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Documentaries and reportages - those kind of "movies and serials"
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- StarsMichael EalyBarry StraussRichard RiddellRome. The greatest empire the world has ever known. This docudrama tells the story of Rome through the eyes of the empire's many adversaries who battled to see its destruction.
- DirectorGen TakahashiStarsThe Shaolin Martial Monks TroupersDocumentary about the Songshan Shaolin Temple.
- DirectorRobert MugnerotStarsDoug RandThe plot of the documentary reveals the role of Azerbaijan and its people in defeating Nazism and the strategic importance of the Azerbaijani oil during the war.
- DirectorAnna BradyLester FrancoisStarsShawn AllenRobin ArnottMark BacklerGameLoading Rise of the Indies is a feature documentary exploring the world of indie game developers, their craft, their games, their dreams, and how they have forever changed the landscape of games culture.
- DirectorAndreas Pichler
- DirectorBrandon LoperStarsKent BakkeKevin BohlinKatie Cargiulo"A Film About Coffee" is a love letter to, and meditation on, specialty coffee. It examines what it takes, and what it means, for coffee to be defined as "specialty." The film whisks audiences on a trip around the world, from farms in Honduras and Rwanda to coffee shops in Tokyo, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and New York. Through the eyes and experiences of farmers and baristas, the film offers a unique overview of all the elements-the processes, preferences and preparations; traditions old and new-that come together to create the best cups. This is a film that bridges gaps both intellectual and geographical, evoking flavor and pleasure, and providing both as well.
- DirectorTonislav HristovStarsEmmy JuolaSami JuolaKiril KarakolevA plate of food loaded with friendship, identity and common past.
- DirectorJohnny BurkeAndrew HintonStarsLobsang PhuntsokTashi DrolmaTenzin DrolmaA man creates a remarkable community for abandoned children, with no higher purpose than giving its young members the joys of childhood.
- StarsEsther SchweinsJody BaxmeyerPaula PotoskyThe Vikings changed Europe forever, yet half of them have almost completely disappeared from collective memory: the women. Quite unjustly so, as they played an important role in the world of the Vikings and performed extraordinary deeds. Viking women commanded ships and settled colonies. They took up arms and negotiated with emperors. Their traces can now be proven all the way from America to Kiev. Without their biographies the period of the Vikings stays incomplete. The two-part documentary "VIKING WOMEN" gives completely new insights into a fascinating culture, about which it seemed everything was already known. Exclusive interviews with experts from around the globe draw an authentic picture of the Viking world according to the latest scientific findings. High quality recreations with an international top-class cast will lead us to the early medieval world of the Vikings and revive this fascinating, long-lost era. Based on characters of the Nordic sagas, the mini-series displays the life stories of two Viking women: those of Sigrun and Jova.
- StarsLatif NasserLeslie LopatofskyStanley CrawfordRotten dives deep into the food production underworld to expose the corruption, waste and real dangers behind your everyday eating habits.
- StarsBettany HughesMarcel DorianMarek LichtenbergHistorian Bettany Hughes selects eight pivotal days that defined the Roman Empire and its establishment as the world's first superpower.
- StarsMichael PalinAs diplomatic relations between DPRK and South Korea begin to slightly thaw after decades of hostility, comedian and world traveler Michael Palin is allowed to visit North Korea for two weeks and, to a limited extent, explore the country.
- StarsDieter Moor
- DirectorBirgit HerdlitschkeStarsJean-Michel JarreLittle BootsMoby
- DirectorFritz OfnerEva HausbergerThe Glock pistol has been fetishized in films and the arts, and is a regular top seller in the international arms market. This documentary tells the story of the rise of the Glock: the most sought-after service and murder weapon worldwide.
- StarsAdolf HitlerWinston ChurchillA documentary which explores the remarkable parallels between the careers of Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill, as well as their personal rivalry and animosity.
