Episodi
-
Ken and his Japanese American comrades experience the horror of World War Two combat in Italy. Hardening in battle, they are readied for a push into France. Sheltering in foxholes as rockets rain down, Ken understands more about the stories his grandfather used to tell him as a child.
This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.
Cast:
Narrator: Will SharpeKen: Akie KotabeLieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy ElletsonGrandpa Allan/ Mr Yamada: Clyde KusatsuEmily: Samantha DakinLittle Ken: Hudson Roberts. Mrs Tanaka/Baachan/Shirley/Li: Tamlyn TomitaNui Louie/Mr Okimura: Aaron IkedaBarry/Captain Kim/Private Sasaki/Radio man: Derek MioShorty: Raiko GoharaOhta/Captain Minori: Matt McCooeyDrill Sergeant/General Dahlquist: Martin McDougalColonel Pence/Earl Finch/Col Miller: Colin StintonSonny: Kurt KanazawaBoxer/Crooner/Pokey: Conrad Lihilihi
Written by Iris YamashitaSound design: Richard Gould at Skywalker SoundRecording and mixing: Leon ChambersOriginal music: Josh SneesbyConsultant: L Stuart HiraiDramaturg: James YeatmanBroadcast assistant: Teresa Milewski Production co-ordinator: Kate BrookAssociate producers: Tim Bell & Rosa CromptonDirector: Jessica DromgooleProducer: Catherine Bailey.Based on an idea by Simon Pitts
A Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service
-
The battalion heads for Europe. The soldiers spend weeks at sea in bunks stacked five high, and none of them believes that Ken is from the future.
Meanwhile, Ken remembers his childhood with his grandfather – a man whose uniform he is now wearing.
This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.
Cast:
Narrator: Will SharpeKen: Akie KotabeLieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy ElletsonGrandpa Allan/ Mr Yamada: Clyde KusatsuEmily: Samantha DakinLittle Ken: Hudson Roberts. Mrs Tanaka/Baachan/Shirley/Li: Tamlyn TomitaNui Louie/Mr Okimura: Aaron IkedaBarry/Captain Kim/Private Sasaki/Radio man: Derek MioShorty: Raiko GoharaOhta/Captain Minori: Matt McCooeyDrill Sergeant/General Dahlquist: Martin McDougalColonel Pence/Earl Finch/Col Miller: Colin StintonSonny: Kurt KanazawaBoxer/Crooner/Pokey: Conrad Lihilihi
Written by Iris YamashitaSound design: Richard Gould at Skywalker SoundRecording and mixing: Leon ChambersOriginal music: Josh SneesbyConsultant: L Stuart HiraiDramaturg: James YeatmanBroadcast assistant: Teresa Milewski Production co-ordinator: Kate BrookAssociate producers: Tim Bell & Rosa CromptonDirector: Jessica DromgooleProducer: Catherine Bailey.Based on an idea by Simon Pitts
A Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service
-
Episodi mancanti?
-
Ken goes to a Japanese American internment camp and is shocked at what he sees. Tensions between recruits from Hawaii and the mainlanders, so-called “Buddhaheads” and “Kotonks”, are running high. Then some news – the soldiers are sent to fight in Europe.
This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.
Cast:
Narrator: Will SharpeKen: Akie KotabeLieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy ElletsonGrandpa Allan/ Mr Yamada: Clyde KusatsuEmily: Samantha DakinLittle Ken: Hudson Roberts. Mrs Tanaka/Baachan/Shirley/Li: Tamlyn TomitaNui Louie/Mr Okimura: Aaron IkedaBarry/Captain Kim/Private Sasaki/Radio man: Derek MioShorty: Raiko GoharaOhta/Captain Minori: Matt McCooeyDrill Sergeant/General Dahlquist: Martin McDougalColonel Pence/Earl Finch/Col Miller: Colin StintonSonny: Kurt KanazawaBoxer/Crooner/Pokey: Conrad Lihilihi
Written by Iris YamashitaSound design: Richard Gould at Skywalker SoundRecording and mixing: Leon ChambersOriginal music: Josh SneesbyConsultant: L Stuart HiraiDramaturg: James YeatmanBroadcast assistant: Teresa Milewski Production co-ordinator: Kate BrookAssociate producers: Tim Bell & Rosa CromptonDirector: Jessica DromgooleProducer: Catherine Bailey.Based on an idea by Simon Pitts
A Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service
-
In Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, a young American finds himself mysteriously transported back in time and training for combat in World War Two. He’s in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in 1943 and can’t understand why he’s there. Has a bachi, or a curse, been placed on him?
This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.
Cast:
Narrator: Will SharpeKen: Akie KotabeLieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy ElletsonGrandpa Allan/ Mr Yamada: Clyde KusatsuEmily: Samantha DakinLittle Ken: Hudson Roberts. Mrs Tanaka/Baachan/Shirley/Li: Tamlyn TomitaNui Louie/Mr Okimura: Aaron IkedaBarry/Captain Kim/Private Sasaki/Radio man: Derek MioShorty: Raiko GoharaOhta/Captain Minori: Matt McCooeyDrill Sergeant/General Dahlquist: Martin McDougalColonel Pence/Earl Finch/Col Miller: Colin StintonSonny: Kurt KanazawaBoxer/Crooner/Pokey: Conrad Lihilihi
Written by Iris YamashitaSound design: Richard Gould at Skywalker SoundRecording and mixing: Leon ChambersOriginal music: Josh SneesbyConsultant: L Stuart HiraiDramaturg: James YeatmanBroadcast assistant: Teresa Milewski Production co-ordinator: Kate BrookAssociate producers: Tim Bell & Rosa CromptonDirector: Jessica DromgooleProducer: Catherine Bailey.Based on an idea by Simon Pitts
A Catherine Bailey production for the BBC World Service
-
Time-travelling drama about the Japanese American legends of US military history - inspired by real events. The story of the 442nd Regiment fighting the Nazi German army in World War Two. An original six-part drama, released from 9th December 2024. Written by Oscar nominee Iris Yamashita and narrated by Will Sharpe.
