NHK Documentaries
Season 2014
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 2014
28 Episodes
- Radioactive Water: Fukushima Daiichi's Hidden CrisisE1
Radioactive Water: Fukushima Daiichi's Hidden CrisisNearly 3 years have passed since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, but leaking radioactive water is an ongoing problem. The plant's operator believes the leaks are caused by damage to the containment vessel in Reactor 1. A special remote-controlled boat equipped with a camera captured images of tainted water flowing down a wall inside the vessel. On this program, we explore the causes and potential risks of this hidden crisis. - Hidden Economy: Money and Power in North KoreaE2
Hidden Economy: Money and Power in North KoreaNorth Korea has become increasingly isolated under a series of international economic sanctions. The country is in financial straits. How has the Kim Jong Un regime managed to stay in power? Our interviews with people who were once high-ranking officials in the leadership inner circle and an investigation in several countries revealed the existence of secret funds that only the Supreme Leader can freely use. The program will explore connection between power and money in North Korea. - Galaxies of IceE3
Galaxies of IceThe Sea of Okhotsk lies off Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. Drift ice arrives in abundance from northern waters 1,000 kilometers away. Clusters of sea ice form a swirl measuring up to tens of kilometers across. The Sea of Okhotsk is also known for a treasure chest of marine creatures, such as fish, water birds and whales. Researchers believe the swirling drift ice plays a fundamental role in the natural environment. We unravel the inner-workings of natural phenomena and their magnificent blessings. - The World on a Bike: UzbekistanE4
The World on a Bike: UzbekistanThe World on a Bike will take you on a smooth ride around the globe to encounter new people and landscapes. Today's tour - the Republic of Uzbekistan in Central Asia. We head from Toshkent to the ancient capital, Samarkand, the jewel of the Silk Road. More than 20 years have passed since Uzbekistan gained independence from the Soviet Union. We'll get a firsthand look at everyday life there. - Mach Stem: The Nagasaki Bombing IntensifiedE5
Mach Stem: The Nagasaki Bombing IntensifiedIn 1945, US forces dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Last year, photos and a map of the aftermath were found, detailing the bomb's destructive mechanism. They showed how the Mach stem - a shock wave that hyper-intensified the power of the initial blast - was responsible for destroying buildings with increasing force 500 meters from ground zero. Through a simulation of the blast and interviews with survivors, this program reveals how the bomb was exploded to maximize its catastrophic effect. - Hidden Exposures: The Truth About the H-Bomb TestsE6
Hidden Exposures: The Truth About the H-Bomb TestsIn 1954, the United States tested 6 hydrogen bombs on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Numerous Japanese fishing boats were operating in surrounding waters, and their crews were exposed to radioactive fallout. But the Japanese government has acknowledged the cases of just 23 crewmembers. Now, scientists from Hiroshima have shed light on facts that had been buried for 60 years. - The Teotihuacan Enigma: A New Dawn of CivilizationE7
The Teotihuacan Enigma: A New Dawn of CivilizationFor the first time, we are able to show full details of the excavation of a hidden tunnel, sealed and forgotten for 1,800 years, beneath a pyramid in Teotihuacan, Mexico. The ongoing excavation is producing a flood of discoveries that are not only shedding fresh light on the religious and intellectual life of the people who lived here, but also radically changing the way we think civilization began. - Fascinating TOKUSATSU MUSEUME8
Fascinating TOKUSATSU MUSEUMJoin us for the 2nd installation of our "TOKUSATSU" series, featuring Japan's unique filmmaking technique! We report from the venue of the current hit exhibition in Japan, "TOKUSATSU - Special Effects Museum", brought to you by film director Hideaki Anno, known around the world for his popular robot animation series "EVANGELION". The exhibition features numerous miniature sets used in past Japanese tokusatsu films and television programs, and we take a close look at the rich history of Japanese tokusatsu as we walk through the exhibition. Witness the craftsmanship of tokusatsu technology, as well as the evolution of the latest tokusatsu film. - Meltdown: Analyzing the Radiation LeaksE9
Meltdown: Analyzing the Radiation LeaksThe Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was the site of one of the world's worst nuclear accidents. Recently discovered data suggest massive leaks of radioactive substances began sooner than previously thought. On this program, we look at how the materials managed to breach safety devices and escape. - FOOD X POTTERY: A Spanish chef's challenge on island potteryE11
FOOD X POTTERY: A Spanish chef's challenge on island potteryWhat happens when Japanese pottery that highlights food is combined with an international cuisine? In this program, we planned a collaboration of Spanish cuisine and pottery from Okinawa, an island in southern Japan. Taking on this mission is Josep Barahona Vines, the master of Spanish cuisine. The pottery from Okinawa that Josep will challenge is called Yachimun in the local dialect. Will he be able to meet the potters, present food on their pottery, and win their hearts? Chef Josep's unprecedented challenge begins. - Godzilla's 60th Anniversary: The Amazing World of Japanese Special EffectsE12
Godzilla's 60th Anniversary: The Amazing World of Japanese Special Effects60 years after its first appearance on the screen, Godzilla continues fascinating moviegoers and Hollywood producers alike. The techniques developed by its creator Eiji Tsuburaya, including the use of full-body suits on carefully crafted miniature sets, are of particular interest at a time when computer graphics reign supreme. Hideaki Anno, best known for his animated series Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Shinji Higuchi, director of Attack on Titan, discuss the magic of Japanese special effects. - The Gods Move House: Mysteries of Ise and IzumoE15
