Ochanomizu: A Lively Hub of Learning

Ochanomizu is a college town with roots going back 200 years to an academy started by the Edo shogunate. Come along and see why the area is known for used books, musical instruments and curry.

Praying for Armageddon

A political thriller that explores the power and influence of American Evangelical Christians as they aim to fulfil the Armageddon prophecy. The film observes American believers as they prepare for what they call The Holy War and exposes the powerful megachurch pastors who call for the 'final battle' that they believe will trigger the Second Coming of Christ. Completed before the current crisis in Israel and Gaza, it also unveils how politicians driven by faith embrace the State of Israel as the key to their prophetic vision for the end of days.

Doctors at the Front 1939

In Wehrmacht, the direct medical care for wounded soldiers on the battlefield was provided by medics who were part of platoons, companies, and battalions. They could be distinguished from ordinary infantrymen by their special medical pouches, additional water flasks, patches, and armbands. Filmed footage of wounded soldiers do not appear in the propaganda newsreels of the Third Reich. Those films preferred to present laughing soldiers to strengthen the confidence in victory on the home front.
This documentary offers a special behind-the-scenes look at the Third Reich. The documentary series published in the Netherlands under the title 'The German Archive Presents' is a creation by filmmaker and historian Karl Hoffkes, an avid collector of archival material as old film reels. Over the years, he has built up an extensive private collection of film material from all kinds of sources. His own archive has become the basis of a series of documentaries, often playing in the margins of the great events of World War II. This makes the documentaries interesting for an audience who knows the course of the war, but wants to know more about specific aspects of warfare and its impact on the soldiers, civilians and their environment.
The original title of this part of 'The German Archives Presents...' is: 'Als Arzt im Fronteinsatz' and follows the experiences of the motorized medical unit of the 254th Division. The unit has been added to Army Group B, commanded by general (later field marshal) von Bock. For the making of the documentary, the film material of the staff doctor Dr. Karl Trautman is mainly used. Trautman was an enthusiastic amateur filmmaker, who took his 16 mm camera everywhere to shoot pictures of what was happening around him.
Army group B was involved in the invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium and France in early 1940. This is very interesting for people in the Dutch language area. We see the medical unit at the beginning of May 1940 practice in the forests near Kleve and Goch. Marching, simulating an airstrike, taking care of the injured. Then the war on the Western Front begin and the unit behind the "Blitzkrieg" enters the Netherlands. Dordrecht and Rotterdam pass by, after which the army enters France via Brussels. In Abbeville, the medical unit temporarily establishes a headquarters. Via a stopover in Paris, the unit is transported to the east by train. There await the preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. Via Estonia and Lithuania, the German army is heading towards Leningrad, the medical division in its wake. The harsh Russian winter causes major problems for the poorly prepared and equipped Germans. Trautman has run out of film, so the next images only date from the spring of 1942. In 1943 the army calls Dr. Trautman and his unit return to Germany. As indicated in the film, it is likely to save their life. Hundreds of thousands of their compatriots are in battle or are captured by the Soviets.
The home movies of a German senior medical officer that have now been found are all the more significant, as they reflect the everyday life of a medical company in France and Russia in an undisguised manner. The films, which have never been shown before, document a largely unknown chapter of the war on the western and eastern fronts in a unique way.
Written & Directed by Karl Hoffkes ; Polar Film & Medien GmbH Production

Salman Rushdie: Through a Glass Darkly

In 2022, Sir Salman Rushdie found himself on a stage in Chautauqua, Pennsylvania, discussing the importance of protecting the freedom of writers a subject upon which he is uniquely placed to speak, despite feeling that he had moved on from the fatwa imposed on him following the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses. When a man emerged from the audience and subjected Rushdie to a 27-second knife attack, the threat that had been hanging over him for years finally became real.
Rushdie talks in detail about the attack's devastating effects - losing his right eye and almost his ability to write. A combination of archive footage, AI-generated material and a moving account of events from his wife Lady Eliza Rushdie allows viewers to share in an imaginary confrontation between Rushdie and his attacker, and ultimately discover how his near-fatal experience casts a new light on the story of his past and his previous writings.

