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The Best Episodes of Document 72 Hours Season 7

Every episode of Document 72 Hours Season 7 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Document 72 Hours Season 7!

An unusual documentary series that delves into human dramas through chance encounters with ordinary people at selected spots. Filmed over 72 hours in a single location, the show captures glimpses into people's lives as they

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 1 - Yokohama All Night Tonkatsu
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    #1 - Yokohama All Night Tonkatsu

    S7:E1

    The stage is set at a 24-hour tonkatsu restaurant in Yokohama's entertainment district. From early morning to late at night, people from all walks of life come to scarf down the meat. A man is on his way to the neon district to get himself in shape. A cabaret girl who has come to finish off her drink. There are also men taking a break at dawn after working all night. The year 2015 was filled with flashy news, such as soaring prices of condominiums and increased profits of major corporations. How are people celebrating the end of the year? We spent three days at a tonkatsu restaurant in a nightless city, looking at the human condition of people in all their sorrows and joys. 　

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 2 - Kappabashi: Tokyo's Kitchen Capital
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    #2 - Kappabashi: Tokyo's Kitchen Capital

    S7:E2

    Kappabashi Street in Tokyo is a place like no other in the world, with 170 shops that stock everything from cooking utensils to tableware. Here professional chefs inspect knife blades with discriminating eyes, and a young man stocks up on supplies for the noodle restaurant he's about to open. Others shop for pots, bowls and knives as they mark life's turning points with new homes, new families and new lives. We spent 3 days watching shoppers come and go in Japan's kitchen equipment capital.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 3 - Christmas at the Bus Terminal
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    #3 - Christmas at the Bus Terminal

    S7:E3

    As Christmas approaches, people flock to Sapporo's terminal for expressway buses that connect this major city with destinations across the vast prefecture of Hokkaido. From early morning until late at night, passengers travel on buses that offer attractive fares for those on a budget. Among them, a young man who traveled for 5 hours to spend Christmas time with his girlfriend; a woman who regularly makes a journey of several hundred kilometers to go and take care of her elderly mother; and a time-strapped businessman using an overnight bus as he departs on a business trip. For 3 midwinter days, we listened to the tales of the people starting or finishing journeys at this bus terminal.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 4 - The First Dream at Tokyo Tower
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    #4 - The First Dream at Tokyo Tower

    S7:E4

    Tokyo Tower, where the New Year's Eve has arrived, is the stage for this episode. Many people come to the observatory to pray for the first sunrise and make wishes at the shrine on the observatory. Office workers praying to meet their fiancé this year, families wishing for the healthy growth of their children, and foreigners wishing for world peace. Foreigners praying for peace in the world. Outside, young men and women, eager to make a leap forward in their careers, brave the northern winds as they climb the fire escape. For three days between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the dreams of the New Year intersect in the tower in the sky. We asked people what was on their minds.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 5 - Benches and People: An Osaka Shopping Arcade
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    #5 - Benches and People: An Osaka Shopping Arcade

    S7:E5

    In Osaka you'll find Tenjinbashi-suji, one of the longest shopping arcades in Japan. At the end of the bustling, 2.6-kilometer arcade is a row of benches. We took our cameras there and spent 3 days talking to some of the folks taking a break there. Some use the benches to get work done. Some just watch people go by. And some share fascinating details of their personal lives. For 3 days, we meet people who have a seat, enjoy a talk or a laugh or a drink, and then get back up and keep going.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 6 - Tokyo in the middle of winter, the name is ”Hanako“
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    #6 - Tokyo in the middle of winter, the name is ”Hanako“

    S7:E6

    In a small zoo in Kichijoji, Tokyo, there is the oldest elephant in Japan. Her name is "Hanako. At 69 years old, Hanako is visited by all sorts of people. They all have their hearts set on Hanako's huge body and call out to her in their own way. Hanako is a mysterious elephant who attracts many people. She accepts her loneliness and continues to stand in the square every day, even when she is old, until she has only one tooth. People take a step forward with a little cheer from Hanako. We listen to her voice for three days in the zoo in the middle of winter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Document 72 Hours

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  7. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 7 - Winter, Tsugaru at the 100 Yen Onsen
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    #7 - Winter, Tsugaru at the 100 Yen Onsen

    S7:E7

    In the middle of rice fields in the snowy Tsugaru plain, there is a public bathhouse “100 yen Onsen” where you can enter for only 100 yen. The rule here is to show the coin to the person taking a bath before you and put it in the fare box. The bathhouse attracts a wide variety of people, including elderly people who start taking a bath at 5:00 a.m., young people who take a bath after work in the evening, and housewives who enjoy chatting with each other about all sorts of things. The film depicts the human condition in Tsugaru, where people support each other and live together in the harsh cold weather, in a small hot spring that warms both body and soul.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 8 - Valentine's Day at the Shrine
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    #8 - Valentine's Day at the Shrine

