Ahead of the global climate strikes on Nov. 29, Fridays for Future leader Takuro Kajiwara and 350.org field organizer Hinako Arao tell of their experiences as two of Japan’s most prominent climate activists, and why Japan’s climate movement is doing better than you might think. Hosted by Oscar Boyd . See more: Why aren't more young people fighting climate change in Japan? Extinction Rebellion climate protest arrives in Tokyo with 'die-in' at Yoyogi Park Deep Dive Episode 15: Japan — climate chan...
Nov 28, 2019•38 min•Ep. 31
The Hong Kong protests have been escalating recently, but what of the pro-democracy Hong Kongers living in Japan? Julia Bergin tells Oscar Boyd about the protestors she's been following in Tokyo, and why Japan should care about them and Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Julia Bergin is a researcher for The Little Red Podcast, find them here or on all major podcasting providers. More on this topic: • Demonstrators in Tokyo show support for Hong Kong protests over extradition bill (Ryusei Takaha...
Nov 20, 2019•31 min•Ep. 30
Daniel Hurst joins Oscar Boyd to discuss how ready Japan's capital city is. Also, today is Deep Dive's first birthday. Shaun McKenna turns the tables on Oscar to look back at the last year of the podcast. Read more : Tokyo braces for the earthquake of a century (Daniel Hurst, The Guardian) The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's disaster preparedness handbook Eight apps that could save your life in Japan (Disaster expert Robin Lewis, Medium) What to do before, during and after an earthquake (Kris Ko...
Nov 14, 2019•46 min•Ep. 29
Chris Broad of Abroad in Japan and Sharla of Sharmander discuss their careers as two of the most successful YouTubers in Japan. Based in northern Japan's Tohoku region, Chris and Sharla have over 2 million subscribers across their YouTube channels. Hosted by Oscar Boyd See more from Chris and Sharla: Abroad in Japan on YouTube Sharmander on YouTube Chris Broad's Abroad in Japan podcast Sharla on Twitter Chris Broad on Twitter More coverage of Japan's foreign YouTuber community: Turning YouTube i...
Oct 30, 2019•42 min•Ep. 28
Emperor Naruhito became Japan's 126th emperor at an enthronement ceremony on Oct. 22, 2019. Japan Times politics reporter Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to dicuss. Read/see more: Deep Dive podcast on the abdication of Emperor-Emeritus Akihito Sakura Murakami's article on Emperor Naruhito's enthronement Sakura Murakami's background explainer on the enthronement ceremony Masumi Koizumi's article on Emperor Akihito's enthronement ceremony in 1990 Official video of the enthronement ceremony Sakura...
Oct 23, 2019•23 min•Ep. 27
Typhoon Hagibis hit Japan on Oct. 12, causing widespread damage to Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures. This week, storm chaser James Reynolds , evacuee Andrew McKirdy and reporter Chisato Tanaka share their experiences of the typhoon. Hosted by Oscar Boyd . Take The Japan Times' podcast survey and help make Deep Dive better: http://jtimes.jp/dd Read/see more: The Japan Times' coverage of Typhoon Hagibis The Japan Times' disaster portal and emergency advice Chisato Tanaka's tweet thread of pos...
Oct 17, 2019•43 min•Ep. 26
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set the tone for this year’s extraordinary Diet session with a pledge to overhaul the nation’s social welfare system to create one beneficial for all generations. But, covering everything from South Korea-Japan relations to revision of Japan's constitution, the speech was not without controversy. JT politics reporter Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to discuss. Help the show, take our survey: http://jtimes.jp/dd Read more by Sakura Murakami Photo by Kyodo...
Oct 09, 2019•25 min•Ep. 25
The UK's Brexit deadline to leave the European Union is on October 31. Assuming it goes ahead, what does it mean for Japan if the UK leaves the EU? Chris Russell and Oscar Boyd discuss in this week's episode of Deep Dive. Also, Dan Orlowitz reports on Japan's epic victory over Ireland at the Rugby World Cup. Take our survey and help Deep Dive to improve! More reading: • Articles by Chris Russell • Articles by Dan Orlowitz • Articles by Oscar Boyd Photo by AFP-JIJI...
