Is Japanology Plus coming back?
Japanology Plus (2014–present) on NHK World
The answer: Currently airing — last episode May 21, 2026.
13seasons
358episodes
About Japanology Plus
Japanology Plus is currently airing on NHK World; the last episode aired on May 7, 2026. There is no confirmed next episode date at this time.
The show is a documentary series that explores Japanese life and culture through the perspective of Peter Barakan, a resident and observer of Japan. It first premiered in 2014 and has continued to provide insights into various aspects of Japanese society, traditions, and customs.
The cast includes Peter Barakan as the presenter, along with narrators Kanako Sachno and Emma Howard, and co-presenter Matt Alt.
Japanology Plus episode schedule
358 aired
Aired · 358
| Date | Ep. | Title |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | S2026·E9 | Seaweed |
| May 7, 2026 | S2026·E8 | Sashiko Embroidery |
| April 23, 2026 | S2026·E7 | Chokatsu: Improving Gut Health |
| April 9, 2026 | S2026·E6 | Jazz Kissa |
| March 12, 2026 | S2026·E5 | Danchi Housing Complexes |
| February 26, 2026 | S2026·E4 | Japanophiles: Phillip Richards |
| February 12, 2026 | S2026·E3 | Salmon |
| January 22, 2026 | S2026·E2 | Fragrances |
| January 8, 2026 | S2026·E1 | Glasswork |
| December 18, 2025 | S2025·E24 | Hagi: Castle Town Forged by Magma |
| December 11, 2025 | S2025·E23 | Hagi: The Life of Yoshida Shoin |
| November 20, 2025 | S2025·E22 | Japanophiles: Astrid Klein & Mark Dytham |
| November 6, 2025 | S2025·E21 | Sleep |
| October 23, 2025 | S2025·E20 | Convenience Stores |
| October 9, 2025 | S2025·E19 | Bookstores |
| September 25, 2025 | S2025·E18 | Japanophiles: Ziaul Karim |
| September 11, 2025 | S2025·E17 | Offices |
| August 28, 2025 | S2025·E16 | Sake |
| August 14, 2025 | S2025·E15 | Origami |
| July 31, 2025 | S2025·E14 | Japanophiles: Johan Nordstrom |
| July 17, 2025 | S2025·E13 | Tosa: Blessings and Perils of the Kuroshio Current |
| July 10, 2025 | S2025·E12 | Tosa: The Life of John Manjiro |
| June 19, 2025 | S2025·E11 | Stationery |
| June 5, 2025 | S2025·E10 | Natto |
| May 22, 2025 | S2025·E9 | Family Restaurants |
| May 8, 2025 | S2025·E8 | Japanophiles: Stephen Turner |
| April 24, 2025 | S2025·E7 | Mamachari |
| April 10, 2025 | S2025·E6 | Torii |
| March 13, 2025 | S2025·E5 | Leather Shoes |
| February 27, 2025 | S2025·E4 | Octopuses |
Show next 200 of 328 earlier episodes
| February 13, 2025 | S2025·E3 | Japanophiles: Johan Leutwiler |
| January 23, 2025 | S2025·E2 | Repair |
| January 9, 2025 | S2025·E1 | Onigiri |
| December 19, 2024 | S2024·E24 | Uesugi Yozan: All for His People |
| December 12, 2024 | S2024·E23 | Uesugi Yozan: An Economic Miracle |
| November 21, 2024 | S2024·E22 | Japanophiles: Adam Smith |
| November 7, 2024 | S2024·E21 | Under Elevated Train Tracks |
| October 24, 2024 | S2024·E20 | Graves and End-of-Life Planning |
| October 10, 2024 | S2024·E19 | Heavy Machinery |
| September 26, 2024 | S2024·E18 | Japanophiles: Stephanie Crohin |
| September 12, 2024 | S2024·E17 | Tanuki |
| August 29, 2024 | S2024·E16 | Service Areas |
| August 15, 2024 | S2024·E15 | Eyeglasses |
| August 1, 2024 | S2024·E14 | Japanophiles: Lekh Raj Juneja |
| July 18, 2024 | S2024·E13 | Kumano: Journey of a Maverick Scholar |
| July 11, 2024 | S2024·E12 | Kumano: The Practice of Shugendo |
