Kentaro Yoshioka, a former professional snowboarder and Japan's national champion until his retirement in 2016, now directs a small daycare center in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The center cares for children aged zero to three, marking a significant…

Mayumi Yamada received a diagnosis of early-onset dementia at fifty-one. A single mother to two grown children, she now finds even simple tasks, like dressing, increasingly challenging. Initially, Mayumi struggled to accept the news and wit…

In Oita City, southwestern Japan, Kozue Eda operates a business dedicated to the careful sorting of a lifetime's belongings. Her work extends beyond mere keepsakes and treasured objects; she uncovers echoes of lives lived. The twenty-nine-y…

In July of 2017, the inhabitants of a southwestern Japanese community prepared for a significant occasion—the opening of a café nestled within a kominka, a traditional dwelling. However, torrential rains and a subsequent landslide brought a…

The initial diagnosis brings a wave of disorientation, followed by the stark reality of mortality. Alongside these fears, anxieties for loved ones weave through the experience. Cancer patients navigate a complex landscape of emotions. At a …

The day the tsunami struck Okawa Elementary School in March of 2011 irrevocably altered Yuta Naganuma's life. His younger brother was among the eighty-four students and teachers lost in the devastating wave. The disaster claimed the lives o…

The Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 irrevocably altered Wakana Yokoyama’s life. The ensuing tsunami stole not only her grandparents but also her home. She had sought solace in performing the traditional dances of her hometown, a w…

In 2017, a drama club at a high school in a region of Northern Japan still recovering from disaster selected the 2011 earthquake and tsunami as the subject for their play, intended for a national competition. Many of the students had not pe…

Shohei Kireto, a 26-year-old manga artist, yearned to establish himself in the fiercely competitive world of professional comics. A little over a year ago, he made a decisive move to a mountain village in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan…

In Mie Prefecture, central Japan, Mao Higashi operates a grocery delivery service from a truck, bringing fresh produce, prepared meals, and a welcoming conversation to the elderly residents of her community. A television program during her …

Leaving behind a career in city engineering, Yu Kikuchi has embraced a lifelong aspiration: to create with his own hands. At thirty-two, he now apprentices as a blacksmith in Shimanto, a quiet town in western Japan. His mentor is Kosaku Mat…

Kasumi Takebayashi, a newly qualified teacher, navigates the lively and often unruly world of a second-grade classroom. Yurika Oishi, with five years of experience under her belt, still finds it difficult to forge deep connections with her …

In a quiet mountain village in southwestern Japan, Misato Kurogawa had established a guesthouse. Having left her previous career, she'd relocated to Imari and personally restored the seventy-year-old house where her grandmother had once res…

In northeastern Japan, Zao stands as a premier ski destination. Beyond its renowned powder snow, Zao’s mountains offer breathtaking natural beauty. This program explores those who are devoted to sharing the remarkable, yet challenging, wint…

Iwami Kagura, a vibrant tradition of Japanese performance, showcases dynamic dance. A troupe, recognized for their remarkable talent, has been invited to participate in an art festival in France. The performers are individuals with intellec…

Kana Sugamoto dedicates herself to making aspirations a reality, guiding individuals through the world of crowdfunding. Having navigated her own recovery from an eating disorder with the unwavering support of loved ones, she now finds purpo…

In Shizuoka Prefecture, a small cake shop owned by a couple has become a popular destination for those seeking low-carbohydrate cheesecakes. A significant number of customers are individuals managing health conditions that require careful d…

Mitsutoshi Arasawa, a retired civil servant, grandfather, and former nursery school teacher, embarked on a new chapter in childcare in his late sixties. Each day presents a fresh array of surprises, though navigating the boundless energy an…

Ayako Masunaga is a dedicated teacher, currently serving a three-year term at an elementary school in Fukuoka Prefecture. She had previously progressed through the ranks of a prominent real estate firm, but sought a more fulfilling path. No…

Nestled near Tokyo, Hakone embraces the shores of Lake Ashinoko, its elevation a gentle 723 meters above sea level. In autumn, the broadleaf forests that encircle the lake blaze with crimson and gold, a breathtaking panorama mirrored in the…

Once, the city of Matsudo thrived as a haven for weary travelers, its people renowned for their warmth and hospitality. This welcoming spirit has been a cherished tradition, passed down through generations. Today, Matsudo extends this gener…

In March of 2018, the Sanko Line, a Japan Railway route connecting Shimane and Hiroshima Prefectures in western Japan, ceased operations after eighty-eight years. Once a vital artery of transportation, the line had witnessed a slow decline …

A barbecue beside a murmuring stream, followed by a restorative soak in a hot spring – a truly idyllic day. In a secluded mountain village in Tochigi Prefecture, Saki Mizushina and Tao Toyoshima offer guests precisely such an escape at thei…

Since the close of World War II, Noren Central Market has formed a vital core of Naha, the main city of Okinawa Prefecture. Generations of women, now in their later years, have dedicated much of their lives to working within its bustling st…

In the snow-covered landscapes of Yamagata Prefecture, children gather at a candy store steeped in nostalgia – a place offering not just sweets and snacks, but something more. Akiko, the owner, has nurtured this business for half a century,…

In Sera, Hiroshima Prefecture, Genki Takahashi cultivates tea. Following his studies, he worked for a respected tea company in Kyoto, but a desire to craft tea himself soon took root. He ultimately left his position to apprentice at a tea p…

A deep indigo blue holds a revered place in Japanese tradition. This distinctive hue originates from an indigo dye crafted through techniques meticulously preserved and transmitted across generations. Observe the skilled artisans who prepar…

In the wake of the 2011 tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan's Higashi-Matsushima City, Buddhist priest Yasuhiro Koike dedicated himself to comforting the bereaved. He sought not only to lay the victims to rest but also to offer solac…

In Niyodogawa, Chihiro Tada stands as the sole woman in a forestry training program, yet the determined 25-year-old is steadfast in her ambition to emulate her father's legacy. Tada’s father had served as the third-generation head of the fa…

For nearly two decades, individuals from all corners of Japan have converged on central Aichi Prefecture to push their physical and mental boundaries. The "100km Walking Challenge" demands a full day and night of endurance. Each participant…

Is a touch of madness necessary for creativity? Artist Mitsuhiro Miyazaki, who playfully calls himself "Crazy Mike," believes it is. In his youth, he harbored aspirations of a professional artistic career, though fate had other plans. For n…

Masahiro Ono is a wandering udon chef. Rather than operating a fixed restaurant, he transports his equipment in a van to craft noodles at gatherings and events nationwide. The twenty-seven-year-old launched this distinctive venture after a …

Figures resembling demons, their faces concealed by frightening masks, wield swords with a menacing grace. This is Onikenbai, an ancient performing art known as the "demon sword dance." The practitioners grow older each year, and the tradit…

In Osaka, a haven exists for new mothers and those awaiting the arrival of their child, offering solace for both body and spirit. Hisako, a midwife by trade, provides this care. Having navigated the complexities of motherhood with eleven ch…

At twenty-four, Jun Koike ranks among the elite, one of only four hundred individuals in Japan to possess the prestigious "sakasho" qualification for sake tasting. This expert in the national beverage works as an editor for a website dedica…

In Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital, lies Gion, the nation's most renowned traditional entertainment district. Each year, young women recently graduated from junior high arrive here, aspiring to become maiko, or apprentice geisha. At fifteen,…

In Okayama Prefecture, on Japan's southwestern coast, a night school provides a second chance for those who did not acquire essential academic skills during their formal education. Among its students is Takeshi Inoue, diligently working to …