Deep Dive from The Japan Times

What do street-kid influencers, fantasy boyfriends and around 280 bars crammed into six allies have in common? They are all a part of Kabukicho, an area of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward that is either a tourist trap or sleazy red-light district depending on who you ask. This week, join us to hear stories from one of Japan's most infamous neighborhoods. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | X Moeka Iida: X Yukana Inoue: Articles Read more: Christmastime in Shinjuku Golden Gai (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) How Japan’s host clubs trap young women under mountains of debt (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) The controversial cult of the host club in Japan (Moeka Iida, The Economist) Toyoko Kids: The lonely street children of Tokyo (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. | GETTY IMAGES

Japan’s summer music festivals survived the pandemic but they now face new threats: extreme heat, a weak yen and aging audiences. Music writer Patrick St. Michel joins us to talk about the “Big Four” festivals and how these challenges are changing the way we have fun during summer. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramPatrick St. Michel: Articles | Twitter Read/watch more: Can Japan’s summer music festivals adapt to a post-pandemic reality? (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Is Creepy Nuts’ catchy, rapid-fire ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Bong’ the song of the year? (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Japan’s summer offerings include jazz and classical music festivals (Alyssa I. Smith, The Japan Times) “Scream inside your heart” (YouTube) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival. | JAMES HADFIELD

On this week’s Deep Dive, we speak to Alex K.T. Martin who has done a series of pieces exploring what lies beneath the surface of Tokyo. Hidden rivers, ancient artifacts and crumbling infrastructure are just a few of the discoveries he made during his reporting. And while it’s important to know how we’re going to manage these things as climate change — or more importantly, the possible flooding that comes with it — worsens, sometimes it’s just fascinating to learn about the city beneath our feet. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Read/watch more: Tracing Tokyo’s hidden rivers (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Tokyo’s hidden rivers (The Japan Times YouTube channel) The complications in digging up Tokyo’s ancient past (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Tokyo underground: Exploring what lies beneath the world largest city (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Why half of Japan’s cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 year (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: A person walks among thegiant columns supporting the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Saitama Prefecture. | JOHAN BROOKS

Japan is known for its convenience, but if you want to see some of the best artwork the country has to offer you’ll need to travel way off the beaten path. It involves trekking, sweating and, on the odd occasion, you don’t even know if the art will be there when you arrive. This week, writer Thu-Huong Ha is our tour guide into the world of Japan’s inconvenient art movement. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramThu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter | InstagramRead more: Why is the most exciting art in Japan so hard to get to? (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) A list of Japan's remote art sites (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Sixteen hours in Marina Abramovic’s nightmare hotel (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Japan’s birth rate hit new low in 2023 (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times) Tokyo government to launch dating app in bid to boost birth rate (AFP-Jiji) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin,” once the victim of high waves that dragged it into the sea, sits at the end of a pier on the south side of Naoshima. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

With temperatures rising we can all feel how climate change is affecting our lives, but what if we could hear it too? This week, Japan Times climate editor Chris Russell joins us to discuss what researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology are listening to when it comes to biodiversity on the island.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Chris Russell: Articles | XRead more: Hearing the impact of climate change in Okinawa, one bird at a time (Chris Russell, The Japan Times) Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990 (Bloomberg, Reuters) Weary of overtourism, Japan town blocks one popular view of Mount Fuji (Caroline Gardin, AFP-JIJI) Many COVID experts in Japan harassed after speaking to media, survey shows (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) The politicians moving Japan forward on climate change (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) Why half of Japan’s cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 years (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Toshihiro Kinjo (center), a research support technician at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, inspects an audio recording device in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 3 as Masako Ogasawara, a research support specialist at OIST, looks on. | CHRIS RUSSELL

With an increase in tourists heading to these parts, some may be wondering if Japan is a safe destination for those with disabilities. If you’re concerned, Josh Grisdale from the website Accessible Japan is here to help. Check out this past interview with him on everything from accessibility in Tokyo to dealing with trains and the country’s shifting attitudes. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.Read more: Accessible Japan Breaking down barriers (Andrew McKirdy, The Japan Times) Tokyo named among the world’s best destinations for disabled travelers (William Lang, The Japan Times) Behind the push to improve universal access in Japan (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times) New film honors life and legacy of disability pioneer Mark Bookman Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!Photo: From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers. | REUTERS

We are revisiting some past content on the science, economics and culture of cherry blossom season. Most importantly, we talk about some of the best spots to check them out in the Tokyo and Osaka areas. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.Read more: In Japan, cherry blossom forecasting is a big deal. Warming is making it harder. (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) We invite you to get ready for this year’s cherry blossom parties (Cassandra Lord, The Japan Times) Toshio Katsuki: ‘The cherry blossoms have been my vehicle to find new relationships’ (Himari Semans, The Japan Times) Cherry blossoms are just as beautiful on a plate as a branch (Elizabeth Andoh, The Japan Times) Japan’s economy to bloom as hanami season kicks off (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Our guide to family hanami hot spots (Jason Jenkins, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!

