Document 72 Hours

An apartment building in Kobe offers residents on-site care. The lounge is open to the public, and locals and kids gather to socialize. We spend three days in the comforting warmth of a shared home.

A yakiniku grilled meat restaurant in Tokyo's busy Shinbashi district is tailored to solo diners. Why do these customers prefer to eat alone? For three days, we got down to the meat of the matter.

A gold mine in Kagoshima has 190 staff, from teens to veterans in their 60s, who work to extract gold used in jewelry and electronics. Spend three days with people toiling above and belowground.

Streetcars have been rolling through the streets of Kochi City for more than 120 years. For three days, we asked passengers of all ages where they were going and why they chose to travel by streetcar.

"Karaoke Izakaya" is located in Nishinari, Osaka, near the Tsutenkaku Tower, where you can drink and eat and sing. For a hundred yen, anyone can sing their favorite song whenever they want. Former civil servants who sing hit songs of the 70s, men who work late at the factory, people who come from other prefectures to stay overnight, customers with various circumstances visit and sing songs as far as they can. You can sing alone in your own world, or you can have fun with the customers next to you. I listened carefully for three days in this place where people gather day and night.

A bus terminal in front of Nagasaki Station where five thousand people come and go a day. Buses connecting all over Kyushu and Nagasaki are coming and going one after another. In August, which is especially crowded with homecomings and travel, various lives are intersected in this place. A man who travels with the memory of his late wife in his heart, and his father returns home for the first time in months after working in the distance. There are also people who miss the bus and come with a special feeling on August 9th. People who travel, visitors, and each person has their own circumstances, where to go

From affordable petit plastic to high-class depacos. In the station building directly connected to Osaka Station, there is one of the largest cosmetics shops in western Japan. I want to be beautiful, I want to be beautiful, I want to express myself. Everyone has their own reasons for making-up. A woman who likes herself better than her makeup, and a man who says skin care is an investment in ten years. Some people don't really want to wear make-up, but they can't match it around them. To hide or hide. Three days to meet people who are looking for their ideal self that they have not yet seen.

An outdoor community pool in Ehime is super cheap even with a competition pool and water slides. It's been a local hotspot for 50 years. Meet the visitors making midsummer memories over three days.

What are all the people looking for in Shohei Ohtani and what kind of days are they spending? The stage is a park near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, USA, and a park in Otsugi, Iwate, the hometown of Otani. We will shoot at two places at the same time and look at the feelings of the people of Japan and the United States for heroes. A person who repeats Otani in his own situation, a person who gets courage to continue to challenge. Protests against immigration in Los Angeles. What will come of the life of those who look at Otani? An expanded 72-minute version.

Newsstands have all but disappeared from the area around Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Yet, one still operates, even as sales keep falling. For three days, we asked customers what they bought, and why.

There are places where many travelers come to the Nagoya specialty Kishimen. A stand-up restaurant on the platform of Nagoya Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen. There are only eight seats at the counter, and it is large enough for people to pass each other. However, there are still few customers who can stop. People who always eat kishimen before a business trip, people who go all the way to buy admission tickets, and people who come to check the taste of memories before visiting their mother. Why can’t we stop by each of these things?

One hundred years since its founding, it is set in a hardware store in Chiba Prefecture. From pots and knives to carpentry tools and farm equipment, there are twenty thousand kinds of items to be handled. A carpenter who comes to buy indispensable business tools such as nails and scoops. Farmers seeking barbed wire to deal with wild animals that ravage the fields. In addition, there is also a request to repair the mulberry that parents love for a long time ... What kind of life do you see if you put your camera on the “town yorozuya” that is close to the problems of the local people?　Three days of "preparation" before the summer.

A roaring golden lion statue outside Shinjuku Station is a donation box for disaster relief and youth support. Many walk past while others offer small kindnesses. Who donates over 72 hours, and why?

The venue is set at a small zoo for free. This zoo in Yamagata Prefecture is popular for its elderly deer and peacocks, and has been popular for more than seventy years. Some animals have been protected from injury or illness, such as birds that are injured and unable to fly, and foxes that have been in traffic accidents. Various people visit here, think about something, and leave, such as people who come every day and talk to animals, and people who repeat themselves to the injured and protected animals.

Bonsai is a living art form that requires attention to detail and patience. For three days, we asked visitors to a hub of bonsai nurseries near Tokyo about the appeal of bonsai in a fast-paced world.

A small prefab restaurant in Aomori Prefecture sells only noodles and oden hotpot. For three days, we asked local customers why this no-frills business holds such a special place in their hearts.

Half of the residents of a university dorm in Oita Prefecture are from outside Japan. Students cook food, bathe communally and stay up chatting. We learn about their friendships and frustrations.

Nozokizaka, a steep hill in Tokyo's Toshima Ward, takes people's breath away in more ways than one. For three days, we asked people why they go up and down this road that's also a test of stamina.

Colorful breads lined up on the bed of light trucks, such as red bean bread, bread, tuna dogs and donuts. This time, it is three days to closely follow the moving car of the bread movement. Sales cars go around various places in Yokohama, such as condominiums in the suburbs where there are no convenience stores nearby, facilities where elderly people can not go out for shopping, companies and schools where people are busy working. For the sake of someone, from children to the elderly, for each person waiting for the bread. What will we meet in the spring?

Locals have slurped down bowls of noodles at a 24-hour ramen restaurant in Fukuoka for five decades. For three days, we asked customers why this simple ramen is more than just a cheap meal.

Draft beer, edamame, fried horse mackerel, yakisoba. The stage is a Japanese-style izakaya in Seoul, Korea. The owner was a Japanese and opened in 2004. Every day, it is crowded with Korean customers. A fellow colleague at work who usually eats Japanese food. A family that has been going for more than ten years and is good friends with the owner. There are many couples and couples who visit. The real thing is to spill out with a drink in one hand. What are you all talking about here? 45min Expanding SP!　There is also a mini-corner of various Japanese food in Seoul.

In Nishiyanagigase, Gifu City, there is a shopping street where nearly ninety percent of shops have shuttered. The bustling days of the night's prosperity as a city are gone, but people's activities still remain. A snack mom who has been working for nearly 50 years. An elderly man cleaning the shopping street with a part-time job. Young people planning events using empty buildings. After the war, it flourished in the textile industry, and was known throughout the country with its hit song "Yanagigase Blues". What would you see if you installed a camera here in the shutter city now?

An amusement arcade near Tokyo has row after row of token-operated games. For three days, we asked people about the appeal of games that offer no cash or prizes, no matter how many tokens are won.

Omelet rice, grilled fish, potesara, ramen, beer and shochu. The stage is a long-established popular restaurant near Kawasaki Station. Many people say that they work late at night or on work holidays, and the appearance of drinking alcohol from noon is conspicuous. A group called a childhood friend who grew up in Kawasaki. A senior junior at a company called the launch of work. Even if you come alone, it is not uncommon for people who happened to be sitting at the table and have a flower in a conversation. A popular dining room on a street corner crowded from morning to night. If you put your camera here for three days, you’ll see what it is now.

The stage is a botanical garden in the middle of Tokyo. Some people visit for something, even though they think that there are few highlights during the winter. Some people say that they came to see plums at the turning point of their lives, and people who say that there is a taste when they see the appearance of standing withering. Some people sit on benches and look at the trees. People who dare to face the plants in the winter. What’s ahead of that look? We spent three days together.

Hot meat buns full of toro toro-toned pork, bamboo shoots, and chrysanthemums. Set in a stand-style Nikumanten on the street corner of Kokubun-cho, an entertainment district in Sendai. It is open until five o'clock in the morning, and various people visit throughout the night. A fellow colleague at work who stopped by after drinking, a person who bought it for the second store to enter the second store, a man in black clothes at a club who finished work, and a mother of a snack shop. The steam that stands up in Sendai in winter. Under the cold sky, I looked at each situation of smiling meat buns.

Oku-Noto-Suzu. There are sento that continue to be crowded even though it is in the midst of repeated disasters. In the midst of the widespread water outage immediately after the earthquake, groundwater was pumped up, wood from collapsed houses was burned, and business resumed early. Some people provided a valuable bath, and there were people who met again and confirmed their safety. A year since that. A lot of people come here. Locals, volunteers, and people working in demolition work. The sento became the source of the people, and the danran was born. Listen to people’s voices and minds here.

The only supermarket in Nishiwaga, Iwate Prefecture is stocked with a dazzling array of products. We spend three days meeting customers as they trek through heavy snowfall to visit this food hub.