Oct 02, 2019•35 min•Ep. 24
In this week's episode, we talk to Alan Gilpin, Head of Rugby World Cup, about his expectations for the tournament (01:30), to The Japan Times' rugby experts Elliott Samuels and Andrew McKirdy about what to look out for in this year's tournament (09:42), and to triple-cancer survivor Patrick McIntosh, who has cycled from Twickenham Stadium in the U.K. to Japan to watch the games and raise awareness about cancer prevention (31:50). Hosted by Oscar Boyd for The Japan Times. Read more: The Japan Ti...
Sep 18, 2019•46 min•Ep. 23
While the world stews over the trade war between the USA and China, and the potential of a no deal exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, here in Japan a separate storm has been brewing: a growing trade dispute between Japan and its geographical neighbor — South Korea. Satoshi Sugiyama and Oscar Boyd discuss. Help Deep Dive out by taking our survey: http://jtimes.jp/dd More on the story: Japan removes South Korea from list of trusted trade partners as row between neighbors deepens S...
Sep 11, 2019•21 min•Ep. 22
On this week’s episode we discuss the life and recent death of Johnny Kitagawa, the secretive mega mogul behind some of Japan's biggest music acts, including SMAP, Arashi and Hey! Say! Jump. Despite his success, Kitagawa's career was not without controversy, and allegations of sexual abuse of underage employees have followed him for the past 30 years. Joining Oscar Boyd to discuss are Japan Times entertainment columnist Patrick St. Michel and W. David Marx , author of "Ametora: How Japan Saved A...
Aug 28, 2019•31 min•Ep. 21
This episode is sponsored 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 https://www.cicerone.co.uk/japan?refer=deep With thanks to Hannah Stevenson, Shaun McKenna and Dr. David Fedman.
Jul 24, 2019•46 min•Ep. 20
On July 1, Japan announced it would leave the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone. Hours after ships left ports across Japan, two minke whales were caught by whalers and brought ashore. Whalers are delighted by the policy shift, but many around the world have been left outraged and confused as to why Japan is so keen to continue its hunts. Staff writer Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to discuss. This episode is brought to you by Cicer...
Jul 10, 2019•23 min•Ep. 19
The last confirmed sighting of the Japanese wolf was in 1905, but is it really extinct? The Japan Times' Alex Martin has been chasing the story and joins Oscar Boyd to discuss the topic on this week's episode of Deep Dive. More on this: Read Alex's full article here Deep Dive on Twitter Alex Martin on Twitter Oscar Boyd on Twitter...
Jun 26, 2019•20 min•Ep. 18
Over 1 million people are thought to be hikikomori in Japan, meaning they've remained isolated at home for at least six consecutive months without going to school or work, and rarely interact with people from outside their own immediate family. Earlier this year, Andrew McKirdy interviewed several recovering hikikomori, and now joins Oscar Boyd to discuss the issue. Read more: • Andrew McKirdy's full article • The Japan Times' reporting on hikikomori Artwork by Julia Nascimento...
Jun 19, 2019•22 min•Ep. 17
On April 20, 2019, Hiro Iwamoto became the first blind man to sail the Pacific nonstop, completing a 55-day journey across the world’s largest ocean. In this episode, Hiro and his crew mate, Doug Smith, join Oscar Boyd to talk about their voyage. See more: Hiro and Doug's Voyage of Inspiration website Ariadne GPS — the app Hiro used to navigate across the Pacific Photo by Kyodo...
Jun 05, 2019•33 min•Ep. 16
With the G20 summit being hosted in Osaka at the end of June, and Prime Minister Abe pledging at Davos to put climate change at the top of the agenda, Deep Dive host Oscar Boyd is joined by Pelin Zorlu of climate change think tank E3G to discuss opportunities for Japan to lead on the issue, where it is lagging behind its counterparts, and to look at the country's continued relationship with coal. See more: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the World Economic Forum in Davos Taro Kano on climate change...
May 22, 2019•24 min•Ep. 15
Ahead of the new season of Terrace House — "Terrace House: Tokyo 2019-2020," released on Netflix on May 14 — Tom Hanaway and Patrick St. Michel join Oscar Boyd to discuss why the show has proved such a hit both here in Japan and internationally, and what we might be able to expect from the upcoming season. Read more by Tom Hanaway Read more by Patrick St. Michel Follow Deep Dive on Twitter Photo credit: Fuji Television Network / East Entertainment Terrace House theme song: "Dear Life" by Beck...