- DirectorChris EyreIshi's Return looks at Ishi, billed in 1911 as the "last wild Indian" when he wandered out of the woods in Oroville, CA, and became a national sensation. When Ishi died, his brain was sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
- DirectorGeorge Paul CsicseryNavajo students engage in a lively collaboration with mathematicians. Using concepts from Native culture and a unique student-centered approach, the project aims to spark interest in math and science and create greater educational opportunities.
- StarsRobert BartlettProfessor Robert Bartlett examines the extraordinary expansion and unchecked ambition of the Normans, and shows how they transformed the history of Europe.
- StarsBilly ConnollyComedian, actor and musician Billy Connolly braves the elements in this adventurous journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, via the legendary Northwest Passage.
- DirectorAnne BogartHolly MorrisAn affectionate portrait of a group of women who, after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and evacuation, returned to the exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear power plant and have resided there - semi-officially, for years.
- StarsMatthew MacfadyenRichard OveryJohn DoliboisProfiles on the major defendants of the Nuremberg war crimes trials.
- DirectorRick RowleyStarsAnita AlvarezDean AngeloAlma BenitezA documentary examining the 2014 shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke and the cover-up that ensued.
- StarsSam WillisHistorian Dr Sam Willis reveals a remarkable story of invasion in Britain, spanning thousands of years.
- StarsChris ZegersDennis StormFloortje DessingA traveling program from the Netherlands.
- StarsAndres WilliamsZhao JingboZheng XianzhangChina is a country of staggering contrasts, from its ancient civilization to its bustling skyscrapers and from its steep river valleys to its harsh desert landscapes. Embark on an epic cross-country journey, spanning 5,000 years of history and soaring over natural wonders like Mount Everest and man-made marvels like the Great Wall of China. With breathtaking aerial views and on-the-ground human stories, witness this remarkable nation like never before.
- StarsRoman PolanskiBudzimira WojtalewiczAndrzej WajdaEnglish title: The Invasion: The Outbreak of WW2. This 90 minute documentary (broken into 2 parts in Australia) is a detailed look at what happened in Poland during WW2. Featuring interviews with German, Polish and Jewish survivors, it incorporates real footage and reenactments to detail a story that is virtually unknown outside of Poland. They were the first victims.
- StarsSimon ReeveVissarionTravelogue in which Simon Reeve embarks upon an epic three-part journey across Russia one hundred years after the Russian Revolution.
- DirectorSteven ClarkeStarsDan SnowPaul AntonioCormac Bourke
- DirectorGodfrey ReggioStarsChristie BrinkleyDavid BrinkleyPatrick DisantoAn exploration of technologically developing nations and the effect the transition to Western-style modernization has had on them.
- DirectorOtto BellStarsAisholpan NurgaivDaisy RidleyRys NurgaivThirteen-year-old Aisholpan trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her nomad family to become an eagle huntress.
- StarsPaul Thomas AndersonEdgar WrightBrad BirdA look at the history of movies and their impact on our culture.
- DirectorCasey BeckStarsCasey BeckA year in the life of a hopeful organic farmer and his skeptical partner reveals that a changing climate, financial insecurity, demanding physical labor, and corporate agriculture threaten the sustainability of one of the world's most traditional livelihoods in modern-day America.
- StarsSam AdamsThelma AdamsPaul Thomas AndersonAs the new century begins, books and comic-books become box-office gold, musicals and cartoons win audiences and Oscars and a new generation of filmmakers from diverse backgrounds finds its voice.
- StarsPaul McGannDocumentary series exploring the everyday lives of people throughout China, combining personal stories and natural history to create a rarely seen portrait of what life is really like in the world's most populous nation.
- StarsLars SvedbergKôji IshizakaGraham WebsterSince the first century to 1650, a whole network of trade routes crossed the Eurasian continent, from China to the shores of the Mediterranean, which was the main caravan route between East and West.
- StarsSam WillisYeTabatabaeiDr Sam Willis reveals how the Silk Road was the world's first global superhighway where people with new ideas, new cultures and new religions made exchanges that shaped humanity.
- StarsVinnie JonesVinnie Jones follows the police forces of some of the toughest and roughest cities in America.
