Begin Japanology - Episodes- Followmy.tv

Ekiden is a long-distance relay race. Instead of a baton, a sash is handed off. This sash is the secret to ekiden's widespread appeal in Japan; it is a symbo... read more

Batteries... We use them so often that we hardly even think about it. Mobile phones, cameras, portable audio players - even your car keys might have a batter... read more

People the world over love to enjoy a cup of coffee in a cafe. Japan is no different. Cafes first appeared in Japan in the late 19th century, and they hav... read more

Hot water bottles and pocket warmers are just the thing for Japan's cold winters. Hot water bottles first came to Japan from China in the 16th century. The f... read more

Ikebana: the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Each elegant arrangement is made with seasonal flowers and plants cut to perfection. The idea o... read more

Today, 80% of the world's excavators are built from Japanese designs. There's hardly a country in the world where Japanese excavators haven't made a contribu... read more

Forests have covered Japan since ancient times, and today they make up about 70% of the country's land area. Forests have long been vital to the Japanese way... read more

This month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Dhugal Lindsay is an A... read more

This month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Noh theater is one of ... read more

This month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. The taiko is Japan's o... read more

This month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Sake is an alcoholic d... read more

Kabuki is one of Japan's best-known traditional performing arts. It combines elements of theater, dance, and music. In 2009, it was recognized as a UNESCO In... read more

Wild vegetables have long been served at the Japanese dining table. With their great variety and low calorie count, they have recently become popular as heal... read more

Since ancient times, there has been a belief in Japan that horses are messengers of the gods, or even gods themselves. Samurai shared their fate with their l... read more

In Japan, stress is a part of life. Giving and receiving massages, particularly shoulder massages, is a Japanese institution. And over the last several decad... read more

The Shikoku Pilgrimage involves visiting 88 Buddhist temples spread across Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands. The route is 1,200 kilomete... read more

When you think of regional Japanese food with a long history, you might think high prices and refined presentation. But Japanese "regional fast food" is uniq... read more

The first department store appeared in Japan about 110 years ago. It evolved from a kimono shop. With their world-class goods, department stores soon beca... read more

The kimono is the traditional costume of Japan. Yet even the most sumptuous kimono is constructed quite simply: just a few strips of fabric sewn together. ... read more

Japan is home to 20% of the world's public aquariums. And it has all kinds, from places specializing in one kind of sea life - like jellyfish or salmon - to ... read more

Various sweets first came to Japan from the West, but the Japanese put their own distinctive stamp on them. Today, this "Western-style confectionery" is an i... read more

From ritual charm to children's toy, from star of the stage to life companion, dolls play a wide range of roles in Japanese society. Japanese dolls have t... read more

Mosses are some of the most primitive terrestrial plants. They have no roots - only leaves and stems. But moss is deeply embedded in the Japanese way of life... read more

Each summer, Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, becomes the stage for a drama that grips the entire nation. Here, high school ... read more

Today, there are about 400 planetariums in Japan. That's the second largest number in the world, after the US. The world's largest planetarium, with a dome 3... read more

Adam Booth is an English-born master of Nihonga, a kind of painting that uses traditional Japanese methods and styles. Nihonga requires special materials,... read more

Just about everyone in Japan knows Dave Spector. It's been almost 30 years since this American first appeared on Japanese television. He currently makes m... read more

Australian-born potter Euan Craig is a master of Mashiko ware. Mashiko ware originated in the town of Mashiko. Most Mashiko-ware ceramics are practical ve... read more

The shamisen is a traditional three-stringed Japanese musical instrument. Its unique sound has been enjoyed in Japan for centuries. When you play the sham... read more

The crested ibis (scientific name Nipponia nippon) has beautiful pale rosy feathers that have been loved in Japan for centuries. The crested ibis used to liv... read more

The abalone is a shellfish found along Japan's rocky coastline. Abalone have shallow, spiral shells that look like dishes, and they have been treasured by th... read more

Tokyo Station's 100th anniversary is approaching. With 28 tracks, and 3,000 trains arriving and departing each day, it is Japan's largest rail terminal. O... read more

Tokyo Skytree, completed this year, rises 634 meters. The world's tallest broadcasting tower, it's packed with the finest in Japanese engineering. Its ste... read more

Right on the doorstep of Japan's capital is Tokyo Bay. The shores of the bay are packed with industrial complexes and some of the world's most densely pop... read more

Potatoes, sweet potatoes, taros, yams - these are just some of Japan's imo, a word that describes starchy vegetables with enlarged underground roots and stem... read more

Many countries require signatures on contracts. But in Japan, name seals are used instead. From marriage registrations to car registrations, from birth certi... read more

About 5,000 species of mushroom can be found in Japan, a quarter of the world's known species. The matsutake is the gold standard of edible mushrooms. And... read more

Japan is a nation of vending machines - 5.2 million of them! You find them everywhere, selling all sorts of products. And many vending machines do much more ... read more

Scissors were first created in Europe and reached Japan in the 6th century. Japan has scissors for making kimonos and for preparing sweets. It has pruning... read more

The satsuma mandarin is a citrus fruit grown in Japan's warmer regions. Its perfect blend of sweet and sharp is loved by the Japanese, who consume 60 satsuma... read more

In summer and winter, seasonal gifts are sent to friends. At the New Year, young people receive envelopes with money inside. These are just some of the occas... read more