Discover how Japan's complex geology led to the advancement of bridge construction technology. Plus, research on how nature benefits your wellbeing.

Manny Marotta is a 27-year-old who posts historical events on X from 25, 50 or 100 years ago as if they were happening in present day. He says recent engagement on post-9/11 events has helped Gen Z us...

Coffee can calm you, or it can give you sheer joy. Dig a little deeper, hearing stories told over a piping hot cup of coffee. The segments featured in this episode are available in full online at NHK...

While there’s less trust in the federal government compared to last year’s survey, the perception of the federal government workforce seems to be improving.

Discover the stories behind renowned Japanese products alongside our reporter. This time: Automated Ginjo Koji Makers.

Manga artist Mizuki Shigeru's masterpiece "White Flag" comes to life as an anime. His story was based on a WWII soldier who defied his superiors to protect his men. What truly happened on "Iwo Jima"?

The JR Joban Line, severely damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, fully reopened in 2020. See how station areas in Fukushima Prefecture are being redeveloped along the restored route.

Explore Japan’s advanced technology developed from building tunnels in complex geological conditions. Plus, innovative ways to keep fruit fresh.

Toji is a traditional Japanese practice of an extended stay at a hot spring to restore body and mind. Find out how hot springs may benefit our health.

The region of Hida is in Northern Gifu Prefecture. Surrounded by high mountains, it is snowbound in winter. A local castle town still carries the feel of days gone by. In this episode, we introduce th...

Rana el Kaliouby lives in a household with very mixed feelings about AI — her daughter is a skeptic, while her son is an AI native.

The shinkansen: world-renowned for exceptional on-time performance. We explore the highly skilled drivers and equipment that make it possible, through history and into a future of self-driving trains.

[On-Site Report - Historic Businesses: Savoring the Soy of Success] This episode features a local soy sauce brewery that has developed a novel product that is helping it to gain new customers. *Subti...

It’s actually pretty good for an iPhone, given Apple’s long-standing reticence to make its products repairable.

Then-South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in 2024, ordering military forces to the National Assembly in an failed self-coup.

Ishigaki Island is located about 400km southwest of Okinawa Prefecture's main island, surrounded by a sea of coral reefs. 50,000 people live on the island. Once, many came to the island in search of a...

Chindon performers gathered on stage [Produced by ICC 2026] Twice a year, Hagiwara shopping street hosts a rare chindon festival. Costumed performers come from across Japan to compete and parade thro...

A thousand drummers perform “Yume-Chidori” [Produced by KATCH NETWORK 2024] Nishio strives to be the city where taiko drums resound the most profoundly in all Japan. Since 2009, a thousand drummers h...

Choshi Electric Railway in Chiba Prefecture posted its first loss in four years, as reported in June 2025. See the company's plans to survive this time, following its previous triumphs over crises.

This episode looks at energy savings and carbon reduction in Japan's leading train systems, including hydrogen fuel cells and silicon carbide power electronics. Also, visualizing emotions.

This episode looks at Japan's leading shipping innovations, such as the world's first electric tanker and fuel-saving "air lubrication." Also, out-of-body illusions.

Some 500 Japanese high school students have called for nuclear-arms abolition as peace ambassadors over the past 25 years. We meet some of these young people striving for peace.

*First broadcast on August 30, 2026 In Aizu, samurai teachings still run deep, and the defeat in the Boshin War further solidified that spirit. Peter Barakan explores this legacy, which also shaped ba...

*First broadcast on September 20, 2025 In 1843, after surviving a shipwreck, 16-year-old John Manjiro found himself in the US. He later played a key role in opening Japan's doors to the world. Peter B...

Pioneering ecologist Minakata Kumagusu explored the forests of Kumano. Join Peter Barakan as he follows Minakata's path and discovers a universe in nature.

*First broadcast on December 27, 2025 Yoshida Shoin was an educator whose students played key roles in Japan's modernization. He died at 29, but his ideals still live on 160 years later. Peter Barakan...

Once extinct in Japan, the toki has been reintroduced. Today, nearly 500 of these magnificent birds live in the wild. Cameras follow them throughout the four seasons, along with their human helpers.

Following the passing of Yayoi Kusama, this special rebroadcast revisits the pioneering artist's extraordinary life and creative vision, celebrating her enduring legacy.

Japan's Imperial Palace welcomes each guest with tradition, beauty, and personal touches. In this 43 minute journey, we explore spaces and craftsmanship that reveal the spirit of an evolving heritage.

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.

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed surprising changes in the rings around Chariklo, a small object orbiting between Saturn and Uranus. Over just a few years, its inner ring became more opaque...

[On-Site Report: Clever Applications Materialize in Textiles] Amidst fierce competition, Japanese textile makers are now shifting focus and applying their cutting-edge techniques to enter new fields s...

Check out manga artist Oshimi Shuzo, whose trauma-probing stories have led to many screen adaptations. Learn how manga can be self-therapy as he works on Blood on the Tracks and Welcome Back, Alice.