Deep Dive from The Japan Times

The New York Times' Ben Dooley joins Deep Dive to discuss his recent reporting trip to Ishigaki, and why the island is currently building a missile base. Read more: The island paradise near the front line of tensions over Taiwan (Ben Dooley, The New York Times) To China's chagrin, Japan-Taiwan talks could pave the way for closer ties (Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) What's behind surging tensions in the Taiwan Strait? (Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times) What can Japan do in a Taiwan-China clash? (Michael MacArthur Bosack, The Japan Times) Invasion of Taiwan by China would be ‘economic suicide,’ former PM Abe warns Japan brings back COVID-19 restrictions over omicron surge Tsunami caused by Tonga volcano eruption stumps Japan weather experts Sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by RGF Professional Recruitment Japan, the bilingual arm of Recruit, Japan and Asia's largest recruiting and information service company. Visit www.rgf-professional.jp, to register your resume and unleash your potential today. On this episode: Ben Dooley: Articles | Twitter Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: Get in touch with Oscar and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Ishigaki, best known for sun, sand and pineapples, is at the frontline of regional tensions between Taiwan, China and Japan. | Oscar Boyd

Gearoid Reidy, senior editor at Bloomberg's Tokyo bureau, joins to discuss what the rapid spread of omicron means for Japan. Read more:  Japan's daily COVID-19 cases top 10,000 for first time in four months Why you should still try to avoid catching omicron Japan eyes relaxed rules on COVID close contacts and hospitalization 90% of omicron cases in Okinawa show mild to no symptoms Japan seeks restrictions on U.S. troop movements as Okinawa reports record cases Japan to maintain strict border restrictions until end of February On this episode: Gearoid Reidy: Articles | Twitter Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: Get in touch with Oscar and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Cases of COVID-19 have surged across the nation since the start of 2022. | Kyodo

Happy New Year! Thank you to everyone who submitted their stories for this episode, it was lovely hearing from you all. Regular episodes of Deep Dive will return in January. Until then, podtsukaresama! More bits and bobs:  On breaking my arms and climbing the Matterhorn  'How Do You Live?' — Alyssa's book recommendation The Japan Times' tribute to the lifework of actor Sonny Chiba 'Bullet Train' — Shaun's Sonny Chiba recommendation 'Jojo Rabbit' — Oscar's film recommendation Penguin Cafe — Shaun's recommendation in Matsumoto Zoria's interview with Kengo Kuma for Tokyo Weekender 'I Need To Be In Love' by The Carpenters — Yukiko's singing debut Peter's suggestion for bicycle rental for cycle excursions around Shikoku Rina's podcast On this episode: Deep Dive listeners: Thank you! Alyssa I. Smith: Articles Shaun McKenna: Twitter | Articles Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: The Japan Times is currently hiring news reports and a features editor. Find out more at bit.ly/JTworkwithus.  Get in touch with Oscar and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Atop the Matterhorn, September 2021 | Oscar Boyd

Chris Broad has been making videos for YouTube for almost 10 years now, publishing them on his channel Abroad in Japan. The last time he joined us on Deep Dive was back in 2019, after his channel crossed the 1 million subscriber mark. But over the course of the pandemic, that number has swelled, and now stands at over 2.5 million. Earlier this month, Chris invited us up to visit his new Blade Runner-inspired studio in Sendai, where we recorded this episode of Deep Dive, in which Chris talks about the evolution of his channel, his new studio setup, and what’s left for him to explore in Japan. Read more:  Inside his new studio, YouTuber Chris Broad finally has space to create (Oscar Boyd, The Japan Times) Abroad in Japan (YouTube) Episode 28: Chris Broad and Sharla — living the YouTube life in Japan (Deep Dive) So long, 2021: We want to hear stories from our listeners, wherever you are! Send us your stories about your favorite experiences this year, and what got you through the challenges of 2021. It could be a new hobby you started, a trip you took after getting vaccinated, anything that helped make 2021 a memorable year.   Record a voice memo on your phone — the inbuilt app is totally fine — and tell us your story along with your name and where you're recording from. Try and keep the recording to a minute or two. Once you're done, email your recording to deepdive@japantimes.co.jp with the subject line “So long, 2021.” Please send your entries in by Monday, December 27, to be played around the New Year. Listen to last year's episode, here. On this episode: Chris Broad: Twitter | Website | Instagram Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: The Japan Times is currently hiring news reports and a features editor. Find out more at bit.ly/JTworkwithus.  Get in touch with Oscar and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Chris Broad in his studio in Sendai | Oscar Boyd

On this week’s show, Japan Times contributor Mara Budgen takes a look at the history of onsen in Japan and asks whether Japan's iconic hot-spring resources are sustainable. Read more:  Unlocking Japan's geothermal energy potential Kurokawa Onsen: Eat, sleep, bathe, repeat Private equity sees hot opportunity in Japan's traditional onsen inns So long, 2021: We want to hear stories from our listeners, wherever you are! Send us your stories about your favorite experiences this year, and what got you through the challenges of 2021. It could be a new hobby you started, a trip you took after getting vaccinated, anything that helped make 2021 a memorable year.   Record a voice memo on your phone — the inbuilt app is totally fine — and tell us your story along with your name and where you're recording from. Try and keep the recording to a minute or two. Once you're done, email your recording to deepdive@japantimes.co.jp with the subject line “So long, 2021.” Please send your entries in by Friday, December 24, to be played around the New Year. Listen to last year's episode, here. On this episode: Mara Budgen:  Twitter | Website Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: The Japan Times is currently hiring news reports and a features editor. Find out more at bit.ly/JTworkwithus.  Get in touch with Oscar and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: An onsen in Beppu, Oita Prefecture | Getty Images 

