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The Japan Times

Looking beneath the surface of Japan.

We talk to Japan Times journalists and guests about current events and trends in Japan.

Deep Dive from The Japan Times

What do street-kid influencers, fantasy boyfriends and around 280 bars crammed into six allies have in common? They are all a part of Kabukicho, an area of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward that is either a tourist trap or sleazy red-light district depending on who you ask. This week, join us to hear stories from one of Japan's most infamous neighborhoods. 

Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.

On this episode: 

Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | Instagram

Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | X 

Moeka Iida: X 

Yukana Inoue: Articles 

Read more: 

 • 
Christmastime in Shinjuku Golden Gai • (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)

 • 
How Japan’s host clubs trap young women under mountains of debt • (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times)

 • 
The controversial cult of the host club in Japan • (Moeka Iida, The Economist)

 • 
Toyoko Kids: The lonely street children of Tokyo • (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! 

Photo: One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. | GETTY IMAGES

195: Kabukicho: Tokyo's 'stadium of desire'

Japan’s summer music festivals survived the pandemic but they now face new threats: extreme heat, a weak yen and aging audiences. Music writer Patrick St. Michel joins us to talk about the “Big Four” festivals and how these challenges are changing the way we have fun during summer. 

Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.

On this episode: 

Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram

Patrick St. Michel: Articles | Twitter 

Read/watch more: 

 • 
Can Japan’s summer music festivals adapt to a post-pandemic reality? • (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times)

 • 
Is Creepy Nuts’ catchy, rapid-fire ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Bong’ the song of the year? • (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times)

 • 
Japan’s summer offerings include jazz and classical music festivals • (Alyssa I. Smith, The Japan Times)

 • 
“Scream inside your heart” • (YouTube)

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: You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival. | JAMES HADFIELD

194: Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

On this week’s Deep Dive, we speak to Alex K.T. Martin who has done a series of pieces exploring what lies beneath the surface of Tokyo. Hidden rivers, ancient artifacts and crumbling infrastructure are just a few of the discoveries he made during his reporting. And while it’s important to know how we’re going to manage these things as climate change — or more importantly, the possible flooding that comes with it — worsens, sometimes it’s just fascinating to learn about the city beneath our feet. 

Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.

On this episode: 

Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram

Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter 

Read/watch more: 

 • 
Tracing Tokyo’s hidden rivers • (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)

 • 
Tokyo’s hidden rivers • (The Japan Times YouTube channel)

 • 
The complications in digging up Tokyo’s ancient past • (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)

 • 
Tokyo underground: Exploring what lies beneath the world largest city • (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)

 • 
Why half of Japan’s cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 year • (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. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! 

Photo: A person walks among thegiant columns supporting the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Saitama Prefecture. | JOHAN BROOKS

193: Tokyo underground: The city beneath our feet

Japan is known for its convenience, but if you want to see some of the best artwork the country has to offer you’ll need to travel way off the beaten path. It involves trekking, sweating and, on the odd occasion, you don’t even know if the art will be there when you arrive. This week, writer Thu-Huong Ha is our tour guide into the world of Japan’s inconvenient art movement. 

Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.

On this episode: 

Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram

Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter | Instagram

Read more: 

 • 
Why is the most exciting art in Japan so hard to get to? • (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times)

 • 
A list of Japan's remote art sites • (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times)

 • 
Sixteen hours in Marina Abramovic’s nightmare hotel • (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times)

 • 
Japan’s birth rate hit new low in 2023 • (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times)

 • 
Tokyo government to launch dating app in bid to boost birth rate • (AFP-Jiji)

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: Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin,” once the victim of high waves that dragged it into the sea, sits at the end of a pier on the south side of Naoshima. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

192: The sweaty pleasure of Japan’s inconvenient art

With temperatures rising we can all feel how climate change is affecting our lives, but what if we could hear it too? This week, Japan Times climate editor Chris Russell joins us to discuss what researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology are listening to when it comes to biodiversity on the island.

Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.

On this episode:

Shaun McKenna: Articles | X 

Chris Russell: Articles | X

Read more: 

 • 
Hearing the impact of climate change in Okinawa, one bird at a time • (Chris Russell, The Japan Times)

 • 
Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990 • (Bloomberg, Reuters)

 • 
Weary of overtourism, Japan town blocks one popular view of Mount Fuji • (Caroline Gardin, AFP-JIJI)

 • 
Many COVID experts in Japan harassed after speaking to media, survey shows • (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times)

 • 
The politicians moving Japan forward on climate change • (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times)

 • 
Why half of Japan’s cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 years • (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. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! 

Photo: Toshihiro Kinjo (center), a research support technician at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, inspects an audio recording device in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 3 as Masako Ogasawara, a research support specialist at OIST, looks on. | CHRIS RUSSELL

191: What does climate change sound like?

With an increase in tourists heading to these parts, some may be wondering if Japan is a safe destination for those with disabilities. If you’re concerned, Josh Grisdale from the website Accessible Japan is here to help. Check out this past interview with him on everything from accessibility in Tokyo to dealing with trains and the country’s shifting attitudes. 

Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.

Read more: 

Accessible Japan
 • 
Breaking down barriers • (Andrew McKirdy, The Japan Times)

 • 
Tokyo named among the world’s best destinations for disabled travelers • (William Lang, The Japan Times)

 • 
Behind the push to improve universal access in Japan • (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times)

 • 
New film honors life and legacy of disability pioneer Mark Bookman • 

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: From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers. | REUTERS

Japan is doing better on accessibility than you think

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!

190: Sakura stories revisited: Getting in the mood for hanami

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

189: A lawsuit puts alleged racial profiling by police on trial in Japan

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

[Rebroadcast] Traveling Okinawa with a broken heart

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

188: A young 3/11 survivor and her vow to protect the ocean

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 in the breaks in this episode. In order they were:

 • "Southern Bride" by Meiko Takamine

 • "Koiwa Umibe De" by Mitsuko Watanabe

 • "Sendo Kawaiya" by Kikutaro Takahashi

Thanks to Dr. Kenneth Ruoff, author of several books on Japan's Imperial Family, for contributing to this podcast.

12: Out with the old Emperor, in with the new

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