Japanology Plus

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  • : 330
  • : 5
  • NHK
  • 11
  • Documentary

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1x1
Bathhouses
Episode overview
Japanese public bathhouses, also called sento. From the outside, some of them look like Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples. Inside, they have many features that help to create a space .. show full overview
1x2
Ramen
Episode overview
Ramen is one of Japan's favorite foods. Broth, noodles and toppings are the 3 elements, but within that basic framework there is almost endless variation. An annual gathering in .. show full overview
1x3
Mt. Fuji
Episode overview
Mt. Fuji is Japan's tallest peak. Its beauty changes from season to season, from day to day. Frequently featured in ukiyo-e woodblock prints and other artworks, Mt. Fuji is also a place .. show full overview
1x4
Shogi
Episode overview
Maneuver your pieces to capture the opponent's king - that's the essence of shogi, Japan's most popular board game. Descended from the same ancient Indian game as chess, shogi dates back .. show full overview
1x5
Cherry Trees
Episode overview
Springtime in Japan means cherry trees in bloom. Cherry blossoms flower gloriously, but briefly, then their petals fall like confetti on the spring breeze. This yearly occurrence strikes .. show full overview
1x6
Akihabara
Episode overview
Akihabara, with its mix of gadgets and geekdom, is a one-of-a-kind experience. Shops selling everything electronic from appliances to cutting-edge robots crowd its streets. Japan's .. show full overview
1x7
Wagashi
Episode overview
Wagashi, Japan's traditional sweets. Each colorful, exquisite morsel contains a clear sense of the season - wagashi are an essential part of various annual events. This time, we'll .. show full overview
1x8
Ninja
Episode overview
Under cover of darkness, moving by stealth, ninja used superb physical skill and special equipment to infiltrate and disrupt their enemies. Ninja appeared during Japan's age of regional .. show full overview
1x9
Rice
Episode overview
From sushi to sake, rice is an absolutely essential part of Japanese cuisine. Appliance makers offer state-of-the-art rice cookers with elaborate functions, while a "rice-cooking wizard" .. show full overview
1x10
Castles
Episode overview
Japan's castles are masterworks of wood and stone. They bristled with defences and functioned as symbols of authority. Today they are cherished local landmarks and popular tourist .. show full overview
1x14
Karaoke Boxes
Episode overview
Microphone in hand, tens of millions of people in Japan belt out songs in private party rooms known as karaoke boxes. These intimate spaces are great places for friends to build .. show full overview
1x15
Bento
Episode overview
Bento are portable boxes of food, typically composed of rice, protein-rich main dishes, and vegetables on the side. They've evolved from a purely practical means of sustenance into a .. show full overview
1x16
Bamboo
Episode overview
Through the ages, bamboo has been profoundly important to Japan's industry, culture and everyday life. But why does bamboo grow so quick, and when does it flower? A great deal about .. show full overview
1x17
Taiko Drums
Episode overview
Japan's taiko drums - made in many shapes and sizes, played at various occasions - are an ancient heritage. Originally taiko were an integral part of festivals and rituals, used to .. show full overview
1x18
Tsukiji Market
Episode overview
Tokyo's Tsukiji Market is the world's largest fish market - hundreds of kinds of seafood from around the world are sold there. 40,000 people work at Tsukiji each day, and hordes of .. show full overview
1x19
Festivals
Episode overview
Festivals are held in every region of Japan throughout the year. The oldest date back well over a millennium, and typically feature prayers for good harvests or peace and stability. .. show full overview
1x20
Japanese Gardens
Episode overview
This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Japanese gardens, compact evocations of nature's majesty. Japan has many garden styles: from tea gardens, to the dry gardens of Zen Buddhism, .. show full overview
1x21
Origami
Episode overview
Origami, the traditional Japanese art of creating objects by folding paper. It's a classic pastime that everyone in Japan has done at some point, and with roots in religious rituals and .. show full overview
1x22
Buddhist Statues
Episode overview
Japanese Buddhist statues come in countless shapes and forms, and they are not just objects of prayer but also meticulously crafted works of art in their own right. When Buddhism .. show full overview
1x23
Yokai
Episode overview
Yokai: the collective name for all sorts of bizarre creatures and supernatural phenomena in Japanese folklore. They have a very long history in Japan, and these days they often .. show full overview
