More than a century ago, a community in a southeastern Japanese port established a cooperative, employing fishers and providing them with steady wages. This arrangement has sustained a local custom: fishermen working as coordinated teams to…

In Aomori Prefecture, Japan, the Nebuta Festival, renowned for its vibrant illuminated floats, is a cherished tradition. However, the festival was absent for three years due to the pandemic. Kitamura Shunichi continues a family legacy, craf…

Designated a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site in July 2021, the forests of Yambaru in northern Okinawa Island harbor a wealth of unique species. Among them are the Okinawa rail, a flightless bird endemic to the region, and the Okinawa woo…

Nestled in the rice-filled countryside of Niigata Prefecture, a close-knit community faces a quiet decline. As younger generations seek prospects elsewhere, the population dwindles. To revitalize the area, a local non-profit organization es…

In the spring of 2021, Shinji High School in Shimane Prefecture, western Japan, established the first dedicated class in the region for students with international heritage. Alongside standard coursework, these students receive specialized …

A space endeavor based in Kyushu has united over twenty local factories. Their ambitious goal is to deploy thirty-six satellites. For the team at a modest factory in Kurume City, this marks their initial venture into space, a process of lea…

Yabusame, the traditional Japanese art of archery from horseback, is capturing attention in northern Japan, where twenty-year-old Fuse Aoi is quickly becoming renowned as one of the country’s finest horse archers. Aoi has ridden her cherish…

For decades, a workshop in Iwate Prefecture has preserved the tradition of crafting Nambu ironware kettles. Upon inheriting the business from his father, a master craftsman, Tayama Takahiro embarked on a mission to reshape the workplace. To…

Nestled at the foot of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lies the town of Omori in western Japan. Once facing decline, Omori has experienced a resurgence in its youth population, fostered by local efforts emphasizi…

Climate change is bringing increasingly severe rains and floods to Japan, prompting the government to implement extensive strategies for community protection and life-saving measures. One such initiative involves a substantial flood-control…

Nestled in a small village at the base of the revered Mt. Gassan in Yamagata Prefecture, four women in their eighties share the work of a beloved soba noodle restaurant. Patrons travel from afar to savor the noodles prepared by these grandm…

The waters surrounding the Sadamisaki Peninsula, the westernmost point of Shikoku Island, teem with large abalone and sea urchins. Amashi, or freediving fishers, dive down twenty meters or more to gather these marine treasures. This traditi…

Twelve-year-old Mariia escaped the destruction of the war in Ukraine and now resides in Aichi Prefecture, in central Japan, with her mother and younger brother. Once known for her bright disposition and popularity, she now finds it a challe…

From the waters of Lake Suwa, an ice bridge ascends, linking the far shores. For centuries, the inhabitants of this region have recorded the appearance of this omiwatari, "the God's Crossing." Yet, shifting weather patterns have begun to di…

Deep within the forests of northeastern Japan resides the "Drifting Mailbox," a singular receptacle for letters penned by grieving families to those lost in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Its caretaker, Akagawa Yuji, has recently beg…

Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken objects with lacquer and gold, has found a vibrant home in the mountain village of Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa Prefecture. Here, a workshop overflows with requests from across Japan. Each item brought in –…

Every year, the nation’s most promising barbers and beauticians gather for a prestigious competition. Students from a well-regarded hairdressing school in Kochi have frequently claimed the highest honors. The school’s success stems from an …

"The Car of Hope" is a volunteer initiative designed to grant terminally ill patients one last visit to a cherished location during their final days. A man in his seventies, battling terminal cancer, wishes to return his wife to a flower ga…

In the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, Haruki Nishiokada (82) and his wife Setsuko (75) have cultivated a terraced field for over fifty years, laboring by hand in every season. Together, the elderly couple harvest their buckwheat and cra…

Eleven years following the 2011 nuclear disaster, Dr. Honda Toru relocated to Iitate village, a region profoundly affected by the catastrophe, with the intention of spending his remaining years there. The accident had initially necessitated…

Following the 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the people of Tomioka were displaced. As life slowly returns and the community rebuilds, the elementary school sought out composer Otomo Yoshihide to craft a new sc…

The devastation of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami forced the residents of Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, from their homes. Now, after a decade, fewer than one in ten have returned. Among them is Suzuki Daisuke, the fifth ge…

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine unfolded, Awa washi paper journeyed from Tokushima in western Japan to Lviv, where it was destined for the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine. The Archives had been facing difficulties in acquiring …

The egg industry faces mounting challenges from avian influenza and escalating feed prices. In a farm nestled in Aichi Prefecture, a generational divide emerges between a father and son, their differing approaches to poultry farming creatin…

Fourteen years prior, Saho Motoyama traded the bustle of the city for a neglected farm. There, she constructed a home from salvaged wood and embarked on a path toward self-sufficiency. It was there that she met Kiyoshi, and together they ha…

In the heart of Tokyo, an unassuming vegetable stand attracts over a hundred customers daily, offering a lifeline to young people striving for financial independence. A handwritten note on the stand's wall, penned by the owner, reads, "Tomo…

A decade ago, a student, noticing a man with impaired sight struggling to board a bus, offered assistance. This simple act of kindness has since resonated, inspiring others to follow suit. Now, a book born from these compassionate gestures …

On the Noto Peninsula, where the Sea of Japan crashes against the shore, winter winds relentlessly assail a small settlement sheltered by woven bamboo. Here, we encounter a woman in her eighties, one who meets the gifts of land and ocean wi…

The creation of *ise katagami*, stencils used in kimono design, is a meticulous craft. Yet, the artisans who dedicate themselves to it are growing older, their numbers dwindling with each passing year. This is a glimpse into the lives of th…