Document 72 Hours - Season 6

First aired: 1/9/2015 43 episodes

Episodes

1. Birth Rush! Japan's Best Obstetrics and Gynecology

Aired: 1/9/2015

3,400 babies per year. In Kumamoto Prefecture, well known for Kumamon, there is an obstetrics and gynecology clinic that boasts the highest number of births in Japan. Mothers fight day and night against labor pains and give birth to a new life with all their might. The program set up a camera in the waiting room of such a hospital to listen to the voices of families anxiously awaiting the birth of their newborns. A young father weeps in the hallway, nervous and moved. A little brother is bewildered by the arrival of his new family. The story of each family member who can only watch over their mother, but pray hard for the birth. 　

2. Farewell! Bowling Alley in the Center of Tokyo

Aired: 1/16/2015

At the end of last year, the long-established bowling alley “Milano Bowl” in front of the Shinjuku Koma Theater closed its 47-year history. It had gained popularity for its all-night hours of operation until 6:00 a.m., but its closure was decided due to a decline in the bowling population that could not be halted. People gather to lament the last days of the bowling alley. Young people drop by to say goodbye after a night of drinking. Elderly men come first thing in the morning. Some are in tears when they learn for the first time that the restaurant is closing.... And those who met by chance at the bowling alley played the "last game.

3. Nagoya, Underground Streets, Lost and Found on a Holy Night

Aired: 1/23/2015

The setting for this episode is Sakae, Nagoya, at Christmas time. With the bustling downtown area booming with economic activity, there is a place where people rush into in a panic. This is the “Lost and Found” counter, which handles lost and found items left behind on Nagoya's buses and subways. It handles more than 100,000 items a year. The most common items are umbrellas and gloves, but there are also unexpected items such as dentures and sotoba. At the end of the year, the lost-and-found warehouse is overflowing with lost-and-found items during the year-end party and Christmas season. Who in the world comes to pick up forgotten items and for what reason?

4. Student Dormitories in the Northern Land

Aired: 1/30/2015

Awake, my lost dream, wake up." The residents of the student dormitory at Hokkaido University, which has a history of more than 100 years and is home to 400 students, are one of the few self-governing dormitories in the country that are run entirely by the students themselves. Rent is about 10,000 yen per month. Some stay up late at night drinking with their friends, others devote themselves to their studies, and so on. Recently, many students enter the dormitory for financial reasons, but some gradually fall in love with it and end up staying. This is a coming-of-age story of the “bunkaras” who still live and breathe in the northern lands of Japan.

5. Happiness Seized at Money Shops

Aired: 2/6/2015

Since the bursting of the bubble economy, a saving boom has taken root. People who want to reduce their expenses as much as possible are flocking to ticket stores. A dispatched worker comes to buy a subway ticket to save 10 yen; a woman enjoys eating out at a department store with a gift certificate that costs 36 yen less; and a man buys an expensive gift certificate and buys it at the same time. On the other hand, there are also foreigners who buy expensive gift certificates in bulk. What kind of happiness do people dream of beyond saving money? A story of people and money in a small storefront.

6. Handyman, Running in the City

Aired: 2/13/2015

Slugs in the bathroom.“ ”Assemble the plastic model by tomorrow!" Calls for help ring out throughout the night from a Tokyo handyman, who receives 300 requests a day, many of which are small matters that he could have asked his family or friends for in the past. Many of the 300 requests a day are for small things that one could have asked family or friends for in the past, such as “just a little companionship,” or "buy a cake from the store I remember. The number of one-person households is on the rise, and neighborhoods are becoming less friendly. What are the real wishes of modern Japanese people hidden under the seemingly trivial advice?

7. Akabane Oden Restaurant Elegy

Aired: 2/20/2015

Akabane is known as a sacred place for non-humans with its unpretentious izakaya (Japanese style pubs). In one corner of the area, there is a “standing oden shop” with a long line of customers standing in line from morning. The customers range from security guards on their way home from the night shift who enjoy a morning drink alone, to mothers who buy oden for their families, to businessmen who enjoy a night out in Akabane by visiting a number of izakayas. Chewing on their signature hanpen and drinking a cup of sake with hot broth and “dashiwari,” a drink made from a cup of sake, will keep your body and soul warm and refreshed. This is the story of a man and a woman who huddle together under a cold windy sky and enjoy oden. 　

