Hometown Stories
5.5
2011
Documentary
Stories about people, stories about life. Intimate portraits of people from around Japan, each leading diverse lives while enriching lives of others.
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- Cast:
- lae astra
Episode 27 : The Bounty of the Mountains
December. 21,2019
The Tateyama mountain range in north-eastern Japan is known for its vibrant mountain scenery, drawing nearly a million tourists a year. The people who live at the foot of the mountains worship the sacred peaks and draw emotional sustenance from them. As the seasons unfold, the face of Tateyama changes dramatically. Over the course of a year, we look at both the abundant blessings that nature bestows on Tateyama and the people who live in this harsh but beautiful setting.
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Episode 22 : Home for Good - Health Care at the End of Life
October. 05,2019
In a remote Japanese village, elderly residents have a common dream: to end their last days in their hometown, surrounded by family and friends. For years, end-of-life care in hospitals far away was their only option. But now, thanks to a dedicated doctor and team of caregivers, people are able to receive such care at home or at a nearby nursing facility, bringing peace of mind to patients and loved ones alike.
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Episode 21 : Fukushima's Grandpa Troop: Restoring a Deserted Town
September. 21,2019
Spring 2019 saw the return of some of the former residents of Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture who had evacuated due to high radiation. Instrumental in this were 6 former town employees, aged 66 on average, known as the "Grandpa Troop." These men spent 6 years maintaining affected areas, believing that residents could someday return. Following the partial lifting of an evacuation order, the troop disbanded this spring. We look at what inspired them to clear a path for the younger generation.
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Episode 20 : Why We Dance - Children's Kagura Troupe
September. 14,2019
Devastating rains hit western Japan in July 2018, nearly wiping out a community's cherished tradition - a children's troupe performing ancient Kagura theater. But their coach quickly raised funds from locals to replace badly damaged props and costumes. To celebrate and thank supporters, the troupe plans a special show. A 12-year-old boy who's a lead performer must prepare 2 sacred dances to foster tranquility. During months of rigorous practice, he and his coach explore Kagura's timeless lessons.
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Episode 18 : Where Are My Roots? - One Orphan's Search
August. 03,2019
During World War II, over 120,000 children in Japan were orphaned. Many of them never knew their parents' names or what they looked like. Seventy-three-year-old Honoko spent her early years in an orphanage, then was raised by kind and loving foster parents. But she remained consumed by the desire to learn more about her origins. We follow Honoko as she retraces the steps of her childhood desperately searching for answers.
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Episode 17 : Two Worlds, One Dream: Vying for Powerlifting Glory
July. 20,2019
Pia Laophakdee is a young para powerlifter who is determined to change perceptions of disabled people in his home country, Laos. Coaching him is 59-year-old Takashi Jo, a seasoned Japanese para athlete who is hoping to crown his career by competing at the highest level in his sport. These 2 strong-willed athletes come together to train and test the limits of their strength as they pursue powerlifting glory.
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Episode 16 : A 26-Year-Old's Breast Cancer Diary
July. 13,2019
Miki Yakata, a former member of an all-girl Japanese idol group, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 26, and underwent surgery to remove her left breast. In May 2018, she started keeping a video diary to record her daily experiences, and her feelings about things like losing her hair during chemotherapy and her anxiety over juggling work and treatment. Today, breast cancer is common, affecting one in every 11 Japanese women. This is a 6-month record of one woman's life-changing journey.
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Episode 14 : Praying for Flowers, Praying for Life
June. 08,2019
Videographer Koichi Hozan has terminal cancer, yet he continues filming the landscape of Nara Prefecture in Japan. His collection of works portraying the transition of the seasons is considered awe-inspiring and provokes emotions among those who see the images. This spring, he's set his focus on a weeping cherry tree. As it approaches its final days, the tree is trying to blossom one last time. We follow Hozan as he goes on shooting Nara's scenery while facing his own mortality.
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Episode 11 : A Geisha in Nara: Bridging Past and Future
April. 20,2019
Kikuno has devoted herself to the life of a geisha since the age of 15. She lives in Nara Prefecture's entertainment district, once home to more than 200 geisha performers. The district has steadily declined, and a decade ago Kikuno became Nara's last remaining geisha. Now 45, she is working to keep 150 years of tradition alive by adapting to the times. She has turned her geisha house into a company and began paying the entertainers a salary. In the summer of 2018, she faced her next challenge: preparing a young geisha and an apprentice for a major performance.
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Episode 9 : Stories of Fukushima: Giving Their All
March. 24,2019
A young man from Fukushima Prefecture took his love of baseball to Nicaragua, where he helped create the country's first female baseball team. An 81-year-old who lives in Fukushima works every day growing vegetables, and helping neighbors with everything from carpentry to plumbing. After the March 2011 nuclear disaster, another man opened a Tokyo restaurant specializing in Fukushima's seafood and other delicacies, to support the prefecture. These are the stories of 3 unsung heroes with ties to Fukushima who have touched many people's lives.
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Episode 8 : Fukushima Ramen: Bowlful of Spirit
March. 17,2019
In Fukushima Prefecture, a simple dish is giving people the power to rebuild from the 2011 disaster. One woman found not just a career, but a new way of relating to those around her. A man in his 80's opened his 7th ramen shop to give local kids a sense of hope. And in his mother's hometown, another man is using his culinary skills to help enliven the local community. Join us as we follow these 3 chefs in their quest to create something wonderful out of an everyday bowl of noodles.
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Episode 7 : Sharing Their Stories
March. 10,2019
Young survivors of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan have been opening up about their experiences. They're speaking out about the sorrow and conflicted emotions they'd long kept bottled up inside. Their words are helping them to heal, and giving other young people the strength to share their stories.
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Episode 4 : "Super Volunteer": Driven to Help in Disasters
February. 10,2019
Haruo Obata, 78, gained nationwide fame in summer 2018 when he found a missing 2-year-old boy during a search operation in southwestern Japan. It was the latest effort by this "super volunteer" to come to the aid of people in need. For nearly 30 years, Haruo has helped survivors in disaster-hit areas, including the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2016 quakes in Kumamoto Prefecture. This program follows him as he camps out in a schoolyard in western Japan, while working to clean up homes badly damaged by heavy rains. He opens up about a personal mission shaped by a life of hardship, and reveals what drives him on.
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Episode 2 : Yuka and Her New Classmates
January. 20,2019
How can Japanese schools cope with increasing numbers of children of foreign workers? And how can these children overcome the barriers they face? One school, where a fifth of the students have foreign nationalities, has taken proactive steps to help integrate these students. We follow Yuka, a new arrival from Brazil, who knows no Japanese and struggles to break out of her shell so she can join the life of the school.
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