Deep Dive from The Japan Times

When former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot earlier this year, the incident shone a spotlight on the links his fellow Liberal Democratic Party members had with the controversial Unification Church. Kanako Takahara joins this week’s Deep Dive to discuss what’s behind a new bill regulating faith-driven donations, investigations into the church and whether these actions will be enough to save Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s job.  Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.  On this episode:  Kanako Takahara: Articles | Twitter Read more/Watch more:  In Japan, ties between politics and religion run deep (Will Fee, The Japan Times) Faith or manipulation? Debate grows over regulating Unification Church tactics (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Escaping the clutches of a cult (The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan) Get in touch:  Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. 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! For a transcript of the show, head to japantimes.co.jp. Photo:  A former follower of the Unification Church who goes by the pseudonym Sayuri Ogawa speaks to reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. | TOMOKO OTAKE

7 Des 202224min

Could drinking help the environment and rural communities? You might be surprised. Researchers in Japan have figured out how to make drinkable alcohol from wood, and the knock-on effects are much bigger than a hangover. This week, Alex K.T. Martin joins us to talk about the science — and sustainable process — behind the process that may bring cedar, oak and sakura to your next cocktail session.  Hosted by Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez.  On this episode:  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 deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. 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!  For a transcript of the show, head to japantimes.co.jp. Photo:  The huge trees that dot the Japanese countryside may be where you get your next cocktail. | JASON JENKINS

30 Nov 202225min

As news about Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter continues to emerge, we’ll talk to Elizabeth Beattie about how the social media platform’s Japan team has been affected. Are you thinking of jumping the Twitter ship? Well, tech reporter Daisuke Kikuchi later joins us to discuss what social media services are doing well in Japan before recapping some of the year’s big tech and tech-related stories.  Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.  On this episode:  Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | Twitter Daisuke Kikuchi: Articles | Twitter Read more:  Following mass Twitter Japan firings, some call for legal action (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) Elon Musk says Twitter is done with layoffs and ready to hire again (Alex Heath, The Verge) The Zenly implosion: Inside 6 months of tension, culture clash, and conflict (Andrew Deck, Rest of World) AI-generated art sparks furious backlash from Japan’s anime community (Andrew Deck, Rest of World)  Get in touch:  Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. 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! For a transcript of the show, head to japantimes.co.jp. Photo:  Elon Musk’s Twitter profile is seen on a smartphone placed against printed Twitter logos. | REUTERS

24 Nov 202225min

The Samurai Blue are headed for Qatar to play in this year’s World Cup. This year also marks 20 years since Japan co-hosted the event with South Korea and a lot has happened in this country’s soccer scene since then.  Sports writer Dan Orlowitz joins the show to catch us up on where Japan stands in the global soccer landscape, the controversies swirling around the host nation of Qatar, and how fandoms here interact with “the beautiful game.” Read More: Hajime Moriyasu announces Japan squad for World Cup (Dan Orlowitz, The Japan Times) All Japan Times 2022 FIFA World Cup coverage On this episode: Dan Orlowitz: Articles | Twitter Jason Jenkins: Articles | Twitter Transcript: We have recently begun experimenting with transcripts for episodes of Deep Dive. A full transcript of this episode is available on The Japan Times website. Find transcripts useful? Tips for improvement? Contact us to let us know. Announcements: Get in touch with Jason and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. If you like what you’ve heard, then please support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing this episode with someone you know. Follow us on Twitter! Photo: Japanese fans sing the national anthem before the start of a World Cup soccer match against Ivory Coast in 2014. | REUTERS/STEFANO RELLANDINI

16 Nov 202227min

Despite a recent spate of North Korean missile tests, Japan’s larger concerns have mainly focused on activities taking place to the south of the country — specifically, those involving China and Taiwan. This week on Deep Dive from The Japan Times we speak with senior staff writer Jesse Johnson about Japan’s new alliance with Australia, the recent increase in defense spending and, of course, North Korea. Afterward, staff writer Gabriel Dominguez discusses in more detail the recent Communist Party congress and how it is likely to affect Asia as a whole.    Read More: Spate of launches raises prospect of North Korean missile with multiple nuclear warheads (Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) Taiwan and looming security crises bring Japan and Australia closer together (Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) More ‘red,’ more capable and focused on Taiwan: Xi cements his grip on PLA (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) Concerns over China bringing Japan and Australia’s relations ever closer (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) What would be the signs China is preparing to invade Taiwan? (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) On this episode:  Jesse Johnson: Articles | Twitter Gabriel Dominguez: Articles | Twitter Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Announcements: Get in touch with Shaun and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. If you like what you’ve heard, then please support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing this episode with someone you know. Follow us on Twitter! Photo: In his congress address, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned China to be prepared for “strong waters, high waves and dangerous storms.” Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said something similar in an interview this summer. | GETTY IMAGES