2nd series of hospitals! Moving to a huge hospital. In January 2025, the University of the Ryukyus Hospital in Okinawa was fully relocated. Eighty-five patients, from critically ill patients in the intensive care unit to children in pediatrics, are transported to a new building nearly ten kilometers away in a single day. The end of the hospital, which has seen life for a long time, and the beginning of a new hospital where more advanced treatment can be done. What are the thoughts of working health workers and patients who continue to treat patients? From the move to the start of the new hospital, I looked behind the scenes.

The first series of hospitals!　A cake shop in a hospital that is rare in Japan. Nagasaki University Hospital has more than 870 beds. The shop is lined with strawberry and peach cakes, and visitors visit the clinic, including outpatients and hospitalized patients, accompanying families, and working doctors and nurses. A woman who has been in the hospital for many years and returns home every time she buys a cake for her family. After the surgery, parents and children buy to celebrate. A doctor who buys for his colleagues. Christmas at the hospital. What is everyone looking for for a cake?

Many customers at a drive-through restaurant in Niigata Prefecture order "Italian" - fried noodles topped with meat sauce. For three days, we asked them why this comfort food always hits the spot.

Bananas called mackerel, tilapia, mutton, frogs and hot spices. The stage is a multinational food shop in Kinshicho, Tokyo. It is lined with ingredients from more than twenty countries, mainly in Asia, and people from various countries living in Japan visit. A man from Bangladesh who has been in Japan for forty years, but sometimes wants to eat his native food. A Vietnamese woman in her 20s who started working at a Japanese hotel last year. What do you eat in a foreign country in Japan and how do you live?

A shrine in Tokyo is dedicated to a deity believed to control the weather. For three days in fall, a season of fickle weather in Japan, we asked people why they wanted divine help for sunny skies.

A mobile food cart selling a traditional Japanese sweet has been plying the streets of Fukuoka for over 75 years. For three days, we talked to customers fond of a snack unchanged over the decades.

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.

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.

Inadani, Nagano Prefecture is home to a farmers' market which sells a wide array of vegetables, mushrooms, game and even edible insects. Explore local food culture and approaches to life in rural Japan.

Up to 12,000 vehicles pass through a service area on Awaji Island every day. People stop for a break at the food court, observation deck or even the Ferris wheel. We find out where they're headed.

Gum, chocolate, candy and snacks are crammed into a penny candy shop in Akabane, Tokyo. What is the store's enduring appeal to customers of all ages? Explore the answer over three summer days.

A public library in Kanazawa resembles a sublime theater and offers more than 1.1 million books. For three days, we asked people what books piqued their interest and how they spend their time here.

A huge "danchi" housing complex in Chiba is home to 7,000 households. Built in the 1960s, this complex is a community in itself. For three days, we asked residents about what life is like there.

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 24-hour gas station with prices that entice drivers from both near and far. From a couple who travels and sleeps in their car to a professional driver, join us as we listen to customers' stories.

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 ferry takes 16 hours to sail between Niigata Prefecture and Otaru, Hokkaido Prefecture. For three days, we asked passengers why they take this leisurely mode of travel when faster options are available.

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?

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.

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.

An electronics retail store in Yokohama, Japan, has six floors filled with home appliances. For three days in spring, we asked customers what they came to buy in this season of new beginnings.

There's a soba joint in Akita City that opens late at night until lunch the next day. All kinds of people come for drinks and food. Amidst the late March snow, we document this midnight soba shop.

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?

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.

A 24-hour supermarket in Osaka Prefecture is known for its brightly colored exterior and very cheap bento meals and prepared foods. For three days, we talked to people filling their shopping baskets here.

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?

A 24-hour laundromat in Osaka Prefecture is a vital part of daily life for residents from all walks of life. For three days, we asked customers why they wash and dry their clothes there.

In the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture, there's an ice cream shop that people go to, even during winter. This shop has been with the locals for 3 decades. We spent 3 days listening to the stories of visitors.

Kerosene home delivery is a key lifeline for residents of Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture. For three days in midwinter, we followed trucks delivering this heating oil and spoke to people who rely on this service.

A drugstore in Tokyo's busy Shinjuku district sells medicine, cosmetics and snacks around the clock. Why do people shop there? For three days and nights near the end of 2023, we asked them.

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.

A discount women's clothing store in Ueno, Tokyo. The shop attracts customers for many reasons. We spent 3 days listening to their stories.

A community garden in Okayama City is a popular spot for people from all walks of life to try their hand at farming. For three days, we watched the produce and relationships they grew here.

On the east side of Lake Biwa there's something simply known as "the bench." What goes on in the minds of visitors as they take a seat? We spent 3 days by this lakeside bench.

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.

With betting tickets in hand, customers at a no-frills bar near a motorboat racing stadium in Fukuoka, ride the ups and downs of the exciting races. For three days, we followed their fortunes.

We visit "Yomotsu Hirasaka" in Shimane Prefecture. It's a place linked to the underworld, referenced in Japanese mythology. For 3 days, we spoke with those drawn to this special place.

It depicts various thoughts that cross the day of destiny. A new documentary program sent by the "72h" production team, which shoots an event at the same time with multiple cameras. This time, Koshien is a high school with a regular communication system. It is also called another Koshien, and ball children in a different situation from the full-time system fight for the top. During the day, students who had transferred to the communication system due to their work and the situation. If you turn the camera around at the same time on the bench or stand, what kind of drama you'll encounter?

Fuji Rock Festival, Japan's largest music event, was held normally for the first time in four years this summer with more than 200 musicians and a total audience of over 110,000 people. Japan's largest music event was regularly held for the first time in four years this summer. Many people came from all over Japan to the Naeba ski resort in Niigata Prefecture, where the festival was held. Families were there to see the musicians they wanted to see. Some people spend their time relaxing in the rich natural surroundings. Some people say that coming here makes them feel kind. We will listen to the hearts of these people for three days to find out what makes them so enthusiastic about the festival.

Many insect fans are drawn to a store in Tokyo, Japan, that sells about 100 different species and equipment for keeping them. For three days, we explored why people adore these tiny creatures.

Osaka Prefecture's Ikuno Ward is home to Osaka Korea Town, a neighborhood packed with shops selling Korean food and other items. Inspired by a recent boom in South Korean pop culture, what originally was a market for people with roots on the Korean Peninsula is now visited by two million people annually. Among the visitors were three Japanese nurses buying cosmetics; a grandfather who lives nearby visiting for the first time; and shoppers of Korean descent. For three days, we took a look at a shopping district where cultures intersect.

About 300 yen per cup. Warm udon noodles from an old machine. This is a trip to visit the dwindling number of “udon vending machines” throughout Japan. This time, we will visit the eight remaining udon vending machines in Gunma, Japan, where we will have 72 hours to visit all of them. A man who has been a regular customer at a drive-in restaurant for 30 years. At a 24-hour store, young people and couples who love cars can be seen even late at night. What kind of drama will you encounter when you visit the udon vending machines born in the Showa period?

Izakaya (Japanese-style pubs), snack bars, small restaurants, and bars. In August 2023, the curtain will come down on 70 years of history of “Drinking Alley” in the back alleys of Tateishi, Katsushika-ku. After the decision to redevelop the area, the number of stores has been gradually decreasing, and now only about 10 stores are in business. A man who has been a regular customer for 30 years sings karaoke enthusiastically. A young man says he comes here five times a week to visit his parents. There is even a mother of a tavern that has been here for 40 years and has yet to decide on a new location. For three days, we set up our cameras to find out how they are feeling in their final days.

An old stone-paved road in dappled sunlight. We take a walk on the Kisoji, a mountain road connecting Nagano and Gifu Prefectures. A key route during the Edo period, today it attracts visitors from across Japan and the world. A group of 3 families on an 8-kilometer hike. A man going for a run on the uneven trail. People taking the time to be alone and reflect. For 3 days in early summer, we spoke with people travelling on the old road.

The ceiling of a narrow tunnel under a railway line in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, is so low that adults must stoop over to pass through. Despite this, what locals have nicknamed the "Manbow Tunnel" remains a busy and vital passageway in daily life. Among people using the tunnel were a woman taking the shortest route to the supermarket, and a family who likes the thrill of this unusual path under the tracks. For three days, we took a closer look at this tunnel and its role in the local community.

A garden with seasonal flowers and a clear view of the sky. Its location? The roof of a hospital in Ochanomizu, Tokyo. Patients and family members stop by this peaceful garden. A father with his sick child. A man on crutches catching some fresh air. A cancer patient recovering from lung surgery. A visit to the hospital can be a trying experience. What does this space offer them? For three days, we listened to the stories of the people who came by.

