January 12, 2021 • 28m
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 ...Read more
January 19, 2021 • 28m
Japan's libraries are cornerstones of their communities. Besides loaning out books, they promote local culture, support young peop...Read more
January 26, 2021 • 28m
The kimono, Japan's national garment, is generally seen as traditional clothing -- something to wear on special occasions. But the...Read more
February 2, 2021 • 28m
Ukiyo-e is a Japanese artform that emerged in the 17th century. Using woodblock prints, people and landscapes are brought to life ...Read more
March 16, 2021 • 28m
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake off the coast of northeast Japan caused a devastating tsunami that left around 18,000 ...Read more
April 8, 2021 • 28m
Japanese use a wide range of cleaning implements, from old-fashioned brooms to modern carpet rollers. There's always a dedicated t...Read more
April 22, 2021 • 28m
Lacquerware is made by coating objects with the sap of the lacquer tree. It's a traditional craft that dates back thousands of yea...Read more
May 6, 2021 • 28m
Japanese started wearing Western clothing around 150 years ago, and today, suits are standard business attire. Our main guest, fas...Read more
May 13, 2021 • 28m
The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami left around 19,000 people dead or unaccounted for. It renewed Japan's sensitivity to t...Read more
May 27, 2021 • 28m
In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Chad Mullane, a comedian from Perth, Australia. Chad talks about Japanese comedy,...Read more
June 3, 2021 • 28m
Furoshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths. For hundreds of years, these square pieces of fabric have been used to protect...Read more
June 17, 2021 • 28m
Over the centuries, Japan has suffered from repeated outbreaks of diseases like smallpox, measles and cholera. Part 1 of "Japan vs...Read more
July 1, 2021 • 28m
Tiny houses are homes that occupy around 50 square meters of land. They're appearing more and more in recent years, especially in ...Read more
July 8, 2021 • 28m
Japanese watches and clocks are respected around the world for their accuracy and durability. Many of them incorporate the latest ...Read more
July 15, 2021 • 28m
Plastic food samples are astonishingly accurate replicas of real dishes. They can be found at the entrance to restaurants across J...Read more
July 29, 2021 • 28m
In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Asa Ekstrom, a manga artist from Sweden. Her work takes a humorous look at her li...Read more
August 5, 2021 • 28m
Cats have recently become the most-owned pets in Japan, and their popularity continues to grow. This has led to feline celebrities...Read more
September 2, 2021 • 28m
It's common to find robots in factories, assembling products. But recently, Japan has been embracing personal robots: devices desi...Read more
September 16, 2021 • 28m
After scissors arrived in Japan, they evolved in unique ways. Japanese artisans applied traditional sword-making techniques to the...Read more
September 30, 2021 • 28m
In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Marty Friedman, a legendary guitarist from the USA. As a member of a well-known h...Read more
October 7, 2021 • 28m
In Japan, a great number of places, objects and customs are considered to be auspicious. Examples include beckoning cats called "m...Read more
October 28, 2021 • 28m
Tatami mats are a quintessentially Japanese flooring material. They're made of rice straw, covered in woven soft rush. This gives ...Read more
November 11, 2021 • 28m
Traditionally, wooden chests and cabinets are built and maintained by master artisans, using time-honored techniques and materials...Read more
December 2, 2021 • 28m
In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Nicholas Rennick, an Australian doctor working at a Tokyo hospital. He started in...Read more
December 16, 2021 • 28m
Bamboo is sturdy, supple and abundant. For thousands of years, it has been indispensable in Japanese crafts and construction. This...Read more
December 23, 2021 • 28m
The Ainu are an indigenous people who live in and around northern Japan. Traditionally, they are hunter-gatherers who share a clos...Read more
December 30, 2021 • 28m
The Ainu are an indigenous people who live in Hokkaido Prefecture (northern Japan) and surrounding areas. Traditionally, they were...Read more