2024

The setting is a “rental room” inn in Beppu, a hot spring resort. Accommodation is inexpensive. There is no formal service. But its mysterious charm attracts people. The inn began by renting out rooms to hot-spring cure guests, but now it attracts a wide variety of visitors, including a person who has been staying in a room for three years, two women who came for a trip before giving birth, and a man who continues to travel alone. There was also a couple who came for a hot-spring cure for an illness. For three days, we listened to the voices of visitors and wondered what they were thinking when they stayed in the rental rooms.

Who called it “that bench”? It is on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. The lake spreads out in front of you. It became popular on SNS a few years ago and is visited by people without a pause. A cyclist stops by during his round-the-lake trip around Lake Biwa. Car enthusiasts gather here every weekend. The weather around here is changeable during this season, and some people prefer the rough waves, while others like the calm blue lake. What do they all have in mind when they sit down? For three days, we gaze at the benches that stand by the lakeside.

The setting is a huge citizen's farm in Okayama City. On a vast site the size of 1.5 Tokyo Domes, 540 plots of farmland are available for rent. Some of them charge as little as 1,800 yen per month. Farm equipment is also available for rent, and some farmland comes with a shed. Here, one can meet people from all walks of life. A family digs potatoes with their children and makes potato butter right next to the field. Others have found enjoyment in watching the life of vegetables as they wither and die. What stories are being nurtured?

The setting is a budget women's clothing store in Ueno. From everyday wear to brand-name items for going out, some items can be found for less than half the regular price. The reason for the low prices is said to be that the store purchases large quantities of surplus stock from the distribution process. People from all walks of life come here. Some people get excited at the bargain corner, others buy a 3,000-yen coat but say their goal is to work and buy more cute clothes. For three days, we listened to the voices of these women.

Sweat dripping from the body at temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius. This time, the setting is a long-established sauna. Located in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, known for its towels and shipbuilding, it has long been a favorite of men working in factories. The style of the sauna, with its small talk and the owner's homemade cooking, is distinctly different from the recent sauna boom, and has remained unchanged from the past. A construction site worker who visits every Sunday with his friends, a former towel manufacturer who has been a regular customer for 20 years, and a man who has been a regular at the sauna since the Showa Era (1926-1989). This film focuses on the daily lives of men in saunas that have been around since the Showa period.

The “Shinjuku Fair” airs episodes set in the metropolis of Shinjuku, and focuses on a drugstore that is open 24 hours a day. The drugstore offers not only medicines but also cosmetics and boxed lunches, and is visited by a wide variety of people. At noon, people buy nutritional drinks and medicines for menstrual cramps. Even late at night, people come to the pharmacy to buy medicines for menstrual cramps. For three days after Christmas, the drugstore is lit throughout the night, and we observe the daily life of people at the end of the year.

Trucks driving in snowy Sapporo. It travels from house to house delivering kerosene, which is indispensable for winter life. In this three-day report, we closely follow the kerosene delivery truck. When the truck stops at a house, it stretches out its hose and fills the kerosene tanks and polyethylene tanks at the house. An elderly customer was so engrossed in cleaning up that he did not notice that his heater had run out of kerosene. A couple who run a hair salon and need kerosene for their boiler. Each of them has their own reasons for seeking kerosene. We follow the kerosene delivery trucks as they make their rounds and observe people trying to get through the harsh winter.

In the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture, there is an ice cream store that is popular even in the harsh winter. Since the owner of the ranch opened the store 30 years ago, the ice cream made with freshly squeezed milk has been loved by the locals. People from all walks of life visit the shop. For three days, we will listen to the voices of visitors at the store that has watched over the people of Fukushima for 30 years.

Shirts, underwear, towels, bedding, and other laundry go round and round. This time, the setting is a laundromat near Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. People from all walks of life in the city come here day and night. A woman washes clothes for her family of three in bulk on weekends. A young woman who has started living alone talks about how much she appreciates her mother. This film looks at the life patterns of each of these people, as evidenced by their laundry situations.

