2021

Sweet potatoes are a winter tradition. The setting is a traditional sweet potato shop in Ibaraki, a sweet potato-producing region. Many people come to enjoy the sweet potatoes, which are slowly roasted until they are hot and sticky with syrup. Some send roasted sweet potatoes as a return gift for year-end gifts. A mother buys them as a reward to motivate her daughter. A newlywed couple, who find joy in their ordinary life, share a single roasted sweet potato together. In this winter when daily life has changed drastically, what are people seeking beyond the warmth? We listen for three days.

The setting is the Tanka Market, which has been around since the Taisho era. With 120 shops selling meat, fish, vegetables, and other goods, it is known as the “kitchen of Kitakyushu.” As the buildings are aging and a redevelopment project is set to begin next year, the market is bustling every day with people who are sad to see the old atmosphere disappear. A man who says he feels at ease here even if he doesn't buy anything. An elderly woman who vents her frustrations about living with her son to the shop owner. A couple who say this market has things you can't find in the city. What brings everyone here? Over three days in December, we listen to their stories.

The setting is the viewpoint at the Umihotaru Parking Area floating in Tokyo Bay. It is an open space with a 360-degree view of the ocean. During the last three days of 2020, what are the thoughts of those who come here? A couple who gave up returning to their hometown for the New Year's holiday and came here instead. A man who spends the entire day on the deck listening to aviation radio. A couple who have been together for only a week, smiling and looking forward despite the strong wind. Amid the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, we listen to the voices of each person.

The setting is one of the country's leading “multinational housing complexes,” where 20% of the residents have foreign roots, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. How do they spend the New Year's holiday in a foreign country? A pair of Cambodian residents buying ingredients for New Year's. A Laotian couple who never fail to visit their neighbors to offer New Year's greetings. A girl with Vietnamese parents says she learned kindness in the housing complex. Due to the impact of COVID-19, it was an unusually quiet New Year's Eve. For three days, we listened to the voices of the people living together in the housing complex.

The setting is a small bento shop in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture. Workers and drivers at the reconstruction site come for the affordable, delicious homemade bento boxes. Locals who returned after the evacuation order was lifted visit daily. A male worker who has been doing decontamination work for ten years. A dump truck driver who says the town lacks a sense of daily life. An elderly woman who says she wants to live in this town even if no one else is around. Ten years after the nuclear accident, we listened to the voices of people coming and going at the small bento shop for three days.

A 72-hour spin-off project. A multi-location simultaneous documentary of a day under emergency declaration. Cameras are set up at health centers, special cleaning companies, PCR testing vending machines, and in front of Hello Work in Yokohama City. Public health nurses working hard to support positive patients. Cleaning companies contracted by companies with infected employees to perform disinfection. People who are unemployed due to the coronavirus but are still looking forward to the future. A society where normalcy has changed. What are people thinking as they face the present? A record of one day.

A large hospital with over 600 beds in Kamakura City. The stage is a 24-hour convenience store inside the hospital. Most customers are doctors, nurses, or hospitalized patients. A nurse buys ice cream as a treat for herself after surgery. A man who, while hospitalized, bought over ten books out of boredom. Even at midnight, on-call doctors visit the store night after night in search of energy drinks. The large hospital continues to operate even during the state of emergency. What kind of people come to the convenience store, and for what reasons? Over three days, we listen in.

The setting is the express bus terminal in Namba, Osaka. With affordable fares to destinations across the country, the terminal is busy with people in the spring. Some are returning home for the first time in a while after the state of emergency was lifted. Others are women who have nurtured long-distance relationships on express buses and are now getting married. There are also parents and children who are starting a life apart as the children have secured jobs in Fukuoka. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there are people embarking on new journeys for employment or further education. What kind of steps are they taking now? We listen in over three days.

The setting is a specialty store selling uniforms such as white coats, chef uniforms, and workwear. As spring marks the start of a new academic year, many people come to purchase new work attire. A second-year dentist looking to add more white coats, a female part-time worker at a restaurant buying kitchen shoes, and a Japanese cuisine chef striving to overcome the pandemic purchasing three pairs of black pants. A parent and child whose daughter will become a doctor in April take time to select white coats. What thoughts do people have as they slip into their brand-new work attire? We will listen for three days.

The setting is the sea taxi that travels between the islands of Kagoshima and the Amami archipelago. It serves as a means of transportation for the islanders' daily commutes and shopping, and has also been a part of important milestones in their lives. A woman boards the boat to buy daily necessities in bulk. A parent and child who fell in love with the island and moved here from Tokyo. At the end of March, teachers transferring from the island's schools also bid farewell to the islanders via the sea taxi. The island's pace feels somehow relaxed. What is life like with the sea taxi? We listen in for three days.