- DirectorSimon GeorgeStarsCorey JohnsonKevin FarrellGeoffrey WawroThe events of World War II from 1941 onward are depicted from the perspective of space.
- DirectorChristopher TaylorStarsMichael PollanAlice WatersMarion NestleA fascinating look at how American agricultural policy and food culture developed in the 20th century, and how the California food movement rebelled against big agribusiness to launch the local organic food movement.
- StarsRomesh RanganathanIder-Od Bat-ErdeneRomesh visits Mongolia, the most sparsely populated country in Central Asia. His guide, comedian Ider, shows him the overpopulated capital, Mongolian wrestling, mysticism and dating, Genghis Khan's giant statue, and the eagle hunters.
- StarsRomesh RanganathanErjona RusiIn his most challenging adventure yet, Romesh explores Albania, a Balkan country transitioning from an Orwellian communist dictatorship to a European democracy.
- DirectorRick BeyerStarsAl AlbrechtSpike BerryEd BiowDuring World War II, a group of American GI's undertook a mission to create a traveling road show of deception on the battlefields of Europe. Their secret mission was kept a secret for nearly 50 years after the war's end.
- DirectorSharon PetzoldCommemorates the 75th Anniversary of the June 6, 1944 Normandy Invasion, D-Day Invasion, with Interviews of the Last Remaining Survivors of the Normandy Invasion, and actual very graphic film footage of the Normandy Invasion.
- Wade Davis, acclaimed anthropologist, journeys into hidden worlds to find cultures that have preserved their ways of life in the face of modern society.
- StarsBrian CoxClive RussellDouglas RussellA docudrama telling the story of the events that unfolded when a Scottish army led by Robert Bruce tried to drive the English out of Scotland 700 years ago.
- StarsMariana van ZellerMichael VoltaggioMike GassawaySeasoned journalist Mariana Van Zeller and acclaimed chef Michael Voltaggio travel into areas of conflict and unrest across the globe with hopes of bringing people together around the table to break bread and engage in dialogue.
- DirectorTim DunnStarsSamantha BondDino A. BrugioniElizabeth HickThe heroic tales of World War II are legendary, but Operation Crossbow is a little known story that deserves to join the hall of fame: how the Allies used 3D photos to thwart the Nazis' weapons of mass destruction before they could obliterate Britain. This film brings together the heroic Spitfire pilots who took the photographs and the brilliant minds of RAF Medmenham that made sense of the jigsaw of clues hidden in the photos. Hitler was pumping a fortune into his new-fangled V weapons in the hope they could win him the war. But Medmenham had a secret weapon of its own, a simple stereoscope which brought to life every contour of the enemy landscape in perfect 3D. The devil was truly in the detail and, together with extraordinary personal testimonies, the film uses modern computer graphics on the original wartime photographs to show just how the photo interpreters were able to uncover Hitler's nastiest secrets.
- DirectorPatrick KeillerStarsPaul ScofieldJohn MajorNorma MajorAn inspiring tale through London by pictures narrated by Paul Scofield.
- StarsMathieu KassovitzDoug RandThe rise of Stalin, from his early beginning as a bankrobber to the cold-blooded leader of the Soviet Union.
- StarsRichard John EvansKate FleetwoodRichard OveryPowerful and resonant series that looks at how Hitler and the Nazis seized power in Germany and ushered in the death of democracy.
- StarsEdward HerrmannTravis WojcikThe history of the great militaristic Ancient Greek city state.
- StarsBettany HughesRay LonnenMargaret RobertsonA history of the ancient Spartans, featuring historian Bettany Hughes as presenter and narrator.
- DirectorAntje BaumgartenStarsTamina Kallert
- DirectorAlice TschökeStarsAndrea Grießmann
- StarsTamina Kallert
- StarsShadLL Cool JBig Daddy KaneMC and journalist Shad Kabango meets with Hip-Hop's biggest stars to retrace how Hip-Hop became the world's most popular music, but realizes that Hip-Hop's true legacy is something much more profound.