Inis na nIontas/Islands of Wonder

AKA Islands of Wonder
Ardal O'Hanlon explores the islands off Ireland's coast.
Chapter 1: Rathlin, Tory and Arranmore
Ardal's journey begins on Rathlin Island in the far north, famous for its countless seabirds and the golden hare, which is unique to the island. Ardal learns how an astonishing archaeological find has rewritten Irish history, and he tastes some noodles made from kelp that is sustainably farmed on the island.
From Rathlin, Ardal travels to remote Tory Island, off the County Donegal coast, where he learns of its musical tradition and its mystical past, and we see how farming practices are being fashioned to encourage the endangered corncrake. From Tory, Ardal heads to Arranmore, the largest island in the north, where he learns how the islanders are encouraging new residents. And on a beautiful, small islet, the threatened little tern has found a welcome sanctuary.
Chapter 2: Aran, Blasket, Valentia and Skellig
From mighty, windswept cliffs to lush, sub-tropical gardens, the islands off the west coast of Ireland are extraordinary in their diversity.
On the Aran Islands, Ardal learns from a practising monk of their ancient Christian heritage while, all around, a remarkable range of flora blooms, encouraged by traditional farming methods. Continuing south, Ardal visits the abandoned Great Blasket Island, former home to Irish author Peig Sayers, and now home to a thriving seal colony and two young caretakers.
On nearby Valentia Island, Ardal is shown fossilised evidence of early life emerging from the sea, while in the surrounding waters, oyster conservationists are hard at work. On land, Ireland's only vermouth producers forage for ingredients. Ardal ends with a visit to spectacular Skellig Michael, a Unesco world heritage site that is home to numerous puffins and the world's most dramatic ancient monastery.
Chapter 3: Garnish, Sherkin and Cape Clear
Ardal is in the south, where he discovers beautiful Garnish Island, home to gorgeous, lush gardens and the rare white-tailed eagle. Travelling by kayak, Ardal sees the island's thriving seal colony, before heading south to Sherkin Island, where he is once again at sea and being introduced to a playful pod of dolphins. A local historian talks about the island's pirate past, and a resident artist reveals its current status as a painters' paradise.
A short hop takes Ardal to Cape Clear, Ireland's southernmost island, where he is taken on a tour in one of the island's electric buses. He is introduced to some remarkable standing stones and a gin distillery that uses foraged kelp. Meanwhile, we meet the island's resident ornithologist, who explains the huge importance of the island for migratory birds. A climactic clifftop view, looking out across the Atlantic, marks the end to a revealing and unforgettable journey.

Hiding in Starlight

Total solar eclipses, like the one seen last month in North America, allow us to see details of the Sun that can't be seen at any other time. So, this month, The Sky at Night team looks at how scientists are creating eclipses on demand and discovering the secrets that can be revealed hidden in that starlight, including habitable planets like our own.
Maggie Aderin-Pocock travels to Belgium, where the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission is going through its final testing stages. This groundbreaking mission aims to fly two satellites together in formation, with one satellite acting like the moon during an eclipse, blocking out the central light of the Sun. This allows the other satellite to image the corona, the Sun's outer atmosphere as seen during an eclipse. Maggie meets Dr Damien Galano from ESA, who tells her all about the challenges of the mission and what it hopes to achieve. Maggie then goes on to meet satellite operations test engineer Marie Beeckman, who takes her up close to the satellites to find out how the testing is going.
Meanwhile, Pete Lawrence is out and about in Bristol, meeting a team of scientists and amateur astronomers. He discovers how input from the amateurs was crucial to the discovery of two exoplanets colliding, which had caused the dimming of a star.
Finally, Chris Lintott is in Glasgow meeting Professor Beth Biller from Edinburgh University to discover why it is only by creating eclipses of distant stars that we could potentially find exoplanets more like our own.
And as ever, our resident astronomer, Pete Lawrence, guides us through what can be seen this coming month, with a particular focus on the rewards of viewing in daylight - but as always, he reminds us of the need to take care when doing this.

North West 200 Highlights Part 3 2024

Road racing from the 2024 North West 200, with highlights of Saturdays race action, including the Superbike, Superstock and Supertwin classes. Presented by Stephen Watson.

D-Day Remembered: Minute by Minute

The events of 6th June 1944, when 156,000 troops took part in the largest amphibious invasion in history with the aim of liberating Europe from Germany. Veterans and the family of soldiers involved describe their experiences from midnight until 7.30am, with commentary from historians Max Hastings and Onyeka Nubia.

Tortured by Mum and Dad: The Turpin 13

Investigates the story of David and Louise Turpin, who kept their 13 children imprisoned in their own home until they were found in January 2018 when one of the siblings escaped and called the police. This programme examines how an unassuming suburban family in California managed to hide their dark and sinister secret for so long.

North West 200 Highlights Part 2

Highlights of the prestigious event, featuring the Superbike, Supersport and Supertwin classes at the nine-mile triangle circuit on the Causeway Coast.

Eurovision Song Contest 2024

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Graham Norton provides the commentary, live from Malmo, Sweden.
Twenty-six incredible acts perform in a bid for the most points, but only one will be crowned the new Eurovision champion.
As the nation collectively crosses its fingers for Olly, the show promises spectacular performances ahead of the world-famous, nail-biting results sequence as the all-important points are called out.
Following Loreen's victory in Liverpool last May, seven-time winner Sweden takes over as host of the much-loved competition. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of ABBA giving Sweden their first iconic win.

Sail GP Bermuda Highlights 2024

Highlights of the 10th round of the international sailing competition, which took place at Bermuda.