Deep Dive from The Japan Times

In May, we talked to The Japan Times' Magdalena Osumi about Japan’s entry-ban list, which is stopping foreign residents from leaving or returning to Japan. Today, we hear an update from Magda, as some residents start to be allowed to return but many are left trapped. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read more: Japan to allow back foreign residents who left before entry ban (Magdalena Osumi, The Japan Times) Re-entry ban horror stories pile up in Japan's Indian community (Megha Wadhwa, The Japan Times) Japan's foreign residents are trapped — Part 1 (Deep Dive) Japan's re-entry ban list (The Japan Times) ACCJ calls for equal treatment of non-Japanese residents hit by travel ban (Magdalena Osumi, The Japan Times) Japan to impose stricter re-entry procedures for travelers from four countries (Magdalena Osumi, The Japan Times) Stranded foreign nationals in limbo as speculation over easing Japan re-entry requirements mounts (Magdalena Osumi, The Japan Times) Magda Osumi: Twitter | Articles Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles Deep Dive: Twitter | deepdive@japantimes.co.jp Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Photo by Bloomberg

The people alive today who survived the bombing of Hiroshima, and the subsequent destruction of Nagasaki, are known in Japanese as hibakusha. But 75 years on from the bombing, the number of survivors able to tell their stories is dwindling as they grow old and die. Japan Times contributor and Hiroshima resident Peter Chordas joins to discuss the effects of the bomb on the city, and how those survivors' legacies are being preserved. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read more:  Is time running out to preserve Japan’s A-bomb legacy? (Peter Chordas, The Japan Times) Sharing Hiroshima's legacy in the age of COVID-19 (Peter Chordas, The Japan Times) Shinzo Hamai's Peace Declaration for the City of Hiroshima (City of Hiroshima) Hiroshima marks 75th atomic bomb anniversary, calls for unity amid pandemic (Kyodo, The Japan Times) Nearly 80% of A-bomb survivors struggle to pass on experiences (Kyodo, The Japan Times) Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Photo by Peter Chordas

This episode was made possible by Cicerone and its new guidebook "Hiking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mount Fuji," which features 27 walks and treks across the Japan Alps and in the Mt Fuji area. Order your copy now at bit.ly/hikingfuji.

The Japan Times' Alex Martin discusses the history of mask wearing and how it's changed from the Edo Period to the Spanish Flu to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read more:  The history behind Japan’s love of face masks (Alex Martin, The Japan Times) Masks helped keep Japan's COVID-19 death toll low, says expert panel (Bloomberg, The Japan Times) Face masks in a pandemic: From 'useless' to 'indispensable' (AFP-Jiji, The Japan Times) Japanese shoppers queue and crash website for Uniqlo's washable masks (The Japan Times) Thick, small, bulky: 'Abenomasks' arrive in Tokyo mailboxes (The Japan Times) 'It may save your life': Facing coronavirus surge, more U.S. states mandate masks (The Japan Times) Seven in 10 back mandatory use of masks in shops in England, poll finds (The Guardian) Follow Deep Dive on Twitter Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Photo Getty Images

That's the theory put forward by our guest on Deep Dive this week, Matt Alt, the author of the recently published book, "Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World." Taking its title from a quote by Oscar Wilde, "Pure Invention" is a cultural history of postwar Japan, told through the lens of the country's superstar inventions and how they spread across the globe. Hosted by Oscar Boyd.  Read/hear more:  More from Matt Alt Pac-Man: How a faceless character based on eating changed video game history (Russell Thomas, The Japan Times) Founder of Hello Kitty creator Sanrio steps down after 60-year stint (The Japan Times) On Walkman's 40th anniversary, Sony opens retro exhibition in Ginza (Hinano Kobayashi, The Japan Times) Episode 50: How the 'murder hornet' got its name (Deep Dive) Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Ryusei Takahashi gives us a run down on Yuriko Koike’s victory, as well as the growing number of cases of COVID-19 in the capital. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read/hear more:  Episode 54: Yuriko Koike and the race for Tokyo governor (Deep Dive) Koike cruises to win in Tokyo governor race, vowing to continue fight against virus  (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Koike's Tokyo win may be springboard back into national politics (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Opposition laments failure to unite after Koike wins big in Tokyo election (Kyodo) Koike urged to take lead in raising women's representation in politics (Toma Mochizuki, Kyodo)  Japan to ease coronavirus rules and allow events up to 5,000 people (Kyodo) Emergency warnings issued for Gifu and Nagano as torrential rain lashes central Japan (Kyodo) Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp.