May 13, 2019•41 min•Ep. 14
This week we unpack one of the biggest stories of the past few months: the arrest and detainment of Carlos Ghosn, former CEO of car manufacturers Nissan and Renault. Joining Deep Dive this week to discuss the case is staff writer Satoshi Sugiyama (@SatoshiJournal). Hosted by Oscar Boyd (@omhboyd) for The Japan Times. Links: Follow Deep Dive on Twitter . Read Satoshi Sugiyama's reporting ....
Apr 24, 2019•20 min•Ep. 13
In 2016, Emperor Akihito announced he intended to step down from the throne because of his age and declining health. Now, with just two weeks until Akihito’s son Naruhito becomes the country’s 126th emperor and with the name of the new Reiwa Era announced, Deep Dive asks: What does it mean to be Emperor of Japan, and what can we expect from the next person to sit atop the Chrysanthemum Throne? Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to discuss. We had a lot of fun finding early Showa Era songs that run...
Apr 17, 2019•19 min•Ep. 12
When it was announced that Thomas Frebel, former head of recipe development at Copenhagen's Noma (four time winner of the World's Best Restaurant Award), would open his new restaurant, Inua, in Tokyo in the summer of 2018, the city's food lovers clamored for tables. Now, eight months after opening, how is the chef faring in a city with more Michelin stars than any other on Earth? Recorded at Inua in Tokyo. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Photo courtesy of Jason Loucas...
Apr 03, 2019•36 min•Ep. 11
What can we expect from Japan’s upcoming baseball season and how are some of the country’s star players faring across the Pacific in the Major Leagues? And crucially, how long will baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki last? The Japan Times’ baseball correspondent Jason Coskrey joins Deep Dive to discuss. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read more by Jason Coskrey and follow him on Twitter . Let us know your thoughts on the episode on Twitter @JapanDeepDive ....
Mar 20, 2019•30 min•Ep. 10
On the eighth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, staff writer Ryusei Takahashi shares his experience of a recent visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and Magda Osumi discusses the Tohoku region's recovery. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Related links Ryusei Takahashi's report on Fukushima . Magdalena Osumi's report on the 'Recovery Olympics.' Join us on Twitter . Photo Credit: Greg Webb / IAEA...
Mar 11, 2019•31 min•Ep. 9
Andrew McKirdy finds out the secrets of Japanese comedy with a little bit of help from professional manzai comedian Patrick Harlan. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read Andrew McKirdy's full article . See Patrick in action . Join us on Twitter .
Feb 27, 2019•40 min•Ep. 8
On this week's episode, Jesse Johnson discusses what the next meeting of the U.S. and North Korea might mean for Japan, and Shaun McKenna talks us through some of Japan's biggest summer music festivals. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Join us on Twitter Read more by Jesse Johnson
Feb 13, 2019•27 min•Ep. 7
On Monday, Naomi Osaka became the world's No. 1 women’s singles player after her victory against Petra Kvitova in Saturday’s Australian Open final. But her rise to the top also came with a dose of controversy. This week on Deep Dive, Oscar Boyd is joined by Baye McNeil and Joel Tansey to discuss Osaka's rise to the top and a recent case of whitewashing. Related links Baye McNeil's Black Eye column on the Nissin ad Joel Tansey on Naomi Osaka's victory at the Australian Open Clip of Naomi Osaka ta...
Jan 30, 2019•22 min•Ep. 6
50 years on from the riots at the University of Tokyo, where does activism in Japan stand now? Oscar Boyd is joined by JT staff writer Alex Martin who reported on the recent anniversary of the riots. Join us on Twitter here . For more on the story and Hiromi Watanabe's photographs of the riots, read Alex Martin's feature here .
Jan 23, 2019•24 min•Ep. 5
Their trials and tribulations offer insight into how Japan will cope with an expected influx of young, foreign workers in a graying country with limited experience in hosting blue-collar workers. Staff reporter Sakura Murakami joins Cory Baird and Oscar Boyd to discuss the issue. Read the full article here . Join us on Twitter .
Jan 09, 2019•19 min•Ep. 4
Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki dropped by the Deep Dive studios for a brief chat with Oscar Boyd about her journey into space and beyond.
Jan 01, 2019•11 min
Happy holidays to all our listeners! There's no episode this week, we're on holiday, too! Thanks for all the support so far., join us again in the New Year for more from Deep Dive.
Dec 25, 2018•1 min
