Cool Japan

Japanese people's daily lives are filled with Engi. With ceremonies for obi tying, name giving and 60th and 90th birthdays, Japanese people are surrounded by lucky objects from birth to death. They are always mindful of Engi, for example with tea with standing tea stalks and visiting spiritual sites. They eat a lot of New Year cuisine, draw fortune slips on each year's first visit to a temple or shrine and pray to the gods for success in romance each year. We investigate the mysteries of Japanese people and Engi from the perspective of foreigners.

Cool Japan celebrates the 400th time in the 14th year of broadcasting. The commemorative project is a "high school student special" limited to foreign students under the age of 18 who have come to live in Japan, such as parents' transfers and exchange students. How is your life in Japan? What is the difference between school life, club activities, love, and play from your home country? Is it possible to find Japanese cool in the children's society? Modern Japan emerges with the fresh sensibility and perspective of children.

From the perspective of foreigners, Japanese sandwiches are full of wonders. It is said that there can be no fruit sandwich or moe sandwich, but the cutlet sandwich is very popular. Explore the cool of Japanese sandwiches.

Historical plays have become rarer on terrestrial TV. In fact, they are very popular on satellite TV and specialized channels. Japanese people love historical plays. When the hero of a large-scale TV series is announced, related locations are enlivened and people get excited about revitalization. Are there any other countries that love historical plays as much as Japan? We investigate the cools of Japanese historical plays in Japanese people whose hearts are captivated by historical plays and their productions sites at the end of this year in which they were a hot topic.

In Japan, a guide book with a polite guide for everything, not limited to travel, is published. Why do Japanese people like guide books so much? Thoroughly discuss from the perspective of foreigners.

"Knotsu", which is also used for food, clothing, housing, martial arts, sumo, ceremonial occasions, etc., is truly a unique culture of Japan. Foreigners explore the coolness of Japan's "knots" such as Mizuhiki, obi-musubi, and firefighters' rope work.

The 4th installment of the very popular "There are Japanese people who are surprised by foreigners" series. " Japanese people tend to clean their seats!" I tend to apply silent pressure!" " It's easy to call attention!" And so on, we Japanese take it for granted, but from the perspective of foreigners, it's ridiculous and mysterious behaviors and habits. Thoroughly examine the "Japanese people" that such foreigners feel, and thoroughly discuss it in the studio. Mix cool and not cool, and unravel the mystery of why "Japanese people tend to do ○○".

The fourth series to rediscover the charm of Tokyo is "Kanda". This area full of downtown atmosphere is known as a student town, and there are specialty stores such as old books, musical instruments, and sports equipment. It is said that many repeaters who are looking for deep Japan also visit. Therefore, this time, we also conducted a questionnaire survey for foreigners who actually visited Kanda. " Announce the top 5 recommendations. What is the charm of Kanda that the Japanese did not notice?

In recent years, "uncle" has become popular among young people. Why is my uncle liked by young women now? Will this phenomenon be understood by foreigners? Explore the uncle's cool from the eyes of the world.

Foreigners who come to Japan are surprised by the many variety stores. Japanese people love to decorate their everyday lives. Bookends, tableware and cushions are all cute, of course. Masking tape, which was originally a construction material, has now become stationery for decorating various items. Also, Kazari metal fittings, which are indispensable for shrines and mikoshi, are filled with Japanese people's decorative ideas. How will foreigners view Japanese people who decorate everything in a cute way?

Japanese airports are ranked 4 in the top 15 in the "World Airport Ranking". The airport staff is also the best in the world in Japan. What is the secret of lost baggage zero for 25 years? Explore the cool of the world-class airport.

Recently, Japanese udon shops have expanded into Asia and Europe and the United States. It's so popular that there's a line. However, the charm of udon noodles known to foreigners is only a small part. Explore the charm of "Udon" in Japan.

I should have learned English in junior high school and high school, but why are Japanese people not good at English? Is Japan's efforts to improve English skills cool? Explore how Japanese English is seen by the world.

