Deep Dive from The Japan Times

On this week’s episode we discuss the life and recent death of Johnny Kitagawa, the secretive mega mogul behind some of Japan's biggest music acts, including SMAP, Arashi and Hey! Say! Jump. Despite his success, Kitagawa's career was not without controversy, and allegations of sexual abuse of underage employees have followed him for the past 30 years. Joining Oscar Boyd to discuss are Japan Times entertainment columnist Patrick St. Michel and W. David Marx, author of "Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style." Background reading: Johnny Kitagawa: The mogul who defined and controlled Japan's entertainment industry (The Japan Times) Johnny Kitagawa, founder of agency that launched numerous boy bands, dead at 87 (The Japan Times) In Japan, Tarnishing a Star Maker (The New York Times)

This episode is sponsored 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 https://www.cicerone.co.uk/japan?refer=deep With thanks to Hannah Stevenson, Shaun McKenna and Dr. David Fedman.

On July 1, Japan announced it would leave the International Whaling Commission to resume commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone. Hours after ships left ports across Japan, two minke whales were caught by whalers and brought ashore. Whalers are delighted by the policy shift, but many around the world have been left outraged and confused as to why Japan is so keen to continue its hunts. Staff writer Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to discuss. This episode is brought to you 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: https://www.cicerone.co.uk/japan?refer=deep See more: • Deep Dive on Twitter • Sakura Murakami on Twitter • Oscar Boyd on Twitter • The Japan Times' reporting on whaling Photo by Kyodo

The last confirmed sighting of the Japanese wolf was in 1905, but is it really extinct? The Japan Times' Alex Martin has been chasing the story and joins Oscar Boyd to discuss the topic on this week's episode of Deep Dive. More on this:  Read Alex's full article here Deep Dive on Twitter Alex Martin on Twitter Oscar Boyd on Twitter

Over 1 million people are thought to be hikikomori in Japan, meaning they've remained isolated at home for at least six consecutive months without going to school or work, and rarely interact with people from outside their own immediate family. Earlier this year, Andrew McKirdy interviewed several recovering hikikomori, and now joins Oscar Boyd to discuss the issue. Read more: • Andrew McKirdy's full article • The Japan Times' reporting on hikikomori Artwork by Julia Nascimento

On April 20, 2019, Hiro Iwamoto became the first blind man to sail the Pacific nonstop, completing a 55-day journey across the world’s largest ocean. In this episode, Hiro and his crew mate, Doug Smith, join Oscar Boyd to talk about their voyage. See more: Hiro and Doug's Voyage of Inspiration website Ariadne GPS — the app Hiro used to navigate across the Pacific Photo by Kyodo

With the G20 summit being hosted in Osaka at the end of June, and Prime Minister Abe pledging at Davos to put climate change at the top of the agenda, Deep Dive host Oscar Boyd is joined by Pelin Zorlu of climate change think tank E3G to discuss opportunities for Japan to lead on the issue, where it is lagging behind its counterparts, and to look at the country's continued relationship with coal.  See more: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the World Economic Forum in Davos Taro Kano on climate change Photo by Anders Hellberg under CC BY-SA 4.0

Ahead of the new season of Terrace House — "Terrace House: Tokyo 2019-2020," released on Netflix on May 14 — Tom Hanaway and Patrick St. Michel join Oscar Boyd to discuss why the show has proved such a hit both here in Japan and internationally, and what we might be able to expect from the upcoming season.  Read more by Tom Hanaway Read more by Patrick St. Michel Follow Deep Dive on Twitter Photo credit: Fuji Television Network / East Entertainment Terrace House theme song: "Dear Life" by Beck

This week we unpack one of the biggest stories of the past few months: the arrest and detainment of Carlos Ghosn, former CEO of car manufacturers Nissan and Renault. Joining Deep Dive this week to discuss the case is staff writer Satoshi Sugiyama (@SatoshiJournal). Hosted by Oscar Boyd (@omhboyd) for The Japan Times. Links:  Follow Deep Dive on Twitter. Read Satoshi Sugiyama's reporting.

In 2016, Emperor Akihito announced he intended to step down from the throne because of his age and declining health.  Now, with just two weeks until Akihito’s son Naruhito becomes the country’s 126th emperor and with the name of the new Reiwa Era announced, Deep Dive asks: What does it mean to be Emperor of Japan, and what can we expect from the next person to sit atop the Chrysanthemum Throne?  Sakura Murakami joins Oscar Boyd to discuss. We had a lot of fun finding early Showa Era songs that run in the breaks in this episode. In order they were: "Southern Bride" by Meiko Takamine "Koiwa Umibe De" by Mitsuko Watanabe "Sendo Kawaiya" by Kikutaro Takahashi Thanks to Dr. Kenneth Ruoff, author of several books on Japan's Imperial Family, for contributing to this podcast.