NHK Documentary Season 20, Episode 15: Shrinking Japan: Tackling a Worker Shortage

Unit 731: Elite Doctors and Human Experimentation

Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army secretly developed and tested bacteriological weapons on human subjects in Manchuria during the Sino-Japanese War. At the end of the war, evidence was destroyed, and personnel kept silent, concealing the truth for decades. However, NHK recently found more than 20 hours of audio recordings from a 1949 war-crimes tribunal. The tapes contain former Unit 731 members' testimony about how, for example, typhoid and plague pathogens were tested on scores of Chinese and Manchurian prisoners. It is estimated that more than 3,000 people lost their lives after being used as living subjects. The human experiments were directed by medical scientists, who were recruited from more than 10 elite universities and research institutes. What was the nature of their experiments, and why did these doctors violate their commitment to preserving human life?

50 min

With Ayumi

In July 2016, a man stabbed 46 people at a care center for the disabled, killing 19. The ex-employee arrested in the case said, "Disabled people can only create unhappiness". On hearing this, Yuya Sakagawa, an NHK director, was profoundly shaken. His sister Ayumi, 3 years his junior, suffers from cerebral palsy and cognitive disabilities. Yuya wanted to declare proudly and confidently that families with disabled members can be happy. He therefore decided to care for his sister for a month and make a film record of it. The program documents the struggle and the happiness experienced by Ayumi and her family.

49 min

Kuroshio: Wondrous Current of Life

Kuroshio is an amazing ocean current that flows north along the Japanese archipelago. It's had a great impact on Japan's culture and climate, but many mysteries still surrounded it. How, for example, if Kuroshio emerges from waters poor in plankton and other nutrients, can it manage to nurture countless schools of fish? What kind of mechanisms are at work when it produces the moist climate along the Japanese islands? How are the numerous eddies in the current formed and what role do they play? Researchers are using supercomputers and satellite data to find answers. This program follows this "wondrous current of life" on its 10,000km journey, together with fishermen who make their living from it.

49 min

Home Gadgets at Risk

From laptops to refrigerators, some 17 billion household gadgets worldwide are linked to the Internet. As part of the Internet of Things, or IoT, they're meant to make life more convenient. They include air conditioners and vacuum cleaners controlled remotely by smartphone and webcams to keep an eye on pets and children. But there's a hidden risk. Increasingly, cybercriminals are using the devices to peer into people's lives. Who are the culprits and what are their motives? We delve into the dark side of the Web to find out.

49 min

Research Misconduct: Japanese Science in Question

In August 2016, NHK received a 50-page letter of accusation. The writer raised suspicions of misconduct in research papers by a University of Tokyo professor. The whistleblower alleged that some images and charts may have been fabricated or falsified. We spent over a year interviewing more than 100 individuals concerned. The situation could undermine Japan's attempt to become a leader in the field of science and technology. What is happening in this bastion of academic research? We decided to look into this research scandal at the University of Tokyo.

49 min

Wrongful Conviction: 20 Lost Years

Keiko Aoki spent 2 decades in prison after being convicted of killing her 12-year-old daughter. In 2015, a court reversed the verdict, and she reclaimed her innocence and freedom. But Keiko quickly finds out that her world has changed drastically. Her son is now a grown man of 29. Her parents are in their 80's and in need of care. Keiko has aged too and is now 51. Overwhelmed by her new reality, she murmurs, "I'd rather be back in jail..." This is a story of rebirth, of how one woman – falsely labeled as her daughter's killer and robbed of 20 years – struggles to reclaim her family and her life.

49 min

Lives Shaped by Loss: 23 Years After the Kobe Earthquake

When the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, also known as the Kobe Earthquake, struck in 1995, more than 400 children lost one or both parents. NHK has followed these children into adulthood, documenting how the tragedy has shaped their lives. A woman who was orphaned at 12 has lived for 23 years with a longing to join her late mom and dad. A young man, just an infant when his parents and sister died, has struggled with the feeling that he must make up for their lost lives. Another young man dedicated his youth to his younger twin brothers, determined to nurture and protect their family bond.

49 min

China's Westward March

China's new monumental project, "Belt and Road initiative", aims to create a vast economic zone across Eurasia. The Chinese government is building infrastructure and encouraging trade and investment along 2 routes on land and sea. This program focuses on 3 key locations along a rail line being built between China and Europe: Kazakhstan, a vital source of energy and food for China; Poland, a new market for Chinese goods; and Germany, the EU leader China is courting with vigor. The journey helps to paint a picture of the rapidly-expanding economic sphere and westward march of China's "new Silk Road".

49 min

River Tsunami: Lessons Seven Years Later

A tsunami is approaching from the sea. You start to run, but water rushes in from the river in the opposite direction. During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, such "river tsunamis" charged in from the sea and barreled upstream, claiming many victims. A huge quake in Japan could cause a massive tsunami that would inundate urban areas. Squeezed between tall buildings, the water would rise, increasing its force and allowing no time to escape. With a heightened sense of crisis, officials are responding. This documentary uses computer graphics and eyewitness accounts to explore the dangers of river tsunamis and how people can stay safe.

