Japanology Plus
Season 3 Episode 10 - Bladed Tools
In this edition of of Japanology Plus, host Peter Barakan pays a visit to the city of Sakai, which is part of Osaka Prefecture in Western Japan. Sakai has been known for bladesmithing since the Muromachi period (1333–1568), The emergence of sushi as the fast food of the age called for a range of knives for street-side vendors. The bonsai tradition, meanwhile, spawned a range of delicate shears and squeeze-scissors, a genre of tool that was also turned to the shaping of wagashi confections for the tea ceremony, and the fashion and beauty needs of an increasingly style-conscious populace. Indeed, this is the area of Japanese bladesmithing that continues to evolve.
Episodes in Season 3
Japanophiles: Maud Archambault
28 min
Silk
28 min
Underground Tokyo
28 min
Earthquake Preparedness
28 min
Japanophiles: Jorge Cabeza Fernandez
28 min
Japanophiles: Pico Iyer
28 min
Okinawan Dance
28 min
Whisky
28 min
Quest for Perfect Skin
28 min
Bladed Tools
28 min
Family Crests
28 min
Breakfast
28 min
Footwear
28 min
Running
28 min
Emoji
28 min
Ekiben
28 min
Bicycles
28 min
Kimono
28 min
Kokeshi Dolls
28 min
Shinise: Long-Established Businesses
28 min
Japanophiles: Rezaul Karim Chowdhury
28 min
Toilets
28 min
Bridges
28 min
A Nation of Singers
28 min
Restoring Castles
28 min
Volcanoes
28 min
School Club Activites
28 min
Smells
28 min
Paper
28 min
Japanophiles: Paul Lorimer
28 min
Katsuobushi
28 min
Day Care for Kids
28 min
Sweets and Snacks
28 min
Hairdressing
28 min
