Today's Close-Up - Season 3 / Year 2017

"Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind" has become popular with leaders and intellectuals around the world. The best-seller offers insights that can help us to live in this world of conflict and division. The author talks about how we can create a better future.

Workers from overseas are filling in the gaps in Japan's labor force. But as their numbers rise, some are fleeing their assigned workplaces and overstaying their visit. Our report tracks down some of these workers and discovers the expanding illegal networks that entice them.

A Japanese animation set in wartime Hiroshima before the city's A-bombing has become a long-running hit. "In This Corner of the World" depicts how ordinary people go about their lives. It makes a powerful statement about human resilience under extraordinary circumstances. We consider the film's universal message.

Japan's online job market is growing rapidly. But it poses problems such as low wages and copyright. How can freelancers and businesses that offer jobs online develop win-win relationships? We report from the front line.

It's getting harder to tell fact from fiction…especially in a world of alternative facts. Every day we're bombarded by information from numerous sources, and hidden among that information is a growing stream of fake news stories. One such story even triggered a shooting. We look at how fake news starts and spreads.

Fake news is everywhere. It can do real social harm, and we may be helping to spread it unintentionally on the devices we use every day. Are there ways to stop the proliferation of false information in cyberspace? We take a look at recent efforts and hear from the experts.

A new form of US racist ideology, the so-called alt-right, has been widening social divisions with the emergence of Donald Trump. We interview Richard Spencer, a leader of the movement, and a figure from a minority group that is taking up arms against it.

Last July, nineteen people with disabilities were killed at a care facility. The suspect, a former member of staff, declared the lives of disabled people to be worthless. With the names of the victims undisclosed for privacy reasons, NHK has set up a website with the approval of their families to shine a light on their lives. As we look at the outpouring of messages from the public, we reflect on what the incident means for us.

It's been six years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Harassment of people evacuated from the area has recently come to light, triggered by a memo written by an elementary school pupil. He was bullied severely at school just because he was an evacuee. NHK survey reveals the reality of evacuees' suffering.

Did you know your fingerprint can be stolen from a photo uploaded to social media? And your facial data may be captured whenever you enter a convenience store or supermarket? Rapid innovations in technology are helping authorities and businesses fight crime, but they're also coming at a cost to our privacy. We take a look at the benefits and drawbacks.

More people are taking out bank card loans they can't repay. They thought it was safe to borrow money from banks -- and it was so easy. Why do many banks promote such loans and sometimes lend people too much money? We report on the risks of bank card loans and discuss how to prevent people from falling into the debt trap.

Academy Award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto has released his first new album in eight years. Titled 'async', the album plays with ideas of asynchronization. What is his message? We interviewed the artist who continues to push the frontiers of music.

In 2013, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden shocked the world when he released a trove of documents exposing US mass surveillance activities. Now, 13 new files from Snowden show that Japan was also a target. NHK got an advance look at the latest documents. We discuss what they reveal about previously unknown links between Japan and the US intelligence agency.

In April, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden released a batch of classified intelligence files on Japan. One document claimed that the US provided Japan with a mass-surveillance program. For the second installment in our series, we sat down with Snowden for an exclusive interview, as part of a broader discussion about the competing interests of privacy and security.

If you are a middle-age man and feel tired or irritable for no obvious reason, it may be a condition called male menopause. We enlisted some men who suffer the symptoms and look at the medical advice of a specialist.

Telomeres sit at the ends of the chromosomes in each human cell. They may hold the key to a long, healthy and youthful life. In this week's program, we look at the latest studies on telomeres, and practical methods for maintaining them and leading a healthy lifestyle.

When an asteroid strikes the Earth, it can destroy an entire city… or more. Astronomers have so far found about 16,000 asteroids that might cross into Earth's orbit. How can we prevent one of them striking our planet? We look at ideas from astronomers at the Planetary Defense Conference, held in Tokyo last month.

It's been a taboo in Japan for doctors to take a patient off life-support. But in the last decade, attitudes have been changing. Doctors now have guidelines to discuss end-of-life options with patients and their families, including stopping life prolonging treatments. We'll report from the medical frontlines.

Japan is a rapidly graying society. The number of widows and widowers is steadily rising. Many of them live by themselves and feel lonely now that their partners are gone. We take a look at how they are trying to recover from their loss and lead positive and happy lives.

A bag containing plutonium recently burst at a Japanese nuclear facility, exposing five workers to radiation. Questions are being asked about why such accidents repeatedly occur in a country that keeps almost 11 tons of plutonium. We look at issues of safety management and think about how to prevent future accidents.

Famous manga artist and mother of two teenagers Rieko Saibara prompted shock and praise when she declared she was giving up the chores of motherhood, as well as the end of her popular newspaper cartoon, "Kaasan - Mom's Life". At a time when many parents help their children find jobs and even marriage partners, we ask Saibara for her insights into parent-child relations.

The latest string of terrorist attacks shows anyone can be a target. One year after members of an Islamic extremist group stormed a Bangladesh restaurant, killing 22 people including seven Japanese, we ask how we can protect ourselves from such incidents.

