Chatroom Japan (2022 - 2026)

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A Brazilian couple who moved to Shiga Prefecture, Japan, teaches taekwondo to children. Their efforts are helping kids develop more than just athletically.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A Chinese woman living in Japan holds gatherings for Chinese children with the goal of boosting their confidence in their international background.

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.

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.

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.

Chinese mother Yang Hu finds reassurance in a Japanese word that helps her connect with others while navigating cultural differences in Tokyo.

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.

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.

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.

When a huge earthquake hit Japan's Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day, 2024, an Italian resident of the country rushed to help, cheering people up with hot meals made from the heart.

The Buddhist temple Daionji has served as a refuge for Vietnamese in Japan facing challenges related to work and daily life. They're welcomed with a smile by its founder Thich Tam Tri, who provides them with support through communal living.

Cahyo Laksono is passionate about carbon neutrality. The PhD student sees an opportunity to reuse carbon dioxide emissions in Japan and his native Indonesia to help produce plastics.

The number of traditional Japanese carpenters is dwindling, but American Jon Stollenmeyer is helping to keep their style of architecture alive.

Kang Sang-mi, a third-generation Korean born and raised in Japan, embraced her Korean name and heritage after struggling with her identity. She now empowers kids with foreign roots.

Bui Thi Le Dung is a medical interpreter passionate about supporting Vietnamese residents in Japan. She provides her services for free, fueled by a desire to make medical care accessible to everyone.

Wang Yuan Wei knows what it’s like to feel lost. He now offers children from overseas a safe place to call home, where they too can say tadaima.

How would you reach out to the person next to you in times of disaster? That is the question Amy Takebe asks her students based on her experience in 2011.

How can farming in Japan be made more exciting? That question drives a farmer from Indonesia who sees potential to help his community via agriculture.

Rafael Kinoshita teaches music to children with roots overseas, creating a space where they can have fun, build confidence and connect with others.