What Are the Isolados?
"Isolados" is a Portuguese term meaning "isolated people." It refers to indigenous tribes living deep in the Amazon rainforest who have never had contact with modern civilization—or have had only minimal, accidental encounters. These are not a single ethnic group but rather a collective term for uncontacted indigenous peoples, with over 100 such groups estimated to exist primarily in Brazil and Peru.
Their existence poses fundamental questions about what it means to be human and what civilization truly represents. The fact that people continue to maintain lifestyles passed down for over 10,000 years, surviving in the depths of the forest without being absorbed by modern society, has left a profound impression on Japanese viewers.
Program Overview
NHK Special "Isolados: Deep in the Last Forest" was broadcast on November 16, 2025, at 9:00 PM on NHK General Television. The narration was performed by acclaimed actor Kaoru Kobayashi.
This documentary is a sequel to the highly acclaimed "Great Amazon: The Last Frontier - Episode 4: The Last Isolados - Unknown People at Forest's End" that aired in 2016. The NHK team has been documenting the Amazon for over 25 years, with director Taku Kokubun—the Oya Soichi Nonfiction Award-winning author of "Yanomami"—at the helm of this project.
The 10-Year Gap
After filming the previous episode in 2014, sightings of the Isolados ceased entirely, leading some to speculate they had "vanished from the earth." However, the situation changed dramatically in late 2024 when a large group of over 100 individuals suddenly appeared. The region became tense as incidents of Isolados entering villages and attacking residents across the river multiplied.
Program Highlights
Reunion with "That Family" from 10 Years Ago
The film crew encountered a remarkable sight: the same family they had met a decade earlier. Emerging from the forest on the opposite riverbank, they had undergone what the crew described as a significant "transformation." This reunion stands as one of the documentary's most moving and shocking moments.
Following Romel, the Isolados Guardian
The program offers an intimate look at Romel (Romeu), an indigenous man from the Ine tribe who serves as an Isolados protection officer. His family history gives him a unique connection to the uncontacted people.
In 1902, Romel's great-grandfather escaped from a Spanish rubber plantation where he had been enslaved. During the escape, the group split into two—one half disappeared into the forest and was never seen again. "My sons, find our friends (Nomore) who were separated in the forest"—this promise of reunion, passed down for 100 years, drives Romel's dedication to his mission.
Local people call the Isolados not "Mashco Piro" (meaning "violent savages") but "Nomore" (relatives, friends, family), reflecting their desire for peaceful coexistence.
Why Have the Isolados Emerged Now?
The documentary's central mystery is why the Isolados have appeared in such large numbers after a decade of silence. The answer lies in the severe environmental changes threatening the Amazon:
- Deforestation: Illegal logging rapidly shrinking their habitat
- Illegal gold mining: Mercury contamination causing health and environmental damage
- Climate change: Increased forest fires due to drought conditions
- Drug cartel intrusion: Conflicts with illegal loggers and narcotics traffickers
The program suggests their "emergence" is not coincidental but rather a desperate "survival action" by people pushed to their limits.
Connection to COP30
The broadcast coincided with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. COP30 features the largest indigenous participation in the conference's history, with discussions focused on indigenous land rights, ancestral knowledge, and their crucial role in nature conservation.
While uncontacted tribes obviously cannot attend COP30, their existence and crisis serve as powerful symbols of why Amazon protection matters to the world.
The Challenge of Coexistence
Intentional contact with Isolados is prohibited by law. This stems from tragic history—infectious diseases brought by civilized people, such as malaria, have caused the extinction of 59 tribes. Protection versus assimilation—there is still no clear answer to this difficult dilemma.
The documentary shows people attempting to maintain an appropriate distance while protecting the Isolados. Their existence serves as a mirror reflecting our civilization and offers important insights into humanity's future.
Related Programs and Publications
Related Broadcasts
- Close-up Gendai "Isolados: Unknown People Emerge After 10 Years in Amazon": November 17, featuring Amazon environmental changes
- Rebroadcast: Original 2016 NHK Special "The Last Isolados" aired on November 14
Related Books
- "Nomore" by Taku Kokubun (Shinchosha): Nonfiction born from the documentary's research, centering on the 100-year-old "promise of reunion"
- "Yanomami" by Taku Kokubun: Oya Soichi Nonfiction Award winner documenting 150 days with Brazil's Yanomami tribe
- DVD "Isolados: Unknown People at Forest's End": Includes Kotaro Sawaki's 2003 philosophical journey and the 2016 broadcast
How to Watch
Those who missed the broadcast can access catch-up streaming on NHK Plus until November 23 (Sunday/Holiday). Partial free viewing is also available on NHK On Demand until November 30.
This documentary recording the "present reality" of people living isolated from civilization raises many questions for viewers. Indigenous rights protection and environmental issues are discussed differently around the world. How are these topics addressed in your country? We'd love to hear your perspective.
