Face to Face

Investigator Bjorn is called to the morgue for an ordinary identification and is faced with a hard truth; the body belongs to his daughter. Although all clues point to a suicide, he fixates on a tiny clue that proves otherwise.

Bjorn is led to a luxury apartment where he encounters an unknown young woman, who turns out to be his daughter’s wife. Soon, he starts piecing together the puzzle of his daughter’s life, and it is darker than he ever thought.

Inspector Bjorn arrives at a luxury brothel to find the prostitute who introduced his daughter to prostitution. As he later finds out, they enjoyed together a sinful life crawling with parties, drugs, sex and fast money.

Susanne mourns the loss of her daughter. When the doorbell rings, she is confronted by a man John, who wants help to stop smoking. During the hypnosis, John reveals something shocking.

Susanne seeks out Police Commissioner Richard to tell him about the mysterious man. Richard has no knowledge of the man or cases of murder of young women. But he asks Susanne for a favor.

Susanne meets Officer Louise, who turns out to be a former client, whom she helped after a rape. When Susanne discovers that the police commissioner is calling Louise, she's sure something's wrong.

Holger Lang receives a video recording of Christina, his protege and potential heir, being murdered. Holger immediately understands the connection to his beloved younger brother, Markus.

Holger hurries to Markus's apartment to find Liz, the trusted and loyal company lawyer. Holger discovers that Liz helped Markus with a specific contract which could severely damage the company.

Holger discovers that beneath the friendly chit-chat with Otto lies a cynical quid pro quo. He continues to expose Otto's hypocrisy, only to find that he himself has let his old friend down.

TABLE FOR TWO aims to tackle the dichotomy of global obesity and hunger through a unique calorie transfer program in which healthy meals are served at the cafeterias of partner companies, with the excess calories -- 20 yen per meal -- used to support school lunches in developing countries. The brainchild of Masahisa Kogure (45), TFT now has over 700 corporate partners. But it wasn't easy to sell the idea of social contribution in Japan, as we'll hear in his discussion with Robert Campbell.

The latest edition of Kojien, the most authoritative of Japanese dictionaries, hit the stores in January 2018. A team of 220 wordsmiths spent 5 years tracking words in the media and on the Internet before deciding on the 10,000 or so new entries that reflect Japan today, such as "jidori" (selfie) and "moe" (passion). Chief editor Yasunari Hiraki believes that words evolve with the times. We'll ask him about what goes into the making of a dictionary and what he feels is its role today.

Kyoto celebrates spring with Miyako Odori, a 400-year-old dance festival featuring the geiko and maiko of Gion. The choreographer of this month-long event is Yachiyo Inoue, the 5th generation master of Kyomai, a school of dance characterized by elegant and highly stylized movements accentuated by stomping. Kyomai is suffering from a lack of successors. But Inoue is striving to keep the tradition alive with new dances that incorporate elements from other genres, as we'll hear on Face To Face.

Our guest is Yodogawa Technique, an artist who transforms trash and flotsam into stunning collages. He travels worldwide, interacting with local communities to create thought-provoking works. In the Maldives he formed a huge fish with the plastic bottles that are endangering its coral reefs. In memory of all that was swept away by the devastating tsunami of 2011, he created a "Wakabayashi 100 Years Swing" using what was left of the windbreak forests. His work has been featured in school textbooks to inspire eco-awareness.

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

Miso and other fermented foods are key to Japanese cuisine, a favorite of health-conscious foodies the world over. But increasing food diversity has led to a 40% decline in miso consumption over the last 20 years. This has prompted Hiraku Ogura, a self-proclaimed "fermentation designer," to produce animation and songs about microbial action, hold miso-making workshops, and showcase regional foods to explore the link between fermentation and Japanese culture. Join us for more on Face To Face.

Nanami Shiono (82) is the best-selling author of historic novels set in the Mediterranean, which have been translated into English, Chinese and Korean. During her 50-year career, her work has covered a span of some 2,500 years, allowing her readers to travel back in time. Since releasing her final historical novel in 2017, centered on Alexander the Great, her interests have evolved. Robert Campbell visits her home in Rome to discuss their mutual fascination with a culture other than their own.

Kodan is a traditional storytelling art that is enjoying a spectacular revival thanks to Kanda Hakuzan (36). Although he made his debut just 13 years ago, tickets to his performances sell out in no time. He manages to bring historic characters to life with his energetic performances that are grounded in solid technique and style. In February 2020, he assumed the highest rank possible in Kodan, the fastest rise in history. He joins us for a chat on Japanese culture as reflected in Kodan.

An illustrated book that explains the law in simple terms has sold over 500,000 copies in just over 6 months. Aimed at children, the author Soichiro Yamasaki hopes that understanding the law will help address the ongoing issue of bullying. Yamasaki is not a legal expert. Instead, he draws on his own experiences to drive home the point that bullying is a crime. He talks about how he hopes that the book will not only discourage kids from becoming bullies but also help kids protect themselves.

