Culture Crossroads - Season 4 / Year 2020

We received a question from a Chinese listener living in Shanghai who had visited Japan. He was impressed by the convenience and efficiency of the Tokyo transportation system despite the vastness of the city. Reporter Duan Wenning is from China. She interviews a professor at the University of Tokyo who is a "Traffic Jamologist" and offers tips on how to deal with traffic congestion. She also introduces initiatives undertaken by transportation authorities to alleviate overcrowding, starting with the rush hour. Would you rather stand up for your commute or pay extra and use your time more effectively? Do you want to stay fit and healthy? Let's take a closer look at new modes of transportation in Tokyo, and hear some answers to these questions.

Tokyo will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020. Momentum for international exchanges is now gathering in various parts of Japan. Many local governments have named themselves as host towns of participating countries and regions in a bid to promote international exchanges and to help revitalize local economies.

Are you ready if disaster strikes? Find out what you need to do by watching the program "BOSAI: Be Prepared." Japan has a long experience in dealing with disasters, and has developed the idea of "BOSAI" - disaster preparedness. When disaster strikes, clear, accurate and prompt information is needed. But foreign residents of Japan often encounter problems due to language and communication gaps. A case study of a community of Brazilian residents in Japan that was hit by flooding offers insights.

Track athletes from South Sudan have been training in the city of Maebashi since November 2019 to prepare for the Olympics and Paralympics. The city decided to play host to the athletes in response to a request from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA. Due to the long civil war in the country, South Sudan lacks adequate training facilities. People in Maebashi are also helping the athletes by raising funds through crowdfunding and by selling goods like T-shirts. The city says it hopes its host town experience will encourage more local people to become involved in international exchanges in the future.

Saga Prefecture was registered as the host "town," or community, for Thailand in 2018. That came after a Thai TV drama was filmed in the prefecture. There was a huge increase in the number of people from Thailand visiting Saga. They wanted to see the locations where the drama was shot. Saga's Yutoku Inari Shrine has become a must-see place for fans of the drama. A priest at the shrine has been studying the Thai language so he can welcome visitors. The shrine also offers fortune-telling slips written in Thai. A nonprofit organization called "Sawadee Saga" was launched in 2018 to offer support services to Thai tourists. It provides pamphlets in Thai and arranges for volunteer interpreters to help tourists. The prefecture has started a new project together with organizations like "Sawadee Saga." They help Thai students find jobs with the aim of supporting those who want to live in Saga.

This time, we answer a question from Pakistani Mehar Abdul Sattar Salfi: "What do office workers in Japan wear to work?" Our reporter is Urdu broadcasting announcer Bilal Khan, who is also from Pakistan. Although suits have long been the norm in Japanese companies, a growing number of businesses are adopting a flexible dress code. But picking out clothes for work each day can be a real headache, so shopping sessions with a professional stylist are gaining popularity. In contrast, some people have no problems with putting together an outfit, including a hair stylist who can dress for a year using just a dozen items of clothing, including tops and bottoms, who claims that a smaller wardrobe can improve both finances and emotional health.

The city of Maizuru in western Japan is the host town for the national Olympic wrestling and judo teams of the central Asian country of Uzbekistan. The ties between Maizuru and Uzbekistan date back to the end of World War II, when about 575,000 Japanese were interned in many parts of what was then the Soviet Union. Some of them were sent to Uzbekistan. They helped to build the Navoi Theater, in the country's capital city of Tashkent. The theater is greatly loved by the Uzbek people. Maizuru was where many former Japanese POWs could once again stand on Japanese soil. The host town program enables the young people of Japan and Uzbekistan to learn about the culture and history of each other's country -- including the unexpected historical link between them. This is helping them to develop new forms of cultural exchange.

Tsurugashima City, Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo became Myanmar's host town in 2017. Since then, the citizens have been deepening their direct interactions with Myanmar. And now, they're preparing to welcome young judo athletes from Myanmar -- with food. Some restaurant owners created original "host town dishes" that combine Myanmar ingredients and local specialties of Tsurugashima. Will these culinary experts be able to win the hearts of Myanmar athletes? One reason that Tsurugashima became the host town is a scholarship set up by the city's 97-year-old resident, Imaizumi Seiji. He fought in Southeast Asia during World War II, as a soldier. Imaizumi says he could survive, thanks to kind help of the people in Myanmar. After the war, he launched a scholarship for students from Myanmar out of gratitude for kindness of the people in the country. Nearly 200 students from Myanmar have studied in Japan on the scholarship, which has contributed a lot to bilateral exchanges.

This time, we answer a question from carpet designer Abdelilah Boubchir, a resident of Algeria, who wants to know about Japanese carpet making and the history. Our reporter is Karima Elsamny, an Arabic broadcast announcer from Egypt. In Okayama Prefecture's Kurashiki area, local Igusa rush grass is used to produce Hanagoza mats and Igusa carpets called Kurashiki Dantsu. Both were once exported overseas. Made of dyed Igusa rush grass woven into patterns, Hanagoza mats were especially popular. Igusa can absorb moisture and thus be used in hot, humid Japanese summers. We explore the appeal of rugs and carpets designed for the climate of Japan.