8. Kobe, January, See you at Pai-Yama

Aired: 2/27/2015

Pai-yama," as it is commonly known, is located in front of Sannomiya Station in the heart of Kobe. An object resembling a boob in the center of the square has become a landmark for people waiting to meet. In January of this year, 20 years after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the atmosphere of the plaza changed drastically. Countless people headed for the memorial service even in the dim light of day. Young people began to talk about their own experiences of the disaster in front of the cameras.... What are people thinking as they live their lives in this city that has recovered?

9. Akita: In Front of a Vending Machine in the Midwinter

Aired: 3/6/2015

Akita Port in January, with gusty winds blowing. In a corner, there is an old vending machine. After 25 seconds of waiting, hot soba or udon noodles come out. The machine was installed 40 years ago. It was very popular as the original fast food, but recently the machine has become old and broken down, and the taste has become weak. However, the warmth of the noodles keeps customers coming in 24 hours a day. A mysterious father and son slurping noodles in a snowstorm. A man working as a driver looking up at the starry sky late at night. Numerous lives emerge from the udon noodles eaten in the extreme cold.

10. Driving school, each journey

Aired: 3/13/2015

Trucks, buses, excavators.... A driving school in the suburbs of Chiba where you can get a license for all kinds of vehicles. Every spring, people rush to the school to get a driver's license in preparation for their new lives. A former hairdresser is seeking a large-size driver's license for a new job. A Filipino woman came to get an automatic transmission license to use for nursing care work. The number of people who want to get forklift and other certifications to increase their salaries is also increasing rapidly. This is a story of people who are trying to grasp something by getting a license at a turning point in their lives.

11. Tanning Salon: The Reason for the Wheat Color

Aired: 3/20/2015

Men lying naked in the blue light.... A cold wind blows in February in Ikebukuro. In a tanning salon inside a multi-tenant building, men in wheat-colored tanning suits are sweating, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a tropical country. The men close their eyes and say, "Tanning is vitality. Their minds are filled with thoughts of their failing jobs, their estranged wives, and their uncertain futures. What will people grasp by getting dark skin here?

12. Capsule Hotel Wonderland

Aired: 4/3/2015

Capsule hotels are suddenly popular these days. Through word of mouth, travelers from all over the world come to these hotels to stay, and the languages of countries around the world fly about the inns night after night. Japanese students studying for entrance examinations are often seen in the hotel. Some young people talk about their dreams for the future, while others are unable to return home for some reason or another. For three days, we set up our cameras in this urban wonderland, where each small room is filled with a completely different kind of life.

13. Taxi Honest Conversation - Fukushima Iwaki Version

Aired: 4/10/2015

Four years have passed since “that day” in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. In this episode, we listen to the unpretentious conversations between passengers and drivers that take place in cabs. A person involved in the nuclear power plant goes out for a drink in between hard work. Fishermen gather at a snack bar because they are unable to go fishing due to the disaster. As reconstruction progresses, the number of people moving to Iwaki from the surrounding areas is rapidly increasing. What kind of conversations are going on in the cab cabs driving through the ever-changing city? The tweets inside the cabs reveal the real daily life of the people. 　

14. A Building Exclusively for Cosplay: Their Dream Castle

Aired: 4/17/2015

A study, a ritual room, a school infirmary.... People dressed in anime and game cosplay pose and shutter each other in various settings. The cosplay building in Koto-ku has 80,000 members, and more than 20 studios are visited daily by women who come to take pictures of themselves in a completely different way than usual. Some of the women say, “I want to erase myself to become a character,” or "I'm cosplaying in memory of my deceased lover. What are the thoughts of these women in their gorgeous costumes?