-
Stay right here for more original new drama from the BBC World Service. Purple Heart Warriors is coming soon. It’s a time-travelling drama about the Japanese American soldiers who became legends of US military history. Inspired by real events, it’s the little-known story of the 442nd regiment, decorated for their bravery fighting the Nazi German army in World War Two. Narrated by Will Sharpe and written by Oscar-nominated Iris Yamashita, it is told in six-parts. You’ll hear the trailer very soon. Make sure you follow or subscribe, so you never miss an episode. And if you want to keep listening to Fukushima, which tells the story of when a tsunami hit the Japanese nuclear plant, it will still be available here too.
-
Former energy company executive Suto, was supposed to ensure that accidents like this couldn’t happen. Ten years later, he searches for atonement. A drama about the events of March 2011.
Cast:Suto: Togo IgawaAkiko: Ami Okumura JonesTutor: Kevin ShenGuard: Matt McCooeySanae: Naoko Mori
Fukushima is written by Adrian PenkethSound design is by Peter RingroseProduced by Toby Swift and Sasha YevtushenkoCommissioned by Simon Pitts for BBC World Service
-
Years after the disaster, one of the “suicide squad” questions his heroism in a town of ghosts. A drama about the events of March 2011.
Cast:Suto: Togo IgawaAkiko: Ami Okumura JonesIto: Matt McCooeyKeiko: Naoko Mori
Fukushima is written by Adrian PenkethSound design is by Peter RingroseProduced by Toby Swift and Sasha YevtushenkoCommissioned by Simon Pitts for BBC World Service
-
“We are at war….” Politicians seize control. And then a breakthrough; can the disaster be contained? A drama about the events of March 2011.
Cast:Suto: Togo IgawaAkiko: Ami Okumura JonesYoshida: Eiji MiharaPrime minister: Kevin ShenHosono: Sadao UedaMayor: Akira KoieyamaAide: Nino Furuhata Narrator: Romola Garai
Fukushima is written by Adrian PenkethSound design is by Peter RingroseProduced by Toby Swift and Sasha YevtushenkoCommissioned by Simon Pitts for BBC World Service
Audio for this episode was updated on 4 October 2023.
-
The reactors are unstable. A “suicide squad” of older workers is sent inside and young staff are evacuated. Pressure levels are dangerously high, raising the chances of another explosion. A drama about the events of March 2011.
Cast:Suto: Togo IgawaAkiko: Ami Okumura JonesYoshida: Eiji MiharaPrime Minister: Kevin ShenSaito: Sadao UedaShimada: Akira KoieyamaIto: Matt McCooeyNarrator: Romola Garai
Fukushima is written by Adrian PenkethSound design is by Peter RingroseProduced by Toby Swift and Sasha YevtushenkoCommissioned by Simon Pitts for BBC World Service
Audio for this episode was updated on 4 October 2023.
-
A massive explosion rocks the stricken power plant. Can the reactors be cooled? The nuclear plant manager has an unorthodox plan to prevent further disaster. A drama about the events of March 2011.
Cast:Suto: Togo IgawaAkiko: Ami Okumura JonesYoshida: Eiji MiharaPrime minister: Kevin ShenSaito: Sadao UedaMatsui: Akira KoieyamaKojima: Matt McCooeyKaneko: Nino FuruhataNarrator: Romola Garai
Fukushima is written by Adrian PenkethSound design is by Peter RingroseProduced by Toby Swift and Sasha YevtushenkoCommissioned by Simon Pitts for BBC World Service
-
Japan battles to maintain control in the face of nuclear disaster. Can catastrophe be averted? A drama about the events of March 2011.
Cast:Suto: Togo IgawaAkiko: Ami Okumura JonesYoshida: Eiji MiharaSaito: Sadao UedaIto: Matt McCooeyShimada: Akira KoieyamaNarrator: Romola GaraiReporter: Kevin ShenReporter: Naoko Mori Worker: Nino Furuhata
Fukushima is written by Adrian PenkethSound design is by Peter RingroseProduced by Toby Swift and Sasha YevtushenkoCommissioned by Simon Pitts for BBC World Service
Audio for this episode was updated on 4 October 2023.
-
Japan’s nuclear plant is hit as an immense wave surges past defences and floods reactors. It’s a desperate fight to contain a disaster. A drama about the events of March 2011.
Cast:Suto: Togo IgawaAkiko: Ami Okumura JonesYoshida: Eiji MiharaSaito: Sadao UedaIto: Matt McCooeyShimada: Akira KoieyamaNarrator: Romola GaraiReporter: Kevin ShenReporter: Naoko Mori Worker: Nino Furuhata
Fukushima is written by Adrian PenkethSound design is by Peter RingroseProduced by Toby Swift and Sasha YevtushenkoCommissioned by Simon Pitts for BBC World Service
Audio for this episode was updated on 4 October 2023.
-
A drama about losing control in Japan’s nuclear emergency. The heroes who fight to contain the disaster and those whose mistakes lead Japan to catastrophe. Years later, some seek atonement. This seven-part drama from the BBC World Service is released weekly from 15 May 2023.
-
A new drama is coming soon.
