Season 2025 - Episode Guide

Episodes

Egg Farming Family

Episode: 2025-01-18 | Airdate: Jan 18, 2025

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For 50 years, a father has produced cheap eggs. His son uses a more humane method, which raises the cost to nearly $1 per egg. An egg-loving family struggles to pass the baton to the next generation.

Discharged by Death: Dark Records from a Japanese Mental Hospital

Episode: 2025-01-26 | Airdate: Jan 26, 2025

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In February 2023, rampant patient abuse was uncovered at Takiyama Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Tokyo. But was the case an isolated incident, or does it reveal troubling truths about Japan's psychiatric care system? The third installment of Documentary 360's series on the Takiyama Hospital incident looks at the latest developments and what the case says about Japanese society. We also see how the hospital is trying to turn over a new leaf after the resignation of its director.

Meals for One: Recipes to Soothe the Soul

Episode: 2025-02-02 | Airdate: Feb 2, 2025

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After the death of her beloved husband, cooking expert Kurihara Harumi began looking for ways to deal with her grief. Now she works on "meals for one" recipes to help people cope with living alone.

58 Stolen Years: Two Siblings on the Road to Freedom

Episode: 2025-02-09 | Airdate: Feb 9, 2025

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Hakamada Iwao spent nearly fifty years on death row, in constant fear of execution. His sister Hideko devoted her life to proving his innocence. We follow their long battle for freedom.

Kalakasan: Empowering Filipino Women in Japan

Episode: 2025-02-15 | Airdate: Feb 15, 2025

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In Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, there is a place that Filipino women living in Japan call "our home." The support group "Kalakasan" means "strength" in Tagalog. Since its establishment 22 years ago, it has been providing advice on all kinds of problems, from troubles with Japanese husbands to work, illness and money worries. It has been more than 40 years since the boom in Filipino women coming to Japan. We look at the current situation of Filipino women living in their second home, Japan, while supporting each other.

INNOVATIVE INVESTIGATIONS: Blind Spots in Climate Measures

Episode: 2025-02-16 | Airdate: Feb 16, 2025

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Countries and businesses are scrambling to act as the world hurtles toward climate catastrophe. But there are problems with their methods. We look at blind spots in the fight against climate change.

My Grandfather's Story: A Japanese Holdout in Indonesia

Episode: 2025-02-22 | Airdate: Feb 22, 2025

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Mario traces the life of his grandfather, one of the "Japanese holdouts" that stayed in Indonesia after the Second World War. What did he do during that time, and why did he decide to stay?

72 Crucial Hours: Responding to the Noto Earthquake

Episode: 2025-03-09 | Airdate: Mar 9, 2025

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New Year's Day 2024. Japan's Noto Peninsula was hit by a huge earthquake and tsunami. Many lives were lost. One year later, as they look to the future, survivors share stories of courage and grief.

Raised in Hiroshima, Fought in Vietnam

Episode: 2025-03-22 | Airdate: Mar 22, 2025

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Japanese American Takeshi Furumoto, born in an incarceration camp and raised in Hiroshima after the atomic bombing, fought in the Vietnam War. He travels in search of closure to his complicated past.

Photographing the Edge: Life and Death at 8,000 Meters

Episode: 2025-03-23 | Airdate: Mar 23, 2025

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Ishikawa Naoki has climbed all 14 of the world's highest summits. His camera has captured the raw beauty of the land and the people. This is a story of one man's pursuit of a life beyond the ordinary.

Lot 1000: The Place and the People

Episode: 2025-04-19 | Airdate: Apr 19, 2025

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Redevelopment plans mean that the last building in Lot 1000 in central Sapporo must be demolished. We learn about the past, present, and future of this spot, exploring its centuries-long history.

ON THE EDGE: The Deadly Escape Game of Refugees

Episode: 2025-04-20 | Airdate: Apr 20, 2025

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As the number of refugees in the world reaches unprecedented heights, smugglers have appeared claiming to transport them to safety, but instead they become pawns in a game with their lives at stake.

