Honami Enya was a driven force at the city's most renowned architectural firm, until overwork brought her to illness. It was during her convalescence that she discovered the solace of public bathhouses, finding herself restored, body and sp…

As the number of children with foreign parents grows in Japan, schools face a pressing question: how best to support them? And how can these students navigate the obstacles they encounter? At one school, where a significant portion of the s…

Imari Inoue is a makeup artist who caters to a unique clientele: men seeking to explore feminine presentation. The twenty-eight-year-old runs her business from an apartment in Osaka Prefecture, offering a comprehensive selection of wigs, dr…

In the summer of 2018, Haruo Obata, then 78, became a national figure after locating a missing two-year-old boy during a search in southwestern Japan. This was but the latest act of kindness from the man often called a "super volunteer," de…

With meticulous strokes of an extra-fine point pen, the Japanese artist Aju crafts breathtaking depictions of Tokyo's landscapes and bustling cityscapes. The scenes reside so vividly within her memory that she rarely relies on preliminary s…

Kichiya Tachibana is a calligrapher specializing in *yose moji*, a style of lettering with origins tracing back nearly fifteen decades. At twenty-seven, he crafts both the writing and the accompanying designs for shrine festival signs, char…

In the years since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan, young survivors have begun to share their stories. They speak of the grief and complicated feelings they had suppressed for so long. This act of speaking out …

In Fukushima Prefecture, a humble dish is proving a source of strength as the region rebuilds from the 2011 disaster. For one woman, it has offered not just a livelihood, but a renewed connection with her community. An elderly man in his ei…

From Fukushima Prefecture, a young man carried his passion for baseball to Nicaragua, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the nation's first all-female baseball team. In Fukushima, an eighty-one-year-old continues daily labor in …

In July of 2018, devastating rains lashed western Japan, inflicting damage on mikan groves that had stood for generations. A secluded hamlet bore the brunt of the storm. Though no lives were lost, nearly half the homes sustained significant…

Kikuno has dedicated her life to the art of the geisha since she was fifteen years old. She resides in Nara Prefecture's entertainment district, once a vibrant hub for over two hundred geisha. The district has seen a gradual decline, and a …

Yuko Kuroda devoted her life to empowering disaster survivors to live healthy, self-sufficient lives. She diligently sought to understand each person's unique circumstances, crafting support systems precisely to address those needs. A firm …

Nestled high in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, on Japan’s Shikoku Island, lie small communities called "sora." The people who live there embrace a life defined by both independence and shared responsibility. Hisayabu is one such com…

Koichi Hozan, a videographer facing a terminal illness, persists in documenting the landscapes of Nara Prefecture, Japan. His work, capturing the subtle shifts of the seasons, is widely regarded as deeply moving and stirring. This spring, h…

It was a dish from a Japanese New Year, one her mother had lovingly prepared. Stewed meat and potatoes, imbued with the warmth of a grandmother’s affection. Miyuki Munekawa is a chef who specializes in evoking cherished memories, recreating…

Miki Yakata, once a member of a popular Japanese idol group composed entirely of women, received a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of twenty-six and subsequently underwent a mastectomy on her left breast. Beginning in May 2018, she docum…

Pia Laophakdee, a promising young para powerlifter, is driven to reshape perceptions of disability within his native Laos. He is mentored by Takashi Jo, a veteran Japanese para athlete nearing the culmination of his career, eager to compete…

The Second World War left a trail of loss across Japan, leaving over 120,000 children orphaned. Many grew up without knowing their parents' names or faces. Honoko, now seventy-three, spent her formative years in an orphanage before finding …

Following a diagnosis of schizophrenia in her mid-twenties, Ayako spent over two decades within the walls of a psychiatric hospital. Now, at sixty-nine, she is finally discharged and embarks on a new chapter, determined to build an independ…

In July of 2018, torrential rains ravaged western Japan, threatening to extinguish a community’s treasured heritage: a children’s troupe dedicated to performing the ancient art of Kagura theater. Promptly, their coach rallied local support,…

In the spring of 2019, a wave of returnees reached Okuma Town in Fukushima Prefecture – residents who had evacuated following the radiation crisis. At the heart of this effort were six former town employees, averaging sixty-six years of age…

In a secluded village nestled in the Japanese countryside, the elderly share a heartfelt desire: to spend their final years within the familiar embrace of their home, cherished by family and friends. For many years, the only recourse for en…

Nestled in a residential neighborhood of Nagoya City, a café thrives as a gathering place for people of all ages – children and elders alike. It serves as a true hub for the community, drawing neighbors together. Children are eager to lend …

For over forty years, Fumie Murakami has lived with a perplexing illness, eventually identified as Minamata disease. This affliction, born of organic mercury poisoning in the ocean, has extended its reach to inland communities as well. The …

Handmade soap in the shapes of vibrant fruits has found considerable popularity. Crafted near Tokyo by individuals with disabilities, the soap represents a testament to their diverse abilities and unwavering dedication. Each worker brings a…

Nestled beside Lake Biwa, a small elementary school incorporates kayaking into its curriculum. The students' year-long training culminates in a two-day expedition in late May, a trip undertaken by every fifth and sixth grader. Spanning fort…

The Tateyama mountains of northeastern Japan are celebrated for their striking landscapes, attracting nearly a million visitors each year. Those who dwell in the valleys below hold the peaks in reverence, finding solace and strength within …