NHK Documentaries
Season 2013
Hard-hitting documentary series that takes an in-depth look at some of the political, economic, and social challenges that Japan and our world is facing.
Where to Watch Season 2013
30 Episodes
- Fukushima: Downwind From DisasterE1
Fukushima: Downwind From DisasterMinamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture Earthquake, tsunami, nuclear catastrophe. This is a record of people in that one town caught up in the triple disaster. Threatened by the unseen forces of radiation, what did the residents do? What was their state of mind? "Why should we evacuate, why do we have to flee?" Toshikazu Owada, Minamisoma City Official: They came in from the lobby over there. Self Defense Force personnel. Running and shouting, "The nuclear plant will explode. Evacuate to at least 100 kilometers." They were shouting in loud voices and rushing all around. Outside a steady stream of Self Defense Force vehicles was already heading out of town. Seeing them evacuate made me realize this was serious. - The Sea of Zipangu - Deep Sea Gold Rush!E2
The Sea of Zipangu - Deep Sea Gold Rush!Japan might soon experience its own gold rush! Scientists are hoping to tap the vast deposits of gold, silver, copper, and other rare metals found in oceanic plate boundaries. State-of-the-art Japanese technology is being employed to locate and extract metals from these deposits, which are produced by the dynamic forces at work inside our planet. Japan was once referred to as "Zipangu" by Marco Polo, a land fabled for its gold. With all of the new gold deposits being discovered in Japanese waters, Zipangu might not be a myth after all. - Fukushima: A Town Torn ApartE3
Fukushima: A Town Torn ApartVoices from 3.11: A Town Torn Apart; Namie, Fukushima Prefecture Namie, in Fukushima Prefecture, was hit by a tsunami after the Great East Japan Earthquake. A day later, people within a 10-kilometer radius of the local nuclear power plant had to evacuate before they could search for lost family members. It was more than a month before the search began. Survivors couldn't identify bodies that had been lying outside for so long. They're wracked with guilt for being unable to perform proper burial rites. This program highlights their heart-wrenching experience. - Nuclear Waste - Managing a Lethal LegacyE4
Nuclear Waste - Managing a Lethal LegacyIt’s been about 2 years since the accident. Nuclear power plants across the country still store huge amounts of spent fuel. No one has found a way to deal with the spent fuel. Nor no sites have been found for its final disposal. The spent fuel kept piling up. It now amounts to 17 thousand tons for Japan as a whole. Some nuclear plants could run out of storage space in about 2 years if they were to go back online. What can be done about this nuclear waste which has nowhere to go? We’ll explore several paths to resolving this critical issue - Fukushima: Two Years LaterE5
Fukushima: Two Years Later2 years after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, more than 150,000 people in Fukushima Prefecture are still forced to leave their homes and try to rebuild their lives amid the threat of radiation exposure. We'll look into the unprecedented challenges they are facing. - Fukushima: Two Years after 3/11E8
Fukushima: Two Years after 3/11Two years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, an unprecedented disaster which resulted in profound and wide-ranging devastation. Global attention is focused on the repercussions of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, where, even two years after the disaster, many people are still living in dire straits. One Fukushima resident is Genyu Sokyu, a Buddhist monk and author who has vowed to remain in Fukushima, no matter what. In addition to playing an active role in restoration efforts, and proposing measures to contain the effects of radiation, he has been drawing attention to the plight of Fukushima by publishing a diary. He wrote day-to-day accounts of the disaster's aftermath for several months. "Even though I'm painfully aware of the countless numbers of people who are still suffering, there is a limit to what a single person can do. Our only hope is to pray. Yet realizing how powerless one is, and finding resilience through prayer, does not mean that one is content to do nothing. I believe that we are able to draw strength from our prayers, the strength that enables us to move forward." Robert Campbell visited Genyu at Fukujuji, his temple. Campbell asked Genyu about life in Fukushima, and about the values modern Japan needs to uphold. Campbell also met with several other residents of Fukushima who are involved in the restoration effort, including a young farmer who is tackling misinformation regarding the safety of Fukushima produce, and an Englishwoman who writes a blog about life in Fukushima. This program hopes to shed light on what life is really like in Fukushima today, and, by doing so, offer insights into Japan's future. - Black Rain: Fruitless Data on the A-Bomb SurvivorsE9