Save and Be Saved: The Battle of Atomic Bomb Victims

Episode: 2025-04-26 | Airdate: Apr 26, 2025

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A look at the history of Nihon Hidankyo - the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations - from the group's inception to its reception of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.

ON THE EDGE: Daughters of Ukraine: Women on the Front Line

Episode: 2025-04-27 | Airdate: Apr 27, 2025

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The number of women in the Ukrainian military has soared since the start of the Russian invasion. We follow these soldiers as they face the enemy and their own growing sense of despair.

Kyiv Express: Ukraine's Everlasting Night Train

Episode: 2025-04-27 | Airdate: Apr 27, 2025

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An old folksong about a man who misses his true love reverberates along the platform, and the Kyiv Express departs on another 15-hour journey between Ukraine and Poland. The people onboard have their own stories to tell: of long-overdue reunions, of sweethearts lost to Russia's invasion, or the need for some respite in a far-flung land. In many ways, they are at one with their mode of transport: war-weary, but full of spirit, and determined to carry on.

Witnesses to the Cambodian Genocide

Episode: 2025-05-03 | Airdate: May 3, 2025

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Fifty years after the Cambodian Genocide, survivors―both victims and those involved in the killings―reflect on how and why Cambodians turned against one another, and on the deep scars left behind.

Wings Over Walls: Tearing Down the 20% Barrier

Episode: 2025-06-07 | Airdate: Jun 7, 2025

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At the top-ranked University of Tokyo, where only 20% of students are female, many women have had their "wings" clipped. Through the university's history, we confront deep-rooted issues in Japanese society.

Forging Links: A Story of Wajima Lacquerware Artisans

Episode: 2025-06-15 | Airdate: Jun 15, 2025

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After a devastating earthquake, lacquerware artisans in Wajima struggle to recover. But they are determined to keep a 600-year-old tradition alive by reaffirming their bond in the creation of a bowl.

Railway Journey Across the Taklamakan Desert

Episode: 2025-06-28 | Airdate: Jun 28, 2025

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A winter journey on the newly built Taklamakan Desert railroad traces the path of the Silk Road. The line reveals the descendants of ancient cultures, and brings changes to local communities.

Shinobu: Somebody Hear My Voice

Episode: 2025-07-05 | Airdate: Jul 5, 2025

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Sakamoto Shinobu was poisoned by mercury while in her mother's womb and has been suffering from Minamata disease since birth. We look back on the life of 68-year-old Shinobu and listen to her message.

NEO-JAPONISM: J-POP: Vocaloid Goes Global

Episode: 2025-07-06 | Airdate: Jul 6, 2025

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Japan's Vocaloid culture is currently experiencing a boom in popularity worldwide. We examine why people are drawn to the voice synthesis technology and the artists that emerged from this culture.

NEO-JAPONISM: FOOD: Globalized Japanese Cuisine

Episode: 2025-07-13 | Airdate: Jul 13, 2025

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There are nearly 190,000 Japanese-style restaurants around the world and 90 percent are run by non-Japanese chefs. We look at how global cultures and trends are updating Japanese cuisine.

NEO-JAPONISM: DESIGN: The Magic of Japanese Craftsmanship

Episode: 2025-07-20 | Airdate: Jul 20, 2025

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Japanese design, known for its beauty and functionality, is highly regarded around the world. We explore the craftsmanship, the people who sustain it, and the philosophy at its core.

Kamikaze: An untold History Part 1

Episode: 2025-08-09 | Airdate: Aug 9, 2025 (47 min)

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"Kamikaze," explosive-laden ramming attacks, were carried out during World War 2, sacrificing 4,000 lives. Why did the Japanese push forward with this method? We uncover the truth about the kamikaze. Part 1 covers the beginning of the kamikaze attacks until before the Battle of Okinawa.

Kamikaze: An untold History Part 2

Episode: 2025-08-10 | Airdate: Aug 10, 2025 (47 min)

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"Kamikaze," explosive-laden ramming attacks, were carried out during World War 2, sacrificing 4,000 lives. Why did the Japanese push forward with this method? We uncover the truth about the kamikaze. Part 2 covers the Battle of Okinawa until the end of the war.