1x24
Shinkansen
Episode overview
The Shinkansen is Japan's bullet train system. Since it debuted 50 years ago as the world's fastest train service, its speed, safety and on-time performance have enabled it to carry more .. show full overview
1x25
Lessons for Life
Episode overview
Whether it's learning about a traditional custom, or a newly popular sport, people in Japan love to take lessons and develop a skill. It's estimated that there are 86,000 such classes .. show full overview
1x26
Robots
Episode overview
Japan is a robotics superpower. There are approximately 300,000 industrial robots at work in Japan - that's more than any other country, and a quarter of the world total. Japan is also .. show full overview
1x27
Sports Days
Episode overview
Sports days are all-day athletic meets held annually at schools in Japan - pretty much every Japanese person has taken part in one. Students compete in all sorts of team-based .. show full overview
1x28
Bonsai
Episode overview
With just one plant in one pot, you can create your own personal vision of nature. This is bonsai. Although in Japan it's often regarded as a hobby for old men, bonsai's popularity is .. show full overview
1x29
Sushi
Episode overview
Sushi is basically vinegared rice topped with something else - usually seafood. Simple ingredients, but proper preparation demands the delicate skill of a trained chef. Sushi .. show full overview
1x30
Geisha
Episode overview
A private banquet in the company of geisha is considered the ultimate in elegant hospitality. A common misconception is that geisha are courtesans - in reality, they are skilled .. show full overview
1x34
The Seikan Tunnel
Episode overview
The Seikan Tunnel, the world's longest undersea tunnel, connects the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. Making it took 24 years, and the enormously challenging work claimed many .. show full overview
1x35
Snow Country
Episode overview
The "snow country" that covers nearly half of Japan gets huge amounts of snow every year. Local people have devised various practical ways of coping with harsh winters, and in recent .. show full overview
1x36
Comedy
Episode overview
Japanese comedy has always been different from Western comedy, with its own approach to getting laughs. Japan has a stunning diversity of humorous entertainment - stand-up, sketch .. show full overview
1x37
Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway
Episode overview
The Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway is the capital city's most important road system. Begun 50 years ago, with a 4.5-kilometer stretch built for the 1964 Olympics, it is today a .. show full overview
1x38
A Season of Change
Episode overview
Cherry blossom season in Japan is also a season of change. In late March, graduations take place all across the country. Early in April, students and workers attend entrance .. show full overview
1x39
Waste and Recycling
Episode overview
To many foreign visitors, Japan's streets seem amazingly free of litter. Making the most of what's available is traditionally woven into the culture of this resource-poor island nation. .. show full overview
1x40
Period Dramas
Episode overview
Plays, movies and TV dramas that depict Japan as it was in the eras up to the samurai times are called "jidaigeki", literally "period dramas". The original period dramas were kabuki .. show full overview
1x41
Weight Loss Industry
Episode overview
Japan has the lowest obesity rate in the industrialized world, and yet, from schoolgirls to businessmen, it is a country where almost everyone seems to be on a diet. Why is weight loss .. show full overview
1x42
Dams
Episode overview
Giant man-made structures dominating steep canyons, dams are a common feature of Japan's mountainous landscape. Dams provide water, prevent floods and generate hydroelectric power. .. show full overview
1x43
Izakaya
Episode overview
Japan's cherished homegrown pubs, izakaya, offer refreshing drinks, comfort food made with care and a lively, fun atmosphere. Most izakaya fall into two general categories: old-fashioned .. show full overview
1x44
Craft Beer
Episode overview
For decades, the big breweries dominated Japan's beer market. But in the last few years, so-called "craft beers" from small producers have been in the limelight. Now Japan's craft .. show full overview
1x45
Fermented Foods
Episode overview
Fermented foods are a staple of the Japanese diet, and they come in countless forms: soy sauce, miso, vinegar, pickles, natto and more. Because they keep well and are high in nutrients, .. show full overview
1x46
Umbrellas
Episode overview
Japan leads the world in sales of umbrellas, with 140 million purchased each year. In rainy Japan, umbrellas are a must, and on sunny days, many people carry parasols to shield their .. show full overview