Alexander Dmitrenko, head of Asia sanctions at law firm Freshfields and co-representative director of the Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN), joins to discuss the case for same-sex marriage being made by his organization and the many others fighting for equality on the issue. Read/see more:  LLAN's viewpoint on marriage equality Fighting for the right to recognize same-sex marriage in Japan (Andrew McKirdy, The Japan Times) In a first, LGBT couples sue Japan over constitutionality of not recognizing same-sex marriage (Magda Osumi, The Japan Times) Japan's top bar association urges Diet to legalize same-sex marriage (The Japan Times) 900 LGBT couples have been certified in Japan since 2015, survey finds (The Japan Times) LGBT people in Japan worry that getting COVID-19 may result in outing (The Japan Times) Only 10% of firms in Japan have addressed LGBT issues, survey finds (The Japan Times) Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out: jtimes.jp/deepdivesub. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Photo by Getty Images

This week, staff reporter Ryusei Takahashi and domestic news head Kanako Takahara discuss the field of candidates,  incumbent Yuriko Koike's chances for reelection and the effects of COVID-19 on the campaign. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out: jtimes.jp/deepdivesub. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Read more:  As race to govern Tokyo kicks off, Olympics and coronavirus top agenda (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Koike’s first term as Tokyo governor: Eventful, but little to show for it (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Tokyo gubernatorial candidates face off in first joint news conference (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) Great expectations: Has Koike delivered on parenting, gender and climate? (Ryusei Takahashi, The Japan Times) More on the 2020 Tokyo election (The Japan Times) Photo by Ryusei Takahashi

We hear from staff reporter Ryusei Takahashi about last weekend’s demonstrations in Tokyo, Black Lives Matter Kansai organizer Ayana Wyse about the Osaka marches and from Japan Times contributor Austin Freeman, who recounts his experiences of police harassment here in Tokyo. Read more:  Black Lives Matter Tokyo (Facebook) Black Lives Matter Osaka (Linktree) Protesters hit Tokyo and Osaka streets with rallies against racism and police brutality (Ryusei Takahashi & Eric Johnston, The Japan Times) Why we're marching for black lives in Japan (Ayana Wyse, The Japan Times) Once upon a time ... in Azabu Juban (Austin Freeman, The Japan Times) 'No justice, no peace': The sentiment that resonates in America, Japan and all over the world (Baye McNeil, The Japan Times) Naomi Osaka in no mood to back down on support for Black Lives Matter (Reuters, The Japan Times) Kurdish case becomes rallying cry for Japan protest against police (Mari Saito, Reuters) Video footage of the Kurdish man's encounter with the police (Twitter) Kurly in Kansai on Twitter Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out: jtimes.jp/deepdivesub. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Photo by Ryusei Takahashi

The Japan Times' Alyssa Smith and Tom Hanaway have been writing recaps of Terrace House and join Deep Dive to discuss Kimura's death, and what it might mean for the show going forward. Later, TELL Ambassador BJ Fox joins to talk about the mental health services offered by TELL Japan. Hosted by Oscar Boyd. Read more:  TELL Japan Pro wrestler and ‘Terrace House’ star Hana Kimura dies at 22 (The Japan Times) 'Terrace House' season canceled following death of Hana Kimura (Tom Hanaway, The Japan Times) Alyssa and Tom's 'Terrace House' recaps (The Japan Times) Deep Dive Episode 14: What's the deal with Terrace House? (The Japan Times) Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list  If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 119 in Japan for immediate help. The TELL Lifeline is available for those who need free and anonymous counseling at 03-5772-0992. You can also visit them at telljp.com. For those in other countries, visit www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html for a detailed list of resources and assistance. Photo by Getty Images via Kyodo