Begin Japanology

About the origins and evolution of the Japanese "boxed lunchset".

Mochi, a glutinous dough made from steamed rice, is a favorite food among the Japanese. At least two people are required to make mochi the traditional way: a mallet man and a flipper. The movements of the two must be perfectly synchronized, and the best teams can be very interesting to watch. Mochi is used in various ways at the New Year and on important occasions in life. At weddings, the groom may take part in mochi pounding. Its stickiness symbolizes a wish that the couple will enjoy a strong, lasting bond. A soup of mochi, vegetables, meat, and seafood is an essential part of many New Year's meals throughout Japan. The recipes vary not only from region to region, but almost from family to family. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we look at mochi rice cake - a food steeped in history and the Japanese way of life.

Ekiden 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 selfless duty. Ekiden's inventor was Japan's first Olympian. He ran the marathon but passed out before reaching the finish line. This defeat drove him to create an event that could produce world-class Japanese runners. There are various ekiden events, and the most grueling is the Mt. Fuji Ekiden. Teams of six run from the foot of Mt. Fuji to the summit and back down again - in four hours! There are also high school ekiden championships. Forty years ago, one team was on the verge of being disbanded, until an inspiring coach took over and turned them into national champions. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we look at ekiden - a unique Japanese athletic event that reveals what makes the Japanese tick.

Batteries... 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 4.8 billion batteries every year, and the Japanese have a long history of battery breakthroughs, from recent advances in rechargeable batteries to what may have been the world's first dry-cell battery over 120 years ago. Recently, electric car batteries have been used not just for driving, but as power sources for entire homes. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, supplies of water and electricity were cut off in many parts of northeastern Japan. Batteries played a key role in helping evacuees. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is batteries. We'll see how these small sources of power, invented in this small island nation, have transformed the lives of its people.

People 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 changes in society. The country currently has 80,000 cafes and consumes more coffee than either France or Italy! But Japanese cafes don't just serve coffee; many offer a wide range of special themes and extra features - like "cat cafes," where you can enjoy some feline companionship, or "maid cafes," where customers are served and entertained by women in maid outfits. As Japanese society ages, "community cafes" are becoming a vital way for older citizens to find good company. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we look at cafes. In Japan, they are more than just a place to have a cup of coffee; they are a unique and fascinating world in their own right.

Sumo is often called Japan's national sport. Wrestlers, naked except for a special loincloth, face off, smash into each other, and battle for victory. Sumo is both a martial art and a highly stylized slice of traditional Japanese culture, with its own codes of appearance and conduct. Sumo originated centuries ago as a test of strength. It evolved over time into a harvest divination ritual. And in the 18th century, it developed into a popular form of mass entertainment. Sumo is more than just the "grand sumo" contested by professional wrestlers. Youth sumo toughens young minds and bodies, and there is women's sumo too. In recent years, a growing number of foreign wrestlers have internationalized sumo. Sumo is widely enjoyed in Japan, regardless of age or gender. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is sumo. We examine the deep appeal of a sport that dates back over 1,500 years.

Bathroom scales are a part of everyday life in Japan. Men, women, babies, and children all use them. There are even scales specially designed to weigh your pets. In samurai times, accurate scales were made by artisans who specialized in fine work, like comb-makers and engravers. A relentless quest for ever more accurate weight measurements was behind a shift from analog scales with springs and needles to digital scales. But today's scales measure more than just weight. They can collect information on various aspects of your health. Thanks to dogged data-gathering efforts by researchers, these high-tech scales can quickly measure body fat percentage or basal metabolic rate. Meanwhile, research is now underway into making accurate body weight measurements in space. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is bathroom scales. By looking at bathroom scales in Japan, we'll take the measure of how Japanese lifestyles and ideas about health have changed over the years.

Songs of tragic love, driven by strong emotions, are at the heart of enka, often called "the Japanese blues." Enka songs take up romantic, nostalgic, and melancholy themes. The roots of enka lie in the protest songs of Japan's "freedom and popular rights movement" of the late 19th century. Later, these protest songs evolved into a type of popular music that has captivated Japanese listeners for generations. Enka's sentimental ballads about our everyday struggles and weaknesses really strike a chord. Enka has developed while preserving a traditional Japanese musical scale and unique vibrato singing style that are quite different from most Western music. And because enka ballads are easier to sing than pop or rock songs, enka is an especially popular karaoke choice among middle-aged and elderly singers. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is enka. We explore the distinctly Japanese sensibility and sentimentality that give the Japanese blues its enduring appeal.

Mochi, a glutinous dough made from steamed rice, is a favorite food among the Japanese. At least two people are required to make mochi the traditional way: a mallet man and a flipper. The movements of the two must be perfectly synchronized, and the best teams can be very interesting to watch. Mochi is used in various ways at the New Year and on important occasions in life. At weddings, the groom may take part in mochi pounding. Its stickiness symbolizes a wish that the couple will enjoy a strong, lasting bond. A soup of mochi, vegetables, meat, and seafood is an essential part of many New Year's meals throughout Japan. The recipes vary not only from region to region, but almost from family to family. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we look at mochi rice cake - a food steeped in history and the Japanese way of life.