Three residents with foreign roots have filed a lawsuit claiming Japanese police officers routinely target visible minorities with searches. In this week’s episode, we speak with the lawyer and one plaintiff about what prompted them to bring the case forward and what they hope to achieve with it. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Read more: Lawsuit filed in Tokyo over alleged racial profiling by police (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) Making Japanese history by being Black history (Baye McNeil, The Japan Times) Brazilian files discrimination suit (Toshi Maeda, The Japan Times) Racial profiling in Japan is prevalent but unseen, some residents say (Victoria Kim and Hisako Ueno, The New York Times) Lawsuit to end racially discriminatory police questioning (CALL4.jp) Stop racially discriminatory police questioning (change.org) How Shohei Ohtani mastered the media (Jason Coskrey, The Japan Times) How to be an all-star sports parent (Mai Yoshikawa, The Japan Times) Ohtani is taken. It’s enough to make you cry. (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Motoki Taniguchi (left) and one of his clients, Maurice Shelton, hope their lawsuit can change alleged police practices involving stop-and-search. | LOUISE CLAIRE WAGNER

This week on Deep Dive, contributing writer and photographer Lance Henderstein reads us his article on traveling Okinawa during the rainy season. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramLance Henderstein: Articles | Instagram | ThreadsRead/Listen more: My annual pilgrimage to Okinawa (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Akiko Mizuno: ‘Time moves forward. Photographers stop time.’ (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Aoi Suzuki’s son runs past a home in Taketomi on Iriomote Island (not to be confused with Taketomi Island, which lies to the east of Iriomote). The Suzukis run the Takemori Inn, one of the few hotels on Iriomote. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

At 12, Miku Narisawa experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ensuing and tsunami destroyed her home. Instead of running from the ocean, however, she is now working to try to protect it through her Odyssey Nature Japan initiative. On this episode:Miku Narisawa: Instagram | Odyssey Nature JapanRead more/Listen more: After 3/11, an environment education rethink takes shape in Japan (Francesco Bassetti, The Japan Times) COP28, didn't the oceans deserve more attention? (Miku Narisawa, The Japan Times) Japan is about to release 1.3 million tons of Fukushima wastewater. Should we be concerned? (Mara Budgen, Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Anger at Fukushima’s wastewater; hope in its renewables (Gabriele Ninivaggi, Anika Osaki Exsum, Francesco Bassetti Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Preparing for the hottest year Japan has ever seen (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Yasuhiro Otomo and Miku Narisawa during one of Odyssey Nature Japan's educational fishing programs. | ODYSSEY

You probably don’t think of guns when you think of Japan, but Hokkaido’s hunters do. Hokkaido-based writer Justin Randall says newly proposed gun laws may make their lives more dangerous. Later, Shaun McKenna and Alyssa I. Smith discuss something less dangerous: Taylor Swift’s sold-out Tokyo shows.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode:Justin Randall: Articles | LinktreeAlyssa I. Smith: Articles Read more/Listen more: Hokkaido hunters say more firepower means more humane kills (Justin Randall, The Japan Times) How are firearms regulated in Japan? (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Bear goes the neighborhood? Japanese wildlife is on the move. (Alex K.T. Martin, Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Most Japanese outside major urban areas say they do not engage with foreign nationals (Kyodo) Taylor Swift slays her Tokyo era (Allan Richarz, The Japan Times) Fans share love for Taylor Swift at sold-out Tokyo shows (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Welcome to Japan, Taylor Swift fans. Please remain seated as you cheer. (Motoko Rich and Kiuko Notoya, The New York Times) Seiji Ozawa’s boundless experiment (Chiho Iuchi, The Japan Times) The story behind my favorite photo of Seiji Ozawa (Dan Szpara, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Naoko Motooka began hunting 10 years ago. Her hobby is one way Hokkaido hopes to curb a current boom in the deer population. | JUSTIN RANDALL

Who wants to live forever? As scientists and tech billionaires attempt to tackle the problem of aging and death, we discuss Japanese ideas about immortality. Later, our games writers discuss the recent Palworld-Pokemon flare up. On this episode: Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | X Owen Ziegler: Articles Ann-Loy Morgan: Articles Read more/Watch more/Play more: Eternal pursuits: A history of Japanese quests for immortality (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Living until 100, if not forever, in good health (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) The digital beyond: Is an eternal existence within grasp? (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) Reverse aging mogul discusses regimen as he strives for the biological age of an 18-year-old (ABC News) Overnight smash Palworld is much more than ‘Pokemon with guns’ (Ann-Loy Morgan, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Japan made history last month when it became the fifth nation to soft land on the moon. What’s more, they landed it close to their target, a feat that could be a gamechanger for space travel. This week we discuss the science and the politics behind Japan’s lunar landing. On this episode:Joel Tansey: Articles | XTomoko Otake: Articles | XGabriel Dominguez: Articles | XRead more/Watch more/Play more: Japan makes history as spacecraft lands on the moon (Tomoko Otake and Joel Tansey, The Japan Times) One small step for a JAXA spacecraft, one giant leap for exploration (Elizabeth Tasker, The Japan Times) Japan’s moonshot may mark breakthrough for future lunar missions (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) Geopolitics in space: Why great powers are scrambling for the moon (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) SLIM Moon Landing Live & Press Conference (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, YouTube) SORA-Q Flagship Model (Takara Tomy) SLIM: The pinpoint moon landing game (JAXA Space Education Center) Artemis Accords (U.S. Dept. of State) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is seen on the surface of the moon in an image released Jan. 25. | JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY (JAXA), TAKARA TOMY, SONY GROUP, DOSHINSHA UNIVERSITY/ VIA REUTERS

