S2019 E1 • Roof Tilers

If there's one thing that makes Japanese homes immediately identifiable, it's their roofs—or, to be more specific, the tiles that make up those roofs. These intricate tiles, which have been part of the Japanese landscape for well over a millennium, are the handiwork of roof tilers, who share the same passion for their craft as generations of tilers before them. On this edition of Japanology Plus, we take a look at the long history of Japan's roof tiles and meet the people dedicated to keeping the tradition alive.

Première diffusion : 8 janvier 2019

S2019 E2 • Japanophiles: Thomas Bertrand

This time on Japanophiles, French national Thomas Bertrand details how he decided to think outside the box in his quest to introduce Japanese culture to a global audience. Like many others before him, Bertrand first visited Japan for a sightseeing trip, but he eventually moved to Kyoto and started working in Osaka. During his long commute, Bertrand would brainstorm ideas for his blog, which he started writing back in 2005. He spent hours writing each post about what he found unique about everyday life in Japan, and as the years passed his readership grew to 800-1,000 views per post.

Première diffusion : 29 janvier 2019

S2019 E3 • Underground Shopping Streets

In Japan, the area surrounding many major train stations may seem busy at street level alone—but, as it turns out, that's only half the story. Underneath your feet is an entire alternate universe of shopping, dining and other human activity taking place in vast, labyrinthine underground shopping streets. This time on Japanology Plus, we journey underground to discover the history, structure and uses of these streets. To see a prime example of Japan's underground shopping streets, host Peter Barakan visits Umeda, Osaka, where several major train lines converge. In Japan, such areas are more than likely to be the home of an underground shopping street, and Umeda is no exception. In fact, opened in 1963, it's one of the earliest major streets. Peter Barakan descends underground to meet expert guest Yu Hiroi, who, in his research about disaster mitigation, has become well-versed in these shopping streets.

Première diffusion : 12 février 2019

S2019 E4 • Hidden Christians: Part 1

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Christianity was banned in Japan. From the government's viewpoint, the Christian faith had put down roots worryingly quickly after being introduced by Jesuits. During the ban, believers faced unimaginable persecution. Some, however, held onto their faith and devised ways to worship in secret. In the first half of a two-part special, Japanology Plus introduces the story of the Hidden Christians. Our guests include Kiyomi Morooka, a Catholic priest in Nagasaki.

Première diffusion : 19 février 2019