The setting is a long-established snack specialty store in Ginza. It is a favorite among nearby bars and clubs, offering about 300 varieties of snacks such as rice crackers, nuts, and chocolate. A woman who opened a club in Hakata, Nakasu, came all the way to buy from here. A bar master who has been ordering their green peas for over 20 years. Lately, due to its wide selection, not only restaurants but also general customers often come to buy. Ginza, heavily affected by the pandemic. What life dramas can be seen through snacks?

The setting is an unmanned station on a local railway line running through the Noto Peninsula. In spring, when the nearly 100 cherry trees planted along the platform reach full bloom, many people visit the station, which is usually deserted. Families come to enjoy the breathtaking view of cherry blossoms, the sea, and trains. A man recalls his high school teacher while viewing the night cherry blossoms. Some people feel the changes in themselves over the year through the unchanging cherry blossoms. Despite the decline of the region, the locals have continued to preserve the cherry blossoms. What do the visitors feel? We listen for three days.

Tsukuda, Tokyo, where the downtown streetscape and tower mansions coexist. The stage is the “Jizo statue” located at the end of a narrow alley. It's a place you might pass by without noticing, but people come here casually. People come with various wishes—for health, business prosperity, or reconciliation between spouses. Some come without any specific wish, simply to reset their minds each day. With nearly 300 years of history, the Jizō statue remains there, unchanged, despite societal transformations. For three days, we listen to those who visit this unique space in the heart of the metropolis.

The setting is a blood donation center near Skytree. Although the observation deck is closed due to the state of emergency, about 60 people come to donate blood every day. A company employee visits after hearing that there is a shortage of blood due to people staying home. A part-time worker says that coming here gives her a sense of relief amid her busy life. Some people feel confident because they can donate blood even though they are on leave from work. In a world where leisure time has decreased due to the pandemic, these are the people who donate blood for others. What are their reasons for coming here? We listened to their stories over three days.

The setting is a stand-style specialty coffee bean shop in the heart of Kyoto. Kyoto, known for its traditional Japanese culture, actually has the highest coffee consumption in Japan, and many people come here seeking beans roasted on-site. A university professor who says coffee is indispensable as a study aid. A man who finds roasting green beans himself helps him stay calm. The shop also sells coffee, and for some, this one cup is a lifeline in their busy daily lives. In these times, how are people taking a break? For three days, we listened to their stories.

A large stationery store in Ginza. The setting is the stationery section. With over 5,000 items, including colorful postcards and high-quality Japanese paper stationery. A man buys a message card to write his first letter to his wife on their wedding anniversary. A female office worker sends letters to customers she cannot meet due to the pandemic. Some people gain strength from letters exchanged with their grandmother in their hometown. In these times when meeting people is difficult, what kind of thoughts do people write to whom? We listen for three days.

The stage is a giant tropical fish store, one of the largest in the country. The aquariums contain 400 species of fish, including betta, discus, medaka, and arowana, making it look like an aquarium. An 80-year-old regular customer says he enjoys just staring at the fish. A family that started keeping medaka, which are currently popular, says it has increased family conversation. A nurse affected by the pandemic shares how she found solace in caring for small fish while struggling to connect with others. As people spend more time at home, what emotions do they feel toward these tiny lives? Over three days, we listen closely to their stories.

Leaving the National Stadium, the 42.195 km course loops around Asakusa, Tokyo Tower, and other landmarks before returning to the starting point. This was the planned course for the Tokyo Olympics marathon before it was moved to Sapporo. What kind of encounters would you have if you walked this phantom course during the Olympics? A woman worried about COVID-19 goes to an idol concert. The owner of a bookstore in Jimbocho who regrets that it was once a viewing spot. Three days of walking through the night, listening to the voices of people encountered by chance along the way, and observing the present state of Tokyo.

Summer, when bonito fishing reaches its peak. A single liquor store near Kesennuma Port in Miyagi. In addition to food items, the store stocks gloves and boots, attracting fishermen from across the country who use it as a convenience store. Fishermen from distant-water tuna boats preparing for a year-long voyage select long, narrow mattresses for their fishing vessels. A young mackerel fisherman in his 20s chooses a mattress for himself. The captain, who oversees a crew of 23, purchases a large quantity of snacks for the younger crew members. The diverse life stories of men who live by the sea intersect at this small liquor store.