A 24-hour bento store in Ginowan City, Okinawa, serving everything from 120 yen per bowl of Okinawa soba noodles to taco rice, pork cutlet bowls, tebichi, and sataa and ghee. Locals come here from early in the morning until late at night. An auto mechanic stops by after working late. A college student studying to become a nurse on a remote island. Some men change their jobs for family reasons and come to eat at 4:00 am. For three days throughout the night at this location, where the Futenma Air Base is located nearby, we looked at the real Okinawa.

Each spring, about 30,000 black-tailed gulls flock to a nesting site around a shrine in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. The gulls, which are called umineko or "sea cats" because of their cat-like cries, form an impressive site as they soar through the sky. Among visitors to the shrine were an American woman living in Aomori and her visiting family; an elderly man who enjoys chatting to the birds; and locals fond of these feathered harbingers of spring. For 3 days, we asked people what the umineko mean to them.

Rush documents overseas. Packages to my family at home. Moving procedures. This time, the setting is a post office on a street corner in Minami, downtown Osaka. Every day, many people visit the post office for various purposes. An American struggles to send a tourist souvenir to his home country. A parent and child sending a package for their daughter who is moving to Tokyo. Some people sell their precious items on the Internet auction and come to send them. In spring, the season of new milestones, who do people send and what do they send? For three days, we will look at the circumstances of each person who sends things.

Each spring, Iwagi, an island in the Seto Inland Sea is painted pink with sakura cherry blossoms. It's home to some 4,000 cherry trees. Highlights include Mt. Sekizen, at the center of the island, which is wreathed in blossoms. Visitors and locals alike gather to enjoy the flowers in many different ways. But why are there so many sakura trees here? And what is their significance for the people of Iwagi? Join us as we explore an island in full bloom.

Takeshita Street in Harajuku, a trend-setting area. The stage is set at a 100-yen store along the street. The shop sells 18,000 items, including daily necessities, cosmetics, and miscellaneous goods. A high school student comes to the shop to buy materials to make goods to cheer up his favorite character. A 21-year-old man who moved to Tokyo to find a job said he buys all his daily necessities here. Many of those who used to go to Takeshita-dori when they were young are now parents and visit the street with their children. We look at the realities of young people over three days in spring.

Each year, Hofu Tenmangu shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture holds a "doll appreciation festival" at which people can give their now-unwanted dolls a proper farewell. Among the shrine's visitors were a man bringing dolls he displayed to bring his daughter luck when she was young; a grandfather who displayed dolls for his grandchildren for 30 years; and a woman who made a doll as she prepared to marry decades ago. What do people feel as they say a final thank you and goodbye to their dolls? For three days, we asked them.

A small newspaper company with 30 employees in the city of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, which was devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, has been a valuable source of local news for 65 years. A team of seven reporters, many of whom are from the region, uncover and write stories of interest to residents. For three days, we went on assignment with these reporters and behind the scenes at the office as they prepared newspapers issued around the disaster's 12th anniversary.

A large parking lot and hearty servings make a 24-hour restaurant a haven for truckers in Okayama Prefecture. For three days, we spoke to diners taking a break before hitting the road again.

Beautiful eyes so elaborate that they could be mistaken for human eyes. The market for dolls is said to be worth as much as 10 billion yen. In Akihabara, there are several stores specializing in dolls in commercial buildings, and many people visit them. Some office workers are looking for a doll to heal them after a hard day's work, and some women are looking for a doll to do what they cannot do. Some people come all the way from overseas to buy dolls. They are neither people nor things, but mysterious beings. For three days, we will take a peek into the fascinating world of dolls.

The Hokkaido village of Shosanbetsu is home to about 1,000 people and a single convenience store. Residents rely on this store as a source of fresh food and basic necessities, especially in midwinter. Among the customers were a woman who uses a sled to carry her shopping home; an octopus fisherman who shops there three times a day; and a hair stylist who knows everybody in Shosanbetsu. For three days as a blizzard buffeted the area, we spoke to the store's customers to get a glimpse at life in this village.

Judicial scrivener, condominium manager, state civil servant, social insurance worker labor consultant ... Lots of qualification exams. The stage is a major preparatory school where people who aim to pass the pass go. Looking to the future, I am in my 30s who take a course of judicial scrivener while working. A child-rearing woman who is aiming for a career consultant qualification for re-employment. Some people quit their jobs to get out of non-regular employment. In the early days when it was difficult to see the future, how did everyone feel when they went to their desks? Listen to your heart for three days.

Outside in winter. People sipping ramen in the bitter cold. This time, a ramen stall on a street corner in Osu, Nagoya, attracts many people to its four seats for a bowl of ramen for 500 yen. Regular businessmen bring souvenirs from their business trips. Many of them have known the 75-year-old stall owner for a long time. What exactly does eating ramen under the cold weather satisfy?

In the final days of 2022, an expressway bus terminal in Fukuoka Prefecture heaves with passengers traveling on over 1,000 buses that arrive or depart here daily. The people at the terminal included a woman visiting her father by bus because this mode of transport is cheaper than going by train; a teenager seeing off her boyfriend; two young men determined to hit the big time in Fukuoka; and a man excited about a 15-hour ride to Tokyo. For three days over the New Year period, we asked people where they were going, and why.

A 60-year-old mountain lodge located 1,350 meters above sea level on Mount Adatara in Fukushima Prefecture. Adatara at 1,350 meters above sea level in Fukushima Prefecture. Climbers aiming for the summit spend time here to rest their bodies and release tension. The lodge has a hot spring and overnight accommodations are available. A group of four climbers prepare their gear after taking a break, and then set out to reach the summit. A man brings in food from the base of the mountain and enjoys cooking for himself. Some groups hold year-end parties here every year. People who dare to climb the severe snow-covered mountains and visit here at the end of 2022. For three days, we will listen to their hearts.

A cheerful greeting rings out over the radio in an island dialect: "Ugamin shoran! (Hello!)" This time, we visit a station broadcasting in Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Many of the presenters are straight out of the local community, including seniors who read out news items in dialect. A high schooler home for the holidays makes a live appearance. People who have moved away call in to share their stories. We invite you to settle into the soothing rhythm of an island radio station.

A simple pier, almost at water level, extends 160 meters out into Tokyo Bay from a beach in Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture. In the early 1900s the pier was used for landing fish, but that stopped decades ago when a new fishing port was built. Now it's a hidden gem for tourists. We encounter a local man walking his dog, a farewell party for a colleague and a couple who fell in love with the area and moved there. The pier attracts all sorts of people, and means something different to each of them.

A small shop selling okonomiyaki savory pancakes and obanyaki cakes has become a staple for locals in a part of Kobe devastated by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Among the customers fond of these dishes are friends who stop by while on a walk; a boy buying lunch and snacks for his family; and people who simply enjoy chatting with the staff. The shop was razed in the disaster, but the owner did his best to reopen as soon as possible. For three days, we talked to the customers and got a glimpse of the area's long road to recovery.

Three old apartment buildings lined up near the Port of Osaka. Built in 1965, when the shipbuilding industry was thriving, about 70 households still live in these buildings. The apartments have a hangout where residents gather, and some even drink alcohol in the morning. An elderly woman who lost her husband and moved here a few years ago. A man chooses to live here alone so that his son and his family will not be troubled. There are couples who have lived here for more than 30 years because they feel comfortable here. In the midst of the changing times, we will spend three days looking at the days in the apartment, which continues to remain unchanged.

In the fall of 2022, Musashino Art University in Tokyo welcomed the public to its annual art festival for the first time in three years to see paintings, sculptures and other artworks created by its students. The exhibitors included a group building a huge sculpture of a mythical creature; a puppet show club with a declining membership; and students feeling anxious about their future. For three days ahead of the festival, we watched the students putting the finishing touches on their creations.

A new type of documentary program by the “72 Hours” production team, in which the camera is not stationed at a single site, but rather at multiple sites, filming an event simultaneously. This time, the Brazilian presidential election. Four cameras started shooting at the same time at a polling station for Brazilians living in Japan in Oizumi-cho, Gunma, a supermarket selling Brazilian food, a church, and a bar in Rio de Janeiro. What kind of drama will be spun out?

Korokke pan, or bread rolls filled with deep-fried potato croquettes, topped with sauce are a specialty of a family-run shop in Minamisenju, a down-to-earth Tokyo suburb. Among the customers craving this cheap, filling snack made at the shop were a regular who has been coming here for over 50 years; a man buying some for himself and his friends; and a man currently between jobs. Why have locals become so fond of a snack made exactly the same way it was decades ago? For three days, we asked them.