It was a rough start to 2024 for Japan, with a magnitude 7.6 earthquake and an airplane collision at Haneda airport in the first week of January. On our first episode of the year, we report on the impact of the Noto Peninsula earthquake and what can be learned from rural disasters. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Jordan Allen: Articles Karin Kaneko: Articles | X Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | X Read more: “Noto is kind, right down to its soil”: A community’s long road to recovery (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) How Japan’s violent New Year’s quake felt in Toyama (Jordan Allen, The Japan Times) In Ishikawa, shelter for people but not four-legged friends (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) Nationwide donation effort for earthquake-hit Ishikawa gains steam (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) Noto quake: “In times of crisis, all we have is each other” (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Photo essay; Inside the Ishikawa earthquake disaster zone (Daniel Traylor, The Japan Times) Noto community’s long road to recovery from the New Year’s quake (Dave Cortez, YouTube) “Our minds are blank”: How ‘earthquake resilient’ Japan fails its ageing rural communities (Justin McCurry, The Guardian) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Cars drive past a damaged road, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture. | KIM KYUNG-HOON, REUTERS

For our last episode of the year, we’re summing up the year in culture with Matt Schley, Alyssa I. Smith, Thu-Huong Ha and Owen Ziegler, who tell us why anime dominated in 2023, which books stood out among a lackluster crowd and why the Zelda franchise is experiencing a renaissance.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Matt Schley: Articles | X Alyssa I. Smith: ArticlesThu-Huong Ha: Articles | X Owen Ziegler: Articles Read more: The year that defined the post-Miyazaki era (Matt Schley, The Japan Times) J-pop's global ambitions came closer to reality in 2023 (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) ‘The Great Reclamation’ details the horrors of the foreign occupation in Singapore (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Saou Ichikawa’s 'Hunchback': A darkly funny portrait of disability (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Understanding the LDP political funding scandal and its implications (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: A still from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | NINTENDO

In a year that saw Japan release 24,000 tons of wastewater (so far) from Fukushima No. 1 as the planet smashed heat records, it’s no wonder climate anxiety is on the rise. Mara Budgen joins us to break down the year in environment news, where we could see hope, and what we should be worried about.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.Excerpt for Audioboom: On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Mara Budgen: Articles | X Read more: How simple steps can help alleviate climate anxiety (Joel Tansey, The Japan Times) Fall is the new summer: Warming threatens Japan’s cultural calendar (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) In Japan, extreme heat and an aging population are a deadly mix (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) The concrete forest: Bears, boars and more head to the cities (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) New solutions tackle Japan’s waste problem at its core (Mariko McTier, The Japan Times) Japan is about to release 1.3 million tons of Fukushima wastewater. Should we be concerned? (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times) Japan sticks with climate solution that critics say is far from clean (Annelise Giseburt, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: The Climate Action Network holds an event at the venue of the U.N. climate change conferences in Dubai on Sunday to give its "fossil" award to countries including Japan. | KYODO

An “Otaku Dictionary” has Japan’s subcultures upset at an attempt to define them. Thu-Huong Ha and Yukana Inoue join us to explain the linguistic scandal before discussing whether or not Japan has mastered “sitting.” On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | X Yukana Inoue: ArticlesRead more: How a dictionary came to spark outrage among the web’s otaku (Thu-Huong Ha and Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Test your otaku vocabulary, from 'oshi' to bacon lettuce’ (Thu-Huong Ha and Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Let the gaming begin: A guide to Tokyo’s video game landmarks (W. Tanner Kirk, The Japan Times) Has Japan mastered sitting? (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Bedbugs are spreading in South Korea and China. Is Japan next? (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) Japan to start trial of over-the-counter sales of morning after pill (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Pages from a new Otaku Dictionary catalog the lexicons of Japan’s various subcultures. | TAIDGH BARRON

Chinese President Xi Jinping made the rounds at APEC last week, Gabriel Dominguez tells us what it means for Japan. At home, NHK has announced its “Kohaku” lineup — with nary a Johnny’s act to be found. Patrick St. Michel discusses the year’s most notable snub. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Gabriel Dominquez: Articles | X Patrick St. Michel: Articles | X Read more: Kishida and Xi aim for trade progress despite lingering tensions (Gabriel Dominguez and Gabrielle Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) 'Offensive' and 'defensive' diplomacy: Managing ties with China (Hotaka Machida, The Japan Times) NHK ditches Johnny's acts for year-end musical bonanza (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Takeshi Kitano, comedian, film director, actor, painter, writer, singer (FCCJ, YouTube) Scandal-hit Takarazuka to set up experts panel to improve culture (The Japan Times) With ‘Idol,’ Yoasobi pens a new chapter in J-pop’s story (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: An official shot for this year’s lineup for NHK’s annual “Kohaku Uta Gassen.” | KYODO

