Peter Barakan

Peter Barakan, born in London, England, is an English-born DJ, freelance broadcaster, and an author of books on music and English language education. He is best known as the presenter of "Begin Japanology" and "Japanology Plus" on NHK World. (Source: Wikipedia)

Hori Chiemi

Chiemi Hori is a Japanese singer, actress, and entertainer represented by Horipro, and later Shochiku Geino. Her stage name is Chiemi. Chiemi Hori debuted in 1982 when she was only 14 years old. She steadily gained popularity and was tipped to be one of the most recognized idols in 1984 after producing…

Tendo Yoshimi

Yoshimi Yoshida better known by her stage name, Yoshimi Tendo is a professional enka singer. She debuted in 1970, but only became popular in 1985 with a label change her first hit single "Tonbori Ninjo" (道頓堀人情). She has regularly attended NHK's Red and White Festival since 1996. She has recently…

Okamoto Yoshihiko

Okamoto Yoshihiko was a Japanese film director, television drama director, and journalist, born in Korea during the Japanese colonial period. He attended the Army Officer School (陸軍士官学校) and witnessed Japan's defeat in World War II. Afterward, he joined the Japan Socialist Party (日本社会党)…

Thomas Ash

Thomas Ash earned an MA in Film and Television Production at the University of Bristol, UK (2005) and has lived in Japan for a total of 18 years. Thomas’s first feature documentary, ‘the ballad of vicki and jake’ (2006), received the Prix du Canton Vaud (best first film) at the 2006 Visions du…

Dazai Hisao

Dazai Hisao was a Japanese actor born in Senzoku, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. During middle school, due to the impact of military training where he was fired at close range by a machine gun, his hearing deteriorated slightly, and since then, his voice became about one octave higher than others. Although…

Yoshiyuki Aguri

Yoshiyuki Aguri was a Japanese pioneering beauty specialist. Born in Okayama Prefecture, Yoshiyuki opened a beauty shop in Tokyo after marrying writer Eisuke Yoshiyuki at age 15. Despite the sudden death of her husband in 1940, she raised three children while working as a beautician. In 1985 Yoshiyuki…

Misawa Akemi

Misawa Akemi is a Japanese enka singer and actress born in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture. She currently lives in Tokyo. She passed the 7th Toei New Face, after which she joined Toei and made her debut in 1959 with the NET TV drama "Fuebuki Doji". She made her movie debut in 1961 and is active in historical…

Mayuzumi Toshiro

Mayuzumi Toshiro was a Japanese composer. He studied at Tokyo University of Art and Music and Le Conservatoire de Paris. Mayuzumi organized the "Three Composers' Group" in Tokyo and was a pioneer of contemporary music in the 1950s. Among his achievement was making some of the first electronic music…

Nakata Yasuko

She is a former Japanese actress. She was born in Takarazuka Revue and Nikki Dancing Team (NDT). She played a supporting role and a minor role in many Japanese movies. In the 1964 Hollywood-style musical film "Asphalt Girl", she plays the leading role in singing and dancing. In 1933, she was born in…

Ma-ne-chan

8.3

~~ Adapted from the manga series "Ma-ne-chan" (マー姉ちゃん) by Hasegawa Machiko (長谷川町子). ~~ The 23rd NHK Asadora.

Bura Tamori

In the program, Tamori, accompanied by NHK's female broadcaster, strolls Japan's city or area with professional or amateur geologists, local historians or curators and explores the place's terrain features and geological…

The Yangtze River

From 2010 to 2011, Ryo Takeuchi filmed a documentary about the Yangtze River for the Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Ten years later, starting in 2021, he spent about two years retracing the 6,300-kilometer-long river…

Ooka Echizen Season 7

Calm and collected but energetic and humanist, the film depicts the activities of a famous magistrate who protects the lives and livelihoods of the common people of Edo. (Source: Japanese = NHK || Translation = unbeliebubble…

Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan - Aoyama Gosho, Manga Artist

The global hit manga series Detective Conan, also known as Case Closed, has reached thirty years in 2024. NHK is allowed rare access into the world of its creator Aoyama Gosho. How are the tricks selected and incorporated…

Saba Saba Girl Season 2

Amihama Nami, the self-proclaimed "frank-mannered" woman, is back with even more power. This time, she is a high school teacher and she's married! (Source: Japanese = nhk.jp || Translation = MyDramaList)

Lilac no Hanasaku Kemonomichi

7.7

Set in the vast wilderness of Hokkaido, this awkward yet endearing coming-of-age story follows a girl who used to be socially withdrawn as she strives to become a veterinarian while facing the reality of life and death.…

Miracle Apples

7.8

Based on the true story of Akinori Kimura and his wife Mieko Kimura. Their story was first brought to the public's attention via an NHK program titled "Way of Professional Work". Takuji Ishikawa then wrote a novel…

Gegege no Nyobo

7.9

The story revolves around the life of the married couple, told from the perspective of Mura. (Source: Tokyograph) ~~ Adapted from the autobiography "Gegege no Nyobo" (ゲゲゲの女房) by Mura Nunoe (武良布枝),…

Takeda Shingen

7.9

"Steady as a mountain, attack like fire, still as a wood, swift as the wind". NHK Taiga Drama for 1988 is the life story of the famous warlord Takeda Shingen (1521-1573), aka "The Tiger of Kai". There was a very turbulent…