| June 20, 2024 | S2024·E11 | Food Tech Products |
| June 6, 2024 | S2024·E10 | Plastic Models |
| May 23, 2024 | S2024·E9 | Wakocha: Japanese Black Tea |
| May 9, 2024 | S2024·E8 | Japanophiles: Nicoleta Oprisan |
| April 25, 2024 | S2024·E7 | New Roles for Vacant Homes |
| April 11, 2024 | S2024·E6 | Washing Machines |
| March 28, 2024 | S2024·E5 | 20th Anniversary Special Part 2 |
| March 21, 2024 | S2024·E4 | 20th Anniversary Special Part 1 |
| March 7, 2024 | S2024·E3 | Japanophiles: Matthew Headland |
| January 25, 2024 | S2024·E2 | Forestry |
| January 4, 2024 | S2024·E1 | Active Seniors |
| December 14, 2023 | S2023·E23 | Izumo: Land of the Supernatural |
| December 7, 2023 | S2023·E22 | Izumo: Home of the Gods |
| November 23, 2023 | S2023·E21 | Japanophiles: Benjamin Flatt |
| November 9, 2023 | S2023·E20 | Firefighting |
| October 26, 2023 | S2023·E19 | Garbage |
| October 12, 2023 | S2023·E18 | Unused Fish |
| September 28, 2023 | S2023·E17 | Japanophiles: Martin Holman |
| September 14, 2023 | S2023·E16 | Japanese Honeybees |
| August 31, 2023 | S2023·E15 | Rokyoku: Musical Storytelling |
| August 17, 2023 | S2023·E14 | Vacant Homes |
| August 3, 2023 | S2023·E13 | Japanophiles: Francesco Panto |
| July 13, 2023 | S2023·E12 | Amami Oshima: Shaped by Adversity |
| July 6, 2023 | S2023·E11 | Amami Oshima: Paradise Found |
| June 22, 2023 | S2023·E10 | Meteorological Data |
| June 8, 2023 | S2023·E9 | Ueno |
| May 25, 2023 | S2023·E8 | Japanophiles: Isabelle Sasaki |
| May 11, 2023 | S2023·E7 | Konnyaku |
| April 27, 2023 | S2023·E6 | Male Aesthetics |
| April 13, 2023 | S2023·E5 | Camping |
| March 23, 2023 | S2023·E4 | Japanophiles: Kyle Holzhueter |
| March 2, 2023 | S2023·E3 | Dinosaurs |
| February 9, 2023 | S2023·E2 | Satsumaimo: Sweet Potatoes |
| January 12, 2023 | S2023·E1 | Kitchens |
| December 22, 2022 | S2022·E27 | Japanophiles: Colleen Schmuckal |
| December 15, 2022 | S2022·E26 | The Samurai of the Sea: The Murakami Legacy |
| December 8, 2022 | S2022·E25 | The Samurai of the Sea: Pirates or Protectors? |
| November 24, 2022 | S2022·E24 | Cardboard |
| October 20, 2022 | S2022·E23 | The Moon |
| October 13, 2022 | S2022·E22 | Japanophiles: Andrew Dewar |
| September 29, 2022 | S2022·E21 | Water-related Disasters |
| September 8, 2022 | S2022·E20 | Welfare Goods |
| August 25, 2022 | S2022·E19 | Goldfish |
| August 11, 2022 | S2022·E18 | Japanophiles: Gregory Khezrnejat |
| July 28, 2022 | S2022·E17 | Frozen Food |
| July 21, 2022 | S2022·E16 | Okinawa: The Reconstruction of Shuri Castle |
| July 14, 2022 | S2022·E15 | Okinawa: The Ryukyu Kingdom |
| June 30, 2022 | S2022·E14 | Vinyl Records |
| June 16, 2022 | S2022·E13 | Keitora: Tiny Trucks |
| June 2, 2022 | S2022·E12 | Japanophiles: Claudio Feliciani |
| May 19, 2022 | S2022·E11 | Showa Nostalgia |
| May 12, 2022 | S2022·E10 | Name Stamps and Seals |
| April 28, 2022 | S2022·E9 | Washi: Japanese Paper |
| April 14, 2022 | S2022·E8 | Face Masks |
| March 24, 2022 | S2022·E7 | Japanophiles: Steve Tallon |
| March 17, 2022 | S2022·E6 | Jomon Period: Dogu |
| March 10, 2022 | S2022·E5 | Jomon Period: The Sannai Maruyama Site |
| February 17, 2022 | S2022·E4 | Traditional Homes |
| January 20, 2022 | S2022·E3 | VTubers |
| January 13, 2022 | S2022·E2 | Kotatsu: Heated Tables |
| January 6, 2022 | S2022·E1 | Japanophiles: Tom Hovasse |
