Face To Face

A declining birthrate and an exodus of young people to the cities has led to an increase in vacant homes, often abandoned in lieu of paying inheritance tax. Over 13% of the houses in Japan remain empty. In Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, however, an NPO is encouraging city dwellers to take up small town living by turning abandoned houses into attractive homes. It's renovated over 100 houses to date, increasing the population by over 150. We'll hear all about this from its director, Masako Toyota.

All Episodes - Season 5

Episode 1

Yodogawa Technique: Infusing Life Into Trash

Episode 2

Masako Toyota: Turning Narrow Hilly Streets into an Asset

Episode 3

Hiraku Ogura: Listening to the Voices of Microorganisms

Episode 4

Yoko Tawada: The Fascination of Exophonic Literature

Episode 5

Yusuke Murakami: The Key to Living Harmoniously in Extreme Environments

Episode 6

Kuniaki Kuroki: A Glass Magician

Episode 7

Josh Grisdale: A Wheelchair User's Insight into Japanese Hospitality

Episode 8

Toshiyuki Inoko: Changing Perspectives with Digital Art

Episode 9

Doshin Hiroki: Martial Arts, a New Way of Therapy

Episode 10

Miyako Ishiuchi: Documenting the Vestiges of Time