9 Nov 202228min

If you’ve ever had to endure a Tokyo commute at rush hour, you may not get the sense that the Japanese are very happy. However, Japan Times senior staff writer Alex K.T. Martin has been keeping track of the mood of the nation, and he thinks the country could be a lot happier than we are usually led to believe.  On this week’s Deep Dive he talks about his visit in the summer to Japan’s “happiest town,” and why exercise and a strong sense of community may have them living an extra 10 years healthier.  Read More: Inside Japan’s happiest town (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Is Japan happy? (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Kodoku: The fine line between solitude and loneliness in Japan (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) On this episode:  Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter Transcript: We have recently begun experimenting with transcripts for episodes of Deep Dive. A full transcript of this episode is available on The Japan Times website. Find transcripts useful? Tips for improvement? Contact us to let us know. Announcements: Get in touch with Oscar and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show. Rate, review 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: Is Japan happy? Western surveys say not really, but is that because the definition of happiness is different here? | GETTY IMAGES

2 Nov 202224min

Despite having played a major role entertaining Chinese citizens following the Cultural Revolution, Japanese musicians are finding it increasingly difficult to grab a toehold in the region thanks to government censors and somewhat militant netizens.  This week, Japan Times contributing writer Patrick St. Michel joins the podcast to discuss notable moments in the two countries’ cultural exchanges, the intricacies of doing business in China and why Japanese music is having as tough of a time in the broader international market. Read more: Big in China, but can the party last for Japan’s artists? (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) China’s box office becomes a giant headache for Hollywood (Shirley Zhao and Christopher Palmeri, Bloomberg) How TikTok resurrected a Japanese pop star’s defining hit (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) On this episode: Patrick St. Michel: Articles | Twitter Jason Jenkins: Articles | Twitter Transcript: We have recently begun experimenting with transcripts for episodes of Deep Dive. A full transcript of this episode is available on The Japan Times website. Find transcripts useful? Tips for improvement? Contact us to let us know. Announcements: Get in touch with the Deep Dive team at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. If you like what you’ve heard, then please support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing this episode with someone you know. Follow us on Twitter! Photo: Eclectic Japanese rock band Chai has made some inroads into China's lucrative entertainment industry. | TERAO BUDHA

26 Okt 202225min

Not since 1853, when U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry forced Japan to open its borders to trade, has a reopening been so newsworthy. This time, instead of Black Ships, the country faced a trickle of tourists looking to hit up Kyoto and indulge in their pop culture obsessions.  Ahead of the reopening on Oct. 11, the Japanese people asked themselves what to do if the new arrivals didn’t wear masks, would this event precede a new wave of COVID-19, and will long-dormant sectors of the economy finally get a boost? Kanako Takahara joins us on this episode to explain the new guidelines for coming to Japan, and Will Fee talks about what he saw at Haneda Airport on opening day and what the legacy of the closed-border policy might be for foreign residents. Read more: Why Japan has been taking incremental steps to open its borders (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times) Confusing mix of policies sours start of domestic travel discount campaign (Kanako Takahara) Even as Japan’s border creaks open, unmarried couples still struggle to reunite (Will Fee and Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times) What to expect as Japan opens back up to the world (Will Fee, The Japan Times) Japan’s eagerly anticipated reopening gets off to a slow start (Will Fee, The Japan Times) ‘Undesirable consequences’ may await Japan’s well-meaning tourists (Owen Zeigler, The Japan Times) Japan has reopened. Instagrammers of the world, rejoice! (Spencer Cohen, The Japan Times) On this episode:  Kanako Takahara: Articles | Twitter  Will Fee: Articles | Twitter Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter Transcript: We have recently begun experimenting with transcripts for episodes of Deep Dive. A full transcript of this episode is available on The Japan Times website. Find transcripts useful? Tips for improvement? Contact us to let us know. Announcements: Get in touch with the Deep Dive team at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show. Rate, review 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: Tokyo's Harajuku neighborhood saw the return of tourists from last week after a significant easing of border controls that had been in place to protect against COVID-19. | Kyodo

19 Okt 202223min