- Stars50-GrandCheo Hodari CokerDJ QuikWith the rise of N.W.A., gangsta rap and Suge Knight, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry climaxes with a lethal beef ensnaring the great Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.
- StarsDeric AngelettieBig Daddy KaneKareem Biggs BurkeIn New York, the Notorious B.I.G. fosters an empowering protege, Lil' Kim. When the East-West feud claims Biggie, Puff Daddy and Jay-Z vie for the throne.
- DirectorJulian JonesStarsHeike B. GörtemakerRichard John EvansMike JacksonThreatened by the ambition of SA leader Ernst Röhm, Hitler is persuaded by Himmler to destroy Röhm and his stormtroopers and make the SS Germany's only paramilitary force.
- StarsChali 2naAceyaloneStretch ArmstrongAlternative hip-hop bubbles up from the streets: Mos Def spits in New York, the Freestyle Fellowship chops it up in LA, and Eminem battles on the circuit.
- StarsKilo AliRegina BradleyMr. ColliparkA hot, sticky music scene is born in Atlanta, Georgia, as the infectious hooks of TLC and Kris Kross yield to the gritty originality of OutKast and Goodie Mob.
- DirectorNicola SilkStarsRichard AyoadeStephen MerchantRichard Ayoade begins his final stint presenting the wry travel series in Dubrovnik with Stephen Merchant. The pair take a Game of Thrones (2011) tour, a buggy safari and a ferry across to the cursed island of Lokrum.
- DirectorFolco QuiliciStarsFolco QuiliciRoberto ToderoIn the First World War, alongside the men fought an army of animals. Mules, oxen, dogs, horses, pigs, pigeons were used for moving units and materials, communications, and for the support of the troops. The forced cohabitation with men closer to each other in a possible fate of death and suffering: officers and enlisted men had the opportunity to give and receive affection, but also to deal with beings weak and completely dependent on their . Animals in the Great War offers an unconventional story of dramatic conflict, through letters, diaries and photographs taken by the fighters, and collected in the book that Lucio Fabi has derived from his research, The good soldier mule (ed. MURSIA). A documentary rebuild memories, stories, episodes of real life relationship, in and out of the trench, between humans and animals, including incredible moments of absolute serenity and tenderness, alternating the background of one of the most tragic periods in modern history.
- DirectorRobin BicknellStarsAlexandria BenoitDavid StrausThis fascinating two-part programme explores cutting edge research surrounding the brain and its ability to function. In part one, two renowned neurologists are working to understand the brain's "plasticity" and introduce us to a woman who functions well with literally half a brain and a blind professor who learns to "see" with his tongue. Part two explores the brain's elusive capacity to create and store memory, as seen through one man who remarkably remembers every single detail of his life, and an athlete whose memory was wiped clean following a tragic accident.
- Discover the thrilling story of how you were made, from the moment of conception to the moment of birth 280 days later.
- DirectorChris RichardsStarsRichard AyoadeLou SandersRichard is joined by Lou Sanders for a blast round Bergen. They go on a gastronomic adventure, view odd architecture, ride a cable car to the top of Mt. Ulriken and fly down the fastest zip-line in Norway.
- DirectorNicola SilkStarsRichard AyoadeJoe WilkinsonRichard Ayoade is joined by comedian Joe Wilkinson for a two-day break in Poland's second city. They take part in a baking workshop, visit a chapel in a salt mine and do a bit of soldering.
- StarsSimon ReeveSimon Reeve travels down the length of North America.
- DirectorNicholas de PencierStarsRon DeibertFelipe AltenfeldorWjd DhnieA look at the global impact the internet has on free speech, privacy and activism.
- StarsStephen ManganEric MeyersFrom the turn of the century to the 1960s millions of immigrants arrive in search of the American dream. Initially they're welcomed with open arms, but soon America shuts its doors to them. Rare home movies, seen in color for the first time, reveal the extraordinary stories of a host of ordinary immigrants.
