Bonsai recreate vast natural landscapes in the confines of a plant pot. This unique Japanese culture is known by its original name around the world, and for many young people has become a byword of cool Japanese culture alongside manga and anime. From pieces painstakingly shaped over centuries to cutting-edge artworks shaped around new ideas, bonsai has an extraordinary diversity that's won fans at home and abroad. Rising international star and bonsai gardener Hirao Masashi explores the evolving world of bonsai.

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Cities around the world are reexamining their infrastructure. In response to the UN SDGs and environmental issues, cities are turning away from car-focused planning to models that put people first. Tokyo is part of this trend. New ideas and strategies are looking at streets. Architect Chiba Manabu rediscovers the charm of Tokyo's city streets and explores new designs for transport infrastructure and urban living.

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A standard classic commands a steady demand regardless of passing trends. In this episode, we explore designs can speak to the changing times but also appeal over the long-term. Such items hold onto historic threads while also drawing on necessary technology, humor or versatility. Product designer Suzuki Keita explores a wide variety of everyday items and examines the products users will consider the new standards of the future.

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Designers today are torn between the constant demand for something new and the requirements of sustainability. Some young creatives are turning to traditional craftsmanship and shining a new spotlight on old practices. The pandemic and the rejection of mass production, consumption and disposal has led to a new appraisal of the value of objects. Fashion designer Kishida Tomohiro explores young creators inspired by traditional craftsmanship and adding modern sensibilities to create new items and new aesthetics.

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Ancient myths and legends abound in Shimane prefecture. Top quality minerals including silver, copper and iron have long been found here, hence the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and the development of tatara iron. Shimane's rich minerals and natural landscape have inspired an array of regional designs over millennia. Join us on a design hunt in Shimane!

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Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture is a textile town benefiting from clean water from Mt. Fuji. In 2022, it held FUJI TEXTILE WEEK, a paean to the art of fabric. Artists from Japan and abroad collaborated with local textile makers to explore the potential of textile design through exhibits all around the town. Explore how this town is preparing to support its local industry into the future!

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Architect Tanijiri Makoto is known for his off-the-wall designs that both innovate and inspire people to rethink architectural conventions. Besides designing houses and business facilities, he also takes on landscaping, product design and various other projects. At the core of his thinking is a desire to make something that has never been done before. Venture into a world where the unconventional gives rise to new designs!

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