49 min

Radioactive Forest 2018: Cycle of Contamination

In Fukushima Prefecture, the site of a nuclear accident in 2011, so much radioactive material fell in a wooded area that it has become a radioactive forest. NHK has visited the area several times since the accident to see how the radiation is affecting its flora and fauna. Using state-of-the-art technology to survey the forest, scientists have found severe contamination in flowers and nuts, and even irregularities in the chromosomes of animals. We examine how the contamination is circulating inside the forest.

49 min

Disaster Trauma: Mother-Child Dialogue

Many children in northeastern Japan are still suffering psychological trauma from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Yui Sato and her mother lost 3 members of their family in the tsunami. The wound it left in Yui's heart became apparent 5 years after the disaster. Like Yui, over 10,000 children are in need of mental care after the disaster. Many children have stopped going to school, too. This is the story about a mother and a child trying to move forward step by step.

49 min

Meltdown: Cooling Water Crisis

Recently discovered data show that about a week after the March 2011 disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant began, emissions of highly radioactive substances suddenly picked up. Records show that the day before the increase began, the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), significantly reduced the supply of water meant to cool the crippled reactors, a move that may triggered the surge in emissions. With help from experts and artificial intelligence, we set out to uncover the reason for the cutback, and to further clarify what happened as TEPCO and the Japanese government fought to control the crisis.

49 min

Ghost Blood Vessels

99% of human blood vessels are said to be capillaries. With age, these tiny tubules break, becoming hollow "ghost" vessels that cause wrinkles in the skin. Scientists are now finding they are also tied to higher risks from age-related ailments, including osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. Using the latest in biological imaging and super-high-resolution 3D CGI, this program delves into the mechanism behind broken capillaries. It also examines how to slow down or even repair the damage to help people live longer, healthier lives.

49 min

Cryptocurrency War

In January 2018, more than half a billion dollars' worth of a cryptocurrency was siphoned from a major exchange in Japan. The thief deftly evaded detection, and efforts to uncover the truth seemed to lead to a dead end. But a group of IT specialists called white hat hackers didn't give up. One wrote a program designed to close in on the culprit. Another teamed up with engineers around the world to uncover the thief's identity. We followed the battle between the white hat hackers and the perpetrator for 3 months.

49 min

Missing Workers

They are in the prime of their life, but a growing number of people in Japan have all but disappeared. They're the country's missing workers, people who have been unemployed for protracted periods of time and have given up looking for jobs. They're not even included in unemployment statistics. Japan has 1.03 million missing workers in their 40's and 50's, outnumbering the 720,000 unemployed persons in the same age group. These individuals have a similar profile: many are unmarried, and have to take care of an elderly parent, forcing them to quit regular jobs. This riveting report shows the harsh, hand-to-mouth life these people lead and tries to find solutions for this growing problem.

49 min

THE BODY: Our Remarkable Inner Network

The brain was once thought to be the body's control tower, issuing commands to the other organs. But scientists are discovering that communication flows between all the organs in our bodies. They transmit messages that can boost immunity, improve memory, strengthen bones and even lengthen lifespan. Innovative treatments are being developed to harness the power of this hidden network. But what happens when there's a communication breakdown? We look for clues using the latest technology.

49 min

THE BODY: Kidneys - Keys to Health and Longevity

In this episode of "THE BODY", we focus on a pair of small, often-overlooked organs: the kidneys. When people think of the kidneys, one thing probably comes to mind - the role they play in producing urine. But they are key nodes in a vast, internal network of organs that constantly communicate with one another. And some of the messages the kidneys transmit help control blood pressure and maintain the body's supply of oxygen. They have a significant influence on human health. We use cutting-edge imaging technology to explore the power of the kidneys to determine how well – and how long – we live.

49 min

My Grandfather's War: Battle of Luzon

NHK presenter Fumie Ono lost her grandfather on Luzon Island in the Philippines during World War Ⅱ. In 8 months of fighting, more than 200,000 soldiers lost their lives there. Many units were completely wiped out, so there are few records of where and how many soldiers died. In this documentary, Fumie and her mother seek the truth about his death and try to picture what he saw on the battlefield.

49 min

Station Children: Japanese Orphans of WWⅡ

All alone in an uncaring world: that was the fate of many Japanese children who lost their parents during World War Ⅱ. Desperate and hungry, they drifted to train stations in big cities and lived in underground passages, and were called and known as "station children". They were forced to beg and, often, to steal. Some just waited for death. NHK found survivors who reveal the largely unknown plight of these war orphans. A woman recalled caring for her brother and sister in the dark hell beneath Tokyo's Ueno Station. A man, spurned by relatives, described living on the streets, nearly blinded by illness and losing his best friend to suicide. These heartbreaking accounts offer an important message for modern Japan.

49 min

THE BODY: Fat and Muscle - Powerful Allies for Health

In this episode of "THE BODY," we look at fat and muscle, organs whose importance is often misunderstood. Many people believe that fat simply stores energy and muscles just move the body. However, recent research has revealed that both organs have an unimaginable variety of functions. They discharge special substances that transmit vital messages throughout the body, manipulating desire, affecting immune function, enhancing memory and even fighting cancer. Using the latest research, we'll explore how their surprising power can protect us from deadly disease.

