Direct Talk - Season 8 / Year 2023

Bitoh Tomomi came in second place in the women's race of the 2021 Marathon des Sables, a 250km multi-stage run across the Sahara Desert. She talks about her passion for pushing her limits.

Shibasaki Harumichi has a YouTube channel where he makes all sorts of drawings and paintings — and teaches viewers how to make them, too. Fans have given him an affectionate nickname: Grandpa-sensei.

Lisa Power has been an LGBTQ+ campaigner for over four decades. She is also a trustee and supporter of Queer Britain, the first LGBTQ+ museum in the UK.

Shani Dhanda is a British disability activist. She was born with brittle bone disease. The barriers she has faced motivates her to make the world inclusive for disabled people.

Music is the first language of teenage drum prodigy Soma Yoyoka. When a video of her playing a Led Zeppelin song went viral, Yoyoka and her family moved to the US to pursue her dreams of making music.

Nimsdai Purja MBE is a ground-breaking mountaineer from Nepal. Formerly a Special Forces soldier, he is now setting climbing records on the world's highest and toughest peaks.

As global warming threatens destruction of the world's coral reefs, Kinjo Koji has managed to transplant farmed coral into the ocean, and get it to thrive there. He told us about restoring the reefs.

Takasago Junji won the Natural Artistry prize at the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. He shares the story behind his three-decade career and his love and respect for nature.

Hoshi Tomohiro is the head of Stanford Online High School, which has in recent years been ranked among the top college prep schools in the US. He shares how to unlock every student's potential.

Kusakari Tamiyo was a guest performer with a Russian ballet troupe for many years, and has friends in both Russia and Ukraine. She talks about her efforts to support Ukraine's national ballet company.

Chuu Wai, a young Burmese artist residing in Paris, created her artworks with traditional women fabrics as canvases. Through her works, she expresses a hope for the citizens trapped in Myanmar.

In 2000, Hamed aged 10, had to escape from Afghanistan with his family. He has now written a successful book and co-authored a play about his family's story and their 18 month journey to safety in UK.

In 2022, Kurechi Masayuki received the Ramsar Convention Award for Wetland Wise Use. Kurechi tells us about his five decades of conservation work with migratory birds and their habitats.

Olympic medalist Arimori Yuko has been supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities through her work with the Special Olympics movement. She talks about her mission to promote social inclusion.

Jiaoying Summers confronts racism with her comedy. Living in the U.S., she has a billion views on social and speaks of the misunderstanding toward Asians. She explains the power of laughter.

Markus Gabriel, the world featured philosopher, became the youngest ever professor at the University of Bonn, Germany, at the age of 29. We interview him about his new challenges as a philosopher.

Amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Japan-based Nataliya Gudziy is supporting relief efforts through her music. She talks about her native Ukraine and the power of music and culture.

Silvia Polleri, founder of the world's first restaurant inside a prison, brings customers to this unusual location for a delicious meal, setting the stage for social change both in and out of prison.

Syed Saddiq, one of Malaysia's youngest politicians, was Asia's youngest elected cabinet minister at just 25 years old. Using social media, he advocates youth involvement in shaping the nation.

We focus on Steve Leeper, the first American who had served as chairman of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation and has long been calling out how nuclear weapons have had disastrous consequences.

Takahashi Akiyoshi developed a way to make fish grow faster by exposing them to a certain color of light. He talks about overcoming setbacks and innovating ground-breaking fish farming technology.

Former street kid John DeYoung, who developed easy-to-handle water purification filters, now delivers "water for life" to Ukraine as well as to developing countries. He explains his mission.

Louis Martin founded Refugee Food, an association that trains and employs refugee chefs. It promotes refugees' culinary know-how and supports their integration process within their host country, France.

Yamafune Kotaro has developed a methodology for the 3D modeling of underwater archaeological sites. He talks about how the technology has changed the field of maritime archaeology.

In Zambia, a country where many live in farming villages without access to paved roads, Wyson Lungu has sold over 3,000 bicycles to residents through a deferred payment system, helping them earn more.

Shari Davis encourages young people and minorities to take part in deciding government and school budgets. The process, participatory budgeting, helps strengthen communities and revitalize democracy.

Much of the used clothing sent to Africa is discarded. A Ghanaian who conveys this reality through art talks about sustainable ways for the consumer society to address clothing.

Fukushima-based Muroya Yoshihide is the first person from Japan to win the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. He talks about promoting aviation culture and his efforts to give Fukushima a boost.

Kate Griggs is CEO of global charity "Made By Dyslexia," founded in 2015. She believes that society needs to redefine what it means to be dyslexic and focus more on the strengths of dyslexic thinking.

Felicity Aston is a record-setting explorer who leads scientific expeditions to the North & South Poles. She was the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica and is a champion of female adventurers.

Takeda Sana is an Eisner Award-winning artist known for her comic books. She shares how she developed her signature drawing style, which has been described as "breathtakingly gorgeous."

Cassa Pancho is the founder and artistic director of an award-winning dance company in the UK called Ballet Black which she started in 2001, aged 21.

