What do street-kid influencers, fantasy boyfriends and around 280 bars crammed into six allies have in common? They are all a part of Kabukicho, an area of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward that is either a tourist trap or sleazy red-light district depending on who you ask. This week, join us to hear stories from one of Japan's most infamous neighborhoods.    Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | Instagram Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | X  Moeka Iida: X  Yukana Inoue: Articles  Read more:  Christmastime in Shinjuku Golden Gai (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) How Japan’s host clubs trap young women under mountains of debt (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) The controversial cult of the host club in Japan (Moeka Iida, The Economist) Toyoko Kids: The lonely street children of Tokyo (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!   Photo: One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. | GETTY IMAGES

Japan’s summer music festivals survived the pandemic but they now face new threats: extreme heat, a weak yen and aging audiences. Music writer Patrick St. Michel joins us to talk about the “Big Four” festivals and how these challenges are changing the way we have fun during summer.    Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Patrick St. Michel: Articles | Twitter  Read/watch more:  Can Japan’s summer music festivals adapt to a post-pandemic reality? (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Is Creepy Nuts’ catchy, rapid-fire ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Bong’ the song of the year? (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Japan’s summer offerings include jazz and classical music festivals (Alyssa I. Smith, The Japan Times) “Scream inside your heart” (YouTube) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!   Photo: You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival. | JAMES HADFIELD

Journalist Alex K.T. Martin discusses his exploration of Tokyo's underground world, revealing hidden rivers, ancient artifacts, and infrastructure challenges. Topics include climate change impact, disappearing cities, and the fascinating underground spaces like shopping streets and markets. Discover the city beneath our feet and its hidden wonders.

Writer Thu-Huong Ha explores Japan's inconvenient art movement, involving challenging trips to see unique artworks like Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin sculpture in Naoshima. The discussion covers the transformative power of art in remote areas, the impact of inconvenient art on cultural consumption, and how these challenging art experiences deepen the viewer's connection with the artwork.

With temperatures rising we can all feel how climate change is affecting our lives, but what if we could hear it too? This week, Japan Times climate editor Chris Russell joins us to discuss what researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology are listening to when it comes to biodiversity on the island. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Chris Russell: Articles | X Read more:  Hearing the impact of climate change in Okinawa, one bird at a time (Chris Russell, The Japan Times) Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990 (Bloomberg, Reuters) Weary of overtourism, Japan town blocks one popular view of Mount Fuji (Caroline Gardin, AFP-JIJI) Many COVID experts in Japan harassed after speaking to media, survey shows (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) The politicians moving Japan forward on climate change (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) Why half of Japan’s cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 years (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!   Photo: Toshihiro Kinjo (center), a research support technician at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, inspects an audio recording device in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 3 as Masako Ogasawara, a research support specialist at OIST, looks on. | CHRIS RUSSELL

Josh Grisdale, an expert on accessibility in Japan, discusses Tokyo's innovative approaches to accessibility for disabled travelers and the country's progress in shifting attitudes towards disability. Topics include transportation infrastructure, societal impacts of increased accessibility, and challenges in education accessibility for disabled individuals in Japan.

We are revisiting some past content on the science, economics and culture of cherry blossom season. Most importantly, we talk about some of the best spots to check them out in the Tokyo and Osaka areas.  Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. Read more:  In Japan, cherry blossom forecasting is a big deal. Warming is making it harder. (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) We invite you to get ready for this year’s cherry blossom parties (Cassandra Lord, The Japan Times) Toshio Katsuki: ‘The cherry blossoms have been my vehicle to find new relationships’ (Himari Semans, The Japan Times) Cherry blossoms are just as beautiful on a plate as a branch (Elizabeth Andoh, The Japan Times) Japan’s economy to bloom as hanami season kicks off (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Our guide to family hanami hot spots (Jason Jenkins, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!  

Residents with foreign roots file lawsuit against Japanese police for racial profiling. Personal experiences shared, challenging police conduct towards visible minorities. Crowdfunding for legal action, feedback received on advocacy efforts. Guidelines for navigating police encounters and racial profiling in Japan.

This week on Deep Dive, contributing writer and photographer Lance Henderstein reads us his article on traveling Okinawa during the rainy season.   Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Lance Henderstein: Articles | Instagram | Threads Read/Listen more:  My annual pilgrimage to Okinawa (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Akiko Mizuno: ‘Time moves forward. Photographers stop time.’ (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Aoi Suzuki’s son runs past a home in Taketomi on Iriomote Island (not to be confused with Taketomi Island, which lies to the east of Iriomote). The Suzukis run the Takemori Inn, one of the few hotels on Iriomote. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

At 12, Miku Narisawa experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ensuing and tsunami destroyed her home. Instead of running from the ocean, however, she is now working to try to protect it through her Odyssey Nature Japan initiative.  On this episode: Miku Narisawa: Instagram | Odyssey Nature Japan Read more/Listen more:  After 3/11, an environment education rethink takes shape in Japan (Francesco Bassetti, The Japan Times) COP28, didn't the oceans deserve more attention? (Miku Narisawa, The Japan Times) Japan is about to release 1.3 million tons of Fukushima wastewater. Should we be concerned? (Mara Budgen, Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Anger at Fukushima’s wastewater; hope in its renewables (Gabriele Ninivaggi, Anika Osaki Exsum, Francesco Bassetti Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Preparing for the hottest year Japan has ever seen (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!   Photo: Yasuhiro Otomo and Miku Narisawa during one of Odyssey Nature Japan's educational fishing programs. | ODYSSEY