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BBC World Service 16 Episodes May 3, 2023

Immersive storytelling from the BBC World Service, featuring original dramas. The latest season is Purple Heart Warriors, a time-travelling drama about Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd Regiment in World War Two, narrated by Will Sharpe and written by Oscar nominee Iris Yamashita. Previous seasons include Fukushima, a seven-part nuclear drama about the 2011 tsunami and its aftermath.

Episodes

Trailer: Fukushima May 3, 2023 172 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.

Fukushima: 1. Tsunami May 14, 2023 1628 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 Igawa Akiko: Ami Okumura Jones Yoshida: Eiji Mihara Saito: Sadao Ueda Ito: Matt McCooey Shimada: Akira Koieyama Narrator: Romola Garai Reporter: Kevin Shen Reporter: Naoko Mori Worker: Nino FuruhataFukush

Fukushima: 2. Emergency May 21, 2023 1628 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 Igawa Akiko: Ami Okumura Jones Yoshida: Eiji Mihara Saito: Sadao Ueda Ito: Matt McCooey Shimada: Akira Koieyama Narrator: Romola Garai Reporter: Kevin Shen Reporter: Naoko Mori Worker: Nino FuruhataFukushima is written by Adrian Penketh Sound des

Fukushima: 3. Explosion May 28, 2023 1631 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 Igawa Akiko: Ami Okumura Jones Yoshida: Eiji Mihara Prime minister: Kevin Shen Saito: Sadao Ueda Matsui: Akira Koieyama Kojima: Matt McCooey Kaneko: Nino Furuhata Narrator: Romola G

Fukushima: 4. Evacuation Jun 4, 2023 1632 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 Igawa Akiko: Ami Okumura Jones Yoshida: Eiji Mihara Prime Minister: Kevin Shen Saito: Sadao Ueda Shimada: Akira Koieyama Ito: Matt McCooey Narrator: Romo

Fukushima: 5. Invisible enemy Jun 11, 2023 1630 “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 Igawa Akiko: Ami Okumura Jones Yoshida: Eiji Mihara Prime minister: Kevin Shen Hosono: Sadao Ueda Mayor: Akira Koieyama Aide: Nino Furuhata Narrator: Romola GaraiFukushima is written by Adrian Penketh Sound design is by Peter Ringrose Produ

Fukushima: 6. Legacy Jun 18, 2023 1618 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 Igawa Akiko: Ami Okumura Jones Ito: Matt McCooey Keiko: Naoko MoriFukushima is written by Adrian Penketh Sound design is by Peter Ringrose Produced by Toby Swift and Sasha Yevtushenko Commissioned by Simon Pitts for BBC World Service

Fukushima: 7. Atonement Jun 25, 2023 1625 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 Igawa Akiko: Ami Okumura Jones Tutor: Kevin Shen Guard: Matt McCooey Sanae: Naoko MoriFukushima is written by Adrian Penketh Sound design is by Peter Ringrose Produced by Toby Swift and Sasha Yev

Purple Heart Warriors: 1. Memorial day Dec 9, 2024 1621 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 Sharpe Ke

Purple Heart Warriors: 2. ‘Buddhaheads’ Dec 9, 2024 1658 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 Sharpe Ken: Akie Ko

Purple Heart Warriors: 3. True Americans Dec 9, 2024 1618 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 Sharpe Ken: Akie Kotabe Li

Purple Heart Warriors: 4. Screaming Mimis Dec 16, 2024 1620 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:Nar

Purple Heart Warriors: 5. The lost battalion Dec 23, 2024 1649 With half of the men lost, the most dangerous battle of all awaits. The battalion is ordered to rescue Texan soldiers surrounded by German artillery. Can they save the so-called ‘Lost Battalion’?This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.Cast:Narrator: Will Sharpe Ken: Akie Kotabe Lieutenant/Bus guard/Texan soldier/Reporter: Freddy El

Purple Heart Warriors: 6. ‘Go for broke’ Dec 30, 2024 1584 As the 442nd take on the Nazi enemy, they shout their unit’s anthem: “Go for broke”. Ken finally learns why he has been transported back into his grandfather’s life as a soldier. Then he finds himself travelling forwards in time to present-day Los Angeles.This series is inspired by real events and contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.Cast:Narrator: Will Sharpe Ken: Akie

Bonus: The making of Purple Heart Warriors Jan 6, 2025 663 Behind the scenes. Find out how our drama, inspired by real events, was born and learn about the creative journey. How did the idea come about and what were the challenges and personal stories which shaped the production? Also, learn how the music and sound design were crafted. Purple Heart Warriors contains dramatised battle scenes and out-dated racial language.

Trailer: Purple Heart Warriors Nov 25, 2024 274 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.

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