FRONTRUNNERS
FRONTRUNNERS highlights professionals at the very forefront of their field. We showcase their amazing work, discover their motivations, and learn about the challenges they face in the future.
Episodes
Matsubara Masanori uses a natural, sustainable farming method to produce cheese that wins international prizes. His cows and goats live in the mountains, feeding on leaves and grass.
92-year-old Shiraishi Yuriko teaches women in Côte d'Ivoire to make surimi, a Japanese fish paste, supporting their independence and improving nutrition across the nation.
Japanese pizza entrepreneur Masuko Yosuke is revolutionizing the restaurant industry in Vietnam and beyond, working to spread happiness through delicious food, great hospitality and green initiatives.
Health tech entrepreneur Ajima Masumi has developed an app to analyze the condition of children with developmental disorders, aiming to help them reach their potential regardless of their background.
In 2024, an earthquake damaged the production of Wajima lacquerware, a tradition with a shrinking number of practitioners. Lacquer artist Akagi Akito works to pass on his skills, and revive the craft.
In 2024, master blender Akuto Ichiro was inducted into a prestigious international whisky Hall of Fame. His latest challenge is to produce grain whisky, using corn grown in northern Japan.
Every year, breeders of colorful carp (koi) compete in Tokyo for the title of World Champion. The Mano brothers, Futoshi and Shigeru, endured a devastating earthquake, and are seeking victory.
Social entrepreneur Doya Yuto supports Ghana through his fashion brand and NPO. By providing fair wages and reinvesting profits, he builds schools and expands education in disadvantaged communities.
Japan's population is aging, and millions suffer from dysphagia-they find it difficult to chew and swallow food. Nutritionist Egashira Fumie has helped thousands continue to eat normally.
Higashi Mitsuhiro works to revitalize regional communities by combining solar power generation with agriculture. He's been perfecting the idea in Japan, and has begun implementing it in Ethiopia.
Yabusame is traditional horseback archery. It's preserved as a Shinto ritual, but is not accessible to all. Kamimura Ayuko runs competitions open to women and international participants.
Ohno-Matsui Kyoko is an expert in high myopia—severe nearsightedness. She runs the world's first specialized clinic, and pushes the boundaries of diagnosis and treatment.
Nakamura Takatoshi runs a recycling company in Vietnam. He works with junk buyers, who collect recyclables from shops and homes, to improve the country's recycling rate and build a sustainable future.
An earthquake on March 11, 2011 caused a nuclear disaster in Fukushima. For 15 years, psychiatric nurse Yonekura Kazuma has supported locals affected emotionally by evacuation and uncertainty.
