NHK Documentaries
Season 2024
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 2024
41 Episodes
- Discharged by Death: Inside a Japanese Mental HospitalE10
Discharged by Death: Inside a Japanese Mental HospitalFrom a whistleblower, NHK obtained exclusive video and sound recordings of a psychiatric hospital, along with records of nearly 1,500 patients. These materials revealed rampant patient abuse, illegal physical constraints and the fact that 78% of patients were discharged by death. This investigative report amassed extensive documentation and interviews with key actors to address the persistent problems of psychiatric hospitals. - New Era of J-POP and K-POP: Setting the World on FireE11
New Era of J-POP and K-POP: Setting the World on FireK-POP has taken the world by storm thanks to its unique performances and business strategy. This documentary follows its growth and the ways in which J-POP artists are rising to the challenge. - Ukraine's Civilian Soldiers: The War Recorded on SmartphonesE13
Ukraine's Civilian Soldiers: The War Recorded on SmartphonesUnder intense fire from the Russian forces, Ukrainian civilians-turned-soldiers document their first experiences on the battlefield using smartphones and cameras to show the do-or-die reality of war. - The People Among the Plastic: Excess in the AnthropoceneE14
The People Among the Plastic: Excess in the AnthropoceneAnthropocene is when human activity started profoundly impacting our planet. Inconvenient truths pile up in some of Indonesia's poorest communities, where "plastic farmers" can barely make ends meet. - Justice Redefined: Ukraine's Frontline JournalistsE15
Justice Redefined: Ukraine's Frontline JournalistsHow do you cover a war in your own country? We spent two years with journalists from Ukraine's public broadcaster and saw how Russia's invasion transformed their profession and changed their beliefs. - This is Our Sea: Fukushima's Fishers after the Nuclear AccidentE17
This is Our Sea: Fukushima's Fishers after the Nuclear AccidentIn 2011, a devastating tsunami and nuclear accident ground Fukushima Prefecture's fishing industry to a halt. NHK followed local fishers for the next 13 years as they struggled to reclaim their sea. - STREET STREAM DREAMS: Seeking Fortune Online in ChinaE18
STREET STREAM DREAMS: Seeking Fortune Online in ChinaIn the Chinese city of Changsha, the possibilities of live streaming are huge: the most charismatic streamers can earn thousands of dollars a night in online payments. But they expose almost every moment they are awake. It is not an easy job, but why do they have to choose? We followed two young live streamers for more than six months. - Decommissioning Fukushima 2024: Roadmap on the BrinkE20
Decommissioning Fukushima 2024: Roadmap on the BrinkThirteen years since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, the government's plan to decommission the plant is at a crossroads. We take a close look at the efforts to secure Fukushima's future. - Who Will Protect the "Last Traditional Village"?: Yunnan, ChinaE25
Who Will Protect the "Last Traditional Village"?: Yunnan, ChinaWengding Village in Yunnan Province, home of the Wa people, is known as "China's last traditional village." After a fire in 2021, it was rebuilt and is now managed by a tourism developer. Local residents were relocated to a new village 1.5km away and now work as day laborers in their old village, where their sacred ceremony has been repurposed into a major attraction. Some villagers hope this will improve their lives, but others fear their traditional culture will be lost among tourism. - Discharged by Death: The Deep Roots of AbuseE26
Discharged by Death: The Deep Roots of AbuseIn February 2023, patient abuse was uncovered at Takiyama Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Hachioji, Tokyo. Medical staff were arrested, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government issued a remedial order. It looked as if the problem would be solved... However, the transfer of patients from the hospital did not proceed as planned, and the high incidence of "discharge by death" continued. Why? Our investigation highlighted the practices of the government authorities and the psychiatric hospitals that take in these patients, as well as the true feelings of the associations of patients' families. We also encountered inexplicable cases of excessive medical care at Takiyama Hospital. Conditions inside the hospital are examined using whistleblower video footage and interviews with those involved. - Chasing Perfection: Four Seasons with Japan's Master GardenersE27
Chasing Perfection: Four Seasons with Japan's Master GardenersJapanese gardens have long captivated people around the world. This program follows the master gardeners chasing perfection at the Adachi Museum of Art and the Katsura Imperial Villa. - Kamila Valieva: Despair on the Ice - The Fate of Russian AthletesE28
Kamila Valieva: Despair on the Ice - The Fate of Russian AthletesRussian athletes competing internationally have been accused of doping. We look at the life of one young skater, Kamila Valieva, and the effect that such allegations have had on her career. - Sexual Exploitation of Minors Part 1: Japan's Voyeurism ProblemE30
Sexual Exploitation of Minors Part 1: Japan's Voyeurism ProblemIn Japan, there are almost daily reports of voyeurism and sexual abuse targeting children. This two-part series turns a spotlight on a disturbing threat looming at the edges of society. - Sexual Exploitation of Minors Part 2: The International CSAM TradeE31
Sexual Exploitation of Minors Part 2: The International CSAM TradeThe sale of sexual videos and photographs of minors is a lucrative international industry. Part two of our series examines this burgeoning trade and what can be done to stop it. - A Foregone Conclusion: Japan’s Nuclear Energy PolicyE32
A Foregone Conclusion: Japan’s Nuclear Energy PolicyYoshioka Hitoshi was a historian of science who sought a strictly rational approach to nuclear energy in Japan. His extensive archives detail previously undocumented aspects of Japanese policymaking. - Transforming Cities Using Japanese Technology Part 1: Zero-emission MeasuresE36
Transforming Cities Using Japanese Technology Part 1: Zero-emission MeasuresNew Japanese technologies to solve the climate crisis. Part 1 is urban mitigation measures. We look at zero-carbon buildings, perovskite solar cells, and the challenge of turning cities into forests. - Transforming Cities Using Japanese Technology Part 2: Adapting to Urban RisksE37
Transforming Cities Using Japanese Technology Part 2: Adapting to Urban RisksPart 2 is about adaptation measures. It introduces Japan's disaster prevention technology, such as flood control and early warning systems, as well as infectious disease countermeasures in Thailand. - Muginoko Village: A Community Preventing Child AbuseE40
Muginoko Village: A Community Preventing Child AbuseMany parents who have a history of abuse have been saved by a unique community. It is called Muginoko Village, which helps children with developmental disabilities and their parents to grow together. - The Unbreakable Silence: The Harm of Japan's Eugenic LawE41
The Unbreakable Silence: The Harm of Japan's Eugenic LawIn July 2024, the Supreme Court ruled Japan's defunct Eugenic Protection Law as unconstitutional. We look into why many of the victims who were forcefully sterilized remain silent on their suffering.