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The Best Episodes of Document 72 Hours Season 8

Every episode of Document 72 Hours Season 8 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Document 72 Hours Season 8!

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 8 Episode 1 - Lines and Lives at Airport Immigration
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    #1 - Lines and Lives at Airport Immigration

    S8:E1

    In the days leading up to Christmas, the immigration inspection area at Narita Airport heaves with tens of thousands of tourists. Among the visitors having their passport checked are an Indian man coming to hold a wedding with his Japanese wife, and siblings here to see their mother for the first time in 10 years. Some visitors are denied entry and must leave without stepping foot in Japan. Measures to prevent smuggling and acts of terrorism are stepped up as the crowd peaks for the holiday season. For 3 days, we spoke to the visitors passing through this major hub and heard stories reflecting the current state of the world.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 2 - A Cafe Awaits in Omiya
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    #2 - A Cafe Awaits in Omiya

    S8:E2

    Omiya, a city where the largest train terminal in Saitama Prefecture links between the Tokyo metropolitan area and the suburbs. A step away from its bustling downtown streets is a slightly curious café. The interior is crowded with bizarre antiques, and all 300 menu choices come in massive portions. Open 24 hours a day, the café is visited by fans of its famous pasta; a local businessman with incredible love for Saitama; and even bar workers on their way home in the morning. We spent 3 days in this offbeat café, where people from the suburbs make a stop before going into the city and those coming from the city spend some time to relax.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 3 - The Melodies of a Street Piano in Miyazaki
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    #3 - The Melodies of a Street Piano in Miyazaki

    S8:E3

    In Miyazaki Prefecture, a brightly colored piano stands in a street side plaza. This "street piano" can be played freely by anyone at any time. Players range from an elderly woman playing a children's song, to young students performing a TV drama theme song. One man even taught himself to play by visiting the piano every day, and his performance is now applauded by those who gather to listen. The piano was placed in the plaza 4 years ago to liven up the city, and has quietly become a popular spot. What thoughts do people weave into the melodies they play on this street piano?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 4 - Beppu: A Century of Hot Springs
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    #4 - Beppu: A Century of Hot Springs

    S8:E4

    Beppu, the hot spring paradise. The stage is a 138-year-old traditional hot spring, known as the face of the city. The hot spring, which has only one old-fashioned, weathered bath, is visited by people enjoying a “bathside meeting” before work, those who came for hot spring therapy and ended up staying, and travelers passing through... In Beppu, where many people do not have baths at home, some visit multiple times a day. For three days, people from around the world gather in search of the ever-constant hot spring water.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 5 - At a park in Yokosuka with a view of warships
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    #5 - At a park in Yokosuka with a view of warships

    S8:E5

    The setting is a park in Yokosuka with a close-up view of huge warships. Passersby include local residents taking a stroll, families of US military personnel letting their children play, and enthusiasts who come to see the US Navy's Aegis destroyers and Japan Self-Defense Force escort vessels. During the three days in late January when the new President Trump was inaugurated across the sea, we listen to the voices of people moving through this place where “daily life” and “extraordinary events” intertwine.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 6 - Cheap Underwear: Searching for Warmth
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    #6 - Cheap Underwear: Searching for Warmth

    S8:E6

    Tokyo's Kita Ward. A three-day look at a cheap underwear store in a traditional shopping district that attracts 1,000 customers daily. Socks, underwear, and nightwear are priced at an unbeatable 60 yen or 80 yen. Among those who visit daily to enjoy the ever-changing selection are local housewives, a snack bar owner who says, “You really have to be careful about underwear,” and underground idols striving to save money. Women push large carts with excitement, enjoying conversations with staff. Over three days, the underwear they choose reflects the lives of women.