Black Rain: Fruitless Data on the A-Bomb SurvivorsSoon after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a black rain containing radioactive materials fell from the sky. No detailed data has ever been released on where this contaminated rain fell, and the extent of this form of radiation. But at the end of 2011, enquiries by a doctor in Nagasaki led to the disclosure that investigators in the 1950s had collected data on some 13,000 people exposed to black rain. Why has this information yet to be released -- 67 years after the atomic bombings? And what might we learn from these cases today? Our investigation includes accounts from survivors. - The Pacific War: Despair on the BattlefieldE10
The Pacific War: Despair on the BattlefieldIt has been nearly 70 years since the end of the Pacific War. Over 800 people have been recorded by NHK bearing personal witness to their wartime experiences. The Japanese military expanded operations beyond the nation's capacity. Even as signs of looming defeat grew more ominous, many servicemen and civilians were sacrificed, the majority in the last year or so of the war. Why did so many people have to die? We hear from veterans who survived horrors, and from villagers whose loved ones never returned. - Fukushima: Yearning for HomeE11
Fukushima: Yearning for HomeFukushima Evacuees Face Difficult Choices After the nuclear accident at Fukushima, the government restricted access to the area within 20km of the power plant. But as radiation levels fell, the area was divided into a zone to which residents might be able to return and another that remains unlivable. This program focuses on 2 towns, Namie and Futaba that ended up with very different fates. We look at the hard choices residents had to make to move on with their lives. - Escape from Post-War North Korea- The Truth Behind the Return to JapanE12
Escape from Post-War North Korea- The Truth Behind the Return to JapanMany Japanese were stranded in the Korean peninsula when the Second World War ended. Some escaped, but many starved or froze to death. Survivor stories are told and re-enacted. - Megaquake-Nankai Trough: Deciphering Earth's SignalsE14
Megaquake-Nankai Trough: Deciphering Earth's SignalsJapan faces the threat of massive earthquakes. This "MEGAQUAKE" series uses the latest technology to unravel the mysteries of earthquakes and examine emerging signs of an impending megaquake in the Nankai Trough. - Protecting Lives from Tsunami: Residents of Flood-Prone AreasE15
Protecting Lives from Tsunami: Residents of Flood-Prone AreasMore than 2.5 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Now, more and more people are returning to live in areas that were inundated by tsunami waves. This program takes a look at what should be done to protect these communities in the future. - Nuclear Plant Terrorism: New Risk Facing JapanE16
Nuclear Plant Terrorism: New Risk Facing JapanThe massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 triggered an accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, uncovering a huge risk inherent in running a nuclear facility. Terrorist attacks could wreak similar havoc. Now, Japan has no choice but to face a new risk of nuclear plant terrorism. Our program looks at the front line of security initiatives - Mt. Fuji: A World Heritage Site Blessed with WaterE17
Mt. Fuji: A World Heritage Site Blessed with WaterMount Fuji has recently been included as a site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Water is the key to understanding why the mountain is worshipped and why it continues to be an artistic inspiration. Standing alone in solitary grandeur, Mount Fuji receives a lot of rainfall throughout the year and at the foot of the mountain, it's rich with spring water. Even though it's sometimes called the mountain of water, its surface is free of rivers and streams. And what happens underground remains shrouded in mystery. This program uses the latest 4K camera to film magnificent natural wonders created by water, including a gigantic underground water vein, an ice palace deep within in a cave, and a hidden underwater tunnel. Welcome to the unknown waterworld of Mount Fuji! - The Universe at our feetE18
The Universe at our feetBejeweled green leaves glitter in the sunlight. Horsetails appear to be small dancing dolls. Beautiful, fantastic mushroom spores fly through the air. Such captivating visions of ordinary plants are captured by 82 year-old Hany Ciabou, a nature photographer. Even the simplest tableaus turn into amazing dynamic worlds through his lens. In addition to still photography, at the age of 75 he began making video recordings of flora. He aspires to catch the moment when seemingly motionless plants move. Hany Ciabou's amazing, microcosmic images depict the preciousness of life. - Beijing at a StandstillE22