15. Life Begins with a Used Car

Aired: 4/24/2015

Spring. There is a place where many people rush to buy their own cars to start a new life. Among the 30 dealerships lining the national highway, the used car sales area is the busiest. A man buys a car for his son who is getting a job, and a young man buys a sports car with a loan. A young man buys a sports car with a loan. Each used car reveals a different aspect of a person's life.

16. Following the Cherry Blossoms Upstream: A Three-Day Trip Along the Tama River

Aired: 5/1/2015

In April, Kanto was intoxicated by a blizzard of flowers. One of the most “famous places for secret cherry blossom viewing” is the Tama River, which runs 138 kilometers from Haneda to Okutama. In this program, the participants loaded their bicycles with cameras and rode along the riverbanks in search of cherry blossoms admired by the locals. Fishermen in Haneda look up at the cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms in Setagaya, where he has fond memories of his children. The young men we met late at night along the 2-kilometer-long row of cherry trees in Fussa. This is a three-day flower journey in search of cherry blossoms that are not well known to everyone, but are important to each of us.

17. Yakushima: People Gathering at Giant Trees

Aired: 5/8/2015

Thousands of years old giant trees tower in the forests of Yakushima, a World Heritage Site. Many people from all over Japan are now visiting the island to see the “Jomon cedars,” which can only be seen by climbing a half-day mountain trail 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo. A young man says he visits whenever he feels lost in life. Fathers travel with their sons who are on the verge of adulthood. The 30-meter-high giant tree sometimes glistens in the drizzle, sometimes glows red in the morning sun, and changes its appearance from moment to moment. What do people think when they see the awe-inspiring Jomon cedars? 　

18. Candy Store: Children's Small Universe

Aired: 5/15/2015

“I won gum!” How was your class change?" The lively voices of children echo in a candy shop in Hyogo Ward, downtown Kobe, where a girl, clutching a 10-yen coin, ponders what to buy. A boy spends his time at the store until his working parents return home. At night, young people who used to be regular customers come to the store to soak up the nostalgic atmosphere. They eat candy, fight, make up again, and grow up. The camera is set on the small but profound "world of children.

19. Kebab Shop, Roppongi, Crossroads of Gentiles

Aired: 5/22/2015

At the foot of Tokyo Tower. Near the Roppongi intersection, there is a kebab shop where people from various countries come and go 24 hours a day. The staff are all Turkish. Because they are inexpensive and quick to eat, foreign businessmen visit the restaurant during the daytime, and in the evening, people from all over the world who work in the nightlife district visit the restaurant to fill up on food. The bustle of the city reaches its peak when the last train runs out... For three days, we listened to the unknown thoughts of foreigners who have left their hometowns and wander the night streets of Tokyo.

20. Mt. Takao, Why wander into the mountains of the city?

Aired: 5/29/2015

Three days in Mt. Takao, an “easy mountain” that can be reached in an hour from central Tokyo. During the season of fresh green leaves, the summit is crowded with people who have escaped from the urban hazards. People drinking beer with the city in the distance, children on excursions, people contemplating.... At night, however, the atmosphere changes drastically. Couples aim for the summit in the darkness as flying buzzards fly overhead. A man walks alone along a dark mountain path. We listen to the hearts of city dwellers on Mt. Takao, which is said to have the most climbers in the world.

21. Container Karaoke in a Seaside Town

Aired: 6/5/2015

In April, a huge container was brought into a small port town in Iwate, where bare land from the tsunami was noticeable. It is an impromptu mobile karaoke box loved by the locals who have few entertainment options. Some mothers bring their children to the box because they cannot speak out loud in their temporary housing. A young craftsman sings Go Nagabuchi songs with his friends. A former fisherman who sings only songs about the sea.... What kind of feelings will people entrust to the songs in the six-room container box?

22. Dreams to be drawn at a video rental store on a major holiday weekend

Aired: 6/12/2015

The May holidays were a time of excitement in Japan, with people traveling abroad and returning home. In the residential areas of central Tokyo, where the number of people had decreased, there was one place that was secretly bustling with activity: a 24-hour video rental store. Couples who dare to spend this time of year in the heart of the city, enjoying their free time. Women who stay home to watch horror movies instead of returning to their hometowns. Men who work tirelessly to provide for their wives and children who live far away from home relax with dramas set in foreign countries. Somewhere other than here.... We looked at the people who visit these places in search of the “other world” that fiction invites them to.

