Each year, 3,400 babies are born. In Kumamoto Prefecture, celebrated for its Kumamon mascot, a particular obstetrics and gynecology clinic holds the distinction of Japan's highest birth rate. Mothers endure relentless labor, summoning every…

Milano Bowl, a fixture on the street before the Shinjuku Koma Theater for forty-seven years, ceased operations at the close of last year. Its late-night hours, open until six in the morning, had long made it a popular destination, but the d…

The scene unfolds in Sakae, Nagoya, during the festive season of Christmas. Amidst the city's vibrant economic pulse, a particular space exists where people converge with a sense of urgency: the "Lost and Found" counter, a repository for it…

"Awake, my lost dream, awaken." The residents of the student dormitory at Hokkaido University—a structure steeped in over a century of history and housing four hundred students—are among the few self-governing residences in Japan managed en…

Following the collapse of the economic bubble, a culture of saving has taken hold. Individuals seeking to minimize expenditure are increasingly drawn to ticket shops. A dispatched worker might purchase a subway ticket for a mere 10 yen, a w…

Slugs populate the bathroom. "Assemble the plastic model by tomorrow!" Throughout the night, cries for assistance echo from a Tokyo handyman, who fields three hundred requests daily – many for tasks he once might have entrusted to family or…

Akabane holds a special significance for those who are not human, its unpretentious izakayas serving as welcoming havens. Tucked away in one corner of the district is a standing oden shop, consistently drawing a long queue of patrons from e…

Known simply as "Pai-yama," the structure stands prominently before Sannomiya Station, a focal point in Kobe's vibrant heart. The sculpture, with its suggestive form, has become a familiar landmark for those awaiting rendezvous. In January …

The harbor of Akita in January is swept by gusty winds. In a quiet corner stands an old vending machine, dispensing hot soba or udon after a mere twenty-five seconds of waiting. Installed forty years ago, it once enjoyed widespread populari…

The school in Chiba's suburbs offers licenses for everything from trucks and buses to excavators, a gateway to new possibilities. Each spring, a tide of hopefuls arrives, eager to secure the credentials needed for a fresh start. A former ha…

Naked men bathed in cerulean light. A February wind whips through Ikebukuro. Inside a tanning salon within a larger building, men clad in pale tan suits perspire, generating an atmosphere that evokes a faraway, tropical land. They close the…

Capsule hotels have recently gained considerable favor. Drawn by whispers and recommendations, travelers from every corner of the globe now frequent these establishments, their native languages mingling within the inns night after night. Of…

It has been four years since that day in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. This collection of voices offers glimpses into the unvarnished exchanges between passengers and drivers within taxi cabs. A worker from the nuclear plant seeks respi…

A study, a ritual space, a school infirmary – the backdrop shifts as people clad in anime and game cosplay strike poses and capture images of one another. The cosplay building in Koto-ku boasts an impressive eighty thousand members, and its…

Spring brings a flurry of activity to the dealerships, as many seek a fresh start with a new vehicle. Of the thirty lots flanking the national highway, the used car sales area is the most vibrant. A father purchases a practical car for his …

In April, Kanto was consumed by a profusion of blossoms. The Tama River, stretching 138 kilometers from Haneda to Okutama, offers one of the region’s most cherished, yet discreet, spots for viewing cherry blossoms. For this journey, partic…

In the forests of Yakushima, a World Heritage site, stand ancient giants, their roots reaching back millennia. Increasingly, visitors from across Japan journey to this island, seeking the famed "Jomon cedars," visible only after a half-day …

"I won gum!" The bright voices of children drift through the air in a candy shop nestled in Hyogo Ward, downtown Kobe, where a girl, clutching a ten-yen coin, contemplates her purchase. A boy occupies himself within the store, waiting for h…

Beneath the towering form of Tokyo Tower, near the bustling Roppongi intersection, sits a kebab shop that thrives around the clock, drawing a diverse clientele. The staff, all Turkish, cater to a steady stream of customers. During the day, …

Mount Takao, an accessible peak just an hour from central Tokyo, transforms with the arrival of spring's fresh green. The summit becomes a haven for those seeking respite from the city, a place where people gather to share beer with panoram…

In April, a large shipping container appeared in a small port town in Iwate, a place still marked by the devastation of the tsunami. It became an impromptu mobile karaoke box, quickly embraced by residents with limited leisure opportunities…

The May holidays brought a vibrant energy to Japan, a flurry of travel both near and far. In the quieter residential pockets of central Tokyo, where many had departed, one establishment hummed with a hidden intensity: a video rental store o…

