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The Japan Times

Looking beneath the surface of Japan.

We talk to Japan Times journalists and guests about current events and trends in Japan.

Deep Dive from The Japan Times

Pokemon is thought to be the most valuable media franchise in the world, with an empire that straddles video games, television, cinema, trading cards, Pokemon Go and much, much more.

This week on Deep Dive, journalist Tom Bateman takes us through the 25 year history of Pokemon, and how it has become one of Japan’s most successful and recognizable exports. 

Read more:

 • 
Monsters, mania and the unstoppable march of Pokemon • (Tom Bateman, BBC)

 • 
Beware of the Pokemania • (Time Magazine, 1999)

 • 
Pokemon still catching hearts as game franchise celebrates 25th anniversary • (The Japan Times)

On this episode:

Tom Bateman: 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: The Pokemon Company

86: Twenty-five years of Pokemon w/ Tom Bateman

Welcome to Deep Dive, a podcast looking beneath the surface of Japan. Episode 1 will debut on Nov. 14, 2018.

Deep Dive is a production from The Japan Times, the most widely read English news source in Japan.

Welcome to Deep Dive

Japan's Nationality Act forces young adults with multiple citizenships to choose their nationality by their 22nd birthday. The choice is so tough that many flout the law and instead choose to live in a legal gray zone. Oscar Boyd is joined by Japan Times staff writers Sakura Murakami and Cory Baird to discuss the issue.

1: Dual nationality in Japan

In the 1980s and '90s, Japan experienced one of history’s greatest economic bubbles. Fast cars, designer clothes, expensive nights out … Japan had money and lots of it. Then the bubble burst, leading to a hangover that the country has been unable to shake to this day.

Japan Times staff writer Alex Martin joins Oscar Boyd and Cory Baird to discuss the end of the bubble era and what it means for Japan.

Read the full article

2: The hangover that followed Japan's bubble era

What happens when a journalist comes forward with allegations of sexual harassment against one of Japan's top government officials? And how does the incident relate to the global MeToo movement?

Sayuri Daimon, managing editor of The Japan Times, joins Oscar Boyd and Cory Baird to explain Japan's MeToo movement and how it fits into broader gender issues in the country.

Read the full article on The Japan Times' website 
 • 

Join us on Twitter
 •

3: MeToo rises in Japan

Happy holidays to all our listeners! There's no episode this week, we're on holiday, too! Thanks for all the support so far., join us again in the New Year for more from Deep Dive.

Happy holidays

Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki dropped by the Deep Dive studios for a brief chat with Oscar Boyd about her journey into space and beyond.

Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki — to the stars and back again

Their trials and tribulations offer insight into how Japan will cope with an expected influx of young, foreign workers in a graying country with limited experience in hosting blue-collar workers.

Staff reporter Sakura Murakami joins Cory Baird and Oscar Boyd to discuss the issue.

Read the full article here.

Join us on Twitter.

4: Japan's changing demographics

50 years on from the riots at the University of Tokyo, where does activism in Japan stand now? Oscar Boyd is joined by JT staff writer Alex Martin who reported on the recent anniversary of the riots.

Join us on Twitter here.

For more on the story and Hiromi Watanabe's photographs of the riots, read Alex Martin's feature here.

5: The legacy of the Tokyo riots

On Monday, Naomi Osaka became the world's No. 1 women’s singles player after her victory against Petra Kvitova in Saturday’s Australian Open final. But her rise to the top also came with a dose of controversy.

This week on Deep Dive, Oscar Boyd is joined by Baye McNeil and Joel Tansey to discuss Osaka's rise to the top and a recent case of whitewashing.

Related links

 • 
Baye McNeil's Black Eye column on the Nissin ad • 

 • 
Joel Tansey on Naomi Osaka's victory at the Australian Open • 

 • 
Clip of Naomi Osaka talking at the Australian Open from Guardian Sport • 

 • 
Naomi Osaka's victory proves to be a boon for her sponsors • 

 • 
Naomi Osaka becomes world No. 1 in women's singles tennis rankings • 

Join us on Twitter

6: What a week for Naomi Osaka

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.

12: Out with the old Emperor, in with the new

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