Begin Japanology S05E06 · Excavators

Overview

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 contribution. And Japanese engineers continue to design innovative excavators - ones that can do much more than just shovel dirt. One state-of-the-art model has a versatile pair of arms; it's essentially a robot! And some models have such precise control that they can hold brushes and write Japanese calligraphy! One watershed moment in Japan came when a new kind of excavator greatly accelerated infrastructure development in the run-up to the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. In Cambodia, where land mines left over from past conflict often injure and kill people, one Japanese man modified an excavator so that it could save lives. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is excavators. Through an examination of these machines, we'll dig deep into Japanese craft expertise.

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Episodes

1. 1 1. Ekiden2012-01-12 · 28mEkiden 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 symbol of perseverance and s
2. 2 2. Batteries2012-01-19 · 28mBatteries... 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 battery inside. Japan makes 4
3. 3 3. Cafes2012-01-26 · 28mPeople 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 have continued to evolve with
4. 4 4. Hot Water Bottles and Pocket Warmers2012-02-02 · 28mHot 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 first pocket warmers are
5. 5 5. Ikebana2012-02-09 · 28mIkebana: the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Each elegant arrangement is made with seasonal flowers and plants cut to perfection. The idea of using flowers as decorat
6. 6 6. Excavators2012-02-16 · 28mToday, 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 contribution. And Japanese engi
7. 7 7. Woods & Forests2012-02-23 · 28mForests 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 of life. Even the cent
8. 8 8. Japanophiles - Dhugal Lindsay2012-03-01 · 28mThis month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Dhugal Lindsay is an Australian haiku poet. Lind
9. 9 9. Japanophiles - Richard Emmert2012-03-08 · 28mThis month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Noh theater is one of Japan's great traditional
10. 10 10. Japanophiles - Art Lee2012-03-15 · 28mThis month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. The taiko is Japan's own traditional style of dr
11. 11 11. Japanophiles - Philip Harper2012-03-29 · 28mThis month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Sake is an alcoholic drink brewed from rice and
12. 12 12. Kabuki2012-04-05 · 28mKabuki 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 Intangible Cultural Herit
13. 13 13. Wild Vegetables2012-04-12 · 28mWild vegetables have long been served at the Japanese dining table. With their great variety and low calorie count, they have recently become popular as health foods. But they also
14. 14 14. Horses2012-04-19 · 28mSince 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 loyal horses; riding a b
15. 15 15. Massage Chairs2012-04-26 · 28mIn Japan, stress is a part of life. Giving and receiving massages, particularly shoulder massages, is a Japanese institution. And over the last several decades, the massage chair h
16. 16 16. Shikoku Pilgrimage2012-05-03 · 28mThe Shikoku Pilgrimage involves visiting 88 Buddhist temples spread across Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands. The route is 1,200 kilometers long, and to walk it ta
17. 17 17. Regional Fast Food2012-05-10 · 28mWhen you think of regional Japanese food with a long history, you might think high prices and refined presentation. But Japanese "regional fast food" is unique and inexpensive ever
18. 18 18. Department Stores2012-05-17 · 28mThe first department store appeared in Japan about 110 years ago. It evolved from a kimono shop. With their world-class goods, department stores soon became popular as centers of c
19. 19 19. Kimonos2012-05-24 · 28mThe 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. With their wide variety o
20. 20 20. Aquariums2012-06-07 · 28mJapan 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 theme parks offering sp
21. 21 21. Confectionery2012-06-14 · 28mVarious 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 important part of Japane
22. 22 22. Dolls2012-06-21 · 28mFrom 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 their origins in religious
23. 23 23. Moss2012-07-05 · 28mMosses 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. You'll even find the
24. 24 24. High School Baseball2012-07-12 · 28mEach summer, Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, becomes the stage for a drama that grips the entire nation. Here, high school baseball teams from across
25. 25 25. Planetariums2012-07-19 · 28mToday, 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 35 meters across, is in
26. 26 26. Japanophiles - Adam Booth2012-08-16 · 28mAdam Booth is an English-born master of Nihonga, a kind of painting that uses traditional Japanese methods and styles. Nihonga requires special materials, including unprocessed nat
27. 27 27. Japanophiles - Dave Spector2012-08-23 · 28mJust about everyone in Japan knows Dave Spector. It's been almost 30 years since this American first appeared on Japanese television. He currently makes more than 10 TV appearances
28. 28 28. Japanophiles - Euan Craig2012-08-30 · 28mAustralian-born potter Euan Craig is a master of Mashiko ware. Mashiko ware originated in the town of Mashiko. Most Mashiko-ware ceramics are practical vessels like dishes. Craig f
29. 29 29. Shamisen2012-09-06 · 28mThe shamisen is a traditional three-stringed Japanese musical instrument. Its unique sound has been enjoyed in Japan for centuries. When you play the shamisen, you strike the body
30. 30 30. Crested Ibises2012-09-13 · 28mThe crested ibis (scientific name Nipponia nippon) has beautiful pale rosy feathers that have been loved in Japan for centuries. The crested ibis used to live all over Japan, but a
31. 31 31. Abalone2012-09-20 · 28mThe 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 the Japanese since ancien
32. 32 32. Tokyo Station2012-10-04 · 28mTokyo 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. Over the years, Tokyo Stati
33. 33 33. Tokyo Skytree2012-10-11 · 28mTokyo Skytree, completed this year, rises 634 meters. The world's tallest broadcasting tower, it's packed with the finest in Japanese engineering. Its steel framework was assembled
34. 34 34. Tokyo Bay2012-10-18 · 28mRight 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 populated areas, but it boast
35. 35 35. Potatoes, Taros, and Yams2012-11-01 · 28mPotatoes, sweet potatoes, taros, yams - these are just some of Japan's imo, a word that describes starchy vegetables with enlarged underground roots and stems. Sweet potatoes saved
36. 36 36. Name Seals2012-11-08 · 28mMany countries require signatures on contracts. But in Japan, name seals are used instead. From marriage registrations to car registrations, from birth certificates to death certif
37. 37 37. Mushrooms2012-11-15 · 28mAbout 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 whether it's a broth of s
38. 38 38. Vending Machines2012-11-22 · 28mJapan 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 than simply sell things
39. 39 39. Scissors2012-12-06 · 28mScissors 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 shears that make a distin
40. 40 40. Satsuma Mandarins2012-12-13 · 28mThe 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 satsumas per person per year!
41. 41 41. Gift-giving2012-12-20 · 28mIn 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 occasions throughout the yea