Searching for the Standing Boy of Nagasaki

Searching for the Standing Boy of Nagasaki 2020

10.00

October 1945. A young Japanese boy in the devastated city of Nagasaki, two months after the atomic bomb, carries on his back the lifeless body of his younger brother. An American military photographer, Joe O'Donnell, took a picture of the boy standing stoically near a cremation pit. No one knows the subject's name, but the photo has become an iconic image of the human tragedy of nuclear war. This documentary follows the continuing efforts to deepen understanding of the photograph, while exploring the fate of thousands of atomic-bomb orphans and their struggles to survive the aftermath of World War II.

2020

The People and Their Emperor

The People and Their Emperor 2019

9.00

Japan's Imperial system is said to have over 2,000 years of history. A closer look at the history reveals how the Imperial institution has shifted with the times, and with the people. At a time when there are only three heirs to the throne, a look is taken at what this could mean for the people of Japan and their Imperial system.

2019

Finding Satoshi

Finding Satoshi 2022

8.00

With only a photograph and a name, a group of passionate puzzle players have been trying without success to answer the question: "Who is this man?" Finding Satoshi is a playful documentary that finally solves the 14 year mystery.

2022

Tamahagane: Miracle Steel of Japanese Swords

Tamahagane: Miracle Steel of Japanese Swords 2022

1

Japanese swords fascinate collectors around the world. A special kind of steel called tamahagane is required to make them. This miraculous material is strong, flexible, rust-resistant, and produced through the ancient process of "tatara" ironmaking which takes place over three days and nights. Due to the COVID pandemic, there was only one production run in 2022, which was hit by a series of problems. Did the team meet the challenge? This documentary captures the essence of Japanese craftsmanship.

2022

Decommissioning Fukushima 2021: Ten Years on from the Nuclear Accident

Decommissioning Fukushima 2021: Ten Years on from the Nuclear Accident 2021

1

A decade on from its triple core meltdown, we take stock of the mammoth task of decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, an undertaking fraught with both technical and social challenges. The Japanese government maintains the process will take up to 40 years, but the schedule has already been revised 5 times, with pivotal elements postponed. Meanwhile, as people return to their homes in surrounding areas, disposal of unprecedented volumes of radioactive waste has become a point of contention between residents and the government. We look back on the 10 years since the nuclear disaster and explore the choices that will shape Fukushima's future.

2021

The Fallen Fortress

The Fallen Fortress 2021

1

When a Japan-based American journalist discovers that a World War II B-29 engine was unearthed from a sacred mountain he embarks on a quest to uncover the fate of the US airmen.

2021

Digging Deep: What Makes Shiba Inu Dogs So Special?

Digging Deep: What Makes Shiba Inu Dogs So Special? 2022

1

Shiba Inu dogs have quite the personality and are now more popular than ever. Discover their unique traits by watching personal episodes with their owners and "digging" the latest scientific findings.

2022

Tokyo Miracle City: Gargantuan Rail Network - The Passionate Pursuit of Punctuality

Tokyo Miracle City: Gargantuan Rail Network - The Passionate Pursuit of Punctuality 2019

1

We explore the vast rail network that crisscrosses the Tokyo metropolis. With 148 train lines carrying some 40 million passengers daily, Tokyo hosts the world's largest and most interconnected urban rail network. Actor Sato Takeru takes on a riddle-solving mission tied directly to the train schedule, putting the railways' famed dedication to punctuality to the test in the process. We uncover a fascinating history and meet the people whose tireless dedication keeps the whole intricate operation running like clockwork.

2019

Last Doctor Standing

Last Doctor Standing 2017

1

Takano Hospital is located in a town only 22 kilometers away from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The 81-year-old hospital director, Dr. Hideo Takano, has continued to provide medical care during difficult times as an active physician. The program follows Dr. Takano over a period of 2,000 days as he struggles on alone.

2017

Mach Stem: The Nagasaki Bombing Intensified

Mach Stem: The Nagasaki Bombing Intensified 2014

1

In 1945, US forces dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Last year, photos and a map of the aftermath were found, detailing the bomb's destructive mechanism. They showed how the Mach stem - a shock wave that hyper-intensified the power of the initial blast - was responsible for destroying buildings with increasing force 500 meters from ground zero. Through a simulation of the blast and interviews with survivors, this program reveals how the bomb was exploded to maximize its catastrophic effect.

2014