Deep Dive from The Japan Times

This episode was made possible by Cicerone and its new guidebook "Hiking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mount Fuji," which features 27 walks and treks across the Japan Alps and in the Mt Fuji area. Order your copy now at bit.ly/hikingfuji.

29 Jul 202046min

The Japan Times' Alex Martin discusses the history of mask wearing and how it's changed from the Edo Period to the Spanish Flu to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read more:  The history behind Japan’s love of face masks (Alex Martin, The Japan Times) Masks helped keep Japan's COVID-19 death toll low, says expert panel (Bloomberg, The Japan Times) Face masks in a pandemic: From 'useless' to 'indispensable' (AFP-Jiji, The Japan Times) Japanese shoppers queue and crash website for Uniqlo's washable masks (The Japan Times) Thick, small, bulky: 'Abenomasks' arrive in Tokyo mailboxes (The Japan Times) 'It may save your life': Facing coronavirus surge, more U.S. states mandate masks (The Japan Times) Seven in 10 back mandatory use of masks in shops in England, poll finds (The Guardian) Follow Deep Dive on Twitter 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. Photo Getty Images

22 Jul 202027min

That's the theory put forward by our guest on Deep Dive this week, Matt Alt, the author of the recently published book, "Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World." Taking its title from a quote by Oscar Wilde, "Pure Invention" is a cultural history of postwar Japan, told through the lens of the country's superstar inventions and how they spread across the globe. Hosted by Oscar Boyd.  Read/hear more:  More from Matt Alt Pac-Man: How a faceless character based on eating changed video game history (Russell Thomas, The Japan Times) Founder of Hello Kitty creator Sanrio steps down after 60-year stint (The Japan Times) On Walkman's 40th anniversary, Sony opens retro exhibition in Ginza (Hinano Kobayashi, The Japan Times) Episode 50: How the 'murder hornet' got its name (Deep Dive) 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. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

15 Jul 202028min

Ryusei Takahashi gives us a run down on Yuriko Koike’s victory, as well as the growing number of cases of COVID-19 in the capital. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read/hear more:  Episode 54: Yuriko Koike and the race for Tokyo governor (Deep Dive) Koike cruises to win in Tokyo governor race, vowing to continue fight against virus  (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Koike's Tokyo win may be springboard back into national politics (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Opposition laments failure to unite after Koike wins big in Tokyo election (Kyodo) Koike urged to take lead in raising women's representation in politics (Toma Mochizuki, Kyodo)  Japan to ease coronavirus rules and allow events up to 5,000 people (Kyodo) Emergency warnings issued for Gifu and Nagano as torrential rain lashes central Japan (Kyodo) 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.

8 Jul 202023min

Alexander Dmitrenko, head of Asia sanctions at law firm Freshfields and co-representative director of the Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN), joins to discuss the case for same-sex marriage being made by his organization and the many others fighting for equality on the issue. Read/see more:  LLAN's viewpoint on marriage equality Fighting for the right to recognize same-sex marriage in Japan (Andrew McKirdy, The Japan Times) In a first, LGBT couples sue Japan over constitutionality of not recognizing same-sex marriage (Magda Osumi, The Japan Times) Japan's top bar association urges Diet to legalize same-sex marriage (The Japan Times) 900 LGBT couples have been certified in Japan since 2015, survey finds (The Japan Times) LGBT people in Japan worry that getting COVID-19 may result in outing (The Japan Times) Only 10% of firms in Japan have addressed LGBT issues, survey finds (The Japan Times) Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out: jtimes.jp/deepdivesub. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Photo by Getty Images

1 Jul 202033min

This week, staff reporter Ryusei Takahashi and domestic news head Kanako Takahara discuss the field of candidates,  incumbent Yuriko Koike's chances for reelection and the effects of COVID-19 on the campaign. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out: jtimes.jp/deepdivesub. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Read more:  As race to govern Tokyo kicks off, Olympics and coronavirus top agenda (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Koike’s first term as Tokyo governor: Eventful, but little to show for it (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Tokyo gubernatorial candidates face off in first joint news conference (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Great expectations: Has Koike delivered on parenting, gender and climate? (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) More on the 2020 Tokyo election (The Japan Times) Photo by Ryusei Takahashi

24 Jun 202035min

We hear from staff reporter Ryusei Takahashi about last weekend’s demonstrations in Tokyo, Black Lives Matter Kansai organizer Ayana Wyse about the Osaka marches and from Japan Times contributor Austin Freeman, who recounts his experiences of police harassment here in Tokyo. Read more:  Black Lives Matter Tokyo (Facebook) Black Lives Matter Osaka (Linktree) Protesters hit Tokyo and Osaka streets with rallies against racism and police brutality (Ryusei Takahashi & Eric Johnston, The Japan Times) Why we're marching for black lives in Japan (Ayana Wyse, The Japan Times) Once upon a time ... in Azabu Juban (Austin Freeman, The Japan Times) 'No justice, no peace': The sentiment that resonates in America, Japan and all over the world (Baye McNeil, The Japan Times) Naomi Osaka in no mood to back down on support for Black Lives Matter (Reuters, The Japan Times) Kurdish case becomes rallying cry for Japan protest against police (Mari Saito, Reuters) Video footage of the Kurdish man's encounter with the police (Twitter) Kurly in Kansai on Twitter Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out: jtimes.jp/deepdivesub. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Photo by Ryusei Takahashi

12 Jun 202038min

The Japan Times' Alyssa Smith and Tom Hanaway have been writing recaps of Terrace House and join Deep Dive to discuss Kimura's death, and what it might mean for the show going forward. Later, TELL Ambassador BJ Fox joins to talk about the mental health services offered by TELL Japan. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read more:  TELL Japan Pro wrestler and ‘Terrace House’ star Hana Kimura dies at 22 (The Japan Times) 'Terrace House' season canceled following death of Hana Kimura (Tom Hanaway, The Japan Times) Alyssa and Tom's 'Terrace House' recaps (The Japan Times) Deep Dive Episode 14: What's the deal with Terrace House? (The Japan Times) Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list  If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 119 in Japan for immediate help. The TELL Lifeline is available for those who need free and anonymous counseling at 03-5772-0992. You can also visit them at telljp.com. For those in other countries, visit www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html for a detailed list of resources and assistance. Photo by Getty Images via Kyodo

5 Jun 202049min