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NHK WORLD PRIME brings you a world of mainly documentaries, and more. Tune in to see special select programs on all sorts of topics and genres.
Episode 25 : Finding Mr. Kondo: Tracing the Life of a Wartime Illustrator
December. 04,2021
In the waning days of World War II, Japan and the US fought a fierce battle on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. In the aftermath, an American soldier picked up a Japanese soldier's message book. It was a memento, full of words of encouragement and drawings by the soldier's friends. However, it contained only his last name, Kondo, making it impossible to tell who it belonged to. Now, by using clues found within the book, we attempt to learn who Kondo was.
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Episode 24 : My School of Many Colors
November. 27,2021
A diverse student body thrives at a middle school in western Japan known for its inclusive education. Some have disabilities, while others are coping with family issues. Guided by its eccentric, guitar-playing principal, the school empowers the students to be themselves. But how does this unique experience prepare them for high school? One student, Yuji, introduces us to his classmates and guides us through an eventful 6 months before graduation.
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Episode 23 : Sahel Rosa — A War Orphan's Journey
November. 20,2021
Actor Sahel Rosa was 4 when she became an orphan in war-torn Iran. After losing everything, she settled in Japan with her foster mother, Flora, who lovingly raised her despite their extreme hardships. Years later, Flora is stricken with cancer. It prompts Sahel to embark on a journey of self-discovery in Iraq, Bangladesh and her homeland. The experience not only helps her forge lasting bonds with other young victims of misfortune, but also find the answers she's been seeking most of her life.
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Episode 20 : Empty Homes, Shattered Dreams: China's "Ghost Castles"
September. 11,2021
A curious sight has emerged in the economically flourishing cities of China: Apartment buildings in which construction halts midway. Locals refer to them as "ghost castles." Residents of one such building in Wuhan live in rooms without water or electricity, struggling under the financial weight of repaying the mortgage for an unfinished home. This program examines the shadow behind real estate development through the turmoil faced by the residents who have become victims of a ghost castle.
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Episode 19 : A Man Who Aligned Japan with the Nazis
August. 28,2021
NHK has been given access to startling audiotapes that provide a new perspective on the maneuvering carried out by Japan's wartime ambassador to Germany, Oshima Hiroshi, to bring the 2 countries into alignment, spelling catastrophe for his homeland.
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Episode 14 : Social Media and the Tides of Democracy
May. 29,2021
The January attack on the US Capitol shocked the world. In the crowd that day was retired teacher Jennifer Marler protesting that "Our voices are not being heard." In the midst of the pandemic, divisiveness has accelerated, rocking the foundation of democracy. What is at the root of people's discontent and anger? We interviewed a father and daughter who clash over immigration policy and the income gap, and a woman who spread QAnon conspiracy theories on the Internet. Social scientists weigh in on the question of where the world is headed.
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Episode 9 : Enku: The Enigma of a Wandering Sculptor Monk
April. 10,2021
The itinerant monk Enku traversed Japan in the 17th century, carving religious sculptures along the way. More than 5,300 distinct statues have been accredited to him to date. Enku is an enigma, but successive findings in recent years have added pieces to the puzzle. One discovery provides more perspective on his elusive early life. What is the significance of the mirror and paper fragments secreted within a wooden statue he carved? New research sheds light on Enku's life and inner workings.
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Episode 7 : Generation 3.11: A Decade Journey
March. 27,2021
Ever since a massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan in 2011, NHK WORLD-JAPAN has been following the lives of children from the disaster area. In "Generation 3.11" we follow their progress a decade on. Some are working to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten. Others are finding ways to help their hometowns flourish once again.
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Episode 5 : KEN WATANABE - A Compassionate View: The Decade Since the Great East Japan Earthquake
March. 06,2021
On March 11, 2011, Japan was rocked by the Great East Japan Earthquake that tragically claimed the lives of more than 15,000 people. Since then, Actor Ken Watanabe has repeatedly visited the area, met more than 20,000 people, and heard their stories. Watanabe eventually opened a café in Kesennuma, a port city in Miyagi Prefecture, and has been working to help people connect and network throughout the disaster areas.
NHK documentary crews have continuously followed Watanabe on his visits to the region and have produced TV specials to mark the first, second and fifth anniversaries of the disaster. For the 10th anniversary, he returns again, and visits with a variety of people and finds out they have had surprising changes in their lives.
Discover the stories that Ken Watanabe reveals through his compassionate view over the past 10 years, and learn where people now stand on their way to recovery from the catastrophic disaster.
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Episode 4 : Gifts from a Parent's Deathbed
February. 27,2021
Dr. Oichiro Kobori (82) cares for dying patients at their homes. Many live with middle-aged and older children who are cut off from society. One man in his 50s, whose father has terminal cancer, hasn't worked since he was young and has psychological problems. Under Dr. Kobori's guidance, the son learns to care for his father and slowly becomes more engaged with the world around him. Follow the two-year journey as Dr. Kobori and his team help patients and families find comfort at the end of life.
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Episode 3 : GREAT RACE: You'll Never Run Alone
January. 23,2021
In a year when countless sporting events were canceled, an unprecedented long-distance race was born: "UTMB for the planet." Online participants ran a set distance at places around the world. Top pros from Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and world-class runners from Japan were among those involved in the intense challenge. Watch passionate runners bring the world together, at a time when the pandemic has kept people apart.
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Episode 2 : 3/11 - The Tsunami: The First Year
January. 16,2021
After the mega-tsunami hit Japan in 2011, survivors who'd lost everything struggled to recover. Many people lost not only their homes, but loved ones and livelihoods as well. Beloved traditions were in danger of disappearing. Rumors of radioactive crops devastated farms and fisheries. And many residents feared that those who'd been forced to evacuate would never return. Follow their year-long effort to rebuild their communities with exclusive footage filmed at the center of the disaster.
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Episode 1 : 3/11 - The Tsunami: The First 3 Days
January. 09,2021
Using footage shot at the center of the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, we bring you a story of horror and heroism during one of history's worst catastrophes. Vast areas along Japan's Pacific coast were devastated. Entire communities were washed away and residents were forced to evacuate. An accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant created a radioactive no-man's-land. But in the days that followed, amid the chaos and confusion, countless people sprang into action to assist victims and search for survivors.
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