Chatroom Japan (2022)
Season 1
Chatroom Japan is a platform for NHK WORLD-JAPAN to engage with international residents in Japan. The public broadcaster aims to develop a new relationship with these viewers and, together, explore ways to make their lives better.
Released Nov. 7, 2022
Episode 3 min
None+
S1E1 - Tuning in to the Community
A Ghanaian entrepreneur and 33-year resident of Japan launched an online radio station as a way of giving back to the community. The project is inspiring some young Africans to pursue their own dreams.
Nov. 7, 2022, midnight
S1E2 - 50 Job Rejections Changed My Life
Marvin is from Brunei. He now works as a data analyst after he was turned down by 50 companies in his job search. What insight did he gain from his experience?
Jan. 2, 2023, midnight
S1E3 - Homework Challenges
Elsa is from the Faroe Islands. Her two children attend a Japanese public school. She feels sad that she cannot always help them because of language issues.
Jan. 9, 2023, midnight
S1E4 - Parental Styles
Our anchor traveled to the city of Izumo in Shimane Pref. for an impromptu "chatroom" with a Brazilian woman who shares her joy of raising children in rural Japan.
March 3, 2023, midnight
S1E5 - Family Matters
In the latest edition of Chatroom Japan, NHK WORLD-JAPAN visits a Brazilian community in Shimane Prefecture. The locals discuss life in a foreign country, and why they always put family above all else.
March 6, 2023, midnight
S1E6 - A Shop for All
Meet Marcos Takato Ikegami, a Brazilian supermarket owner in Izumo City, western Japan. He sells all sorts of imported goods, but the chance to learn more about his native culture will always be free.
March 24, 2023, midnight
S1E7 - Embracing Natural Hair
Maminata Ouandaogo's passion for African hairstyles has helped hundreds in Japan with their natural hair. But outside her salon, she says social pressure keeps some people from embracing it.
April 28, 2023, midnight
S1E8 - Fukushima's Warm Welcome
Xu Quanyi sees it as his mission to promote the charm of Fukushima. Sharing his stories is how he counters the stigma Fukushima continues to suffer following the 2011 disaster.
June 12, 2023, midnight
S1E9 - A Missing Piece of Happiness
Tokyo couple Greg Dvorak and Ono Kenji say Japan is preventing them from fulfilling something essential for their long-term happiness. They want the country to legalize same-sex marriage.
June 19, 2023, midnight
S1E10 - In Pursuit of Sustainable Fashion
Shocked by what he saw in India's textile industry, Aditya traveled to Japan to find a better way to produce fabric. Now, he works with a start-up that's hoping to change how we create clothes.
Aug. 7, 2023, midnight
S1E11 - Can Tradition Inspire a Green Future?
Aditya Sharma seeks a sustainable balance between protecting the planet and meeting consumer demand for clothing. He explores a Japanese tradition in the hopes of finding inspiration.
Aug. 14, 2023, midnight
S1E12 - Taekwondo Inspires Changes in Kids
A Brazilian couple who moved to Shiga Prefecture, Japan, teaches taekwondo to children. Their efforts are helping kids develop more than just athletically.
Sept. 4, 2023, midnight
S1E13 - Life after School - Stay or Go?
Rika met with a group of international students to hear about their experiences and plans in Japan. Do they see a future for themselves here? Or are they planning to go back abroad? Let's find out!
Sept. 18, 2023, midnight
S1E14 - My Life in Fukushima
We set up our "chatroom" in Fukushima Prefecture. Four local residents from different backgrounds participated. We asked them their views on Fukushima, and what they thought about the 2011 disaster. Let's hear about their lives in Fukushima.
Nov. 11, 2023, midnight
S1E15 - An Education Chance Opens the World
Maxine is a university student. She joined a school providing educational support and life advice to international students wanting to enter Japanese high school. This experience changed her life. What insights did she gain?
