TV Osaka Co., Ltd. (2024.10.25) TV Osaka Co., Ltd. Total distance of 169km, 168 stops…Why do people board the buses that run through the blank areas of Kinki? “Japan’s longest route bus that connects people and cities” Broadcast on Saturday, October 26th [TV Osaka] Documentary 7 “Japan’s longest route bus that connects people and the city ” Broadcast on Saturday, October 26th from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. “People who make a huge contribution to our lives even if they don’t stand out,” and “People who stand by and walk alongside people who are socially vulnerable.” This is a documentary program that shines a spotlight on such people discovered during daily news reporting. In the 20th episode, we take a close look at the drivers of long-distance route buses that traverse blank areas with no expressways or railways. Furthermore, what are the passengers thinking when they get on this bus? Unknown human drama revealed. No. 20 “Japan’s longest route bus that connects people and cities”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/1893/20945-1893-6eb4561a8a2e2d16dbc795ae076503c7-1920×1080.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/1893/20945-1893-90d36e0e967ba2e11c0fdb2c5bf3d93c-1920×1080.jpg (C) TV Osaka Departed from Yamato Yagi Station (Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture) at 9:30 a.m. As we headed south with Mt. Kongo on our right, the bus gradually entered the mountain. While taking repeated breaks, you will drive through areas that give you a feel of the original Japanese landscape. On the other hand, from the train window, you can see closed elementary and junior high schools and scars from the heavy rain disaster that once hit the Kii Mountains. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/1893/20945-1893-9d8b36ba6fbe89b9bc1daa329de5df00-1920×1080.jpg (C) TV Osaka The road is being steadily improved, but the bus enters the old road passing by a newly constructed tunnel. Even if it is only used two or three times a year, you will have to go through the original stop. This is the fate of route buses that support local communities, which is different from tourist buses.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/1893/20945-1893-14fc53692c21a2e9aa066bb4e6590f75-1920×1080.jpg (C) TV Osaka Yasuhiro Mano, who has been in the business for 24 years, is responsible for driving the buses, which are part of the local infrastructure. Approximately 40% of the year is spent staying at the office. Why did he become a bus driver? When I asked him about it, he gave me a surprising answer: “I’ve never wanted to be one.” How did Mr. Mano find his current profession? Furthermore, the number of users of this bus, mainly tourists, has increased over the past 10 years. On the other hand, Mr. Mano says he is concerned that the number of local residents who really want to ride the train is decreasing.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/20945/1893/20945-1893-fa4d8d850b184d89f8343580ca5bef25-1920×1080.jpg (C) TV Osaka We also spoke to passengers who had been on board since the first train. Why did you use this bus? “I wanted to change my life…” There was a deep human drama there. ◆Program information “Documentary 7” [Broadcast station] TV Osaka [Broadcast date and time] Saturday, October 26, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. [Program HP] https://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/documentary7/ [You can also watch the program on TVer after the broadcast]
https://tver.jp/series/sr9b4wa97m [Past broadcasts are available on YouTube channel]
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXglZY9f1Kw3kt9JiwuO2qcXr4mKDt08P