The world's first treaty placing a legal ban on nuclear weapons was passed on July 7th. But nuclear states such as the United States, along with Japan and 27 other countries under the US nuclear umbrella, didn't sign it. Can a "nuclear-free world" be realized? We hear what the head of the UN's disarmament office has to say.

While Japan's big firms enjoy the benefits of an economic recovery, many subcontractors endure unfair and exploitative practices. These small and mid-size companies employ about 70 percent of the nation's workforce. We examine why they're at a disadvantage, and look at the efforts to rectify the problem.

Hakuho has set a new Grand Sumo record in career wins. When he came to Japan from Mongolia 17 years ago, he was a skinny 15-year-old boy. His success is unprecedented in the harsh world of the traditional Japanese martial art. We spoke with him right after the July tournament where he made history, and asked him what his next goal is.

Cryptocurrencies are becoming popular. A growing number of online traders are making huge profits by trading in them, but the values of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile. What are their merits and demerits? We hear what experts have to say about the potential effect of virtual currencies on our daily lives.

Japan is seeing a rise in unclaimed human remains. Abandoned urns containing ashes have been found in coin-lockers, highway rest stops, and even in a rubbish bin at a race track. We look at factors including economic reasons behind this growing social problem.

Japan is seeing an increase in people who want to contribute to society by bequeathing their assets. The amounts and the recipients are varied. What motivates people to give away their property? How can problems with bereaved family members be avoided? We look closely at the issue and talk to experts for advice.

Can you be sure the medication you've been prescribed is the real deal? Fake drugs can be fatal, and now they've made their way into legitimate supply channels in Japan. Criminal organizations aren't solely to blame. Industry practices have contributed, too. We ask the experts what can be done to tackle the problem.

It's a delicate subject, but one of the hardest challenges for both caregivers and recipients in Japan's super-aging society is toileting. Many people are reluctant to ask for help. In this program, we look at some tips and high-tech devices that ease the burden.

A rising number of investors are focusing on firms that meet ESG criteria - and they're changing the way business is done. ESG stands for "environmental", "social" and "governance", and if companies are careless about these factors, they might not raise enough money from the markets. We ask experts what this investment trend is about, and look at some businesses trying to keep up with the standards.

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Asia. Fleeing clashes with the military in Myanmar, some 500 thousand Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh in just over a month. They are Muslims, denied citizenship by Myanmar's government. What can Aung San Suu Kyi do to resolve the problem? We bring you the latest from the frontline.

ICAN started with a small number of young people with little experience. How could such an organization become the driving force in achieving an international treaty banning nuclear weapons - something that no one thought was possible? NHK has been following the group for four years. Let's take a look behind the scenes.

With China investing heavily in electric vehicles, and the UK and France announcing they will ban sales of gas and diesel cars by 2040, automakers worldwide are preparing for a major transition. We take a look at how manufacturers are reacting as the move to electric technology gathers pace.

Home appliances can be a source of danger. They can cause accidents such as fires as well as injuries, which has led some people to call them silent time-bombs. We take a look at what's behind this and hear experts discuss possible countermeasures.

As a by-product of its civilian nuclear power generation, Japan has currently piled up 47 tons of plutonium. The US and other countries are concerned at the potential for weaponizing this plutonium stockpile, together with the potential for global proliferation of plutonium concurrent with civilian nuclear power generation. We explore Japan's unique situation from a nuanced perspective, shedding light on the issues.

The government of Japan has said the country's literacy rate is nearly 100%. But a recent NHK survey shows otherwise. For various reasons, there are young people who are not able to finish the nine years of compulsory education. Through interviews with them and discussion with experts, we explore the background to this problem and what can be done about it.

What if you were falsely declared a murderer online and there was nothing you could do to clear your name? Such was the situation facing a young comedian when he became the innocent victim of internet mob justice. We interviewed him, as well as other victims and their attackers, to find out what drives this growing phenomenon, and how society should respond.

Richard Thaler has won this year's Nobel Prize in Economics for his contribution to behavioral economics. His ideas have helped people cut household spending and have generated huge economic benefits. Today we introduce you to some of them, which may nudge you into improving your daily life.

In October, police found 9 dismembered bodies near Tokyo. The murder suspect used Twitter to lure the victims. Hate speech is also rampant on the service. As the social and political impacts of online services increase, how can we manage their use? We speak to Jack Dorsey about the potential of Twitter.

Japan has fallen behind the US in information technology and lost out to other Asian countries in manufacturing. But now it has a chance to be a global technological leader once again - through robotics. Today we look at what two firms, Sony and Softbank, are doing to promote artificially intelligent robots in our everyday lives. And we ask: are robots the key to the resurgence of Japanese industry?

The UN adopted the Nuclear Ban Treaty this year, and ICAN, which contributed to its adoption, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But Japan, the only nation attacked by atomic bombs, is against the treaty. How can Japan be a bridge between nuclear and non-nuclear weapons states? We ask atomic bomb survivor Setsuko Thurlow, who gave a speech at the Nobel ceremony, as well as Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.