Season 6 (2019)

Roof Tilers
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January 8, 2019 • 28m

If there's one thing that makes Japanese homes immediately identifiable, it's their roofs, or to be more specific, the tiles that ...Read more

Japanophiles: Thomas Bertrand
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January 29, 2019 • 28m

Thomas Bertrand, from France, is the proprietor of a bento box shop in Kyoto. Bertrand's shop stocks hundreds of designs, in both ...Read more

Hidden Christians: Part 1
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February 19, 2019 • 28m

When the West first established trade relations with Japan, one of its major exports, alongside goods, was religion. Brought in by...Read more

Hidden Christians: Part 2
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February 26, 2019 • 28m

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Christianity was banned in Japan. During the ban, believers faced unimaginable persecution. S...Read more

Wood: Culture
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March 5, 2019 • 28m

70% of Japan's land is covered in forests and woodland. For centuries, wood has been used for furniture, buildings, and tools. Thi...Read more

Wood: Carpentry
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March 12, 2019 • 28m

70% of Japan is covered in forests. The Japanese have been using wood as a building material for hundreds of years, and the nation...Read more

Japanophiles: Oussouby Sacko
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March 19, 2019 • 28m

When Oussouby Sacko, from the Republic of Mali in western Africa, arrived in Japan, he knew very little about the language or cult...Read more

Meat
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March 26, 2019 • 28m

Japan offers a huge variety of meat dishes, including sumptuous wagyu beef and casual chicken skewers. But these highlights of Jap...Read more

Popular Theater
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April 2, 2019 • 28m

"Taishu engeki," or "popular theater," is a fun and engaging form of entertainment that is intended to appeal to everyone. Typical...Read more

Oni: Japanese Ogres
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April 16, 2019 • 28m

Oni -- Japanese ogres -- appear to be halfway between humans and beasts, with animal horns and scowling expressions. They come fro...Read more

Japanese Dog Breeds
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April 30, 2019 • 28m

There are 6 dog breeds native to Japan, including Akita and Shiba Inu. Each has adapted to the region of its origin, but they all ...Read more

Japanophiles: Peter MacMillan
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May 21, 2019 • 28m

After studying English literature and philosophy, Peter MacMillan moved from his native Ireland to Japan to become a university le...Read more

Konamon: Flour-based Cuisine
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June 11, 2019 • 28m

Konamon means "flour-based cuisine," but in Osaka Prefecture the word generally refers to 2 specific dishes: takoyaki (bite-sized ...Read more

Frozen Food
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June 25, 2019 • 28m

Frozen food exists all over the world, but Japan is at the cutting edge of research and development. Modern products are almost id...Read more

Slippers
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July 9, 2019 • 28m

In Japan, people often wear slippers inside their homes, schools or workplaces. It's a well-known custom, but how did it come abou...Read more

Japanophiles: Ondrej Hybl
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July 23, 2019 • 28m

Kyogen is a traditional form of Japanese theater. It's comedy, performed on a bare stage with imaginative movements and dialogue. ...Read more

Tokyo: Water
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July 30, 2019 • 28m

Tokyo was once known as the "city of water," but many of its rivers and waterways are now hidden from view. This time on Japanolog...Read more

Tokyo: Backstreets and Alleys
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August 6, 2019 • 28m

Tokyo is an energetic, bustling metropolis. But take a few steps off the main streets, and it reveals a different side to its char...Read more

Mechanical Dolls
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August 27, 2019 • 28m

Karakuri-ningyo, or mechanical dolls, can be regarded as traditional robots. Their technology is not just interesting but actually...Read more

Swords
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September 10, 2019 • 28m

In Japan, sword fighting is a common feature of period dramas. But Japanese swords, katana, were more than weapons. They were used...Read more

Bathrooms
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October 1, 2019 • 28m

In Japan, the bath has a special status. And for Japanese, using one is an essential part of daily life. It's not just a place to ...Read more

Japanophiles: David Atkinson
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October 8, 2019 • 28m

For years, David Atkinson from the United Kingdom worked in Japan as a respected financial analyst. His career took an unexpected ...Read more

Monkeys
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October 15, 2019 • 28m

Japanese macaques, a species of monkey unique to Japan, are a common sight in the country's forests and mountains. Much-loved for ...Read more

Banknotes
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November 5, 2019 • 28m

Japan's paper money incorporates some of the most advanced security features in the world, including pin-sharp watermarks, and mic...Read more

Plasterwork
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November 12, 2019 • 28m

Plasterwork has been an indispensable feature of Japanese architecture for hundreds of years. You can see it on the walls of castl...Read more

Japanophiles: Wolfgang Loeger
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November 19, 2019 • 28m

In 1987, Wolfgang Loeger left his native Austria and came to Japan. After nearly 3 decades as a ski instructor, he moved to Tokyo ...Read more

Insects
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December 3, 2019 • 28m

Japan shares a close relationship with the insect kingdom. The lifecycles of different bugs mark the changing of the seasons. Peop...Read more

Donburi: Rice Bowls
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December 10, 2019 • 28m

"Donburi" is a bowl of rice with various toppings. It's quick, cheap and tasty, making it one of Japan's favorite comfort foods. A...Read more