2016

The stage is set at a 24-hour tonkatsu restaurant in Yokohama's entertainment district. From early morning to late at night, people from all walks of life come to scarf down the meat. A man is on his way to the neon district to get himself in shape. A cabaret girl who has come to finish off her drink. There are also men taking a break at dawn after working all night. The year 2015 was filled with flashy news, such as soaring prices of condominiums and increased profits of major corporations. How are people celebrating the end of the year? We spent three days at a tonkatsu restaurant in a nightless city, looking at the human condition of people in all their sorrows and joys.

The stage is set in the “tool town” in Kappabashi, downtown Tokyo. It is a specialty store district that offers everything from Japanese, Western, and Chinese cooking utensils to lacquerware and food samples, and is a rare place in the world where all kinds of food-related tools are available. The eyes of professional chefs examining kitchen knives and young people shopping for a complete set of utensils to start their own business are serious. We took a look at the shopping of people who have reached a turning point in their lives, such as marriage or moving to Tokyo, over the course of three days in Japan's No. 1 town for tools, where 170 stores are lined up.

Sapporo, a big city, is celebrating Christmas. The express bus terminal that serves as the gateway to the city is the setting for this episode. Long-distance buses connect Sapporo with towns scattered throughout Hokkaido. Many people use the buses from early morning to late at night because of the reasonable fares. A young man takes the bus for five hours to spend Christmas Eve with his girlfriend. A woman commutes to her parents' house hundreds of kilometers away to take care of her aging parents. There is also a busy businessman who takes a night bus for a business trip. We spent three days at the terminal in the middle of winter, listening to the circumstances of each traveler.

Tokyo Tower, where the New Year's Eve has arrived, is the stage for this episode. Many people come to the observatory to pray for the first sunrise and make wishes at the shrine on the observatory. Office workers praying to meet their fiancé this year, families wishing for the healthy growth of their children, and foreigners wishing for world peace. Foreigners praying for peace in the world. Outside, young men and women, eager to make a leap forward in their careers, brave the northern winds as they climb the fire escape. For three days between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the dreams of the New Year intersect in the tower in the sky. We asked people what was on their minds.

Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street is said to be the longest shopping street in Japan. This time, the stage is a bench in a corner of the shopping street. Listening to the stories of visitors over the course of three days on this bench, where people are constantly sitting, a variety of human dramas emerge. Some are anxiously waiting to meet someone, others use the bench as a place of work, and still others observe people on the street. Everyone takes a break on this bench, laughs, and then gets up to walk again. Seventy-two hours on this mysterious bench where people rest their wings.

In a small zoo in Kichijoji, Tokyo, there is the oldest elephant in Japan. Her name is "Hanako. At 69 years old, Hanako is visited by all sorts of people. They all have their hearts set on Hanako's huge body and call out to her in their own way. Hanako is a mysterious elephant who attracts many people. She accepts her loneliness and continues to stand in the square every day, even when she is old, until she has only one tooth. People take a step forward with a little cheer from Hanako. We listen to her voice for three days in the zoo in the middle of winter.

In the middle of rice fields in the snowy Tsugaru plain, there is a public bathhouse “100 yen Onsen” where you can enter for only 100 yen. The rule here is to show the coin to the person taking a bath before you and put it in the fare box. The bathhouse attracts a wide variety of people, including elderly people who start taking a bath at 5:00 a.m., young people who take a bath after work in the evening, and housewives who enjoy chatting with each other about all sorts of things. The film depicts the human condition in Tsugaru, where people support each other and live together in the harsh cold weather, in a small hot spring that warms both body and soul.

There is a shrine dedicated to the god of love in Fukuoka, which is rare in Japan. The approach to the shrine and the torii gate are filled with hearts, and people come from all over the country to pray for the fulfillment of love, marriage, and marital bliss. On Valentine's Day, the shrine attracts more than 1,000 visitors. What stands out here these days are people who say they have never fallen in love with the opposite sex. People who are “in love with love” offer prayers in hopes of finding the ideal encounter. In the three days leading up to Valentine's Day, we will listen to the thoughts and feelings of these people as they entrust their hopes to the god of love.

In Korea, there is a fixed-point observation program similar to “Documentary 72 Hours” in Japan. The name of the program is “Documentary 3 Days”. This time, the program is a collaboration with the “3 Days” program. Crews from Japan and Korea will each go abroad to film 3 days around the world. Korea's KBS filmed three days at the “World's Largest Chinese Restaurant” in China, while NHK introduced a specially edited version of “New York Laundromat Theater,” which was broadcast last year. Program watchers Osamu Suzuki and Anne Suzuki speak passionately about 72 Hours of Japan-Korea.