1x47
Job Hunting
Episode overview
In the business districts of Japan, a major battle plays out each year: the job hunt. Students spend their last year of university working to land a full-time job with benefits. Although .. show full overview
1x49
The English Conversation Business
Episode overview
Despite years spent studying the language at school, many Japanese feel inept at English. Perhaps that's why Japan's English conversation business rakes in hundreds of billions of yen .. show full overview
1x50
English at School
Episode overview
Students in Japan receive years of instruction in English, usually starting in elementary school, but how best to teach the language is a question that has never been conclusively .. show full overview
1x51
Shrine & Temple Carpenters
Episode overview
Japan boasts many shrines and temples built using sophisticated techniques that have been passed down through the centuries. This time, we feature shrine and temple carpenters, the .. show full overview
1x52
Bunraku
Episode overview
Bunraku is a traditional Japanese performing art dating back more than 4 centuries. It combines a stylized narration and music with a cast of puppets so expressive that you can almost .. show full overview
1x53
Kids' Summer Holidays
Episode overview
Every year children in Japan eagerly look forward to their summer vacation, which generally runs from late July to late August. How do Japanese kids spend the hottest part of the year? .. show full overview
1x54
Swimming
Episode overview
From young children to seniors, Japanese people love to swim. In samurai times, swimming gave warriors an edge in battle, and their techniques have been passed down through the centuries.
1x55
Haunted Houses
Episode overview
It's Japan's timeless summer thrill...haunted houses! There are dozens of haunted-house attractions around Japan, many of them at theme parks. These creepy experiences are popular with .. show full overview
1x56
Onsen
Episode overview
Japan has a lot of active volcanoes, which means it also has a lot of hot springs. Known in Japan as onsen, these natural baths have brought physical and spiritual refreshment for .. show full overview
1x58
Cameras
Episode overview
From compact point-and-shoot digital cameras to high-end SLRs, and those built into smartphones, cameras are a part of everyday life in Japan. Durability, affordability, and advanced .. show full overview
1x59
Wrapping and Packaging
Episode overview
From the nifty wrapping of convenience store rice balls to intricate cardboard packing, the Japanese have a knack for cleverly packaging just about anything. Both packaging and .. show full overview
1x60
Tokyo Housing
Episode overview
From detached homes to tower blocks, from micro-houses on tiny lots to large dormitories, a vast variety of housing is jammed into Tokyo. Many homes feature ingenious use of space, .. show full overview
1x62
Kombu
Episode overview
Scientists think there are around 20,000 species of seaweed. They include many varieties of kombu, a type of edible kelp. Kombu has been harvested and eaten in Japan since ancient times. .. show full overview
1x63
Hotels and Inns
Episode overview
One important part of any trip is choosing a place to stay. And if you come to Japan, you have a wide variety of options, from traditional Japanese inns called ryokan to capsule hotels .. show full overview
1x64
Tidying Up
Episode overview
Since ancient times in Japan, cleanliness has been seen as a moral virtue. It's part of living life well. And now the world is embracing a Japanese approach to keeping things neat and .. show full overview
1x65
Mt. Takao
Episode overview
Mt. Takao, a peak that's visited by around 2.7 million people per year, is less than an hour by train from central Tokyo. This lushly wooded paradise has been regarded since ancient .. show full overview
1x67
Silk
Episode overview
What gives Japanese kimonos their luxurious appeal? Pure silk, a natural fiber made from the cocoons of the silkworm. Strong and elastic, silk is used to make strings for the shamisen, .. show full overview
1x68
Underground Tokyo
Episode overview
Hidden beneath Tokyo are underground spaces of many kinds: intricate webs of subways and roads, tunnels carrying utilities, and even shopping malls. This time on Japanology Plus, our .. show full overview
1x69
Earthquake Preparedness
Episode overview
From volcanic eruptions to torrential rain, Japan is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. Earthquakes, too, are common. To ensure people are ready to look after .. show full overview
1x72
Okinawan Dance
Episode overview
Okinawa Prefecture, the southern tip of Japan, was once home to the ancient independent kingdom of Ryukyu. Through centuries of trade with other countries, the islands of Okinawa .. show full overview

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