As nature reclaims depopulated villages and climate change wreaks havoc on food sources, Japan’s animal population has been inching closer to the country’s urban areas. This week, Alex K.T. Martin joins us to discuss why people are encountering bears, boars and other wildlife in the most unlikely of places.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | X Dave Cortez: Articles | XRead more: The concrete forest: Bears, boars and more head for the cities (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) ​​A saury state of affairs: How the price of ‘autumn’s fish’ skyrocketed (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) In the shadow of the Fukushima disaster, an unusual experiment in rewilding (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Samurai Restaurant Time gives kitschy thrills fit for Kabukicho (Laura Pollacco, The Japan Times) Japan set to scrap rule requiring testing of new drugs on Japanese (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Japan women prisoners suffer serious abuse: Human Rights Watch (Tomohiro Osaki, AFP-JIJI) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Bears doing yoga? If you’re in the city, why not? | GETTY IMAGES

Baseball writer Jason Coskrey and editor Joel Tansey discuss the Hanshin Tigers’ Japan Series victory; Gabriele Ninivaggi explains how the prime minister hopes to get a home run with his tax plan.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Gabriele Ninivaggi: Articles | X Dave Cortez: Articles | XJason Coskrey: Articles | XJoel Tansey: Articles | XRead/View more: Hotly debated tax cuts risk backfiring on Kishida administration (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) ​​Kishida unveils ¥17 trillion stimulus package amid pushback (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) G7 top diplomats call for ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Israel-Hamas war (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) Tigers beat Buffaloes in Game 7 to end 38-year Japan Series drought (Jason Coskrey, The Japan Times) Sheldon Neuse and the catch that ended the Tigers’ 38-year drought (Jason Coskrey, The Japan Times) Osaka erupts in celebrations as Tigers win Japan Series (Joel Tansey, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A man dressed as Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders jumps into the Dotonbori River in Osaka after the Hanshin Tigers won the Japan Series. | KYODO

Single parents in Japan have it tough, but these hardships seem to disproportionately affect single mothers more. This week, filmmaker Rionne McAvoy joins us to discuss the hidden poverty present in one of the world’s richest nations.Hosted by Mara Budgen and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Mara Budgen: Articles | X Rionne McAvoy: Website | X Read/View more: Documentary shines a spotlight on Japan’s single mothers (Louise George Kittaka, The Japan Times) Pandemic magnifies household gender roles in Japan (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times) “The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan” (official website) Heartful Family Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Image Caption (JT): A scene from "The Ones Left Behind," which documents the successes and struggles of single mothers in Japan. | JAPAN MEDIA SERVICES

One year on, Elizabeth Beattie joins us to discuss where Itaewon stands after its Halloween disaster, and what its legacy means for celebrations in Japan. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | X Read/View more: Halloween’s rise in the 2010s provided Shibuya crossing with plenty of tricks and treats (Mike Sunda, The Japan Times) ​​Halloween spooks Shibuya (Matt Alt, Matt Alt’s Pure Invention) Calls grow to abolish Japan’s surgery requirement for gender change (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Germany set to eclipse Japan as No. 3 economy in 2023, IMF says (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) What South Korea’s frequent protests say about its politics (Choe Sang-hun and Chang W. Lee, The New York Times) What went wrong in the South Korean ferry disaster (The New Yorker, YouTube) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A banner at the entrance to Shibuya’s Center Street makes it clear this is no place for a party. | TAIDGH BARON

This week on Deep Dive, Alex K.T. Martin noticed a dip in the national caloric intake and it turns out that a graying population that is increasingly single has something to do with why Japan is gradually downsizing dinner.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | X | Instagram Read/Listen more: Downsizing dinner: Aging Japan is eating less (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Inside Japan’s oldest village (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Work forever: Japan’s seniors brace for life without retirement (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Boom in ‘pet guardianship’ amid rise in elderly and singles (Kyodo) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A woman takes her meal alone in Tokyo's Yanaka neighborhood. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

This week on Deep Dive, Shaun McKenna and Dave Cortez discuss a few horror movies before “Uncanny Japan” podcast host Thersa Matsuura tells a classic Japanese ghost story. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | InstagramDave Cortez: Articles | X Thersa Matsuura: Website | X | Instagram | YouTubeRead/Listen more: The ghosts that have been haunting cinema-goers in Japan for over a century (Mark Schilling, The Japan Times) 10 days of J-horror: From funny frights to shock and gore (Mark Schilling, The Japan Times) Scary Japanese stories to read in the dark (Haruka Murayama, The Japan Times) Uncanny Japan Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: The classic Japanese ghost story often features a vengeful female ghost. | GETTY IMAGES

