Episode guide

Japanology Plus: Season 4

35 episodes · first aired Jan 4, 2017

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1 Japanophiles: Carine Lafitte Jan 5, 2017 · 28m We meet a nakai, a waitress at a luxury Japanese restaurant. In a Japanophiles interview with Peter Barakan, Carine Lafitte from France talks about the challenges of her demanding…
2 Noh Theater Jan 26, 2017 · 28m Noh theater is said to be the world's oldest contemporary performing art. After emerging 650 years ago, it survived a time of national turbulence with the help of samurai warlords, and it…
3 Moving Services Feb 2, 2017 · 28m In Japan, where real estate is at a premium, houses can be very cramped inside, especially in major cities. Maneuvering large items of furniture along narrow corridors and stairs requires…
4 Okinawan Karate Feb 9, 2017 · 28m Karate is practiced by more than 60 million people around the world, and its roots are in Okinawa. Okinawan karate, the most traditional form, is known for the brutal power of its blows…
5 Sleep Feb 16, 2017 · 28m Japanese spend less time asleep each night than people in many other countries, a situation that may derive from a 24-hour, on-the-go culture, and a strong work ethic. Demand for quality…
6 Tokyo Rail Network Feb 23, 2017 · 28m Tokyo's highly efficient rail network is known for safe and punctual operation. Most trains run on schedule, almost to the second. What are the key factors contributing to its outstanding…
7 Denim Mar 2, 2017 · 28m Jeans are among the world's most popular clothes, and Japanese denim has a great reputation. Harnessing craft traditions, manual dexterity, and the latest technology, makers of Japanese…
8 Japanophiles: Randy Channell Soei Mar 9, 2017 · 28m The "Soei" in Randy Channell Soei is a name this Canadian was given to mark his ascent to mastery of the Way of Tea. He is one of very few foreigners qualified to teach every aspect of the…
9 Japanophiles: Zoe Vincent Mar 30, 2017 · 28m Zoe Vincent from the United Kingdom works for an organization that promotes tourism in Fukushima. She travels around the prefecture, seeking out traditional culture and events, then writes…
10 Buddhist Altars Apr 4, 2017 · 28m A Buddhist altar, or butsudan, is a feature of many homes in Japan. Family members kneel before them seeking guidance from the realm of enlightenment, and engaging with memories of lost…
11 Driving Schools Apr 12, 2017 · 28m In Japan, most people aiming to get a driver’s license go to a driving school. On closed courses complete with railway crossings and hills, driving schools helps students learn how to deal…
12 Curry Apr 19, 2017 · 28m Curry is one of Japan's favorite foods. A thick Japanese-style curry sauce is very different from the kinds typically associated with Indian cuisine. Japan's love affair with curry can be…
13 Cafes May 2, 2017 · 28m Coffee first reached Japan in the 17th century, but it wasn't until the 19th century that it started to catch on. Drinking coffee was one of many elements of Western culture eagerly…
14 Japanophiles: Yoram Ofer May 23, 2017 · 28m Yoram Ofer from Israel runs a bar in Kyoto that offers a chance to explore the world of nihonshu, or Japanese sake. He focuses on junmaishu, a form of sake that contains no added brewer's…
15 School Lunch Jun 6, 2017 · 28m The school lunch is a key part of a child's diet in Japan. Meals are nutritionally balanced and designed to nurture health. School lunches also play a role in education. Behind the scenes…
16 Capsule Toys Jun 20, 2017 · 28m Capsule toys, also known as gachapon, are small toys purchased from vending machines. Though the cost of these toys is extremely reasonable, their fine attention to detail and handmade…
17 Buses Jun 27, 2017 · 28m In Japan, around 60,000 buses run along designated routes to designated stops, and operate on a timetable. For commuting, shopping and getting around, 4.1 billion passengers a year use…
18 Traditional Music Jul 4, 2017 · 28m Modern Japanese music is influenced both instrumentally and stylistically by Western music, but the country has its own indigenous music, the history of which stretches back over a…
