Japanology Plus: Season 12
Season 12 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 11.
- 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 12 Progress Shield
Onigiri
Jan 9, 2025 · 28 min
Onigiri are becoming a global phenomenon. Colorful new styles are generating a buzz on social media, and convenience stores continue to develop new products. We investigate the lat
Repair
Jan 23, 2025 · 28 min
As the need for circular economies grows, there's a new focus on repairing products. We look at how people in Japan maintain items using approaches ranging from traditional kintsug
Japanophiles: Johan Leutwiler
Feb 13, 2025 · 28 min
Johan Leutwiler, from Switzerland, is currently Japan's only foreign swordsmith. In a Japanophiles interview, he tells us about being drawn to the world of Japanese swords and swor
Octopuses
Feb 27, 2025 · 28 min
Octopuses are not only eaten in Japan but also depicted in works of art. They may be regarded as objects of worship or even kept as pets. We untangle Japan's long relationship with
Leather Shoes
Mar 13, 2025 · 28 min
Japan's bespoke leather shoes are admired around the world, and there is even a Japanese leader in the realm of shoeshining. We explore the skills and services in Japan's leather s
Torii
Apr 10, 2025 · 28 min
Found all over Japan, torii are gateways to Shinto shrines and the deities within. We meet people trying to rebuild torii after a huge earthquake and examine what torii mean to Jap
Mamachari
Apr 24, 2025 · 28 min
Mamachari bikes, which originated in Japan, are designed to meet the needs of all kinds of people. They even helped women enter the workforce. We discover what makes them so unique
Japanophiles: Stephen Turner
May 8, 2025 · 28 min
Stephen Turner, from the UK, loves Japanese trains so much that his passion became his job. We join him on a trip through Chiba Prefecture and explore the appeal of Japan's regiona
Family Restaurants
May 22, 2025 · 28 min
Family restaurants are uniquely Japanese establishments that are also popular with solo diners. We see how innovative services have helped them survive the ups and downs of the res
Natto
Jun 5, 2025 · 28 min
With its unique smell and stickiness, people either love or hate natto. But eating natto has been linked to longevity, and a substance in this powerful food could even help solve e
Stationery
Jun 19, 2025 · 28 min
Japanese stationery is famous for its quality, design, and functionality. We look at many unique items, including products for research labs, left-handed users, and even writing in
Tosa: The Life of John Manjiro
Jul 10, 2025 · 28 min
Once a poor fisher boy, John Manjiro became the first Japanese person to receive a formal education in the US and played a key role in Japan's modernization. Peter Barakan visits h
Tosa: Blessings and Perils of the Kuroshio Current
Jul 17, 2025 · 28 min
Peter Barakan visits the region of Tosa, famous for the mighty Kuroshio Current and bonito fishing. It is also the place where the high priest Kobo Daishi is said to have attained
Japanophiles: Johan Nordstrom
Jul 31, 2025 · 28 min
Johan Nordstrom, a film scholar from Sweden, specializes in early Japanese cinema. He tells us about movies from over a century ago and Japan's unique tradition of live narration f
Origami
Aug 14, 2025 · 28 min
Origami is the art of folding paper into a wide variety of shapes, from animals and flowers to highly complex designs. Lately, its principles have even been applied to space explor
Sake
Aug 28, 2025 · 28 min
Sake is enjoying a global boom, but in Japan, breweries are facing a crisis as consumption falls. We explore the future of sake through artisanal skills, technology, and a new gene
Offices
Sep 11, 2025 · 28 min
Japanese offices used to prioritize order and efficiency, but today they're becoming spaces that foster conversation, with cafe-like layouts and even saunas. We explore how the wor
Japanophiles: Ziaul Karim
Sep 25, 2025 · 28 min
Ziaul Karim, an agricultural scientist from Bangladesh, practices unique farming methods in Okayama to show how accessible agriculture can be. He works with locals to grow and use
Bookstores
Oct 9, 2025 · 28 min
The number of bookstores in Japan is decreasing, but both major chains and independent stores are finding creative ways to attract book lovers. We look at the next chapter for Japa
Convenience Stores
Oct 23, 2025 · 28 min
Japan's convenience stores stock more than just food. Some sell clothes or provide administrative services. Others even use avatars and robots alongside human employees. We look at
Sleep
Nov 6, 2025 · 28 min
Interest in sleep has been growing in Japan. From futuristic high-tech beds to advanced sleepwear, many new products are designed to improve sleep quality. We look at Japan's lates
Japanophiles: Astrid Klein & Mark Dytham
Nov 20, 2025 · 28 min
For over 35 years, Italian-born Astrid Klein and UK-born Mark Dytham have worked together as architects in Tokyo, designing not just buildings but also spaces for communication and
Hagi: The Life of Yoshida Shoin
Dec 11, 2025 · 28 min
The 19th-century educator Yoshida Shoin lived only 29 years, yet his teachings helped shape Japan's modernization. His words, published as books, remain popular today. We visit his
Hagi: Castle Town Forged by Magma
Dec 18, 2025 · 28 min
Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture is dotted with volcanoes. Their volcanic rock was used to shape the townscape, and the area's unique clay and soil fostered its pottery tradition and c