A small newspaper company with 30 employees in the city of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, which was devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, has been a valuable source of local news for 65 years. A team of seven reporters, many of whom are from the region, uncover and write stories of interest to residents. For three days, we went on assignment with these reporters and behind the scenes at the office as they prepared newspapers issued around the disaster's 12th anniversary.

Behind the Headlines at Ofunato's Local Newspaper

Saying Farewell to Once-Loved Dolls at Hofu Tenmangu Shrine

At a 24-Hour Roadside Restaurant in Okayama

In the fall of 2022, Musashino Art University in Tokyo welcomed the public to its annual art festival for the first time in three years to see paintings, sculptures and other artworks created by its students. The exhibitors included a group building a huge sculpture of a mythical creature; a puppet show club with a declining membership; and students feeling anxious about their future. For three days ahead of the festival, we watched the students putting the finishing touches on their creations.

University Art Festival: Portrait of Campus Days

Three old apartment buildings lined up near the Port of Osaka. Built in 1965, when the shipbuilding industry was thriving, about 70 households still live in these buildings. The apartments have a hangout where residents gather, and some even drink alcohol in the morning. An elderly woman who lost her husband and moved here a few years ago. A man chooses to live here alone so that his son and his family will not be troubled. There are couples who have lived here for more than 30 years because they feel comfortable here. In the midst of the changing times, we will spend three days looking at the days in the apartment, which continues to remain unchanged.

Osaka: In an Apartment Building from the Showa Era

A small shop selling okonomiyaki savory pancakes and obanyaki cakes has become a staple for locals in a part of Kobe devastated by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Among the customers fond of these dishes are friends who stop by while on a walk; a boy buying lunch and snacks for his family; and people who simply enjoy chatting with the staff. The shop was razed in the disaster, but the owner did his best to reopen as soon as possible. For three days, we talked to the customers and got a glimpse of the area's long road to recovery.

At a Small Kobe Okonomiyaki Shop

A simple pier, almost at water level, extends 160 meters out into Tokyo Bay from a beach in Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture. In the early 1900s the pier was used for landing fish, but that stopped decades ago when a new fishing port was built. Now it's a hidden gem for tourists. We encounter a local man walking his dog, a farewell party for a colleague and a couple who fell in love with the area and moved there. The pier attracts all sorts of people, and means something different to each of them.

A Quiet Pier in Minamiboso

A cheerful greeting rings out over the radio in an island dialect: "Ugamin shoran! (Hello!)" This time, we visit a station broadcasting in Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Many of the presenters are straight out of the local community, including seniors who read out news items in dialect. A high schooler home for the holidays makes a live appearance. People who have moved away call in to share their stories. We invite you to settle into the soothing rhythm of an island radio station.

Amami Oshima: On the Radio

A 60-year-old mountain lodge located 1,350 meters above sea level on Mount Adatara in Fukushima Prefecture. Adatara at 1,350 meters above sea level in Fukushima Prefecture. Climbers aiming for the summit spend time here to rest their bodies and release tension. The lodge has a hot spring and overnight accommodations are available. A group of four climbers prepare their gear after taking a break, and then set out to reach the summit. A man brings in food from the base of the mountain and enjoys cooking for himself. Some groups hold year-end parties here every year. People who dare to climb the severe snow-covered mountains and visit here at the end of 2022. For three days, we will listen to their hearts.

Fukushima - At a mountain lodge in the dead of winter

In the final days of 2022, an expressway bus terminal in Fukuoka Prefecture heaves with passengers traveling on over 1,000 buses that arrive or depart here daily. The people at the terminal included a woman visiting her father by bus because this mode of transport is cheaper than going by train; a teenager seeing off her boyfriend; two young men determined to hit the big time in Fukuoka; and a man excited about a 15-hour ride to Tokyo. For three days over the New Year period, we asked people where they were going, and why.

Ringing in the New Year at a Fukuoka Bus Terminal

Outside in winter. People sipping ramen in the bitter cold. This time, a ramen stall on a street corner in Osu, Nagoya, attracts many people to its four seats for a bowl of ramen for 500 yen. Regular businessmen bring souvenirs from their business trips. Many of them have known the 75-year-old stall owner for a long time. What exactly does eating ramen under the cold weather satisfy?

Winter Stories of Ramen Stalls in Nagoya

Judicial scrivener, condominium manager, state civil servant, social insurance worker labor consultant ... Lots of qualification exams. The stage is a major preparatory school where people who aim to pass the pass go. Looking to the future, I am in my 30s who take a course of judicial scrivener while working. A child-rearing woman who is aiming for a career consultant qualification for re-employment. Some people quit their jobs to get out of non-regular employment. In the early days when it was difficult to see the future, how did everyone feel when they went to their desks? Listen to your heart for three days.