Motsu stew, fried rice, stamina set menus, curry, and more. National Route 4 stretches north from Tokyo. The setting is a 24-hour drive-in along the road in Fukushima Prefecture. At first glance, it looks old-fashioned, but many people come here day and night. A man on his way home from Yamagata to Tokyo, carrying his belongings. A son who has joined the workforce and treats his parents to a meal. A man who has memories of his late father who was a truck driver. Each person's life path. Where are they all headed?

The story takes place in a 24-hour discount supermarket. A row of cheap side dishes and bento boxes are lined up, and “half-price sale” stickers are pasted on them one after another. The flashy neon lights are eye-catching, and the place is a well-known supermarket in Osaka. It is a well-known supermarket in Osaka, where a variety of people visit morning, noon, and night without interruption. Students on their way home from part-time jobs, couples coming in late at night, and the elderly after a night shift. Each person's life is revealed through their shopping baskets. For three days, we listened to the voices of the visitors.

It is close to Kagoshima Airport in the spring and the season of departure. Parents who see off their children who are leaving for work, friends who are separated from their children when they go to school, the airport at this time of year is full of drama. What kind of thoughts will everyone have in this place that connects large cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and remote islands such as Yakushima and Amami Oshima by air? For three days, I stared at the moment when the story of life was condensed.

Anime goods such as dolls, key chains, and badges. The story takes place in a store that buys these items. Located in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, the anime town, many people come here every day with something. Some people sell bags of their favorite characters because they have changed their favorite anime. Some are giving up their goods when they move far away for work. Others come to bring closure to their feelings. What kind of present can we see from the circumstances of each person parting with their favorite things?

The story takes place at a rather unusual soba restaurant in Akita City. It opens at 10 p.m., stays open all night, and closes around noon the next day. The restaurant serves not only soba, but also a variety of drinks and snacks. People from all walks of life gather here. There are people who enjoy soba after drinking, people who have finished their work in the entertainment district, and in March, people who are reluctant to say goodbye to their new jobs or new transfers and spend their time drinking. This film closely observes a soba shop at midnight in the season of Nagori snow flurries.

Drum-type washing machines, large TVs, refrigerators, air purifiers, etc. This time, the stage is a large electronics mass retailer in Yokohama. There are six floors on the sales floor, and many people come in the spring when a new life begins. New people who buy washing machines at the end of the initiation ceremony. Couples whose wives return to work from maternity leave decide to use a dishwasher to reduce the burden of household chores. A man who recently retired thinks his next purchase is his last TV of his life. What kind of life do you envision after the home appliances that everyone is looking for?

In Asakusa, there is a mysterious underground shopping arcade that is said to be the oldest in Japan. Going down the stairs, one is in a different world. 69 years old, this old underground shopping mall is full of unique stores, such as a yakisoba noodle shop that has been in business for nearly 60 years, a fortune teller, and a barbershop. While some are long-established establishments, others are new stores opened by young shopkeepers. One wonders what kind of people come underground, away from the bustle and noise of the touristy streets. We spent three days underground.

Banei Horse Racing" in Obihiro, Hokkaido, is the stage for this year's event. The horses are large horses that were once used for farming. This is a rare race in the world in which contestants compete for strength by pulling sleds weighing up to one ton. There are two mountains on the course. The horses stop to rest and regain their strength, while they diligently work their way over the mountains to the finish line. I wondered what people were thinking as they cheered on the horses as they pulled hard under their burdens over the course of the three days of the race.

Meatball soup, stewed tofu and crucian carp. This time the setting is Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China. It is a rented kitchen in a back alley. In fact, a large hospital specializing in cancer treatment is located nearby. Many of the people who use the kitchen are family members of hospitalized patients, and they cook meals here and bring them to the patients in their rooms. A mother makes vegetable soup for her daughter who has ovarian cancer. A young man quits his job and comes here every day to take care of his father. Cooking food that connects the lives of our loved ones. What kind of feelings do these people have as they prepare these dishes?