- DirectorPeter Curtis PardiniStarsVinnie TortorichNina TeicholzGary TaubesHealth expert Vinnie Tortorich exposes the history behind widespread myths and lies regarding healthy eating, fat and weight loss.
- StarsStephen ManganEric MeyersAmerica's rapid growth in the early 20th century exposes millions to natural and man-made disasters. Americans are both fascinated and horrified by these catastrophes ,many of which they record on film. As the century progresses these disasters teach them about the natural world and how to mitigate against further fatal events. Now, using rare archive and home movie footage, this story is told in color, for the very first time.
- StarsStephen ManganEric MeyersAt the start of the 20th Century, Alaska is seen as frozen wasteland, filled with nothing but Inuits and Polar bears. It is America's last frontier. The discovery of Gold attracts Americans in their droves. Over the next six decades the exploitation of Alaska's vast natural resources leads to statehood.
- DirectorSonya PembertonStarsDerek MullerA documentary about vitamins: the history of their discovery, the dietary supplement industry, and the dangers of both deficiencies and excessive intake.
- DirectorDavid BriggsStarsMarcus du SautoyBjörn BringertPatrick ProsserProfessor Marcus du Sautoy demystifies the hidden world of algorithms and reveals where these 2,000-year-old problem solvers came from, how they work, and what they have achieved.
- DirectorManuel von StürlerStarsCarole NoblancJean-Paul PeguironPascal ÉguisierA 600 kilometre winter trek for 800 sheep, accompanied by 3 donkeys, 4 dogs and led by two shepherds, Pascal and Carole.
- StarsAdnan SarwarAdnan's journey begins in Kurdistan as he travels with the Kurdish Pashmerga militia on a convoy up to Mount Gara; he then meets an animal activist trying to save bears lost to habitat destruction and to hunting.
- DirectorToby BeachStarsJim ConradNo city has played a bigger role in America's independence than Boston. Famous for its rowdy revolutionaries, America's oldest battleship, its busy harbor, and the nation's first subway system, Boston is a city of firsts and continues to shine as America's cradle of liberty. Fly over this city and see New England's largest metropolis like never before, in Aerial America: Boston 24.
- StarsMarques BrownleeCasey NeistatJosh SchaferThe JVC GR-C1 Camcorder was the first all-in-one handheld video camera. I trace the history of homemade videos back to the release of this iconic piece of tech and shows how its popularity led to the videos we watch on YouTube today. Fellow YouTube creator Casey Neistat shows me how to film and edit videos on this piece of retro tech. Spoiler alert: It's not easy.
- StarsMarques BrownleeDan AckermanJustine EzarikEveryone knows the 1984 Macintosh computer was a game changer for the tech industry. But why was this particular computer so iconic? I learn how Steve Jobs and his team took on computer giants IBM, changing personal computing forever. Living legend Bill Nye the Science Guy joins me to play Asteroids on an original Macintosh. And fellow YouTube creator and Apple expert iJustine explains why the 1984 Macintosh was able to beat its competitors.
- StarsMarques BrownleeHannibal BuressMarques learns about the cultural impact the Genesis had and plays Mortal Combat for the first time as well as testing some questionable Sega Genesis gaming accessories.
- DirectorAnders EklundStarsEmil AnderssonDavid BergströmBiayna BogosianCan games change the world? With cities everywhere struggling to cope with the population growth that increased urbanisation brings, can video games be harnessed to help the residents, especially young people, take part in planning, and fixing their own cities. Today public spaces and entire cities are being designed, planned and played through the medium of games. The result of this "civic gamification" is that city architecture and urban planning is being democratized. Cities have become the ground zero for digital innovation and the debate about how our cities evolve has suddenly gone viral. We follow three game companies navigating the space where urban planning and gaming meet. Lydia Winters at the game developer Mojang, the creators of Minecraft, Paradox Interactive and the game Cities: Skylines and José Sanches and his indie game Block'hood. How will our cities look in 20-100 years time?
