A series of court cases pertaining to same-sex marriage might be helping to shape the debate over whether or not Japan will act on legalization. Anika Osaki Exum speaks to two transgender individuals — one Japanese, the other American — on their experiences in Japan and what allowing same-sex marriage might mean for them.  Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Anika Osaki Exum: Articles | Twitter  Fumino Sugiyama: Twitter | Blog Elin McCready: Twitter  Read more:  LGBTQ+ ‘familyship’ systems expand in Japan amid absence of national law (Anika Osaki Exum, The Japan Times) The religious right’s hidden sway as Japan trails allies on gay rights  (Motoko Rich and Hikari Hida, The New York Times) Nagoya court rules not recognizing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional (Kyodo, Reuters) Transgender man helps Shibuya make a difference (Naohiko Hatta, Kyodo) We’re coming out: Tokyo Rainbow Pride is back, back, back, back, back again (Kat Joplin, 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. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

Another year, another G7 summit done and dusted. How did Prime Minister Fumio Kishida do? Well, he’s thinking of an early election if that’s any indication. Japan Times news chief Kanako Takahara joins us to discuss Kishida’s political position following the event, while Gabriel Dominguez fills us in on what actually went down in Hiroshima.   Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Kanako Takahara: Articles | Twitter  Gabriel Dominguez: Articles | Twitter  Read more:  Can Kishida’s diplomatic success translate to domestic gains? (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times) Symbolism rich as G7 leaders visit Hiroshima A-bomb museum  (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) ‘Quad’ urges Indo-Pacific ‘free of coercion’ as it unveils new measures (Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) At Hiroshima G7, Zelenskyy rallies support for defense of Ukraine (Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) G7 unlikely to sway ‘Global South’ to switch camps, ex-U.N. official says (Gabriel Dominguez, 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. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Image Caption: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose for a photo after laying wreaths in front of the Cenotaph for the victims of the Atomic Bomb at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. | POOL / VIA AFP-JIJI

The Japanese government has set out guidelines in an effort to encourage more private sector research and funding in the field of fusion, and it has omitted a key word, “nuclear,” for fear of frightening a nuclear-wary population. Chris Russell joins us to discuss a trip to one of the country’s fusion research facilities.   Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Chris Russell: Articles | Twitter  Read more:  Amid renewed interest in nuclear fusion, Japan’s research reaches critical stage (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Japan adopts national strategy on nuclear fusion as competition intensifies (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Scientists achieve nuclear fusion breakthrough with blast of 192 lasers (Kenneth Chang, The New York Times) Whales help store carbon. Scientists are trying to figure out just how much. (Chris Russell, The Japan Times) The Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy (in Japanese) 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: The vacuum vessel of the Large Helical Device installed at the National Institute for Fusion Science in Toki, Gifu Prefecture | COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR FUSION SCIENCE

Last year saw crime rates in Japan swing upward for the first time in 20 years. Writer Alex K.T. Martin joins us to discuss the new types of crime that are popping up, while news editor Tadasu Takahashi gives us a rundown on the language being used to describe it. Also, reporter Elizabeth Beattie catches up on what happened at the G7 finance meeting in Niigata last weekend.   Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter  Tadasu Takahashi: Articles  Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | Twitter Read more:  Transfer of Russian assets in focus at G7 finance ministers meeting (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) G7 finance chiefs set stage for Hiroshima summit with Ukraine and supply chains (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) Know the shady Japanese vocabulary that will help you avoid ‘dark’ part-time jobs (Tadasu Takahashi, The Japan Times) Are rising crime rates in Japan cause for alarm? (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 Twitter!   Photo: A screen grab from a video taken by a witness shows masked robbers inside the watch shop in Tokyo's Ginza district on Monday evening. | KYODO

