Japanology Plus: Season 10
Season 10 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Japanology Plus Season 9.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 10 Progress Shield
Kitchens
Jan 12, 2023 · 28 min
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 o
Satsumaimo: Sweet Potatoes
Feb 9, 2023 · 28 min
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 shor
Dinosaurs
Mar 2, 2023 · 28 min
Japan, once thought to have no dinosaur fossils, is now a hotspot for dinosaur discovery. Kamuysaurus japonicus, found in Hokkaido Prefecture, overturned conventional wisdom. Dozen
Japanophiles: Kyle Holzhueter
Mar 23, 2023 · 28 min
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 disappeari
Camping
Apr 13, 2023 · 28 min
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
Male Aesthetics
Apr 27, 2023 · 28 min
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 growi
Konnyaku
May 11, 2023 · 28 min
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 c
Japanophiles: Isabelle Sasaki
May 25, 2023 · 28 min
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 fro
Ueno
Jun 8, 2023 · 28 min
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
Meteorological Data
Jun 22, 2023 · 28 min
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 throu
Amami Oshima: Paradise Found
Jul 6, 2023 · 28 min
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
Amami Oshima: Shaped by Adversity
Jul 13, 2023 · 28 min
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 sub
Japanophiles: Francesco Panto
Aug 3, 2023 · 28 min
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
Vacant Homes
Aug 17, 2023 · 28 min
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
Rokyoku: Musical Storytelling
Aug 31, 2023 · 28 min
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 prominen
Japanese Honeybees
Sep 14, 2023 · 28 min
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
Japanophiles: Martin Holman
Sep 28, 2023 · 28 min
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, w
Unused Fish
Oct 12, 2023 · 28 min
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 th
Garbage
Oct 26, 2023 · 28 min
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,
Firefighting
Nov 9, 2023 · 28 min
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
Japanophiles: Benjamin Flatt
Nov 23, 2023 · 28 min
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-bo
Izumo: Home of the Gods
Dec 7, 2023 · 28 min
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 t
Izumo: Land of the Supernatural
Dec 14, 2023 · 28 min
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 r