23. American Drive-In of Okinawa and Reminiscence

Aired: 6/19/2015

Oldies playing from the jukebox. An old lady chomping down on steak and an American soldier chomping down on fried rice. This is an old drive-in along Route 58, which runs through the main island of Okinawa. The restaurant, which began serving U.S. soldiers during the occupation, still offers the same nostalgic scene as it did in the U.S. in the 1960s. Some came from Taiwan during the Vietnam War, while others followed their loved ones to the United States. What is the soul food of the Okinawan people who have lived with the swell of the times?

24. Uwasa's cat and shopping street

Aired: 6/26/2015

Near Mito Station, there is a shopping street with a rather unusual signboard cat. His name is Hachi. The “figure eight” pattern on its forehead has made it very popular, with people saying that it brings good luck and that its pitiful face is cute. The tobacco store where he tends to his store is inundated with people who come to buy lottery tickets and make wishes. Whether he knows it or not, Hachi sleeps at his own pace or retreats to the back of the store.... The people of the shopping street are happy or sad as they make their wishes on the “cat that brings good fortune” over the three days of the festival.

25. “Hanacaba” Life Theater

Aired: 7/3/2015

Along the national highway in Hitachi City, the castle town of a giant corporation, there is a mysterious retro space that seems to have slipped back to the Showa period. It is commonly known as Hanawayama Cabaret, a row of tin taverns and other establishments along a narrow unpaved alley. It has been about 50 years since it was born during the high-growth period of Japan's economic boom. More than a dozen establishments have hung their signs in the area, providing a place for factory employees and local residents to relax. Some are fun and boisterous, some are open to complaints, and some are like a relative's home. This is the story of three days in the life of the customers and mothers who are attracted by the atmosphere of "Hanakaba.

26. Kurume, Fukuoka: The Story of Tonkotsu Ramen

Aired: 7/10/2015

Kurume is the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen. There is a ramen restaurant along the national highway that is visited by 3,000 people every day. On holidays, a couple always sips “morning ramen” together. A truck driver stops by on his drive from Aomori to Kagoshima, and an industrial worker who has been coming here after night shift since he was 15 years old and will soon reach retirement age. Founded in 1958 when Tokyo Tower was built. We listen to the stories of each of them as they tell us about their ramen lives at the restaurant, which was one of the first in Japan to open for business 24 hours a day and has continued to warm the stomachs of its customers.

27. Dance Hall for Men and Women in Downtown Tokyo

Aired: 7/17/2015

Gentlemen and ladies dance gracefully to the sensual melodies played by a live band. The stage for this program is a dance hall in downtown Tokyo, where the heat of the Showa period still lingers. As one of only two remaining authentic dance halls in the city, it is visited by 500 people a day on weekends. The ladies enjoy the feeling of a princess as a reward after work. A young man is polishing his steps for a competition. Men enjoying conversation and drinks with female teachers in the salon after lessons. We listen to the hearts of the people who gather at this adult social gathering place.

28. Rocking on the Streetcar

Aired: 7/24/2015

Hiroshima's streetcars are still active in people's daily lives and boast the highest number of users in Japan. People with various dramas ride the streetcars, which run slowly at an average speed of 10 km/h. A grandmother on her way to the hospital after giving birth to her grandson, a student stuck in his job search, and a Carp fan basking in the afterglow of victory. The train reopened three days after the atomic bombing, marking the first step toward reconstruction. This is a story that unfolds over three days on board the tram, which has been in operation for more than 100 years, and has been in the lives of the citizens of Japan.

