomes, as well as his passion for mentoring young researchers and collaborating across disciplines to expand knowledge.
Two people of Japanese descent tell us how becoming more aware of their bicultural identities has had a positive effect on their lives.
We feature a Japanese ballet company that takes up the theme of plastic waste through its set and costume designs.
In Japan, young people are often thought to be apathetic about politics. But there are growing signs that they want their voices to be heard. We bring you an interview with the recipient of the International Children's Peace Prize 2022, Kawasaki Rena, and a report about a town in Chiba Prefecture that encourages children to participate in their community.
We feature a social entrepreneur bringing Lebanese wine to Japan, a Jordanian ambassador taking okonomiyaki to her country and a Japanese restauranteur being helped and helping Nepalese students to see how food heritage can forge global ties.
In May, the G-7 summit will be held in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, the site of the world's first atomic bomb attack in 1945. Many people in Hiroshima want to use the occasion of the G7 to spotlight the horrific destruction caused by the A-bomb, especially the hibakusha, those who lived through the attack 78 years ago.
The last Sunday in January each year is World Leprosy Day. These days, leprosy - now known as Hansen's disease - is curable, and prompt treatment can prevent permanent damage. However, current and former patients alike still face a lifetime of discrimination and prejudice. In this program, we look at efforts being made in Indonesia and Japan to challenge prevailing perceptions about this disease.
A mega-earthquake is expected to trigger a tsunami in the coming decades along Japan's Pacific coast. We look at steps being taken to ensure people are ready to save themselves.
We explore the Magsaysay Awards, which is bestowed upon individuals and groups contributing to peace and development in Asia. As it enters its 65th year, we meet past honorees to see how their inspiring work is shaping the region.
Some time-honored Japanese traditions are being updated -- and shared with younger generations, as well as with people in other countries. We take a look at how Japanese drums and antique kimono are getting a new lease on life.
Increasing regional tensions centered on China's maritime activities and North Korea's nuclear and missile programs have led Japan to increase military spending and make some fundamental changes to its approach to national security.
In November, the United Nations announced that the world's population has reached the 8-billion mark. On the other hand, Japan's population continues to fall, with the number of births in 2022 on track to be the lowest on record. This is cause for concern, as it may well lead to labor shortages and a decline in economic activity. In this program, we look at steps being taken in Japan to adjust to the ongoing demographic trends.
From wagyu and sake to koi carp, we explore the deceptive world of counterfeiting and how it's posing challenges for Japan's luxury brand exports.
Ai Weiwei is one of the most influential Chinese artists working today, creating works that challenge the viewers while questioning the political and social status quo. He is also an outspoken defender of human rights. In an NHK exclusive interview, Ai speaks about authoritarianism in his homeland and the growing global threat to democracy.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to bring death and destruction. It has also caused a massive upheaval in the lives of the children there. Millions have had to flee their homes and many are carrying deep trauma from what they have witnessed. On this program, we focus on the impact of the conflict on the children of Ukraine.
Currently, there are nearly 2.8 million foreigners living and working in Japan. As Japanese society continues to age, these foreign residents are playing an essential role keeping Japan's service sector running, as well as in manufacturing and other primary industries. In this program, we look at steps being taken to safeguard the wellbeing of this diverse community.
Against the backdrop of COP27, ongoing in Egypt, we probe the extreme impact of climate change on the so-called "Global South." We feature a report out of Kenya, and interviews with UN environment expert as well as youth activists. With studio commentary.
Every year, Japanese schools are taking in ever more children from foreign backgrounds. That's creating new challenges for local authorities, as they struggle to provide Japanese language training and other support measures. We look at some of the measures being introduced to close a growing gap in the education system, one that has important implications for Japan's future.
With Japan gearing up to meet its pledge for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, many industries here are eyeing innovative technologies such as microbes for biodegradable plastics, ammonia as well as hydrogen for clean fuels.
In Japan, it's a common sight to see small children carrying bulky backpacks as they head to and from school. Called the randoseru, this rucksack has become a symbol of elementary school life. We look at how this iconic bag came to be used in Japan, and the way it is continuing to evolve.
Drones are changing the face of warfare in the 21st century, as Ukraine’s military has shown in its fightback against Russia’s occupation. These days, many countries and regions are focusing their efforts on developing unmanned aerial vehicles. In this program, we look at the impact of drone technology in Asia.
Many Ukrainian evacuees living in Japan have found it hard adapting to daily life so far from their home. One major hurdle is the language barrier. It is also difficult for them to find jobs using their skills. In today's In-Depth, we look at the steps being taken to support them.
With the borders reopened, businesses in Japan are gearing up for inbound visitors, including LGBTQ. By promoting attractive products and services, the travel sector hopes to get in on the so-called "pink" dollar. But Japan's current legislation on gay rights may keep them away. We explore the situation with NHK World's Koyama Sakura.
We hit the frontlines of disaster response in Japan -- one of the world's most natural disaster-prone countries -- where a public park is prepared for emergencies, even if you aren't, and where a drone can fly high, long and into inaccessible places.
Around the world, people hold festivals to pray for abundant crops, celebrate their harvests and ward off misfortune. But since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, many popular festivals that attract large crowds have had to be canceled or postponed. This year has seen the return of many of those events. In this program, we look at how people are striving to ensure their local traditions can continue.
Wars continuously take and ruin lives, leaving unspeakable scars. 77 years following World War II, many are still suffering in Asia.
We take a look at people in three countries who are addressing the dark legacies of the conflict.
Humanity faces a twin challenge in feeding itself in the coming decades: population growth and global warming. This In Depth episode surveys some of the eco-friendly food solutions that researchers are cooking up to fill more mouths in a way that sustains the planet.