49 min

THE BODY: Bones - Fountain of Youth and Power

In this episode of "THE BODY," we turn our attention to the bones. You might think of them simply as part of our basic architecture. However, recent research has revealed that our bones serve another, equally important, function. The cells they contain issue health-enhancing messages that flow throughout our body like a virtual fountain of youth and power. And if those messages are silenced, the aging process may accelerate. The cells inside our bones keep our bodies young. Let's explore the amazing role they play.

49 min

THE BODY: Gut - Key to a Healthy Immune System

49 min

Nebuta 2018: Love and Rivalry

The Aomori Nebuta Festival brightens up the short summer of northern Japan, enchanting 2.5 million spectators every year. At the heart of the 300-year-old tradition are Nebuta, huge illuminated floats featuring legendary heroes and historical figures. We spent a year following 2 Nebuta artists, a father and daughter, who compete with each other to attain perfection in creating the giant floats.

49 min

A Big Circus Family

A circus family with 10 children performs around Japan. Every 2 months, they pack up their entire household and pitch their big tent in a new town. We followed them during a time of big changes – mastering a new technique, saying farewell to friends, and preparing for the family's 11th child. It's a summer full of laughter and tears, and some inspiring life lessons.

49 min

THE BODY: Brain - Mechanisms of Inspiration and Memory

In this episode of "THE BODY," we delve deep inside the brain. Dreaming up new ideas, speaking and writing, creating art, and developing advanced technologies – these and other uniquely human activities originate in the brain. Inside this complex organ is a vast communications network made up of some 100 billion neurons. Come as we explore the brain's intricate circuitry, and discover the mechanisms behind inspiration and memory.

49 min

THE BODY: The Beginnings of Life - Prenatal Chats of Mother and Baby

In this episode of "THE BODY," takes us back to the starting point for all human beings - birth. From a fertilized egg, through the division of microscopic cells, the formation of internal organs, to the first cries of a newborn in the delivery room, we trace the complex interactions between mother and baby that transform a tiny fetus into a living, breathing person. The latest imaging technology helps you witness the process from the inside to help you understand the wonders of human development.

49 min

THE BODY: Longevity - Secrets of Aging Well

In this episode of "THE BODY," we explore one of mankind's oldest desires – finding the secret to a long, healthy life. Cutting-edge science has revealed new images of the remarkable gigantic network that stretches across the human body. And playing a key role are the "message molecules" released by our organs. Now, the power of these message molecules is about to significantly change the way we treat serious illnesses such as cancer and heart disease and help determine how well – and how long – we live.

49 min

Sperm Crisis

Something abnormal is happening inside men's bodies: sperm is in crisis, with low counts, near-zero motility, and DNA damage, all of which are crucial to fertility. The trend seems to be universal. The World Health Organization says that in around half of the cases of infertility, it is the man who is responsible. We took a multi-faceted look into this sperm crisis facing the world and unearthed some hitherto unknown facts.

49 min

Finding Einstein's Brain

When Albert Einstein, the 20th century's most renowned theoretical physicist, died in 1955, a pathologist removed his brain to research the source of his genius. Over the years, pieces of the brain became scattered around the world. NHK embarked on a 7-month investigation to find and reunite the pieces of Einstein's brain, an unprecedented quest that could help scientists unravel the secrets of human intelligence.

49 min

Hiroshima: Solving the Genetic Puzzle

The atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945 exposed survivors, the Hibakusha, to large amounts of radiation. In the years since, they have experienced high levels of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. But what about their descendants? Members of the second and third generation of survivors live with the fear that they, too, have been affected. They have taken the government to court, demanding answers. Now, researchers are using the latest technology to unravel a decades-long mystery.

49 min

AI: Shaping the Future

Explosive advances in artificial intelligence have made it possible to accurately forecast what is to come. It's already being used to forecast the weather, and to anticipate crime. Doctors are turning to AI to calculate the potential for diseases such as Alzheimer's, and it's even playing a role in life-or-death medical decisions. AI's unparalleled predictive powers come with both benefits and risks. We take a look at its growing impact on society and people's lives.

49 min

Roots of TOKYO: Edo, City of Water

More than 150 years ago, Tokyo was called Edo. It had the highest population of any city in the world, surpassing both London and Paris. But how did the world's largest city come to emerge in a remote corner of Asia? Clues are coming to light not only in Tokyo but also around the world. One drawing shows the castle surrounded by a water-filled moat, which turns out to be a crucial element that enabled Edo to expand further. Let's experience the mystery and wonder of Tokyo 150 years ago.

50 min

Roots of TOKYO: Edo, City of Fire

More than 150 years ago, Edo, the forerunner of Tokyo, had the highest population of any city in the world. But it was ravaged by large-scale fires more frequently than any other major urban center. Yet after each conflagration, Edo rose from the ashes like a phoenix. We'll take a look at how the city managed to overcome such huge disasters and continue to grow.

50 min