The setting is a ferry on the Sea of Japan. The film closely follows the three-day round trip between Niigata and Otaru, which takes 16 hours each way. The ferry is equipped with a deck with a view of the horizon and a large bath. Passengers sleep in bunk beds or private rooms and spend their time as they please on their way to their destinations. Passengers range from motorcyclists traveling in Hokkaido to truck drivers transporting cargo. In this time of time-pressured travel, why do people choose to spend long hours on a boat trip? We listen to the voices of those who travel by boat.

The Nagara River is a clear stream that flows through the city of Gifu City. The river is also known for its cormorant fishing, which attracts many people to its riverside during this season. During the day, parents and children play in the water on the riverbanks, and anglers fish for big fish. At night, groups of classmates enjoy fireworks and friends listen to music. Many locals visit without any particular reason because of its proximity to the city center. It is a clear river that has been flowing near their lives for a long time. What kind of time do people spend here? A look at the days of early summer.

A cheap gas station open 24 hours a day is the setting for this project. Due to the presence of an oil refinery nearby, there are many gas stations in the area, and price competition is said to be in progress. Customers come from as far away as Osaka and Nara in search of cheap gas. Couples who stay overnight in their cars to save money and drivers of chauffeur-driven cars, for example, all take a break here and drive to their respective destinations. For three days, we listened to the voices of visitors.

What are the most popular Japanese manga in Paris today? The setting is a manga cafe on a street corner in Paris. It has 20,000 French-language Japanese manga. With a system similar to Japanese manga cafes, such as time-based rates and unlimited drinks, many French people visit the café every day. A graduate student visiting to relax after exams. Sisters who traveled 5 hours by bus. There are even people who say their lives were changed by encountering manga. This 45-minute program includes a ranking of the most popular manga!

A huge housing complex with 7,000 households is the setting for this project. The Hanamigawa Danchi in Chiba City was built in 1968. With rents cheaper than those in central Tokyo, something has begun to change recently, as new residents join the old residents. Some have moved in after retirement, others are busy renovating their rooms, and some run stores in the shopping district of the complex. People from all walks of life are living in the same group of buildings. We spent three days walking around the mammoth complex and listened to the voices of the people we met.

Countless books line the library like a theater. The setting for this interview is the Ishikawa Prefectural Library in Kanazawa, which was rebuilt two years ago and attracts many visitors every day. With the rule that chatting is allowed, I was given permission for an interview to talk to him. A man who often works on his computer here. A veteran chef who visits the library every week to do research in cookbooks. Some people come here because they are attracted by the atmosphere of the library. The library has 1.1 million books. What kind of books do they pick up and what kind of time do they spend here?

Gum, chocolate, ramune, snacks, etc. are lined up in a narrow space. The setting this time is a candy shop in Akabane, Tokyo. The shop has been selling sweets for more than 75 years and has several retro video game machines. A group of four sixth-graders who often play here on their days off, and an elderly man who looks forward to coming here with his grandchildren. There are also groups of college students on their way home from job hunting, and parents and children from other prefectures. The candy continues to be loved by men and women of all ages. What is the appeal that never fades? We spent three summer days at a small store to find out.

This expressway service area is located on Awaji Island, just across the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. On holidays, a total of 12,000 vehicles come and go on both the upper and lower lines. In addition to the food court and souvenir stores, there is also an observatory and a Ferris wheel overlooking the Akashi Kaikyo and Ohashi bridges, and many people take a break here. A couple on their way home from a baseball night game. A carrier carrying a package that must arrive the next morning. Others come at random to watch the sunrise. Where are they all running to this summer?