Gearoid Reidy, senior editor at Bloomberg Japan, joins to discuss Japan's low COVID-19 case count, and if the country can expect another wave. Read more:  Japan’s COVID-19 deaths lowest in 16 months as cases plummet First case of Japanese national infected with omicron variant confirmed What's behind the rapid disappearance of the delta variant in Japan? It could be self-extinction.  Japan boosts medical system to admit 37,000 COVID patients South Korea's new COVID-19 cases top 7,000 for first time Japan's COVID-19 booster shot drive kicks off with health care workers Poll finds 89% in Japan back Kishida’s ban on new foreign arrivals  Japan Times Covid Tracker On this episode: Gearoid Reidy: Articles | Twitter Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: The Japan Times is currently hiring news reports and a features editor. Find out more at bit.ly/JTworkwithus. Get in touch with Oscar and the show at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Though cases are low and almost all emergency measures have been lifted in Japan, the public is still taking a cautious approach to the pandemic, and mask wearing is ubiquitous. | REUTERS

Japan Times contributor and cross-cultural communications consultant Rochelle Kopp joins to discuss the changes at Japan's border and how they are affecting the people who hope to call Japan home. Read more:  Japan to bar all new foreign visitors as omicron fears grow (Ryusei Takahashi) Scores hoping to enter Japan in limbo — again — after latest entry ban (Jesse Johnson and Ryusei Takahashi) Omicron is the price we pay for vaccine inequality (Brad Glosserman) Japan confirms first case of omicron coronavirus variant (Ryusei Takahashi) Japan to ban all foreign travelers from 10 African countries amid omicron outbreak (Ryusei Takahashi) Japan tells airlines to halt inbound flight bookings over omicron fears (Ryusei Takahashi) On this episode: Rochelle Kopp: Website | Twitter Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified when new episodes comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: A notice about COVID-19 safety measures pictured next to closed doors at a departure hall of Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture on Tuesday. | REUTERS

On Nov. 12, COP26 wrapped up in Glasgow, Scotland, after two weeks of tense negotiations attended by heads of state from across the world.  The outcome? The Glasgow Climate Pact, an agreement that aims to hold the world to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius of global heating above pre-industrial levels.  Masako Konishi, Expert Director for Conservation and Energy at WWF Japan, was in Glasgow for the two-week conference and joins Deep Dive to give her insights into what was agreed at COP26, and the role Japan played at this crucial climate summit. Subscribe to The Japan Times One of the best ways that you can support Deep Dive is by subscribing to The Japan Times, and we are currently offering a 30% discount on the first six months of a digital premium subscription. Head to jtimes.jp/deepdive30 and enter the promo code "DEEPDIVE30" to claim the discount, and get unlimited access to The Japan Times' journalism. Thank you as always for your support. Read more:  COP26 seals breakthrough climate deal after major compromises (The Japan Times) Japan, once a leader on climate, under fire at COP26 over coal use (The Japan Times) Kishida places Japan’s business interests at the forefront of climate policy (The Japan Times) Japan gets Fossil of the Day Award at COP26 after Kishida speech (The Japan Times) Toyota defends skipping COP26 emissions pledge (The Japan Times) On this episode: Masako Konishi: Twitter | WWF Japan Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified when new episodes comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: People dressed as Pikachu protest against the funding of coal by Japan, near the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) venue in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 4. | REUTERS

In February this year the government created a new cabinet position to try to address the problem of loneliness, the so-called "minister for loneliness." But loneliness did not begin with COVID-19, and has been a growing problem in Japan for decades. Alex K.T. Martin, a senior writer at the Japan Times, recently wrote an article on kodoku, and the fine line between solitude and loneliness that many of us have experienced throughout the pandemic. Subscribe to The Japan Times One of the best ways that you can support Deep Dive is by subscribing to The Japan Times, and we are currently offering a 30% discount on the first six months of a digital premium subscription. Head to jtimes.jp/deepdive30 and enter the promo code "DEEPDIVE30" to claim the discount, and get unlimited access to The Japan Times' journalism. Thank you as always for your support. TELL Japan 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 assistance. The TELL Lifeline is available for those who need free and anonymous counseling at 03-5774-0992. You can also visit them at telljp.com. For those outside of Japan, visit www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html for a detailed list of resources and assistance. Read more:  Kodoku: The fine line between solitude and loneliness in Japan (Alex Martin, The Japan Times) As suicides rise amid the pandemic, Japan takes steps to tackle loneliness (Tomohiro Osaki, The Japan Times) Escaping COVID-19: When you can’t see the virus for the trees (Alex Martin, The Japan Times) On this episode: Alex K.T. Martin: Twitter | Articles Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified when new episodes comes out. Get in touch with us at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Japan is facing a problem of chronic loneliness | GETTY IMAGES

This week, world leaders are gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, for COP26, a meeting of nations that has been billed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the world's last chance to avert catastrophic climate change. At this point, the science behind climate change could not be clearer. In August, the IPCC released its most comprehensive report to date on the state of the global climate, and concluded it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.  Japan is an important part of this in two ways. First, it is a significant emitter of CO2, the fifth largest globally by total annual emissions. And second, it is a country that is exceptionally vulnerable to climate change. The climate crisis is here and it is affecting everything from the strength of typhoons and flooding, to the timing of the annual cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.  Read more:  The true cost of the climate crisis on Japan (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) A crucial U.N. climate summit kicks off Oct. 31. Here's what you need to know. (Eric Johnston, The Japan Times) As Japan looks to expand renewable energy, nuclear power's role remains unclear (The Japan Times) On this episode: Eric Margolis: Twitter | Website Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram Announcements: 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. Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback. This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times. Photo: Rescue workers search a flooded area in the aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis, which caused severe floods at the Chikuma River in Nagano Prefecture in October 2019. | REUTERS