Deep Dive from The Japan Times

In Episode 1 of Recultured, we look at how 2020 ground to a halt through the lens of "Terrace House," and hear from stars of the show about its dramatic ending amid the arrival of COVID-19. Guests on this episode: Aya Nogami, international music consultant Eric Margolis, Japan Times contributor Farrah Hasnain, Japan Times contributor Kai Kobayashi, Terrace House member Lauren Rose Kocher, co-founder Zaiko PTE Patrick St. Michel, Japan Times contributor Tom Hanaway, Japan Times social editor Violetta “Vivi” Polt, Terrace House member Sponsor: Recultured is brought to you by Food-e, Tokyo's first gourmet restaurant delivery service. Food-e delivers from some of Tokyo's finest restaurants, such as Nobu Tokyo and The Oak Door Steakhouse, to homes, offices and parties. Premium dining — now at your fingertips and available exclusively at www.food-e.jp.  TELL: If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency in Japan, please call 119 for immediate assistance. The TELL Lifeline is available for those who need free and anonymous counseling at 03-5774-0992. For those outside Japan, visit https://bit.ly/Suicide-Hotlines for a detailed list of resources and assistance. Credits: This episode was hosted by Shaun McKenna and Alyssa I. Smith. It was written by Patrick St. Michel and Oscar Boyd, with extra help from our intern Tadasu Takahashi. It was produced by Oscar Boyd. Our theme music was by LLLL, the sound of Tokyo, and this episode was recorded at the Temple University Japan Campus in Sangenjaya, Tokyo. Illustrations by Ming Ong. Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times.

24 Joulu 202030min

In Episode 2 of Recultured, we look at what happened when the world was made to stay at home, and how one game from Nintendo provided us an escape into a fantasy land full of fishing, decorating and bug collecting.  Guests on this episode: Chris Broad, YouTuber and podcaster, Abroad in Japan  Claire Williamson, Japan Times food and lifestyle editor Farrah Hasnain, Japan Times contributor Imad Khan, New York Times contributing writer  Jay Kogami, writer for All Digital Music and Music Ally Japan Ronald Taylor, writer for Arama Japan and Japan Times contributor Tom Hanaway, Japan Times social editor Tomohiro Osaki, Japan Times features writer Sponsors: Recultured is brought to you by Food-e, Tokyo's first gourmet restaurant delivery service. Food-e delivers from some of Tokyo's finest restaurants, such as Nobu Tokyo and The Oak Door Steakhouse, to homes, offices and parties. Premium dining — now at your fingertips and available exclusively at www.food-e.jp.  This episode is sponsored by Kokoro Care Packages, delivering curated care packages from Japan, filled with locally made, premium-quality, artisanal Japanese foods. For Deep Dive listeners, use the code "DEEPDIVE" to get a 10% discount off your first order of a subscription purchase at kokorocares.com.  Credits: This episode was hosted by Shaun McKenna and Alyssa I. Smith. It was written by Patrick St. Michel and Oscar Boyd, with extra help from our intern Tadasu Takahashi. It was produced by Oscar Boyd. Our theme music was by LLLL, and this episode was recorded at the Temple University Japan Campus in Sangenjaya, Tokyo. Illustrations by Ming Ong. Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times.

23 Joulu 202033min

In Episode 3 of Recultured, we discuss what happens when the government lifts Japan's state of emergency, and the country attempts to adjust to a "new normal." Pop group NiziU’s song “Make You Happy” provides an upbeat soundtrack for the summer, and hints at bigger changes underway. Guests on this episode: Aya Nogami, international music consultant Chris Broad, YouTuber and podcaster, Abroad in Japan  Hannah Lee, writer for Arama Japan James Hadfield, Japan Times culture writer Jay Kogami, writer for All Digital Music and Music Ally Japan Seimei Kawai, co-founder of Trekkie Trax Ronald Taylor, writer for Arama Japan and Japan Times contributor Music discussed in this episode: "Make You Happy" by NiziU — Japan's summer anthem "Racing into the Night" by Yoasobi — Japan's stay-at-home song "I'm Good" by Hilltop Hoods — Shaun's pick of the pandemic  "Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion — Alyssa's pent-up energy release Sponsor: Recultured is brought to you by Food-e, Tokyo's first gourmet restaurant delivery service. Food-e delivers from some of Tokyo's finest restaurants, such as Nobu Tokyo and The Oak Door Steakhouse, to homes, offices and parties. Premium dining — now at your fingertips and available exclusively at www.food-e.jp. Credits: This episode was hosted by Shaun McKenna and Alyssa I. Smith. It was written by Patrick St. Michel and Oscar Boyd, with extra help from our intern Tadasu Takahashi. It was produced by Oscar Boyd. Our theme music was by LLLL, and this episode was recorded at the Temple University Japan Campus in Sangenjaya, Tokyo. Illustrations by Ming Ong. Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times.