Why are no-frills udon noodle vending machines irresistible for drivers passing by a small rest area on a busy national road in western Shimane Prefecture? People stop here around the clock for a cheap bowl of noodles. The customers included a couple returning from a trip to their hometown; a boy and his parents who drove all the way from Fukuoka Prefecture just to try these noodles; and a man about to start his shift delivering milk. For three days around the Bon Festival period, we asked what makes these noodles so special.

A 24-hour fishing gear shop in southern Chiba Prefecture is a haven for anglers stocking up before heading to the coast to try their luck. The shop sells about 6,000 items such as bait, rods and lures. The customers include a man looking forward to fishing for squid with his grandson; a couple whose self-designed boat fits on the roof of their car; and a mother taking a break from her hectic daily life. Why are they so hooked on fishing? For three days, we asked the people stopping by this shop.

Kakigori, shaved ice drizzled with flavored syrup, is a summer staple in Japan. An ice shop in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, has been popular for decades thanks to its light, fluffy ice made of "pure ice" that has been slowly frozen. Among the customers were a regular for over 40 years and his children; two university students who will soon graduate and move away; and a mother and son reminiscing about a father who adored kakigori. For three days in summer, we asked customers about what this sweet treat means to them.

Children enjoy playing with mud, making fire, and water slides. The setting is a playground called “Play Park” in Kawasaki City. It is a municipal facility and admission is free. With the support of adult staff, what children want to do is respected. There is a boy absorbed in woodworking, parents and children playing while soaking wet, and children who cannot find a place at school. How are these children living in this day and age? We will listen carefully to their voices during the three days of rain

Rows of yellow handkerchiefs fly in the breeze at a small train station in the Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture. Right behind the platform lies the Ariake Sea. The unmanned station attracts a stream of visitors who come to enjoy the view and write their wishes on the handkerchiefs. Among the visitors were a couple wearing matching outfits, and a railway photographer who drove all the way from Tokyo. The locals, too, are charmed by the station and wish for the railway to continue in the years to come. For three days, we listen to the stories of the people who've come from near and far to visit this remote station.

A theater for rakugo comic storytelling in Tokyo's Asakusa district has been tickling funny bones for decades. Visitors to the theater include comedy fans from across Japan, and an admirer of a storyteller being promoted to rakugo's highest rank. Backstage, a teenager new to the industry completes a myriad of tasks, and a seasoned storyteller of more than 30 years prepares to go on stage. For three days, we peeked into the various lives of people in the audience and behind the scenes, and asked them about the appeal of this traditional performing art.

An unmanned stall in a residential area of Tokyo's Nerima Ward uses coin-operated lockers to sell locally grown vegetables including cabbage, radishes and spinach. The customers at this down-to-earth stall include a mother buying lettuce harvested from a field right in front of her house; and a keen jogger who frequently buys fresh veggies to stay in his wife's good books. For three days in early summer, we asked customers why they choose to shop at this stall that resembles a large vending machine.

A pebbly beach on Niigata Prefecture's Sea of Japan coast contains pieces of real jade. Some people who come here for a natural treasure hunt find jade right away, others have no luck despite picking through the stones all day. Among the visitors were a family on a trip; regulars who come from far and wide; and a woman whose visits here helped her become more socially outgoing. What is it that lures them so much to this beach? For three days in early summer, we asked the people hunting for treasure at the water's edge.

A large plastic model kit store in Osaka Prefecture sells models, miniature trains, diorama supplies and other items. The model market has grown while people of all ages spent more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The store's customers include a man who makes model buses to relieve stress; a middle-aged woman crazy about making dollhouses; and a woman making a diorama as a birthday gift for her mother-in-law. For three days, we asked customers why this hobby is special to them.

Photo sticker booths are a magnet for teenagers at a video arcade in Tokyo. Over 3 days in mid-March, we met 2 friends about to graduate from high school; a teen applying makeup to create the appearance she craves; 2 best friends who attend different schools; and a couple in their 20s. The booths have added many new features since they first appeared in 1995. Why are they still so popular? We asked youngsters at the arcade why these stickers mean so much to them.

Smartphones have become a vital part of modern-day life. Many people flock to a large cell phone store in Tokyo's Shinjuku district to buy the latest phone models, get their gadgets repaired and seek advice on other services. Among the customers in mid-March, a time for new beginnings in Japan, were an elderly couple fond of watching videos on their smartphones, a man struggling to spend less time glued to his phone, and people starting a new job or school year. What do phones mean to these customers? For 3 days, we asked them.

The Yuriage district in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami that occurred in March 2011. March is also a season of new starts and farewells in Japan, so this month is especially busy for a florist in a new commercial complex in the district. Customers included a teacher buying flowers for graduating students, residents mourning loved ones who died in the tsunami, and people adding a splash of color to their lives. For 3 days around the disaster's 11th anniversary, we asked customers what flowers mean to them.

A small truck loaded with vegetables, meat, snacks and other items – a mobile supermarket – is a lifeline for residents in remote communities in northern Kyoto Prefecture. Among the customers were an elderly couple buying a week's worth of ready-prepared dishes; and a woman wanting snacks to eat while she chats with a friend. What is life like in these small communities with falling populations? For 3 days near the end of winter, we talked to people buying groceries from the supermarket on wheels.

The Tsugaru Railway runs through a remote and snowy part of Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan. As well as being a vital mode of transport for locals, especially in winter, the train has a potbelly stove and views of magical wintry landscapes that attract visitors from afar. Among the passengers are a high school student poised to move to Tokyo, and a man who returned here to his hometown after several decades away. For 3 days in midwinter, we hopped aboard the rustic train and asked the passengers what this railway means to them.

Kashiikaen, an amusement park in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, closed at the end of 2021 after 65 years of operation. News of the closing prompted a wave of visitors, including a local woman who brought along her neighbor, and a family of 3 generations determined to ride their favorite attraction. Some even came after the gates were closed, just to see the park from the outside. What made them come to bid farewell? In the park’s final 3 days, we listened as visitors shared their stories and memories.

As 2021 draws to a close, workers in Tokyo's Shimbashi business district flock to a long-established western-style sweets shop famous for its cream puffs and other tasty delights. Among the customers were a boss buying treats for his hard-working subordinates; a construction worker treating himself after an exhausting day on the job; and a father buying a gift of appreciation for his family. For 3 days, we asked customers seeking a sweet treat if 2021 had been bitter or sweet for them.

The 200 students at a nursing college in Nara Prefecture, Japan, range from new high school graduates to people seeking a change in career. Among the students were a woman inspired by nurses who treated her in hospital; a woman who felt nursing would be more rewarding than her sales job; and first-year students preparing for a test they must pass before starting clinical training. For 3 days, we asked why nursing appealed to them as a career, especially while the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect society.

With half of the face covered by masks, eyebrows can make a big statement. About 80% of the customers who visit the hair and makeup salon in Namba, Osaka Prefecture, come to get their eyebrows done. Among the customers we met were an office worker who became conscious of his bushy brows during video calls, and a woman freed from her eyebrow issues from the past. Roughly a third of the customers are male, including businessmen who come not only to groom their brows but also to calm their mind. For 3 days, we asked the people about their reasons for coming to this salon.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are used in a variety of fields, such as aerial photography and disaster assessment. They also attracted attention at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. The setting is a drone training ground in the suburbs of Chiba. Parents and children are enthusiastic about small drone races. A man practices aerial photography, saying it's like seeing the world from a bird's eye view. Some people have just started because they believe it is an industry with a promising future. Drones require a bit of effort, such as obtaining an amateur radio license and submitting applications. What are people seeking when they fly them? Over three days under the autumn sky, we listen in.

Akihabara is one of Japan's leading electronics districts. The stage is a specialty store that handles about 5,000 types of audio equipment, such as earphones and headphones. With the increase in online meetings and classes, the demand for earphones is growing. A businessman came to buy the latest wireless earphones. A parent and child tried out gaming headphones. A man who visits every week to carefully select earphones costing over 100,000 yen, planning to buy them with his winter bonus. Over three days, we listen to the worlds they envision beyond the earphones they seek.

The huge underground parking lot at Tokyo's Kasai Station can hold about 10,000 bicycles. Each day, from very early until very late, workers, students and other commuters store their bikes at this facility. They included a cleaner heading to central Tokyo on the day's first train; 2 high school girls staying close to home due to the coronavirus; and a woman holding down 2 jobs to support her family. For 3 days, we asked parking lot customers about where they were going - and why.

A store in a Tokyo suburb selling short-dated, surplus or imperfect yet edible food items cheaply is a magnet for thrifty shoppers. They can find vegetables costing just 27 US cents, a bottle of beer for 30 cents, and a pack of meat costing less than 1 dollar. The customers included a young woman trying to stretch the food budget for her family of 9; a woman and daughter who drive for an hour to buy meat; and a man thrilled by finding an unexpected bargain. Why do people come to this store that also reflects the huge volume of food discarded in Japan? For 3 days, we talked to customers hunting a bargain while filling their shopping baskets.