    S7:E8

    In Fukuoka Prefecture, there is a unique shrine dedicated to a deity of love. The approach to the shrine and its gate are adorned with hearts, and it has become a magnet for people in love, dreaming of getting married, or hoping for wedded bliss. But recently, a surprising number of visitors say they have never fallen in love with someone. People in love with the idea of falling in love come here to ask for divine help in finding their ideal partner. For 3 days around Valentine's Day, when the shrine is at its busiest with over 1,000 visitors from across Japan, we listened to the thoughts of people placing their hopes in the shrine's deity of love.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 9 - 72 Hours Japan-Korea Comparison SP
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    #9 - 72 Hours Japan-Korea Comparison SP

    S7:E9

    In Korea, there is a fixed-point observation program similar to “Documentary 72 Hours” in Japan. The name of the program is “Documentary 3 Days”. This time, the program is a collaboration with the “3 Days” program. Crews from Japan and Korea will each go abroad to film 3 days around the world. Korea's KBS filmed three days at the “World's Largest Chinese Restaurant” in China, while NHK introduced a specially edited version of “New York Laundromat Theater,” which was broadcast last year. Program watchers Osamu Suzuki and Anne Suzuki speak passionately about 72 Hours of Japan-Korea.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 10 - Drawn to Showa Songs
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    #10 - Drawn to Showa Songs

    S7:E10

    The stage is set at a store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, that specializes in Showa-era songs. The store is visited by a wide variety of people, including middle-aged and older adults who have overlapped their lives with idol songs, young people who discover new charm in the clarity of the songs and lyrics, and foreigners who become enamored with the rhythms of the Showa era. The store has 30,000 records and CDs. Rare songs are sometimes priced at tens of thousands of yen. While sales of new CDs are sluggish, Showa-era songs are once again attracting attention. What kind of feelings do people put into these songs? The program will look at the human patterns projected in the songs for 72 hours, along with nostalgic classics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 11 - Daitokai: Dog and Cat Shelter in the Big City
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    #11 - Daitokai: Dog and Cat Shelter in the Big City

    S7:E11

    In a small building in Yoyogi, Tokyo, there is an “animal shelter” that takes in dogs and cats from public health centers and protects them. So far, they have sheltered 1,300 animals. Dogs and cats come to the shelter for a reason. The circumstances vary from those who are too old to keep the animals to those who are forced to give them up because they have moved away. On the other hand, people who want to take in pets come to the “transfer meeting” held once a month. This three-day exhibition looks at the current state of society as reflected in the lives of people and pets.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 12 - Farewell Funabashi Auto
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    #12 - Farewell Funabashi Auto

    S7:E12

    Auto race is a sport in Japan where motorcycles without brakes compete on asphalt tracks at speeds up to 150 km/h. In this episode we visit the Funabashi Auto, the sport's birthplace that closed in March 2016 after thrilling spectators for 65 years. See the last 3 days as fans go wild for their local racers. Some cheer with their parents or their children, while others feast on famous offal stew. In its last 72 hours, Funabashi Auto delivers drama and excitement beyond anyone's expectations!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 13 - Akita: In front of a vending machine in midwinter, a regretful farewell
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    #13 - Akita: In front of a vending machine in midwinter, a regretful farewell

    S7:E13

    A udon vending machine for 200yen per cup at a store in Akita Port. In March, he introduced the 72nd hour of the human condition of the people who gathered there, and the response exceeded expectations was received, and it also ranked first in the popular vote of viewers for the year. This machine will be removed with the closing of the shop. Then, many people from all over the country rushed to the vending machine, not only the local area but also from all over the country. So this time, we will deliver an enlarged version of the document until the removal and the people I met last time!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 14 - Tales Over Rice Bowls
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    #14 - Tales Over Rice Bowls

    S7:E14

    The slogan of a 24-hour restaurant in Sendai, in northeastern Japan, is "born and raised on rice". For people fond of rice, this is a paradise. Serving rice in large bowls that hold 4 times the amount of a regular bowl, this restaurant has been filling the bellies of locals for years. Since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, many people who left their family behind to come and work in reconstruction projects have also become regular diners. 5 years on from the disaster, what do people still trying to rebuild their lives think about as they gobble up a bowl of hot rice? For 3 days, we listened to the customers at this restaurant serving up a taste of home.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 15 - Carrying a Stamp in a Foreign Country
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    #15 - Carrying a Stamp in a Foreign Country

    S7:E15

    The stage is a long-established stamp store in the Korean town of Shin-Okubo. Most of the customers are foreigners. In Japan, hanko are used in many situations. In April, when new life begins, many foreigners rush to this stamp store. Although they are bewildered by the Japanese “hanko culture,” these foreigners are trying to follow their dreams and take a new step forward. This 72-hour film looks at the reality of Japan's gradual internationalization from the perspective of a single stamp.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 16 - At the Food Court
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    #16 - At the Food Court

    S7:E16

    In the countryside town of Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, among flat fields that go on for miles, there is a gigantic shopping mall. In this episode we visit the mall's most bustling area, the food court. With cheap eats and no rush to leave, it's a favorite for all sorts of patrons. Our conversations with the diners over these 72 hours reveal some insights into their lives, from young men who quit school, to elderly friends sneaking in some sake, to a mother recovering from cancer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 17 - Route 439: Japan's Last Frontier
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    #17 - Route 439: Japan's Last Frontier