29. Oasis Hotel in the Rice Paddies

Aired: 7/31/2015

There is an old-fashioned but very popular hotel for men in the middle of rice fields in the Niigata Plain. Its charm is not only its cheap price. The first floor is a 24-hour drive-in with retro vending machines selling toasted sandwiches and other items, attracting enthusiasts from all over the country. There is also a game corner, where people from all walks of life come to enjoy "a lot of fun for 100 yen. Peddlers who save money on lodging. People relaxing after a long day of work or nursing care. People discussing their lives with a can of coffee in one hand. Three days in a mysterious hotel.

30. New York: Laundromat Theater

Aired: 8/21/2015

The first overseas feature on "72 Hours! The setting is a 24-hour laundromat in a corner of New York City. Many people of different races and nationalities come to New York, where many people live without washing machines due to housing conditions. Immigrants from Central America who came to the city in search of a more affluent life. An elite lawyer who leaves everything from folding clothes to taking care of the laundry. An otaku who loves Japanese anime. What is the real America as seen through three days at the laundry?

31. Dalian, China - At a Japanese Foods Supermarket

Aired: 8/28/2015

This is the program's first overseas feature! The second installment is a Japanese food supermarket in Dalian, China. Many Japanese companies have established operations in Dalian, where there is a high fever for learning Japanese, and 6,000 Japanese people, including expatriates working in call centers, live there. They all use this supermarket to buy everything from Japanese candy to air-freighted fresh fish. For three days, the camera will be on the people living in Dalian, China.

32. In a Cemetery Looking Up at the Great Buddha

Aired: 9/4/2015

The 120-meter-high Daibutsu (Great Buddha) is located in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture. One of the largest cemeteries in the Kanto region spreads out at its foot. During Obon, many people come to visit the graves of their loved ones. Parents share their memories of their sons who passed away from cancer, young people visit the grave of a friend who died in an accident, and children polish the grave of their mothers who raised them alone with gratitude. The film closely observes the cemetery looking up at the Great Buddha for three days in midsummer before the fireworks display for the memorial service. We listen to the mysterious dialogue between the living and the deceased.

33. Summer Comic! Japan's “Best” Convenience Store.

Aired: 9/18/2015

The setting is a convenience store that attracts the largest number of customers in Japan among a certain chain of stores for three days in mid-summer. Many people are on their way to the Comic Market (Comiket), a subculture festival held nearby. The store serves as a front-line base for buying drinks and other items. Young people immersed in the dream world of anime cosplay and office workers who make it their life's purpose to meet up with their game-loving comrades come and go. The human drama of the convenience store is agitated by the "Summer Comic Market.

34. Summer's End: On the Streets in Front of the Diet

Aired: 10/2/2015

On the street in front of the Diet, where the future of the country is decided. In the center of Japan, where the Prime Minister's official residence, the Diet Members' Building, and the central government offices also gather, people from all walks of life come and go. Tourists and students on school excursions visit the National Diet Building, a popular tourist spot. Residents enjoy walking their dogs or running along the lush green streets. People expressing their thoughts and feelings by participating in demonstrations over the security bills and nuclear power plant issues. In September, when the bills were being debated, we spent three days and three nights in the vicinity of the National Diet, from early morning to late at night. What do we see?

35. Long-established Hotel: Till We Meet Again

Aired: 10/9/2015

The main building of a long-established hotel in Tokyo, which has been loved by both domestic and foreign guests, has been closed for reconstruction. The Hotel Okura, which has served as the “face of Japan” for more than half a century, is currently operating in its annex. During the last three days, many people with precious memories came to the hotel. Families who reserved rooms out of filial piety. An elderly couple warming the memory of their wedding day. An architect with his eyes glued to the interior design that blends Japanese tradition and Western modernity. The drama of life unfolds in the reborn Honkan before the next Tokyo Olympics.

36. Traveling Fisherman: A Life of Squid Fishing

Aired: 10/23/2015

There is a port where fishermen gather from all over Japan in pursuit of the finest squid. It is the port of Kottoi in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The squid caught offshore is known for its clear, shiny beauty and delicious taste, and is served at restaurants for several thousand yen per fish. Away from their hometowns, the fishermen sleep in cramped cabins, hoping to make a fortune at each catch. Some are veterans with 40 years of experience, while others are young Indonesians who have come to learn the art of fishing. The film follows the drama of these men in a small port where squid fishing is booming in the summer.