From handheld sparklers to skyrockets and novelty fireworks, a small shop in Yamanashi Prefecture sells over 400 kinds of fireworks. Locals and visitors flock to this shop during a summer when many large fireworks displays were canceled. Customers included a family buying fireworks with a curry fragrance; an elderly couple buying an assortment for their grandchildren; and a worker at an elderly care facility hoping to give the residents a colorful thrill. For 3 days, we asked people why fireworks were special to them.

As bonito season peaks in mid-July, the port in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, buzzes as fishermen unload their catches and prepare to return to sea. A portside store selling food and other vital supplies is a magnet for these men. Among the customers were a tuna fisherman soon to depart on a yearlong voyage; saury fishermen buying compact futon for their onboard sleeping quarters; and a captain stocking up on snacks for his 23 crew members. For 3 days, we asked these men about the lure of this store - and the ocean.

Leaving the National Stadium, the 42.195 km course loops around Asakusa, Tokyo Tower, and other landmarks before returning to the starting point. This was the planned course for the Tokyo Olympics marathon before it was moved to Sapporo. What kind of encounters would you have if you walked this phantom course during the Olympics? A woman worried about COVID-19 goes to an idol concert. The owner of a bookstore in Jimbocho who regrets that it was once a viewing spot. Three days of walking through the night, listening to the voices of people encountered by chance along the way, and observing the present state of Tokyo.

The stage is a giant tropical fish store, one of the largest in the country. The aquariums contain 400 species of fish, including betta, discus, medaka, and arowana, making it look like an aquarium. An 80-year-old regular customer says he enjoys just staring at the fish. A family that started keeping medaka, which are currently popular, says it has increased family conversation. A nurse affected by the pandemic shares how she found solace in caring for small fish while struggling to connect with others. As people spend more time at home, what emotions do they feel toward these tiny lives? Over three days, we listen closely to their stories.

Meeting in person isn't easy these days, so sending a written message is a personal way to stay in touch. A stationery shop in Ginza, Tokyo, has over 5,000 items in a two-floor card and letter pad section. The customers included a man writing to his wife on their wedding anniversary for the first time; a company worker sending messages to clients she cannot meet due to coronavirus restrictions; and a woman cheered by handwritten letters from her grandmother. For 3 days, we asked what messages they would write.

The setting is a stand-style specialty coffee bean shop in the heart of Kyoto. Kyoto, known for its traditional Japanese culture, actually has the highest coffee consumption in Japan, and many people come here seeking beans roasted on-site. A university professor who says coffee is indispensable as a study aid. A man who finds roasting green beans himself helps him stay calm. The shop also sells coffee, and for some, this one cup is a lifeline in their busy daily lives. In these times, how are people taking a break? For three days, we listened to their stories.

The setting is a blood donation center near Skytree. Although the observation deck is closed due to the state of emergency, about 60 people come to donate blood every day. A company employee visits after hearing that there is a shortage of blood due to people staying home. A part-time worker says that coming here gives her a sense of relief amid her busy life. Some people feel confident because they can donate blood even though they are on leave from work. In a world where leisure time has decreased due to the pandemic, these are the people who donate blood for others. What are their reasons for coming here? We listened to their stories over three days.

Near the towering apartment buildings in Tokyo's Tsukuda area is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it alley. But tucked away down the narrow passage is a stone carving of a Buddhist guardian deity and a centuries-old ginkgo tree. Some people come to this small, secluded site to pray for good health, others for business prosperity or a better relationship with their spouse. Some just drop by to clear their mind. For 3 days, we asked visitors why they come to this unique spot loved by locals for almost 300 years.

A small, unmanned train station on the Noto Peninsula facing the Sea of Japan, is quiet for most of the year. But each spring, the station comes to life as about 100 cherry blossom trees flanking the tracks burst into bloom. The visitors included a woman and her elderly mother admiring the view of the petals, trains and nearby ocean; a man reminiscing about an inspiring high school teacher; and an elderly couple who helped plant some of the trees and who volunteer to keep the station clean. For 3 days, we asked people what the blossoms at this station mean to them.

The setting is a long-established snack specialty store in Ginza. It is a favorite among nearby bars and clubs, offering about 300 varieties of snacks such as rice crackers, nuts, and chocolate. A woman who opened a club in Hakata, Nakasu, came all the way to buy from here. A bar master who has been ordering their green peas for over 20 years. Lately, due to its wide selection, not only restaurants but also general customers often come to buy. Ginza, heavily affected by the pandemic. What life dramas can be seen through snacks?

For the approximately 1,100 residents of Kakeroma Island in southern Japan, water taxis that travel to Amami Oshima, a nearby larger island, are a vital mode of transport for going shopping or to work. Among the people using these boats during 3 days in late March were a woman who had stocked up at a supermarket; a family who had moved here from Tokyo; and a teacher being transferred after completing his post at a school with 18 students. We explored the role these boats play in daily life here and in keeping community ties strong.

A uniform specialty store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, sells an exhaustive range of attire for medical staff, chefs, security guards and various other workers. What does a brand-new uniform mean to these workers? For 3 days in mid-March, we asked that question to customers including a dentist expanding their wardrobe; a restaurant part-time worker buying new shoes; and the owner of a traditional Japanese restaurant desperately trying to keep her business afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

In Japan, spring is a time when many people move for school or work. A highway bus terminal linking Osaka Prefecture with over 60 cities is a magnet for people starting the next chapter in life. Among those we met at this terminal were a couple visiting their hometown for the first time in a year; a woman getting engaged to her long-distance boyfriend; and a newly grad moving out of his mother's home to start a new job far away. For 3 days in mid-March, soon after the COVID state of emergency was lifted, we asked people at the terminal where they were going, and why.

A convenience store inside a major hospital in Kamakura City, just south of Tokyo, is open around the clock for doctors, nurses, patients and their families. Among the customers were a nurse buying herself a sweet treat after finishing an emergency operation; a patient who bought more than 10 books to read and pass the time; and an on-duty doctor needing an energy boost in the wee hours. Even though many people are staying home during the state of emergency, the hospital remains as busy as ever. For 3 days, we asked the customers what they were buying and why they were there.

A 72-hour spin-off project. A multi-location simultaneous documentary of a day under emergency declaration. Cameras are set up at health centers, special cleaning companies, PCR testing vending machines, and in front of Hello Work in Yokohama City. Public health nurses working hard to support positive patients. Cleaning companies contracted by companies with infected employees to perform disinfection. People who are unemployed due to the coronavirus but are still looking forward to the future. A society where normalcy has changed. What are people thinking as they face the present? A record of one day.

It has been 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami occurred, and nuclear meltdowns forced the town of Namie to evacuate. Work to decontaminate and rebuild this part of Fukushima Prefecture is still ongoing. For many workers here, a bento shop is a vital source of cheap, hearty food. The customers at the shop included a dump truck driver who says that the town still feels empty; a man who has been engaged in decontamination work for a decade; and an elderly woman who says that she prefers to be in Namie even if there's nobody around. For 3 days, we asked what this shop means to the customers - and this town.

The setting is one of the country's leading “multinational housing complexes,” where 20% of the residents have foreign roots, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. How do they spend the New Year's holiday in a foreign country? A pair of Cambodian residents buying ingredients for New Year's. A Laotian couple who never fail to visit their neighbors to offer New Year's greetings. A girl with Vietnamese parents says she learned kindness in the housing complex. Due to the impact of COVID-19, it was an unusually quiet New Year's Eve. For three days, we listened to the voices of the people living together in the housing complex.

The Umihotaru parking area in the heart of Tokyo Bay offers 360-degree views of the surrounding area. Among the visitors we met over 3 days at the end of 2020 were a married couple who dropped plans to visit their distant hometowns over the New Year; a man who listens to pilots flying overhead communicating with air traffic controllers; and a couple who have been dating for less than a week braving the gale. At the end of a year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, we asked visitors what is on their minds as they take in the ocean scenery.

Tanga Market, a century-old market of 120 shops in western Japan, is known as the "kitchen of Kitakyushu." Although the market will soon be redeveloped, its old-fashioned charm keeps pulling in shoppers. Among the customers there were a man who feels at home at the market, even if he does not buy anything; an elderly woman grumbling about having to cook her son's meals; and a young couple bewitched by the variety of foods sold there. For 3 days in late December, we explored why this market remains so popular.

