Direct Talk - Season 10 / Year 2025

In her acclaimed novels, author Julie Otsuka draws on the experiences of her Japanese-American family, preserving stories that were once nearly forgotten.

Enami Noriyuki won the coveted Double Gold Award at the world's most prestigious marmalade-making competition in 2020 and 2022. He talks about the secrets of his craft and his tumultuous journey.

In 2024, Ishigami Junya received the prestigious Austrian Frederick Kiesler Prize for Architecture and the Arts. He talks about his groundbreaking work and ponders the meaning of architecture.

Muta Yoca is an artist whose vibrant, dynamic pieces are based on the Kutani-yaki style of ceramics. We speak with Muta about her global popularity and how she creates art unburdened by convention.

Malaysian journalist Ian Yee investigates social issues and hidden crimes. He's revealed child prostitution and drug trade networks, showing the power of independent media. Hear his vital insights.

Activist Satish Kumar returns to Hiroshima after 60 years to meet Kiriake Chieko, a hibakusha and member of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Nihon Hidankyo, and younger advocates for peace.

In October 2024, Watanabe Naoko became the first Japanese woman to scale all 14 of the world's mountains that reach 8,000m above sea level. What drove her on this tremendous but perilous quest?

Imoto Katsuyuki is working to promote financial independence among ethnic minorities in conflict-torn Myanmar by teaching them agriculture. He talks about what is needed to support them.

For over three decades, human rights activist and former political prisoner Bo Kyi has been fighting for Myanmar's democratization from his base in Thailand.

Kabuki has a 400-year history. Kabuki actor Nakamura Kazutaro is carrying on the tradition and he has achieved great success in Spain blending Kabuki and Flamenco. What is the future he envisions?

Erika Colon is the artistic director of a choir for children with hearing and visual impairments. The group's aim is to make music accessible to all. She talks about developing a new form of music.

Farwiza Farhan founded NGO "HAkA" to save Sumatra's rainforests. She trains locals as rangers, uses drones and satellite data, and works with authorities to stop illegal logging and protect nature.

Hara Kazuo is the first person from Asia to win the Golden Ring Special Edition prize at an Italian film festival that explores the dark side of movies. He talks about his vision for documentaries.

In 2024, Chiba Tetsuya was the first manga artist to be awarded Japan's Order of Culture. Famous for the boxing manga "Ashita no Joe," Chiba is now working on stories about his childhood in the war.

René Redzepi, a top chef, is known for his innovative cuisine, which combines Nordic ingredients with fermentation techniques. He shares insights on shaping a sustainable future for the culinary world.

Taejun Shin applies the five constant virtues of Confucianism in providing microfinance services to women in rural Asia. We learn how he balances running a business with helping people.

Kofi Bazzell-Smith teaches manga drawing at college and is known as the first professor of manga practice in the US. He is passionate about manga as an art form with cinematic characteristics.

For over 150 years, Yamamoto Yasuo's family has made soy sauce in wooden barrels. This traditional method is close to dying out, but Yamamoto intends to keep it alive for future generations.

Known for work that explores the traces of time's passage, photographer Ishiuchi Miyako has won numerous honors, including the prestigious Hasselblad Award. She shares insights about her photography.

Julian Sedgwick is an award-winning British author of novels for teenagers. His work is inspired by his love of Japan and the resilience of its people since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Aoki Kenta of the certified NPO SALASUSU has helped tackle human trafficking and poverty in Cambodia for over 20 years. How is Japan's "Lesson Study" method used to reform Cambodia's public education?

Baseball glove craftsman Shigeaki Aso's custom-made gloves have been worn by legendary players. His dedication to craft has earned him the title of "Glove Guru" in the MLB.

Tomita Hiroshi is the founder of a company that specializes in detecting underground cavities. He discusses how his technology is reducing risks and mitigating damage from all sorts of disasters.

Makihara Daizoh is drawing attention from around the world for crafting timepieces that embody a Japanese aesthetic. He talks about the appeal of analog watchmaking in the digital age.