The jukebox croons familiar tunes. An elderly woman savors a steak, while an American soldier enjoys fried rice. This is a vintage drive-in, nestled along Route 58 that traverses the main island of Okinawa. The restaurant, which first cater…

A peculiar signboard cat resides on a shopping street near Mito Station. He is known as Hachi, and the figure-eight marking on his forehead has made him quite popular. Many believe it to be a symbol of good luck, charmed by his endearing, s…

On the national highway in Hitachi City, a town shaped by a singular corporation, lies a peculiar space steeped in retro charm, as if plucked from the Showa era. Known as Hanawayama Cabaret, it's a collection of small, tin-clad establishmen…

Kurume is renowned as the origin of tonkotsu ramen. A ramen shop situated along the national highway draws three thousand patrons daily. On days of national holiday, a couple invariably shares a bowl of "morning ramen." A truck driver on a …

In a dance hall nestled in downtown Tokyo, a live band fills the air with sensual melodies, and couples move with graceful ease. The venue itself echoes the vibrant spirit of the Showa period; as one of only two remaining authentic dance ha…

The streetcars of Hiroshima remain a vital part of everyday life, carrying more passengers than any other in Japan. Within their slow-moving carriages, averaging just ten kilometers per hour, unfold countless stories. A grandmother journeys…

Nestled in the heart of the Niigata Plain's rice fields, a venerable hotel caters exclusively to men, its popularity enduring despite its old-fashioned air. Its appeal extends far beyond mere affordability. The ground floor boasts a round-t…

The initial installment of "72 Hours!" finds its setting within a 24-hour laundromat tucked away in a corner of New York City. A diverse array of people, representing various races and nationalities, converge there – a reflection of the cit…

This marks the program's first venture abroad. The second segment explores a Japanese food supermarket in Dalian, China. The city has become a hub for Japanese business, fueled by a strong interest in the language, and is home to approximat…

Rising 120 meters above the landscape, the Daibutsu, or Great Buddha, stands in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture. At its base stretches one of the Kanto region's largest cemeteries, a place of poignant remembrance. During the Obon festival, …

During three days in midsummer, a particular convenience store in Japan sees its highest customer traffic among its chain. A steady stream of people, many heading to the nearby Comic Market, flows through its aisles. The store functions as …

On the street facing the Diet, where the nation’s course is charted, a confluence of lives unfolds. Here, in the heart of Japan, where the Prime Minister’s residence, the Diet building, and the central government offices converge, a diverse…

The principal building of a Tokyo hotel, a beloved landmark for both Japanese and international visitors, is now closed for reconstruction. For over fifty years, the Hotel Okura has long represented Japan to the world, and currently operate…

In Kottoi, a port town nestled in Yamaguchi Prefecture, fishermen from across Japan converge, drawn by the promise of exceptional squid. The squid harvested from these waters are prized for their luminous sheen and exquisite flavor, command…

Nestled in Takenotsuka, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, lies a district known as "Little Manila," a vibrant hub of roughly fifty Filipino establishments. One particular venue stands out for its extended hours, welcoming patrons from dawn until late. By d…

The program unfolds within the quiet hum of a dubbing shop, a place where obsolete video and audio files find a second life. Films, VHS tapes, cassette recordings – relics of the past – are resurrected as DVDs and CDs, each one a small mira…

Kansai International Airport functions as a ceaseless portal to the skies, operating around the clock. A major hub in Japan, it serves as a transit point for sixteen low-cost carriers. Travelers from every corner of the nation and beyond pa…

Hidden within Kabukicho, Shinjuku, lies a pharmacy that caters only to the nocturnal hours. A steady stream of patrons enters its doors, seeking remedies ranging from vitamin supplements to prescription medications. A woman working in the e…

Kanda, Tokyo, boasts the world's largest concentration of antiquarian bookstores, a district encompassing over 160 shops brimming with remarkable finds. Here, one might discover treasures like medieval books valued at ten million yen or pre…

In moments of unease, people often seek guidance from those who claim to foresee the future. A shop nestled in the city's core attracts a diverse clientele, each hoping to glimpse their destiny through palmistry and birth dates. There are o…

In the electric heart of Akihabara, a curious array of creations emerges from a workshop unlike any other. Here, a collar shifts hue with a dog's emotions; a keyboard mimics the soulful wail of a saxophone. For a modest monthly fee of fifte…