On a cold winter day in Japan, a piping-hot sweet potato baked so a natural sweet syrup oozes from its skin is hard to beat. An old-fashioned, no-frills shop in Ibaraki Prefecture sells these potatoes that warm the body and heart. Customers there include a woman sending potatoes as a gift; a mother buying a treat for her young daughter; and newlyweds sharing a potato and enjoying the simple things in life. For 3 days at the end of a year in which life was turned upside-down, we ask people about why they crave this simple, warming snack.

With over 40 kinds of handmade sandwiches including egg, mince cutlet and even fruit available, it could be the wide selection that draws customers to this small shop near Sapporo's Susukino entertainment district. However, this shop has another major attraction: it is open 24 hours a day. Among the customers we met, include a female owner of a nearby bar; a mother preparing breakfast for her family at 4 AM; and a nightclub host needing a snack before work. For 3 days, we spoke to the customers dropping by this shop that never sleeps.

It's small and has only a few large animals, but a hilltop zoological park in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, has captured the heart of locals for decades. It is home to about 60 different species and is frequented by many, especially since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which has made it difficult to travel far. Among the visitors to this free admission zoo are people on family outings; a woman who comes on various milestones in her life; and a young couple who come at night to find nocturnal creatures in the park. For 3 days, we asked visitors why this seemingly ordinary zoo has become a special place for so many people.

A Tokyo store selling cheap, good-quality kitchen equipment is a boon for restaurant owners, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. The store sells over 9,000 kinds of products, ranging from fridges to pots and pans to cutlery. Among customers we met were an owner of a Japanese-style bar who started meal deliveries; and a couple opening their dream café. The store also receives a steady stream of requests to buy equipment from restaurants that have shut their doors. For 3 days, we asked operators who shop here about what's on their minds as they search for their new equipment.

The setting for this episode is a long-established cabaret in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district that closed its doors in February of this year, much to the regret of many. The establishment, which retains a strong atmosphere of the Showa era, attracts a variety of customers. There are men who come to enjoy their last conversation with their favorite hostesses. There are women who used to work as hostesses here and have come to pay their respects to their former colleagues. A singer who says she learned about life here takes the stage for the last time. A cabaret where various lives intersect. A look at the three days leading up to the closure. *Filming took place in February.

As many people have spent more time at home during the coronavirus pandemic, gardening has become a popular hobby. Tokyo's garden megastore with over 100,000 varieties of plants is the go-to place for people wanting flowers, vegetables, bonsai trees or rare shrubs. The center's customers include a man inspired by a cactus' power to survive, a woman who buys weakened plants so she can help them recover and a woman who feels most relaxed when she tends to her plants. For 3 days, we asked what plants mean to them.

The closure of Tokyo's Toshimaen amusement park in August 2020 marked the end of an era. For decades, El Dorado, the park's wooden carousel, was a popular attraction with visitors young and old. In the days before the park closed, visitors flocked to the carousel for a final ride, including an elderly couple who came on dates here before they married; a young man reminiscing about happier times with his family; and a woman who wants her late mother to see that she is back on her feet. For 3 days, we asked why this ride held such a special place in the hearts of so many people.

The stage is a specialty store for wind instruments that boasts one of the largest selections in the country. With over 1,000 saxophones, trumpets, and other instruments on display, and repair services available, it attracts enthusiasts. People who have come to buy the instrument they’ve always wanted, or those who are thrilled to resume practice and play again. A blind music teacher repairing a clarinet for an autistic student. The world of music has fallen silent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What are people thinking as they face their instruments and play? We listen closely for three days.

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival, which usually colors Tokyo's summer, has been canceled. During this quiet summer, we spend three days walking around the Sumida River promenade. We meet people who talk candidly even though they have just met, and young people whose dreams have been shattered by the coronavirus. A man who fell in love with Asakusa and plays the guitar by the river, and an elderly man who comes every day to reminisce about his late wife. Through the lives of the various people encountered along the river, this program documents the present moment, which is shifting despite the turmoil caused by the novel coronavirus.

A road near Tokyo's Roppongi district is an oasis for taxi drivers who are allowed to park here for as long as they like. There, the drivers can relax, eat and even sleep on a break. As the coronavirus pandemic rumbles on, how do drivers feel about their jobs? The drivers we met included one who started this career after the pandemic erupted, one thinking of quitting because his income has plunged and another who cannot quit because he has a family to support. For 3 days, we asked drivers who parked along this road about their job and what the future holds.

A rare sandy beach road in Japan where you can drive along the shoreline. The setting for this episode is the Nagisa Driveway in Ishikawa Prefecture. The sand grains are fine, and when seawater seeps in and compacts them, they become hard enough for cars to drive on. This mysterious sandy beach attracts a variety of people. Young people come to enjoy the exhilaration, couples celebrate their birthdays here every year, and families return to reminisce about special memories. What kind of memories have they carved into this sandy beach? Over three days in summer, we listen to their stories by the shoreline.

Many people in Japan celebrate the Tanabata Star Festival -- a tradition marked each July 7 -- by writing a wish on a thin sheet of colored paper and tying it to a bamboo branch. Zojoji Temple, which stands near the base of Tokyo Tower, holds an annual festival during which visitors write their deepest wish in the hope it will come true. Among the visitors to the temple in the days leading up to Tanabata were a woman longing to meet a man she has had a crush on for 10 years, a couple worried that the coronavirus pandemic might jeopardize their bonuses and an Australian woman who comes every year with a message for her deceased father. For 3 days, we asked people at the temple about the wishes -- ranging from the modest to the extravagant -- they penned and the stories behind them.

A large 24-hour sports gym in Tokyo's Harajuku district has members of all ages, sizes and strength levels. Among the people who come to lift weights are a man who started training to impress women; a woman finally spending time doing what she wants; and a man who used to be bullied in school but who is now a professional personal trainer. For 3 days, we asked members about what motivates them to continue coming to this gym.

By late June, about 1 month after Japan's coronavirus state of emergency had been lifted, people had gradually returned to Tokyo's Inokashira Park. Among the visitors to the popular park's lush greenery and large pond were friends catching up after a long time being unable to meet; a comedy duo practicing to achieve their goal of finding fame; and a company employee leisurely reading a book and enjoying the outdoors after being stuck inside during the previous months. What inspired these people to come here? For 3 days, we asked visitors about what the park means to them.

Two brothers in their 70's operate this unpretentious street stall that has only one item on the menu - coffee. The stall is set up each evening in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, and has been a popular haunt for locals and visitors for almost half a century. Among the customers we met were: a successful psychiatrist who runs several hospitals; a company employee who always ends his week here; and a man who has been coming here since he was a little boy. For 3 days, we asked the customers about what makes this stall so special, and why they keep coming back.

For junior high or high school graduates, or drop-outs struggling to find their place in society, landing a well-paid, steady job can be almost impossible. But one training center in Tokyo teaches these disaffected youngsters practical skills during a six-month internship and transforms them into workers that companies need. About 400 people have completed this program at the center, and many of them have found excellent jobs at major IT firms and other companies. For 3 days, we closely watched the youngsters determined to turn their lives around and start climbing the career ladder.

The setting is a 24-hour yakiniku restaurant in downtown Tokyo. Lunch starts at just 500 yen. People flock here day and night in search of hearty portions of meat at affordable prices. A group of security guards stopping by after their night shift, a couple living together who treat themselves to this once a week. Gathering around the charcoal grill, people share their true feelings that they wouldn't normally express. Meanwhile, there are also customers who quietly grill meat alone. This program takes a close look at a 24-hour barbecue restaurant in Tokyo's downtown area, where the aroma of delicious food fills the air.

Recently, “street pianos” have become a common sight in shopping districts and stations across the country. The piano installed in the underground shopping street of Kobe Station attracts over 100 people on busy days to play it. Interestingly, this piano was once used at a kindergarten in the city during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and the scars from that time still remain. Whether aware of this history or not, many people come to play the piano. Twenty-five years have passed since the earthquake. What has changed, and what remains the same? This program explores the present-day lives of people living in Kobe.

The Great East Japan Earthquake and the ensuing Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 forced all the residents of Namie Town to evacuate. When the evacuation order was partially lifted in 2017, some residents began returning to their hometown. In the summer of 2019, a large supermarket opened its doors to eager shoppers. In this episode, we spent 3 days at the supermarket during the busiest time of the year - around New Year's - and asked customers how their lives have changed since the disaster, and how they will be spending the holidays, 9 years on.

Every winter, anglers from across the country flock to one of Japan's most popular surf spots - Ishizakihama, in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan. They all come in the hopes of catching the mulloway, a fish that approaches the shore around this time of year and can measure well over a meter in length. However, the chances of catching one is said to be as slim as winning the lottery. For 3 days, we spoke to the avid anglers who make every effort to capture these elusive creatures, and forge new friendships in the process.

