E1.
Chasing Dreams in a Shared Office SpaceWorking styles are changing with the times. People no longer have to be physically present at their office at a certain time, and not everyone wants to be an "employee" at a company. In this episode, we visit a shared office space in Nagatacho - home to the National Diet Building and the center of national politics. In this place, which resembles a cafe more than an office, there are several co-working spaces and rental offices. A variety of people spend their day here - from freelancers and entrepreneurs, to people who have an office elsewhere but who use the space as a satellite office. We spent 3 days following them, as they search for their own unique work styles and chase their dreams.
E2.
Toothy Smiles and Dental Woes: A 24-Hour Dentist's OfficeA dentist's office in Fukuoka, southern Japan, has people streaming in around the clock to be relieved of their pain or to improve their smile. Some of the patients include: a man who lost 3 of his front teeth in a fight back in high school; an older man who has had dentures since he was in his 40's; and a university student who says that getting her teeth fixed gave her a more positive outlook on life. Each chip, crack, cavity and missing tooth has a story behind it. For 3 days, we hear about some of the drama in these patients' lives.
E3.
A Toast to LifeA liquor store in Ginza, Tokyo, boasts a selection of over 3,000 types of mainly wine and whiskey from around the world, including a bottle that costs over 18,000 US dollars. Their tastings attract many drink lovers: customers can choose from over 1,000 bottles, with each sample glass costing just a few dollars. There, we meet a man who has a collection of over 100 types of whiskey at home and a proprietress of a bar who has survived 40 years of fierce competition. A Chinese company president-cum-sake sommelier who exports sake shares a nugget of wisdom: if you like it, it's a good drink, regardless of the price. For 3 days, we asked liquor store customers about their drink of choice.
E4.
Episode 4E5.
Akihabara: Infatuated with ElectronicsA store in Akihabara, Japan's biggest electronics town, sells over 100,000 electronics parts, including resistors, capacitors and circuit boards. Around 1,000 people come to the store every day, from professional engineers to people who like to build their own electronics for fun. Among the people we meet are a musician who makes his own effects units; a graduate student who makes drones to take a break from job hunting; and a man whose hobby of fixing car audio systems has turned into a job. For 3 days, we peeked inside the store to find out what it is people come to buy and what they hope to create with it.