Today's Close-Up

Digging for Answers: The Growing Threat to Japan's Onsen (2022x30)

Air date: Dec 10, 2022

Hot springs are an integral part of Japanese culture. Since ancient times, people have sought out the soothing waters of onsen hot spring baths for their power to restore the body and mind alike. But in recent years this practice has come increasingly under threat, with rampant exploitation of underground resources causing water levels to fall and temperatures to drop. While businesses are turning to deep drilling technology, it takes more than a hundred years for rainwater to seep down deep enough to create new hot spring sources. We bring you the latest report and talk with an expert about how to prevent these finite supplies from drying up. Guest: Takizawa Hideo (Director, Hot Spring Research Center, Japan)