Two decades ago, the leaders of Japan and North Korea held a landmark summit that opened the door to five Japanese abductees returning home. The summit was made possible by months of secret negotiations between a Japanese diplomat and a mysterious negotiator from Pyongyang. This episode of In Depth features an exclusive interview with the envoy working for Tokyo to find out what happened behind closed doors, and the public backlash that followed.
Fermented foods play a wide role in Japanese cuisine, from staple ingredients like miso to essential condiments like soy sauce. Looking to win over new customers, some innovate manufacturers are putting their favorite micro-organisms to work in new ways. The mouth-watering results include a smoothie that helps digestion and a miso powder bringing a taste of Japan to western cuisine.
For the last 20 years, Portland State University has been staging English-language performances of Kabuki, the traditional Japanese art form. The last show took place in May, directed by Japanese scholar Professor Laurence Kominz. This episode looks at his latest effort to promote cultural diversity against a backdrop of widening social divisions.
Our story starts in an Austrian castle, moves to Arita in Kyushu and back to Austria again, on the trail of Old Imari porcelain. Vandalized at the castle at the end of WWII, the residents guarded the shards until they were recently restored in Japan. They live on as a reminder of the folly of war.
From the pandemic to supply-chain disruptions and soaring prices, businesses have faced extreme challenges over the past few years. But some companies are thinking outside the box and rapidly responding to shifting market conditions.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has come as a wake-up call for Japan. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is looking to bolster the nation's defense capability and its alliance with the US. But plans to build a new military base in southwest Japan raise the question of how to balance national security with the needs of the local residents.
We delve into the world of "digital twins" where physical objects, from train stations to entire cities, are faithfully replicated in real-time.
This technology is revolutionizing fields from logistics and city planning to manufacturing.
Russia's war has set off alarm bells in the Asia Pacific, which faces its own security concerns. At a global conference in Singapore, 500 delegates discussed the problem of Ukraine, as well as US-China relations. We asked some of Asia's thinkers how the invasion is impacting the region.
We head to the dojo to witness how the global kendo community has been using its spirit of promoting mutual understanding to support Ukraine. With studio commentary from NHK producer Ching-Li Tor-herself a kendo practitioner.
In this special edition, we visit Okinawa for its 77th Memorial Day, a time to mourn those who died in World War II's Battle of Okinawa, and meet people who are passionate about passing on to future generations the lessons they've learned from the tragic history of ground warfare.
Kambara Kenta is a dancer with his own distinctive range of motion. He has performed with his wheelchair in front of worldwide audiences. Now he is continuing to explore and expand the full potential of his body.
Japan is slowly reopening its borders to tourists. Right now, it is allowing in 20,000 people a day from 98 approved countries, although only on escorted package tours for the time being. In this edition of In Depth we look at steps being taken by communities around the country to increase their appeal, for when inbound tourism finally starts to rebound.
We go under the sea's surface to observe how climate change is heating up water temperatures with serious implications for ecosystems and the fishing industry. With studio commentary by reporter Asaishi Keisuke.
Making cultured pearls more sustainable. Bringing seaweed cultivation knowhow to Europe. And catering to tourists with strict dietary requirements. In this edition of In Depth, we look at how small businesses in Japan are responding to changing times.
Today, we share the stories of people whose lives have been upended by the horror of war, from Timor-Leste's "stolen children" and World War II's Japanese-American students to a Ukrainian evacuee in Japan.
Rare metals are crucial for producing smartphones, computers and other high-tech equipment. However, availability and cost can be affected by geopolitical events and may also pose human rights issues. In this edition of In Depth we look at efforts to find alternative and more ethical sources for these highly prized minerals.
We feature newcomers to traditional Japanese businesses-from fishing and ceramics to sake- who are keeping their time-honored techniques alive.
Across Japan, long-established local industries are facing a growing need to adapt to the changing times. To survive, they need to think outside of their traditional boxes. On this program, we highlight three that have risen to the challenge.
We look at how Russia's invasion of Ukraine is causing unease in East Asia over security issues. With expert insight from NHK World senior political commentator Masuda Tsuyoshi.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left thousands of people dead, and forced millions more to leave their homes and seek refuge abroad. Along with the impact on cultural life in Ukraine, the conflict also raises the question: What can art and artists do to support people in times of war? In this program, we meet two individuals who are using their artistry as a prayer for peace.
These days a growing number of people are doing what they can to live in ways that are more sustainable and ecological. But even with a positive mindset, there's only so much we can do as individuals. On this edition of In Depth, we look at three businesses that have been stepping up to the plate, each drawing on their area of expertise.
We highlight two cases in Tanzania and Japan, respectively, that reveal the "visible" climate change around us.
We feature two stories out of Indonesia; on a woman helping children escape poverty and the unveiling of the world's oldest known animal painting found in a cave.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has destroyed cities and caused more than five million Ukrainians to flee their country. Through social media, people around the world have followed the situation in real time, seeing for themselves the devastation on the ground. In this edition of In Depth, we look at how individuals in Japan are responding to the crisis in Ukraine.
Your kitchen scraps can be recycled into fresh veggies !! NHK World's Hattori Naoko tells us about a portable compost that may change your image of food garbage, forever.
The Tohoku region of northeastern Japan is an area of mountains, abundant nature and strong traditions. We introduce individuals who have moved to the region and taken up new lines of work. Whether through forestry or serving spicy Korean food, they've found that by contributing they have established deep bonds with their local communities.
A young Japanese musician who spent his childhood in India is making a new start after a devastating loss. We meet his fellow players and share memories of his greatest influence, his mother.