- StarsStephen ManganEric MeyersThis is the story of America's fascination with crime, told in color for the very first time. From the 20's, dramatic court room dramas and propaganda on the FBI's war against public enemies fuel the newsreels. Rare home movies record the aftermath of the worst school bombing in US history and by the 60s, TV news cameras capture the first college-campus mass-shooting as it unfolds in real time.
- StarsStephen ManganEric MeyersLook to the Light "The discovery of the galaxies with NASA's USA ONE PROFESSOR WORKING..."
- StarsStephen ManganEric MeyersSmall towns are the heart and soul of America. At the turn of the century tightly-knit, communities, embody the pioneer spirit. Small town heroes like Will Rogers and jimmy Stewart capture the nation's hearts. In reality many are mired in poverty and desperation. As the city's expand, so the myth of the small town grows and continues to burn brightly in the minds of Americans.
- StarsBen HendersonNele KestensMyriam AjarThe series tells the epic story of five European railway stations. We discover these Cathedrals of the Industrial Age in their present and history combining human stories with architecture, past and contemporary stories.
- StarsLucy WorsleyJanet HartleySimon DixonBritish historian Lucy Worsley travels to Russia to investigate the 300-year reign of the Romanov dynasty.
- DirectorCaroline AmiardDaniel AblinStarsFrançois DelplaMark FeltonLuc FournierAt the end of the 1930s, Hitler ordered the construction of a special train that could transport him around safely and appease his growing paranoia. A veritable fortress on rails, this armored fifteen-carriage convoy served as his mobile headquarters, and was where he met privately with Pétain, Franco and Mussolini. It was also the target of numerous assassination plots by the British secret service. Equipped with the most advanced communication facilities and a battery of anti-aircraft cannons, its construction called for a team of the biggest names in engineering, while the luxurious interior of each coach was designed by the Führer himself. We travel to Germany to discover what's left of these exceptional trains, and dig through the few surviving archives to retrace the little-known history of this special train and pierce the secrets behind Hitler's beast of steel.
- DirectorKazuhiro SôdaStarsWaichiro MurataKumiko KomiyamaKiyoko KashiwagiForsaken by the era of modernization of post-war Japan, Ushimado, a town so beloved by film director Shohei Imamura that he set two of his films there ("Black Rain", "Dr. Akagi"), is rapidly aging and declining. Its rich, ancient culture and the tight-knit community are also on the verge of disappearing. Portrayed in black and white photography, this latest observational documentary by Kazuhiro Soda ("Campaign", "Mental", "Oyster Factory") poetically depicts the twilight days of a village and its people by the dreamlike Inland Sea.
- DirectorLucille CarraStarsDonald RichieKeijo HasegawaAkira HamadaIn 1971, author and film scholar Donald Richie published a poetic travelogue about his explorations of the islands of Japan's Inland Sea, recording his search for traces of a traditional way of life as well as his own journey of self-discovery. Twenty years later, filmmaker Lucille Carra undertook a parallel trip inspired by Richie's by-then-classic book, capturing images of hushed beauty and meeting people who still carried on the fading customs that Richie had observed. Interspersed with surprising detours-a visit to a Frank Sinatra-loving monk, a leper colony, an ersatz temple of plywood and plaster-and woven together by Richie's narration as well as a score by celebrated composer Toru Takemitsu, The Inland Sea is an eye-opening voyage and a profound meditation on what it means to be a foreigner.
- DirectorPamela YatesFrom a historic genocide trial to the overthrow of a President, 500 YEARS tells a sweeping story of mounting resistance played out in Guatemala's recent history through the actions and perspectives of the majority indigenous Mayan population, who now stand poised to reimagine their society.
- StarsJanelle MonáeLisa DiamondJustin LehmillerFrom the biology of attraction to the history of birth control, explore the ins and outs of sex in this entertaining and enlightening series.
