Japan's Top Inventions

(03/18/2018–04/08/2026)

NHK World (JP)15 min

Japanese inventions are used and loved around the world. Through interviews and reenactments, go behind the scenes and discover how Japanese craftsmanship brought these top inventions into being.

Source: unknown Japan's Top Inventions

Episodes

Season 2018

S2018E01

Conveyor Belt Sushi

March 18, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E02

Shinkansen

April 19, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E03

Automatic Rice Cookers

May 17, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E04

Electronic Bidet Toilets

June 21, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E05

Quartz Wristwatches

July 19, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E06

Instant Ramen

August 16, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E07

Portable Music Players

September 20, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E08

Gastrocameras

October 18, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E09

Handheld Calculators

November 22, 2018 at 03:00 AM

S2018E10

Erasable Pens

December 20, 2018 at 03:00 AM

Season 2019

S2019E01

Snap-Off Utility Knives

January 17, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E02

Acrylic Aquarium Panels

February 21, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E03

Makeup Brushes

March 21, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E04

Compact Motorcycles

April 17, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E05

Stay-Tight Fasteners

May 09, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E06

Video Game Character

May 30, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E07

Pedal Assist Electric Bicycles

June 19, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E08

Cooling Gel Sheets

July 10, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E09

Fiber Tip Pens

August 07, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E10

Shock Resistant Wristwatches

August 21, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E11

Cup Ramen

September 11, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E12

Probiotic Drinks

October 09, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E13

Special Effects Monster Movie

October 23, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E14

Umami Seasoning

November 13, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E15

Blue LEDs

November 27, 2019 at 03:00 AM

S2019E16

Spinning Top Toys

December 18, 2019 at 03:00 AM

Season 2020

S2020E01

Home Bread Makers

January 08, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E02

Glow in the Dark Pigments

January 29, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E03

Emoji

February 13, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E04

Miniature Video Cameras

March 12, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E05

2D Barcodes

March 26, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E06

Water-Purifying Powder

April 16, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E07

Worksheet Study Method

May 28, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E08

Film Farming

June 24, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E09

Surgical Microscope Stand

July 22, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E10

Automatic Thread Trimmer Sewing Machines

August 13, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E11

Robotic Exoskeletons

August 20, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E12

Dinosaur Robots

August 27, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E13

Palm Vein Authentication

September 24, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E14

Fresh Freezing System

October 22, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E15

Bottled Green Tea

November 26, 2020 at 03:00 AM

S2020E16

Personal Information Protection Stamps

December 24, 2020 at 03:00 AM

Season 2021

S2021E01

Planetariums

January 14, 2021 at 03:00 AM

S2021E02

Handheld Digital Pets

January 28, 2021 at 03:00 AM

S2021E03

Home Gaming Console / Smartphone Springs

May 15, 2021 at 03:00 AM

S2021E04

Neurosurgical Instruments / Weather Meters

July 10, 2021 at 03:00 AM

S2021E05

Body Fat Scales / Luggage Rack Mirrors

July 31, 2021 at 03:00 AM

S2021E06

Sushi Robots / Refractometers

October 30, 2021 at 03:00 AM

S2021E07

Camera Phones / Electron Microscopes

November 20, 2021 at 03:00 AM

S2021E08

Radio Controlled Watches / Encrusting Machines

December 11, 2021 at 03:00 AM

Season 2022

S2022E01

Home Blood Pressure Monitors / Test Patterns

January 08, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E02

Drawing Tablets / Cascades (Airplane Component)

