Hometown Stories
tv show

275 total episodes
-
14 seasons
First Aired February 06, 2011
Genres:
Overview
Stories about people, stories about life. Intimate portraits of people from around Japan, each leading diverse lives while enriching lives of others.

Magical Forest: Okinawa's Natural World Heritage Site
Season 12 - Episode 3 - 1h 50m
Air Date
January 22, 2023
Overview
Yambaru in the north of Okinawa Island was registered as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site in July 2021. Its forests are home to numerous indigenous species such as the Okinawa rail, a flightless bird, and the Okinawa Ishikawa's frog, arguably the most beautiful frog in Japan. Since ancient times, the forest has supported people's lives and they've protected the forest in return. Now that the forest has natural heritage site status, tourist numbers are likely to rise. We'll find out how Yambaru's forest with its rare ecosystem and vast diversity can be preserved and passed down to future generations.