We went on a break and there was an assassination attempt, COVID-19 got a downgrade, and a pair of festivals shook up Kyoto. Several Japan Times writers join this week’s episode to help us play catch up with the headlines. Hosted by Shaun McKenna, with research from Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Twitter | Instagram Gabriele Ninivaggi: Articles | Twitter  Tomoko Otake: Articles | Twitter Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter Lance Henderstein: Articles | Twitter Read more:  Kishida incident shows protecting VIPs from lone wolves remains a tall order (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) Japan steps into post-pandemic phase with scrapping of COVID measures (Tomko Otake, The Japan Times) A new music festival shakes up Kyoto’s staid atmosphere (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Yu Yamauchi gets very comfortable in isolation (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Amid the parties and schmoozing, socially conscious art is still Kyotographie’s main draw (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: Yuriko Takagi’s “Threads of Beauty” was one of the highlights of this year’s Kyotographie. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN

The team at Deep Dive is taking a needed break. In the meantime, we thought that we’d revisit this podcast from last year in which we speak with writer Craig Mod about the art of a good stroll. “Walking is everything.” he says. And if you’ve got the time and the inclination to do it, it is the best way to come to know the country, from beautifully preserved shrines and forests to the messier parts of suburban reality — pachinko parlors and all. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Craig Mod: Articles | Website Read more: Paying pilgrimage to the last kissaten on the Kumano Kodo (Craig Mod, The Japan Times) I walked 600 miles across Japan for pizza toast (Craig Mod, Eater) 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: The Kumano Kodo is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Japan's Kii Peninsula. | GETTY IMAGES

The team at Deep Dive is taking a needed break. In the meantime, check out this podcast from December in which we speak with environment journalist Mara Budgen about the trouble facing the Japanese giant salamander. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramMara Budgen: Articles | Twitter Read more: The race to save the Japanese giant salamander (Mara Budgen, 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: The Japanese giant salamander has been protected as a cultural property under Japanese law since it was declared a “special natural monument” in 1952. | GETTY IMAGES

The team at Deep Dive is taking a much-needed break. In the meantime, check out this podcast from November that explores how some Japanese companies are trying to make alcohol from old trees. Hosted by Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Jason Jenkins: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Read more: Wood spirits: How Japan made the world’s first liquor from trees (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 Twitter!  Photo: The Last brand of gin created by Ethical Spirits uses leftover sake lees. | COURTESY OF ETHICAL SPIRITS

Rene Redzepi’s groundbreaking restaurant Noma is known as one of the world’s best, so it came as a huge shock last year when he announced he would be shutting it down in 2024 — at least in its current form. The Danish chef and a team of over 100 have currently descended on Kyoto to create a culinary experience that has become one of the hottest tickets on the planet. Japan Times food critic Robbie Swinnerton joins us this week to discuss Noma, the Kyoto pop-up and where fine dining goes from here.  Hosted by Jason Jenkins and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Jason Jenkins: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Robbie Swinnerton: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Read more/Hear more:  At Noma Kyoto, chef Rene Redzepi plants ‘seeds’ for the future (Robbie Swinnerton, The Japan Times) Noma sets sights on Kyoto, and diners bite in droves (Robbie Swinnerton, The Japan Times) Noma, rated the world’s best restaurant, is closing its doors (Julia Moskin, The New York Times) Redzepi: 'I think the restaurant staff in Japan are some of the best on Earth' (Robbie Swinnerton, The Japan Times) Thomas Frebel — a top chef in a city of stars (Oscar Boyd, Deep Dive from 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: A colorful noren (traditional Japanese fabric curtain) hangs above the entrance to Noma Kyoto, separating it from the Ace Hotel. | PHOTO BY KOTARO TANAKA

The number of foreign residents in Japan recently surpassed the 3 million-mark. What does that mean for the Japanese corporations hiring them? Might they get an influx of new ideas and skilled employees? Consultant Rochelle Kopp joins us to discuss the sought-after “agent of change” and Anika Osaki Exum updates us on government plans to boost the number of foreign exchange students.  Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode:  Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Anika Osaki Exum: Articles | Twitter  Rochelle Kopp: Articles | Twitter Read more:  Help wanted: The (sleeper) agent of change (Rochelle Kopp, The Japan Times) Japan makes renewed push to internationalize higher education (Anika Osaki Exum, The Japan Times) Foreign residents in Japan hit record 3 million at end of 2022 (Jiji) Ryuichi Sakamoto calls for stop to redevelopment plan for Tokyo’s Jingu area (Kyodo) 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: Commuters transfer at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo, one of the busiest stations in the world. | KYODO