About this season
An in-depth portrait of Asia today, covering its dynamism as a center of growth as well as its traditions tossed around by the advance of globalization.
Episodes (24)
1. The Syrian Circus of Refugees: Turkey
Aired 5 January 2024 • 28 min
In Turkey, one NGO gives the Syrian refugees a chance to smile again by helping them perform circuses. Now, they head out to take the stage for the kids affected by the 2023 Turkey earthquake.
2. Young Lives Resculpted: Jingdezhen, China
Aired 9 February 2024 • 28 min
An increasing number of young people are relocating to Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of China. They leave behind the stress of life in large cities to resculpt their own lives with a new vision.
3. China's Up-and-Coming Indie Animators
Aired 23 February 2024 • 28 min
In China's rapidly growing animation industry, independent works are gaining attention. A dedicated film festival is held to allow young talent to be discovered, letting them follow their dreams.
4. Unease Along the Border: Kazakhstan
Aired 8 March 2024 • 28 min
Northern Kazakhstan borders Russia and has historically been home to many ethnic Russians. However, a recent rise in Kazakh migrants to the region has led to deepening tensions between the two groups.
5. Rice Heritage Revival: North Borneo, Malaysia
Aired 15 March 2024 • 28 min
The Kadazan Dusun people of North Borneo, Malaysia, had been losing their tradition of rice farming with the passage of time, but new efforts are being made to preserve it through sustainable methods.
6. Inheritors of the "Last Traditional Village": Yunnan, China
Aired 21 March 2024 • 28 min
Wengding, home of the Wa people in Yunnan Province, is called China's "last traditional village," but residents have been moved away, with the village now run by an outside developer to boost tourism.
7. Living Among the Sinking Islands: The Maldives
Aired 18 April 2024 • 28 min
In the Maldives, rapid construction of artificial islands is underway to combat coastal erosion that disrupts the lives of people near the shore, but with the construction come new difficulties.
8. Matchmaking for Women: India's Tradition and Beyond
Aired 2 May 2024 • 28 min
In India, looking for a marriage partner has long been a family affair, but with more women taking an active role in society, the method and priorities of the search are starting to change.
9. The Honey Hunters of Bangladesh
Aired 24 May 2024 • 28 min
For just two months every year, more than 1,000 men brave the dangers of the dense forest in order to hunt for wild honey, providing them the chance for an income where few other options exist.
10. From Smog to Sunshine: Mongolia
Aired 31 May 2024 • 28 min
Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar suffers from severe air pollution. New designs use sunlight to ensure warm, smoke-free homes. We explore the technology and its challenges.
11. "Job-hunting Hotels" for Students: Shanghai, China
Aired 27 June 2024 • 28 min
For just US$9 a night, young people stay in a "Job-hunting Hotel" in Shanghai while seeking post-graduation employment, even as the stagnating economy causes the number of available positions to drop.
12. A Heritage Handed Down in Picture Books: India
Aired 19 July 2024 • 28 min
A small publisher in South India is making picture books with indigenous artists that depict their traditional art. It's part of a growing effort to preserve their disappearing culture for future generations.
13. Saving Schools on the Steppes: Mongolia
Aired 2 August 2024 • 28 min
Elementary schools for nomadic children are closing as funding and student numbers fall. Meet an architect determined to stop this vicious cycle.
14. Quality Cocoa Enriches Lives: The Philippines
Aired 16 August 2024 • 28 min
High-end chocolate from top-quality cocoa is a new Filipino specialty. Quality beans command good prices, changing the lives of poor rural farmers.
15. Caring for Aging Taiwan
Aired 23 August 2024 • 28 min
Taiwan's society is aging at a rapid pace, and many choose to care for the elderly at home rather than send them to assisted living. Aiding them are caregivers from among 230,000 foreign workers.
16. The Rise of "New Hongkongers"
Aired 30 August 2024 • 28 min
In 2022, the Hong Kong government implemented a policy attracting outside workers to combat depopulation, drawing businesspeople and families relocating to find better lives as "New Hongkongers."
17. Rescuing Children from Abuse: The Philippines
Aired 6 September 2024 • 28 min
Cases of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) are on the rise. We visit a Filipino NGO that protects victims, and helps them to recover.
18. Tuning Out Poverty: Thailand
Aired 13 September 2024 • 28 min
In Bangkok's largest slum, children of migrant families are taking up musical instruments to play in an orchestra in hopes of having a better future.
19. The Surge in South Korea's Foreign Workers
Aired 27 September 2024 • 28 min
In South Korea, the labor shortage has caused a spike in foreign workers. Many of them work under harsh conditions, and grass-roots efforts are underway to ease tensions between foreigners and locals.
20. The Power of Bamboo: Indonesia
Aired 11 October 2024 • 28 min
Once considered worthless, bamboo is in the spotlight in Indonesia. One NGO is using it to improve the environment and local livelihoods. It's also playing a role in revitalizing a local village.
21. Migrating to a War Zone from Nepal
Aired 17 October 2024 • 28 min
For the sake of their families, Nepalese men are working for the Russian military. Wages 10 times higher than in Nepal are promised, but as many go missing, their families await word on their fate.
22. Disputing History in the Philippines
Aired 8 November 2024 • 28 min
The exile of President Marcos Sr. was hailed as a victory for democracy in the Philippines, but with the election of his son 36 years later, shifting views affect how history may be perceived.
23. The "Voiceless Knights" Delivering Food: Chengdu, China
Aired 13 December 2024 • 28 min
In China's rapidly growing food delivery industry, deaf workers who call themselves "voiceless knights" use apps and other tools to perform work, gaining new independence within society.
24. A World Heritage Town at Risk: Laos
Aired 27 December 2024 • 28 min
A new high-speed rail line has sparked a massive rise in tourism to Laos's historic capital Luang Prabang. It's had a major effect on traditional local life in this World Heritage town.