Japanology Plus S08E22 · Tatami

Overview

Tatami mats are a quintessentially Japanese flooring material. They're made of rice straw, covered in woven soft rush. This gives them just the right amount of give, and a fresh natural fragrance. Tatami rooms are used for eating, sleeping and relaxing. They're also important for the tea ceremony and martial arts. Our guest is Koshima Yusuke, one of Japan's leading young architects. He talks about the positive qualities of tatami, and discusses potential new uses in the modern era.

Torrents

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Episodes

1. 1 1. Moss2021-01-12 · 28mThis time, our theme is moss. In some countries, it is regarded almost as a weed, but in Japan, it's cherished. Moss can be found in the gardens of temples and shrines, in forests
2. 2 2. Libraries2021-01-19 · 28mJapan's libraries are cornerstones of their communities. Besides loaning out books, they promote local culture, support young people and offer a place to relax. This time, our them
3. 3 3. Japanophiles: Sheila Cliffe2021-01-26 · 28mThe kimono, Japan's national garment, is generally seen as traditional clothing -- something to wear on special occasions. But these days, modern and stylish kimono are making an i
4. 4 4. Ukiyo-e2021-02-02 · 28mUkiyo-e is a Japanese artform that emerged in the 17th century. Using woodblock prints, people and landscapes are brought to life with bold compositions and vivid colors. The image
5. 5 5. Japanophiles: Richard Halberstadt2021-03-16 · 28mOn March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake off the coast of northeast Japan caused a devastating tsunami that left around 18,000 people dead or unaccounted for. Ishinomaki, in Miy
6. 6 6. Cleaning Tools2021-04-08 · 28mJapanese use a wide range of cleaning implements, from old-fashioned brooms to modern carpet rollers. There's always a dedicated tool for the job. Sometimes, those tools have a dee
7. 7 7. Lacquerware2021-04-22 · 28mLacquerware is made by coating objects with the sap of the lacquer tree. It's a traditional craft that dates back thousands of years. Lacquer offers incredible durability, as well
8. 8 8. Suits2021-05-06 · 28mJapanese started wearing Western clothing around 150 years ago, and today, suits are standard business attire. Our main guest, fashion journalist Yamamoto Teruhiro, describes the h
9. 9 9. Emergency Goods2021-05-13 · 28mThe Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami left around 19,000 people dead or unaccounted for. It renewed Japan's sensitivity to the threat of natural disasters, and in the 10 year
10. 10 10. Japanophiles: Chad Mullane2021-05-27 · 28mIn a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Chad Mullane, a comedian from Perth, Australia. Chad talks about Japanese comedy, and explains how he fell in love with it. We see
11. 11 11. Furoshiki: Wrapping Cloths2021-06-03 · 28mFuroshiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths. For hundreds of years, these square pieces of fabric have been used to protect, store and carry various objects. They often feat
12. 12 12. Japan vs. Epidemics, Part 2: Modern History2021-06-17 · 28mOver the centuries, Japan has suffered from repeated outbreaks of diseases like smallpox, measles and cholera. Part 1 of "Japan vs. Epidemics" covered the history of epidemics up t
13. 13 13. Tiny Houses2021-07-01 · 28mTiny houses are homes that occupy around 50 square meters of land. They're appearing more and more in recent years, especially in crowded cities. Many of them feature unusual layou
14. 14 14. Watches & Clocks2021-07-08 · 28mJapanese watches and clocks are respected around the world for their accuracy and durability. Many of them incorporate the latest technology. Our guest, Oda Ichiro, spent 26 years
15. 15 15. Plastic Food Samples2021-07-15 · 28mPlastic food samples are astonishingly accurate replicas of real dishes. They can be found at the entrance to restaurants across Japan, helping potential customers to choose where
16. 16 16. Japanophiles: Asa Ekstrom2021-07-29 · 28mIn a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Asa Ekstrom, a manga artist from Sweden. Her work takes a humorous look at her life in Japan, and the surprising discoveries she ma
17. 17 17. Cats and Japan2021-08-05 · 28mCats have recently become the most-owned pets in Japan, and their popularity continues to grow. This has led to feline celebrities, unusual products and apartments designed specifi
18. 18 18. Personal Robots2021-09-02 · 28mIt's common to find robots in factories, assembling products. But recently, Japan has been embracing personal robots: devices designed to aid conversation, provide companionship an
19. 19 19. Scissors2021-09-16 · 28mAfter scissors arrived in Japan, they evolved in unique ways. Japanese artisans applied traditional sword-making techniques to the creation of a broad variety of highly specialized
20. 20 20. Japanophiles: Marty Friedman2021-09-30 · 28mIn a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Marty Friedman, a legendary guitarist from the USA. As a member of a well-known heavy metal band, Friedman toured the world. But a
21. 21 21. Luck2021-10-07 · 28mIn Japan, a great number of places, objects and customs are considered to be auspicious. Examples include beckoning cats called "maneki neko," and a special meal eaten on New Year'
22. 22 22. Tatami2021-10-28 · 28mTatami mats are a quintessentially Japanese flooring material. They're made of rice straw, covered in woven soft rush. This gives them just the right amount of give, and a fresh na
23. 23 23. Chests & Cabinets2021-11-11 · 28mTraditionally, wooden chests and cabinets are built and maintained by master artisans, using time-honored techniques and materials. Items are often passed down through multiple gen
24. 24 24. Japanophiles: Nicholas Rennick2021-12-02 · 28mIn a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets Nicholas Rennick, an Australian doctor working at a Tokyo hospital. He started in April 2020, at the very beginning of the pandemic
25. 25 25. Bamboo2021-12-16 · 28mBamboo is sturdy, supple and abundant. For thousands of years, it has been indispensable in Japanese crafts and construction. This versatile plant can also be eaten: bamboo shoots
26. 26 26. Ainu: A National Museum of Ainu Culture2021-12-23 · 28mThe Ainu are an indigenous people who live in and around northern Japan. Traditionally, they are hunter-gatherers who share a close relationship with the natural world. In the firs
27. 27 27. Ainu: A New Generation2021-12-30 · 28mThe Ainu are an indigenous people who live in Hokkaido Prefecture (northern Japan) and surrounding areas. Traditionally, they were hunter-gatherers who shared a close relationship