NHK Documentary - Season 2 / Year 2013

The Himalaya Mountains are home to 14 peaks that soar above 8,000 meters. Conquering all 14 of these peaks is the ultimate goal of alpinists worldwide. No Japanese climber has yet achieved this goal. Hirotaka Takeuchi is set to become the first. We follow his ascent to the last 8,000-meter peak.

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake hit Kobe 18 years ago. And now, highly evolved metropolitan areas face the huge Nankai Trough Earthquake. lifelines would be damaged. Financial and logistics systems could descend into chaos. What will happen to Japan then? We look at the worst-case scenario.

The terrorist siege at a natural gas plant in Algeria shook the world. It left at least 39 foreign workers dead, including 10 Japanese. Why so many Japanese were killed is still unclear. In this program, through interviews with people concerned with the incident in and outside Japan, we'll try to uncover the truth.

Successive meltdowns of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant resulted in significant nuclear contamination. How did the disaster unfold? NHK interviewed more than 400 people and conducted simulations based on volumes of data. Our independent investigation sheds new light on the accident 2 years after it occurred.

Japan has become more seismically active since the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Scientists are now particularly concerned about near-field earthquakes caused by active faults. Where will the next near-field quake strike? The MEGAQUAKE series will try to unravel the mystery of earthquakes using the latest technology. The first program will focus on the growing threat at our feet and uncover the true nature of active faults.

2 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, researchers have been looking into the mechanism responsible for the tremors that inflicted unimaginable damage. It's called long duration ground motion. Even quake-proof buildings and large cities far away from the epicenter felt its effects. How can we cope with this source of deadly vibrations? The second program will focus on the long-lasting damage generated by a megaquake.

Many had longed for this day. Kabukiza theater was reborn after 3 years of major renovation. It has been located in Tokyo's upscale Ginza district for over 120 years. The actors are breathing new life into the rebuilt theater. Kabuki's new history begins here. We followed the men who are betting their lives on the big stage.

Human ancestors stood on their feet and walked their unique path of evolution. But they became prone to some illnesses as they continued to evolve. Cancer is one of them. It's a major cause of death around the world.

Every year, as many as 15 million people suffer strokes around the world. Humans have undergone a rapid increase in brain size. But this development has made us susceptible to strokes. In "The Origins of Disease", we'll explore the secrets of strokes and the hidden price of mankind's rapid evolution.

In March 2011, the tsunami swallowed up everything that was familiar to the people of Yuriage in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture. Immediately after the disaster, the mayor sprang into action to start rebuilding the town. The biggest obstacle to rebuilding was the approval of its residents. This is a record of the struggles of people forced to rebuild their town while attempting to heal the scars left by the disaster.

In 2013, Mt. Fuji became a World Heritage Site. Japan's highest peak is riddled with great mysteries and the unknown. The key to unraveling these is a drop of water. Mt. Fuji has always been special to the Japanese. In our program, we'll look at the mystery surrounding it.

Plants that release their pollen like ninja smoke-bombs. Water droplets emerging from leaves to glisten like jewels. There is a little-known universe of wonders at our very feet. Plant photographer Hany Ciabou has dedicated 40 years to showing us the special qualities of the most ordinary plants, and the drama in their supposedly immobile lives. His poetic photos and evocative poetry celebrate minute glories and eternal moments.

After World WarⅡ, over 200,000 Japanese who remained in North Korea suffered from hunger and disease. To survive, even little children had to escape the North on foot. Some 35,000 Japanese died in the North, unable to escape. 68 years after the end of the war, the facts behind the attempts to bring these people home have finally come to light.

The number of so-called new super-rich, who have over one million dollars in assets, is increasing rapidly. They leave their countries and move to places where taxes are low. They are generating massive wealth worldwide. But, many countries suffer the weight of ballooning national debt. How can governments levy taxes on wealth that moves freely across borders? We bring you a report from the frontline.

Stradivarius violins produce sound so incomparably beautiful, rich and dynamic. Throughout history, prominent musicians have played these greatest of violins. But no one knows exactly how they were made and why have they captivated so many people. It is a mystery still unsolved after 300 years. Scientists, violinmakers and musicians are joining hands to unravel the secrets.