The team at Deep Dive is taking a short break. We'll be back in mid-October, but in the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast of our discussion with consultant Rochelle Kopp in April about how best to navigate your work life in Japan. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Rochelle Kopp: Articles | Twitter Read more: Help wanted: The (sleeper) agent of change (Rochelle Kopp, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A businessman waits to cross a street in Tokyo in April 2011. | REUTERS

This week on Deep Dive we get contributing writer and photographer Lance Henderstein to read us his article on traveling Okinawa during the rainy season. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramLance Henderstein: Articles | Instagram | ThreadsRead more: My annual pilgrimage to Okinawa (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Akiko Mizuno: ‘Time moves forward. Photographers stop time.’ (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Aoi Suzuki's son tries to get a glimpse of the neighborhood barbecue from a nearby roof. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

A drugs scandal at Japan’s biggest university draws attention to a troubling statistic: Cannabis use among young people is on the rise. Yukana Inoue and Tomoko Otake join us to discuss Japanese attitudes toward marijuana. (This episode includes a segment that was originally broadcast May 17.) Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Yukana Inoue: Articles Tomoko Otake: Articles | Twitter Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Read/Listen more: Illegal stimulants found in Nihon University football player dorm (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Nihon University scandal puts focus on ‘collective responsibility’ (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Navigating Japan’s maze of cannabis-related laws (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Jail in Japan for cannabis in Canada? Possible but unlikely (Colin P.A. Jones, The Japan Times) Cannabis: The fabric of Japan (Jon Mitchell, The Japan Times) CBD — Japan's path to medical marijuana? (Deep Dive from The Japan Times) “Legalize It” by Masataka and Saya Takagi (YouTube) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Leaves of marijuana plants from which hemp fibers are extracted at Japan's largest legal marijuana farm in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, on July 5, 2016 | REUTERS

The Johnny & Associates sexual abuse scandal is like the Harvey Weinstein and Michael Jackson scandals rolled into one. Karin Kaneko catches us up on how things are unfolding, while Alyssa I. Smith and Patrick St. Michel discuss the effect it may have on the Japanese music industry. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X (Twitter) | Instagram Karin Kaneko: Articles | X (Twitter) Alyssa I. Smith: Articles Patrick St. Michel: Articles | X (Twitter) Read/Listen/Watch more: Johnny’s replaces president as it admits to abuse by late founder (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) More companies move away from Johnny’s over sex abuse scandal (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Kauan Okamoto finds some closure after recognition of Kitagawa abuse (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) What’s in a name? A lot of baggage and trauma, unfortunately. (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) “Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-pop” (Mobeen Azhar and Megumi Inman, BBC) The death of Johnny Kitagawa, J-pop’s puppet master (Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on X (Twitter) at @JapanDeepDive)!

Good news and bad news out of Fukushima. First, the bad news: Anika Osaki Exum and Gabriele Ninivaggi join us to discuss the reaction to the treated wastewater release plan (China’s not happy). Then, Francesco Bassetti gets us caught up on the good news: There has been a boom in renewable energies there. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramAnika Osaki Exum: Articles | TwitterGabriele Ninivaggi: Articles | TwitterFrancesco Bassetto: Articles | Twitter Read/Listen more: Japan begins controversial release of treated Fukushima water (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) Fukushima locals worry about the ‘what ifs’ from water release (Anika Osaki Exum, The Japan Times) Fukushima water plan ‘complete opposite’ of recovery: former mayor (Anika Osaki Exum, The Japan Times) How a nuclear disaster turned Fukushima into a renewables leader (Francesco Bassetti, The Japan Times) After 3/11, an environment education rethink takes shape in Japan (Francesco Bassetti, The Japan Times) Japan is about to release 1.3 million tons of Fukushima wastewater. Should we be concerned? (Mara Budgen, Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!Photo: An activist in Seoul protests Japan’s plan to release treated wastewater from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. | REUTERS

The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 was literally a picture of hell. Fires killed hundreds of thousands of people and sparked a witch hunt of Korean residents who were wrongfully blamed for the infernos. Alex K.T. Martin joins us to discuss the quake and how the scars left by the disaster shaped the course of Japan's future. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Read more: The Great Kanto Earthquake: A wall of fire, a picture of hell (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Century since Kanto quake, expert warns of ‘blind faith’ in disaster resilience (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) A documentary on the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 has unearthed Japan’s first ‘disaster footage’ (Kyodo) A diaspora remembers the disaster that forged it (Chitose Nakagawa, Kyodo) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!Photo: A child stands in front of the Hibiya Music Hall, which collapsed during the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. | PUBLIC DOMAIN

