Japan is an island nation that stretches thousands of miles. “A country surrounded by the sea,” as one common expression has it. Perhaps not surprisingly, the country has had a highly developed fishing culture for centuries, if not millennia. It has long been a global pioneer in everything from ways to preserve freshness to forms of seafood cuisine. This is our topic for this edition of Japanology Plus: how Japan fishes its oceans, in particular its coastal seas. Our expert guest is Professor Osamu Baba of the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.

Japan is one of the safest countries in the whole world. With its impressively low crime rate, the worst that most people need to be fearful of is the occasional stolen bicycle or umbrella. First-time visitors might be surprised by residents taking naps on trains with their cellphones in plain sight or by seeing extremely young children walking to school alone. A large part of what contributes to that sense of security is the police force, some 300,000 members strong.

The long history of Japanese culture is replete with various forms of traditional music and storytelling, many of which have been featured on Japanology Plus. This time our focus is on joruri, one such traditional performing art. Our guide is a unique practitioner of that art: Stephanie Tomiyasu, an American who trains under one of Japan's leading joruri instructors. Tomiyasu's life in Japan and her position as a foreign joruri practitioner are the subject of our latest Japanophiles edition.

Japan, like the rest of the developed world, has taken a serious shine to online shopping. 3.9 billion home deliveries were made in 2016 alone, and that volume doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Japan's wholehearted embrace of online shopping is fueled, in part, thanks to the country's efficient shipping infrastructure, in which next-day delivery is the norm.

When exploring the streets of Tokyo, you won’t have to go very far before running into some type of game arcade with an interior full of flashing lights and people of all ages. The ubiquitous nature of arcades isn’t just noticeable in bustling areas such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, or Akihabara—with about 5,000 locations nationwide, you’d almost have to try to not see one. As at-home game consoles and smartphones reshape the global gaming industry, brick and mortar arcades still remain popular across Japan.

Here's a fact that may surprise Japan travelers who have only visited Tokyo: for months during winter, a large portion of the country is blanketed in snow. While Japan's capital city experiences relatively mild winters, about 20 million Japanese—some 15% of the population—live in regions that regularly get hit by heavy snowfall. On this edition of Japanology Plus, we learn how population centers like Sapporo deal with all that white stuff, and the challenges that lie ahead for Japan's snowiest regions.

As in much of the industrialized world, a significant amount of shopping in Japan takes place in towering shopping malls and chain supermarkets. But cities and towns throughout the country are also home to a more traditional form of shopping thanks to their shotengai, or shopping streets.

What do samurai and sushi have in common? The first answer that comes to mind might be that they’re both Japanese, but their connection is actually much deeper and important than that. The development of washoku, Japan’s unique traditional cuisine, wouldn’t have been possible without the technology that was used to make katana, the ultra sharp swords carried by samurai. That’s right—the same techniques that were once employed to make lethal weapons are also what make possible the preparation of a mouthwatering sushi dinner or a beautiful kaiseki meal.

For decades, rail was the dominant form of transport for both people and freight in Japan. But while trains and subways still enjoy healthy ridership in Japan's urban centers, regional rail is another story. Competing forms of transportation like cars, buses, and airplanes, plus Japan's shrinking population—and concentration of the population in major cities—means regional rail lines are facing a crisis. We dive into the details of that crisis, and what rail companies are doing to combat it, on this edition of Japanology Plus.

Japan has a serious fondness for doing things in miniature. Whether it's capsule toys, model trains, dioramas, or more, the country has a knack for extremely detailed, picture-perfect scaled-down representations of reality. How—and why—so much attention is paid to miniaturized detail, and what connection the love of miniatures has to Japanese society at large, is the theme of this edition of Japanology Plus.

Springtime has arrived in Japan, and that means wedding season is starting to get into full swing! No matter where you are in the world, getting married is an exciting event for all involved and a time to celebrate with friends and family. The path to starting married life in Japan is steeped in tradition and ceremony, some of which may be different from what visitors from other countries are accustomed to.

Over the past year, 98% of people in Japan shopped at a 100 yen store. These shops were once associated with cheap, low-quality merchandise. Over the years, however, quality has been improving, and now 100 yen goods are often used in everyday life. Exactly how do 100 yen shops contribute to general well-being in Japan? This time on Japanology Plus, our expert guest is Emiko Masao, who writes an influential blog about making the most of what 100 yen shops offer. And in Plus One, ways to use 100 yen items in a DIY project.

Deep-fried food—also known as agemono—might not be as photogenic as some other types of Japanese cuisine, but it has captured the hearts of food lovers everywhere nonetheless. As we learn on this edition of Japanology Plus, a whopping 70% of Japanese people eat some version at least once a week. The sheer variety of offerings to choose from is certainly impressive—tempura, tonkatsu, croquettes, karaage, jumbo fried shrimp, and much, much more.