| December 30, 2021 | S2021·E27 | Ainu: A New Generation |
| December 23, 2021 | S2021·E26 | Ainu: A National Museum of Ainu Culture |
| December 16, 2021 | S2021·E25 | Bamboo |
| December 2, 2021 | S2021·E24 | Japanophiles: Nicholas Rennick |
| November 11, 2021 | S2021·E23 | Chests & Cabinets |
| October 28, 2021 | S2021·E22 | Tatami |
| October 7, 2021 | S2021·E21 | Luck |
| September 30, 2021 | S2021·E20 | Japanophiles: Marty Friedman |
| September 16, 2021 | S2021·E19 | Scissors |
| September 2, 2021 | S2021·E18 | Personal Robots |
| August 5, 2021 | S2021·E17 | Cats and Japan |
| July 29, 2021 | S2021·E16 | Japanophiles: Asa Ekstrom |
| July 15, 2021 | S2021·E15 | Plastic Food Samples |
| July 8, 2021 | S2021·E14 | Watches & Clocks |
| July 1, 2021 | S2021·E13 | Tiny Houses |
| June 17, 2021 | S2021·E12 | Japan vs. Epidemics, Part 2: Modern History |
| June 3, 2021 | S2021·E11 | Furoshiki: Wrapping Cloths |
| May 27, 2021 | S2021·E10 | Japanophiles: Chad Mullane |
| May 13, 2021 | S2021·E9 | Emergency Goods |
| May 6, 2021 | S2021·E8 | Suits |
| April 22, 2021 | S2021·E7 | Lacquerware |
| April 8, 2021 | S2021·E6 | Cleaning Tools |
| March 16, 2021 | S2021·E5 | Japanophiles: Richard Halberstadt |
| February 2, 2021 | S2021·E4 | Ukiyo-e |
| January 26, 2021 | S2021·E3 | Japanophiles: Sheila Cliffe |
| January 19, 2021 | S2021·E2 | Libraries |
| January 12, 2021 | S2021·E1 | Moss |
| December 29, 2020 | S2020·E24 | Kamishibai: Paper Theater |
| December 22, 2020 | S2020·E23 | Mushrooms |
| December 1, 2020 | S2020·E22 | Japanophiles: Anna Bugaeva |
| November 24, 2020 | S2020·E21 | Tokyo Stories #2: Mateusz Urbanowicz |
| November 17, 2020 | S2020·E20 | Tokyo Stories #1: Josh Grisdale |
| November 10, 2020 | S2020·E19 | Tokyo Rooftops |
| November 3, 2020 | S2020·E18 | Urban Workshops |
| October 20, 2020 | S2020·E17 | Rice Snacks |
| October 13, 2020 | S2020·E16 | Japanophiles: Gyoei Saile |
| October 6, 2020 | S2020·E15 | Aloha Shirts |
| September 29, 2020 | S2020·E14 | Japanophiles: Kim Seungbok |
| September 15, 2020 | S2020·E13 | Expert Craft Skills |
| September 8, 2020 | S2020·E12 | Geisha: A Sunset Trade? |
| September 1, 2020 | S2020·E11 | Wasabi |
| August 18, 2020 | S2020·E10 | Japan vs. Epidemics |
| August 4, 2020 | S2020·E9 | Japanophiles: Johan Nilsson Bjoerk |
| April 21, 2020 | S2020·E8 | Miso |
| April 7, 2020 | S2020·E7 | Laundry Services |
| March 24, 2020 | S2020·E6 | Japanophiles: Harold George Meij |
| March 17, 2020 | S2020·E5 | Tohoku Nine Years On: Voices of the Deceased |
| March 10, 2020 | S2020·E4 | Tohoku Nine Years On: Living with Ghosts |
| February 18, 2020 | S2020·E3 | Sunakku Bars |
| January 28, 2020 | S2020·E2 | Japanophiles: Thomas Ainsworth |
| January 7, 2020 | S2020·E1 | Osechi: New Year's Food |
| December 10, 2019 | S2019·E28 | Donburi: Rice Bowls |
| December 3, 2019 | S2019·E27 | Insects |
| November 19, 2019 | S2019·E26 | Japanophiles: Wolfgang Loeger |
| November 12, 2019 | S2019·E25 | Plasterwork |
| November 5, 2019 | S2019·E24 | Banknotes |
| October 15, 2019 | S2019·E23 | Monkeys |
| October 8, 2019 | S2019·E22 | Japanophiles: David Atkinson |
| October 1, 2019 | S2019·E21 | Bathrooms |
| September 10, 2019 | S2019·E20 | Swords |
| August 27, 2019 | S2019·E19 | Mechanical Dolls |
| August 6, 2019 | S2019·E18 | Tokyo: Backstreets and Alleys |
| July 30, 2019 | S2019·E17 | Tokyo: Water |