The Ina Valley in southern Nagano Prefecture is surrounded by the Japanese Alps. Just past the corn fields, you will find a farmers' market. The market sells not only colorful vegetables, but also mushrooms, wild boar, deer, and other game meat, as well as locusts, honey mushrooms, and other insect foods. A diverse food culture is rooted here. Local farmers bring in their products, and many of the customers are also locals. What does it mean to take life? Let's take a look at it through the market.

On the coast overlooking the Sea of Japan, there are twenty thousand graves. The stage this time is "Hanamigata Cemetery" in Kotoura Town, Tottori Prefecture. It is a natural cemetery that was formed before it, and its origins are not well understood. Every year during the Obon period, many people visit the cemetery. Each grave is lit up, countless lanterns are lit, and at night, a fantastic scene spreads only at this time of year. People who care for their dead families and ancestors and try to mourn. Look at the Obon of the huge cemetery on the mysterious seaside.

Tens of thousands of glasses are lined up in a glasses shop. There are a wide range of glasses, from attractive products with a cheap lens for less than 4000yen to fashionable items from overseas brands. Seventy percent of Japanese people wear glasses now that their eyes tend to be tired. People who want to change their image with glasses, people who have become old eyes, and various customers come. What kind of life can you see on the other side of your glasses? I looked at it for three days.

Such a rare sight of selling warabi mochi at a stream stall remains in Fukuoka. In the case of the stalls going through the town, there was a transparent, soft, warabi mochi. The chilled warabi mochi is sprinkled with kinako flour, and it is 130yen each sandwiched between the insides. The easy snack has been loved by the people of Fukuoka for seventy-seven years. I don't know when and where I'll meet you. A lot of people come here to be sucked in. He walked around the town with the food stalls, and listened to the voices of the people for three days.

Weather that is deeply related to daily life, such as sunny days, rain, snow, typhoons, etc. The stage this time is "Weather Shrine" in Koenji, Tokyo. God is in charge of the weather, and many people come to visit. A family hoping that the day of the trip for the first time in a long time will be sunny. A junior high school teacher praying that the sports festival that was postponed due to rain can be safely. In fact, some people like the rain, and each person has a way of facing the weather. It is a time of great rain and extreme heat. What wishes do you keep in your heart?

Hamburger steak, pizza, fried set meal and parfait. This stage is a family restaurant in a residential area of Adachi Ward, Tokyo. Modern systems such as ordering on tablet devices and cat-shaped serving robots at stores in the nationwide chain. An elderly man who eats breakfast alone every day. A group of women who launch a local Bon Odori dance. Young people who have come to Tokyo following their dreams, and families who work together and eat out often. At first glance, it is common everyday, but if you listen carefully, you can hear a small drama.

A row of home appliances, clothes, and shoes. This time, the stage is a huge re-use shop. You can buy something cheap here that someone doesn’t need. A wide range of items such as baby and kids' goods, camping equipment, and musical instruments are lined up in the spacious store. In addition, there is a growing desire to save money, and people who come to sell things that are no longer needed in the store are rushing, and they are lining up even before opening. Many people who move, marry, retire, etc. are at a crossroads in their lives. Closely to the intersection of huge logistics.

The stage is a martial arts gym in Tokyo. More than ninety percent of the members are beginners, and the ratio of men and women is half. People of all ages, occupations, and different backgrounds gather here to dissipate something in their daily lives. There are lessons at the gym every hour, and the level ranges from diet and beginner classes to advanced classes. What is everyone facing at the end of the fist that is slammed? For three days, I listened to the people.

A moving series that goes on one road. The Kii Mountain Range occupies most of the Kii Peninsula. It runs on National Route 425, which runs like a steep mountain, for three days from the starting point to the west. Falling rocks are also conspicuous mountain roads, but there are activities of people in the scattered villages. A couple who have continued to farm on steep slopes. A bakery in the mountains that was opened by turning over. In addition, wildlife such as raccoons and deer. In autumn, when the colors of the mountains deepen, what kind of encounters will you have if you go down this road?