A store in Akihabara, Japan's biggest electronics town, sells over 100,000 electronics parts, including resistors, capacitors and circuit boards. Around 1,000 people come to the store every day, from professional engineers to people who like to build their own electronics for fun. Among the people we meet are a musician who makes his own effects units; a graduate student who makes drones to take a break from job hunting; and a man whose hobby of fixing car audio systems has turned into a job. For 3 days, we peeked inside the store to find out what it is people come to buy and what they hope to create with it.

In December, in the Shimokita Peninsula of Aomori, there is a unique entertainment district in the center of Mutsu City. With over 200 snack bars and restaurants, “Shinto Shrine Alley” has been beloved by locals for years. An elderly woman runs a small drinking spot, a fisherman's son serves freshly caught fish at a pub, and a young person who moved from the city opened a stylish bar. This entertainment district is home to diverse shop owners. As the harsh winter approaches, this is the story of people living resiliently in a small town.

A liquor store in Ginza, Tokyo, boasts a selection of over 3,000 types of mainly wine and whiskey from around the world, including a bottle that costs over 18,000 US dollars. Their tastings attract many drink lovers: customers can choose from over 1,000 bottles, with each sample glass costing just a few dollars. There, we meet a man who has a collection of over 100 types of whiskey at home and a proprietress of a bar who has survived 40 years of fierce competition. A Chinese company president-cum-sake sommelier who exports sake shares a nugget of wisdom: if you like it, it's a good drink, regardless of the price. For 3 days, we asked liquor store customers about their drink of choice.

A dentist's office in Fukuoka, southern Japan, has people streaming in around the clock to be relieved of their pain or to improve their smile. Some of the patients include: a man who lost 3 of his front teeth in a fight back in high school; an older man who has had dentures since he was in his 40's; and a university student who says that getting her teeth fixed gave her a more positive outlook on life. Each chip, crack, cavity and missing tooth has a story behind it. For 3 days, we hear about some of the drama in these patients' lives.

This episode is a Chinese version of “Document 72 Hours” produced by a Chinese production company. The setting is Kunming, Yunnan Province. Blessed with a warm climate throughout the year, in autumn, flocks of black-tailed gulls arrive here from Siberia. There is a large pond in the park in the center of the city, where thousands of seagulls rest their wings for several months until spring. In the spring, when the seagulls fly away, what kind of feelings do people have as they see them off?

Osaka Castle, which stands in the heart of Osaka City, western Japan, is surrounded by a park covering more than 100 hectares. Each year, over 2.7 million people visit this urban park famous for its castle, gardens and multipurpose hall. This green oasis is open 24 hours a day, so people come here around the clock. For some, it is a place to do exercise; for others, a place to relax or sightsee. For 3 days, we asked visitors what makes the Osaka Castle Park special and why it holds a place in their hearts.

Working styles are changing with the times. People no longer have to be physically present at their office at a certain time, and not everyone wants to be an "employee" at a company. In this episode, we visit a shared office space in Nagatacho - home to the National Diet Building and the center of national politics. In this place, which resembles a cafe more than an office, there are several co-working spaces and rental offices. A variety of people spend their day here - from freelancers and entrepreneurs, to people who have an office elsewhere but who use the space as a satellite office. We spent 3 days following them, as they search for their own unique work styles and chase their dreams.

We follow a blood donation bus on its journey from town to town in Hokkaido Prefecture. Japan as a whole faces a chronic shortage of blood donors, but Hokkaido has the highest donor rate in the nation. In a prefecture where the population density is low, this bus is what makes it possible to collect everyone's blood donation by traveling from one town to another. Some of the donors we meet are: a man who has donated blood 289 times, a woman who is donating blood as an act of gratitude and a nursery school teacher who feels refreshed by having blood drawn. We spend 3 days visiting small towns in Hokkaido, on a mission of compassion.

In August 2019, more than 2,000 motorcycle fans from across Japan assembled at a remote parking area in the volcanic Mount Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture. They came to be photographed with their prized two-wheelers for an album produced at an event held only once every 10 years. Many attendees have been to all of the event's 5 editions since it started in 1979. How have the participants' lives changed over the decade since the previous event? And what has stayed the same? For 3 days, we spoke to the motorcyclists who made this journey that was also a trip down memory lane.

As Japan's society continues to gray, the nation's hospitals are facing a chronic shortage of beds. At the same time, a growing number of people want to spend their final days at home rather than in a hospital, and others would rather care for ill relatives in their own home. Home care nurses provide invaluable support for people who choose to receive medical treatment at home. For 3 days, we followed the home care nurses that look after more than 190 patients living in Higashikurume in western Tokyo. What do these visits mean to the patients, who ranged from young children with cerebral palsy to the city's increasingly elderly residents?

The setting is a self-service car wash in Shinagawa, Tokyo, where people line up to wait their turn. Using spray bottles filled with water and detergent, they take their time polishing their beloved cars. A woman who bought a car for work but has since become so fascinated by it that weekend drives have become indispensable. A couple who wash their car instead of going on a date. A man in his 70s who is considering returning his driver's license. Each with their own circumstances, they silently wash their cars. At the end of July, after the rainy season ended, what do they want to wash away along with the dirt on their cars?

Japan's population continues to gravitate to the Tokyo area, but some people long to move from the capital to different corners of the nation. A consultation center in Tokyo's Yurakucho district is a magnet for anyone considering such a shift. At the center, consultants from 39 prefectures offer free advice, information, and handy tips about housing, employment, and any other aspect of daily life that awaits new residents. About 70% of people who come seeking for advice are aged 40 or younger. Among the visitors we met over 3 days was a man in his 60's looking for a new place to live after a recent divorce, and a man who took early retirement so he could return to Kyushu and spend more time with his children. Why do people want to move from Tokyo? And what do they hope to find after moving to their new home?

Okinawa is seeing an increase in tourists every year. Construction of hotels and department stores is booming throughout the city. Behind the scenes, driving schools where you can obtain truck and bus licenses are also bustling. A woman in her 20s is changing careers and aiming to become a large truck driver. A man who retired and moved to his dream destination of Okinawa, now aspires to become a bus driver. A college student who is attending driving school with money earned from part-time work dreams of becoming a civil servant in the future. What are the dreams they envision beyond obtaining their licenses?

An indoor climbing gym in Kawasaki City, near Tokyo, gives climbers a venue to test their physical limit and improve their skills while experiencing thrills - and a sense of achievement - not often found in daily life. The facility's 4-meter-tall bouldering wall and towering climbing walls more than 10 meters high provide challenging obstacles for enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, ranging from novices to some of Japan's finest climbers. For 3 days, we spoke to the climbers determined to reach the top of these walls - and to overcome other challenges they face in life along the way.

A huge footwear store in Kobe attracts customers from far and wide. About 100,000 pairs of shoes, sandals, and boots fill the shelves of this store, which covers over 3,000 square meters. But the biggest surprise inside the store is the prices. Sandals are priced from just 499 yen (less than $5), pumps start at 980 yen, and 2 pairs of business leather shoes cost a total of 5,000 yen. Every day, customers seeking a bargain on footwear are drawn to this store. But for many of them, shoes are more than just something worn on their feet. For 3 days in early summer, we listened to the personal stories of the customers who come here to save money for the next step in their life.

For some people, a wig is a "secret item" that dramatically transforms their appearance and mood. An underground shopping mall in Shinjuku, Tokyo, is home to a wig shop that has been providing all manner of wigs to men and women, young and old, for more than 40 years. Some of the customers we meet include a woman in her 40's worried about her thinning hair, a fitness instructor seeking a wig that would suit her costume for a dance performance, and a middle-aged man who enjoys cross-dressing. Each customer carefully selects a wig that matches their needs. What are they hoping to change about themselves, and who do they want to become?

A few minutes' walk from Asagaya Station, Tokyo, is a traditional goldfish fishing pond that has been operating in a quiet residential area for more than 90 years. Anybody can casually stop by and drop a line in the pond, which is popular with adults and children alike. The customers we encountered included a man who has been regularly fishing there for more than 50 years, a man who drives for 3 hours every weekend to try his luck at the pond, and a woman who catches up to 200 goldfish in just one day. What are they thinking about as they sit around this pond richly stocked with various varieties of goldfish?