Exposed to the fury of waves and weather, lighthouses hold a cherished place in Japanese hearts. In recent years, the advent of GPS and radar has led to the demolition of many lighthouses, but they live on in the memories of those who looked to them for guidance. This time on Japanology Plus, we cast light on the subtle appeal of lighthouses in Japan. Our guest is Mayuu Fudo, editor of a free magazine dedicated to the appeal of lighthouses. And in Plus One, memories of life as a lighthouse keeper.

Japanese cuisine is internationally renowned—restaurants serving sushi, ramen and more can be spotted in countries around the world, and washoku, traditional Japanese cuisine, was even registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2013. But long before the current boom, one American living in Japan made it his mission to master both the flavor and presentation of fine Japanese cuisine. That man's name is David E. Wells, and he's the subject of the latest Japanophiles edition of Japanology Plus.

A mere 150 years ago, while countries in the West and elsewhere were undergoing rapid industrialization, Japan was still a traditional, agricultural society ruled by samurai and closed off from the rest of the world. But after Japan's borders opened in the 19th century, the country quickly modernized, putting itself on a technological footing with the industrialized world within a matter of decades. This time on Japanology Plus, we look at Japan's rapid industrial growth, both in the 19th century and again after the devastation of the Second World War.

The way a society deals with death, and how it pays tribute to those who have passed away, will tend to reveal a great deal about that society's values. That's as true of Japan as anywhere else in world—and like other regions and countries, Japan has a long history of grave-making, together with thousands of years of rituals and practices. These days, as Japanese attitudes toward family life, financial matters, and more evolve, so too are attitudes toward graves. On this edition of Japanology Plus, we explore the past, present and future of graves.

Rice has been an integral part of life in Japan for over 2,000 years. Traditionally, one alternative name for Japan is mizuho no kuni, or “the Land of Abundant Rice.” As we learn on this edition of Japanology Plus, when society shifted from hunting and gathering to agriculture during the Yayoi period, communities formed around rice paddies to facilitate the cooperation necessary for bringing in a plentiful harvest. This organizational structure laid a foundation for Japanese society, and the effects can still be seen in Japan’s cultural identity and people’s shared beliefs today.

This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is the Ogasawara Islands, a remote archipelago with a unique ecosystem and multicultural heritage. Located 1,000 kilometers off Japan's Pacific coast, the Ogasawara Islands were first settled by a group of Westerners and South Pacific Islanders, who interacted with later Japanese settlers to bring forth a unique culture. Our expert guide is Sho Sebori, a direct descendant of the American who became the leader of the first community on the islands.

The Ogasawara Islands, located 1,000 kilometers off Japan's Pacific coast, first welcomed permanent human inhabitants in 1830. Waves of settlers built great prosperity together, but life for the islanders was turned upside down by the Second World War. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is the Ogasawara Islands, a remote archipelago with an eventful history. Islanders who lived through the turbulent war and postwar periods share their experiences with us.

Bruce Gutlove is an American who for decades has contributed to the growing reputation of Japanese wines. His career highlights include two wines that were served at G8 Summits in Japan. For many years he worked at a vineyard in Tochigi prefecture that offers workers with developmental disabilities to explore their potential. Nowadays he has his own winery in Hokkaido. This time on Japanophiles, Bruce Gutlove reviews his career and discusses the challenge of making great wine in Japan.

One unique feature of regional Japan in particular is the roadside station, a place that offers not just free parking, restrooms, and information about local points of interest, but also local farm produce, a sense of community life, and sometimes offbeat attractions. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is roadside stations. Our guest is Yasushi Shinohara, associate professor of tourism and community studies at Atomi University.

In Japan's hottest months, many people head out to summer resorts. While the concept initially came from Western expatriates, summer resorts then evolved along uniquely Japanese lines. These days they offer activities that cover a range of outdoor thrills and entertainment for the whole family. Our guest is Hiroyuki Yasujima, a professor of tourism and community studies at Atomi University who has studied summer resort areas around the world.

Japanese ghosts (yurei) often appear in a type of painting called yureiga ("ghost pictures"). One feature of this art is the frequent appearance of female ghosts. Japanese ghosts, however, come in various forms, all of which reveal aspects of the world beyond. On this edition of Japanology Plus our guests are Takahiro Saeki, an expert on Japanese tales of the supernatural, and Fuyuko Matsui, a nihonga painter who specializes in yureiga. And in Plus One, a temple with some precious ghost pictures.

Each morning millions of Japanese start their day with radio calisthenics. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is radio calisthenics. Practically everyone in Japan—young and old—is familiar with these exercises, which started 90 years ago and spread to parks, schools, neighborhood associations and workplaces all over the country. Our guest is nonfiction writer Hidemine Takahashi, who has studied radio calisthenics closely. And in Plus One, some of the key points of the exercises.