Series
Maps in Motion
A marsh becoming a megacity. Airports spreading across Japan. A lake disappearing. We fast-forward decades and centuries on a map to see how towns and nature changed.
7 episodes YouTube playlist
Episodes
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How did Tokyo grow from swampland to 37 million?
In 1590, Edo was inlets and wetlands with a small town around its castle and port; by the 18th century it held about 1 million people.
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When and Where Did Japan's 97 Airports Appear?
Japan's first airfield opened at Tokorozawa in 1911; today the country has 97 airports (as of September 1, 2026).
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Why Did the Aral Sea Shrink? Satellite Map Timelapse 2000→2026
From the 1950s, water from the two rivers was diverted to irrigation; with no outlet to the ocean, evaporation kept pulling the level down.
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Was Flevoland, a Dutch Province, Seabed 100 Years Ago?
The Dutch dammed the Zuiderzee into a lake, then enclosed parts of it and pumped them dry, making about one-twentieth of the country's land.
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Why Are So Many of Kyoto's Famous Sights Outside the 794 Capital?
Most of Kyoto's old sights lie outside Heian-kyo, the 794 city: only 3 of its 17 World Heritage component parts are inside.
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Are Japan’s Cherry Blossoms Opening Earlier? 74 Springs on a Map
Yes, over the long run: at all 47 sites compared, the 30-year average first flowering date came earlier.
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How Did Ships, Planes and Trains Connect 195 Countries?
Transport routes connect through shortcuts such as Suez in 1869, transfers, different needs and changing safety conditions.
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