Japanology Plus Temporada 10 Episodios 18 • Sub Español

Episodio 1

In centuries past, cooking in a Japanese kitchen involved moving between a dirt floor and a raised area with wooden floorboards. Modern kitchens, meanwhile, incorporate all sorts of convenient, space-saving measures. Our guest, associate professor Suzaki Fumiyo, tells the story of that evolution, and explains why some Japanese are choosing to go back to a traditional dirt-floor kitchen. And in Plus One, Matt Alt learns about some traditional kitchen utensils.

Japanology Plus · S10E01

Episodio 4

In the mountains of Okayama Prefecture, Kamimomi is a community whose features include beautiful terraced rice fields. But with fewer than 90 residents, it is at risk of disappearing. Here, Kyle Holzhueter from the USA engages in a form of natural construction that employs Japanese plastering techniques. One aim in all he does is a sustainable lifestyle, aligned with the power of nature. Peter Barakan learns about Holzhueter's way of life and the rich potential of Japan's rural communities.

Japanology Plus · S10E04

Episodio 7

Konnyaku is an important element of Japanese cuisine. It has long been known as a high-fiber, diet-friendly food, and in recent years it's been shown to offer benefits for health conditions including dementia and diabetes. Outside Japan, its popularity is on the rise, and it has started to appear in dishes like pasta. Konnyaku is a chewy, jelly-like food made from the extremely bitter corm of the konjac plant. How is it processed? And what other uses does it have? Peter Barakan visits Japan's top producing area to learn all about this surprising food.

Japanology Plus · S10E07

Episodio 10

In Japan, businesses are linking meteorological data and sales figures in order to predict consumer demand. This is helping to reduce waste and lower carbon dioxide emissions through optimization of distribution networks. One popular app charts the relationship between the weather and headaches or feeling "under the weather" in other ways. We explore how meteorological data is contributing to everyday life in Japan these days.

Japanology Plus · S10E10

Episodio 13

An Italian psychiatrist who uses an original "anime therapy" approach is the guest in this episode of Japanophiles, an occasional series in which we look at Japan through the eyes of residents who originally come from other parts of the world. Francesco Panto was bullied as a child but took comfort in anime. That led to his unusual approach to improving mental health. We hear Panto's story and learn how his work might help to address the widespread challenge of mental health issues among young Japanese.

Japanology Plus · S10E13

Episodio 16

Japanese honeybees are wild, difficult to farm, and produce less honey than the Western honeybees used for most commercial honey production. But the multifloral honey they produce has a rich and complex flavor. Caring for Japanese honeybees brings hobbyist beekeepers closer to the profundity and unpredictability of nature. We learn about creative approaches to looking after Japanese honeybees, and about the surprising way they deal with predators.

Japanology Plus · S10E16

Episodio 20

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and residential fires are posing new challenges. Japan is responding to this evolving reality by developing new firefighting technologies, such as water-free fire engines, AI-powered robots, and self-extinguishing building materials. Around the country, official fire departments are supported by volunteer firefighters, but as societal norms change the number of volunteers is dropping. We introduce the latest from the world of Japanese firefighting.

Japanology Plus · S10E20

Episodio 23

In the late 19th century, writer Lafcadio Hearn (Japanese name: Koizumi Yakumo) helped introduce Japan to the wider world. We visit the Izumo area to learn about the supernatural realm that he loved.

Japanology Plus · S10E23