Begin Japanology is a Japanese television program aired on NHK World, and presented by Peter Barakan. It was first broadcast on 5 October 2007 in Japan[1] and beginning in other countries on 14 March 2008.[2] There are 7 seasons, totalling 285 episodes. The program explores aspects of traditional and contemporary Japan and interviews experts in various fields. The series premiered in 2003 under the title Weekend Japanology, and eventually developed into Begin Japanology and later Japanology Plus.[3]
List of episodes
Season 1
# | Name | Air Date |
1 | Bento | April 14, 2008 |
2 | Miyazawa Kenji | April 21, 2008 |
3 | Lacquerware | April 28, 2008 |
4 | Rakugo | May 5, 2008 |
5 | Tsukiji Market | May 12, 2008 |
6 | Yoshoku | May 19, 2008 |
7 | Kyudo | May 26, 2008 |
8 | Tea Ceremony Architecture | June 2, 2008 |
9 | Dagashi-ya | June 9, 2008 |
10 | Nihon Buyo | June 16, 2008 |
11 | Abacus | June 23, 2008 |
12 | Ryukyu Kimono | June 30, 2008 |
13 | Bamboo | July 14, 2008 |
14 | Shirakawa-go | July 21, 2008 |
15 | Fireworks | July 28, 2008 |
16 | Hanging Scrolls | August 17, 2008 |
17 | The Tale of Genji: Part 1 | August 24, 2008 |
18 | The Tale of Genji: Part 2 | August 31, 2008 |
19 | Matcha | September 7, 2008 |
20 | Tokyo Tower | September 14, 2008 |
21 | Dashi | September 21, 2008 |
22 | Oribe-yaki (pottery) | September 28, 2008 |
23 | The Colorful World of Utagawa Hiroshige | October 5, 2008 |
24 | The Seven Gods of Good Fortune | October 12, 2008 |
25 | Sushi | October 19, 2008 |
26 | Mikoshi (portable shrines) | October 26, 2008 |
27 | Yuzen Kimono | November 2, 2008 |
28 | Buddhist Statues | November 9, 2008 |
29 | Hot Springs | November 16, 2008 |
30 | Fish | November 23, 2008 |
31 | Tatami (straw mats) | December 1, 2008 |
32 | Castles | December 8, 2008 |
33 | Miso | December 15, 2008 |
Season 2
# | Name | Air Date |
1 | Nishijin-ori | January 19, 2009 |
2 | Kyoto Lacquerware | January 26, 2009 |
3 | Sake | February 2, 2009 |
4 | Katsura Rikyu | February 9, 2009 |
5 | Bonsai | February 16, 2009 |
6 | The Four Seasons | February 23, 2009 |
7 | Hina Dolls | March 2, 2009 |
8 | Nagasaki | March 9, 2009 |
9 | Five-Story Pagodas | March 16, 2009 |
10 | Cherry Blossoms | March 23, 2009 |
11 | Chopsticks | April 3, 2009 |
12 | Aizome | April 10, 2009 |
13 | Bunraku | April 17, 2009 |
14 | Kiriko Cut Glass | April 24, 2009 |
15 | Traditional Folk Houses | May 8, 2009 |
16 | Tea Ceremony | May 15, 2009 |
17 | Soba | May 22, 2009 |
18 | Origami | May 29, 2009 |
19 | Imari Porcelain | June 5, 2009 |
20 | Folding Fan | June 19, 2009 |
21 | Kaiseki Cuisine | July 10, 2009 |
22 | The Sounds of Japan | July 17, 2009 |
23 | Masks | July 24, 2009 |
24 | Satoyama | July 31, 2009 |
25 | Kendo | August 29, 2009 |
26 | The Fragrances of Japan | September 4, 2009 |
27 | Spinning Tops | September 11, 2009 |
28 | Rock and Stone | September 18, 2009 |
