Deep Dive from The Japan Times

Deep Dive from The Japan Times

Author: The Japan Times Language: English Episodes: 100
There’s always more to the story than the headlines suggest. Deep Dive from The Japan Times goes beyond the surface, offering a richer, more nuanced look at the forces shaping contemporary Japan and its role in the world. Each episode is built on the trusted journalism of The Japan Times, but here the conversation expands. You’ll hear reporters and editors discuss the deeper context behind their articles, alongside candid interviews with experts, analysts, and people with firsthand experience. The discussions naturally span the interconnected realms of politics, economics, and social change, while also making room for the cultural currents-from film and literature to everyday life-that define the national mood. This isn’t a recap of the news; it’s an exploration of the ‘why’ and the ‘how.’ Tuning into this podcast means gaining a clearer understanding of complex issues, from demographic shifts and technological innovation to regional diplomacy and evolving artistic expressions. It’s for anyone curious about the intricate realities of a country often summarized in simple terms. The result is a thoughtful, informative listen that connects the dots between news, business, culture, and society, providing a comprehensive audio companion to one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
Episodes
153: The Japanese parliament expels some GaaSyy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
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 Gabriel…
152: The cherry blossoms are here and business is blooming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:06
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, whi…
150: Moving to Fukushima? You’ll have to kick out the boars first [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:52
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…
149: Infinity and beyond: Yayoi Kusama’s next evolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:27
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 podca…
148: A Japanese photographer heads to Ukraine; a student flees to Tokyo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:25
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…
147: Living with disaster: Building the cities of the future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:38
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 ide…
145: The sword, the shield and the new face of Japan's military [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:56
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…
144: Japan on a plate: Our food critic reveals his favorite spots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:33
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…