    S7:E17

    Route 439 is a national highway that cuts across the mountainous island of Shikoku, in southwestern Japan. In some spots, it is barely 2 meters wide and poorly maintained. People come from all over Japan to drive along the 340-kilometer-long rugged road connecting many small villages. Some people living along this route are self-sufficient and live on a diet mostly consisting of edible wild plants, freshwater fish and even Japanese pit vipers. Residents live a free life surrounded by lush nature. Over 3 days, we drive along Route 439 to meet people living amid Japan's traditional landscape.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 18 - The Ferry to Volcano Island
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    #18 - The Ferry to Volcano Island

    S7:E18

    In this episode we take a ride on a ferry to Sakurajima, an island with an active volcano just off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. It makes the 15-minute journey all day and night, carrying over 10,000 passengers a day for work, school, shopping and more. It's also a lifeline in case of disaster. Living alongside an active volcano presents a unique set of challenges. We spent 72 hours listening to the ordinary and extraordinary stories of the people who live and travel in this unique environment.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 19 - A Nostalgic Roller Coaster Ride
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    #19 - A Nostalgic Roller Coaster Ride

    S7:E19

    For 62 years, a rickety roller coaster that has a top speed of just 42 kilometers per hour has been a popular attraction at Hanayashiki, an amusement park steeped in history in Tokyo's Asakusa district. Many of the people riding this slow roller coaster are adults, screaming as the ride takes them back to their younger days. Why are people drawn to this aging roller coaster? For 3 days, we listened to the stories of people coming to this nostalgic ride.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 20 - Kyoto's Kamo River Delta
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    #20 - Kyoto's Kamo River Delta

    S7:E20

    When the locals in Kyoto want to relax, they stroll upstream along the Kamo River to a spot called the "Delta". This scenic area apart from Kyoto's tourist attractions has served as the setting for a number of novels and movies. There's something liberating about skipping across the stepping stones. From students relishing the springtime of their lives to adults reflecting on days past, the people we encounter over these 72 hours have lots of stories to tell among the gorgeous spring scenery.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 21 - Trapped in the Magic of Go
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    #21 - Trapped in the Magic of Go

    S7:E21

    In Shinjuku Kabukicho, the largest entertainment district in Japan, there is a 24-hour Go club, which is rare in Japan. It has been in business for 34 years, and the sound of Go stones echoes from midnight to early morning. Since it is open 24 hours a day, meals and drinks are served. The extensive menu is just like an izakaya (Japanese-style pub). On weekends, people who have finished work stay over to play Go. What is the drama that unfolds over three days as people are captivated by the magic of Go?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 22 - Hiroshima: On the Street Corner Waiting for the President
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    #22 - Hiroshima: On the Street Corner Waiting for the President

    S7:E22

    In May, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima for the first time as the incumbent president. How did the people of Hiroshima feel as they welcomed him on this day that caught the attention of all of Japan? The program closely followed the plaza near Peace Memorial Park where people were coming and going. Some were young people who said they had no interest in the event, and others were a couple from Denmark who came to Hiroshima for the occasion. What was the discussion that started late at night in the square? The program brings to light the thoughts and feelings each person had in their hearts on this historic day.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 23 - Relaxing in a Nagoya Café
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    #23 - Relaxing in a Nagoya Café

    S7:E23

    From reasonable breakfasts to ice cream sodas to sweet bean paste on toast, our stage this time is a Nagoya café. Tea culture has thrived in Nagoya from the days of old, and cafés now make up 40% of its dining establishments. It's not unusual for families to spend mornings here, or even for customers to come multiple times a day. Sit and relax on a dark red sofa, and your heart will belong here. We spend 3 days in an old café in Nagoya, surrendering ourselves to the nostalgic retro atmosphere.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 24 - Faces Behind an Online Auction
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    #24 - Faces Behind an Online Auction

    S7:E24

    From a second-hand ambulance to someone who will visit a grave for you, almost every imaginable item and service is sold and bought on online auctions. Since these sites were launched in Japan around 20 years ago, they have developed into a huge market, where more than 100 million transactions are made each year. Some people sell items to rustle up some extra money, while others earn enough to make a comfortable living. What kind of people use online auctions to sell things? For 3 days, we traveled around Japan to meet real-world people selling unusual things through the Internet.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Document 72 Hours Season 7 Episode 25 - Brazil: Prayer-Filled Secret Sanctuary
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    #25 - Brazil: Prayer-Filled Secret Sanctuary

    S7:E25

    Brazil is booming with the hosting of the Olympic Games, a symbol of modern capitalism. Behind the backdrop of a developing society, people are said to be entrusting various wishes to traditional “black magic”. In this program, for the first time ever, a Japanese TV station will be in close contact with a “sacred place of witchcraft” located in the suburbs of Sao Paulo. Love, marriages, employment problems.... What do people pray for when faced with problems that cannot be solved no matter how much society develops? This special edition is set in Brazil just before the Olympics.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 7 Ratings Summary

"Yokohama All Night Tonkatsu" is the best rated episode of "Document 72 Hours" season 7. It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/8/2016. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Kappabashi: Tokyo's Kitchen Capital".