    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 8 Episode 7 - Wishing Upon Golden Kushikatsu
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    #7 - Wishing Upon Golden Kushikatsu

    S8:E7

    Chiyobo Inari (commonly known as Ochobo-san) is the god of commerce in Gifu Prefecture. There is a kushikatsu restaurant that shines like gold on the crowded approach to the shrine. The shop is decorated in gold from the walls to the tables for good luck, and on some days, it sells 40,000 skewers of katsu at 90 yen each. On the once-a-month all-night operation day, various people visit, from cabaret club staff wishing for business prosperity to clam fishermen praying for a bountiful catch, and single mothers hoping for remarriage. What are the wishes of the people who visit “Ochobo-san” and enjoy the katsu? 　

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 8 - A Walking Path Where You Can See Giraffes
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    #8 - A Walking Path Where You Can See Giraffes

    S8:E8

    Since the Kumamoto earthquake in April last year, the zoo has been closed. During the suspension of animal exhibitions, a walking path where you can see giraffes and elephants basking in the sun from outside the zoo has become a popular spot. Residents jogging by to peek through the fence, people visiting regularly to watch the growth of a giraffe born after the disaster, and those sending photos of the animals to family members living far away... Over three days, people sought to regain a sense of normalcy while observing the giraffes and elephants leisurely going about their day.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 9 - Welcome to Chungking Mansions, Hong Kong
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    #9 - Welcome to Chungking Mansions, Hong Kong

    S8:E9

    Hong Kong, a city of the near future. Located on the city's main street is the somewhat suspicious giant building known as Chungking Mansions. Maze-like passageways are lined with currency exchange offices and restaurants, while the upper floors are packed with cheap guesthouses. People from more than 100 countries, including black and Indian people, come and go, making it a veritable giant human intersection. In recent times, with news of anti-immigrant sentiment spreading around the world, this three-day program explores the possibility of coexistence through the diverse community of Chongqing Mansion.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 10 - Tokyo's Crossroads of Life
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    #10 - Tokyo's Crossroads of Life

    S8:E10

    In a residential area of Tokyo is an unusual intersection where 7 roads meet. Bicycles, vehicles and pedestrians constantly weave along these roads. Though there are no traffic lights because of the intersection's complex layout, remarkably few accidents occur, apparently because people automatically and considerately let others go through first. The 7 corners are filled with a variety of shops including a greengrocer's and a small pub, and many people pass through this busy junction from early morning until late at night. For 3 days, we spoke to the many people whose lives meet at this intersection.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 11 - New Bags, New Beginnings
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    #11 - New Bags, New Beginnings

    S8:E11

    We spend 3 days in a long-established bag shop in Tokyo's Ameyoko Market Street. Parents and children come to buy school bags, their hearts filled with hope. A man picks out a large bag to carry equipment for playing airsoft games. Meanwhile, a woman stops by the store searching for a purse to use as she prepares for the final phase of her life. In the season of new beginnings, we catch a glimpse of the lives people lead from the bags they choose to carry.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 12 - Small Funerals in a Big City
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    #12 - Small Funerals in a Big City

    S8:E12

    Small, personal funerals are becoming popular in Japan. At a one-stop funeral facility near Tokyo, a family arranges a simple ceremony in accordance with a deceased relative's wish to spare the family from organizing a large funeral. Another family spends their last night with the deceased in a private room and fondly recalls their happy memories from years gone by. Before cremation, relatives repeatedly come and see their loved one's body as they gradually accept the reality. For 3 days, we spoke to people spending their final moments with someone dear who had passed away.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 13 - Mt. Kongo: A Climb to the Webcam
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    #13 - Mt. Kongo: A Climb to the Webcam

    S8:E13

    An hour's drive from Osaka, Mt. Kongo is the perfect mountain for a casual hike. Attracting many visitors is a live webcam located at the mountain top. The webcam captures a photo once an hour, and the image is posted on Mt. Kongo's website. Some people have made it a daily routine to be punctually photographed at their preferred hour. There's even a family that uses the camera as a way to indirectly communicate with their son who has become distant. Others meet for the first time in front of the camera, and become friends. We spent 3 days with people coming and going on the mountain top as they preserve a single moment of their lives on camera.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 14 - Yoru no Mori: Sakura Tunnel
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    #14 - Yoru no Mori: Sakura Tunnel

