Special Exhibition: The Human Body—A Challenge to the Mysteries @ National Museum of Nature and Science.
The organs inside our bodies exchange information with one another just like the internet!
So what exactly is the truth behind the idea we’ve always been taught—that “the brain is the command center”?…
Is today’s common sense really tomorrow’s nonsense?
The Human Body Exhibition runs through next week!

　Speaking of NHK, here are some notes from the last Central Program Council meeting as well.
　The topic of the last meeting was “Reach Out to the World! English for Social Media.”
　The program covers global trends and social phenomena, teaching viewers how to learn about them in English and share their insights on social media. It’s an ambitious show that aims to cover English, IT, and current events all at once.The first episode’s theme was “NeverAgain.” In the wake of the high school shooting in Florida, a tweet from a high school student calling for gun control went viral around the world. The episode used social media posts by President Obama and other celebrities regarding this incident as material to learn English, and then encouraged viewers to try posting with a hashtag.
　At the program review committee meeting, there were many opinions expressing concern about tackling political topics without explaining the background context, but I felt it was a wonderful program.
　Television cannot convey all the information within a limited time frame. Moreover, this is an English language learning program. I believe that one of the roles we expect television to play in such educational programs is to motivate learning.In that regard, wasn’t this program truly outstanding?
　A single post by a high school student can move society—and the world.
　Viewers can truly feel the power of words and the power of IT that amplifies them, and I believe this can serve as motivation to learn English, IT, and about society.
　There are still many social issues in the world, and I think it would be great if the program provided an opportunity for viewers to realize that there are diverse perspectives and ways of thinking about these issues. Since the program is taking the trouble to present learning methods that utilize IT, viewers don’t need to have everything explained within the show itself—they can simply use the internet afterward to deepen their learning on their own.
　The strength of this program lies in the fact that it doesn’t end with passive learning; it encourages viewers to form their own opinions and share them. I look forward to the future, hoping that more people will realize through this program that such proactive engagement with society holds the potential to bring about social change—and that more people will be inspired to take action.
　Incidentally, on the website, you can listen to the passages from the show at different speeds, learn keywords and vocabulary, take quizzes to review what you’ve learned, and even keep a record of your learning history. This integration of the web and TV further enhances the program’s value as an educational resource.

　The program I chose from the selection was “Teruyuki Kagawa’s Insects Are Amazing!”, which aired during Golden Week.
As an actor, he has established a solid reputation, but this intellectual star casts all that aside to express his love and passion for insects with his whole being. It’s an incredible show where his enthusiasm radiates right through the screen.
　Seeing an adult get completely covered in mud without trying to act cool—completely absorbed in pursuing what he truly loves, declaring, “This is what I’ve always wanted to do!”—his single-minded dedication draws viewers in across generations. Mr. Kagawa says humans can learn how to live from insects that live by instinct, but I, for one, learned how to live with integrity from “Mantis Kagawa” (*^^*)
　The integration with “The Amazing Field Guide,” a web resource included in NHK for School, is also excellent. You can access 360-degree images and related videos to explore the details further.
　Viewers are captivated by the broadcast, then use their tablets to dig deeper and explore, and finally take those tablets with them to go out and observe insects in person. This program has a charm that truly inspires that kind of action.