NHK WORLD-JAPAN

Gojinjo Taiko is a wild, powerful performance by masked drummers. It originated 400 years ago, when villagers disguised themselves as oni (demons) to scare away a warlord's army.

In Uda, discover Japan's oldest private medicinal herb garden, where the natural landscape from 300 years ago is preserved in a botanical time capsule, a sanctuary of the local culture and history.

In July 2025, Ibuki became the first Japanese winner of the world's most prestigious magic competition. He talks about his swift rise to success, and explains how he comes up with original tricks.

Yoshida Ryusei, an October matsuri, features rockets called ryusei that are made by local teams and carry community prayers high in the sky. Team members pour heart and soul into their efforts.

We travel to a well-known tourist resort just outside of Edo, where day-trippers are enjoying river recreation and forest walks, praying at local shrines, and sitting down for riverside picnics.

In a world with 10,000 nuclear weapons and endless conflict, what if an atomic bomb were dropped? This show visualizes the A-bomb's impact through a man's testimony of being exposed in Hiroshima.

A gold mine in Kagoshima has 190 staff, from teens to veterans in their 60s, who work to extract gold used in jewelry and electronics. Spend three days with people toiling above and belowground.

A sweet drink loved since the samurai days, amazake is made from rice fermented with koji mold. A secret family recipe preserved for over 100 years.

In this episode, we learn about the spring dates of keichitsu and shunbun. The chefs enjoy nobiru and fresh bamboo shoots, two staples of the springtime menu.

There's hardly a greater paradise than Japan for cat lovers. Researchers there explore subjects such as the evolutionary reason for cuteness, and how cat DNA may help treat kidney disease.

1 in 45 Japanese are suspected of a gambling addiction. We follow a man who made a clean break from gambling, overcoming the crisis of a broken family, and is in the recovery process from addiction.

In Takaoka (Toyama) and Kanazawa (Ishikawa), Kyle Card tastes the influence of the Kitamaebune trading ships.

Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a known castle town. In one commercial area sits a piano, which passersby love to visit and play from the heart.

Join our explorers as they pursue the cinematic beauty of Japan. Kyle Card hikes the newly designated long trail around majestic Mt. Fuji and discovers its secrets.

Embark on a flavorful journey through Kagoshima's diverse ramen, a distinct evolution within Kyushu's tonkotsu realm!

Through festivals and other living culture, Spiritual Explorers is a program that offers a glimpse of the Japanese heart. Let's dig, a little deeper.

Featured recipe: Miso-mayo Baked Eggs Learn about Japanese home cooking with Master Chef Saito, based on traditional Japanese cooking techniques in five minutes!

Fin-tastic Fish Farming: This episode introduces two aquaculture companies that have turned to new types of fish to overcome challenges in their quest for sustainable seafood production.

Karuizawa in Nagano Pref. is a mountain town with deep ties to Tokyo. Originally a bustling lodging town, a Western missionary's love for the area paved the way for its rebirth as a summer getaway.

Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a known castle town. In one commercial area sits a piano, which passersby love to visit and play from the heart.

Fujitsuka Shosei, a Living National Treasure in bamboo craft, has earned acclaim for his aesthetic innovations and signature color transformation technique. He talks about his journey so far.

Discover the stories behind renowned Japanese products alongside our reporter. This time: liquid glass coating.

Fin-tastic Fish Farming: This episode introduces two aquaculture companies that have turned to new types of fish to overcome challenges in their quest for sustainable seafood production.

1 in 27 people don't own a smartphone. We follow a man who chose not to own one, and his reason not to. What has he gained in life by giving up his smartphone, a modern-day necessity and obsession?

Matsumoto Myokei, a "once-in-a-century" sculptor of Buddhist statues, is passing his skills onto his grandson, Shukan. 80 years on from the atomic bomb attacks, Shukan sculpts a message of peace.

Kagura is a traditional performance of music and dance. Buzen Kagura features 24 well-known pieces including an acrobatic feat and a tale from Japanese myth. Children present the same pieces.

