Nhk Documentary

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, the issue of how to dispose of unprecedented volumes of radioactive waste has become a sore 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.

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Japan continues to rise, experts warn that deaths could soar, and the medical system could collapse. On the battle's front lines, healthcare workers are struggling to keep up with a surge in patients, while the resources at their disposal are stretched thin. NHK speaks with experts about new measures to combat this crisis and the dire consequences Japan could face unless the public and the government take swift action.

Nighttime in late May of 2020. With the lifting of Japan's national COVID-19 emergency declaration, an unprecedented construction project begins at the JR Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Without halting the station's operations, crews will relocate an entire train platform by 350 meters, and move 500 meters of track, all within 54 hours. It's a battle measured in minutes and seconds. Despite exhaustive preparations, unexpected hurdles emerge. Protecting workers against the novel coronavirus adds another layer of complexity. Go behind the scenes of the most difficult and challenging project of its kind in JR's history, and see Shibuya's transformation from a labyrinth to a model of disaster prevention.

Around the world, young activists are using social media to change the world. They're finding new ways to organize and build support, whether for educating disadvantaged kids in Japan, creating jobs in Brazil, organizing essential workers in the US, or reinventing healthcare in Bangladesh. They're attempting to address the contradictions in global capitalism that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light. And their influence is spreading far beyond their local communities.

Japanese authorities faced their first large cluster of COVID-19 infections in early February when the Diamond Princess luxury cruise ship returned to port in Yokohama. Of the 3,700 passengers and crew, more than 700 were infected with the novel coronavirus, and 13 people died. NHK conducted an in-depth investigation into what happened inside the ship. It reveals a microcosm of Japan's battle against the virus, and offers important clues for managing the crisis.

Skyscrapers are symbols of big cities. But the mega earthquake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 2016 proved that even earthquake-resilient high-rise buildings can shake greatly and suffer severe damage. The culprit is the long period seismic pulse, which is lurking in active faults throughout the world. Simulations of this motion showed that tall buildings shook 3 times more, causing them to tilt. This episode depicts the destructive power of the long period seismic pulse, and the latest counter measures to combat this threat.

Every early spring since the 8th century, Buddhist monks at Nara Prefecture's Todaiji have practiced the Shuni-e ceremony. A series of esoteric rituals, including prayers to Kannon to protect humankind from disaster and disease, it also offers a window into Tang dynasty China. But in 2021, the COVID pandemic threatened to bring a halt to this uninterrupted tradition. Aided by an infectious disease specialist, the monks go to great lengths to hold this ancient practice for the 1,270th time.

When the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, also known as the Kobe Earthquake, struck in 1995, more than 400 children lost one or both parents. NHK has followed these children into adulthood, documenting how the tragedy has shaped their lives. A woman who was orphaned at 12 has lived for 23 years with a longing to join her late mom and dad. A young man, just an infant when his parents and sister died, has struggled with the feeling that he must make up for their lost lives. Another young man dedicated his youth to his younger twin brothers, determined to nurture and protect their family bond.

In August 2016, NHK received a 50-page letter of accusation. The writer raised suspicions of misconduct in research papers by a University of Tokyo professor. The whistleblower alleged that some images and charts may have been fabricated or falsified. We spent over a year interviewing more than 100 individuals concerned. The situation could undermine Japan's attempt to become a leader in the field of science and technology. What is happening in this bastion of academic research? We decided to look into this research scandal at the University of Tokyo.

A tsunami is approaching from the sea. You start to run, but water rushes in from the river in the opposite direction. During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, such "river tsunamis" charged in from the sea and barreled upstream, claiming many victims. A huge quake in Japan could cause a massive tsunami that would inundate urban areas. Squeezed between tall buildings, the water would rise, increasing its force and allowing no time to escape. With a heightened sense of crisis, officials are responding. This documentary uses computer graphics and eyewitness accounts to explore the dangers of river tsunamis and how people can stay safe.