In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japanese morticians always pursue the best ways to console grieving families through their craft and quiet presence. But during the height of the pandemic, they struggled to balance government guidelines with the needs of the bereaved.

The Tsushima Blue Quaker butterfly, an iconic symbol of Tsushima Island, was on the brink of extinction until scientists took it to Tokyo for a breeding project ten years ago. Its numbers have recovered in captivity, but the species' long-term survival is still not ensured as challenges prevent a smooth return to its native habitat.

"Unexploded shells are still taking lives. The war for us is not over yet."

These words came from a 45-year-old Indian man who works to convey the history of the Battle of Imphal, dubbed the "most tragic battle of the Pacific War."

NHK examined the legacy of Japan’s fight in distant India, and found people from younger generations who did not experience the war firsthand are now trying to record the savage event.

"I'm finally getting on a boat tonight." These were the last words of a 24-year-old migrant who lost his life on the Mediterranean. He was speaking to his cousin in Kabul, some 3,500 kilometers away.

Women who give birth at one of Japan's top hospitals are no longer being offered a common option to relieve pain. A shortage of anesthesiologists at Osaka University Hospital has led management to suspend epidurals, with a few exceptions for patients with chronic illness.

Over 330,000 people were killed by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. But the number of foreign victims is not known. One residents' group is now fighting for recognition of Chinese victims of the bomb.

Hype in the United States over two blockbuster movie releases has taken a culturally insensitive turn in Japan. "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" opened in US theaters on the same day, July 21, prompting excited fans to combine the two on social media.

Singer, actor, and global style icon Jane Birkin's death at 76 on July 16 was a particularly sad passing for many in Japan. She was most widely known for her personal and artistic relationship with late songwriter Serge Gainsbourg and the iconic Hermès Birkin handbag, but her work to support survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami earned her a special place in the hearts of Japanese.

Japanese pop star Miyake Ken is opening a new chapter in his career after leaving the agency he belonged to for three decades. He sat down with NHK to talk about his career and his fans.

Julia Shamsheieva used to project 3D artworks on cultural sites across the globe. Now it is her hometown that is in the spotlight – and Putin's crosshairs. Russian forces are closing in on Odesa, Ukraine's biggest port city, and residents fear it will be the target of a major offensive. NHK World spoke to the audiovisual artist about life under bombardment, and the shift from making symbols of peace to camouflage nets.