Japanology Plus: Season 7
Season 7 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 6.
- 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 7 Progress Shield
Osechi: New Year's Food
Jan 7, 2020 · 28 min
On New Year's Day, Japanese families gather to share a special meal called Osechi. It consists of multiple colorful dishes, often served in multi-tiered boxes. The custom has diver
Japanophiles: Thomas Ainsworth
Jan 28, 2020 · 28 min
In Japan, the craft beer boom is in full swing. One pub in Kyoto Prefecture takes a particularly innovative approach -- they use Japanese ingredients like tea, salt and citrus frui
Sunakku Bars
Feb 18, 2020 · 28 min
A "Sunakku" is a small bar with counter seating and a friendly host. There are thousands of them spread across the country, and many Japanese visit them regularly, to talk about th
Tohoku Nine Years On: Living with Ghosts
Mar 10, 2020 · 28 min
In March 2011, a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami devastated communities on the east coast of Tohoku, northeast Japan. We visit the region 9 years on, to learn how people coped
Tohoku Nine Years On: Voices of the Deceased
Mar 17, 2020 · 28 min
In March 2011, a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami devastated communities on the east coast of Tohoku, northeast Japan. We visit the region 9 years on, to learn how people coped
Japanophiles: Harold George Meij
Mar 24, 2020 · 28 min
In Japan, professional wrestling has gained popularity as an entertaining combination of entertainment and sport. In recent years, Japanese professional wrestling has even become p
Laundry Services
Apr 7, 2020 · 28 min
There are over 90,000 cleaning establishments in Japan, and a huge number of Japanese use them regularly. Innovative machinery makes the process cheap and efficient. Stubborn stain
Miso
Apr 21, 2020 · 28 min
Miso, a fermented soybean paste, is a bedrock of Japanese cuisine. For many Japanese, it offers a taste of home. It is made using koji mold, a fermentation starter that flourishes
Japanophiles: Johan Nilsson Bjoerk
Aug 4, 2020 · 28 min
Rakugo is a traditional form of storytelling that emerged in 17th century Japan. Using minimal props, a single performer creates amusing and sometimes moving scenes featuring multi
Japan vs. Epidemics
Aug 18, 2020 · 28 min
Over the centuries, Japan has suffered from repeated outbreaks of diseases like smallpox, measles and cholera. Where did the people of the past think these epidemics came from? And
Wasabi
Sep 1, 2020 · 28 min
Wasabi is a plant that grows natively in Japan's mountain valleys. It's used to make a condiment with a distinctive green color and an eye-watering impact. Most commonly served wit
Geisha: A Sunset Trade?
Sep 8, 2020 · 28 min
Geisha have existed for hundreds of years, but in modern Japan they are declining in number. It's a story that's repeated across many forms of traditional Japanese culture. This ti
Expert Craft Skills
Sep 15, 2020 · 28 min
Throughout Japanese history, expert craft skills requiring dexterity and judgment have enhanced everyday life. These skills are often applied by anonymous local artisans, who have
Japanophiles: Kim Seungbok
Sep 29, 2020 · 28 min
South Korean film, TV drama and music have been popular in Japan for some time, but more recently there's been a growing appreciation for Korean literature. One of the major contri
Aloha Shirts
Oct 6, 2020 · 28 min
Aloha shirts are popular symbols of Hawaii, worn by tourists and Hawaiians alike. A look back at their history reveals a Japanese connection -- they were often made by people of Ja
Japanophiles: Gyoei Saile
Oct 13, 2020 · 28 min
Kohfukuji, a World Heritage Site, is a prominent Buddhist temple in Nara, western Japan. One of its priests is Gyoei Saile, from Germany. In a Japanophiles interview, he tells Pete
Rice Snacks
Oct 20, 2020 · 28 min
Rice crackers and other rice-based snacks have been widely consumed in Japan for hundreds of years. Each region of the country has its own twist. Some places use seafood, while oth
Urban Workshops
Nov 3, 2020 · 28 min
A significant portion of Japan's manufacturing industry is handled by small factories known as "urban workshops," with less than 30 workers. Despite their small scale, a number of
Tokyo Rooftops
Nov 10, 2020 · 28 min
Tokyo is a crowded city. Its rooftops represent valuable space, and they're used in some very creative ways. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Tokyo rooftops. Our main gue
Tokyo Stories #1: Josh Grisdale
Nov 17, 2020 · 28 min
The city of Tokyo is normally crowded with tourists, but the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the city's sightseeing spots. In a series called Tokyo Stories, Peter Barakan meets T
Tokyo Stories #2: Mateusz Urbanowicz
Nov 24, 2020 · 28 min
The city of Tokyo is normally crowded with tourists at all times of the year, but the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed it. In a series called Tokyo Stories, Peter Barakan meets re
Japanophiles: Anna Bugaeva
Dec 1, 2020 · 28 min
The Ainu people are indigenous to Japan, and the Ainu community is now concentrated in Hokkaido Prefecture, the northernmost main island. The Ainu have long maintained a distinct c
Mushrooms
Dec 22, 2020 · 28 min
Japan is home to thousands of different mushroom species. Some can be found lining the supermarket shelves, but others serve as natural tourist attractions, and even a poisonous sp
Kamishibai: Paper Theater
Dec 29, 2020 · 28 min
Kamishibai, or paper theater, is a form of storytelling that uses large picture cards. It was wildly popular throughout Japan in the 1930's. Today, it's still enjoyed in kindergart