Sunita Danuwar, of Shakti Samuha and Sunita Foundation, works to educate women from human trafficking and promotes economic independence. Her passion comes as a victim of human trafficking herself.

Nadine Kaadan is an award-winning children's book author and illustrator from Damascus in Syria. She promotes diversity and inclusivity in her many books and is published in several languages.

For over 20 years, Nagamine Takashi has been working to protect the Okinawa rail, a bird species native to the Yambaru area of Okinawa Prefecture. He talks about the importance of saving animals for the future.

Modern dancer David Leventhal co-created a dance program for people with Parkinson's. 20 years later numerous studies have proven that dancing slows the progression of the neurodegenerative disorder.

Ahmad Joudeh, a dancer from a Syrian refugee camp, talks about his tumultuous life and the activities he has been working on to keep the Syrian conflict fresh in people's minds 12 years on.

Furuta Takayuki co-developed an intelligent mobility robot that won a prestigious international design award in 2021. He shares his passion for creating robots that help people.

Japan-based illustrator Matthew Meyer has drawn over 500 varieties of yokai―supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. We ask him about his fascination with the phenomenon of yokai.

Britain is re-evaluating its past and that battle is playing out in museums across the country. Nick Merriman explains why the Horniman Museum is returning its entire collection of Benin bronzes to Nigeria.

Nakamura Noburo is the CEO of a prosthetics manufacturer that pioneered the use of silicone in making insoles. He explains the many ways his company offers support for disability and illness.

Scientist Carlos Moreno's radical proposal to cut global warming is taking off worldwide. He wants cities reshaped as neighborhoods so that we live and work within a 15-minute walk or cycle ride.

Indonesian environmental activist Yuyun Ismawati, co-founder of the Nexus3 Foundation NGO, has been tackling the mercury poisoning issues caused by illegal gold mining practices.

Sacha Dench is an Australian biologist. Through flying around the world on a paramotor she has drawn global attention to species of birds whose numbers are decreasing.

We feature Kure Kaoru, a Hong Kong photographer who experienced the democracy movement. Now, in Ukraine, he is photographing local people and addressing the threat of authoritarianism to the world.

Oda Tokito is a professional wheelchair tennis player who took the world by storm when he made his first Grand Slam singles final at just 16 years old. He says adversity has only made him stronger.

Takahashi Moe was a member of the Japanese team that won the top prize at the 2023 Pastry World Cup. She reflects on the experience and talks about the desserts concocted by the team.

Fukuda Keisuke heads an NPO that has been organizing volunteer cleanup events in Japan for over 20 years. He talks about his efforts to bring communities together.

The Tang Dynasty Court Music Restoration Organization was founded in 2014 at the initiative of Xu Ge, in 2023, the soundtrack of hit Chinese animation gains attention of the younger generations.

Katoh Gizan's works have fetched substantial sums at auctions in New York, earning him an international reputation. He talks about making sculptures for temples damaged in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

The first Indian author to win the International Booker Prize talks about crossing "boundaries," a major message of her novel, and how her first language Hindi serves as a source of her imagination.

Chef Sasaki Yotaro is known for his unique fermented dishes and doburoku, an unfiltered sake he brews from rice he grows himself. He talks about the craft that goes into creating world-class cuisine.

The founder of a Ukrainian NGO describes its efforts to bring together children who are hesitant to talk about their traumatic war experiences in order to help them heal their mental scars.

Luis von Ahn created the most used educational app, Duolingo. The app teaches 40+ languages on a smartphone to its 72 million monthly active users for free. He aims to make learning available to all.

Turkish Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk says the havoc caused by the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake is related to Turkey's culture and national traits, and he explains his belief in "the power of the pen."

Gareth Malone teaches singing to people in places where it is uncommon but where the inspiration and unity of music is most needed. He uses choral singing to empower, heal and connect people.

At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, Masa Takumi won Best Global Music Album. This was the culmination of a life goal that Takumi moved across the world to Los Angeles in order to achieve.

Okumura Arisa created the Slow Order Cafe, a pop-up concept staffed entirely by people who stutter. She talks about her speech impediment and the vision behind her project.

Marcus John founded "Back to Healing," a non-profit that empowers people living with ailing backs called scoliosis. He is a director who expands support by mixing fashion, art, medicine and technology.

In 2021, architect Mori Toshiko won the prestigious Isamu Noguchi Award. She has received global acclaim for her ability to serve society and humanity while respecting the natural environment.

Kawahara Naoyuki has been providing medical assistance and more to people in Sudan for nearly 20 years. He talks about the ongoing armed conflict and what he hopes to accomplish with his activities.

Indonesian social entrepreneur Arief Rabik has launched an eco-business aimed at revitalizing forests and rural economies by planting bamboo with local residents.

Nakarai Shigeyuki is a world-class breakdancer touted as a gold medal contender in the upcoming Paris Olympics. He shares his passion for breaking and discusses its unique appeal.

Osa Yukie, who has many years of experience working in conflict and disaster zones around the world, is the head of an NGO that is providing aid to victims of the Feb. 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake.

Horiuchi Yoshimi is running a library in a small city in Northern Thailand. She is blind, yet she has the passions about reading and believes it can change lives for the better future.