2019 was the year in which the name of the era changed from Heisei to Reiwa. What kinds of wishes do parents infuse the names of their children with? Differences with the world emerge one after another. The culture of Shumei in Japanese traditional performing arts and long-established shops, in which names are inherited, is full of strange things from the perspective of foreigners. 8 foreigners in the studio introduce cool Japanese names. Seals, people's names and the names of colors. We investigate the cools of Japanese names that surprise foreigners too.

Among the leisure spots in Japan, "Zoo" is always very popular. In fact, the number of zoos in Japan is by far the largest in the world in the number of land. Are Japanese zoos cool compared to the world?

Japan is one of the few countries with heavy snowfall in the world. It holds the top 3 spots in the annual snowfall ranking for cities with populations over 100,000 people. Regions nationally designated as having heavy snowfall covers about 50% of Japan. Many foreign tourists who visit during the winter come seeking this snow. Snow itself is becoming a tourist attraction with things such as experiencing blizzards in Tsugaru and snow shoveling tours in regions with heavy snowfall. We compare Japan's culture related to snow with the world's. We discover what's cool about Japan's snow culture.

Japanese fruits are attracting the world now. The secret of popularity is the "sweetness" by far. In the United States, strawberries are grown in the house and sold at several times the price of Japan. Russian tourists bring a mountain of souvenir strawberries on the plane. However, it is said that foreigners are strange to Japanese who do not eat fruit peels. Foreigners report on the backside of the popular "dried persimmon" in Europe and the strawberry development war that pursues sweetness and appearance. Will Japanese fruits be the taste of the next world?

Now, Japan is an unprecedented sneaker boom. The shoes with the highest ownership rate of Japanese people are 83. 3%. The number of people in possession is 6 on average. It is said to have 8 legs. In recent years, Japanese sneaker culture has attracted attention from the world. There were various factors unique to Japan behind the boom, such as practicality that is not just fashion, functionality that allows children to run fast, and high-class sneakers handmade by craftsmen one by one. Explore the cool of Japanese sneaker culture.

In recent years, the number of vegetarians has been growing around the world. Healthy meals in which vegetables are central are popular in the West, where lifestyle related diseases are becoming more serious. What's receiving attention amidst such circumstances is Buddhist cuisine. Buddhist cuisine exists in Asian countries such as China and Korea as well, but Japan's Buddhist cuisine is attracting attention coupled with the Japanese food boom and the popularity of tourism in Japan. There are casual Buddhist cuisine restaurants, and new styles for foods such as sweets and ramen are appearing one after another. We uncover the appeals of Japan's Buddhist cuisine from the perspective of foreigners.

Everything is small and functional. "Compact" can be said to be a Japanese family art. The tea room that has reached the limit of smallness in Sen no Rikyu is only 2 tatami mats or less. After that, he invented the Walkman ahead of the world and established a genre of light trucks that is unique overseas. And the compact soul of Japan, which is also highly praised by foreigners in compression bags for clothing today. So this time, foreigners are looking for a new cool with the theme of "Japanese compact" that is still attracting attention from the world.

A Japanese school with an athletic meet at the opening ceremony, a school trip to a cultural festival, and a lot of events throughout the year. Among them, autumn is the season when events are packed tightly. It's a normal school event for Japanese people, but in fact, there are few in Europe and the United States. Even after a long vacation, there are no events such as the opening ceremony, and the class will be held as if nothing happened from the first day. Therefore, this time, we will discuss "school events" that can be said to shape the national character, such as the order and cooperation of Japanese people, from the perspective of foreigners.

In the broadcast so far, "Why do you stop expressing love when you get married?" Why do you only complain when you get married?" " Why don't you kiss in public?" And so on, I have been fighting against the differences in the values of men's and women's relationships between overseas and Japan. We gathered 10 pairs of "international marriages or couples of Japanese x foreigners" in the studio, and there is a big discussion about differences in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors such as "love", "marriage" and "child rearing". Now that the relationship between men and women is also internationalized, is Japanese people's view of love and marriage cool?