Beijing at a StandstillBeijing is said to have some of the worst traffic of any world capital. More than five million cars pack the city's ring roads each day. City authorities have tried in vain to restrict vehicular access to the inner city. In this program, we see how the traffic brings life to a near standstill as we track Beijing for 24 hours during the past sweltering summer. - Bullying: The Lasting ImpactE23
Bullying: The Lasting ImpactWhat would you do if your best friend committed suicide because of bullying? This program focuses on a high-school student who cannot accept the death of his best friend three years ago. Tearfully, he admits, "If I look back now, there were many signs of his asking for help." Bystanders are important in preventing bullying, so why couldn't this boy stand up to his friend's tormentors? This program investigates the reasons behind the boy's reluctance to help, and follows the relationship between the boy and his best friend's father who is attempting to help the boy lessen his feelings of guilt. - Russia's Heart of Fire: The Kamchatka PeninsulaE24
Russia's Heart of Fire: The Kamchatka PeninsulaRussia's Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire where most of the world's volcanoes can be found. It's a land densely clustered with volcanoes -- many still active. While making this program, the camera crew was able to capture footage from the sky and on the ground. They even got very close to the lava dome of the most dangerous volcano in Eurasia, and fumaroles -- fissures that release steam and volcanic gases. In addition, this adventure includes a visit to a mysterious caldera that creates a number of different minerals. Take a look at this peninsula, pulsating with the primal rhythms of the planet. - Ultimate Skiing on Mount RishiriE25
Ultimate Skiing on Mount RishiriMt. Rishiri (1,721 meters) floats in Japan's northernmost sea. In February, when seasonal winds blow from the sea, winter is at its harshest. Daisuke Sasaki, one of Japan's most famous backcountry skiers, dares to ski down 1,400 meters of unforgiving cliffs, some with a gradient of 50 degrees. But even before he can ski down, Sasaki must first face the ordeal of climbing the mountain with ski equipment on his back. This documentary follows Sasaki as he challenges-and ultimately succeeds in-skiing down the snowy mountain, despite the unavoidable risk of avalanches. - The Monkey with a Thousand FacesE26
The Monkey with a Thousand FacesNature Documentary hosted by Peter Venn, published by NHK broadcasted as part of NHK Wildlife series in 2013. In the jungles of Sulawesi, Indonesia, lives the crested black macaque, a monkey that values friendship over force. The secret to their peaceful lives is an extensive range of facial expressions that they use not only to win friends and find mates, but also to avoid trouble. The situation looks volatile as one troop of macaques meets another, but the rival troop is turned away with nothing more than a stinging glare. Crested black macaques look after one another, and even share childcare duties, and when problems arrive they work together to succeed. This program reveals the amazing lifestyles of these expressive macaques. - The Timeless Lake BaikalE27
The Timeless Lake BaikalLake Baikal not only is the world's oldest lakes, it is also the deepest. It's 1,600 meters deep. It's also the clearest, with visibility to a depth of 40 meters. The lake is home to many endemic species that have undergone unique evolutionary processes. Observing unfamiliar creatures living in remarkably crystal clear waters is a sight to see. The cameras rolled for three months between the end of winter and summer to capture the hidden mysteries of the lake, including the habits of these uncommon animals and the unique mechanism that produces Lake Baikal's clear water. - Tancho Legend of the Marshes Red Crowned CraneE29
Tancho Legend of the Marshes Red Crowned CraneDuring the winter months, Kushiro Marshland in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, is home to the celebrated red-crowned crane or "tancho." As temperatures plunge, these cranes flock to the marshland where an underground spring provides warmth and prevents the water from freezing, and the local people provide food to nurture the birds back from the brink of extinction. These mass gatherings are fraught affairs with limited space and predators close by, but as winter progresses one of nature's most spectacular courtship rituals begins where courting birds mirror each other's movements in graceful, spellbinding displays that can last for days. Against the ever-changing backdrop of Japan's great marshland, a love story unfolds - Meltdown: Oversights in the Reactor Cooling SystemE30
Meltdown: Oversights in the Reactor Cooling SystemSuccessive meltdowns of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant resulted in significant nuclear contamination. How did the disaster unfold? NHK interviewed more than 400 people and conducted simulations based on volumes of data. Our independent investigation sheds new light on the accident 2 years after it occurred.