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 | Instagram Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | Twitter Johan Brooks: Instagram Read more: After last train in Tokyo, a...
Aug 24, 2023•22 min•Ep. 169
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 N...
Aug 10, 2023•23 min•Ep. 168
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 ba...
Aug 02, 2023•28 min•Ep. 167
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: Arti...
Jul 26, 2023•35 min•Ep. 166
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 | Instagram Alex 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 (Al...
Jul 19, 2023•32 min•Ep. 165
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 | Twi...
Jul 12, 2023•31 min•Ep. 164
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 | Instagram Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Read/Listen more: Sixteen hours in Marina ...
Jul 05, 2023•35 min•Ep. 163
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/W...
Jun 28, 2023•20 min
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...
Jun 21, 2023•23 min•Ep. 162
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 | Instagram J...
Jun 14, 2023•23 min•Ep. 161
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 | Instagram Anika Osaki Exum: Articles | Twitter Fumino Sugiyama: Twitt...
Jun 07, 2023•32 min•Ep. 160
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 | Instagram Kanako Takahara: Articles | Twitter Gabr...
May 31, 2023•28 min•Ep. 159
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 i...
May 24, 2023•20 min•Ep. 158
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 | Instagram Alex K...
May 17, 2023•23 min•Ep. 157
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 | Instagram Gabriele Ninivaggi: Articles | Twitter Tomoko Otake: Articles | Twitter Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter Lance Henderstein: Articles | T...
May 10, 2023•33 min•Ep. 156
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...
May 03, 2023•35 min
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 | Instagram Mara Budgen: Articles | Twitter Read more: The race to save the Japanese giant salamander (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@jap...
Apr 26, 2023•29 min
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 deepdive...
Apr 19, 2023•25 min
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 her...
Apr 13, 2023•30 min•Ep. 155
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 | Instagr...
Apr 05, 2023•26 min•Ep. 154
He launched a career on YouTube running his mouth on celebs, but in less than a year Yoshikazu “GaaSyy” Higashitani has gone from that to running successfully for office to running from the law. Politics reporter Gabriele Ninivaggi joins the show this week to discuss what this parliamentary upstart’s rise and fall says about how politics is done in Japan. And, who exactly are the Party Politician Girls who replaced him? Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez . On this episode: Shaun...
Mar 29, 2023•25 min•Ep. 153
It’s been three years since people in Japan could welcome spring with traditional picnics under the country’s millions of cherry trees. This week Kathleen Benoza explains how much money is at stake during the season, while Thu-Huong Ha and Alyssa I. Smith discuss the science, symbolism and culture surrounding the cherry blossoms in Japan. On this episode: Kathleen Benoza: Articles | Twitter Alyssa I. Smith: Articles Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter Jason Jenkins: Articles | Twitter | Instagram R...
Mar 23, 2023•28 min•Ep. 152
Last month, it was announced that Haruki Murakami would release a new full-length novel. True fans, also known as “Harukists” may note that the title for the upcoming work is the same as one of the author’s past “failures.” Harukist Daniel Morales joins the show to decipher clues as to what is going on. Later, Patrick St. Michel and Shaun McKenna discuss their thoughts on a BBC documentary on controversial J-pop titan Johnny Kitagawa. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez . On this...
Mar 15, 2023•33 min•Ep. 151
This week marks the 12th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear meltdowns that took place in its wake. Alex K.T. Martin joins us to discuss where Fukushima is in terms of its recovery and drive to repopulate. Of course, before they bring people back, they’ll need to deal with the wild animals that have moved in. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez . On this episode: Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Shaun McKenna: Twitter | Instagram Read mo...
Mar 08, 2023•23 min•Ep. 150
You may know Yayoi Kusama for her polka-dotted pumpkins or Insta-ready exhibitions, but this artist from Matsumoto has a long history of radical forms of expression. This week, culture critic Thu-Huong Ha joins the podcast to explore Kusama’s past and the latest stage in her evolution. Hosted by Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez . On this episode: Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Read more: Is this Yayoi Kusama's final evolution? (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Get in touch: ...
Mar 02, 2023•25 min•Ep. 149
On the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Gabriel Dominguez joins the podcast to talk about the effects this war in Europe has had on Japan. We then speak to Japanese photojournalist Saphryn Shikaze , who is on the front lines of the conflict. Then, we ask Ukrainian student Natalia Makohon about her experience as an evacuee here in Tokyo. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez . On this episode: Gabriel Dominguez: Articles | Twitter Saphryn Shikaze: Homepage | Twitter | In...
Feb 22, 2023•28 min•Ep. 148
After a large earthquake struck Turkey and Syria last week, those of us living in Japan can’t help but worry about something similar happening here. This week, we speak to Prof. Hitoshi Abe , an architect who has some ideas on how to start designing our cities to better deal with such inevitable disasters. Hosted by: Shaun McKenna and Jason Jenkins , and produced by Dave Cortez . On this episode: Hitoshi Abe: Website Read more/Watch more: How researchers in disaster-prone Japan and the Pacific a...
Feb 15, 2023•22 min•Ep. 147
The reviews are in, lab-grown meat is … good? This week, Oscar Boyd gives us a review of his cultured chicken meal and runs down the environmental implications of such an endeavor, while Tomoko Otake gets us caught up on where Japan stands in the great race to replicate beef. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez . On this episode: Tomoko Otake: Articles | Twitter Oscar Boyd: Articles | Twitter Read more/Watch more: Japanese researchers pushes the boundaries of lab-grown “real” mea...
Feb 08, 2023•21 min•Ep. 146
As 2022 wrapped up, the Japanese government let forth a flurry of defense policy announcements. Those were followed by a five-nation tour by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and talk of a tax hike to pay for it all. Gabriel Dominguez joins the podcast this week to try to help us make sense of it all. Hosted by Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez . On this episode: Gabriel Dominguez: Articles | Twitter Read more/Watch more: Kishida and Biden meeting heralds an alliance in lock-step — but chall...
Feb 01, 2023•28 min•Ep. 145
From noodle stands to Michelin-starred restaurants, Japan has some of the most amazing food in the world. Food writer Robbie Swinnerton has been covering Tokyo’s culinary scene for decades, so for this week’s episode we asked him to pick out a few standout meals from last year. Hosted by Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez . On this episode: Robbie Swinnerton: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Read more/Watch more: Tokyo Food File (Robbie Swinnerton, The Japan Times) The Japan Times Destinati...
Jan 25, 2023•28 min•Ep. 144
