CATCH JAPAN
Series Information
Explore a colorful variety of modern Japan’s most popular topics, including food, technology, ecology and regional promotions, with a focus on the innovative ideas and passionate effort from the people behind it all.
J-FOOD
Anpokaki is dried persimmon fruit characterized by its natural sweetness, said to have first originated in the city of Date in Fukushima Prefecture. For a certain period following the nuclear accident during the Great East Japan Earthquake, producers of Anpokaki voluntarily stopped production. However, efforts were made to establish a system to ship only products which are tested and proven to be safe for consumption. Now, they’re back in business and are taking on the challenge of overseas export.
J-FACTORY
Furniture company Akiyama Mokko is well-known in the industry for its top-notch group of craftsmen. It produces high-quality, made to order furniture that are delivered to the Imperial Household Agency, first-class hotels and others. The company is known not only for its quality products but also for its method of training its young recruits into first-rate artisans. They employ a unique training system in which the young employees live together in the company president’s care, honing the heart, technique, and physique.
J-BIZ
Kunio Hara, president of the Ho-Me-I-Ku Foundation, is the man behind an educational training method that mainly focuses on giving compliments to trainees. Currently, the method is being implemented in around 300 companies such as restaurants and even kindergartens. It has been contributing to the decrease in the number of people leaving their jobs and a substantial increase in sales. What is the key to such changes for the better? This segment documents Hara’s training method in action.
J-ADVENTURE
The runAway team head for Mount Mitoku. It’s located just outside the small town of Misasa in Tottori Prefecture and despite being only 900m tall, it draws visitors from far and wide. Dean and the team are attempting to hike and climb their way to the top of a spiritual route that passes through numerous religious sites and finishes spectacularly at the National Treasure known as Nageiredo Hall. They will do so wearing traditional woven straw footwear known as Zori. This is a route that is physically challenging, shrouded in mystery, and utterly fascinating.
For more runAway adventures, check out: https://www.youtube.com/runawayjapan
Host
Maxwell Powers
Voice Actor/MC/Bilingual Pro
From Oakland, California
Our Series
We follow Japan’s trailblazers breaking new ground in various fields and discover the purpose that keeps them moving forward.
Explore a colorful variety of modern Japan’s most popular topics, including food, technology, ecology and regional promotions, with a focus on the innovative ideas and passionate effort from the people behind it all.
Featuring the stunning natural landscapes of Japan's National Parks, and the rich culture shaped there in harmony with nature.
This series explores the allure of traditional culture thriving in Fukui, a region rich in nature facing the Sea of Japan.
The program introduces the history and wisdom behind Japan’s technological strength and specialties, which are helping to revitalize regional areas of the country.
This series will feature how various culture in modern Japan and overseas blend together and influence each other.
In this series, we visit areas in Hokkaido with deep connections to the Ainu living there and showcase their prayers, dances, and traditional ceremonies passed down through generations.
