Japanology Plus: Season 3
Season 3 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 2.
- 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 3 Progress Shield
Japanophiles: Maud Archambault
Jan 7, 2016 · 28 min
This time, we present an installment of our special Japanophiles series, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Minyo is Japanese folk music, passed down
Silk
Jan 14, 2016 · 28 min
What gives Japanese kimonos their luxurious appeal? Pure silk, a natural fiber made from the cocoons of the silkworm. Strong and elastic, silk is used to make strings for the shami
Underground Tokyo
Jan 28, 2016 · 28 min
Hidden beneath Tokyo are underground spaces of many kinds: intricate webs of subways and roads, tunnels carrying utilities, and even shopping malls. This time on Japanology Plus, o
Earthquake Preparedness
Feb 11, 2016 · 28 min
From volcanic eruptions to torrential rain, Japan is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. Earthquakes, too, are common. To ensure people are ready to look after themse
Japanophiles: Jorge Cabeza Fernandez
Feb 25, 2016 · 28 min
This time, we present an installment of our special Japanophiles series, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. With economies in Asia growing, air trave
Japanophiles: Pico Iyer
Mar 3, 2016 · 28 min
This time, we present an installment of our special Japanophiles series, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Japan serves as the base for the essayist
Okinawan Dance
Mar 17, 2016 · 28 min
Okinawa Prefecture, the southern tip of Japan, was once home to the ancient independent kingdom of Ryukyu. Through centuries of trade with other countries, the islands of Okinawa d
Whisky
Apr 7, 2016 · 28 min
While Japan is halfway around the globe from the world's traditional whisky-making centers, in recent years premium Japanese whiskies have been winning top prizes in big competitio
Quest for Perfect Skin
Apr 14, 2016 · 28 min
Japanese women are among the world's most passionate about skin care. For centuries, elite and commoners alike have embraced the quest for perfect skin, with Japan's climate and be
Bladed Tools
Apr 21, 2016 · 28 min
In this edition of of Japanology Plus, host Peter Barakan pays a visit to the city of Sakai, which is part of Osaka Prefecture in Western Japan. Sakai has been known for bladesmith
Family Crests
May 5, 2016 · 28 min
Plants, all kinds of creatures and the beauty of nature are among the inspirations for Japanese family crests. Tens of thousands of different crests exist. Simple yet highly sophis
Breakfast
May 12, 2016 · 28 min
In Japan, a traditional breakfast consists of steamed rice with miso soup and other side dishes. But these days noodles, pancakes, bread and granola are among the many other popula
Footwear
May 19, 2016 · 28 min
Footwear has taken many different forms in many different cultures, but somehow Japan seems to have come up with more variety than most. Through the centuries, cleverly catering to
Running
Jun 2, 2016 · 28 min
Japan is a country of 10 million runners and some 2,000 open-entry running events, the most popular of which attract large crowds and live nationwide TV coverage. Japan loves not j
Emoji
Jun 16, 2016 · 28 min
Messages and e-mail are full of emoji, a means of communication that was invented in Japan. Emoji debuted in the 1990s as a way to add emotion to messages on a small screen, and pe
Ekiben
Jun 23, 2016 · 28 min
In Japan, no leisure trip by rail would be complete without an ekiben: a boxed meal sold at the station that is packed with local flavor. Ekiben are nearly as old as Japan's railwa
Bicycles
Jun 30, 2016 · 28 min
Japan's first bicycles were made by former gunsmiths around the 1870s. Mid-20th century innovations aimed at women gave rise to the "mama-chari," a type of bicycle for mothers with
Kimono
Jul 7, 2016 · 28 min
A garment that embodies Japanese tradition, the kimono fascinates people the world over. It took centuries for the kimono to reach the form familiar to us today, and at every stage
Kokeshi Dolls
Jul 28, 2016 · 28 min
The plain, unassuming wooden dolls called kokeshi are believed to have originated about 200 years ago in hot spring resorts in northeast Japan. A popular souvenir for children, the
Shinise: Long-Established Businesses
Aug 4, 2016 · 28 min
Business. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. And nowhere is that more true than in Tokyo’s uptown Shibuya neighborhood, with its high rents and discerning customers. For those who work in t
Japanophiles: Rezaul Karim Chowdhury
Aug 11, 2016 · 28 min
The latest edition of our periodical Japanophiles series focuses on a Bangladeshi who was drawn to a career in Japan by a bond that goes beyond such cosmic coincidences: Rezaul Kar
Toilets
Aug 18, 2016 · 28 min
Toilets in Japan date back 2,000 years. A modern one typically features a heated seat and electronic bidet. Recent trends include new toilets for the elderly and infirm, and for us
Bridges
Aug 25, 2016 · 28 min
Few countries in the world can boast as many bridges as Japan. Due to a mountainous terrain and many rivers, Japan has bridges of all shapes and sizes, and is a world leader in bri
A Nation of Singers
Sep 1, 2016 · 28 min
Enjoyed by Japanese of all ages, choral singing is a feature of school events, tour buses, baseball games and various other everyday situations. Group singing comes from a backgrou
Restoring Castles
Sep 8, 2016 · 28 min
Japan's castles are a legacy of the samurai era. To maintain their splendor, they sometimes require intricate repairs, such as moving a heavy keep, replacing thousands of roof tile
Volcanoes
Sep 29, 2016 · 28 min
Japan is a volcanic hotspot, with 7 percent of all the world's volcanoes. The archipelago actually contains 110 active volcanoes, and throughout history, Japan has been at the merc
School Club Activites
Oct 6, 2016 · 28 min
Secondary schools in Japan offer extracurricular pursuits where students join sports teams, or clubs reflecting a wide range of cultural interests. Here, they learn values like coo
Smells
Oct 13, 2016 · 28 min
Breath mints, sprays and countless other products that tackle body odors offer evidence of widespread concern about smells. Japan has certified professionals who investigate offens
Paper
Oct 20, 2016 · 28 min
No traditional Japanese home is complete without items that incorporate paper, including doors and sliding screens. Japanese papermaking technology continues to advance in the form
Japanophiles: Paul Lorimer
Nov 3, 2016 · 28 min
This time, we present an installment of our special Japanophiles series, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. The trademark alcoholic beverage of Okina
Katsuobushi
Dec 1, 2016 · 28 min
Katsuobushi: hard blocks of smoked skipjack tuna that are shaved to make flakes which add goodness to soup stock. A method of smoking skipjack was developed centuries ago, and the
Day Care for Kids
Dec 8, 2016 · 28 min
With more women in Japan entering the workforce, day care for small children is a hot topic. While big cities have too few day-care center, elsewhere many are closing down. This ti
Sweets and Snacks
Dec 15, 2016 · 28 min
From a rainbow of flavored chocolates to regional treats, Japanese sweets and snacks are tasty, and great to look at. Various kinds of snack foods became widely sold more than a ce
Hairdressing
Dec 22, 2016 · 28 min
One survey of foreign visitors to Japan revealed that 40% of women from other parts of Asia want to try a Japanese beauty parlor. This is one indication of the great appeal of Japa