Episode guide
Japanology Plus: Season 6
28 episodes · premiered Jan 7, 2019
TMDB has no overview for this season.
- Episode 1: Roof Tilers Jan 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 make up those roofs. These intricate tiles, which have…
- Episode 2: Japanophiles: Thomas Bertrand Jan 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 traditional and modern styles. He ships products to…
- Episode 3: Hidden Christians: Part 1 Feb 19, 2019 · 28m When the West first established trade relations with Japan, one of its major exports, alongside goods, was religion. Brought in by foreign missionaries, Christianity began to catch…
- Episode 4: Hidden Christians: Part 2 Feb 26, 2019 · 28m Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Christianity was banned in Japan. During the ban, believers faced unimaginable persecution. Some, however, held onto their faith and devised ways to…
- Episode 5: Wood: Culture Mar 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. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is the cultural…
- Episode 6: Wood: Carpentry Mar 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 is home to the world's oldest wooden structures. Their…
- Episode 7: Japanophiles: Oussouby Sacko Mar 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 culture. Nearly three decades later, in April 2018, he was…
- Episode 8: Meat Mar 26, 2019 · 28m Japan offers a huge variety of meat dishes, including sumptuous wagyu beef and casual chicken skewers. But these highlights of Japanese cuisine are recent developments; meat consumption…
- Episode 9: Popular Theater Apr 2, 2019 · 28m "Taishu engeki," or "popular theater," is a fun and engaging form of entertainment that is intended to appeal to everyone. Typical performances are period dramas, telling stories of…
- Episode 10: Oni: Japanese Ogres Apr 16, 2019 · 28m Oni -- Japanese ogres -- appear to be halfway between humans and beasts, with animal horns and scowling expressions. They come from ancient folklore, but are a big part of modern Japanese…
- Episode 11: Japanese Dog Breeds Apr 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 have pointy ears, a curved tail, and an unwavering loyalty…
- Episode 12: Japanophiles: Peter MacMillan May 21, 2019 · 28m After studying English literature and philosophy, Peter MacMillan moved from his native Ireland to Japan to become a university lecturer. He wrote the first full English translation of the…
- Episode 13: Konamon: Flour-based Cuisine Jun 11, 2019 · 28m Konamon means "flour-based cuisine," but in Osaka Prefecture the word generally refers to 2 specific dishes: takoyaki (bite-sized batter balls with pieces of octopus inside) and…
- Episode 14: Frozen Food Jun 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 identical to fresh goods both in texture and nutritional…
- Episode 15: Slippers Jul 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 about, and how is it evolving in modern Japan? This time on…
- Episode 16: Japanophiles: Ondrej Hybl Jul 23, 2019 · 28m Kyogen is a traditional form of Japanese theater. It's comedy, performed on a bare stage with imaginative movements and dialogue. When Ondrej Hybl, from the Czech Republic, first saw a…
- Episode 17: Tokyo: Water Jul 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 Japanology Plus, we look at water in Japan's capital from various…
- Episode 18: Tokyo: Backstreets and Alleys Aug 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 character. This time on Japanology Plus, we explore the…
- Episode 19: Mechanical Dolls Aug 27, 2019 · 28m Karakuri-ningyo, or mechanical dolls, can be regarded as traditional robots. Their technology is not just interesting but actually useful even today. This time on Japanology Plus, our…
- Episode 20: Swords Sep 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 in rituals, and held as status symbols. Today, they're…
- Episode 21: Bathrooms Oct 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 wash yourself, but a chance to relax, reflect on your day…
- Episode 22: Japanophiles: David Atkinson Oct 8, 2019 · 28m For years, David Atkinson from the United Kingdom worked in Japan as a respected financial analyst. His career took an unexpected turn when he became the CEO of one of the country's oldest…
- Episode 23: Monkeys Oct 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 their expressive faces, these monkeys are sometimes seen…
- Episode 24: Banknotes Nov 5, 2019 · 28m Japan's paper money incorporates some of the most advanced security features in the world, including pin-sharp watermarks, and microscopic text. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is…
- Episode 25: Plasterwork Nov 12, 2019 · 28m Plasterwork has been an indispensable feature of Japanese architecture for hundreds of years. You can see it on the walls of castles, storehouses, and everyday homes. Using a humble…
- Episode 26: Japanophiles: Wolfgang Loeger Nov 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 and became a taxi driver. Foreign taxi drivers aren't…
- Episode 27: Insects Dec 3, 2019 · 28m Japan shares a close relationship with the insect kingdom. The lifecycles of different bugs mark the changing of the seasons. People of all ages enjoy collecting them in the wild…
- Episode 28: Donburi: Rice Bowls Dec 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 huge number of options range from the classic Katsudon…