Ekiden 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 selfless duty. Ekiden's inventor was Japan's first Olympian. He ran the marathon but passed out before reaching the finish line. This defeat drove him to create an event that could produce world-class Japanese runners. There are various ekiden events, and the most grueling is the Mt. Fuji Ekiden. Teams of six run from the foot of Mt. Fuji to the summit and back down again - in four hours! There are also high school ekiden championships. Forty years ago, one team was on the verge of being disbanded, until an inspiring coach took over and turned them into national champions. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we look at ekiden - a unique Japanese athletic event that reveals what makes the Japanese tick.

Batteries... 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 4.8 billion batteries every year, and the Japanese have a long history of battery breakthroughs, from recent advances in rechargeable batteries to what may have been the world's first dry-cell battery over 120 years ago. Recently, electric car batteries have been used not just for driving, but as power sources for entire homes. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, supplies of water and electricity were cut off in many parts of northeastern Japan. Batteries played a key role in helping evacuees. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is batteries. We'll see how these small sources of power, invented in this small island nation, have transformed the lives of its people.

People 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 changes in society. The country currently has 80,000 cafes and consumes more coffee than either France or Italy! But Japanese cafes don't just serve coffee; many offer a wide range of special themes and extra features - like "cat cafes," where you can enjoy some feline companionship, or "maid cafes," where customers are served and entertained by women in maid outfits. As Japanese society ages, "community cafes" are becoming a vital way for older citizens to find good company. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we look at cafes. In Japan, they are more than just a place to have a cup of coffee; they are a unique and fascinating world in their own right.

Sumo is often called Japan's national sport. Wrestlers, naked except for a special loincloth, face off, smash into each other, and battle for victory. Sumo is both a martial art and a highly stylized slice of traditional Japanese culture, with its own codes of appearance and conduct. Sumo originated centuries ago as a test of strength. It evolved over time into a harvest divination ritual. And in the 18th century, it developed into a popular form of mass entertainment. Sumo is more than just the "grand sumo" contested by professional wrestlers. Youth sumo toughens young minds and bodies, and there is women's sumo too. In recent years, a growing number of foreign wrestlers have internationalized sumo. Sumo is widely enjoyed in Japan, regardless of age or gender. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is sumo. We examine the deep appeal of a sport that dates back over 1,500 years.

Bathroom scales are a part of everyday life in Japan. Men, women, babies, and children all use them. There are even scales specially designed to weigh your pets. In samurai times, accurate scales were made by artisans who specialized in fine work, like comb-makers and engravers. A relentless quest for ever more accurate weight measurements was behind a shift from analog scales with springs and needles to digital scales. But today's scales measure more than just weight. They can collect information on various aspects of your health. Thanks to dogged data-gathering efforts by researchers, these high-tech scales can quickly measure body fat percentage or basal metabolic rate. Meanwhile, research is now underway into making accurate body weight measurements in space. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is bathroom scales. By looking at bathroom scales in Japan, we'll take the measure of how Japanese lifestyles and ideas about health have changed over the years.

Songs of tragic love, driven by strong emotions, are at the heart of enka, often called "the Japanese blues." Enka songs take up romantic, nostalgic, and melancholy themes. The roots of enka lie in the protest songs of Japan's "freedom and popular rights movement" of the late 19th century. Later, these protest songs evolved into a type of popular music that has captivated Japanese listeners for generations. Enka's sentimental ballads about our everyday struggles and weaknesses really strike a chord. Enka has developed while preserving a traditional Japanese musical scale and unique vibrato singing style that are quite different from most Western music. And because enka ballads are easier to sing than pop or rock songs, enka is an especially popular karaoke choice among middle-aged and elderly singers. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is enka. We explore the distinctly Japanese sensibility and sentimentality that give the Japanese blues its enduring appeal.

The Japanese persimmon, scientific name Diospyros kaki. There are over 1,000 varieties, falling into 2 main types: sweet persimmons, which are unique to Japan, and astringent persimmons, which must be dried or otherwise processed to make them edible. The sight of drying persimmons hanging from farmhouse eaves is a very nostalgic one in Japan. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is persimmons. This fruit's unique history in Japan can tell us a lot about the Japanese approach to food.

Japan's cities look very beautiful at night: the lights of the city shimmer amidst the darkness of ocean and mountain. Kobe, Hakodate and Nagasaki are sometimes considered the top 3, but Tokyo also has some brilliant nighttime landmarks. The Japanese have long enjoyed moon viewing and sitting under cherry blossoms at night. Recently, after-dark tours of industrial factories have become quite popular. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is nighttime scenery.

Ise Jingu is one of Japan's most ancient shrines. Its expansive precinct, covering 5,500 hectares, actually encompasses 125 shrines, at which Shinto deities are honored. In October 2013, there was a ceremonial transfer of deities between sanctuaries that happens once every 20 years. For centuries, a visit to Ise Jingu has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. More recently, it has gained a reputation as a "power spot". On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is Ise Jingu.