NHK Documentaries
Season 2023
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 2023
5 Episodes
- One Hamlet, One Family
E1One Hamlet, One FamilySometimes it takes a lifechanging event to help us realize what truly matters. For Kimura Tomoharu, that event was a massive earthquake and tsunami. In 2012, he sought a fresh start in a remote part of Akita Prefecture. He moved into a long-abandoned hamlet, where he pursues his goal of being almost entirely self-sufficient — living off the land from season to season. But he's not alone. Kimura has a family, and he must now balance his own ideals with those of his two young children. - Prayers of a Thousand Years
E2Prayers of a Thousand YearsDazaifu Tenmangu enshrines Sugawara Michizane, the deity of learning, culture and the arts. Exiled from the capital in the 9th century, he died an untimely death. Why was Michizane deified by later rulers? Why is he still embraced by so many today? The shrine's grounds have become a sanctuary for wildlife, adorned with beautiful trees and flowers, protected by those who honor Michizane. The shrine has gathered people's prayers for a thousand years, exuding mystery and charm alongside the vibrant colors of the seasons. - The Devil's Gorge: Mapping No Man's Land in the HimalayasE14
The Devil's Gorge: Mapping No Man's Land in the HimalayasA pair of explorers enters an extraordinary gorge in the Himalayas to film an area where none has ever dared to venture. Extremely narrow at little over ten meters, but tremendously deep at over 200, the origins of the Seti Gorge are shrouded in mystery. Numerous waterfalls tumble into its abyss, and even for the experienced Japanese adventurers, the descent using a single rope tests their courage. Freezing winter temperatures, torrents of water – a gripping journey unfolds on camera. The latest research reveals the geological saga that created this massive gorge. - The Great Kanto Earthquake - Three Days of Ruin in Tokyo: Part 1E15
The Great Kanto Earthquake - Three Days of Ruin in Tokyo: Part 1100 years have passed since the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Although filmed records of its aftermath exist, the footage held flaws making it difficult to identify locations or times, obscuring the reality of how citizens of Tokyo faced this overwhelming disaster. To understand these details, we remastered the film into 8K resolution, and attempted to colorize it, while also making full use of audio accounts by survivors and a variety of scientific analyses by specialists. This program opens a new window into the events surrounding the disaster that had once been shrouded in mystery. - The Great Kanto Earthquake - Three Days of Ruin in Tokyo: Part 2E16
The Great Kanto Earthquake - Three Days of Ruin in Tokyo: Part 2Even after the quake itself subsided, the tragedy of the Great Kanto Earthquake was only beginning. An unlikely "fire tornado" consumed a site where 40,000 evacuees had gathered, leaving few survivors. Meanwhile, emotionally exhausted people began to spread baseless rumors that fueled erratic behavior and violence against foreign residents. Part 2 of the documentary follows the timeline of the aftermath and beyond, applying the century-old vision of Tokyo to the modern era.