There's hardly a greater paradise than Japan for cat lovers. Researchers there explore subjects such as the evolutionary reason for cuteness, and how cat DNA may help treat kidney disease.

Fin-tastic Fish Farming: This episode introduces two aquaculture companies that have turned to new types of fish to overcome challenges in their quest for sustainable seafood production.

Nestled in Kyoto's tranquil hills, Sanzen-in blurs the boundary between nature and the human realm. Long a place of prayer, pure mountain air nurtures its magical green world of moss lawns.

Kyle Card hikes along the 1000km trail following the Pacific Coast in northern Japan where he discovers local lifestyles, stunning nature, traces of the area's 2011 disaster, and resilient people.

A bowl of resilience! The unique, garlic-powered tonkotsu ramen that reignited the spirit of Kumamoto post-quake!

Karuizawa in Nagano Pref. is a mountain town with deep ties to Tokyo. Originally a bustling lodging town, a Western missionary's love for the area paved the way for its rebirth as a summer getaway.

Leafy Logistics: This episode features a company using vending machines to sell fresh salads and another that has repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell tea.

1 in 27 people don't own a smartphone. We follow a man who chose not to own one, and his reason not to. What has he gained in life by giving up his smartphone, a modern-day necessity and obsession?

Fujitsuka Shosei, a Living National Treasure in bamboo craft, has earned acclaim for his aesthetic innovations and signature color transformation technique. He talks about his journey so far.

Discover the stories behind renowned Japanese products alongside our reporter. This time: liquid glass coating.

An entertainment hall home to rakugo comic stories and more for over 100 years. A place to relax and forget your cares, food and drink are welcome.

In this episode, we learn about the spring dates of seimei and kokuu. The temple chefs show us how to make two seasonal specialties, yomogi rice cakes and bamboo shoots mixed with sansho leaves.

Matsumoto Myokei, a "once-in-a-century" sculptor of Buddhist statues, is passing his skills onto his grandson, Shukan. 80 years on from the atomic bomb attacks, Shukan sculpts a message of peace.

On the 4th floor of a terminal inside Chubu Centrair International Airport sits a white piano, which passersby love to visit and play from the heart.

Nestled in Kyoto's tranquil hills, Sanzen-in blurs the boundary between nature and the human realm. Long a place of prayer, pure mountain air nurtures its magical green world of moss lawns.

Kagura is a traditional performance of music and dance. Buzen Kagura features 24 well-known pieces including an acrobatic feat and a tale from Japanese myth. Children present the same pieces.

There's hardly a greater paradise than Japan for cat lovers. Researchers there explore subjects such as the evolutionary reason for cuteness, and how cat DNA may help treat kidney disease.

Kyle Card hikes along the 1000km trail following the Pacific Coast in northern Japan where he discovers local lifestyles, stunning nature, traces of the area's 2011 disaster, and resilient people.

When a major earthquake hits, the ground can turn into muddy water. This is called liquefaction. Buildings may sink or tilt and become uninhabitable. Find out the mechanisms and how to prevent it.

The latest research highlights the polar region crisis, with the lowest ever levels of sea ice and a polar bear population 50% reduced in 42 years in some areas. We look at wildlife in the Arctic.

A feudal lord admired by John F. Kennedy, Uesugi Yozan saved the Yonezawa Domain from financial ruin 250 years ago. Stunning time-lapse images show the historic sites that preserve his legacy.

Leafy Logistics: This episode features a company using vending machines to sell fresh salads and another that has repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell tea.

Leading Japanese dancer and choreographer Kondo Ryohei served as director of the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Deaflympics in November 2025. He talks about the potential of physical expression.

Gojinjo Taiko is a wild, powerful performance by masked drummers. It originated 400 years ago, when villagers disguised themselves as oni (demons) to scare away a warlord's army.

We travel to a well-known tourist resort just outside of Edo, where day-trippers are enjoying river recreation and forest walks, praying at local shrines, and sitting down for riverside picnics.

15,000 years ago, Jomon people lived in settlements while hunting and gathering nature's bounty. These sites show the lifestyle they led for 10,000 years, avoiding conflict and coexisting with nature.