29 | Ink Brushes | September 25, 2009 |
30 | Tsukemono | October 2, 2009 |
31 | Dogs | October 9, 2009 |
32 | Ramen | October 16, 2009 |
33 | Rice | October 23, 2009 |
34 | Shinto Shrine | October 30, 2009 |
35 | Festivals | November 6, 2009 |
36 | Shinkansen | November 13, 2009 |
37 | Gagaku | November 20, 2009 |
38 | Marriage | November 27, 2009 |
39 | Shogi | December 4, 2009 |
40 | Nabe Cuisine | December 11, 2009 |
41 | Sword | December 18, 2009 |
Season 3
# | Name | Air Date |
1 | Sentou | January 8, 2010 |
2 | Karuta | January 15, 2010 |
3 | Taiko | January 22, 2010 |
4 | Cram School | January 29, 2010 |
5 | Light | February 5, 2010 |
6 | Footwear | February 12, 2010 |
7 | Monkey | February 19, 2010 |
8 | Soy Sauce | February 26, 2010 |
9 | Tuna | March 5, 2010 |
10 | Fusuma | March 12, 2010 |
11 | Pearl | March 19, 2010 |
12 | Todaiji | April 2, 2010 |
13 | School Lunches | April 9, 2010 |
14 | Geiko and Maiko | April 16, 2010 |
15 | Robots | April 23, 2010 |
16 | Wasabi | April 30, 2010 |
17 | Women's Fashion Magazines | May 14, 2010 |
18 | Izakaya | May 21, 2010 |
19 | Apartments and Condominiums | May 28, 2010 |
20 | Towns and Neighbourhoods | June 11, 2010 |
21 | Tempura | June 18, 2010 |
22 | Subways | June 25, 2010 |
23 | Hairstyles | July 2, 2010 |
24 | Home Appliances | July 9, 2010 |
25 | Roof Tiles | July 16, 2010 |
26 | Miniaturization | July 23, 2010 |
27 | Silk | August 13, 2010 |
28 | Soybeans | August 20, 2010 |
29 | Curry | August 25, 2010 |
30 | Dams | September 3, 2010 |
31 | Hotels | September 10, 2010 |
32 | Radio Calisthenics | September 17, 2010 |
33 | Ekiben | September 24, 2010 |
34 | Bridges | October 8, 2010 |
35 | Earthquakes | October 15, 2010 |
36 | Chrysanthemums | October 22, 2010 |
37 | Cameras | November 4, 2010 |
38 | Hiragana | November 11, 2010 |
39 | Udon | November 18, 2010 |
40 | Money | November 25, 2010 |
41 | Nishikigoi | December 2, 2010 |
42 | Volcanoes | December 9, 2010 |
43 | Firefighting | December 16, 2010 |
Season 4
# | Name | Air Date |
1 | Mochi Rice Cake | January 23, 2011 |
2 | Watches and Clocks | January 20, 2011 |
3 | Fugu Blowfish | January 27, 2011 |
4 | Haneda Airport | February 3, 2011 |
5 | Kagura Dances | February 10, 2011 |
6 | Snow | February 17, 2011 |
7 | Pollen Allergy | March 3, 2011 |
8 | Sashimono Woodwork | March 10, 2011 |
9 | Cranes | April 7, 2011 |
10 | Kitchen Knives | April 14, 2011 |
11 | Fishing | April 21, 2011 |
12 | Armour | April 28, 2011 |
13 | Judo | May 5, 2011 |
14 | The Life of Taro Okamoto | May 12, 2011 |
15 | The Life of Osamu Dazai | May 19, 2011 |
16 | The Life of Kenzo Tange | May 26, 2011 |
17 | The Life of Hideko Maehata | June 2, 2011 |
18 | Toilets | June 9, 2011 |
19 | Lifts | June 16, 2011 |
20 | Motorcycles | June 23, 2011 |
21 | Unagi Eel | June 30, 2011 |
22 | Japanophiles - Ilan Yanizky | July 7, 2011 |