As the last trains leave the central hubs of Shinjuku and Shibuya for the suburbs, much of the city heads home. However, Tokyo never sleeps. Economics reporter Elizabeth Beattie comes on the show to discuss a story she wrote about the businesses that keep night-time Tokyo buzzing. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramElizabeth Beattie: Articles | Twitter Johan Brooks: Instagram Read more: After last train in Tokyo, a second city comes to life (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) Queer clubbing moves beyond Ni-chome (Kim Kahan, The Japan Times) ‘Stakeout Diary’: A killer on the run, two postwar gumshoes — noir at its finest (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) My annual pilgrimage to Okinawa (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!Photo: A young man exhales a cigarette in front of a Family Mart in Tokyo’s busy Shibuya Ward after last train. | JOHAN BROOKS

Japan’s new My Number identification cards were supposed to be a step forward for digitalization. Instead, numerous errors now risk exposing just how backwards we still are. Politics reporter Gabriele Ninivaggi joins us to discuss whether the whole debacle will have an impact on the ruling party. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Gabriele Ninivaggi: Articles | Twitter Read more: Kishida confirms plan to merge My Number and health card (Gabriele Ninivaggi and Eric Johnston, The Japan Times) My Number report highlights errors by insurers and local governments (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) My Number woes put digital minister Taro Kono under pressure (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) The My Number card has some real benefits. Is it time you got yours? (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) sits next to digital minister Taro Kono while speaking at a government review meeting on the My Number national identification card. | KYODO

Cinema buffs in Japan have been treated to a final gift from Hayao Miyazaki — a new film! Japan Times critics Thu-Huong Ha and Matt Schley discuss what they thought of “The Boy and the Heron.” Hosted by Thu-Huong Ha and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Matt Schley: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Read/Listen more: For his last movie, Hayao Miyazaki recycles himself (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) ‘The Boy and the Heron’: It’s so good to be back in Hayao Miyazaki’s world (Matt Schley, The Japan Times) Ahead of a new Studio Ghibli film, critics are asking, ‘How will we live without Hayao Miyazaki?’ (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) “Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art” by Susan Napier Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A woman takes a picture of the poster for the new Hayao Miyazaki film, “The Boy and the Heron.” | REUTERS

Japan’s borders have opened to overseas tourists. That may be bad news for Mount Fuji, which is completely booked this summer, but it’s good news for Fuji Rock as the music festival pulls in some major international names. Drew Damron and Patrick St. Michel join us this week to discuss Japan’s two favorite Fujis. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Drew Damron: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Patrick St. Michel: Articles | Twitter Read/Listen more: Five climbs around Tokyo to get your Mount Fuji fix (Drew Damron, The Japan Times) The unending agony of Japan’s Backyard Ultra marathon (Drew Damron, The Japan Times) Sawanobori: The treacherous pursuit of waterfall climbing (Drew Damron, The Japan Times) Rap acts stand out in Fuji Rock’s diverse lineup (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Mount Fuji is shot from above so that you can see the trails leading to its summit. | KYODO

As the population gets older do we risk losing the summer festivals that make Japan unique? Alex K.T. Martin joins Deep Dive to discuss this and other demographic-related woes the country faces. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Read more: Inside Japan’s oldest village (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) In Japan, plenty of inheritances, but no one to claim them (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Japan was the future but it’s stuck in the past (Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC) Does the pure joy seen at this year’s Sanja Matsuri hint at a summer of celebration? (Johan Brooks, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!Photo: A man stands atop a float holding a portable shrine at this year’s Sanja Festival in Tokyo. | JOHAN BROOKS

There’s enough contaminated water at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to fill 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools, but they’re running out of space. This week, environment journalist Mara Budgen joins us to discuss Japan’s plan to get rid of the wastewater — a plan that has made some of our neighbors very unhappy. This story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramMara Budgen: Articles | Twitter | Instagram | WebsiteRead/Listen more: Fukushima water release nears after OK from nuclear watchdog (Eric Johnson, The Japan Times) Twelve years after 3/11, dispute grows over Fukushima’s radioactive soil (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Moving to Fukushima? You’ll have to kick out the boars first (Alex Martin, Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!Photo: The tanks containing water from the disabled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant are almost full. | REUTERS

Want to know what it’s like to spend the night in a coffin? Culture critic Thu-Huong Ha joins us to discuss her night in avant garde artist Marina Abramovic’s Dream House in central Japan and the conversation meanders into dreams and the Gwangju Biennale before winding up on AI-generated media. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramThu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Read/Listen more: Sixteen hours in Marina Abramovic’s nightmare hotel (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Losing and finding my cool in Gwangju (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!Photo: The beds in Marina Abramovic's Dream House in Niigata Prefecture look a lot like coffins. | ANDREA JUNG-AN LIU

Deep Dive is off this week, but we will be back at the start of July with fresh episodes. While we're away, we're bringing you a rebroadcast of our episode with Alex K.T. Martin where he looks at what form compulsive hoarding disorder takes in Japan and how it manifests. You'll learn how keeping spick and span in a country known for its cleanliness can be easier said than done. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Read more/Watch more: Deal with clutter while the choice to toss is still yours (Louise George Kittaka, The Japan Times) In graying Japan, pet hoarding proving to be a pesky problem (Kyodo) RiskBenefit Trapped in trash: Japan’s hidden hoarders (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, head to japantimes.co.jp. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Traumatic experiences, perfectionism, genetics and brain function are often raised as potential reasons for hoarding. | COURTESY OF RISKBENEFIT

