Minamiaso once welcomed 6 million visitors a year. Then the tourism industry suffered catastrophic damage in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. At 1 inn, a pair of guests were killed, another took 5 years to rebuild, while another reopened just as the COVID-19 pandemic struck and faced a string of cancellations. Will the innkeepers of Minamiaso ever recover, financially or emotionally? Several years after the earthquake, we look at the people working to rebuild their businesses – and their lives.

Thirty years ago, a child was denied admission to a swimming school because of his disability. But 1 courageous coach reached out to help. What started with these 2 people has now grown into a school with more than 300 students, and produced a Paralympic medalist. Through it all, the coach has been there for children who had nowhere else to go, and for their anguished parents. We trace a journey of passionate dedication.