This program rediscovers the charms of Japan based on the personal interests of ambassadors to Japan. In the first episode, Myanmar Ambassador Myint Thu, who first stayed in Japan as 3rd secretary 20 years ago, visits Kitakyushu, his second home in Japan. He introduces Japan's only Myanmar-style pagoda and enjoys local food specialties. He also finds a low-cost water purification system he wants to introduce to Myanmar where people start to pay attention to environmental pollution amid economic development, and demonstrates his karate skills.

This time we focus on 2 communities in southern Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture. Mishima Village was registered in 2018 as the host town of Guinea. Its ties with the West African nation began in 1994, when Mamady Keita, a player of the "djembe" hand drum, performed there. Keita had said he wanted to communicate with children in a Japanese village. He has since kept in touch with local kids. Mishima has a djembe school, and the drum is the village symbol. We cover this unique cultural exchange. People from the public and private sectors on Okinoerabu Island are tackling the issue of marine plastic waste. In 2019, the island became the host town of the Caribbean island nations of Dominica and Grenada. People from those countries visited Okinoerabu for an environmental meeting also attended by researchers studying the issue. Local schoolchildren impressed the experts with their study of microplastics.

People from the public and private sectors on Okinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, are tackling the issue of marine plastic waste. In 2019, the island became the host town of the Caribbean island nations of Dominica and Grenada. People from those countries visited Okinoerabu for an environmental meeting also attended by researchers studying the issue. Local schoolchildren impressed the experts with their study of microplastics. We learn how the people of Okinoerabu and these 2 nations are dealing with this issue.

This episode focuses on a Thai community in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, to see how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting their lives. Staying positive, the group has been making facemasks for the community, but many are worried over health and financial issues. We get advice from a doctor whose clinic specializes in services for foreigners, as well as from an organization that created a video to help Thai people claim financial support from the Japanese government.

The COVID-19 has affected everyone, especially for foreigners. For example, the situation coincided with Ramadan. Most years it's a time when Muslims fast during the day, joining friends and relatives after sunset to share a meal. However, self-isolation made it impossible. For another example, Bangladeshi community in Japan made up a network to help with each other. In this program, we focus on Muslim and Bangladeshi communities to have a look at their efforts to overcome the difficulties.

Over 300,000 foreign students are currently in Japan pursuing studies and looking for work after graduation. However, like many others, they too are being severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This program focuses on the efforts of a Japanese language school and an employment agency as they take on new approaches to help students from abroad overcome the crisis.

Pandemic-era Japan's foreign residents are more isolated than ever. We look at the efforts of Kalakasan, a group empowering immigrant women, and a teacher who supports foreign students in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Japan is prone to natural disasters, so the government provides various types of hazard maps. What kinds of dangers are around you? Disaster prevention specialist gives potential life-saving tips.

When disaster strikes, you need to flee from danger, but where to, how, and what should you take? Walking around downtown Tokyo, learn about effective evacuation strategies.

In this episode, we answer a question from a viewer living in Russia, "Can you tell me what is happening with plastic waste in such a technologically advanced country?" Our reporter is Russian broadcast announcer Anastasia Monakova. Japan is advanced in separating and recycling trash, but it also produces a significant portion of the world's plastic waste. To reduce waste, shops started charging for plastic shopping bags in July. But the amount of plastic waste generated by households is increasing due to COVID-19. We visit Kamakura, which was the first city in Japan to make a "zero plastic waste" declaration. In addition, bioplastics are attracting attention as they are kind to nature and recyclable options. Some are made from plant-derived materials and some are decomposed by microorganisms. We visit the laboratory of Professor Iwata Tadahisa of the University of Tokyo, who is a leader in this field. We cover the professor's work at the forefront of bioplastic research.

Would you know what to do in an earthquake in a crowded city? Learn the keys to survival in the life-or-death 72-hour period after an urban earthquake through a hands-on tour at SONA AREA TOKYO.

This time, we respond to a request from a viewer in Pakistan who wants to know about kite-flying in Japan. Our reporter is Bilal Khan, an announcer in our Urdu broadcasting division. A kite-flying event is held all over Japan to offer wishes for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. By attending the event, Bilal learns about the unique meaning of kites in Japan. Japan's kite-flying culture goes back to the 8th century. It experienced a boom during the 17th century and then developed differently from region to region. Bilal visits Niigata Prefecture where a huge kite battle will take place. He experiences a culture of unique large kites with a 300-year history and meets a craftsman who makes kites using traditional techniques. Bilal tries to make and fly a kite himself. How are kites unique in Japan? And will his kite fly?