Dec. 4, 2023, midnight
S1E16 - Empowering Kids Through Song
A Brazilian woman living in Japan is trying to promote a music video she made for kids about sexual abuse while navigating the differences between the two cultures.
Dec. 11, 2023, midnight
S1E17 - My Eco-Friendly Farm
A woman from France is now an organic farmer in Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The town was affected by the 2011 nuclear accident. She is working to change that image.
Dec. 25, 2023, midnight
S1E18 - What Do You Do When a Major Earthquake Occurs?
A major earthquake struck central Japan on January 1. We hear from three Brazilians who were affected by the quake. What can we do to prepare for disasters? Please share your thoughts with us.
Feb. 4, 2024, midnight
S1E19 - Finding an Apartment in Japan Is Too Hard!
A young man from Vietnam is using his own struggles finding an apartment in Japan to help other foreigners get settled. If you're new to Japan and faced similar challenges, tell us.
Feb. 19, 2024, midnight
S1E20 - The Local "Sento" - More Than a Bath
Have you ever been to a sento? Christian Dimmer, a German urbanist living in Japan, focuses on the community-building potential of Japan's public bathhouses. It is common these days in our society to live alone or in single-family units. He hopes that people can rediscover the value of the community communication nourished by public bathhouses.
Feb. 26, 2024, midnight
S1E21 - How Do You Care for Loved Ones as They Age?
A Nepalese nursing home manager in Fukuoka Prefecture harnesses his background in IT and his diverse staff to give elderly residents and their families peace of mind.
Feb. 26, 2024, midnight
S1E22 - Things I Learned from the Kumamoto Quakes
Do you know what to do when disaster strikes? If you don't, Andrew Mitchell from the UK has some stories to tell you from his own experience living through the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.
March 4, 2024, midnight
S1E23 - Are You Proud of Your International Background?
A Chinese woman living in Japan holds gatherings for Chinese children with the goal of boosting their confidence in their international background.
April 19, 2024, midnight
S1E24 - Do You Have Your Own "Me Time"?
All moms need some "me time." And that's why one forward-thinking woman in Kyoto Prefecture established Mamo Heart, a space for mothers to not only relax, but also get their own business ideas off the ground.
April 26, 2024, midnight
S1E25 - My Temple, My Sanctuary
A monk from Myanmar came to Japan to build a temple for the people of his country. He believes it's his mission to offer them a place of sanctuary and provide them with physical and mental comfort.
June 21, 2024, midnight
S1E26 - Dreams of Mt. Fuji: Hard and Rewarding
Passang Lama Bhotia fell in love with Mt. Fuji as a child in Nepal. After becoming a Himalayan mountain guide, he came to Japan and now works on the mountain he dreamed of, guiding foreign tourists.
July 26, 2024, midnight
S1E27 - A Word That Offers Comfort
Chinese mother Yang Hu finds reassurance in a Japanese word that helps her connect with others while navigating cultural differences in Tokyo.
Aug. 2, 2024, midnight
S1E28 - Learning More Than Skills from Woodblock Prints
David Bull came to Japan to master the art of woodblock printing. He learned valuable lessons about Japanese culture and that there is more to the works of art than the paper they are printed on.
Aug. 16, 2024, midnight
S1E29 - I Was Born in Japan and Called Gaijin
Imagine being called an outsider in the country where you were born. Chuk Besher knows what that's like. It made him ask questions about identity and diversity.
Aug. 25, 2024, midnight
S1E30 - Bridging Smalltown Dojos with the World
A town in Shizuoka Prefecture is drawing visitors from Australia to Mexico, thanks to Kiwi kendoka Graham Sayer. He says giving back to the community embodies the spirit of the Way of the Sword, or kendo.
Nov. 29, 2024, midnight
Network: NHK WORLD-JAPAN
Episode Runtime: 3 min.
Season Runtime: 100 min.
Released: Nov. 7, 2022
Last Air Date: Nov. 29, 2024, midnight
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR
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