Magical Japanese

Time and Tide

2020

"Time and Tide" transcends time to detail extraordinary historical events in Japan and the larger world. Join NHK WORLD-JAPAN on a journey that reveals the truth behind some of the turning points of the past.

Explore Japan

2016

Japan continues to thrive as it incorporates cultural elements of music, fashion, cuisine, sports, arts and science from around the world. People’s encounters trigger the fusion of Japan’s and the world’s diverse culture, unceasingly producing a myriad of new phenomena and events. This series will feature how various culture in modern Japan and overseas blend together and influence each other.

Activate Your Japanese!

2022

Learn how to make the most of your Japanese skills. Watch our drama that features useful communication strategies, our snappy videos about onomatopoeia, and our documentaries on workers from abroad in various parts of Japan.

Ukiyoe EDO-LIFE

2018

Centuries ago, Tokyo was known as Edo. More than a million people enjoyed life in this small but abundant city. They live on in ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Each episode is a deep dive into a single print, and an exploration of the soul of Old Tokyo. We examine works by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige not just for their aesthetic and historical value, but for the stories they tell of everyday life. That is how the people of Edo themselves enjoyed this mass-produced medium.

Chiisana Tabi

1983

Japanology Plus

2014

Host Peter Barakan delves into various aspects of Japanese culture; exploring practices, history, and modern innovations in such areas as ramen, rice, sushi, geisha, bonsai, and so much more. Local experts discuss their passions at fascinating length, and American Japanophile Matt Alt experiences the food, practices, and cultures in each episode in depth. Viewers will finish each half hour episode with a new understanding of an area of Japanese life through demonstrative videos and explanations, all delivered respectfully and true to the Japanese way of life.

Japanology Plus mini

2020

A five-minute series where you can explore a wide variety of Japanese cultures, traditions and lifestyles.

Decisions of the Heroes

2013

Historical figures and their decisions that changed the course of history. Based on expert research, the program explains dilemmas the that heroes faced and options they could have chosen.