23 | Japanophiles - Silvain Guignard | July 14, 2011 |
24 | Japanophiles - Stéphane Danton | July 21, 2011 |
25 | Japanophiles - Dorothy Feibleman | July 28, 2011 |
26 | Plastic Food Samples | August 18, 2011 |
27 | Insects | August 25, 2011 |
28 | Traditional Japanese Mathematics | September 1, 2011 |
29 | Bicycles | September 8, 2011 |
30 | Chusonji | September 15, 2011 |
31 | Seaweed | September 29, 2011 |
32 | Charcoal | October 6, 2011 |
33 | Rain | October 13, 2011 |
34 | Golf | October 20, 2011 |
35 | Shipbuilding | October 27, 2011 |
36 | Japanophiles - Bruce Huebner | November 3, 2011 |
37 | Japanophiles - Noelke Muho | November 10, 2011 |
38 | Japanophiles - Matt Alt | November 17, 2011 |
39 | Karaoke | November 24, 2011 |
40 | Holidays | December 1, 2011 |
41 | Red Sea Bream | December 8, 2011 |
42 | Shopping Streets | December 15, 2011 |
43 | Chickens and Eggs | December 22, 2011 |
Season 5
# | Name | Air Date |
1 | Ekiden | January 12, 2012 |
2 | Batteries | January 19, 2012 |
3 | Cafes | January 26, 2012 |
4 | Hot Water Bottles and Pocket Warmers | February 2, 2012 |
5 | Ikebana | February 9, 2012 |
6 | Excavators | February 16, 2012 |
7 | Woods & Forests | February 23, 2012 |
8 | Japanophiles - Dhugal Lindsay | March 1, 2012 |
9 | Japanophiles - Richard Emmert | March 8, 2012 |
10 | Japanophiles - Art Lee | March 15, 2012 |
11 | Japanophiles - Philip Harper | March 29, 2012 |
12 | Kabuki | April 5, 2012 |
13 | Wild Vegetables | April 12, 2012 |
14 | Horses | April 19, 2012 |
15 | Massage Chairs | April 26, 2012 |
16 | Shikoku Pilgrimage | May 3, 2012 |
17 | Regional Fast Food | May 10, 2012 |
18 | Department Stores | May 17, 2012 |
19 | Kimonos | May 24, 2012 |
20 | Aquariums | June 7, 2012 |
21 | Confectionery | June 14, 2012 |
22 | Dolls | June 21, 2012 |
23 | Moss | July 5, 2012 |
24 | High School Baseball | July 12, 2012 |
25 | Planetariums | July 19, 2012 |
26 | Japanophiles - Adam Booth | August 16, 2012 |
27 | Japanophiles - Dave Spector | August 23, 2012 |
28 | Japanophiles - Euan Craig | August 30, 2012 |
29 | Shamisen | September 6, 2012 |
30 | Crested Ibises | September 13, 2012 |
31 | Abalone | September 20, 2012 |
32 | Tokyo Station | October 4, 2012 |
33 | Tokyo Skytree | October 11, 2012 |
34 | Tokyo Bay | October 18, 2012 |
35 | Potatoes, Taros, and Yams | November 1, 2012 |
36 | Name Seals | November 8, 2012 |
37 | Mushrooms | November 15, 2012 |
38 | Vending Machines | November 22, 2012 |
39 | Scissors | December 6, 2012 |
40 | Satsuma Mandarins | December 13, 2012 |
41 | Gift-giving | December 20, 2012 |
42 | Mapping Kyoto Streets | December 27, 2012 |
Season 6
# | Name | Air Date |
1 | Sumo | January 10, 2013 |
2 | Bathroom Scales | January 17, 2013 |
3 | Enka | January 24, 2013 |
4 | Small Factories | January 31, 2013 |
5 | Japanophiles - Azby Brown | February 7, 2013 |
