Japanology Plus

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1. 1 Active Seniors 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 … Jan 4, 2024 28m
2. 2 Forestry Two-thirds of Japan is covered in forest, and wood has long been the building material of choice. But today, forests are in poor condition. We look at current efforts to revitaliz… Jan 25, 2024 28m
3. 3 Japanophiles: Matthew Headland Matthew Headland, a Canadian, works in marketing at a hand-hammered copperware workshop. In a Japanophiles interview, he shares his enthusiasm for the craft with Peter Barakan. Mar 7, 2024 28m
4. 4 20th Anniversary Special Part 1 It's a 20th anniversary special! Presenters and viewers join Peter Barakan to look at some highlights. Part one features musician and Japanology fan Todd Rundgren, sake tasting an… Mar 21, 2024 28m
5. 5 20th Anniversary Special Part 2 It's a 20th anniversary special! Presenters and viewers join Peter Barakan to look back at some highlights. Part two features fans from around the world discussing great moments f… Mar 28, 2024 28m
6. 6 Washing Machines After a slow start, Japanese washing machines have become some of the most advanced in the world. We look at their development and the latest innovations. Apr 11, 2024 28m
7. 7 New Roles for Vacant Homes Japan's many vacant homes are being used as investments, hotel rooms and opportunities for creative renovation. We discover ways to reimagine properties that were once regarded as… Apr 25, 2024 28m
8. 8 Japanophiles: Nicoleta Oprisan Nicoleta Oprisan from Romania is highly skilled at ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. In a Japanophiles interview, she speaks about ikebana's power to communicate with… May 9, 2024 28m
9. 9 Wakocha: Japanese Black Tea Wakocha, black tea grown and processed in Japan, is winning major international awards. To discover why, Peter Barakan speaks to tea farmers, picks tea leaves, and tastes differen… May 23, 2024 28m
10. 10 Plastic Models Roughly 90% of Japan's plastic models are made in Shizuoka, a city whose manufacturing roots date back to shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. We explore the latest developments for Japan's su… Jun 6, 2024 28m
11. 11 Food Tech Products Japanese food tech products such as soybean-based meat substitutes are made using new technology. Land-based aquaculture and 3D food printing are also in the spotlight. We look at… Jun 20, 2024 20m
12. 12 Kumano: The Practice of Shugendo Shugendo is a uniquely Japanese spiritual tradition known for its grueling ascetic practices. We explore its origins in the heavily forested mountains of Kumano, and learn about p… Jul 11, 2024 28m
13. 13 Kumano: Journey of a Maverick Scholar Scholar Minakata Kumagusu made contributions to biology, folklore and other fields. He laid the foundation for environmental conservation in Japan. We explore the environments tha… Jul 18, 2024 28m
14. 14 Japanophiles: Lekh Raj Juneja Lekh Raj Juneja, from India, leads Japan's largest manufacturer of rice snacks. In a Japanophiles interview, he talks about the international potential of Japan's rice processing … Aug 1, 2024 28m
15. 15 Eyeglasses One of the world's top three production centers for eyeglasses is Sabae, in Fukui Prefecture. We trace the history of Japanese glasses, from the earliest examples to cutting-edge … Aug 15, 2024 28m
16. 16 Service Areas About 900 service areas provide amenities to drivers on Japan's expressway toll roads, generating 530 billion yen in annual sales. We examine their evolution and links with local … Aug 29, 2024 28m
17. 17 Tanuki Japanese raccoon dogs, or tanuki, are globally rare but have increasingly been seen in Japan's cities since the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigate their long history in tradition a… Sep 12, 2024 28m
18. 18 Japanophiles: Stephanie Crohin French journalist and "sento ambassador" Stephanie Crohin promotes sento, or public bathhouses, on social media. She tells Peter Barakan about her love for the heartwarming world … Sep 26, 2024 28m
19. 19 Heavy Machinery The world loves Japan's heavy machinery. We explore the secrets of its popularity and learn about items ranging from small excavators to cranes that erect skyscrapers in cramped u… Oct 10, 2024 28m
20. 20 Graves and End-of-Life Planning End-of-life planning is spreading in Japan, with many people now thinking hard about what to do with their cremated remains. We learn about diverse graves, including options such … Oct 24, 2024 28m
21. 21 Under Elevated Train Tracks The spaces under Japan's elevated train tracks are now being used not just for pubs and restaurants but in many new ways, in various urban settings. We explore the economic and co… Nov 7, 2024 28m
22. 22 Japanophiles: Adam Smith Adam Smith is a potter from England who follows a self-sufficient lifestyle in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture. He creates rich natural colors by using handmade glazes made fro… Nov 21, 2024 28m
23. 23 Uesugi Yozan: An Economic Miracle Admired by John F. Kennedy, Uesugi Yozan was a feudal lord who took over the Yonezawa Domain at the age of 15. He enacted financial reforms that led the destitute domain to a mira… Dec 12, 2024 28m
24. 24 Uesugi Yozan: All for His People A feudal lord admired by John F. Kennedy, Uesugi Yozan prioritized the well-being of his people. This time, in part two, we look at how his policies guided his domain along the pa… Dec 19, 2024 28m

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