Qualification Examination Preparatory School: My Path Forward

The Hokkaido village of Shosanbetsu is home to about 1,000 people and a single convenience store. Residents rely on this store as a source of fresh food and basic necessities, especially in midwinter. Among the customers were a woman who uses a sled to carry her shopping home; an octopus fisherman who shops there three times a day; and a hair stylist who knows everybody in Shosanbetsu. For three days as a blizzard buffeted the area, we spoke to the store's customers to get a glimpse at life in this village.

The Convenience Store in a Midwinter Hokkaido Village

Episode 11

Beautiful eyes so elaborate that they could be mistaken for human eyes. The market for dolls is said to be worth as much as 10 billion yen. In Akihabara, there are several stores specializing in dolls in commercial buildings, and many people visit them. Some office workers are looking for a doll to heal them after a hard day's work, and some women are looking for a doll to do what they cannot do. Some people come all the way from overseas to buy dolls. They are neither people nor things, but mysterious beings. For three days, we will take a peek into the fascinating world of dolls.

Akihabara Doll Store

A large parking lot and hearty servings make a 24-hour restaurant a haven for truckers in Okayama Prefecture. For three days, we spoke to diners taking a break before hitting the road again.

Each year, Hofu Tenmangu shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture holds a "doll appreciation festival" at which people can give their now-unwanted dolls a proper farewell. Among the shrine's visitors were a man bringing dolls he displayed to bring his daughter luck when she was young; a grandfather who displayed dolls for his grandchildren for 30 years; and a woman who made a doll as she prepared to marry decades ago. What do people feel as they say a final thank you and goodbye to their dolls? For three days, we asked them.

Takeshita Street in Harajuku, a trend-setting area. The stage is set at a 100-yen store along the street. The shop sells 18,000 items, including daily necessities, cosmetics, and miscellaneous goods. A high school student comes to the shop to buy materials to make goods to cheer up his favorite character. A 21-year-old man who moved to Tokyo to find a job said he buys all his daily necessities here. Many of those who used to go to Takeshita-dori when they were young are now parents and visit the street with their children. We look at the realities of young people over three days in spring.

Harajuku, 100 yen store, in spring

Each spring, Iwagi, an island in the Seto Inland Sea is painted pink with sakura cherry blossoms. It's home to some 4,000 cherry trees. Highlights include Mt. Sekizen, at the center of the island, which is wreathed in blossoms. Visitors and locals alike gather to enjoy the flowers in many different ways. But why are there so many sakura trees here? And what is their significance for the people of Iwagi? Join us as we explore an island in full bloom.

Sakura in the Seto Inland Sea

Rush documents overseas. Packages to my family at home. Moving procedures. This time, the setting is a post office on a street corner in Minami, downtown Osaka. Every day, many people visit the post office for various purposes. An American struggles to send a tourist souvenir to his home country. A parent and child sending a package for their daughter who is moving to Tokyo. Some people sell their precious items on the Internet auction and come to send them. In spring, the season of new milestones, who do people send and what do they send? For three days, we will look at the circumstances of each person who sends things.

Osaka Post Office, in spring

Each spring, about 30,000 black-tailed gulls flock to a nesting site around a shrine in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. The gulls, which are called umineko or "sea cats" because of their cat-like cries, form an impressive site as they soar through the sky. Among visitors to the shrine were an American woman living in Aomori and her visiting family; an elderly man who enjoys chatting to the birds; and locals fond of these feathered harbingers of spring. For 3 days, we asked people what the umineko mean to them.

The Aomori Shrine Where "Umineko" Soar

A 24-hour bento store in Ginowan City, Okinawa, serving everything from 120 yen per bowl of Okinawa soba noodles to taco rice, pork cutlet bowls, tebichi, and sataa and ghee. Locals come here from early in the morning until late at night. An auto mechanic stops by after working late. A college student studying to become a nurse on a remote island. Some men change their jobs for family reasons and come to eat at 4:00 am. For three days throughout the night at this location, where the Futenma Air Base is located nearby, we looked at the real Okinawa.

Okinawa All Night Bento Lunch

A garden with seasonal flowers and a clear view of the sky. Its location? The roof of a hospital in Ochanomizu, Tokyo. Patients and family members stop by this peaceful garden. A father with his sick child. A man on crutches catching some fresh air. A cancer patient recovering from lung surgery. A visit to the hospital can be a trying experience. What does this space offer them? For three days, we listened to the stories of the people who came by.

At a Hospital Roof Garden

The ceiling of a narrow tunnel under a railway line in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, is so low that adults must stoop over to pass through. Despite this, what locals have nicknamed the "Manbow Tunnel" remains a busy and vital passageway in daily life. Among people using the tunnel were a woman taking the shortest route to the supermarket, and a family who likes the thrill of this unusual path under the tracks. For three days, we took a closer look at this tunnel and its role in the local community.

Nishinomiya's "Manbow Tunnel" Under the Tracks

An old stone-paved road in dappled sunlight. We take a walk on the Kisoji, a mountain road connecting Nagano and Gifu Prefectures. A key route during the Edo period, today it attracts visitors from across Japan and the world. A group of 3 families on an 8-kilometer hike. A man going for a run on the uneven trail. People taking the time to be alone and reflect. For 3 days in early summer, we spoke with people travelling on the old road.

