Japanology Plus: Season 1
Episodes
Bathhouses
Apr 3, 2014 · 28 min
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 sp
Ramen
Apr 10, 2014 · 28 min
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 To
Mt. Fuji
Apr 17, 2014 · 28 min
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
Shogi
Apr 24, 2014 · 28 min
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 date
Cherry Trees
May 1, 2014 · 28 min
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 s
Akihabara
May 8, 2014 · 28 min
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
Wagashi
May 15, 2014 · 28 min
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
Ninja
May 22, 2014 · 28 min
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 reg
Rice
May 29, 2014 · 28 min
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 w
Castles
Jun 5, 2014 · 28 min
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
Japanophiles: Elizabeth Suzuki
Jul 3, 2014 · 28 min
This time, we present an installment of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Elizabeth Suzuki, originally fr
Japanophiles: Everett Kennedy Brown
Jul 10, 2014 · 28 min
This time, we present another of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. The photographic artist Everett Kenned
Japanophiles: Carolin Eckhardt
Jul 17, 2014 · 28 min
This time, we present an installment of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Carolin Eckhardt is a young Ger
Karaoke Boxes
Aug 7, 2014 · 28 min
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 ca
Bento
Aug 14, 2014 · 28 min
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
Bamboo
Aug 21, 2014 · 28 min
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 abou
Taiko Drums
Sep 4, 2014 · 28 min
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 sum
Tsukiji Market
Sep 11, 2014 · 28 min
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
Festivals
Sep 18, 2014 · 28 min
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
Japanese Gardens
Sep 25, 2014 · 28 min
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 Buddh
Origami
Oct 2, 2014 · 28 min
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 ritual
Buddhist Statues
Oct 9, 2014 · 28 min
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 r
Yokai
Oct 16, 2014 · 28 min
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 fea
Shinkansen
Oct 23, 2014 · 28 min
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 carr
Lessons for Life
Nov 6, 2014 · 28 min
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 clas
Robots
Nov 13, 2014 · 28 min
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 al
Sports Days
Nov 20, 2014 · 28 min
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 physic
Bonsai
Dec 4, 2014 · 28 min
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
Sushi
Dec 11, 2014 · 28 min
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 origina
Geisha
Dec 18, 2014 · 28 min
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 pra