Japanology Plus

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  • : 332
  • : 5
  • NHK
  • 11
  • Documentary

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5
5x1
Face Masks
Episode overview
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, people all over the world have become accustomed to wearing masks. But in Japan, a custom of mask-wearing dates back hundreds of years. Today, innovations .. show full overview
5x2
Washi: Japanese Paper
Episode overview
Japanese paper, known as washi, is attractively textured and extremely durable. For centuries, it has been used in many aspects of Japanese life and culture. Our guest, Akutsu Tomohiro, .. show full overview
5x3
Name Stamps and Seals
Episode overview
For hundreds of years, Japanese have used name stamps, known as Hanko, to prove their identity. People use stamps in everyday situations, such as receiving a parcel, and in formal .. show full overview
5x4
Showa Nostalgia
Episode overview
The "Showa era" was the period of Japanese history between 1926 and 1989. The 60s, 70s and 80s are fondly remembered in Japan as a time when many were feeling the positive effects of a .. show full overview
5x5
Japanophiles: Claudio Feliciani
Episode overview
Claudio Feliciani is a Swiss-Italian scientist whose main interest is the movement of crowds. He worked alongside 3 Japanese scientists on a study that examined why people bump into each .. show full overview
5x6
Keitora: Tiny Trucks
Episode overview
40% of the motor vehicles in Japan are ultra-compact "kei" cars. These light vehicles are maneuverable, practical and cost-efficient. Tiny "kei" pickup trucks, known as "keitora," are .. show full overview
5x7
Vinyl Records
Episode overview
In Japan, vinyl records have made a comeback. Sales in 2021 were 10 times higher than they were in 2010. Japan's second-hand records are well-regarded all over the world because they're .. show full overview
5x8
Okinawa: The Ryukyu Kingdom
Episode overview
Okinawa Prefecture is a group of subtropical islands in the far south of Japan. It was previously a prosperous maritime trading state called the Ryukyu Kingdom. In the first of 2 .. show full overview
5x9
Okinawa: The Reconstruction of Shuri Castle
Episode overview
Okinawa Prefecture is a group of subtropical islands in the far south of Japan. It was previously a prosperous maritime trading state called the Ryukyu Kingdom. In the second of 2 .. show full overview
5x10
Frozen Food
Episode overview
In Japan, frozen food is an essential part of many people's lives. Companies are constantly developing new techniques that make products tastier, longer lasting and more convenient. Our .. show full overview
5x11
Japanophiles: Gregory Khezrnejat
Episode overview
Gregory Khezrnejat is an author and university associate professor from the United States. In 2021, his Japanese-language novel Kamogawa Runner won the second annual Kyoto Literature .. show full overview
5x12
Goldfish
Episode overview
Goldfish were introduced to Japan in the 16th century, and since then, they have become widely admired. Many people keep them as pets, and they are a common motif on everyday objects. .. show full overview
5x13
Welfare Goods
Episode overview
The average age of the Japanese population is rising quickly. To offer care that matches the diverse needs of Japan's many elderly people, Japan produces a wide range of welfare goods. .. show full overview
5x14
Water-related Disasters
Episode overview
Japan suffers from frequent water-related natural disasters, such as flooding, landslides and storm surges. Throughout history, methods to mitigate their effects have been devised. Our .. show full overview
5x15
Japanophiles: Andrew Dewar
Episode overview
Andrew Dewar, originally from Toronto, Canada, is a designer of paper airplanes. His interest was sparked at the age of ten, when he encountered a sleek, unfamiliar paper-airplane .. show full overview
5x16
The Moon
Episode overview
The moon has been cherished and admired throughout Japanese history. People have long held moon-viewing events, and expressed gratitude for the moon's role in successful harvests. Our .. show full overview
5x17
Cardboard
Episode overview
Japan is one of the world's top consumers of cardboard. The cardboard beds used during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games captured global attention. That was just one example of .. show full overview
5x18
The Samurai of the Sea: Pirates or Protectors?
Episode overview
Around 500 years ago, sea traffic in the Seto Inland Sea was monitored and controlled by a group called the "Murakami Kaizoku." The word "kaizoku" translates to "pirates," but these .. show full overview
5x19
The Samurai of the Sea: The Murakami Legacy
Episode overview
Around 500 years ago, sea traffic in the Seto Inland Sea was monitored and controlled by a group called the "Murakami Kaizoku." The word "kaizoku" translates to "pirates," but these .. show full overview
5x20
Japanophiles: Colleen Schmuckal
Episode overview
Hanawa-bayashi is the name both of a parade of floats in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, and of the traditional music that is performed all night at the festival. These days, the performers .. show full overview
5x21
Kitchens
Episode overview
In centuries past, cooking in a Japanese kitchen involved moving between a dirt floor and a raised area with wooden floorboards. Modern kitchens, meanwhile, incorporate all sorts of .. show full overview
5x22
Satsumaimo: Sweet Potatoes
Episode overview