- StarsJoanna LumleyThis epic new four-part series is Joanna Lumley's grandest and most challenging journey yet, a breath-taking odyssey from Venice to the Chinese border along the veins of the ancient Silk Road. A perilous network of paths, the Silk Road shaped the modern world, bringing silk, printing, spices, gunpowder, and many other things, to the West. Joanna's adventure will see her travel through a breath-taking array of fabulous landscapes as she crosses continents, deserts, mountains and steppe, boldly following in the footsteps of the merchants, conquerors, kings and pilgrims who once lived and died along this route.
- DirectorFrankie FathersTom WhitterStarsJames MayMasayo FujiiJames begins his journey at Cape Soya, the northernmost tip of Japan on the remote island of Hokkaido. This snowy wilderness is the least densely populated area of the country, and James tries his hand at dog sledding across the stunning landscape with some deceptively docile-looking canine pals. A few bumps and bruises later and it's time to brush up his language and origami skills in one of the smallest restaurants he's ever seen. This is a 'Yatai', or a tiny eating and drinking shack, where you're encouraged to cram around a small communal table and break noodles knee to knee with people who, until the beer starts flowing, are total strangers. But there are more winter sports on the horizon, as a day or so later James finds himself playing 'Yukigassen' - the world's only codified and refereed team snowball fight (complete with regulation sized balls). Despite James's natural athleticism, and the stern words of encouragement from his disappointed guide Massayo, he's not a natural in the cut and thrust of a grudge match where the snowballs are solid ice and crash helmets are obligatory. To escape from the bitter cold, the director gives James a chance to warm up and indulge his passion for metalwork. He meets Korehiro Watanabe, one of Japan's last samurai swordsmiths, who allows James to be his apprentice for a day (forgoing the usual ten-year commitment). After several hours spent learning the extraordinary secrets of the sword master's forge, James takes a handmade katana for a quick spin, showing how this ancient craft still yields fear-inducing results. By now it's definitely time for some food and drink, and James brews his own beer at one of the growing number of microbreweries springing up in Sapporo, Japan's beer capital. Then he heads out into Hokkaido's bountiful icy waters to catch an octopus, and learns the art of sashimi and tempura in a quayside cook off. At least James's efforts go down better than a dessert featuring sea urchin ice cream.
- DirectorTim ConradStarsGareth AbelJeanne BowserBill CordayTen individuals, ten dramatic stories, ten extraordinary days, all leading to the big historical event: the end of the worst war the world has ever known, World War 2.
- DirectorFrankie FathersTom WhitterStarsJames MayMakiko KobayashiHonshu, Japan's main island, is a veritable cornucopia of different environments. While the main tourist draws - including Tokyo - lie further south, it's the beautiful Northern region of Tohoku where James finds himself. And he wastes no time in shattering that tranquil beauty by getting involved in a giant robot duel with his new guide, Maki. To atone for the fallout of this epic shootout with a woman he's only just met, James seeks wisdom on a pilgrimage through the snowy woods of a holy mountain with a very friendly monk. After the monk introduces James to the benefits of naked bathing in natural hot pools, it's time to trade spiritual reverence for an altogether more modern type of worship: screaming pop fandom, courtesy of a trip to watch the Zenryoku Boys, Sendai city's newest J-pop sensation. Although James is confident in his status as a global style icon, the boys insist on giving him a post-gig makeover, complete with a hip new wardrobe and trendy hairdo. This region is home to Matsushima, a stunning bay of pine-covered islands and one of Japan's historical 'Great Views'. Here James is moved to write a haiku, before committing it to paper with a valiant attempt at traditional Japanese calligraphy. But the beauty of the area hides the fact that it was these shores that bore the brunt of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown. Eight years later many of the towns and villages in nearby Fukushima province remain uninhabited. James meets one of the pioneers who's recently moved back to the deserted town of Namie after the area was finally declared safe by the government. Next stop: Tokyo, and James decides to arrive in style on the Shiki-Shima, the world's most luxurious train. Of course, the train's on time, so what could possibly go wrong?
- DirectorTom WhitterStarsJames MayYujiro TaniyamaIn an attempt to say sensei, James accidentally misspeaks to his Japanese teacher and calls him deodorant. James visits a penis festival in Kawasaki and the gadget district in Akihabara.