Hikikomori, first seen in 90s Japan, is now a global phenomenon. In France, Tadaaki Furuhashi brought awareness and treatment, with rising cases due to social anxiety and unemployment.

A Cambodian film director who survived Khmer Rouge persecution talks about the deep meaning of keeping tragic memories alive through filmmaking to pass on a message of love and peace.

Haraguchi Akihisa leads One Village One Product in Japan to provide products from villages in Kyrgyzstan, contributing to local incomes among the stagnant economy by selling around 700 items.

Yasuda Junichi directed "A Samurai in Time," a playful film made on a shoestring budget that became a word-of-mouth hit. Yasuda, who is also a rice farmer, gives us the behind-the-scenes story.

Nakajima Hiromitsu makes supportive devices for world-class para-athletes such as gold medal-winning wheelchair tennis player Kamiji Yui. He talks about helping them perform at their best.

Cannon Hersey, grandson of the Pulitzer-Prize-winning author John Hersey, shares about his art, heritage, and why he has visited Hiroshima over 35 times while contemplating the meaning of memory.

Mayunkiki is an artist with Ainu root and began to disseminate Ainu culture. In recent years, her unique view of the world has been attracting interest not only from home but also from abroad.

Japanese American director Matthew Ozawa has been pushing the boundaries of opera throughout his career. He won acclaim for drawing on his own heritage, to free Madama Butterfly from stereotypes.

Yamauchi Anna offers fertility support in East Asia, where speaking about pregnancy is still regarded as taboo. Sharing her experiences of miscarriage, her services are expanding women's choices.

Afuso Michie is a Japanese-Brazilian woman who runs a center in Kanagawa Prefecture that offers Japanese language classes and other services which help foreign residents find their footing.

92-year-old sake brewer Noguchi Naohiko has made significant contributions to the sake industry over his seven-decade career. He talks about carrying on old traditions while innovating new ones.

Miyagawa Eriko, a bilingual producer of SHOGUN, the highly acclaimed 2024 historical drama TV series set in Japan 400 years ago, talks about portraying Japan authentically in Hollywood.

Goto Masashi runs a platform linking coffee farmers and buyers directly, ensuring stable incomes despite market volatility. We asked him about the future of coffee amid climate change and challenges.

Indonesian product designer Singgih Susilo Kartono has launched initiatives to revitalize deserted villages by producing unique products utilizing local natural resources such as bamboo.

Sotoo Etsuro, Japanese sculptor at Sagrada Familia, has worked 47 years, interpreting Gaudi's vision and advancing the Basilica's completion, connecting past and future through sculpture.

French judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou, a medalist at three consecutive Olympic Games and advocate towards a society where women can thrive more, continues her athletic career even after giving birth.

An American journalist and author reports on nuclear victims' stories. Fallout, her masterpiece, explores how John Hersey's Hiroshima uncovered hibakusha experiences under GHQ's intense scrutiny.

Kajita Mami, a former physics researcher, created a crime prediction system after being robbed in Italy. With world-leading accuracy, it is used by Brazil's police. Can it lead to a crime-free world?

Dr. Akiko Iwasaki has devoted her career to studying vaccines, to ward off infectious diseases. She talks about breakthroughs in understanding Long COVID, and the importance of diverse voices in science.

Murase Hidehiro trains search-and-rescue dogs to save lives in disaster areas around the world. He talks about the importance of having dogs that are specifically able to respond to disasters in Asia.

In 2024, Miyakoshi Akiko won a New York Times' Best Illustrated Children's Book Award. We see how she creates art, using charcoal and watercolors. And we discover the inspiration behind her work.

Since 2021, Yoshida Hirofumi has been principal guest conductor of the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in Ukraine. He talks about what he hopes to convey through music amid conflict.

Sekiguchi Itaru helped to restore the pipe organ at Notre Dame in Paris, following the cathedral's fire in 2019. He tells us about his work, including the tuning and voicing of these instruments.

Akasaka Yogetsu, a priest with an international following, is known for combining beatboxing with Buddhist mantras. He talks about Zen philosophy and the spirit of "living in the here and now."