| July 23, 2019 | S2019·E16 | Japanophiles: Ondrej Hybl |
| July 9, 2019 | S2019·E15 | Slippers |
| June 25, 2019 | S2019·E14 | Frozen Food |
| June 11, 2019 | S2019·E13 | Konamon: Flour-based Cuisine |
| May 21, 2019 | S2019·E12 | Japanophiles: Peter MacMillan |
| April 30, 2019 | S2019·E11 | Japanese Dog Breeds |
| April 16, 2019 | S2019·E10 | Oni: Japanese Ogres |
| April 2, 2019 | S2019·E9 | Popular Theater |
| March 26, 2019 | S2019·E8 | Meat |
| March 19, 2019 | S2019·E7 | Japanophiles: Oussouby Sacko |
| March 12, 2019 | S2019·E6 | Wood: Carpentry |
| March 5, 2019 | S2019·E5 | Wood: Culture |
| February 26, 2019 | S2019·E4 | Hidden Christians: Part 2 |
| February 19, 2019 | S2019·E3 | Hidden Christians: Part 1 |
| January 29, 2019 | S2019·E2 | Japanophiles: Thomas Bertrand |
| January 8, 2019 | S2019·E1 | Roof Tilers |
| December 25, 2018 | S2018·E38 | Soba Restaurants |
| December 18, 2018 | S2018·E37 | School Uniforms |
| December 11, 2018 | S2018·E36 | Meiji-era Advisors |
| November 27, 2018 | S2018·E35 | Coffee |
| November 20, 2018 | S2018·E34 | Japanophiles: David Stanley Hewett |
| November 13, 2018 | S2018·E33 | Onigiri: Rice Balls |
| November 6, 2018 | S2018·E32 | Aquariums |
| October 30, 2018 | S2018·E31 | School Satchels |
| October 16, 2018 | S2018·E30 | School Sports Days |
| October 9, 2018 | S2018·E29 | Earthquake-resistant Architecture |
| October 2, 2018 | S2018·E28 | A Sense of the Divine |
| September 25, 2018 | S2018·E27 | Japanophiles: Jagmohan S. Chandrani |
| September 11, 2018 | S2018·E26 | Underground Shopping Streets |
| September 4, 2018 | S2018·E25 | Radio Calisthenics |
| August 21, 2018 | S2018·E24 | Yurei: Japanese Ghosts |
| August 7, 2018 | S2018·E23 | Summer Resorts |
| July 31, 2018 | S2018·E22 | Roadside Stations |
| July 17, 2018 | S2018·E21 | Japanophiles: Bruce Gutlove |
| July 10, 2018 | S2018·E20 | The Ogasawara Islands: A Turbulent History |
| July 3, 2018 | S2018·E19 | The Ogasawara Islands: A Multicultural Heritage |
| June 26, 2018 | S2018·E18 | Rice Cultivation |
| June 19, 2018 | S2018·E17 | Graves |
| June 5, 2018 | S2018·E16 | Industrial Heritage |
| May 22, 2018 | S2018·E15 | Japanophiles: David E. Wells |
| May 1, 2018 | S2018·E14 | Lighthouses |
| April 17, 2018 | S2018·E13 | Deep-fried Food |
| April 10, 2018 | S2018·E12 | 100 Yen Shops |
| April 3, 2018 | S2018·E11 | Marriage |
| March 27, 2018 | S2018·E10 | Miniature Culture |
| March 20, 2018 | S2018·E9 | Regional Transport Crisis |
| March 13, 2018 | S2018·E8 | Japanophiles: Bjorn Heiberg |
| March 6, 2018 | S2018·E7 | Shopping Streets |
| February 20, 2018 | S2018·E6 | Snow Removal |
| February 13, 2018 | S2018·E5 | Game Arcades |
| February 6, 2018 | S2018·E4 | New Trends in Logistics |
| January 23, 2018 | S2018·E3 | Japanophiles: Stephanie Tomiyasu |
| January 16, 2018 | S2018·E2 | The Police |
| January 9, 2018 | S2018·E1 | Ocean Fishing |
| December 19, 2017 | S2017·E35 | The Way of Tea: Wellspring of Omotenashi, Part 2 |
| December 12, 2017 | S2017·E34 | The Way of Tea: Wellspring of Omotenashi, Part 1 |
| November 28, 2017 | S2017·E33 | Changing Perceptions of Cars |
| November 21, 2017 | S2017·E32 | Japanophiles: Fernando Lopez |
| October 31, 2017 | S2017·E31 | The Wonders of Air Travel |
| October 24, 2017 | S2017·E30 | Special Rescue Teams |
…and 128 earlier episodes not shown. Long-running show.