19 Traditional Music in Modern Life Jul 11, 2017 · 28m For centuries the art of playing traditional music on Japanese instruments was passed down through apprenticeships. But traditional music ended up isolated from other musical forms. Now…
20 Japanophiles: Nsenda Lukumwena Jul 18, 2017 · 28m Nsenda Lukumwena is an architect from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who has carved out a niche for himself in the highly competitive construction market in Japan. Dismissing…
21 Urban Renewal Aug 1, 2017 · 28m In 1872, when Japan’s first railway opened between Yokohama and Tokyo, the population of Tokyo was less than one million. Fast-forward 150-odd years, and it has increased to well over 13…
22 Fireworks Aug 15, 2017 · 28m Along with the hum of cicadas, the twinkling of wind chimes and the cracking of baseball bats, nothing quite defines Japanese summers like the bursting of fireworks. Literally thousands of…
23 Anthropomorphism Aug 22, 2017 · 28m In any Japanese city, you'll see countless signs and posters featuring anthropomorphic characters. This preference seems closely entwined with culture and the national character. This time…
24 2D Characters - Origins and Evolution Aug 29, 2017 · 28m In countless everyday settings, individuals, companies, administrative bodies and others in Japan use anthropomorphized 2D characters to enhance communication. Following a recent…
25 Children and Sports Sep 5, 2017 · 28m Swimming, soccer, gymnastics and more: Japanese children these days are increasingly enthusiastic about sports. Sports-focused kindergartens have become very popular, as have after-school…
26 Amusement Parks Sep 12, 2017 · 28m As in other countries around the world, the local amusement park is an essential part of childhood for many in Japan. But Japan’s local parks currently face multiple challenges, such as…
27 Japanophiles: Tyler Lynch Sep 26, 2017 · 28m This edition of "Japanophiles," the series within Japanology Plus that profiles foreign residents leading exceptional lives in Japan, centers around Tyler Lynch, an American who runs a…
28 Particle Physics Research Oct 3, 2017 · 28m Though the title of this edition of Japanology Plus might inspire a few double-takes, rest assured, you have not accidentally tuned into the wrong program: as it turns out, particle…
29 Shrine Duties Oct 17, 2017 · 28m Walk through any neighborhood in Japan, and before too long you'll come across a shrine devoted to Shinto, the native religion of the country. Many visitors to Japan are charmed by the…
30 Special Rescue Teams Oct 24, 2017 · 28m Japan is prone to an array of natural disasters: earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, and more. It's also home to some of the world's best equipped and best trained special rescue teams, which…
31 The Wonders of Air Travel Oct 31, 2017 · 28m At Japan's busiest airports, a flight may arrive or depart every two minutes or so. In spite of this, Japanese airlines are frequently ranked among the world's leading on-time flight…
32 Japanophiles: Fernando Lopez Nov 21, 2017 · 28m Fernando Lopez, originally from Guatemala, runs an okonomiyaki restaurant in Hiroshima. Made on a hot griddle, okonomiyaki from western Japan resembles a thin crepe loaded with cabbage…
33 Changing Perceptions of Cars Nov 28, 2017 · 28m For as much as we talk about Japanese food, music, movies and other cultural exports, Japan's greatest contribution to the world—at least in terms of pure volume—may be its cars. Japan…
34 The Way of Tea: Wellspring of Omotenashi (1) Dec 12, 2017 · 28m Tea ceremony, tea gathering, the way of tea, cha-no-yu, chado, sado...no matter what you call it, this elegant, centuries-old practice is often said to be the key to understanding the…
35 The Way of Tea: Wellspring of Omotenashi (2) Dec 19, 2017 · 28m In this special two-part edition of Japanology Plus, we look at how the tea ceremony is performed, its complex set of rules, and its ties to modern Japanese life, in which it serves as the…