Early Summer on the Kisoji

Izakaya (Japanese-style pubs), snack bars, small restaurants, and bars. In August 2023, the curtain will come down on 70 years of history of “Drinking Alley” in the back alleys of Tateishi, Katsushika-ku. After the decision to redevelop the area, the number of stores has been gradually decreasing, and now only about 10 stores are in business. A man who has been a regular customer for 30 years sings karaoke enthusiastically. A young man says he comes here five times a week to visit his parents. There is even a mother of a tavern that has been here for 40 years and has yet to decide on a new location. For three days, we set up our cameras to find out how they are feeling in their final days.

Saraba, Nombe Yokocho (Farewell, Drinking Alley)

Episode 25

About 300 yen per cup. Warm udon noodles from an old machine. This is a trip to visit the dwindling number of “udon vending machines” throughout Japan. This time, we will visit the eight remaining udon vending machines in Gunma, Japan, where we will have 72 hours to visit all of them. A man who has been a regular customer at a drive-in restaurant for 30 years. At a 24-hour store, young people and couples who love cars can be seen even late at night. What kind of drama will you encounter when you visit the udon vending machines born in the Showa period?

National Udon Vending Machine Trip - Gunma

Episode 27

Osaka Prefecture's Ikuno Ward is home to Osaka Korea Town, a neighborhood packed with shops selling Korean food and other items. Inspired by a recent boom in South Korean pop culture, what originally was a market for people with roots on the Korean Peninsula is now visited by two million people annually. Among the visitors were three Japanese nurses buying cosmetics; a grandfather who lives nearby visiting for the first time; and shoppers of Korean descent. For three days, we took a look at a shopping district where cultures intersect.

See You in Osaka's Korea Town

Many insect fans are drawn to a store in Tokyo, Japan, that sells about 100 different species and equipment for keeping them. For three days, we explored why people adore these tiny creatures.

At a Tokyo Insect Store

Fuji Rock Festival, Japan's largest music event, was held normally for the first time in four years this summer with more than 200 musicians and a total audience of over 110,000 people. Japan's largest music event was regularly held for the first time in four years this summer. Many people came from all over Japan to the Naeba ski resort in Niigata Prefecture, where the festival was held. Families were there to see the musicians they wanted to see. Some people spend their time relaxing in the rich natural surroundings. Some people say that coming here makes them feel kind. We will listen to the hearts of these people for three days to find out what makes them so enthusiastic about the festival.

Fuji Rock On the long-awaited summer day

It depicts various thoughts that cross the day of destiny. A new documentary program sent by the "72h" production team, which shoots an event at the same time with multiple cameras. This time, Koshien is a high school with a regular communication system. It is also called another Koshien, and ball children in a different situation from the full-time system fight for the top. During the day, students who had transferred to the communication system due to their work and the situation. If you turn the camera around at the same time on the bench or stand, what kind of drama you'll encounter?

Part-time High School Koshien

We visit "Yomotsu Hirasaka" in Shimane Prefecture. It's a place linked to the underworld, referenced in Japanese mythology. For 3 days, we spoke with those drawn to this special place.

Yomotsu Hirasaka: Between This World and The Next

With betting tickets in hand, customers at a no-frills bar near a motorboat racing stadium in Fukuoka, ride the ups and downs of the exciting races. For three days, we followed their fortunes.

At a Standing Bar Beside Fukuoka's Boat Racing Stadium

Kabukicho, Shinjuku, a nighttime district of glittering neon lights. The story takes place in a 24-hour beauty parlor located in a corner of the town. The town is regaining its pre-Corona vitality, and a variety of customers come to get their hair done. A male host dyes his hair to improve his mental health. A woman who became a gym trainer after working at a cabaret club comes to the salon late at night. An office worker who has been coming to the salon for more than 15 years since he was a host also comes. A room in a building in Kabukicho. We look at the real face of the town that never sleeps through the true feelings that spill out.

Kabukicho, Shinjuku, at the hair salon that never sleeps.

At Shirakaba Pass in Nagano Prefecture, many are gathered here to watch hawks as they migrate to Southeast Asia. We find out what these watchers feel as they gaze at the hawks overhead.

Nagano: Watching for Hawks

A beloved old chairlift on Mt. Myoken in Hyogo Prefecture. People flock here before the facilities close permanently in December 2023. What do the visitors feel as they ride the lift one last time?

Farewell to a Hyogo Chairlift

The menu at a 24-hour Chinese restaurant in western Tokyo includes ramen, gyoza dumplings and a wide range of set meals. For three days, we asked customers why they come here to fill their bellies.

24-Hour Chinese Restaurant in Tokyo Suburbs

An unusual documentary series that delves into human dramas through chance encounters with ordinary people at selected spots. Filmed over 72 hours in a single location, the show captures glimpses into people's lives as they open up and share their stories.

Behind the Headlines at Ofunato's Local Newspaper

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Season 14 Episodes37

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