From handheld sparklers to skyrockets and novelty fireworks, a small shop in Yamanashi Prefecture sells over 400 kinds of fireworks. Locals and visitors flock to this shop during a summer when many large fireworks displays were canceled. Customers included a family buying fireworks with a curry fragrance; an elderly couple buying an assortment for their grandchildren; and a worker at an elderly care facility hoping to give the residents a colorful thrill. For 3 days, we asked people why fireworks were special to them.

Everything is ultra-cheap. Vegetables for 30 yen. Beer for 33 yen per bottle, meat for 100 yen per 200 grams. The setting for this episode is a discount food store in Tokyo. Many customers visit the store in search of expired products and surplus inventory. A woman with a family of nine who wants to cut down on food expenses as much as possible. A parent and child who drive an hour to find affordable meat. Some people feel a sense of treasure hunting when searching for products with uneven inventory. The store also highlights the current state of food waste. What is the reason behind the demand for discounted products? We listen for three days.

The setting is the huge bicycle parking lot located underground at Kasai Station in Edogawa Ward. It can accommodate nearly 10,000 bicycles, making it the largest in Japan. Every day, from early morning to late at night, large numbers of people come and go for commuting and school. Among them are women commuting to work cleaning office buildings in the city center on the first train, high school students refraining from playing to reduce the risk of infection for their families, and those returning home after finishing their second job to support their household. Over the three days at the end of summer, we listen to the various reasons why each person is riding their bicycle.

Akihabara is one of Japan's leading electronics districts. The stage is a specialty store that handles about 5,000 types of audio equipment, such as earphones and headphones. With the increase in online meetings and classes, the demand for earphones is growing. A businessman came to buy the latest wireless earphones. A parent and child tried out gaming headphones. A man who visits every week to carefully select earphones costing over 100,000 yen, planning to buy them with his winter bonus. Over three days, we listen to the worlds they envision beyond the earphones they seek.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are used in a variety of fields, such as aerial photography and disaster assessment. They also attracted attention at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. The setting is a drone training ground in the suburbs of Chiba. Parents and children are enthusiastic about small drone races. A man practices aerial photography, saying it's like seeing the world from a bird's eye view. Some people have just started because they believe it is an industry with a promising future. Drones require a bit of effort, such as obtaining an amateur radio license and submitting applications. What are people seeking when they fly them? Over three days under the autumn sky, we listen in.

A hair and makeup salon in Namba, Osaka. Eighty percent of customers request “eyebrow trimming.” In today's mask-wearing society, where most of the face is covered, eyebrows are gaining attention. A company employee who noticed her bushy eyebrows on the computer screen. A woman who felt self-conscious about her thick eyebrows leaves with a smile after having them neatly trimmed. Thirty percent of customers are men, and some businessmen say the time spent here is necessary to calm their minds. Over three days, I observed eyebrows and listened to each person's story.

A 24-hour bento shop located in Okubo, Shinjuku Ward. All bentos, including fried chicken, grilled meat, and mapo tofu, are priced at 290 yen each, making them extremely affordable. Over the three days spanning the House of Representatives election and Halloween, customers with various circumstances come to the shop. College students drawn by the low prices, struggling comedians and hosts. Chinese immigrants nostalgic for their homeland, drawn to the Asian-style side dishes. Men working night shifts always visit at 4 a.m. What are they seeking here? A glimpse into the present of the metropolis.

The setting is a massive skateboard park in an industrial area of Aichi Prefecture. Open 24 hours a day and free to use, it attracts a diverse crowd. A 60-year-old skater who comes on weekends off work. A mother who rides to unwind from the hustle of childcare. With many automotive factories nearby, people working here from overseas also use the park to build skateboarding connections. What motivates everyone to skateboard? We’ll listen all night for three days.

The setting is a local “water pumping station” where natural groundwater flows. Located between apartment buildings in Koganei City, Tokyo, it's an inconspicuous spot, yet people keep coming to fetch water. A local woman brings a large number of plastic bottles. A nearby college student holds a kettle in one hand, saying he was asked by his mother. A nearby vegetable shop uses water from this well to cook dishes in large pots. This area is known for its high-quality groundwater. What are the reasons behind each person's decision to come here to collect water? Over three days, we listen to the stories at the street corner water well.

A large secondhand clothing store located in the suburbs of Atsugi, Kanagawa. With a selection of 100,000 items, including jackets, sweatshirts, and jeans. Women buying men's clothing to wear oversized, men enjoying a drink at home while admiring their favorite vintage pieces, and a high school girl sharing clothes with her father. The way people choose and style vintage clothing reflects their individual lifestyles. This autumn, as the pandemic has calmed down, how are people aiming to add color to their daily lives through their attire? I listened in for three days.