Country life is a bit of a boom in Japan. Recently, the migration of young people has also increased. How does rural life in Japan look like from the perspective of foreigners? Explore the difference in the way of thinking about migration between the world and Japan.

Fermented foods are popular among young people right now. The size of the natto market has reached a record high, and the number of restaurants and cafes using fermented foods is quickly increasing. "Fermentation girls" who dearly love fermented foods for beauty and health have emerged. Japan has created a wide variety of fermented foods, from traditional seasonings that have many local flavors such as soy sauce, miso and fish sauce to over 3,000 kinds of pickles. Foreigners get excited over the smells that you need to get accustomed to, solid umami, and intense acidity. We investigate the fermentation culture of Japan.

"Why do you spend time with your lover?" " Why fried chicken?" And so on, Japanese people have thought it was common sense, but from the perspective of foreigners, it is a Christmas custom full of doubts. Is Christmas in Japan cool?

The first episode in our series on SDGs (sustainable development goals). Foreigners have repeatedly pointed out that Japanese people use too many plastic bottles, wrap snacks more than they need to, and have been half-hearted about environmental problems. So this time's theme is "Recycling." How will the world see Japan's recycling initiatives, such as middle and high school students working to reduce marine debris and a town sorting garbage into 27 different categories?

Japanese cuisine has taken the world by storm. What's especially becoming increasingly popular is chicken dishes. Both Karaage and yakitori made it in a ranking of the top 10 Japanese dishes that foreigners like. Unlike sushi and ramen, it seems like chicken is just grilled or deep fried, but they are very popular among foreigners. There are chicken dishes around the world, so what is it about Japanese chicken dishes that captivate foreigners? How are they different from chicken dishes overseas? There are secrets to the chicken dishes that even Japanese people don't know about ...

While various Japanese foods such as sushi and ramen have become popular in the world, Japanese food that the world is paying attention now is "set meal". Japan's major set meal chain has 110 stores in 8 countries around the world. In New York, it's always full, and if you don't make a reservation, you'll have to wait for a few hours. The secret of popularity is that it is cheap and has a good nutritional balance. It is said that for foreign countries where there are many dishes and course dishes, the healthy part of the set meal that can eat many dishes and is rich in vegetables is punted. Explore the charm hidden in Japanese set meals.

Rural areas are being revitalized and regaining their splendor. The reasons are "furusato" tax payments, people moving there and apartment complex revitalization projects. Such things are attracting the attention of young people and foreigners. Why do things related to revitalization become popular? In fact, the true goodness of Japan that finds value in old things is hidden there. We investigate differences between cultures through various examples of regional revitalization.

Japanese "characters" that increase attention at the same time as foreigners' interest in Japan increases. In the city, there are foreigners with T-shirts and tattoos with kanji and katakana. What do they think is cool about Japanese characters? What kind of feeling difference is there between Japanese people who stick to the beauty of handwritten characters and feel that the characters they write represent personality, and foreigners who feel individuality even if the characters are dirty? Now that the eyes of the world are on Japan, we will explore the charm of Japan's "characters" again.

The "otaku" born in Japan has evolved surprisingly in the past decade. Otaku, who were lovers of anime, games, manga, etc. that were once in the limelight, had the image of "different people" to the last. That's the era of the total otaku in Japan now. 60% of college students recognize themselves as otaku, and 80% of high school girls have a good impression of otaku. Now "Otaku" is a universal language. What on earth has changed in the past ten years? Explore the latest situation in the world of otaku.

Since ancient times, it has been used everywhere in Japan, and it is an indispensable existence for Japanese people in their daily lives. Japanese paper is excellent in quality and durability, and is attracting attention in the world, such as being used for restoration in overseas museums and libraries. In addition, it is said to be the best in the world in its variety and variety. Even at the Tokyo Olympics, various Japanese newspapers are seen by people around the world. How does Japanese paper compare with the world? Explore COOL from the difference in a single sheet of paper.