6 | Japanophiles - Ernst Seiler | February 14, 2013 |
7 | Japanophiles - Yasokichi Konishiki | February 21, 2013 |
8 | Ume Plums | March 7, 2013 |
9 | Storehouses | March 14, 2013 |
10 | Wagyu | March 21, 2013 |
11 | Uniforms | April 4, 2013 |
12 | Rice Cookers | April 11, 2013 |
13 | Burial Mounds | April 18, 2013 |
14 | Stationery | April 25, 2013 |
15 | Bread | May 2, 2013 |
16 | Pine Trees | May 9, 2013 |
17 | Parcel Delivery | May 16, 2013 |
18 | Pro Wrestling | May 23, 2013 |
19 | Strawberries | May 30, 2013 |
20 | Calculators | June 13, 2013 |
21 | Television | June 27, 2013 |
22 | Lake Biwa | July 4, 2013 |
23 | Expressways | July 11, 2013 |
24 | Beer | July 18, 2013 |
25 | Japanophiles - Mike Harris | August 1, 2013 |
26 | Japanophiles - Karl Bengs | August 8, 2013 |
27 | Japanophiles - Kenny Omega | August 15, 2013 |
28 | Shakuhachi | September 5, 2013 |
29 | Convenience Stores | September 12, 2013 |
30 | Used Books | September 19, 2013 |
31 | Women's Nylons | October 3, 2013 |
32 | Remote Islands | October 10, 2013 |
33 | Characters and Mascots | October 17, 2013 |
34 | Grapes | October 24, 2013 |
35 | Makeup | November 7, 2013 |
36 | Ukiyo-e | November 14, 2013 |
37 | Buses | November 21, 2013 |
38 | Parties and Gatherings | December 5, 2013 |
39 | Conveyor Belt Sushi | December 12, 2013 |
40 | Pets | December 19, 2013 |
Season 7
# | Name | Air Date |
1 | Persimmons | January 9, 2014 |
2 | Nighttime Scenery | January 16, 2014 |
3 | Ise Jingu | January 23, 2014 |
4 | K-cars | January 30, 2014 |
5 | Japanophiles - Nancy Singleton Hachisu | February 13, 2014 |
6 | Japanophiles - Chris Hart | February 20, 2014 |
7 | Japanophiles - Rogier Uitenboogaart | February 27, 2014 |
8 | Railways | March 6, 2014 |
9 | Pianos | March 13, 2014 |
10 | Squid | March 20, 2014 |
11 | Bathhouses | April 3, 2014 |
12 | Ramen | April 10, 2014 |
13 | Mt. Fuji | April 17, 2014 |
14 | Shogi | April 24, 2014 |
15 | Cherry Trees | May 1, 2014 |
16 | Akihabara | May 8, 2014 |
17 | Wagashi | May 15, 2014 |
18 | Ninja | May 22, 2014 |
19 | Rice | May 29, 2014 |
20 | Castles | June 5, 2014 |
21 | Japanophiles - Elizabeth Suzuki | July 3, 2014 |
22 | Japanophiles - Everett Kennedy Brown | July 10, 2014 |
23 | Japanophiles - Carolin Eckhardt | July 17, 2014 |
24 | Karaoke Boxes | August 7, 2014 |
25 | Bento | August 14, 2014 |
26 | Bamboo | August 21, 2014 |
27 | Taiko Drums | September 4, 2014 |
28 | Tsukiji Market | September 11, 2014 |
29 | Festivals | September 18, 2014 |
30 | Japanese Gardens | September 25, 2014 |
31 | Origami | October 2, 2014 |
32 | Buddhist Statues | October 9, 2014 |
33 | Yokai | October 16, 2014 |
34 | Shinkansen | October 23, 2014 |
35 | Lessons for Life | November 6, 2014 |
36 | Robots | November 13, 2014 |
37 | Sports Days | November 20, 2014 |
38 | Bonsai | December 4, 2014 |
39 | Sushi | December 11, 2014 |
40 | Geisha | December 18, 2014 |