Broadcast date
09-01-2024 • 16 episodes
Episodes of this season
1. Yomotsu Hirasaka: Between This World and The Next
We visit "Yomotsu Hirasaka" in Shimane Prefecture. It's a place linked to the underworld, referenced in Japanese mythology. For 3 days, we spoke with those drawn to this special place.
2. At a Standing Bar Beside Fukuoka's Boat Racing Stadium
With betting tickets in hand, customers at a no-frills bar near a motorboat racing stadium in Fukuoka, ride the ups and downs of the exciting races. For three days, we followed their fortunes.
3. Nagano: Watching for Hawks
At Shirakaba Pass in Nagano Prefecture, many are gathered here to watch hawks as they migrate to Southeast Asia. We find out what these watchers feel as they gaze at the hawks overhead.
4. At a 24-Hour Roadside Restaurant in Okayama
A large parking lot and hearty servings make a 24-hour restaurant a haven for truckers in Okayama Prefecture. For three days, we spoke to diners taking a break before hitting the road again.
5. Farewell to a Hyogo Chairlift
A beloved old chairlift on Mt. Myoken in Hyogo Prefecture. People flock here before the facilities close permanently in December 2023. What do the visitors feel as they ride the lift one last time?
6. At a 24-Hour Chinese Restaurant in a Tokyo Suburb
The menu at a 24-hour Chinese restaurant in western Tokyo includes ramen, gyoza dumplings and a wide range of set meals. For three days, we asked customers why they come here to fill their bellies.
7. The Bench by Lake Biwa
On the east side of Lake Biwa there's something simply known as "the bench." What goes on in the minds of visitors as they take a seat? We spent 3 days by this lakeside bench.
8. Nature's Bounty at an Okayama Community Garden
A community garden in Okayama City is a popular spot for people from all walks of life to try their hand at farming. For three days, we watched the produce and relationships they grew here.
9. Ueno: A Discount Women's Clothing Store
A discount women's clothing store in Ueno, Tokyo. The shop attracts customers for many reasons. We spent 3 days listening to their stories.
10. At Shinjuku's 24-Hour Drugstore
A drugstore in Tokyo's busy Shinjuku district sells medicine, cosmetics and snacks around the clock. Why do people shop there? For three days and nights near the end of 2023, we asked them.
11. Kerosene Delivery Service in Snowy Sapporo
Kerosene home delivery is a key lifeline for residents of Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture. For three days in midwinter, we followed trucks delivering this heating oil and spoke to people who rely on this service.
12. Fukushima: An Ice Cream Shop in Winter
In the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture, there's an ice cream shop that people go to, even during winter. This shop has been with the locals for 3 decades. We spent 3 days listening to the stories of visitors.
13. Spinning On at a 24-Hour Osaka Laundromat
A 24-hour laundromat in Osaka Prefecture is a vital part of daily life for residents from all walks of life. For three days, we asked customers why they wash and dry their clothes there.
14. A 24-Hour Discount Supermarket in Osaka
A 24-hour supermarket in Osaka Prefecture is known for its brightly colored exterior and very cheap bento meals and prepared foods. For three days, we talked to people filling their shopping baskets here.
15. A Midnight Soba Shop in Akita
There's a soba joint in Akita City that opens late at night until lunch the next day. All kinds of people come for drinks and food. Amidst the late March snow, we document this midnight soba shop.
16. Fresh Starts at a Yokohama Electronics Store
An electronics retail store in Yokohama, Japan, has six floors filled with home appliances. For three days in spring, we asked customers what they came to buy in this season of new beginnings.
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