Japanology Plus: Season 8
Season 8 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 7.
- 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 8 Progress Shield
Moss
Jan 12, 2021 · 28 min
This time, our theme is moss. In some countries, it is regarded almost as a weed, but in Japan, it's cherished. Moss can be found in the gardens of temples and shrines, in forests
Libraries
Jan 19, 2021 · 28 min
Japan's libraries are cornerstones of their communities. Besides loaning out books, they promote local culture, support young people and offer a place to relax. This time, our them
Japanophiles: Sheila Cliffe
Jan 26, 2021 · 28 min
The kimono, Japan's national garment, is generally seen as traditional clothing -- something to wear on special occasions. But these days, modern and stylish kimono are making an i
Ukiyo-e
Feb 2, 2021 · 28 min
Ukiyo-e is a Japanese artform that emerged in the 17th century. Using woodblock prints, people and landscapes are brought to life with bold compositions and vivid colors. The image
Japanophiles: Richard Halberstadt
Mar 16, 2021 · 28 min
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake off the coast of northeast Japan caused a devastating tsunami that left around 18,000 people dead or unaccounted for. Ishinomaki, in Miy
Cleaning Tools
Apr 8, 2021 · 28 min
Japanese use a wide range of cleaning implements, from old-fashioned brooms to modern carpet rollers. There's always a dedicated tool for the job. Sometimes, those tools have a dee
Lacquerware
Apr 22, 2021 · 28 min
Lacquerware is made by coating objects with the sap of the lacquer tree. It's a traditional craft that dates back thousands of years. Lacquer offers incredible durability, as well
Suits
May 6, 2021 · 28 min
Japanese started wearing Western clothing around 150 years ago, and today, suits are standard business attire. Our main guest, fashion journalist Yamamoto Teruhiro, describes the h
Emergency Goods
May 13, 2021 · 28 min
The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami left around 19,000 people dead or unaccounted for. It renewed Japan's sensitivity to the threat of natural disasters, and in the 10 year
Japanophiles: Chad Mullane
May 27, 2021 · 28 min
In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Chad Mullane, a comedian from Perth, Australia. Chad talks about Japanese comedy, and explains how he fell in love with it. We see
Furoshiki: Wrapping Cloths
Jun 3, 2021 · 28 min
Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths. For hundreds of years, these square pieces of fabric have been used to protect, store and carry various objects. They often feat
Japan vs. Epidemics, Part 2: Modern History
Jun 17, 2021 · 28 min
Over the centuries, Japan has suffered from repeated outbreaks of diseases like smallpox, measles and cholera. Part 1 of "Japan vs. Epidemics" covered the history of epidemics up t
Tiny Houses
Jul 1, 2021 · 28 min
Tiny houses are homes that occupy around 50 square meters of land. They're appearing more and more in recent years, especially in crowded cities. Many of them feature unusual layou
Watches & Clocks
Jul 8, 2021 · 28 min
Japanese watches and clocks are respected around the world for their accuracy and durability. Many of them incorporate the latest technology. Our guest, Oda Ichiro, spent 26 years
Plastic Food Samples
Jul 15, 2021 · 28 min
Plastic food samples are astonishingly accurate replicas of real dishes. They can be found at the entrance to restaurants across Japan, helping potential customers to choose where
Japanophiles: Asa Ekstrom
Jul 29, 2021 · 28 min
In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Asa Ekstrom, a manga artist from Sweden. Her work takes a humorous look at her life in Japan, and the surprising discoveries she ma
Cats and Japan
Aug 5, 2021 · 28 min
Cats have recently become the most-owned pets in Japan, and their popularity continues to grow. This has led to feline celebrities, unusual products and apartments designed specifi
Personal Robots
Sep 2, 2021 · 28 min
It's common to find robots in factories, assembling products. But recently, Japan has been embracing personal robots: devices designed to aid conversation, provide companionship an
Scissors
Sep 16, 2021 · 28 min
After scissors arrived in Japan, they evolved in unique ways. Japanese artisans applied traditional sword-making techniques to the creation of a broad variety of highly specialized
Japanophiles: Marty Friedman
Sep 30, 2021 · 28 min
In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Marty Friedman, a legendary guitarist from the USA. As a member of a well-known heavy metal band, Friedman toured the world. But a
Luck
Oct 7, 2021 · 28 min
In Japan, a great number of places, objects and customs are considered to be auspicious. Examples include beckoning cats called "maneki neko," and a special meal eaten on New Year'
Tatami
Oct 28, 2021 · 28 min
Tatami mats are a quintessentially Japanese flooring material. They're made of rice straw, covered in woven soft rush. This gives them just the right amount of give, and a fresh na
Chests & Cabinets
Nov 11, 2021 · 28 min
Traditionally, wooden chests and cabinets are built and maintained by master artisans, using time-honored techniques and materials. Items are often passed down through multiple gen
Japanophiles: Nicholas Rennick
Dec 2, 2021 · 28 min
In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Nicholas Rennick, an Australian doctor working at a Tokyo hospital. He started in April 2020, at the very beginning of the pandemic
Bamboo
Dec 16, 2021 · 28 min
Bamboo is sturdy, supple and abundant. For thousands of years, it has been indispensable in Japanese crafts and construction. This versatile plant can also be eaten: bamboo shoots
Ainu: A National Museum of Ainu Culture
Dec 23, 2021 · 28 min
The Ainu are an indigenous people who live in and around northern Japan. Traditionally, they are hunter-gatherers who share a close relationship with the natural world. In the firs
Ainu: A New Generation
Dec 30, 2021 · 28 min
The Ainu are an indigenous people who live in Hokkaido Prefecture (northern Japan) and surrounding areas. Traditionally, they were hunter-gatherers who shared a close relationship