The most familiar restaurant for Japanese people is a Chinese restaurant with a lot of Showa mood that serves Chinese food arranged in Japanese style, commonly known as "Town Chinese". This is causing a big boom now. However, the town Chinese restaurant, which is said to have 47,000 stores nationwide, is decreasing year by year due to the aging of shopkeepers. " I have to go now," the number of fans who are in a hurry has also increased rapidly. The number of foreign fans is also starting to increase. A town Chinese that suddenly gets excited. See the origin of Japanese gourmet in that simple taste.

"Business trip COOLJAPAN" This time's stage is the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. Chiba Prefecture ranks second in the country in terms of the number of foreign tourist visitors. However, most of them pass by at Narita Airport and amusement park. Attractive to Japanese, how do Boso's sightseeing spots, gourmet, nature, life, etc. look in the eyes of foreigners? Together with foreigners living in Boso, we find a new charm of Boso that the Japanese did not notice.

Niigata, one of the most heavy snowfall areas in Japan, is rapidly increasing the number of foreign tourists visiting ski resorts in winter. In addition, this area is also attracting the world's attention as a state-of-the-art area of "Riyuki" that utilizes snow as various energy. This time, I went on a business trip to Niigata with the studio. Together with 89 foreign students studying at international universities, we will discover the cool culture of Japan that surprises the world with the theme of Japanese traditional "wisdom" and "riyuki" living in heavy snowfall areas. Business trip Cool Japan Special.

Yamanashi Prefecture is the 6th largest prefecture in the country that foreigners are interested in. However, 90% of the purpose is "to see Mt. Fuji." Therefore, the third installment of "Business Trip COOL JAPAN" is a special to discover the charm of Yamanashi in autumn. Foreigners who were fascinated by Yamanashi, not just Mt. Fuji, introduce the unexpected charm and COOL spots of Yamanashi. We will thoroughly discuss the charm of Yamanashi, such as gourmet, tradition, history, etc., which you want to convey to the world that you can understand only because you live.

The 4th installment of "Business Trip COOL JAPAN" is in Fukui Prefecture. Fukui Prefecture has the 46th largest number of foreign guests in the country, and it is one of the prefectures where foreigners do not come. On the other hand, it is also the happiest prefecture in Japan, which won the first place in the "Happiness Ranking" in 2016. In addition, it is also the best prefecture in Japan, such as the number of presidents and the number of hospitals. So, 8 foreigners living in the local area gathered again this time. I will bring the charm of Fukui that I want to convey to the world that I understand because I live there, and have a thorough discussion with Naofumi Kogami.

The fifth installment of "Business Trip Cool Japan" is in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Speaking of Fudo's gourmet in Yamaguchi, "Fugu". However, from foreigners, "Why do you eat poisonous fish?" And very unpopular. Japanese sightseeing spots are Akiyoshidai and Kintaikyo Bridge, but foreigners' perspectives are different. The "most beautiful place in Japan" selected as an overseas broadcasting station is Motonosumi Inari Shrine, which has a series of torii gates along the coast. So, this time, 8 foreigners living in Yamaguchi gathered. Explore the unexpected charm of Yamaguchi that even we Japanese did not notice.

The 6th installment of "Business Trip COOL JAPAN" is from Miyazaki Prefecture. In the past, it was the number one honeymoon destination, a standard professional baseball camp, but the honeymoon was taken overseas, the camp was taken away by Okinawa, and the foreign visit rate was sluggish, ranked 39th in the country. " I don't want to do this!" So, 8 foreigners living there gathered this time as well. Explore the unexpected charm of Miyazaki that even we Japanese did not notice, COOL spots that lead to the world, and thoroughly discuss with Naofumi Kogami.

COVID-19 News that Astounded the World

The 7th installment of "Business Trip COOL JAPAN" is in Nara Prefecture. The number of national treasures and important cultural properties is the highest in Japan, and Nara is a standard school trip along with Kyoto. The number of foreign tourists is also increasing year by year. However, it is said that about 80% of foreigners come to Nara Prefecture to see the deer and the Great Buddha. The average number of stays for foreigners and the money spent on their place of stay is the lowest level in the country. So, 8 foreigners living in the local area gathered again this time. Explore the unexpected charm of Nara that even Japanese people did not notice, and the cool spots that lead to the world, and thoroughly discuss it.