37. Deep Tokyo: In a Corner of Little Manila

Aired: 10/30/2015

There is a town in Tokyo called "Little Manila. It is a corner of Takenotsuka, Adachi-ku, where about 50 Filipino pubs are concentrated. There is a famous one that is open 19 hours a day from early morning to late at night. In the morning, it is a diner that welcomes drivers coming off the night shift with a salmon set meal, in the afternoon it is a place of relaxation for pensioners who enjoy conversation at the bar, and in the evening it is a paradise for adults who come to drink because it is cheaper than in the city center. We closely observe this mysterious restaurant where people of all ages, genders, and sexes gather. We spent three days observing the human characters woven into the fabric of the place.

38. Street Corner Dubbing Shop: Reviving Images

Aired: 11/6/2015

The stage for this program is a dubbing store on a street corner where old video and audio files that can no longer be played are brought in. Films, VHS, cassette tapes, etc. are transformed into DVDs and CDs and brought back to life one after another. A female office worker sends footage of her college days to a friend with whom she has shared her dreams; a father reminisces about his daughter when she was a baby; a woman finds a family member who died at a young age. A woman gazes at the image of a family member who died at a young age. We listen to the thoughts of people who are trying to revive treasures that are etched with a time that will never return.

39. Cheap Airlines: At the Airport That Never Sleeps

Aired: 11/13/2015

Kansai International Airport is the gateway to the sky that never sleeps 24 hours a day. It is one of the largest hubs in Japan with 16 low-cost carriers (LCC). People from all over the country and abroad come and go with cheap tickets in their hands. Young foreigners arrive in the middle of the night and spend the night waiting for the first train. Businessmen make hectic one-day business trips on early morning and late night flights. We looked at the human intersections at the terminal over the three days.

40. Kabukicho Midnight Dispensing Pharmacy

Aired: 11/27/2015

In Kabukicho, Shinjuku, there is a dispensing pharmacy that is open only at night. People rush in one after another to the store, which stocks everything from nutritional drinks to birth control pills that require a doctor's prescription. A woman in the water business drinks down a drink that is said to be effective for the liver. A young man who had a headache while working late at night. And a restaurant owner who returns to his workplace only to make small talk. The store has become a kind of “infirmary” in the town, where people look forward to talking with the pharmacist. The film depicts the human drama of the nightless city.

41. Welcome to the World's Largest Labyrinth of Old Books

Aired: 12/4/2015

The world's largest antiquarian bookstore district in Kanda, Tokyo, is home to more than 160 stores, where you can find amazing treasures such as medieval books priced at 10 million yen and unpublished manuscripts of great writers. A company employee buying his favorite boys' manga, a mother searching for an out-of-print picture book for her child, or a job-hunting student picking up a philosophy book in search of inspiration. Together, they slip back in time to the labyrinth of old books. We took a peek into their deep world for three days. 　

42. Fortune Teller's House: Crossroads of Fate

Aired: 12/11/2015

Fortune tellers are said to draw long lines in times of anxiety. People from all walks of life come to the store in the heart of the city to have their future predicted based on their palm readings and date of birth. Office workers who have fallen out of love and are waiting to meet the man of their dreams, single mothers who are busy with work and child-rearing, and people who have been working overtime day after day and are looking for a new job. A single mother who is busy with work and childcare; a man who is beginning to think about changing jobs after working overtime day after day. What do these people who confide in the fortune teller about their problems that they have been carrying around all by themselves reveal?

43. At Akihabara's Secret Workshop

Aired: 12/18/2015

A collar that changes color according to the dog's feelings. A keyboard instrument that produces the sound of a saxophone. There is a place in Akihabara where such outlandish things are being created one after another. The members-only workshop offers free use of a 3D printer and other equipment for a monthly fee of 15,000 yen. People from all walks of life, from amateur radio enthusiasts to inventors aspiring to be Jobs, visit the workshop. A mysterious workshop has sprung up in a mecca of otaku culture. We went undercover there for three days.