Deep Dive from The Japan Times The Japan Times
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- ニュース
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Looking beneath the surface of Japan.
We talk to Japan Times journalists and guests about current events and trends in Japan.
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Sakura stories revisited: Getting in the mood for hanami
We are revisiting some past content on the science, economics and culture of cherry blossom season. Most importantly, we talk about some of the best spots to check them out in the Tokyo and Osaka areas.
Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.
Read more:
In Japan, cherry blossom forecasting is a big deal. Warming is making it harder. (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times)
We invite you to get ready for this year’s cherry blossom parties (Cassandra Lord, The Japan Times)
Toshio Katsuki: ‘The cherry blossoms have been my vehicle to find new relationships’ (Himari Semans, The Japan Times)
Cherry blossoms are just as beautiful on a plate as a branch (Elizabeth Andoh, The Japan Times)
Japan’s economy to bloom as hanami season kicks off (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times)
Our guide to family hanami hot spots (Jason Jenkins, 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. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! -
A lawsuit puts alleged racial profiling by police on trial in Japan
Three residents with foreign roots have filed a lawsuit claiming Japanese police officers routinely target visible minorities with searches. In this week’s episode, we speak with the lawyer and one plaintiff about what prompted them to bring the case forward and what they hope to achieve with it.
Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.
On this episode:
Shaun McKenna: Articles | X
Read more:
Lawsuit filed in Tokyo over alleged racial profiling by police (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times)
Making Japanese history by being Black history (Baye McNeil, The Japan Times)
Brazilian files discrimination suit (Toshi Maeda, The Japan Times)
Racial profiling in Japan is prevalent but unseen, some residents say (Victoria Kim and Hisako Ueno, The New York Times)
Lawsuit to end racially discriminatory police questioning (CALL4.jp)
Stop racially discriminatory police questioning (change.org)
How Shohei Ohtani mastered the media (Jason Coskrey, The Japan Times)
How to be an all-star sports parent (Mai Yoshikawa, The Japan Times)
Ohtani is taken. It’s enough to make you cry. (Yukana Inoue, 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. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!
Motoki Taniguchi (left) and one of his clients, Maurice Shelton, hope their lawsuit can change alleged police practices involving stop-and-search. | LOUISE CLAIRE WAGNER -
[Rebroadcast] Traveling Okinawa with a broken heart
This week on Deep Dive, contributing writer and photographer Lance Henderstein reads us his article on traveling Okinawa during the rainy season.
Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.
On this episode:
Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram
Lance Henderstein: Articles | Instagram | Threads
Read/Listen more:
My annual pilgrimage to Okinawa (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times)
Akiko Mizuno: ‘Time moves forward. Photographers stop time.’ (Lance Henderstein, 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. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!
Photo: Aoi Suzuki’s son runs past a home in Taketomi on Iriomote Island (not to be confused with Taketomi Island, which lies to the east of Iriomote). The Suzukis run the Takemori Inn, one of the few hotels on Iriomote. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN -
A young 3/11 survivor and her vow to protect the ocean
At 12, Miku Narisawa experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ensuing and tsunami destroyed her home. Instead of running from the ocean, however, she is now working to try to protect it through her Odyssey Nature Japan initiative.
On this episode:
Miku Narisawa: Instagram | Odyssey Nature Japan
Read more/Listen more:
After 3/11, an environment education rethink takes shape in Japan (Francesco Bassetti, The Japan Times)
COP28, didn't the oceans deserve more attention? (Miku Narisawa, The Japan Times)
Japan is about to release 1.3 million tons of Fukushima wastewater. Should we be concerned? (Mara Budgen, Deep Dive from The Japan Times)
Anger at Fukushima’s wastewater; hope in its renewables (Gabriele Ninivaggi, Anika Osaki Exsum, Francesco Bassetti Deep Dive from The Japan Times)
Preparing for the hottest year Japan has ever seen (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times)
TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui
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. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!
Photo: Yasuhiro Otomo and Miku Narisawa during one of Odyssey Nature Japan's educational fishing programs. | ODYSSEY -
Hunting in Hokkaido; Taylor Swift comes to Tokyo
You probably don’t think of guns when you think of Japan, but Hokkaido’s hunters do. Hokkaido-based writer Justin Randall says newly proposed gun laws may make their lives more dangerous. Later, Shaun McKenna and Alyssa I. Smith discuss something less dangerous: Taylor Swift’s sold-out Tokyo shows.
Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.
On this episode:
Justin Randall: Articles | Linktree
Alyssa I. Smith: Articles
Read more/Listen more:
Hokkaido hunters say more firepower means more humane kills (Justin Randall, The Japan Times)
How are firearms regulated in Japan? (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times)
Bear goes the neighborhood? Japanese wildlife is on the move. (Alex K.T. Martin, Deep Dive from The Japan Times)
Most Japanese outside major urban areas say they do not engage with foreign nationals (Kyodo)
Taylor Swift slays her Tokyo era (Allan Richarz, The Japan Times)
Fans share love for Taylor Swift at sold-out Tokyo shows (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times)
Welcome to Japan, Taylor Swift fans. Please remain seated as you cheer. (Motoko Rich and Kiuko Notoya, The New York Times)
Seiji Ozawa’s boundless experiment (Chiho Iuchi, The Japan Times)
The story behind my favorite photo of Seiji Ozawa (Dan Szpara, 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. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!
Photo: Naoko Motooka began hunting 10 years ago. Her hobby is one way Hokkaido hopes to curb a current boom in the deer population. | JUSTIN RANDALL -
Japan’s take on immortality; problems in Palworld
Who wants to live forever? As scientists and tech billionaires attempt to tackle the problem of aging and death, we discuss Japanese ideas about immortality. Later, our games writers discuss the recent Palworld-Pokemon flare up.
On this episode:
Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | X
Owen Ziegler: Articles
Ann-Loy Morgan: Articles
Read more/Watch more/Play more:
Eternal pursuits: A history of Japanese quests for immortality (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)
Living until 100, if not forever, in good health (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times)
The digital beyond: Is an eternal existence within grasp? (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times)
Reverse aging mogul discusses regimen as he strives for the biological age of an 18-year-old (ABC News)
Overnight smash Palworld is much more than ‘Pokemon with guns’ (Ann-Loy Morgan, 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. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
カスタマーレビュー
Racial Profiling
I can’t believe this claim. I myself was questioned about my bicycle many years ago after I arrived in Chiba. While I was surprised to be stopped and show my gaijin-card, I was definitely not singled out. The police just wanted to know who I was and where I lived if something more serious happened and if I understood the Japanese language, culture and values. I was prepared in advance that such a possibility might occur, as I arrived on the JET Programme and we held roundtable discussions on this and other hot-topics.
Unfortunately these days many people can only see their own realities through the lens of race. That is a very sad statement.
Great platform and love it!
This podcast is really good to stay updated about Japan. Very informative and eye opening.
A topic suggestion
I hope the financial scandal within the LDP will be covered soon. I am interested in learning about Japan’s culture and tradition but wish to know more about politics as well. (Would this topic lose some listeners?)