NHK Documentary

Kuroshio: Wondrous Current of Life

Kuroshio is an amazing ocean current that flows north along the Japanese archipelago. It's had a great impact on Japan's culture and climate, but many mysteries still surrounded it. How, for example, if Kuroshio emerges from waters poor in plankton and other nutrients, can it manage to nurture countless schools of fish? What kind of mechanisms are at work when it produces the moist climate along the Japanese islands? How are the numerous eddies in the current formed and what role do they play? Researchers are using supercomputers and satellite data to find answers. This program follows this "wondrous current of life" on its 10,000km journey, together with fishermen who make their living from it.