Amid the ongoing health boom, many people have been tempted to try "short-term fasting" to improve their physical and mental condition. Visitors to a facility in Izu Kogen in Shizuoka Prefecture, willingly fast for several days not only to become healthier, but also to shake off feelings of gloom and unhappiness. The visitors include a man who manages a real estate agency who says that the fasting has given him a whole different perspective on life, a woman needing a break from caring for her elderly father, and a woman who took over her husband's design company after he died of cancer 10 years ago. During their stay, they eat only a rice porridge and a bland bowl of miso soup each morning and night. What do these people want to change, and what do they hope to achieve by fasting at this facility?

As you drive through the farm roads of Chiba Prefecture, a mysterious spot suddenly appears. People dressed in camouflage uniforms run around a vast field with air guns in their hands. This is survival gaming, commonly known as “Saba-ge,” which is currently gaining popularity. It's not just children and young people who are hooked. There's an older man who came to find a hobby after retirement. There's also a woman who came alone, away from household chores and childcare. What is it about this activity that captivates adults?

A few minutes' walk from the famous intersection in Shibuya, Tokyo, is a 24-hour post office. In recent years, this post office has handled an increasing volume of packages for delivery, mainly due to the popularity of online flea market apps among people of all ages. In late April and early May 2019, Shibuya was abuzz as people celebrated the dawn of the Reiwa era. For 3 days spanning this period, we spoke to customers around the clock at Shibuya Post Office, including a woman sending clothes she sold online, an elderly man who has collected stamps for over 60 years, and a woman sending heartfelt messages to her 3 adult children. What else were people posting? And what sentiments were being delivered along with their postcards and packages?

Tokyo Freight Terminal is Japan's largest distribution hub, with goods from across the nation arriving and being shipped out 24 hours a day. Train drivers, engineers, truck drivers and forklift operators are among the army of workers who keep this vital facility running smoothly. The volume of freight shipped by rail in Japan is growing annually due to the rise in online shopping and a shortage of truck drivers. For 3 days, we spoke to the men and women making sure these cargoes reach their destinations - safely and on time.

At a large cemetery in a Tokyo suburb, cherry trees grow in between rows of traditional gravestones. The trees themselves are also graves - a form of tree burial called "jumokuso" gaining popularity across Japan as more people express their wish to return to nature after they die. For 3 days during cherry blossom season, we meet people flocking to the cemetery to pay their respects, including a man on his weekly visit to the grave of his late wife, who stood by him through difficult times; 3 brothers who always visit their father's grave together around this time of the year; and a woman who talks to her late husband as she sips on a beer, as they used to enjoy doing together.

Takadanobaba is home to dozens of universities, university preparatory schools, and vocational colleges, making it one of Tokyo's most popular student districts. An ordinary open space inside the rotary in front of the station is a regular meeting spot for students going to parties or club activities at all times of the day and night. Among the people we meet assembling at this hive of activity are university students going out for a few drinks after their soccer training, and a group of middle-aged men who have come for a reunion to take a walk down memory lane in a district where they spent a several years of their youth. For 3 days straddling the end of one academic year and the start of a new one, we asked the students, past and present, about why this iconic location holds a special place in their hearts.

Spring in Japan is a time of new beginnings and also goodbyes. On Fukue Island, the largest of the Goto Islands in the far west of Japan, locals have made sending off people moving away an intrinsic part of life. In the closing days of March, when many people move for work, education, marriage, or other reasons, the terminal building at the island's ferry port - and its wharf - fills with relatives, colleagues, classmates, former students, and friends who come to bid farewell. These high-spirited goodbyes feature a mixture of hugs, tearful messages, songs, and signs. For 3 days, we watched the people embarking on the next chapter of their lives away from Fukue, and the locals ensuring they get a farewell to remember.

“I rent myself out to do nothing.” There is a man who offers this strange service. Despite the fact that he does nothing but simply be present, requests for his services continue to pour in, and his Twitter followers exceed 100,000. People ask him to accompany them when filing for divorce, to observe their civil court cases, or to attend their weddings... These are requests that cannot be made to family or friends, but who are the people who need someone to simply be there?

The bay area of Osaka City, surrounded by rivers and canals. This episode focuses on the city-operated ferry. The fare is free, and it serves as an indispensable mode of transportation for local students and factory workers. A woman says she uses it to visit her tea-drinking friends. Someone uses it daily to care for their parents. A foreigner mentions heading to a night shift. Amidst the diverse daily lives of its passengers, the time spent on this ferry is a precious moment to switch one's mindset. In just one minute, what kind of stories will unfold?

In February, we took a close look at the “Giant Job Fair” held in Tokyo. Over 300 companies participated during the three-day event, attracting over 10,000 job seekers from across the country. People considering a career change due to the gap between their ideal job and reality, those who left abusive companies, and those forced to change their work hours due to family circumstances—the reasons for attending varied widely. For companies, it was a fierce competition for talented individuals. They desperately promoted their company's potential. Over the three days, the fair supported people standing at a crossroads in their lives as they took their “next step.”

This episode focuses on a small real estate agency near Fukuoka Prefecture's Nakasu entertainment district, the biggest in Kyushu. Despite being tucked away on the 3rd floor of a multitenant building and displaying no signage, this agency receives a steady stream of customers who have seen its online listings. This agency offers everything from dirt-cheap apartments where monthly rent costs less than 20,000 yen (about US $180) to commercial properties seeking new tenants. The growing range of properties handled by this real estate agency reflects the recent increase in Fukuoka's population. Moving to a new apartment or home can herald the start of a new chapter in life. What sort of people come to this real estate agency, and why do they want to rent a place?

A lottery ticket sales office in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. Despite sub-zero temperatures, people continue to flock to the office. This is a “legendary sales office” known for producing many big winners. Over its 70-year history, it has produced 38 millionaires, with total winnings exceeding 10 billion yen. In the past, there was a 50 million yen winning ticket hidden among the losing tickets, and there was also a small business owner who won 10 million yen just before his company went bankrupt. What kind of dreams do people entrust to the lottery? The story of those who dream of striking it rich.

If you start with a charm that supposedly brings good luck and offer to barter it with passersby on a bridge in Osaka Prefecture's Dotonbori district, what sort of trades will happen and people will you meet? For 3 days, we put this question to the test. The people who swapped items with us included a Frenchman who fell in love with Osaka and decided to live there, a women's soccer team visiting the city on a university graduation trip, and an elementary school student traveling with his father after participating in a national karate tournament. Through a series of trades, a connection gradually forms among strangers who otherwise would have no link with each other. When 72 hours are up, what has the "bringer of good luck" turned into?

The redevelopment of the area around the station in Yotsuya, Tokyo, is progressing. In an alley off the main street, there is a small taiyaki shop that has been in business for 60 years. Every day, dozens of people line up, and the colder it gets, the longer the line becomes. The flavor is “grain-based red bean paste” only. The taiyaki, baked using the same mold that has been in use since the shop's founding, sells for 150 yen per piece, with 2,500 pieces sold daily. As Tokyo undergoes constant transformation at the end of the Heisei era, this traditional taiyaki shop continues to operate without changing its style. What kind of people, with what kind of thoughts, enjoy eating it?

On the first weekend of the new year, we visited a campground at the foot of Mount Fuji. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, people kept arriving and setting up tents. Winter camping is popular because “the air is clear and the scenery is beautiful” and “there are no bugs.” A company employee came alone for “solo camping.” A 50-year-old veteran camper showed off his favorite gear. The campground is buzzing with excitement over the boom that has returned after more than 20 years. What are everyone's thoughts as they gaze at Mount Fuji?

Since opening in 2015, Narita Airport's Terminal 3 for low-cost carriers has attracted more passengers each year as travelers swoop on the cheap airfares these airlines offer. Even though it lies about 600 meters from the nearest train station -- a bit of a challenge for people carrying bulky luggage -- around 20,000 people use this terminal every day. For 3 days in late December 2018, we spoke to people at this airport, including its 24-hour departure lobby and adjoining food court. As the year draws to a close, where will travelers fly off to?

In this episode, the scene takes place at a so-called table-sharing lounge in Sendai City, where men and women of all ages and backgrounds come in the hope of finding someone special while they are matched with random strangers. The customers we encounter include a group of young women who say that there's a lack of men in their town, a hairstylist trying to get over a difficult breakup, and a 23-year-old farmer who wants to get married. The spread of social media has made it simple to contact someone in an instant, but many people we spoke to say they hardly meet anyone new in person. Who are they hoping to meet at this lounge? For 3 days around Christmas 2018, we follow the men and women trying to give Cupid a helping hand.

The setting is a 24-hour music studio in Shinjuku. Not only amateur musicians, but people of all ages and occupations come here. Office workers gather after work to prepare for a colleague's wedding reception. A group of housewives who used to be in a “girls' band.” Young people who are shy around others but love to sing. Who are they, what are their motivations, and what songs do they play? We spend three days immersed in the loud studio.