Fukushima Prefecture was significantly damaged from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The number of foreign tourists fell to under one third of the previous year. However, 6 years later the number of foreign tourist lodgers increased over fourfold, surpassing the numbers prior to the earthquake. This time, the cast goes on an outing to Fukushima Prefecture. What was it that restored a disaster-stricken area to a popular tourist destination? We search for new hints for Cool Japan to send out to the world.

The second part of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) series is "Let's protect the richness of the ocean." In Japan surrounded by the sea, we have received its blessings since ancient times and lived with the sea. What are the challenges and secrets that such Japanese people should work on to protect the richness of the sea? What are the efforts to protect the richness of Japan's sea, such as junior high and high school students who fight to reduce the "marine garbage" that is the cause of marine pollution from the root, and the development of environmentally friendly wave-dissipation blocks? I'm going to find the way for Japan to go.

15 years after the start of Cool Japan, many Japanese foods such as ramen, sushi, and set meals have entered the world, causing a big boom. So, what is the food culture of Japan that will take the next world? So, this time, from the Japanese food culture introduced in the program so far, 50 foreigners who are Cool Japan members said, "I want to take it back to my home country!" Vote for the food you think. Announce the top 10 cool Japanese foods.

One of the things that foreigners living in Japan are concerned about is the image that "Japanese people always smile". " "Say your opinion" is laughing, "If you fail something" is laughing, and it is said that it is unique to Japanese people to laugh while saying "no". A number of "smiles" expressed based on such Japanese culture. " We will rediscover Japan's "smile culture" that has put many emotions in laughter such as "amiable laughter", "smile", "bitter smile", "shy laughter" and "smaughing" from the perspective of foreigners.

Now, Japanese new music from the 70s to the 80s is very popular in the world under the name of "City Pop." Songs such as Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi have become popular all over the world. The comment section of videos and SNS is full of English comments. In addition, "Anison" spread all over the world with the popularity of anime. Why are foreigners fascinated by the theme songs of Japanese anime? We will delve into the charm of "Japanese songs" that change with the times and the evaluation also changes from the perspective of foreigners.

"A big gimon for foreigners!" to elucidate the incomprehensible behavior of foreigners held by Japanese people Series. This time, we will also conduct a questionnaire to Japanese people who know the lives of foreigners well and collect big questions for foreigners. " Why do you pose when you take a picture?" " Why don't you treat the hair on your arms?" " Why are the gestures exaggerated?" And so on, elucidate the gimon to foreigners in various ways. Highlight the differences between foreigners and Japanese, and rediscover Japanese culture and common sense.

In the 15 years of Cool Japan Broadcasting, it is a Japanese tradition to always surprise and impress foreigners. Techniques inherited from ancient times, the thought of being protected. We Japanese have rediscovered the good old culture that we tend to forget through the perspective of foreigners. This time, from the Japanese traditions introduced in the program so far, 50 foreigners of Cool Japan members voted for what they think, "This is a tradition that Japan should be proud of that is not in the world." Announce the top 10 cool Japanese traditions.

With the aging population, health consciousness, and even the Corona disaster, "medicine" is inseparable from our lives. In fact, Japan is the third largest country in the world to create new drugs. In addition, the development of pharmaceuticals and quasi-drugs that are closely related to daily life is also active. Now there are 58,000 drugstores nationwide, more than convenience stores. Is the medicine situation in Japan and the relationship between Japanese people and medicine cool compared to the world? Explore the cool of Japanese medicine compared to the circumstances of each country.

Very popular with tourists visiting Japan is the Kappa Bridge tool street with all kinds of kitchen utensils and the kitchen corner of a 100 yen shop. In specialty stores, foreigners look at slicers and peelers that can cut in an incredible shape. In the 100-yen shop, there are containers where you can cook rice in the microwave and peeling machines that do not scatter the skin, which is exactly a kitchenware heaven in Japan. How do Japanese kitchen utensils that are extremely convenient to foreigners look like?