The Gods Move House: Mysteries of Ise and IzumoSengu is the ceremonial transfer of a god to its new home. The god moves house. By coincidence, Sengu was performed at Japan's 2 most important shrines in 2013, at both the Ise Jingu and the Izumo Taisha. Why have these unique house moving rites been observed for more than a thousand years? We delve deeply into the ancient mysteries and interconnectedness of the 2 Sengu rites to discover what they can tell us about the origins of the nation we now call Japan. - Marimo - Mysterious Living SpheresE16
Marimo - Mysterious Living SpheresLake Akan on the Japanese island of Hokkaido is said to be the last place on Earth where algae balls called Marimo grow in the wild. The spherical shape makes photosynthesis difficult, so scientists have long wondered how Marimo survive. NHK obtained permission to film their habitat for a year, in the first project of its kind. Join us as we explore a spectacle of nature in Lake Akan. - Peleliu Island: Revisiting a Forgotten BattlefieldE17
Peleliu Island: Revisiting a Forgotten BattlefieldSeventy years ago, Peleliu, part of the Palau Islands in the Pacific Ocean, was one of the most ferocious battlefields between Japanese and American troops during the Pacific War. However, the truth remained hidden and Peleliu eventually became forgotten. More than one hundred recently discovered films extensively document how the pressure on both sides increased as the war progressed. NHK has interviewed the cameraman who made those films as well as Japanese and American veterans still alive today. This program depicts the harsh realities of war that never stops once started. - Top Stars of the Takarazuka: 100 Years of EntertainingE18
Top Stars of the Takarazuka: 100 Years of EntertainingA renowned musical theater group in western Japan has celebrated its 100th anniversary. The performers in the Takarazuka Revue are all single women. Audiences are especially enthusiastic about the actors who specialize in portraying men. They have been the driving force of the Takarazuka's success. What is it about them that fans find so appealing? We went behind the scenes with the 5 top stars to find out. Join us as we explore their world. - The Bikini Incident: 60 Years of Unspoken PainE19
The Bikini Incident: 60 Years of Unspoken PainOn March 14, 1954, a tuna boat named Lucky Dragon No. 5 returned to Yaizu, Japan after being exposed to hydrogen bomb testing on Bikini Atoll. This was the Bikini Incident, which shook the world. The crew suffered serious radiation poisoning, and their tainted tuna decimated the local fishing industry. This program features the crew of the Lucky Dragon and others involved in the fishing industry at the time, as well as citizens who started an anti-nuclear testing movement. They paint a picture of what the Bikini Incident did to Yaizu, and the suffering it inflicted. - DownwindersE22
DownwindersAfter World War II, the United States conducted nearly 1,000 nuclear tests in the Nevada desert. Radioactive particles blew in the wind and descended on towns many miles from the testing site. People in these towns are known as "Downwinders," and to this day only some of them have received compensation. The others are still fighting for recognition, and for information on the damage done to their health. Now, a previously unknown report has been uncovered, lending greater credence to their case. We take a look at the unknown and unhealed scars of the victims of nuclear weapons testing in America. - Imperial Treasures Master Artisans of JapanE24
Imperial Treasures Master Artisans of JapanJapan's Imperial family has long taken under its patronage craftsmen whose works now form a treasured collection handed down over generations. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), when trade with other countries was resumed after 200 years, the artisans' skills and creations became a matter of national prestige. From exquisite ceramics, cloisonné and tapestry to a masterpiece of metalwork that cannot be replicated, this is the little-known drama behind the Imperial Collection of Japanese art. - The Moons Spell on the Great Barrier ReefE25
The Moons Spell on the Great Barrier ReefThe Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, covers a range of over 2,000 kilometers off the northeast coast of Australia. Magnificent spectacles of the birth of life unfold here every summer. Male and female surgeonfish swim at lightning speed toward the water surface and spawn; Tens of thousands of green sea turtles simultaneously come ashore under the star-filled sky to lay eggs; And the climax is a rare sight of some 100 varieties of coral all spawning at once within a timeframe of only 15 minutes. Enjoy the breathtaking moments successfully caught on an unprecedented scale by taking full advantage of the amazingly rich colors of high-definition 4K cameras. Immerse yourself in the mysterious drama of life under the spell of the moon, on a summer night. - Stradivarius: Mysteries of the Supreme ViolinE26
Stradivarius: Mysteries of the Supreme ViolinAround 600 Stradivarius-made violins still exist, but the secret of its unrivaled sound remains veiled in mystery. Join Karen Gomyo, a New York-based Stradivarius player, and performers, artisans, and scientists on a 300-year journey tracing the saga of this sublime instrument. - Decommissioning Fukushima: The Battle to Contain RadioactivityE27
Decommissioning Fukushima: The Battle to Contain RadioactivityWith high radiation levels continuing to hamper work at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, experts are exploring ways to use remote-controlled robots. Expected to take up to 40 years to complete, what kinds of challenges will the decommissioning entail? This episode takes cameras to the front line to document the struggle with radiation containment and examines footage from more than 1,000 videotapes obtained by NHK that provide details on the nuclear decommissioning at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in the United States. http://pf.nhk-ep.co.jp/detail/1829