Fujitsuka Shosei, a Living National Treasure in bamboo craft, has earned acclaim for his aesthetic innovations and signature color transformation technique. He talks about his journey so far.

Discover the stories behind renowned Japanese products alongside our reporter. This time: liquid glass coating.

Kagura is a traditional performance of music and dance. Buzen Kagura features 24 well-known pieces including an acrobatic feat and a tale from Japanese myth. Children present the same pieces.

Matsumoto Myokei, a "once-in-a-century" sculptor of Buddhist statues, is passing his skills onto his grandson, Shukan. 80 years on from the atomic bomb attacks, Shukan sculpts a message of peace.

An entertainment hall home to rakugo comic stories and more for over 100 years. A place to relax and forget your cares, food and drink are welcome.

In this episode, we learn about the spring dates of seimei and kokuu. The temple chefs show us how to make two seasonal specialties, yomogi rice cakes and bamboo shoots mixed with sansho leaves.

Kyle Card hikes along the 1000km trail following the Pacific Coast in northern Japan where he discovers local lifestyles, stunning nature, traces of the area's 2011 disaster, and resilient people.

A bowl of resilience! The unique, garlic-powered tonkotsu ramen that reignited the spirit of Kumamoto post-quake!

Karuizawa in Nagano Pref. is a mountain town with deep ties to Tokyo. Originally a bustling lodging town, a Western missionary's love for the area paved the way for its rebirth as a summer getaway.

On the 4th floor of a terminal inside Chubu Centrair International Airport sits a white piano, which passersby love to visit and play from the heart.

Nestled in Kyoto's tranquil hills, Sanzen-in blurs the boundary between nature and the human realm. Long a place of prayer, pure mountain air nurtures its magical green world of moss lawns.

Kagura is a traditional performance of music and dance. Buzen Kagura features 24 well-known pieces including an acrobatic feat and a tale from Japanese myth. Children present the same pieces.

Fujitsuka Shosei, a Living National Treasure in bamboo craft, has earned acclaim for his aesthetic innovations and signature color transformation technique. He talks about his journey so far.

Discover the stories behind renowned Japanese products alongside our reporter. This time: liquid glass coating.

Leafy Logistics: This episode features a company using vending machines to sell fresh salads and another that has repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell tea.

Leading Japanese dancer and choreographer Kondo Ryohei served as director of the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Deaflympics in November 2025. He talks about the potential of physical expression.

The Kawanishi Dainenbutsu Kenbai dance tells the story of restless souls being guided to the Pure Land by the Buddha, in the form of a monkey. In 2022, it became UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

It's summer, and a group of women have gathered at the local well to do laundry in the shade. We learn about the different techniques and tools they used to wash and dry different types of kimonos.

There's hardly a greater paradise than Japan for cat lovers. Researchers there explore subjects such as the evolutionary reason for cuteness, and how cat DNA may help treat kidney disease.

Matsumoto Myokei, a "once-in-a-century" sculptor of Buddhist statues, is passing his skills onto his grandson, Shukan. 80 years on from the atomic bomb attacks, Shukan sculpts a message of peace.

An entertainment hall home to rakugo comic stories and more for over 100 years. A place to relax and forget your cares, food and drink are welcome.

In this episode, we learn about the spring dates of seimei and kokuu. The temple chefs show us how to make two seasonal specialties, yomogi rice cakes and bamboo shoots mixed with sansho leaves.

Leafy Logistics: This episode features a company using vending machines to sell fresh salads and another that has repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell tea.

1 in 27 people don't own a smartphone. We follow a man who chose not to own one, and his reason not to. What has he gained in life by giving up his smartphone, a modern-day necessity and obsession?

Karuizawa in Nagano Pref. is a mountain town with deep ties to Tokyo. Originally a bustling lodging town, a Western missionary's love for the area paved the way for its rebirth as a summer getaway.

On the 4th floor of a terminal inside Chubu Centrair International Airport sits a white piano, which passersby love to visit and play from the heart.

