NHK Documentary

TOKYO REBORN: The Metropolitan Expressway - The City's Artery

About three quarters of Tokyo's Metropolitan Expressway, known as the Shutoko, is built in midair. When it was newly completed, the scale of this elevated road system shocked the world. But now, a half a century later, it is deteriorating. This program showcases a particularly difficult and gigantic repair project that was completed in one night on the Route No. 1 Haneda Line. It also focuses on Tokyo Tower, the symbol of the city, which is completely painted and repaired every 5 years. The men who paint the structure at a height of 300 meters use scaffolding just 6 centimeters wide and are buffeted by wind and rain in a deadly battle with nature. The efforts of these and other people working heroically to prevent the deterioration of Tokyo's infrastructure are highlighted.