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Episode guide

Japanology Plus: Season 1

Poster for Japanology Plus Season 1

30 episodes · premiered Apr 2, 2014

TMDB has no overview for this season.

Japanology Plus: cast and where to watch

  1. Episode 1: Bathhouses Apr 3, 2014 · 28m Japanese public bathhouses, also called sento. From the outside, some of them look like Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples. Inside, they have many features that help to create a space for…
  2. Episode 2: Ramen Apr 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 almost endless variation. An annual gathering in Tokyo of…
  3. Episode 3: Mt. Fuji Apr 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 woodblock prints and other artworks, Mt. Fuji is also a place of…
  4. Episode 4: Shogi Apr 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 the same ancient Indian game as chess, shogi dates back…
  5. Episode 5: Cherry Trees May 1, 2014 · 28m Springtime in Japan means cherry trees in bloom. Cherry blossoms flower gloriously, but briefly, then their petals fall like confetti on the spring breeze. This yearly occurrence strikes a…
  6. Episode 6: Akihabara 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 to cutting-edge robots crowd its streets. Japan's famous…
  7. Episode 7: Wagashi May 15, 2014 · 28m Wagashi, Japan's traditional sweets. Each colorful, exquisite morsel contains a clear sense of the season - wagashi are an essential part of various annual events. This time, we'll sample…
  8. Episode 8: Ninja May 22, 2014 · 28m Under cover of darkness, moving by stealth, ninja used superb physical skill and special equipment to infiltrate and disrupt their enemies. Ninja appeared during Japan's age of regional…
  9. Episode 9: Rice 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 with elaborate functions, while a "rice-cooking wizard"…
  10. Episode 10: Castles Jun 5, 2014 · 28m Japan's castles are masterworks of wood and stone. They bristled with defences and functioned as symbols of authority. Today they are cherished local landmarks and popular tourist spots…
  11. Episode 11: Japanophiles: Elizabeth Suzuki Jul 3, 2014 · 28m This time, we present an installment of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Elizabeth Suzuki, originally from…
  12. Episode 12: Japanophiles: Everett Kennedy Brown Jul 10, 2014 · 28m This time, we present another of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. The photographic artist Everett Kennedy Brown…
  13. Episode 13: Japanophiles: Carolin Eckhardt Jul 17, 2014 · 28m This time, we present an installment of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Carolin Eckhardt is a young German…
  14. Episode 14: Karaoke Boxes Aug 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 intimate spaces are great places for friends to build…
  15. Episode 15: Bento Aug 14, 2014 · 28m Bento are portable boxes of food, typically composed of rice, protein-rich main dishes, and vegetables on the side. They've evolved from a purely practical means of sustenance into a fun…
  16. Episode 16: Bamboo Aug 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 quick, and when does it flower? A great deal about these…
  17. Episode 17: Taiko Drums Sep 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 integral part of festivals and rituals, used to summon the…
  18. Episode 18: Tsukiji Market Sep 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. 40,000 people work at Tsukiji each day, and hordes of foreign…
  19. Episode 19: Festivals Sep 18, 2014 · 28m Festivals are held in every region of Japan throughout the year. The oldest date back well over a millennium, and typically feature prayers for good harvests or peace and stability. These…
  20. Episode 20: Japanese Gardens Sep 25, 2014 · 28m This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Japanese gardens, compact evocations of nature's majesty. Japan has many garden styles: from tea gardens, to the dry gardens of Zen Buddhism, to…
  21. Episode 21: Origami Oct 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 at some point, and with roots in religious rituals and…
  22. Episode 22: Buddhist Statues Oct 9, 2014 · 28m Japanese Buddhist statues come in countless shapes and forms, and they are not just objects of prayer but also meticulously crafted works of art in their own right. When Buddhism reached…
  23. Episode 23: Yokai Oct 16, 2014 · 28m Yokai: the collective name for all sorts of bizarre creatures and supernatural phenomena in Japanese folklore. They have a very long history in Japan, and these days they often feature in…
  24. Episode 24: Shinkansen Oct 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, safety and on-time performance have enabled it to carry more…
  25. Episode 25: Lessons for Life Nov 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 skill. It's estimated that there are 86,000 such classes…
  26. Episode 26: Robots Nov 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 country, and a quarter of the world total. Japan is also known…
  27. Episode 27: Sports Days Nov 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. Students compete in all sorts of team-based physical…
  28. Episode 28: Bonsai Dec 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 regarded as a hobby for old men, bonsai's popularity is…
  29. Episode 29: Sushi Dec 11, 2014 · 28m Sushi is basically vinegared rice topped with something else—usually seafood. Simple ingredients, but proper preparation demands the delicate skill of a trained chef. Sushi originally came…
  30. Episode 30: Geisha Dec 18, 2014 · 28m A private banquet in the company of geisha is considered the ultimate in elegant hospitality. A common misconception is that geisha are courtesans; in reality, they are skilled…