Japan has a notoriously bad reputation when it comes to accepting refugees, and some politicians and NGOs believe things just got worse. Politics reporter Gabriele Ninivaggi joins the show to discuss what’s new in a controversial immigration reform law. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Gabriele Ninivaggi: Articles | Twitter Read/Listen more: What you need to know about the revision of Japan’s asylum law (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) Japan’s new immigration law raises concerns over safety of refugee applicants (Kyodo) Her death shook Japan. But it may not shift its refugee policy. (Hisako Ueno and Ben Dooley, The New York Times) Deep Dive #40: An 11-year-long fight for asylum in Japan Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: People opposing the revision of Japan's immigration control and refugee recognition law march in Tokyo on May 16, 2021. Many held up photos of Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali, a Sri Lankan woman who died in March while being held at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau in central Japan. | KYODO

When you think of natural disasters do you think of earthquakes, volcanoes and typhoons? How about guerrilla rainstorms, landslides and heatwaves? As we approach the fifth anniversary of a major disaster that hit Hiroshima, Okayama and Ehime prefectures, Joel Tansey joins us to discuss what we’ve learned and what we’re in for when it comes to supercharged rainy seasons in Japan. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramJoel Tansey: Articles | Twitter Read/Listen more: In G7 host Hiroshima, a climate disaster in all but name (Joel Tansey, The Japan Times) Deep Dive is back! And the climate crisis is still a problem. (Shaun McKenna, The Japan Times) Japan braces for a more intense typhoon season this year (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) How can you fight climate change in Japan? Learn how to talk about it. (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) Japan Meteorological Agency hazard maps Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Cars are seen trapped in the mud following flooding and landslides in Saka, Hiroshima Prefecture, in 2018. | AFP-JIJI

A series of court cases pertaining to same-sex marriage might be helping to shape the debate over whether or not Japan will act on legalization. Anika Osaki Exum speaks to two transgender individuals — one Japanese, the other American — on their experiences in Japan and what allowing same-sex marriage might mean for them. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramAnika Osaki Exum: Articles | Twitter Fumino Sugiyama: Twitter | BlogElin McCready: Twitter Read more: LGBTQ+ ‘familyship’ systems expand in Japan amid absence of national law (Anika Osaki Exum, The Japan Times) The religious right’s hidden sway as Japan trails allies on gay rights (Motoko Rich and Hikari Hida, The New York Times) Nagoya court rules not recognizing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional (Kyodo, Reuters) Transgender man helps Shibuya make a difference (Naohiko Hatta, Kyodo) We’re coming out: Tokyo Rainbow Pride is back, back, back, back, back again (Kat Joplin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

Another year, another G7 summit done and dusted. How did Prime Minister Fumio Kishida do? Well, he’s thinking of an early election if that’s any indication. Japan Times news chief Kanako Takahara joins us to discuss Kishida’s political position following the event, while Gabriel Dominguez fills us in on what actually went down in Hiroshima. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramKanako Takahara: Articles | Twitter Gabriel Dominguez: Articles | Twitter Read more: Can Kishida’s diplomatic success translate to domestic gains? (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times) Symbolism rich as G7 leaders visit Hiroshima A-bomb museum (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) ‘Quad’ urges Indo-Pacific ‘free of coercion’ as it unveils new measures (Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) At Hiroshima G7, Zelenskyy rallies support for defense of Ukraine (Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) G7 unlikely to sway ‘Global South’ to switch camps, ex-U.N. official says (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!Image Caption: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose for a photo after laying wreaths in front of the Cenotaph for the victims of the Atomic Bomb at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. | POOL / VIA AFP-JIJI

The Japanese government has set out guidelines in an effort to encourage more private sector research and funding in the field of fusion, and it has omitted a key word, “nuclear,” for fear of frightening a nuclear-wary population. Chris Russell joins us to discuss a trip to one of the country’s fusion research facilities. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Chris Russell: Articles | Twitter Read more: Amid renewed interest in nuclear fusion, Japan’s research reaches critical stage (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Japan adopts national strategy on nuclear fusion as competition intensifies (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Scientists achieve nuclear fusion breakthrough with blast of 192 lasers (Kenneth Chang, The New York Times) Whales help store carbon. Scientists are trying to figure out just how much. (Chris Russell, The Japan Times) The Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy (in Japanese) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: The vacuum vessel of the Large Helical Device installed at the National Institute for Fusion Science in Toki, Gifu Prefecture | COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR FUSION SCIENCE

