Shin-ya Narusawa spent six years as a withdrawn teenager, confined to his home. A singular cosmic event, however, reignited a childhood fascination with astronomy. Now, he stands as a leading expert in extraterrestrial intelligence at an ob…

Takeshi Kukizaki, a man of sixty-eight, lives in Kagoshima City, southern Japan, cultivating azaleas and tending to his garden. Nineteen years prior, a sudden neurological disorder left him paralyzed in his legs and hands. The debilitating …

Weekends see a steady stream of patrons drawn to this established restaurant in Murayama, a city in northeastern Japan, seeking a distinctive experience: soba noodles served on a wooden board. However, in February of 2019, the third-generat…

The Ainu, Japan's native people, many of whom reside in Hokkaido, have long cultivated crafts deeply rooted in the natural world. Today, a younger generation is forging new paths to express the essence of Ainu culture. This revitalization i…

The 2011 tsunami wrought devastation upon the fishing industry of Sanriku, in Japan's northeastern region. Like many others in the area, seafood processor Kenichiro Yagi and the local fishermen are striving for recovery and rebuilding. Empl…

The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated Otsuchi, a town in Iwate Prefecture, claiming 30% of its civil service workforce – the highest percentage of any municipality impacted. The local government faced harsh criticism for its resp…

High in the central Japanese mountains, above 2,500 meters, seventy-two-year-old ornithologist Nakamura Hiroshi confronts the daunting task of saving the rock ptarmigan – birds revered as "divine" – from disappearing altogether. Human encro…

In Japan's aging apple farming community, the challenge of finding successors is a persistent one. In Hirosaki City, a hub within Aomori Prefecture, the country's foremost apple-growing region, over 500 growers have retired in the last five…

In the northern Japanese town of Oma, experienced fishermen vie for the honor of landing magnificent bluefin tuna. Among them is a man of fifty-seven, a relative newcomer who relocated from western Japan four years prior. With his daughters…

For those confined to their homes by debilitating conditions – a genetic disorder, a fall that stole mobility – avatar robots offer a burgeoning sense of possibility. Controlled remotely via the internet, these machines speak with the voice…

A hospital on the outskirts of Tokyo serves a diverse clientele: tourists, local laborers, and individuals residing in Japan without proper authorization. Dr. Asaka Tomomi oversees their care. Her prior experience as a surgeon working abroa…

In the wake of the March 2011 tsunami, a father and son, strawberry farmers in northeastern Japan, find their world shattered. Faced with ruin, the son makes the difficult decision to seek a new life in Hokkaido Prefecture, taking his famil…

The 2011 tsunami irrevocably scarred Onagawa, a town in northeastern Japan. After a nine-year hiatus, the town’s sole supermarket, a landmark with a century of history, has reopened its doors. The revival is spearheaded by Sato Hiroki, the …

On the secluded Japanese island of Tokunoshima, eighteen-year-old Nao Suzuna has devoted herself to the ancient practice of Japanese bullfighting, known as "togyu." Each day, she tends to and trains her cherished Chibi Bull. Once reserved i…

In the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in August 1945, young nurses from the Japanese Red Cross were dispatched from all corners of the country to tend to the injured. Years later, a book titled "In the Shadow of the F…

Flames ascended into the sky in a glittering, swirling dance. The haunting gaze of a girl caught in the inferno remains unforgettable. A lifeless body lay abandoned by the roadside. The profound emotions evoked by such a sight. These searin…

For nearly a century, the Yawatahama Shimbun chronicled local events in the quiet town of Yawatahama, nestled in southern Japan. The paper was the creation of a husband and wife, who shared the roles of reporter and layout designer. The tow…

In October of 2019, Mitsuishi Takae and her husband, Kazumasa, feared the torrential rain of a powerful typhoon might swell the river near their home. Kazumasa went out to fetch sandbags and did not return. As Takae waited, consumed by worr…

In recent years, businesses throughout Izumo City have benefited from a significant influx of Brazilian workers. However, escalating trade disputes between the United States and China are now forcing these businesses to curtail production, …

In 2018, Yakata Miki, once a celebrated pop idol, received a diagnosis of breast cancer. Following surgery to remove her left breast, Miki documented her treatment and personal reflections in a video diary, candidly addressing sensitive sub…

The COVID-19 pandemic had decimated the charter bus company’s primary revenue stream: international tourists. Now, the CEO spends his days chasing emergency loans, though the funds prove insufficient to prevent substantial cuts to salaries …

In central Japan, Toyama Bay yields a wealth of seafood, including firefly squid and Beni-zuwai crab – delicacies celebrated throughout the country as specialties of Toyama Prefecture. This abundance is the result of generations of local in…

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the annual high school manga championship, prompting its debut as a virtual event in 2020. The shift to an online format left students disheartened, yearning for the chance to connect with fe…

Mariko Aoki, hailing from northeastern Japan, achieved widespread recognition in 2018 by winning a prominent Japanese gardening competition, a feat accomplished while she was still in her twenties. In a world weary from the anxieties of the…