In Yokohama's vibrant entertainment district, a 24-hour tonkatsu restaurant serves as a stage for a nightly drama. From the first light of dawn until the deep of night, a diverse crowd gathers to devour the savory meat. A man seeks to prepa…

In Kappabashi, Tokyo's renowned "tool town," a unique retail landscape unfolds. This district offers an unparalleled collection of culinary implements – Japanese, Western, and Chinese, alongside lacquerware and delectable food samples. It’s…

Sapporo, a sprawling city, embraces the spirit of Christmas. The heart of this scene is the express bus terminal, a portal connecting Sapporo to communities across Hokkaido. These buses offer affordable passage, drawing passengers from dawn…

The city of Tokyo, draped in the anticipation of New Year's Eve, provides the backdrop for this scene. Crowds gather at the tower's observatory, seeking a vantage point to greet the first sunrise and offer prayers at the shrine nestled with…

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street is reputed to be Japan's longest. Here, a bench tucked away in a corner becomes the setting. Over three days, listening to the stories of those who pause there – a constant stream of passersby – reveals a ric…

In a quiet zoo nestled in Kichijoji, Tokyo, resides Japan's oldest elephant, named Hanako. At sixty-nine years, she draws the attention of countless visitors, each captivated by her immense form and offering her greetings in their own way. …

Nestled amidst the rice paddies of the snow-swept Tsugaru plain lies a public bathhouse, a "100 Yen Onsen" offering entry for a mere hundred yen. The custom here is simple: one presents the coin to the attendant before entering the bath, de…

Fukuoka is home to an uncommon shrine dedicated to the deity of love, a rarity in Japan. The path to the shrine and its entrance are adorned with hearts, drawing pilgrims from across the nation seeking blessings for love, marriage, and a ha…

South Korea features a program mirroring Japan's "Documentary 72 Hours," known as "Documentary 3 Days." This iteration marks a collaboration between the two countries' respective "3 Days" programs, with crews from Japan and Korea venturing …

In a shop nestled in Shinjuku, Tokyo, a world of Showa-era music awaits. Here, a diverse clientele gathers: those who shared their youth with idol songs, younger generations drawn to the songs' crystalline clarity, and visitors from abroad …

Tucked away in a modest building in Yoyogi, Tokyo, an animal sanctuary provides refuge for dogs and cats rescued from public health centers. To date, it has sheltered thirteen hundred animals. These creatures arrive with varied histories: s…

Motorcycle auto racing unfolds at speeds of 150 kilometers per hour. The setting for this final chapter is Funabashi Auto, the very place where this sport originated. Last month marked the end of sixty-five years of history at this venerabl…

At a shop in Akita Port, a vending machine offers steaming bowls of udon for two hundred yen. In March, the machine became a focal point for documenting the human experience over seventy-two hours, and the response surpassed all expectation…

In Sendai, a public dining hall offers sustenance around the clock, its motto a comforting promise: "Donburi rice from the time you were born." It's a haven for those who cherish rice, serving generous portions of rice in deep bowls, a stap…

The setting is a venerable stamp shop nestled in Shin-Okubo, Tokyo’s Korean district. Its clientele is predominantly foreign. In Japan, *hanko* – personal seals – are integral to daily life. With the arrival of spring and the promise of new…

In the expansive plains of Isezaki, Gunma Prefecture, a vast shopping mall—resembling a spaceship—emerges from the landscape. Here, within the bustling food court, affordability and relaxation converge, making it a cherished haven for many.…

National Highway 439 traces a path from Tokushima, traversing the Shikoku Mountains to Kochi. In the highlands, the road narrows to a mere two meters and earns the name "Kudo Yosaku," or "terrible road." It draws enthusiasts from across Ja…

The Sakurajima Ferry connects Kagoshima City with the volcanically active island of Sakurajima, operating around the clock. The fifteen-minute journey is a constant flow of passengers; island residents commute to the city in the mornings an…

The setting is a roller coaster at Hanayashiki, a venerable amusement park in Asakusa, Tokyo. For sixty-two years, it has carried passengers at a maximum speed of 42 kilometers per hour, its rattling and creaking frame lending a distinctive…