The stage is set at a store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, that specializes in Showa-era songs. The store is visited by a wide variety of people, including middle-aged and older adults who have overlapped their lives with idol songs, young people who discover new charm in the clarity of the songs and lyrics, and foreigners who become enamored with the rhythms of the Showa era. The store has 30,000 records and CDs. Rare songs are sometimes priced at tens of thousands of yen. While sales of new CDs are sluggish, Showa-era songs are once again attracting attention. What kind of feelings do people put into these songs? The program will look at the human patterns projected in the songs for 72 hours, along with nostalgic classics.

In a small building in Yoyogi, Tokyo, there is an “animal shelter” that takes in dogs and cats from public health centers and protects them. So far, they have sheltered 1,300 animals. Dogs and cats come to the shelter for a reason. The circumstances vary from those who are too old to keep the animals to those who are forced to give them up because they have moved away. On the other hand, people who want to take in pets come to the “transfer meeting” held once a month. This three-day exhibition looks at the current state of society as reflected in the lives of people and pets.

Auto racing is a sport in which motorcycles race at speeds of 150 kilometers per hour. The stage for this episode is Funabashi Auto, the birthplace of auto racing. Last month, the curtain came down on 65 years of history at this traditional racetrack. We closely followed the three days when the last race was held. The spectators were in an uproar at the appearance of the famous racer. The heated races create an unprecedented excitement. A wide variety of people came to the race, from parents and their children who have been going to the race for two generations, to those who were chasing the good-looking racer, to customers who were looking for the famous motsu-nikomi (stewed pork belly). For the last 72 hours, an unimaginable drama takes place!

A udon vending machine for 200yen per cup at a store in Akita Port. In March, he introduced the 72nd hour of the human condition of the people who gathered there, and the response exceeded expectations was received, and it also ranked first in the popular vote of viewers for the year. This machine will be removed with the closing of the shop. Then, many people from all over the country rushed to the vending machine, not only the local area but also from all over the country. So this time, we will deliver an enlarged version of the document until the removal and the people I met last time!

A twenty-four-hour public dining hall in Sendai. The catchphrase is "Donburi rice from the time you were born". It is a paradise for people who like rice. The bowl rice is four cups of ordinary rice and tea bowls, and it has filled the stomachs of the locals for many years. After the earthquake, it has been used as a table for people who are involved in reconstruction work by leaving their families in their hometowns. Five years after the earthquake, in the reality that it is impossible to rebuild life, what do people think in front of the bowl rice bowl meal? I listened for three days.

The stage is a long-established stamp store in the Korean town of Shin-Okubo. Most of the customers are foreigners. In Japan, hanko are used in many situations. In April, when new life begins, many foreigners rush to this stamp store. Although they are bewildered by the Japanese “hanko culture,” these foreigners are trying to follow their dreams and take a new step forward. This 72-hour film looks at the reality of Japan's gradual internationalization from the perspective of a single stamp.

Isezaki, Gunma where the wide plains of the wide area continue forever. Suddenly, a huge shopping mall like a spaceship appeared in the field. This time, the stage is the most crowded place "food court". The price is cheap and you can relax forever, making it a valuable space for many people. There was an unimaginable drama of life when I listened to the voices of the people gathered here. Seventy-two hours of showing various human patterns in the usual food court.

National Highway 439 runs from Tokushima across the Shikoku Mountains to Kochi. The road is only 2 meters wide in the mountains and is called “Kudo Yosaku,” which means "terrible road. Fans of Kudoku Road come from all over Japan to enjoy the rugged mountain road, which has a legend of the fallen Heike warriors. Along the 340-kilometer-long “Josaku,” there are people who live on a subsistence diet of wild vegetables, river fish, and even pit vipers. In three days, they will travel along the “Josaku” and encounter the original landscape of Japan.

This time, we take a look at the Sakurajima Ferry in Kagoshima. The ferry runs 24 hours a day between Kagoshima City and Sakurajima, which is still very active. The 15-minute one-way trip is crowded with commuters from Sakurajima in the morning and with people on their way home from work in the evening. More than 10,000 people a day use the service, which supports the daily lives of the islanders as a means of transportation for daily life and in emergencies. The 24-hour ferry is the stage for a slightly mysterious 72 hours of the day, in which the ordinary and the extraordinary blend together.