Fujitsuka Shosei, a Living National Treasure in bamboo craft, has earned acclaim for his aesthetic innovations and signature color transformation technique. He talks about his journey so far.

Discover the stories behind renowned Japanese products alongside our reporter. This time: liquid glass coating.

Kyle Card hikes along the 1000km trail following the Pacific Coast in northern Japan where he discovers local lifestyles, stunning nature, traces of the area's 2011 disaster, and resilient people.

A bowl of resilience! The unique, garlic-powered tonkotsu ramen that reignited the spirit of Kumamoto post-quake!

Nestled in Kyoto's tranquil hills, Sanzen-in blurs the boundary between nature and the human realm. Long a place of prayer, pure mountain air nurtures its magical green world of moss lawns.

Leafy Logistics: This episode features a company using vending machines to sell fresh salads and another that has repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell tea.

1 in 1000 Japanese have experience as a lay judge in court cases. We witness a networking event for former lay judges, where they discuss unique experiences. What does it feel like to judge others?

On the 4th floor of a terminal inside Chubu Centrair International Airport sits a white piano, which passersby love to visit and play from the heart.

Leafy Logistics: This episode features a company using vending machines to sell fresh salads and another that has repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell tea.

1 in 2500 people started farming in 2022. As we talk to new farmers who've come from totally different industries, we examine the values they have found in this labor-intense yet rewarding field.

From camping to karaoke and afternoon tea, people of all ages in Japan are enjoying "solo-katsu," doing social activities solo. We explore how this unique trend is changing consumption and design.

At Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri, enormous floats called neputa are paraded through the streets. They're decorated with vibrant images, and some feature wire-frame 3D figures.

Leafy Logistics: This episode features a company using vending machines to sell fresh salads and another that has repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell tea.

Millions of people pass through Narita International Airport every year, unaware of the systems that ensure their safety and comfort. We'll dive into this hidden, complex world.

Kyle Card hikes along the 1000km trail following the Pacific Coast in northern Japanwhere he discovers local lifestyles, stunning nature, traces of the area's 2011 disaster, and resilient people.

This time in Wakayama, heartland of shoyu, we find a distinctive ramen culture pairing ramen and...sushi?!

1 in 1000 Japanese have experience as a lay judge in court cases. We witness a networking event for former lay judges, where they discuss unique experiences. What does it feel like to judge others?

This episode features clever innovations that are making manual labor faster and easier.

1 in 2500 people started farming in 2022. As we talk to new farmers who've come from totally different industries, we examine the values they have found in this labor-intense yet rewarding field.

Sweet-bean-paste-filled taiyaki in the auspicious shape of a seabream or Tai. The Japanese have loved these sweet treats for over 100 years.

In this episode, we learn about rikka and shoman, two dates of early summer. The temple chefs teach us how to make kimpira stir fry with itadori and mehari-zushi (eye-popping sushi).

From camping to karaoke and afternoon tea, people of all ages in Japan are enjoying "solo-katsu," doing social activities solo. We explore how this unique trend is changing consumption and design.

Shibuya is one of Tokyo's largest cities. A piano is placed near a ticket gate at the station, and people stop to play from their heart.

Millions of people pass through Narita International Airport every year, unaware of the systems that ensure their safety and comfort. We'll dive into this hidden, complex world.

At Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri, enormous floats called neputa are paraded through the streets. They're decorated with vibrant images, and some feature wire-frame 3D figures.

Kyle Card hikes along the 1000km trail following the Pacific Coast in northern Japanwhere he discovers local lifestyles, stunning nature, traces of the area's 2011 disaster, and resilient people.

1 in 1000 Japanese have experience as a lay judge in court cases. We witness a networking event for former lay judges, where they discuss unique experiences. What does it feel like to judge others?

This episode features clever innovations that are making manual labor faster and easier.

In June 2025, Kobayashi Yoshitsugu published a trailblazing paper, illuminating the evolutionary process of large tyrannosaurs. He explains how such research helps us consider the future of humanity.