    S8:E14

    The Yoru no Mori area in Fukushima is famous for its cherry blossoms, with old trees lining a 2.4-kilometer stretch. Since the nuclear accident, few people visit, but in spring, former residents gather and the area bustles with activity for a short time. This year's cherry blossoms are a little special. In April, the evacuation order for part of the “cherry blossom tunnel” was lifted. Some people are returning to the village to restart their lives in sync with the cherry blossoms, but the remaining 80% of the tunnel remains in the “difficult-to-return zone,” where residency is still prohibited. For three days, people gather under the full bloom of the flowers, reminiscing about their hometown.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 15 - Fabric and Buttons and Me
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    #15 - Fabric and Buttons and Me

    S8:E15

    From colorful cloth to stylish buttons to costume wigs: a large craft shop in Shinjuku carries over 500,000 types of craft materials and accessories. A man comes to buy Gobelin tapestry fabric for a cherry blossom picnic, while a woman spends hours looking for "simple white cloth". A couple has even come from London in search of materials to make doll clothes. We spend 3 days talking to people as they find inspiration amidst the fabric and buttons.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 16 - I Tried Zen Temple Training
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    #16 - I Tried Zen Temple Training

    S8:E16

    Over 1,000 people a year come to this Zen temple in Kyoto to try training. The secret to its popularity is how easy it is to join. You can book from a few thousand yen per night for as many nights as you like, and since it shows up high in internet searches, modern people looking for a quick reset keep coming back. Monastic life runs from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., beginning with meal etiquette, followed by zazen meditation, and work duties (cleaning), creating a continuous series of cultural shocks. What is the mindset of those who seek to reflect on themselves through this somewhat rigorous training?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 17 - The Secret Marriage Counseling Room
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    #17 - The Secret Marriage Counseling Room

    S8:E17

    On one floor of a building in Shinjuku, awkward conversations between men and women can be heard from booths partitioned off like a net cafe... These “private room-style marriage counseling rooms” have been popular for about 10 years. Parties tailored to specific needs, such as “for plus-size women,” “for women who want to become mothers within three years,” and “for otaku,” are held one after another. The program delves into the true feelings of the men and women who visit, such as “I want to do marriage counseling without others overhearing my conversations” and “I want to have both a fulfilling career and personal life.”

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 18 - The Daily Life of a Tokyo Mosque
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    #18 - The Daily Life of a Tokyo Mosque

    S8:E18

    One of the largest mosques in Japan, Tokyo Camii is a gathering place for followers of Islam living in Tokyo. People from over 50 countries come here to pray: a Pakistani who married a Japanese woman, a Japanese who became a Muslim, and an Indonesian student who came to Japan to pursue his dream. People interested in Islamic culture also visit the mosque. They include those who come with a guidebook in hand and those who are interested in taking an Arabic calligraphy class. We spent 3 days filming the daily life of this mosque.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 19 - Jellyfish Wonderland
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    #19 - Jellyfish Wonderland

    S8:E19

    Facing the Sea of Japan in Yamagata Prefecture is an aquarium with one of the world's largest collections of jellyfish on display. The most popular attraction is a 5-meter-wide tank in which 5,000 moon jellyfish serenely drift around. Aquarium visitors include a high school student who dreams of becoming a rocket engineer as he gazes at jellyfish resembling stars in space, and a woman who watches baby jellyfish for 30 minutes. In the evening, others participate in an overnight event and sleep at the aquarium. For 3 days, we asked why people feel so deeply about these mysterious creatures.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 20 - Truck Stop: A Break on Life's Journey
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    #20 - Truck Stop: A Break on Life's Journey