A Japanese aquarium that was once in dire straits has become the world's center for jellyfish research, thanks to its current director, Okuizumi Kazuya. He proposed setting up a jellyfish exhibit many years ago. At the time, he was a young man with little self-esteem. But the success of the exhibit gave him a new perspective. Today, he's become a leading expert in jellyfish, and his fish tank designs have been adopted by aquariums world over. He shares his passion for jellyfish with our host, Robert Campbell.

The skills of Japan's craftsmen are indispensable in restoring and preserving Japan's traditional wooden architecture. At the end of 2020, these skills were listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. David Atkinson, a former financial analyst from the UK, is the CEO of a 300-year-old company that has led the restoration of World Heritage sites such as Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Through bold reforms, he's managed to attract more young people into the field and is now seeking ways to secure funding through tourism.

Photographer Asada Masashi, who inspired the award-winning film, "The Asada Family, " is famous for taking unconventional family photos. One photo featuring his own family shows them dressed up as firefighters. Rather than traditional family portraits, Asada had his family take on fictional roles, such as that of a team of firefighters. Through his work and his experience of cleaning and returning family photos to the victims of a disaster, he's come to realize the power of photos that capture moments in everyday life, which he shares with us on Face To Face.

Kuribayashi Takashi is known for his installation artwork centered on the theme of boundaries, borders and limits. His fascination with borders began during his time in Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. His works encourage viewers to imagine what lies beyond the border; for instance, a marshland hidden above the ceiling of a stark white room. Another work shows moisture frozen in the air to reveal what cannot be seen, such as the threat of radioactive contamination. Through his work, he seeks to reveal what lies beyond the border, hidden in plain sight.

Japanese folklore is full of Yokai, legendary monsters and spirits known feared for their ability to cause inexplicable phenomena. Today, however, they've come to be seen in a different light, and are often featured in popular anime and manga. Komatsu Kazuhiko, a folklore researcher who has been studying Yokai for more than 40 years, believes they provide an insight into Japanese culture and society. He joins us for an in-depth talk on the past, present and future of Yokai.

Millions of people in Ukraine have been displaced as a result of the military invasion by Russia. In the midst of this humanitarian crisis, international NGO Médecins Sans Frontières, known as Doctors Without Borders in English, has been providing emergency frontline medical support in Ukraine and surrounding countries and is speaking out to the world about what it has witnessed. Dr. Yuko Nakajima, the president of MSF Japan, joins us to detail MSF's activities in Ukraine.

Shigemoto Hidekichi brings innovation to the traditional world of sumi-e art. From musicians and athletes to sword-wielding samurai, his paintings capture the speed, dynamism and emotion of the moments they portray. His work has garnered interest from fans of sports and entertainment. Shigemoto also gives live painting performances, captivating audiences. Recently, he's expanded into Buddhist paintings. He offers a glimpse into his creative process.

Murata Sayaka is a novelist who has gained a cult following worldwide. She soared to fame with "Convenience Store Woman," a novel that explores the challenges and consequences of nonconformity. The work asks readers to consider what it means to be normal. In "Life Ceremony," she challenges social taboos regarding life, death, and sex, depicting a world where ritualistic cannibalism has become a way to survive. A frequent guest at international literary festivals, she explains the unusual process through which her stories unfold.

In 2022, Takasago Junji won a prize in one of the world's top wildlife photography competitions with an ethereal picture that conveys his trademark love and respect for nature. As a child, living near the ocean brought him close with nature. But because of the 2011 tsunami, Takasago became unable to engage with the sea he grew up with. Now, he looks upon the waters with a renewed sense of purpose. He reveals his approach to photography and his thoughts about living in harmony with nature.

Designer Junko Koshino has astonished Japan's fashion scene for over 60 years with her out-of-the-box creations. We learn what continues to spur Koshino's passion for design.

Namae Shinobu, a chef of French cuisine, works to promote sustainability in gastronomy and more. We accompany him to Amami Oshima to learn more about his passion for food and the environment.

Our guest is MIKIKO, a choreographer and director who works with popular groups like Perfume and BABYMETAL. She combines dance with futuristic technology to create soul-stirring performances.

Kawashima Toru is a chef of Japanese cuisine based in Noto. Through the power of food and human connection, he's been working to help the region recover from the New Year's Day 2024 earthquake.

Photographer and film director Ninagawa Mika is known for her vibrantly colorful works. She shares insight into her latest exhibition, as well as her thoughts on life and peace.

Imamura Shogo is a writer of historical fiction who showcases unlikely protagonists to explore modern social issues. He talks about his methodology and his efforts to keep paper books alive.

Captivating audiences around the world, Hiromi is one of Japan's leading pianists. Exclusive backstage footage and a special performance reveal her musical world and the challenges behind it.

Yoshioka Sarasa revives ancient plant-based colors in Kyoto. As natural dyes grow scarce, she preserves their legacy while creating layered works that reveal new dimensions of nature's hues.

Iwaoka Yoji brought together Japan's diverse ramen traditions by creating the world's first ramen-themed amusement park.He explores how this dish became one of Japan's most enduring cultural icons.