This time the stage is a roller coaster at Hanayashiki, a long-established amusement park in Asakusa, Tokyo. It has been running for 62 years with a maximum speed of 42 km/h, rattling and creaking, and is gaining popularity for its unique thrill. The most conspicuous visitors are adults. They surrender themselves to the slow ride and cheer as if they are regaining their youth. Why are people drawn to old roller coasters? This 72-hour film looks at a variety of human characters in a slightly mysterious space.

The setting is the Kamo River Delta, commonly known as “Kamo River Delta,” a relaxing spot located upstream of the Kamo River in Kyoto, Japan. Away from the sightseeing spots, the waterside has been the setting for many novels and movies. Crossing the stepping stones somehow liberates one's mind. Students enjoying their youth, people reminiscing about their younger days.... This 72-hour program will touch the hearts and minds of the people of Kyoto as well as the beautiful spring scenery.

In Shinjuku Kabukicho, the largest entertainment district in Japan, there is a 24-hour Go club, which is rare in Japan. It has been in business for 34 years, and the sound of Go stones echoes from midnight to early morning. Since it is open 24 hours a day, meals and drinks are served. The extensive menu is just like an izakaya (Japanese-style pub). On weekends, people who have finished work stay over to play Go. What is the drama that unfolds over three days as people are captivated by the magic of Go?

In May, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima for the first time as the incumbent president. How did the people of Hiroshima feel as they welcomed him on this day that caught the attention of all of Japan? The program closely followed the plaza near Peace Memorial Park where people were coming and going. Some were young people who said they had no interest in the event, and others were a couple from Denmark who came to Hiroshima for the occasion. What was the discussion that started late at night in the square? The program brings to light the thoughts and feelings each person had in their hearts on this historic day.

Anko-filled Ogura toast and a value-priced morning meal. This time, the stage is set for a deep "Nagoya coffee shop. The culture of the tea ceremony has long flourished in Nagoya, and 40% of all restaurants in the city are coffee shops. It is not uncommon to see people spending time with their families early in the morning or visiting several times a day. Once you sit back and relax on the deep red sofa, you are already a Nagoya native at heart. For three days, you can relax in the good old retro atmosphere of a long-established coffee shop located in one of Nagoya's most popular shopping streets.

Internet auctions are where all kinds of goods and services are bought and sold, from used ambulances to grave-services. It has been about 20 years since they first appeared in Japan, and they are now a huge market with more than 100 million transactions a year. Some people are just looking to make some extra money, while others are looking to make a living through auctions for a variety of purposes. What kind of people are using the Internet? For this issue, our team of reporters will go behind the scenes to interview sellers from all over the country! For three days, we will travel through the real world behind the Internet.

Brazil is booming with the hosting of the Olympic Games, a symbol of modern capitalism. Behind the backdrop of a developing society, people are said to be entrusting various wishes to traditional “black magic”. In this program, for the first time ever, a Japanese TV station will be in close contact with a “sacred place of witchcraft” located in the suburbs of Sao Paulo. Love, marriages, employment problems.... What do people pray for when faced with problems that cannot be solved no matter how much society develops? This special edition is set in Brazil just before the Olympics.

Women who have dabbled in methamphetamines, women who have wronged others for a reason.... The number of women who have committed crimes and are in prison has doubled in the past 20 years. How do these women spend their days and what do they think about? This program closely observes Wakayama Women's Prison, one of the largest prisons in Japan with 485 inmates. They work in a factory called “work,” and have leisure time to watch TV. What do the women say at the “parole ceremony” for model prisoners? Three days in a women's prison separated by high walls.

Once a year, relatives gather to welcome the deceased during “Obon”. Nagasaki's Obon is a very extravagant event. Following the Chinese custom of “using sound to drive away evil spirits,” visitors set off rocket fireworks and firecrackers in front of graves. A child buys only one firework for his grandmother, who took care of him. A man buys 400,000 yen worth of firecrackers to send his father who passed away this year. The program closely follows a long-established fireworks shop in Nagasaki City. What are their feelings for the deceased told through explosions and tears?

An ice shop in Fukui that is open 24 hours a day, a rarity in Japan. The slowly frozen ice, ranging from huge sheets of ice to ice scraps, has a reputation for being "delicious and melting slowly. In the early morning, the store is crowded with anglers heading to the sea, and in the afternoon with people buying large quantities of ice for summer festivals. At night, bar-goers and drinkers from the nearby downtown area come to the ice shop to buy ice. One new mother of a snack bar says, "I'm getting divorced and I'm going to be independent, so I'm going to use this ice to make a water mix. Three days in summer, touching on “each happiness” born beyond the ice.