Last year saw crime rates in Japan swing upward for the first time in 20 years. Writer Alex K.T. Martin joins us to discuss the new types of crime that are popping up, while news editor Tadasu Takahashi gives us a rundown on the language being used to describe it. Also, reporter Elizabeth Beattie catches up on what happened at the G7 finance meeting in Niigata last weekend. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Tadasu Takahashi: Articles Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | TwitterRead more: Transfer of Russian assets in focus at G7 finance ministers meeting (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) G7 finance chiefs set stage for Hiroshima summit with Ukraine and supply chains (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) Know the shady Japanese vocabulary that will help you avoid ‘dark’ part-time jobs (Tadasu Takahashi, The Japan Times) Are rising crime rates in Japan cause for alarm? (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A screen grab from a video taken by a witness shows masked robbers inside the watch shop in Tokyo's Ginza district on Monday evening. | KYODO

We went on a break and there was an assassination attempt, COVID-19 got a downgrade, and a pair of festivals shook up Kyoto. Several Japan Times writers join this week’s episode to help us play catch up with the headlines.Hosted by Shaun McKenna, with research from Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Twitter | InstagramGabriele Ninivaggi: Articles | Twitter Tomoko Otake: Articles | TwitterThu-Huong Ha: Articles | TwitterLance Henderstein: Articles | TwitterRead more: Kishida incident shows protecting VIPs from lone wolves remains a tall order (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) Japan steps into post-pandemic phase with scrapping of COVID measures (Tomko Otake, The Japan Times) A new music festival shakes up Kyoto’s staid atmosphere (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Yu Yamauchi gets very comfortable in isolation (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Amid the parties and schmoozing, socially conscious art is still Kyotographie’s main draw (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Yuriko Takagi’s “Threads of Beauty” was one of the highlights of this year’s Kyotographie. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

The team at Deep Dive is taking a needed break. In the meantime, we thought that we’d revisit this podcast from last year in which we speak with writer Craig Mod about the art of a good stroll. “Walking is everything.” he says. And if you’ve got the time and the inclination to do it, it is the best way to come to know the country, from beautifully preserved shrines and forests to the messier parts of suburban reality — pachinko parlors and all. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Craig Mod: Articles | Website Read more: Paying pilgrimage to the last kissaten on the Kumano Kodo (Craig Mod, The Japan Times) I walked 600 miles across Japan for pizza toast (Craig Mod, Eater) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: The Kumano Kodo is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Japan's Kii Peninsula. | GETTY IMAGES

The team at Deep Dive is taking a needed break. In the meantime, check out this podcast from December in which we speak with environment journalist Mara Budgen about the trouble facing the Japanese giant salamander.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramMara Budgen: Articles | TwitterRead more: The race to save the Japanese giant salamander (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: The Japanese giant salamander has been protected as a cultural property under Japanese law since it was declared a “special natural monument” in 1952. | GETTY IMAGES

The team at Deep Dive is taking a much-needed break. In the meantime, check out this podcast from November that explores how some Japanese companies are trying to make alcohol from old trees. Hosted by Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Jason Jenkins: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Read more: Wood spirits: How Japan made the world’s first liquor from trees (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: The Last brand of gin created by Ethical Spirits uses leftover sake lees. | COURTESY OF ETHICAL SPIRITS

Rene Redzepi’s groundbreaking restaurant Noma is known as one of the world’s best, so it came as a huge shock last year when he announced he would be shutting it down in 2024 — at least in its current form. The Danish chef and a team of over 100 have currently descended on Kyoto to create a culinary experience that has become one of the hottest tickets on the planet. Japan Times food critic Robbie Swinnerton joins us this week to discuss Noma, the Kyoto pop-up and where fine dining goes from here. Hosted by Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Jason Jenkins: Articles | Twitter | InstagramRobbie Swinnerton: Articles | Twitter | InstagramRead more/Hear more: At Noma Kyoto, chef Rene Redzepi plants ‘seeds’ for the future (Robbie Swinnerton, The Japan Times) Noma sets sights on Kyoto, and diners bite in droves (Robbie Swinnerton, The Japan Times) Noma, rated the world’s best restaurant, is closing its doors (Julia Moskin, The New York Times) Redzepi: 'I think the restaurant staff in Japan are some of the best on Earth' (Robbie Swinnerton, The Japan Times) Thomas Frebel — a top chef in a city of stars (Oscar Boyd, Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A colorful noren (traditional Japanese fabric curtain) hangs above the entrance to Noma Kyoto, separating it from the Ace Hotel. | PHOTO BY KOTARO TANAKA

The number of foreign residents in Japan recently surpassed the 3 million-mark. What does that mean for the Japanese corporations hiring them? Might they get an influx of new ideas and skilled employees? Consultant Rochelle Kopp joins us to discuss the sought-after “agent of change” and Anika Osaki Exum updates us on government plans to boost the number of foreign exchange students. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramAnika Osaki Exum: Articles | Twitter Rochelle Kopp: Articles | TwitterRead more: Help wanted: The (sleeper) agent of change (Rochelle Kopp, The Japan Times) Japan makes renewed push to internationalize higher education (Anika Osaki Exum, The Japan Times) Foreign residents in Japan hit record 3 million at end of 2022 (Jiji) Ryuichi Sakamoto calls for stop to redevelopment plan for Tokyo’s Jingu area (Kyodo) Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Commuters transfer at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo, one of the busiest stations in the world. | KYODO