Among the inventions created by the Japanese, what do foreigners really think is cool? Created the top 10 in the voting of foreigners living in Japan. Announced in a ranking format. 10 foreigners gathered in the studio and talked thoroughly about the difference in feeling with Japanese people. In the top 10, unexpected Japanese products and shocking inventions that even we Japanese did not know are ranked. We will discover a new COOL JAPAN that we are proud of in the world from such "Japan's invention".

The third part of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) series is "Let's protect the richness of the land." It is said that 13 million hectares of forest are lost on the earth every year, and 40,000 species of organisms are extinct every year. However, Japan is full of "wisdom to protect the land" left by our predecessors. The guardian forest in the city built over a hundred years, burning field agriculture that does not destroy the ecosystem, and people who protect endangered species, etc. We will explore ways to maintain the richness of the land while looking at Japan's efforts and the current situation overseas.

The restaurant industry is being hit hard by the prolonged Corona disaster. As a breakthrough, each store is working on it, and the demand is expanding "take-out" gourmet. Due to the Corona disaster, the demand for takeout has increased due to unmarried, late marriage, and the increase in living alone, and the menu and containers are also evolving. A shopping street that increases take-out menus, take-out containers that consider the taste and environment, ramen takeout, etc. Explore how Japanese takeout is different from overseas from a foreigner's point of view.

Currently, the number one market share made in Japan on pianos, wind instruments, guitars, etc. is the number one in the world. The secret of popularity is the uncompromising creation by serious craftsmen and the exploration of Japanese people who continue to improve. In one of the world's three major competitions, 5 out of 10 finalists chose made in Japan. Now, Japanese musical instruments are becoming the representative of the next generation of Japan. So this time, we will focus on Japanese musical instruments and explore how to deal with Japanese instruments.

Many of the Japanese culture that is attracting attention from the world today was born and nurtured in the Edo period. The basics of Japanese food registered as a World Cultural Heritage were also completed in the Edo period. It has gained a reputation all over the world for its exceptional expressiveness and technology. Cultural performing arts such as Ukiyo-e and Kabuki also blossomed in the Edo period and have a great influence on the present. What was unique and revolutionary about Edo culture? Dissection of Edo culture from the perspective of foreigners. Explore the roots and background of the unique cultural birth and find cool Japanese hints.

At the end of the year, the first thing that comes to mind as a dish that warms your body is "Oden". In the ranking that investigated the pot on the home table, Oden ranked first for 10 consecutive years. In addition, more than 80% of foreigners who have lived in Japan for more than 3 years say they like oden. The reason is that "it warms your body", "you can eat various ingredients", "it's delicious even if you reheat it up" and so on. Will the day come when national food with roots in miso dengaku born in the Muromachi period will fly to the world? Explore the charm of Oden.

What surprises foreigners when they come to Japan is that the cleanliness of the roads, the lack of garbage, and the plants and trees in the median are also taken care of. The fineness of highway management is also unique to Japan. The symbol is the traffic jam professional "congestion forecaster". In addition, Kumano Kodo is highly praised by foreigners, saying, "It is a miracle that the road more than a thousand years ago remains unchanged." Now, foreigners are beginning to notice the charm of the Japanese road more than the Japanese. Explore the cool of such a Japanese road.

The world was surprised! Nippon Video Awards. In the photos and videos introducing Japan posted on SNS, new Cool Japan that we Japanese did not notice are spreading to the world every day. Popular videos of laughter and shocks chosen by foreigners appear one after another. Where is it cool? Where is it weird? A big discussion with 56 foreigners in the studio. This time, popular videos are also ranked in 6 categories. Discover Cool Japan, which will be a hint of new inbound.

The annual New Year special. This time, I will introduce a topic that surprised foreigners from the Japanese news. We will conduct a questionnaire to foreigners who have seen the news reporting various cultures in Japan, and the top 25 will be announced in a ranking format. What you can see from there is the difference in the feeling between Japanese and foreigners. A thorough discussion with 30 foreigners living in Japan about the news that surprised people around the world. Find a new Japanese cool at the beginning of the Olympic year on the first New Year of Reiwa.