This summer, that game where you catch monsters with your smartphone became a big boom. A park in Kinshicho, Tokyo, where many rare monsters appear, is called a “sacred place” and is crowded with people day and night. Adults were playing on their smartphones while children were playing on the playground equipment. Some stayed up all night playing for 10 hours or more, while others were elderly couples on dates, and some even started picking up girls.... Three days spent in a mysterious park in a corner of the big city.

A butcher store in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa. At first glance, the store looks ordinary, but the meat on the shelves ranges from “cow kidney” to “pig's blood,” all of which are rarely seen. Visitors to the store for its diverse selection range from Peruvians who buy meat in bulk for tens of thousands of yen to Filipino women who prepare meat for their large families. Meat purchased in large quantities is quickly transformed into dishes from various countries in the kitchens. This is a story of people living in a foreign country with a full belly full of meat dishes.

From Matsuyama, Shikoku, it takes one hour by a small train. Shimonada Station, a small unmanned station along the Seto Inland Sea, is quietly gaining popularity. It all started with a photo posted on the Internet by a tourist. Men and women, young and old, flock to the station to take in the spectacular view of the endless expanse of sea, with only a roof and a bench standing still. A student uses a self-timer to take a picture of himself slumped over against the setting sun. A man stops by on his way home from work when he feels down. What do people think about at the station where everyone stares at the sea?

Located in Adachi Ward, this is one of the largest “golf courses” in Tokyo. Open all night, all year round, and visited by 1,000 people a day, it is not what one would expect of a “rich person's sport,” but rather, a diverse array of visitors. Mothers come to play late at night after their children have gone to bed, and elderly people gather early in the morning. The most conspicuous among them are the men who swing their clubs silently and alone. They say they have no place at home, so what do they put into the ball?

The stage is set at a huge art supply store that boasts the largest selection of art supplies in Japan, from pencils priced at 50 yen each to paints, comic supplies, sculptures, and more. Every day, 4,000 people visit the store, which fills five floors of the building with all kinds of art supplies. A Frenchman who dreams of selling fanzines at Comiket, an aspiring manga artist who has just made his debut, and a man who says, "My family says I'm in the way, but I can't help but draw... In these three days, we will travel through the microcosm of the mind to find out why people feel the need to express something.

Countless multicolored lights twinkling in the darkness. This is the scenery of a huge tent village in the mountains of the Northern Alps in Nagano, Japan, which appears only during the season of autumn leaves. Some people do not aim for the summit, but simply admire the scenery. A man says, "It was my dream to stay in a tent with my young child. Each of the tents pitched on the rocky terrain at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level was filled with stories of its own.... Three days in the sky, immersed in a “different time”.

In Nakasu, Fukuoka, one of the most popular entertainment areas in Japan, there is a daycare center that is open from 7:00 am to 2:00 am in a corner of the town with 2,600 stores. During the day, parents working in the nearby office district drop off their children, and at night, Nakasu's workers, both men and women, visit the nursery constantly. The rush to pick up children at midnight is at midnight. Kappo proprietresses come dressed in kimonos to pick up their children, and single parents work hard to provide for their children. This is a story of parents and their children who live with the support of a small daycare center.

In October, a somewhat unusual village chief election was held. Following the nuclear accident, many villagers in Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture, were forced to evacuate. To accommodate those scattered across various locations, the ballot box traveled to temporary housing facilities and other sites ahead of the election date. The key issue was whether to lift the evacuation order early and aim for a return to the village. Some voters expressed uncertainty about safety and reluctance to return, while elderly residents expressed concerns about not wanting to see the village come to an end during their lifetime. What were the thoughts of the 5,200 voters reflected in the traveling ballot box?

From the world-renowned U.S. President-elect Trump to national anime characters. At the end of October, 20,000 people of various nationalities and ages wandered around the Roppongi intersection during Halloween... Young people wearing masks repeatedly hitting on others. A former pub owner who says, “I made the costume while going to the job center.” Halloween, which naturally emerged in Roppongi, a area with many foreigners, over a decade ago. What are the true faces hidden beneath their costumes?

In the streets of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, the air is filled with a dozen foreign languages as people dance the samba and hula in the "Worldwide Uchinanchu (Okinawan) Festival." Around 7,300 Okinawan descendants have returned home from around the world to participate. They are those who went abroad for various reasons, some to find work and some driven from their homes after WWII. Others are 2nd and 3rd generations of Okinawans, and have come to learn more about their ancestral roots. We pay a visit to Kokusai Street, the heart of the festival, to listen to their voices.