Keiko Ziak is a co-founder of OBON SOCIETY whose mission is to return flags which belonged to Japanese soldiers who died in World War II. She tells us why the wounds of war are finally being healed.

In 2022, Jenna wrote and composed a song called "The Symphony" as a prayer for peace in Ukraine. She talks about the song's success and her drive to bring the world together through gospel music.

A specialist in ancient humans, Ella Al-Shamahi explores places understudied by science because of conflict and political instability. She balances this unique job with a passion for comedy.

Takenami Hiroo is one of the premier makers of nebuta, the floats that are the main attraction of the Aomori Nebuta Festival. He hopes to share the unique appeal of nebuta with the world.

Sato Motoyuki developed a mine detector that uses radar technology to visualize landmines. It's currently being used in Ukraine and other parts of the world. He talks about his work to clear mines.

Scottish filmmaker Gordon Buchanan is one of the most famous cameramen in the UK due to his 30 years filming of wildlife in some of the remotest areas of the planet.

Amsterdam-based Makers Unite upcycles life vests once worn by refugees into bags and other products. They also hold workshops to help refugees find employment in the Dutch creative industries.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused widespread damage, including destroyed houses, schools and hospitals. Structural engineer Miyamoto Hideki is working with local people to repair buildings.

Architectural designer Sho Yutaka founded a not-for-profit architecture firm in Rwanda that is working to revitalize rural areas through the building of community centers and other projects.

Kyoraiseki Saori heads an NPO that screens movies for children in developing countries in the hopes of inspiring them to dream. She talks about how she wants to make a difference in their lives.

In 2022, a research team at OIST announced that they had developed the world's first sustainable system for farming squid. Nakajima Ryuta, a member of this team, shares the secrets of their success.

Kiyokawa Hiroki is working to share the traditional restoration method of "kintsugi" with people in Japan and around the world. He talks about the spirit of sustainability behind the technique.

Shoshana Stewart is President of Turquoise Mountain, established in 2006, which works to protect heritage and communities at risk around the world.

Goto Netsuko is an Aufguss master, the person in charge of circulating air and directing heat inside a sauna. She is one of Japan's best, a true ambassador for the natural sauna experience.

Social entrepreneur Maeda Yosuke developed an innovative system that can turn wastewater into a water resource. We asked him about his vision and sustainable approach to solving water problems.

Friedensdorf International takes sick and injured children from war zones to Germany for treatment and rehabilitation. Director Birgit Stifter explains its activities on a visit to Hiroshima Prefecture.

Kurahashi Kae was part of the Japanese wheelchair rugby team that took home the bronze at the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Hear how she overcame a devastating injury to compete on the world stage.

Photographer Komatsu Yuka has been documenting the lives of Syrian refugees who fled to Turkey to escape the conflict in Syria, only to now once again find themselves displaced by earthquakes.

In June 2023, a film directed by Taguchi Tomohisa won the Paul Grimault Award at Annecy, the prestigious international animation festival. Taguchi explains the creative process behind animated film.

Cambodian mental health expert Chhim Sotheara tells us about his distinctly Asian methods of healing the many people said to be still suffering the psychological after-effects of the 1970s genocide.

Watanabe Kankolongo Sayaka is helping asylum-seekers in Japan, a country with a low refugee acceptance rate. Her organization helps match them with jobs that utilize their specialist skills.

Professor Jason Arday focuses on the UK education system in his work as a sociologist. He made history this year, when at 37 he became the youngest Black professor at Cambridge University.

Mexican muralist Paola Delfín's paintings of women and plants are imbued with peace and anti-discrimination messages. Her mural in Kyiv after the 2016 Russian invasion of Crimea drew great attention.

At 9, Nalleli Cobo, her mom, and their community began battling toxic oil drilling. In 2020, LA Council passed the "Phase-Out" resolution. We talked to Cobo about her unwavering passion for the cause.

Australian scientist Scott O'Neill, CEO of the not-for-profit group of companies World Mosquito Program, has worked to protect countless communities from mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue.

Rene Silva dos Santos, a favela native, began the paper "Voz das Comunidades" at 11, sharing local views. He tells us how he underscores the crucial role of disseminating information from the favelas.

For over 40 years, Koike Hiroshi, one of Asia's leading directors, has staged innovative productions with artists from around the world. He shares his thoughts on diversity and the creative process.

Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Chujo Hideto has been working to support children who have been traumatized by the conflict. He talks about how he hopes to make a difference.

Afghan girls face educational barriers with the Taliban. Pashtana Durrani defies this by operating a covert school, nurturing their unyielding thirst for knowledge. She fights for a brighter future.

In 2023, "ONI: Thunder God's Tale," Japan-born animation film director Daisuke "Dice" Tsutsumi's first film, won the prestigious Annie Award. He explains its "fear of aliens" theme and his own roots.

Independent animation creator Chen Lianhua describes his creative philosophy as indie animation gains new attention in China, where such programs have gathered major viewership.

In 2023, Okada Nozomi became the first Japanese person to win a gold medal at the World Logging Championship. She talks about achieving the feat just six years after first picking up a chainsaw.