Our stage today is Mt. Usu, a registered UNESCO Global Geopark. Our host will visit the Volcano Science Museum and explore the crater that was formed by the eruption of 2000. Steam rises from the crater of Mt. Usu even to this day and gives visitors a sense of the power that the volcano that erupted 4 times in the 20th century possesses. In addition, NHK has been documenting the changes to the surrounding nature of Mt. Usu since the eruption. The precious footage displays the destructive power of volcanoes, as well as nature's incredible ability to restore itself.

In this episode, we will visit the town that is home to numerous world-renowned ski resorts, Niseko. We will introduce a side of Niseko's vast nature that can only be experienced during its short summer period. Our host will raft down the Shiribetsu River, which has stronger currents during this season due to the snowmelt. Niseko is also well known for the wide varieties of vibrant flowers that blossom near the mountaintops. How do these flowers survive the long winters of Niseko? Our precious footage will uncover the many strategies for survival that these plants possess.

Our stage today has the largest surface area of its kind in Japan, the Kushiro Wetlands. Our host will canoe down a river that flows through that wetland. Due to the quietness of canoes, it is ideal for observing wild animals. We encounter sika deers and white-tailed eagles, whose wingspan can reach up to 2 meters. In addition, we will witness rare footage of a red-crowned crane couple warming up their eggs, as well as siberian salamanders laying their eggs that can only be found in this area in Japan. Please enjoy the great nature of the vast Kushiro Wetlands.