Season 9 · Episode 1

Hometown Stories: Look to the Night Sky

As a teen, Shin-ya Narusawa became a reclusive shut-in for 6 years, until a cosmic event rekindled his interest in astronomy. Now, at an observatory in central Japan, he's a top expert on extraterrestrial intelligence. In addition, he leads stargazing tours for visitors more than 100 times a year. His mission to share the wonders of the universe was inspired by the passion of a late colleague. "Each little dot has a personality," says Shin-ya, whose own life has been guided by the stars. "Each one is different. Each one is good."