Asakawa Chieko develops innovative products that transform the lives of the visually impaired. Asakawa, who is blind herself, introduces her greatest project yet: an AI suitcase.

In 2024, a team led by Saito Kentaro won the bronze trophy as well as a special prize at the prestigious Montreal International Fireworks Competition. He talks about what fireworks mean to him.

Mizushiri Yoriko won the Silver Bear in the short film competition at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival. She talks about her passion for creating animations that evoke a sense of touch.

Filmmaker Soda Kazuhiro, whose latest work won the Best Movie Award at a film festival in 2024, tells us about the "observational" documentary style he has been championing for 20 years.

Nagasaka Mago makes art with discarded smartphones, computers, and other e-waste from the slums of Ghana, then uses much of the proceeds to give back to the community. He talks about his vision.

Kimura Masahiko is a legend of the bonsai world who has won the Prime Minister's Award, one of the industry's highest honors, 27 times. He talks about creating original works that break the mold.

Yoshida Miyako performed around the world as a Royal Ballet principal dancer, and is now a top artistic director in Japan. She explains the challenges Japanese ballet faces on the international stage.

Nakahara Sachiko translates the looks of popular Japanese anime and manga characters into costumes for live-action adaptations. She talks about making an impact on the global stage.

The pianist Sumino Hayato is winning international acclaim for a style that blends various genres, while remaining rooted in classical music. He tells us what he hopes to communicate through his art.

In 2020, Kitajima Masaaki published the world's first paper on how the spread of COVID-19 could be tracked by monitoring wastewater. He talks about making an impact on infectious disease control.

The majority of Niger, in Africa, is occupied by the Sahara, and desertification is a major problem. Oyama Shuichi introduces his method of increasing vegetation using household waste.

Ishikawa Mao is an award-winning photographer who has been documenting the lives of people in Okinawa for 50 years. She talks about what she wants to express through her work.

Yoshida Katsuji investigates unexplored caves around the world, and won the Uemura Naomi Adventure Award for his achievements in Laos. He talks about the appeal of cave exploration.

World-class stuntman Obikane Nobuyuki won an Emmy Award for his work on the hit historical TV drama series "Shogun." He talks about his techniques for achieving realistic, thrilling action.

Shimomura Yoko created music for many of the world's most popular video games, and was recently awarded a BAFTA Fellowship. She explains how she writes music that captivates players.

Hayashiya Tsuruko is breaking new ground by reinterpreting the Japanese art of classic rakugo comic storytelling from a woman's perspective. She talks about her message for modern audiences.

Kurosaki Yu is a blacksmith specializing in Echizen cutlery, a 700-year-old Japanese craft. His knives are sought after by chefs in Japan and overseas. He talks about achieving ultimate sharpness.

Matsuo Takahiro has gained international recognition for installations that fuse light with cutting-edge technology. He talks about how he creates his one-of-a-kind light art.

Tsuji Masachika is working on using sounds that birds dislike to keep them away from airplanes and prevent bird strikes. He talks about seeking ways for wild animals and humans to coexist in harmony.

Nail artist Kawajiri Mei is acclaimed by global fashion icons and artists for her boundless imagination and unique sense of humor. She tells us about the source of her inspiration

Kadota Shunji has been working for many years to empower people with disabilities to live independently. His efforts have helped shape policies around the world. He talks about his journey so far.

Inoue Hiroko is the president of an NGO that has been running exchange programs for young people from Israel, Palestine, and Japan for 20 years. She talks about their goals and her hope for peace.

In 2025, Otani Akira's book "The Night of Baba Yaga" won the UK's prestigious Dagger prize for crime fiction in translation - a first for a Japanese author. She talks about the inspiration behind her work.

Umemoto Ayaka is captain of the Japan women's national deaf volleyball team. She and her teammates, who include her twin sister Sayaka, are aiming for the gold at the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics.

Atsuko Okatsuka is a US-based stand-up comedian with fans all over the world. She tells us why she pursues comedy, and talks about finding humor within the hardships of life in a minority group.