Culture Crossroads

The power of the tiny 17-syllable poems called haiku resonates worldwide. In 2021, an effort was made to share thoughts via haiku in many languages, with the theme of "Life." What kind of thoughts do people express in the midst of conflicts, disasters and the COVID-19 epidemic? The organizer, poet Mayuzumi Madoka, presents a selection of the more than 1,000 haiku submitted from 36 countries.

Japan is one of the countries in the world with the highest concentration of volcanoes. What happens when a volcano erupts? What should we be careful of? The specialist known as "Mr. Magma" explains.

"17 Syllables Unite the World: Haiku in the Pandemic," broadcast in January, featured haiku poems written in various languages on the theme of "Life." In this sequel, Mayuzumi Madoka, a leading haiku poet, discusses the appeal and potential of haiku with a researcher on Japanese literature who writes haiku in Russian.

When a disaster strikes, a long and unusual life begins. Let's study the ways to keep your evacuee life healthier, such as preventing infection, maintaining oral hygiene and mental care issues.

The many people who provided support in the Tohoku region after the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake included a refugee from Myanmar. And today, people who did not experience the quake directly are searching for what they can do to help and are trying to dispatch updates on the stricken areas in a new way. The program reports on 3 people who continue to provide care and support.

Strict voluntary quarantine of smallpox sufferers was required in Iwakuni domain in the Edo period to protect the lord. Compliance was encouraged by a generous compensation policy that provided rice.

Let's unravel the history of masks in Japan! Dr. ISO introduces various ideas and innovations, including masks for silver mine workers and masks to block toilet odors.

In his diary, the 19th Prime Minister of Japan, Hara Takashi, described in detail how his health did not recover for nearly 6 months after his bout of Spanish flu.

With the rise in foreign trade in the late Edo period, menacing infectious diseases entered Japan. But it's also true that Westerners introduced the latest medicines and doctoral spirit of devotion.

More than four months have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. In May, Anastasia Monakova, a Russian-language reporter for NHK WORLD-JAPAN, visited an anti-war-themed exhibition held in Tokyo. On display were works by seven artists from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Japan. What are their perspectives as they continue to create their works and communicate through them?

A Japanese symbol of summer, cumulonimbus clouds have the power to cause heavy rain, thunderstorms, hailstorms, tornadoes, etc. Learn about them to protect yourself from sudden weather disasters!

What should you do when an earthquake occurs? Learn how TV and cell phone alerts work and the correct actions to take in different situations, such as when cooking at home or riding on a train.

Iwate is the prefecture with the largest number of natural disaster monuments. We meet people who pass on the lessons of past disasters in this region that was devastated by the 2011 tsunami.

Machi and Theresa are a lesbian couple living in Kyoto Prefecture. They were officially wed in Theresa's native US, but as their union isn't legally recognized in Japan, the two aren't family under the law. Thanks to donor insemination, Theresa became a mother, but Machi cannot officially be the child's parent. We follow the couple's efforts to overcome obstacles in their pursuit for marriage equality.

A disaster management expert provides useful tips for overcoming the various problems women have to face when staying at an evacuation shelter and recommends essential items to prepare.

The fact that Japan is very dry in winter greatly increases the risk of fire. We learn tips for preventing fires occurring and how to respond effectively when a fire breaks out.

NHK WORLD-JAPAN Indonesian language reporter Aji Rokhadi retraces the stories of Southeast Asian youths who had been sent to study in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb fell. He speaks with two Indonesian siblings whose father was a survivor of the tragedy and a Japanese woman who spent time with him after the bombing.

NHK WORLD-JAPAN Indonesian language reporter Aji Rokhadi retraces the stories of Southeast Asian youths who had been sent to study in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb fell. He speaks with a Malaysian-born scholar who does research on the lives of those students, and meets a Japanese former school teacher who continues to honor their memory.

Snow is beautiful, but it can also create very dangerous conditions. What is the best way to walk on icy roads and what precautions should drivers take? A Thai reporter shares his experience.