Japan 7 Days - Season 4 / Year 2013

A year and ten months since the Great East Japan Earthquake, more than 300,000 people still are living away from home, either in temporary housing or in other quarters. Many are elderly and in need of daily assistance. Rumi Ide quit her job at a major food manufacturer to devote her time to helping fulfill their food needs. Working with "Second Harvest Japan" she visits disaster-hit areas to find out what people really require and urges food companies to donate appropriate items.

Despite concerns over declining interest in science among Japanese children, they're taking to a card game using atomic symbols. In the game "Chemistry Quest," players match cards to make different molecules. The game has sold 47,000 copies, a breakthrough in the competitive game industry, in which sales of 10,000 are considered a hit. The developer, Yuito Yoneyama, is in the 7th grade. He also happens to be the president of the company. These days, he is busy holding seminars and delivering speeches, as he tries to let people know the fun of learning chemistry by playing the game. Yoneyama has also developed smartphone applications he hopes will sell around the world. 

Other news:
 - Boeing 787 planes plagued with battery problems
 - Three Japanese among hostages seized in Algeria
 - Prime Minister visits Asian nations and disaster-hit areas in Miyagi
 - 80% probability of mega-quake in Nankai Trough within 30 years

A giant robot controlled by a person on board is no fantasy. The company producing just such a device, "Kuratas" has already received more than 3,000 orders worldwide. News reporters in many countries are taking notice. Wataru Yoshizaki, one of the developers, envisions a future in which every household owns at least one robot. The "V-sido" software that he made hastens that day, allowing anyone to control a robot with ease.

Other News:
 - Update on hostage-taking in Algeria
 - Government and BOJ release joint statement on inflation target
 - Battery manufacturer looks into cause of Boeing 787 problems

56 years have passed since the official recognition of Minamata disease, a condition caused by exposure to discarded mercury. Sickness and environmental pollution related to mercury occur in many parts of the world every year. This year, however, the United Nations finally agreed on the first treaty regulating its sale and use. One patient in Kumamoto continues to tell the story of what happened in Minamata, to prevent a recurrence. Masami Ogata lost his father and grandfather to the disease, and 20 of his relatives have been diagnosed as suffering from it. Ogata himself continues to struggle with symptoms unique to the problem.

Other News:
 - Prime Minister Abe delivers policy speech at 183rd ordinary Diet session.
 - Experts say they can't be certain a fault running beneath Tsuruga nuclear plant is not active.
 - Boeing 787 battery that caught fire shown to media.

With ornate clothing, elaborate makeup, and dramatic gestures, kabuki actors continue to captivate audiences around the world, 400 years after the art form was born. The longevity of any traditional art depends on the willingness of young people to take part in it, as performers or audience members or both. The Shintomiza Children's Kabuki Theater aims to make sure this form of drama keeps on going. Located near the Kabukiza theatre in Tokyo's Ginza area, it involves about 20 elementary school children. Shopkeepers, makeup artists, and various companies support the performances. Fumiko Morokawa, a teacher of Japanese dance, founded the troupe. She grew up listening her grandmother sing kabuki songs. Now, she's bringing a similar experience to children of today.

Other News:
 - Chinese frigate's radar locks onto Japanese destroyer.
 - Japan remains on watch for North Korean nuclear test.
 - Kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro dies.

Orientarhythm is a totally new type of dance performance, synchronizing music, projected images, and actions inspired by the martial art of karate. The combination has been performed in more than 20 countries. The director, Katsumi Sakakura, describes how his career has evolved, from hip-hop dancer to someone who now brings a multitude of movements together.

Other News:
 - North Korea conducts third nuclear test.
 - 23 months since the March 11 disaster.
 - Opinion poll shows support for new cabinet.

This month's "Japan Media Arts Festival" introduces audiences to some of the most popular art and performances from all over the world. "Wolf Children" by director Mamoru Hosoda received the Excellence Award in the Animation Division. It features a theme of family bonds, using precise hand-drawings and computer-graphics. Last year, the film did strong business in Japan bringing in box-office revenue rivaling Ghibli productions by Hayao Miyazaki. It's scheduled to be shown in more than 40 countries and regions. Guest: Mamoru Hosoda (animation film director)

Other news:
 -Survey results of geologic faults may keep Higashidori nuclear plant off-line for some time.
 -Japan contends with air pollution from China.
 -Kabuki actor Bando Tamasaburo receives French cultural award.

Industries that have long been dominated by men in Japan are starting to offer women the opportunity to succeed. In service industries, some of the employment changes result from consumer preferences. Delivery firms, for example, have a hunch that female customers living alone will feel more at ease if the person who brings a package to the door is the same gender. Many companies have also become more willing to promote women to management positions. The current administration has set a goal of raising the presence of women in leading positions upper business management to at least 30% or higher by 2030. Movement in that direction could play a part in rejuvenating the country's economy. Guest: Kaori Sasaki (CEO, ewoman, Inc.)

Other News:
 - Japanese among victims in Egyptian hot air balloon crash.
 - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers policy speech.
 - Vice PM Taro Aso meets South Korean President Park Gwen-hye.

The film "ROOTS: Senzoninaru" received a special mention at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. The documentary depicts an elderly man's efforts to rebuild his home after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The Berlin jury said the production grabs viewers' hearts by portraying the beginning of a new life and the rich spiritual culture of Japanese people. The documentary is to be shown this month as well, in the Hong Kong International Film Festival. The 77-year-old woodcutter who is the focus of the story is from Rikuzentakata. He lost his son in the disaster and his home. Yet, he decided to rebuild on the same spot. The documentary shows the people around him gradually understanding his perseverance and struggle. In our story, the director talks about the quiet yet insistent determination of the man who refused to allow the disaster to determine the rest of his life. Guest: Kaoru Ikeya (film director)

Other News:
 - Snowstorms bring death to Hokkaido; Akita Shinkansen derails.
 - Landslide under the sea may have caused 2011 tsunami.
 - Radiation drops 40% at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
 - Crown Prince Naruhito speeches at the United Nations.