Yoshida Ryusei, an October matsuri, features rockets called ryusei that are made by local teams and carry community prayers high in the sky. Team members pour heart and soul into their efforts.

It's summer, and a group of women have gathered at the local well to do laundry in the shade. We learn about the different techniques and tools they used to wash and dry different types of kimonos.

The brilliant white Himeji Castle is a rare example of a wood castle built without a single nail. With solid battle defenses and beauty preserved by craftsmen, it's a masterpiece of function and form.

At Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri, enormous floats called neputa are paraded through the streets. They're decorated with vibrant images, and some feature wire-frame 3D figures.

From camping to karaoke and afternoon tea, people of all ages in Japan are enjoying "solo-katsu," doing social activities solo. We explore how this unique trend is changing consumption and design.

Sweet-bean-paste-filled taiyaki in the auspicious shape of a seabream or Tai. The Japanese have loved these sweet treats for over 100 years.

In this episode, we learn about rikka and shoman, two dates of early summer. The temple chefs teach us how to make kimpira stir fry with itadori and mehari-zushi (eye-popping sushi).

The JR Geibi Line has begun running extra trains as talks commence regarding the line's future. See the local governments' response to the added trains and their efforts to keep the line open.

Kyle Card hikes along the 1000km trail following the Pacific Coast in northern Japanwhere he discovers local lifestyles, stunning nature, traces of the area's 2011 disaster, and resilient people.

This time in Wakayama, heartland of shoyu, we find a distinctive ramen culture pairing ramen and...sushi?!

1 in 1000 Japanese have experience as a lay judge in court cases. We witness a networking event for former lay judges, where they discuss unique experiences. What does it feel like to judge others?

Shibuya is one of Tokyo's largest cities. A piano is placed near a ticket gate at the station, and people stop to play from their heart.

Millions of people pass through Narita International Airport every year, unaware of the systems that ensure their safety and comfort. We'll dive into this hidden, complex world.

At Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri, enormous floats called neputa are paraded through the streets. They're decorated with vibrant images, and some feature wire-frame 3D figures.

This episode features clever innovations that are making manual labor faster and easier.

In June 2025, Kobayashi Yoshitsugu published a trailblazing paper, illuminating the evolutionary process of large tyrannosaurs. He explains how such research helps us consider the future of humanity.

The highlight of Onabare is nerikomi, which involves the careful wielding of a long, heavy pole. This follows the parade of a portable shrine through the streets with performances along the way.

A mother and daughter brave the rain to visit their local bathhouse, exchanging words with a young girl along the way. We learn that regular bathing was an essential part of life for the townspeople.

From camping to karaoke and afternoon tea, people of all ages in Japan are enjoying "solo-katsu," doing social activities solo. We explore how this unique trend is changing consumption and design.

Sweet-bean-paste-filled taiyaki in the auspicious shape of a seabream or Tai. The Japanese have loved these sweet treats for over 100 years.

In this episode, we learn about rikka and shoman, two dates of early summer. The temple chefs teach us how to make kimpira stir fry with itadori and mehari-zushi (eye-popping sushi).

The JR Geibi Line has begun running extra trains as talks commence regarding the line's future. See the local governments' response to the added trains and their efforts to keep the line open.

This episode features clever innovations that are making manual labor faster and easier.

1 in 2500 people started farming in 2022. As we talk to new farmers who've come from totally different industries, we examine the values they have found in this labor-intense yet rewarding field.

1 in 1000 Japanese have experience as a lay judge in court cases. We witness a networking event for former lay judges, where they discuss unique experiences. What does it feel like to judge others?

Shibuya is one of Tokyo's largest cities. A piano is placed near a ticket gate at the station, and people stop to play from their heart.

Kyle Card hikes along the 1000km trail following the Pacific Coast in northern Japanwhere he discovers local lifestyles, stunning nature, traces of the area's 2011 disaster, and resilient people.

This time in Wakayama, heartland of shoyu, we find a distinctive ramen culture pairing ramen and...sushi?!

Millions of people pass through Narita International Airport every year, unaware of the systems that ensure their safety and comfort. We'll dive into this hidden, complex world.