    S8:E20

    Long-haul truckers work and even sleep in their vehicles. A truck stop near a major distribution hub in Kyushu offers drivers a meal, bath and place to relax during grueling journeys across Japan. Truckers taking a break here include a female driver who has decorated her vehicle into what she calls "her home", and 3 work buddies who meet every Friday to go drinking. A former businessman who says that the truck driving job was meant for him, drops in before setting off on a 1,200-kilometer journey. Driving is lonely at times, but at others it offers total freedom. For 3 days, we spoke to the drivers about their passion for the job and their trucks.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 21 - Thoughts and Reflections on a Rooftop Ferris Wheel
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    #21 - Thoughts and Reflections on a Rooftop Ferris Wheel

    S8:E21

    The rooftop Ferris wheel in Matsuyama, western Japan, is an attraction that every local knows. During the slow 15-minute ride, people enjoy the view of the entire city and ponder over joy and sorrow. High school students say that it's a routine to hop on the Ferris wheel before their exams to refresh their minds. An old widow always takes a ride after shopping and reflects on her life. Why are people drawn to these enclosed capsules that simply go up and come back down? For 3 days, we spoke to the people as they take this 15-minute journey up to the sky.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 22 - Kitakyushu Kokura ‘100 Yen Bar’ Blues
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    #22 - Kitakyushu Kokura ‘100 Yen Bar’ Blues

    S8:E22

    Kitakyushu City has prospered as a steel town. The bar is located on a slightly retro and slightly shady street off the entertainment district. At the center of the bar is a machine that automatically pours alcohol. Amazingly, it's only 100 yen per drink. Attracted by the cheap, well-chilled drinks, the 24-hour establishment is bustling with unique patrons. A frugal couple discussing their future. A man who has escaped the underworld, savoring ordinary happiness—. From the tables piled with coins, the blues of each individual echoes.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 23 - Giant Housing Complex: Hello and Goodbye at a Secondhand Shop
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    #23 - Giant Housing Complex: Hello and Goodbye at a Secondhand Shop

    S8:E23

    Tama New Town, located in the suburbs of Tokyo, is home to over 200,000 people. The setting for this episode is a giant secondhand shop with a sales floor area of 1,500 tsubo (approximately 5,000 square meters) towering over the center of the town. Most of the 600,000 items filling the floor are things that have been brought in because they are no longer needed. From brand-new trendy items to a father's heirlooms, music equipment filled with memories of youth, and a “takoyaki maker” once enjoyed with children—each item holds a story. What do people think when they let go of these items?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 24 - The Elderly Care Facility with a View of the Sea
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    #24 - The Elderly Care Facility with a View of the Sea

    S8:E24

    The elderly care facility is located on a hill overlooking the sea in Kanagawa Prefecture. With an average age of 84, over 450 residents live quiet lives here. Some have spent over 30 years here. A 90-year-old former engineer says, “I never expected to live this long.” A 90-year-old couple who met after losing their spouses. An 80-year-old woman who dedicated her life to work now spends her days alone on the sofa, watching people come and go. In the era of a 100-year lifespan, the question arises: “What is happiness?”

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Document 72 Hours Season 8 Episode 25 - Mountain Restaurant: Creating and Reliving Memories
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    #25 - Mountain Restaurant: Creating and Reliving Memories

    S8:E25

    Is this a restaurant or an amusement park? When the mountains in western Japan are enveloped by the darkness of night, this unique restaurant shines with vibrant colors. The restaurant which is modeled on a bandit hideout appeals to diners of all ages with its seasonal events, hearty portions and welcoming atmosphere. For many local young people, this is their first destination after they get a driver's license. For 3 days, we spoke to the customers who came to dine at this restaurant.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 8 Ratings Summary

"Lines and Lives at Airport Immigration" is the best rated episode of "Document 72 Hours" season 8. It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/13/2017. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "A Cafe Awaits in Omiya".