January 29, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E03

Laptop Computers / Purification & Separation Systems

February 19, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E04

Surgical Needles / Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Equipment

March 19, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E05

High-Capacity Optical Disks / Automatic Skewer Machines

March 26, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E06

Ventilators for Premature Babies / Electron Beam Lithography Systems

April 30, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E07

Landmine Clearance Machines / Linear Guides

May 28, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E08

Canned Bread / Automatic Dorayaki Machines

June 25, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E09

Mosquito Coils / Screw Removal Tools

July 30, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E10

Pulse Oximeters / Egg Grading & Packing Systems

September 03, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E11

Low-Pain Needles / Sports Wheelchairs

September 24, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E12

Fish Finders / Medical Simulators

October 29, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E13

Lithium-Ion Batteries / Dust Collectors for Tunnel Construction

November 26, 2022 at 03:00 AM

S2022E14

Correction Tape / Water Filter Media

December 24, 2022 at 03:00 AM

Season 2023

S2023E01

Automatic Ticket Gates / Tool Setters

January 28, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E02

Automatic Door Sensors / Banknote Printing Machines

February 25, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E03

Online Karaoke Services / Umbrella Bagging Machines

March 25, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E04

Imitation Crab / Monorail Transporters

April 29, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E05

Piano with Silent System / Plastic Food Models

May 27, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E06

Cockroach Traps / Residential Maps

July 08, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E07

Ultra-High-Speed Elevators / Carton Filling Machines

July 29, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E08

Stand-Up Personal Watercrafts / Rice Crackers with Peanuts

August 26, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E09

Lint Rollers / Rotating Beacon Lights

September 30, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E10

Car Navigation Systems / Vapor Heat Treatment Systems

October 28, 2023 at 03:00 AM

S2023E11

Home Water Purifiers / Plastic Valves

November 25, 2023 at 03:00 AM

Season 2024

S2024E01

Direct Drive Turntables / Natto

January 20, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E02

Letter Sorting Machines / Exhaust Gas Analyzers

January 27, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E03

Cultured Pearls / Casting Systems

February 24, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E04

Contactless IC Cards / Wasabi Packets

March 30, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E05

Singing Synthesizers / Solder

April 27, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E06

Fan-Cooled Workwear / Marine Cargo Tanks

May 25, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E07

Diagnostic Ultrasound Machines / Sports Balls

June 29, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E08

Artificial Leather / Blood Test Needles

July 27, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E09

Tactile Paving / Crab Stick Machines

August 31, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E10

Multihead Weighers / Aircraft Interior Products

September 28, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E11

Jet-Air Hand Dryers / Artificial Teeth

October 26, 2024 at 03:00 AM

S2024E12

Seismic Oil Dampers / Fabric Trim

November 30, 2024 at 03:00 AM

Season 2025

S2025E01

Rhythm Machines / Food Packaging

January 11, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E02

Ultra-thin Silk Fabrics / Membrane Structures

February 15, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E03

Press-in Piling Machines / Virus Removal Filters

March 08, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E04

Non-sprinkler Snow Melting Systems / Security Equipment

March 29, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E05

Massage Chairs

March 29, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E06

Capsule Figures

April 09, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E07

Lotion tissues

April 30, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E08

Heat-resistant Labels

May 21, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E09

Frozen Food Vending Machines

June 11, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E10

Smokeless Grills

July 02, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E11

Super-absorbent Towels

July 23, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E12

Motorized Conveyor Rollers

August 06, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E13

Laser Flaw Inspection Systems

August 27, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E14

Curved Escalators

September 17, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E15

Capsule Beds

October 01, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E16

Eggshell Field Chalk

October 22, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E17

Cosmetic Sponges

November 12, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E18

Water Jet Cutters

December 03, 2025 at 03:00 AM

S2025E19

Automated Ginjo Koji Makers

December 24, 2025 at 03:00 AM

Season 2026

S2026E01

Non-Loosening Bolts

January 28, 2026 at 03:00 AM

S2026E02

Portable Fetal Monitors

February 11, 2026 at 03:00 AM

S2026E03

Concentrated Laundry Detergent

March 04, 2026 at 03:00 AM

S2026E04

Liquid Glass Coating

March 25, 2026 at 03:00 AM

S2026E05

Luminescent Ceramic Tiles

April 08, 2026 at 03:00 AM