2019x1 - Episode 1

January 18, 2019

2019x111 - Episode 111

January 11, 2019

2019x118 - A Matchmaking Lounge in Sendai

January 18, 2019

In this episode, the scene takes place at a so-called table-sharing lounge in Sendai City, where men and women of all ages and backgrounds come in the hope of finding someone special while they are matched with random strangers. The customers we encounter include a group of young women who say that there's a lack of men in their town, a hairstylist trying to get over a difficult breakup, and a 23-year-old farmer who wants to get married. The spread of social media has made it simple to contact someone in an instant, but many people we spoke to say they hardly meet anyone new in person. Who are they hoping to meet at this lounge? For 3 days around Christmas 2018, we follow the men and women trying to give Cupid a helping hand.

2019x125 - New Year Countdown at the Airport

January 25, 2019

Since opening in 2015, Narita Airport's Terminal 3 for low-cost carriers has attracted more passengers each year as travelers swoop on the cheap airfares these airlines offer. Even though it lies about 600 meters from the nearest train station -- a bit of a challenge for people carrying bulky luggage -- around 20,000 people use this terminal every day. For 3 days in late December 2018, we spoke to people at this airport, including its 24-hour departure lobby and adjoining food court. As the year draws to a close, where will travelers fly off to?

2019x201 - Episode 201

February 1, 2019

2019x215 - Episode 215

February 15, 2019

2019x222 - Episode 222

February 22, 2019

2019x301 - Episode 301

March 1, 2019

2019x315 - Episode 315

March 15, 2019

2019x412 - Episode 412

April 12, 2019

2019x419 - Episode 419

April 19, 2019

2019x426 - Episode 426

April 26, 2019

2019x510 - Small Island, Big Send-Offs

May 10, 2019

Spring in Japan is a time of new beginnings and also goodbyes. On Fukue Island, the largest of the Goto Islands in the far west of Japan, locals have made sending off people moving away an intrinsic part of life. In the closing days of March, when many people move for work, education, marriage, or other reasons, the terminal building at the island's ferry port - and its wharf - fills with relatives, colleagues, classmates, former students, and friends who come to bid farewell. These high-spirited goodbyes feature a mixture of hugs, tearful messages, songs, and signs. For 3 days, we watched the people embarking on the next chapter of their lives away from Fukue, and the locals ensuring they get a farewell to remember.

2019x517 - Episode 517

May 17, 2019

2019x524 - Episode 524

May 24, 2019

2019x531 - Episode 531

May 31, 2019

2019x607 - Episode 607

June 7, 2019

2019x621 - Episode 621

June 21, 2019

2019x628 - Fasting Retreat: A Break for the Body and Mind

June 28, 2019

Amid the ongoing health boom, many people have been tempted to try "short-term fasting" to improve their physical and mental condition. Visitors to a facility in Izu Kogen in Shizuoka Prefecture, willingly fast for several days not only to become healthier, but also to shake off feelings of gloom and unhappiness. The visitors include a man who manages a real estate agency who says that the fasting has given him a whole different perspective on life, a woman needing a break from caring for her elderly father, and a woman who took over her husband's design company after he died of cancer 10 years ago. During their stay, they eat only a rice porridge and a bland bowl of miso soup each morning and night. What do these people want to change, and what do they hope to achieve by fasting at this facility?

2019x705 - Episode 705

July 5, 2019

2019x726 - Episode 726

July 26, 2019

2019x802 - Episode 802

August 2, 2019

2019x809 - Climbing the Walls of Life

August 9, 2019

An indoor climbing gym in Kawasaki City, near Tokyo, gives climbers a venue to test their physical limit and improve their skills while experiencing thrills - and a sense of achievement - not often found in daily life. The facility's 4-meter-tall bouldering wall and towering climbing walls more than 10 meters high provide challenging obstacles for enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, ranging from novices to some of Japan's finest climbers. For 3 days, we spoke to the climbers determined to reach the top of these walls - and to overcome other challenges they face in life along the way.

2019x830 - Episode 830

August 30, 2019

2019x906 - A New Life Away From Bustling Tokyo

September 6, 2019

Japan's population continues to gravitate to the Tokyo area, but some people long to move from the capital to different corners of the nation. A consultation center in Tokyo's Yurakucho district is a magnet for anyone considering such a shift. At the center, consultants from 39 prefectures offer free advice, information, and handy tips about housing, employment, and any other aspect of daily life that awaits new residents. About 70% of people who come seeking for advice are aged 40 or younger. Among the visitors we met over 3 days was a man in his 60s looking for a new place to live after a recent divorce, and a man who took early retirement so he could return to Kyushu and spend more time with his children. Why do people want to move from Tokyo? And what do they hope to find after moving to their new home?

2019x913 - Episode 913

September 13, 2019

2019x920 - Episode 920

September 20, 2019

2019x927 - 10-Year Milestones in Bikers' Life Journeys

September 27, 2019

In August 2019, more than 2,000 motorcycle fans from across Japan assembled at a remote parking area in the volcanic Mount Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture. They came to be photographed with their prized two-wheelers for an album produced at an event held only once every 10 years. Many attendees have been to all of the event's 5 editions since it started in 1979. How have the participants' lives changed over the decade since the previous event? And what has stayed the same? For 3 days, we spoke to the motorcyclists who made this journey that was also a trip down memory lane.

2019x1011 - Episode 1011

October 11, 2019

2019x1018 - Episode 1018

October 18, 2019

2019x1025 - Osaka Castle Park: The Park That Never Sleeps

October 25, 2019

Osaka Castle, which stands in the heart of Osaka City, western Japan, is surrounded by a park covering more than 100 hectares. Each year, over 2.7 million people visit this urban park famous for its castle, gardens and multipurpose hall. This green oasis is open 24 hours a day, so people come here around the clock. For some, it is a place to do exercise; for others, a place to relax or sightsee. For 3 days, we asked visitors what makes the Osaka Castle Park special and why it holds a place in their hearts.

2019x1101 - Episode 1101

November 1, 2019

2019x1108 - Episode 1108

November 8, 2019

2019x1115 - Episode 1115

November 15, 2019

2019x1122 - Episode 1122

November 22, 2019

2019x1206 - Episode 1206

December 6, 2019

2019x1213 - Mountain Views, Life Insights

December 13, 2019

Every autumn, people from across Japan flock to a large observation area about 1,600 meters above sea level in the mountainous village of Achi, Nagano Prefecture. The picture-postcard views include forests of vibrant autumn leaves, starry skies and a sea of clouds. Many visitors arrive in the wee hours so they can reach the summit and watch the morning sunrise above the horizon - often making a wish as the new day dawns. For 3 days, we asked people why they come here and what is going through their minds as they soak up the views.

2019x1220 - Episode 1220

December 20, 2019