April 3, 2014 • 28m
Japanese public bathhouses, also called sento. From the outside, some of them look like Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples. Inside...Read more
April 10, 2014 • 28m
Ramen is one of Japan's favorite foods. Broth, noodles and toppings are the 3 elements, but within that basic framework there is a...Read more
April 17, 2014 • 28m
Mt. Fuji is Japan's tallest peak. Its beauty changes from season to season, from day to day. Frequently featured in ukiyo-e woodbl...Read more
April 24, 2014 • 28m
Maneuver your pieces to capture the opponent's king - that's the essence of shogi, Japan's most popular board game. Descended from...Read more
May 1, 2014 • 28m
Springtime in Japan means cherry trees in bloom. Cherry blossoms flower gloriously, but briefly, then their petals fall like confe...Read more
May 8, 2014 • 28m
Akihabara, with its mix of gadgets and geekdom, is a one-of-a-kind experience. Shops selling everything electronic from appliances...Read more
May 15, 2014 • 28m
Wagashi, Japan's traditional sweets. Each colorful, exquisite morsel contains a clear sense of the season - wagashi are an essenti...Read more
May 22, 2014 • 28m
Under cover of darkness, moving by stealth, ninja used superb physical skill and special equipment to infiltrate and disrupt their...Read more
May 29, 2014 • 28m
From sushi to sake, rice is an absolutely essential part of Japanese cuisine. Appliance makers offer state-of-the-art rice cookers...Read more
June 5, 2014 • 28m
Japan's castles are masterworks of wood and stone. They bristled with defences and functioned as symbols of authority. Today they ...Read more
July 3, 2014 • 28m
This time, we present an installment of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigner...Read more
July 10, 2014 • 28m
This time, we present another of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigners livin...Read more
July 17, 2014 • 28m
This time, we present an installment of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigner...Read more
August 7, 2014 • 28m
Microphone in hand, tens of millions of people in Japan belt out songs in private party rooms known as karaoke boxes. These intima...Read more
August 14, 2014 • 28m
Bento are portable boxes of food, typically composed of rice, protein-rich main dishes, and vegetables on the side. They've evolve...Read more
August 21, 2014 • 28m
Through the ages, bamboo has been profoundly important to Japan's industry, culture and everyday life. But why does bamboo grow so...Read more
September 4, 2014 • 28m
Japan's taiko drums—made in many shapes and sizes, played at various occasions—are an ancient heritage. Originally taiko were an i...Read more
September 11, 2014 • 28m
Tokyo's Tsukiji Market is the world's largest fish market - hundreds of kinds of seafood from around the world are sold there. 40,...Read more
September 18, 2014 • 28m
Festivals are held in every region of Japan throughout the year. The oldest date back well over a millennium, and typically featur...Read more
September 25, 2014 • 28m
This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Japanese gardens, compact evocations of nature's majesty. Japan has many garden styles:...Read more
October 2, 2014 • 28m
Origami, the traditional Japanese art of creating objects by folding paper. It's a classic pastime that everyone in Japan has done...Read more
October 9, 2014 • 28m
Japanese Buddhist statues come in countless shapes and forms, and they are not just objects of prayer but also meticulously crafte...Read more
October 16, 2014 • 28m
Yokai: the collective name for all sorts of bizarre creatures and supernatural phenomena in Japanese folklore. They have a very lo...Read more
October 23, 2014 • 28m
The Shinkansen is Japan's bullet train system. Since it debuted 50 years ago as the world's fastest train service, its speed, safe...Read more
November 6, 2014 • 28m
Whether it's learning about a traditional custom, or a newly popular sport, people in Japan love to take lessons and develop a ski...Read more
November 13, 2014 • 28m
Japan is a robotics superpower. There are approximately 300,000 industrial robots at work in Japan—that's more than any other coun...Read more
November 20, 2014 • 28m
Sports days are all-day athletic meets held annually at schools in Japan—pretty much every Japanese person has taken part in one. ...Read more
December 4, 2014 • 28m
With just one plant in one pot, you can create your own personal vision of nature. This is bonsai. Although in Japan it's often re...Read more
December 11, 2014 • 28m
Sushi is basically vinegared rice topped with something else—usually seafood. Simple ingredients, but proper preparation demands t...Read more
December 18, 2014 • 28m
A private banquet in the company of geisha is considered the ultimate in elegant hospitality. A common misconception is that geish...Read more