A TV crew from Tokyo Broadcasting System came to Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand to film the daily lives of Japanese expat Sanae Murray and her family for a programme titled “Sekkai no Hatte no Nihon jin” (Japanese at the Ends of the World).

Sanae and Diva Murray at the Rongo Hat Party

Paul and Diva Murray and “Ba Bear”

“Sekkai no Hatte no Nihon jin” is one of the most popular TBS programmes and the show will reach a potential viewer audience of 30 million people across Japan.

The crew were in Karamea for five days and were particularly interested in the challenges faced by Sanae and her family and why she chose to leave the comfort, safety, convenience and security of her previous life in Tokyo and move to perhaps the most remote town on mainland New Zealand.

Director Daisuke Jyosawa and his crew set up at various locations around the Karamea and Sanae, her husband Paul and daughter Diva showed comedian “Mr Chin” their venture the LivinginPeace Project as well as their home, farm and accommodation businesses Rongo Backpackers & Gallery and Karamea Farm Baches as well as taking them to some of the best scenic locations in the Karamea region.

Daisuke Jyosawa “Sekkai no Hatte no Nihonjin” Director

Mr Chin comedian and reporter for “Sekkai no Hatte no Nihonjin”

The Heaphy Track, Oparara Basin, Honeycomb Caves, Karamea Estuary, Oparara Arch Mount Stormy, Karamea Gorge and Karamea Beach will all be featured on the programme as well as the lives of Sanae and her family.

Camerman Koichiro Miyagawa films Scott’s Beach from the Lookout on the Heaphy Track

Camerman Koichiro Miyagawa and Sound Technician Takashi Sasaki Capture the Sights and Sounds of the Oparara Basin

Honeycomb Cave Guide Bill Jackson (right) Shows Sanae Murray and the TV Crew the Glow Worms in the Honeycomb Caves

Checking out the Stalactites in the Honeycomb Caves

Coordinator and Translator Kenichi Ogiyama on a Swingbridge in the Enchanted Forest of the Oparara Basin

Comedian Mr Chin Hams up the Bridge Crossing

While in Karamea the crew were able to catch fish, shear sheep, harvest vegetables from the LivinginPeace Project Permaculture Farm, fly over the Kahurangi National Park in a helicopter, do a radio show on Karamea Radio 107.5 FM, enjoy many great feasts, harvest bamboo shoots, go to the Saturday Market, take in a live music event at the Karamea Village Hotel, have a haircut at the police station, interview Karamea locals and generally have an excellent time in one of the very special places in New Zealand.

Mistuyo Numata (Sanae’s sister) (right) and Sanae and Diva Murray show the film crew how to harvest bamboo shoots

The Japanese TV crew wishes to thank all the people involved and the generosity of the fine people of Karamea for making the filming smooth and successful…thanks also to the climate Gods for five days of exceptionally beautiful weather.

The show will air in Japan on January 7, 2013 and will then be available for online viewing on the Internet.

Rongo Guests and Staff (the Rongolians) enjoy the Wrap Party BBQ Dinner

That’s a WRAP!! (Very tired Rongolians and TV crew pose for one last shot)