Sweet potatoes are widely grown and enjoyed in Japan. They're baked, fried, served in stews and used to make desserts. Throughout history, they have offered a solution to food shortages. .. show full overview
5x23
Dinosaurs
Episode overview
Japan, once thought to have no dinosaur fossils, is now a hotspot for dinosaur discovery. Kamuysaurus japonicus, found in Hokkaido Prefecture, overturned conventional wisdom. Dozens of .. show full overview
5x24
Japanophiles: Kyle Holzhueter
Episode overview
In the mountains of Okayama Prefecture, Kamimomi is a community whose features include beautiful terraced rice fields. But with fewer than 90 residents, it is at risk of disappearing. .. show full overview
5x25
Camping
Episode overview
In Japan, interest in camping is booming. Popular choices these days include women-only camping and solo camping. Some prefer glamping, where you don't have to set up your own tent. .. show full overview
5x26
Male Aesthetics
Episode overview
In Japan, economic conditions may be challenging, but male cosmetics are selling increasingly well. Social media and the normalization of remote working have contributed to a growing .. show full overview
5x27
Konnyaku
Episode overview
Konnyaku is an important element of Japanese cuisine. It has long been known as a high-fiber, diet-friendly food, and in recent years it's been shown to offer benefits for health .. show full overview
5x28
Japanophiles: Isabelle Sasaki
Episode overview
The Japanophile series looks at Japan through the eyes of long-term residents who were born in another part of the world. This time we meet Isabelle Sasaki, a karate instructor from .. show full overview
5x29
Ueno
Episode overview
Ueno, in Tokyo, is visited by 25 million tourists each year. It is home to world-class museums and educational facilities, bustling street markets, important shrines and temples, a zoo, .. show full overview
5x30
Meteorological Data
Episode overview
In Japan, businesses are linking meteorological data and sales figures in order to predict consumer demand. This is helping to reduce waste and lower carbon dioxide emissions through .. show full overview
5x31
Amami Oshima: Paradise Found
Episode overview
We explore Amami Oshima, a subtropical paradise, through the stunning art of Tanaka Isson. Sometimes referred to as "the Japanese Gauguin," Isson found new inspiration after moving to .. show full overview
5x32
Amami Oshima: Shaped by Adversity
Episode overview
Life in Amami Oshima was once so tough that the islanders devised a way to make a poisonous plant edible. Harsh circumstances nurtured their resilience and resourcefulness on a .. show full overview
5x33
Japanophiles: Francesco Panto
Episode overview
An Italian psychiatrist who uses an original "anime therapy" approach is the guest in this episode of Japanophiles, an occasional series in which we look at Japan through the eyes of .. show full overview
5x34
Vacant Homes
Episode overview
In Japan, one in every seven homes is empty. These 8.5 million vacant properties may increase the risk of fire and burglary, or negatively impact local real estate prices. But new ways .. show full overview
5x35
Rokyoku: Musical Storytelling
Episode overview
Sometimes described as "solo opera," Rokyoku was once Japan's most popular form of entertainment, with top performers among the richest people in the land. Rokyoku rose to prominence in .. show full overview
5x36
Japanese Honeybees
Episode overview
Japanese honeybees are wild, difficult to farm, and produce less honey than the Western honeybees used for most commercial honey production. But the multifloral honey they produce has a .. show full overview
5x37
Japanophiles: Martin Holman
Episode overview
In ningyo joruri, three people work together to make beautifully crafted puppets seem amazingly lifelike. US puppeteer Martin Holman is a devotee of this Japanese performing art, which .. show full overview
5x38
Unused Fish
Episode overview
Luna lionfish and black rabbitfish ... these are examples of "unused fish" that tend to be discarded. Why? They're unfamiliar to consumers and often difficult to process. But as the .. show full overview
5x39
Garbage
Episode overview
Japan was arguably one of the cleanest places in the world in centuries past. But today, garbage is a major issue. In other countries, rubbish may be sent straight to the landfill, but .. show full overview
5x40
Firefighting
Episode overview
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and residential fires are posing new challenges. Japan is responding to this evolving reality by developing new firefighting technologies, such as .. show full overview
5x41
Japanophiles: Benjamin Flatt
Episode overview
Fermented foods are a longstanding staple of Noto cuisine. This region in Ishikawa Prefecture has a local specialty: ishiri, a fermented fish sauce. Benjamin Flatt, an Australia-born .. show full overview
5x42
Izumo: Home of the Gods
Episode overview
Each year, Japan's deities are said to gather in Izumo in western Japan. We visit Izumo Taisha, a shrine with a millennium of history, and explore a land with deep connections to the distant past.
5x43
Izumo: Land of the Supernatural
Episode overview
In the late 19th century, writer Lafcadio Hearn (Japanese name: Koizumi Yakumo) helped introduce Japan to the wider world. We visit the Izumo area to learn about the supernatural realm that he loved.
5x44
Active Seniors
Episode overview
While Japan's population ages, many "active seniors" energetically participate in work and hobbies. An 88-year-old programmer and 104-year-old timepiece repairer show the secrets of senior success.

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