Dance from the Darkness

Episode: 2025-08-18 | Airdate: Aug 18, 2025 (55 min)

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The National Ballet of Ukraine performed a premiere firstly themed on 'war' in 2024. This is about the behind-the-scenes struggles faced by a choreographer active in Russia and a dancer bearing darkness.

Quantum Entanglement - Einstein's Final Mystery

Episode: 2025-08-24 | Airdate: Aug 24, 2025

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Is quantum entanglement real, or just a misunderstanding? The question confounded Einstein and ruined the lives of many physicists. This is the story of the 100-year mystery that changed physics.

The Atomic Bomb on Trial

Episode: 2025-08-30 | Airdate: Aug 30, 2025

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In 1963, a Japanese court ruled that the use of the atomic bomb violated international law. How did the case come about and what is its legacy? Families of the plaintiffs and their lawyer tell the story.

Picture Brides: Echoes from Beyond the Frontier

Episode: 2025-09-13 | Airdate: Sep 13, 2025

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A hundred years ago, "picture brides" crossed the ocean to America with just one engagement photo. We have unearthed audio tapes in which they reflect on their lives! This is the story of three generations who found their place in America.

Searching for the Japanese Midwife who Delivered Me

Episode: 2025-09-20 | Airdate: Sep 20, 2025

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Chinese journalist Kou Aizhe spent 14 years searching for a Japanese midwife who delivered 10,000 infants in postwar China, with him among them. His work uncovered the tragic past of the heroic woman.

Japan's Ongoing Challenges: Inside the Bond Issue Team

Episode: 2025-09-21 | Airdate: Sep 21, 2025

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The Japanese Government has issued a large amount of bonds. With factors such as rising interest rates, it has entered a new phase. We take a closer look at the challenges of Japan's bond issue team.

STATELESS: The Japanese Left Behind in the Philippines

Episode: 2025-09-27 | Airdate: Sep 27, 2025

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After WWII, thousands of children born to Japanese fathers were left behind in the Philippines. Many became stateless. Eighty years on, 50 descendants are still fighting to be recognized as Japanese.

Letters on Hiroshima: Americans Who Wrote of the Atomic Bomb

Episode: 2025-10-11 | Airdate: Oct 11, 2025

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Eighty years ago, upon facing the tremendous force of the atomic bomb, Truman, scientists, and citizens voiced their remorse and struggle in letters. What messages do these voices carry for us today?

Hikikomori Pilgrimage

Episode: 2025-10-18 | Airdate: Oct 18, 2025

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Five young men from around Japan, once withdrawn from society - a phenomenon known as hikikomori - embark on a 1,200-kilometer pilgrimage around the island of Shikoku, on a journey of self-discovery.

Living in the Grasslands

Episode: 2025-10-25 | Airdate: Oct 25, 2025

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Can humans and nature coexist? Yuji, a pioneering pasture-based dairy farmer, spent his life answering that question, stewarding vast grasslands. As he battles cancer, he passes the baton to his son.

Unsolved Cases: The North Korean Abductions Part 1

Episode: 2025-11-02 | Airdate: Nov 2, 2025

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In Part 1, we interview former police officers who investigated a series of cases where young couples went missing. They reveal why it took so long to recognize the link with North Korea.

Unsolved Cases: The North Korean Abductions Part 2

Episode: 2025-11-02 | Airdate: Nov 2, 2025

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In Part 2, we interview a former North Korean spy whose confession to the police helped uncover the true nature of the abductions. But the case remains unresolved due to diplomatic deadlock.

Human-Elephant Conflict: Sri Lanka

Episode: 2025-11-08 | Airdate: Nov 8, 2025

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In Sri Lanka, elephants are both feared and revered. In 2024, around 150 people and 400 elephants died in increasingly frequent encounters, which can force people to make life-altering decisions.

The World Is Filled with Words: A Deaf Photographer's Journey

Episode: 2025-11-22 | Airdate: Nov 22, 2025

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What are "words"? What does it mean to communicate? Deaf photographer Saito Harumichi seeks answers as he raises his hearing children and prepares an exhibition reflecting his quest for connection.

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