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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

Welcome to Deep Dive, a podcast looking beneath the surface of Japan. Episode 1 will debut on Nov. 14, 2018.

Deep Dive is a production from The Japan Times, the most widely read English news source in Japan.

Welcome to Deep Dive

Japan's Nationality Act forces young adults with multiple citizenships to choose their nationality by their 22nd birthday. The choice is so tough that many flout the law and instead choose to live in a legal gray zone. Oscar Boyd is joined by Japan Times staff writers Sakura Murakami and Cory Baird to discuss the issue.

1: Dual nationality in Japan

In the 1980s and '90s, Japan experienced one of history’s greatest economic bubbles. Fast cars, designer clothes, expensive nights out … Japan had money and lots of it. Then the bubble burst, leading to a hangover that the country has been unable to shake to this day.

Japan Times staff writer Alex Martin joins Oscar Boyd and Cory Baird to discuss the end of the bubble era and what it means for Japan.

Read the full article

2: The hangover that followed Japan's bubble era

What happens when a journalist comes forward with allegations of sexual harassment against one of Japan's top government officials? And how does the incident relate to the global MeToo movement?

Sayuri Daimon, managing editor of The Japan Times, joins Oscar Boyd and Cory Baird to explain Japan's MeToo movement and how it fits into broader gender issues in the country.

Read the full article on The Japan Times' website 
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3: MeToo rises in Japan

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.

Happy holidays

Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki dropped by the Deep Dive studios for a brief chat with Oscar Boyd about her journey into space and beyond.

Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki — to the stars and back again

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.

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4: Japan's changing demographics

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.

5: The legacy of the Tokyo riots

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

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Baye McNeil's Black Eye column on the Nissin ad • 

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Joel Tansey on Naomi Osaka's victory at the Australian Open • 

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Clip of Naomi Osaka talking at the Australian Open from Guardian Sport • 

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Naomi Osaka's victory proves to be a boon for her sponsors • 

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Naomi Osaka becomes world No. 1 in women's singles tennis rankings • 

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6: What a week for Naomi Osaka

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.

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Read more by Jesse Johnson

7: Kim and Trump — what's next?

Japan Times entertainment writer Patrick St. Michel discusses Shimura's life and death, and whether it will change the discussion around coronavirus in Japan. Hosted by Oscar Boyd.

Visit The JT's dedicated COVID-19 site for all the latest updates on the coronavirus situation from around Japan: http://jtimes.jp/covid19

Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out: jtimes.jp/deepdivesub. 

Read more: 

• Ken Shimura’s entertainment legacy spans generations (Patrick St. Michel) 

• Popular comedian Ken Shimura first Japanese celebrity to die from COVID-19 (Kyodo, The Japan Times)
• Comedian Ken Shimura tests positive for COVID-19 (Kyodo, The Japan Times)

Photo by Kyodo

45: Ken Shimura — Japan loses a comedy legend

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