22 Joulu 202034min

In Episode 4 of Recultured, we look to the movie releases of Ufotable's "Demon Slayer" and Kyoto Animation's "Violet Evergarden" for hope, as we wait out the long winter for a vaccine and brighter days in 2021. Guests on this episode: Hannah Lee, writer for Arama Japan Kim Morrissy, Anime News Network Tokyo correspondent Lauren Rose Kocher, co-founder Zaiko PTE Matt Schley, Japan Times anime writer Sponsor: Recultured is brought to you by Food-e, Tokyo's first gourmet restaurant delivery service. Food-e delivers from some of Tokyo's finest restaurants, such as Nobu Tokyo and The Oak Door Steakhouse, to homes, offices and parties. Premium dining — now at your fingertips and available exclusively at www.food-e.jp.  Credits: This episode was hosted by Shaun McKenna and Alyssa I. Smith. It was written by Patrick St. Michel and Oscar Boyd, with extra help from our intern Tadasu Takahashi. It was produced by Oscar Boyd. Our theme music was by LLLL, the sound of Tokyo, and this episode was recorded at the Temple University Japan Campus in Sangenjaya, Tokyo. Illustrations by Ming Ong. Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times.

21 Joulu 202032min

Send us your stories about what got you through the challenges of 2020. It could be new hobbies you started, different things you discovered online, unexpected moments that brought you happiness, or things you did for other people. Record a voice memo on your phone — the inbuilt app is totally fine — and tell us your story along with your name and where you're recording from.  Once you're done, just email your recording to deepdive@japantimes.co.jp with the subject line “So long, 2020.”  We’d love to get those by Wednesday, December 23 to play around the New Year.

9 Joulu 20202min

Our guest is Sheila A. Smith, a senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and the author of books including “Japan Rearmed: The Politics of Military Power” and “Japan's New Politics and the U.S.-Japan Alliance.” Sheila joined us from Washington earlier this week to give her take on what a Biden presidency might mean for Japan going forward, where the U.S. and Japan might find new areas for cooperation, and the growing pressure on the alliance from an increasingly demanding China. Read more: After sending congratulatory note, Suga ponders his approach to Biden (Satoshi Sugiyama and Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) Suga says he got Biden's backing on Senkakus in first phone talks (Satoshi Sugiyama, The Japan Times) Blunt claim on Senkakus overshadows progress in China-Japan meeting (Satoshi Sugiyama, The Japan Times) Japan’s ‘misunderstanding’ about a Biden administration (Shin Kawashima, The Japan Times) Japan looks to past ties with Trump and Biden for glimpses of the future (Eric Johnston, The Japan Times) After unpredictable Trump, Biden may keep Japan in trade quagmire (Kyodo via The Japan Times) On this episode:  Sheila A. Smith: Twitter | Website Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden delivers a speech in front of people affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, at Sendai Airport on Aug. 23, 2011. | KYODO

2 Joulu 202035min

Our guest today is Alex Kerr, best known for his books “Lost Japan” and “Dogs and Demons.” Through his work in Shikoku’s Iya Valley and Kyoto’s teahouse districts, Alex has become one of the country’s pioneers of new models of heritage-based and sustainable tourism.  On this episode we’ll be discussing what a sustainable future for Japan’s tourism could look like, and whether Covid-19 offers a space to reflect and reimagine the industry, or whether the country will regress to old habits and unsustainable practices as soon as it’s over.  Read more:  Foreign visitors drop 99% from year earlier for sixth straight month (The Japan Times) Getting the wheels back on Japan's travel industry (Alex Martin, The Japan Times) Tourism's effect on historic cities and sites in focus as global conference kicks off in Kyoto (Eric Johnston, The Japan Times) Japan is struggling to deal with the foreign tourism boom (Philip Brasor, The Japan Times) Photo Essay: Tokyo without tourists (Oscar Boyd, The Japan Times) Pandemic derails Abe's strategy to revive regional Japan with tourism (Reuters) On this episode:  Alex Kerr: Chiiori Trust | Website Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Finding the Heart Sutra Alex Kerr's new book "Finding the Heart Sutra" will be published Nov. 26, 2020, by Penguin. This book brings together Buddhist teaching, talks with friends and mentors, and acute cultural insights to probe the universe of thought contained within the "Heart Sutra." Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Pre-pandemic, tourists walk along Matsubara-dori street approaching Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. | BLOOMBERG

25 Marras 202031min

Gearoid Reidy, a senior editor at Bloomberg, joins us to discuss whether we might see a new state of emergency and the hope provided by the recent news about vaccines. Read more: Tokyo reports record-breaking daily cases as capital prepares for highest alert level (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) COVID-19 updates (The Japan Times) Hokkaido raises alert level for Sapporo as virus surge continues (The Japan Times) 84% concerned about record coronavirus cases in Japan, poll finds (The Japan Times)  How the Moderna and Pfizer coronavirus vaccines stack up (The Japan Times) Japan approves bill to offer all residents free COVID-19 vaccines (The Japan Times) Japan was expecting a coronavirus explosion. Where is it? (Gearoid Reidy) On this episode: Gearoid Reidy: Twitter | Articles Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Mask-wearing pedestrians are reflected in a board in Tokyo. | AFP-JIJI

18 Marras 202030min