References
Reactions in Japan
I've been waiting for this sequel since the NHK Special from 10 years ago. The scene where they reunite with the Isolados family was so moving it defies description. I felt like I was witnessing the origins of humanity.
It broke my heart to learn that deforestation is pushing the Isolados to their limits. We must not forget that our convenient lifestyles come at the cost of their living space being taken away.
I'm in awe of director Taku Kokubun's dedication. This documentary is the fruit of 25 years of persistent Amazon coverage. This is something commercial broadcasters could never produce.
Honestly, I had mixed feelings about the news that Isolados were attacking villages. But from their perspective, it's an act of survival. Who pushed them to this point?
The word 'Nomore' (relatives) stuck with me. The story of continuing to search for companions separated 100 years ago feels like an important lesson for us living in the modern age.
I was impressed by guardian Romel facing this question with no right answer: protection or assimilation. Watching him struggle between his roots and his mission was truly a human drama.
It's no coincidence this aired during COP30. The Isolados are symbolic when thinking about environmental issues. Protecting their forest means protecting the Earth.
This made me think about what civilization really means. Is what we call 'progress' truly happiness for humanity? Watching the Isolados' way of life shook my values.
If contacted, they risk extinction from disease; if not, they're cornered by environmental destruction. I felt despair at how few options the Isolados have left.
Kaoru Kobayashi's narration was excellent. His calm yet deeply resonant delivery enhanced the documentary's weight beautifully.
I was shocked to learn about severe mercury contamination from Amazon gold mining. I had no idea such reality existed behind the gold products we use.
This may be critical, but I can't shake the question: isn't the film crew photographing the Isolados itself a form of 'contact'? I worried whether they're disturbing their peace.
I missed the 2016 broadcast, so I watched the rerun and new episode back-to-back. I was speechless at the weight of 10 years and how much has changed.
This program made me feel my NHK subscription fee is worth it. I hope they produce more programs with this kind of dedicated, long-term coverage.
I read the book 'Nomore' before watching the program. Understanding the historical background that couldn't be fully shown on screen multiplied the emotional impact. I recommend experiencing both together.
I watched with my children. Starting from the simple question 'Why aren't they wearing clothes?', we had a deep conversation about civilization. It's an educational program.
I'm truly impressed by NHK's documentary production capabilities. The quality rivals BBC and National Geographic. More people should know that Japanese media is producing international documentaries at this level.
As a Brazilian, I appreciate foreign media shining a respectful light on our Amazon and its indigenous peoples. With COP30 being held in Belém, I hope global attention on this issue increases.
As a Peruvian, the Mashco Piro (Isolados) issue is close to home. I think the government should act more aggressively to protect their land. Without stopping illegal logging and gold mining, they have no future.
Aboriginal rights have been a long-standing issue in Australia too. I was reminded that protecting uncontacted tribes and respecting their self-determination is a universal challenge. It makes me think about the difficulty of speaking for those without a voice.
Environmental awareness is high in Germany, but uncontacted tribes in the Amazon aren't widely reported. I hope this documentary is distributed in more languages. This is a reality the whole world should know about.
From an American perspective, we also have similar historical debts to indigenous peoples. The lesson that civilization's 'progress' isn't always good applies to every country.
In France, there's high interest in this topic from an anthropological perspective. The question of what 'civilization' means has been a theme since Lévi-Strauss's era. Their existence helps us relativize our worldview.
From the perspective of Ireland, a small island nation, the vastness of the Amazon is beyond imagination. But as part of the global consumer society, we must not forget that we share some responsibility.
As a Japanese-American, I'm grateful to be able to watch NHK programs in the US. I believe this kind of deep documentary resonates with people's hearts beyond language and cultural barriers.
Speaking as a local resident of the Amazon, the situation is more serious than reported. Illegal logging trucks pass daily, and gold miners pollute the rivers. Nothing will change without international pressure.
I heard about this program from Poland. I was deeply moved by the story of keeping a promise made 100 years ago. It reminds us of the importance of human bonds that are being lost in modern society.
This documentary is being discussed in Korea too. Indigenous rights protection is an important issue in Asia as well. It's wonderful that Japan's NHK is covering such international issues.
Reconciliation with indigenous peoples is progressing in Canada too. Protecting their land and culture isn't just a moral obligation—it's essential from an environmental perspective. Indigenous peoples have managed land sustainably for thousands of years.
Maori culture is respected in New Zealand, but challenges remain. Protecting uncontacted tribes is the ultimate form of cultural preservation. I want to pay respect to those taking on the contradictory mission of protecting without contact.
There are reports that Swiss banks are involved in illegal gold trading. We consumers in developed countries should recognize that our purchasing behavior affects Amazon indigenous peoples.