The Kamo River Delta, a tranquil stretch of water flowing upstream from the main river in Kyoto, Japan, offers a respite from the city's more crowded attractions. This waterside landscape has long inspired writers and filmmakers. A simple c…

Deep within Shinjuku Kabukicho, Japan's most vibrant entertainment hub, resides an uncommon sanctuary: a Go club open around the clock. For thirty-four years, the quiet click of stones has punctuated the hours, from the stroke of midnight u…

In May of that year, President Barack Obama made his first visit to Hiroshima as the nation’s leader, an event that drew national attention across Japan. The program observed the plaza adjacent to Peace Memorial Park, documenting the flow o…

A generous helping of anko-filled Ogura toast accompanies a modest morning meal. Here, the scene unfolds within a quintessential Nagoya coffee shop. The tradition of the tea ceremony has deep roots in Nagoya, and coffee shops constitute a s…

Online auctions have become a marketplace for virtually anything imaginable – from pre-owned ambulances to funeral arrangements. Emerging in Japan roughly two decades ago, they now represent a vast market, facilitating over one hundred mill…

Brazil pulses with energy as it hosts the Olympic Games, a potent emblem of modern capitalism. Yet, beneath the surface of this developing nation, many turn to traditional practices of "black magic," placing hopes in unseen forces. In a fir…

The rise in female incarceration is striking: over the last two decades, the number of women convicted of crimes has doubled. What occupies their days within those walls, and what thoughts drift through their minds? This program offers an i…

Each year, family members convene to honor the departed during Obon, and Nagasaki's observance is particularly elaborate. Rooted in the Chinese tradition of employing sound to ward off malevolent spirits, visitors launch rockets and firecra…

In Fukui, an ice shop stands as an unusual beacon of availability, open around the clock – a rarity in Japan. The ice, crafted in slow, deliberate freezes into everything from vast slabs to small chips, is prized for its lingering coolness …

This past summer, the game where players catch fantastical creatures on their phones experienced a remarkable surge in popularity. A park in Kinshicho, Tokyo, renowned for its frequent appearances of rare monsters, has become a veritable pi…

Tucked away in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, the butcher shop appears unassuming at first. Yet, the selection within boasts cuts rarely encountered elsewhere – from cow kidney to pig's blood. Its clientele reflects this diversity: Peruvia…

A quick hour on a local train from Matsuyama, on the island of Shikoku, brings one to Shimonada Station. This unassuming stop, nestled along the Seto Inland Sea, has quietly begun to draw crowds. It began with a photograph shared online by …

Nestled in Adachi Ward, this expansive “golf course” defies typical expectations for Tokyo. Accessible twenty-four hours a day, throughout the year, it draws a thousand visitors daily – a far cry from the image of a pastime reserved for the…

Within the cavernous halls of Japan's most comprehensive art supply emporium, a world of creative possibility unfolds. Here, one can find everything from pencils for fifty yen to a vast array of paints, comic materials, sculptures, and coun…

A myriad of colored lights shimmered against the night. This is the view from a sprawling tent encampment nestled in the Northern Alps of Nagano, Japan, a spectacle visible only during the autumn foliage season. Some visitors forgo the clim…

Nestled in a vibrant corner of Nakasu, Fukuoka – a district renowned for its lively entertainment – sits a daycare center open from dawn until the early hours. Surrounded by 2,600 shops, it serves a diverse clientele. By day, working parent…

In October, Iitate Village held an election marked by unusual circumstances. The village, located in Fukushima Prefecture, had been largely evacuated following the nuclear accident, scattering its residents across the region. To ensure all …

From the soon-to-be U.S. President Trump to figures from Japanese anime, twenty thousand people of all nationalities and ages thronged the Roppongi intersection on Halloween night. Young people, masked and playful, playfully courted those a…

The streets of Naha, Okinawa, resonate with a chorus of languages as participants from across the globe celebrate at the "Worldwide Uchinanchu" festival, a vibrant fusion of samba and hula. Approximately seven thousand three hundred Okinawa…