Cool Japan - Season 7 / Year 2012

Satoyama is a word that represents Japan's unspoilt scenery co-existing with local life and nature. Our foreign guests experienced Japan's Satoyama--natural thickets, rice paddies, and brooks; as well as the native bio-diversity--herons, frogs, and dragonflies. Many city families enjoyed rice planting using a rice paddy ownership system in Kamogawa City in Chiba Prefecture. Also featured is Niigata Prefecture's Sado City, where the Japanese crested ibis was born; and the community of Sado, where Satoyama preservation and semi-organic cultivation is promoted.

Japanese people are extremely excited about the Olympics. Our interviews revealed that everyone loves the Olympics in Japan. Our foreign guests are surprised by Japan's enthusiasm. In Europe and South America, World Cup Soccer seems very popular. There are a number of big TVs ready to be sold at home electronics stores and a great demand for London Olympic tours. Japan's filming technology leads the world in delivering the true dynamics of the Olympics. What do our foreign guests think about Japan's Olympic craze?

Karaoke, born 40 years ago, has become a major leisure activity enjoyed by men and women of all ages. Karaoke boxes compete in providing customers with a variety of services such as dress-up costumes, voice dubbing experiences, online duet singing with strangers, etc.. Even on the streets, most Japanese would sing boldly upon request. Where does their passion come from? How will our foreign guests view their enthusiasm?

Foreigners say Japan is an easy place to live as singles. You will find food packed in small quantities at supermarkets and many restaurants for singles to casually enjoy. And, More businesses like "Single Karaoke", "Single Hotpot Menus", "Single Japanese Bars" etc., are active in the market. Travel agencies now promote "Single Trips for Women", not so much available in the past. And there's even condominiums equipped with full facilities for residents to enjoy various activities with meals included. Let's find out how life is as a single customer in Japan!

Sumo is also very popular among foreigners. Our foreign guest explored Sumo town, Ryogoku and found 1 pound steaks to King size clothing stores. A Stable master introduced us to the Kokugikan and Sumo Training School where the newly entered Sumo wrestler learned about Sumo for 6 months. Visiting Sumo Stable is a whole new experience to see their life style living together and their hard training. Our foreign guest also went to meet a child sumo wrestler who is aiming to become Yokozuna in the future. Let's rediscover what is fascinating about Sumo through foreigners eyes.

Japanese use trees for many things such as building houses, a wooden bath tab for relaxation and having meals with wooden chopsticks. Even Tokyo's concrete jungle has plenty of trees and greens. Japanese roadside trees give colorful flavors to each season. And you can also see advanced roof greening. The rock-breaking cherry tree, Ishiwarizakura, its beauty and strength has been drawing attention to local people to reflect on their lives. A foreigner fascinated by bonsai came to Japan under apprenticeship. Let's see how foreigners see Japanese people and their relationship with trees.

The birthrate has been decreasing in Japan but giving birth has become more precious. Pregnant women stay in long line ups to pray for an easy delivery on "The day of the dog" at Suitengu in Tokyo. The first gift from parents to their baby is a "Name." Let's take a look at the difference of baby naming in Japan! And introducing "Ikujii" -- Grandfather is keen on helping with child-raising. What will our foreign guests say about grandfathers who help child-raising? Let's find"Cools"on "Pregnancy and Childbirth."

The best season for learning, Autumn is here. Foreigners notice calligraphy writing is used for various signs. We asked people on the streets to write in calligraphy and it was something. We found out that many Japanese wrote well with a calligraphy brush. We visited a stationary manufacture that promoted their brush pens throughout Japan to learn their development story. We then visited a high school calligraphy performance team that will participate in the "Shodo Performance Championship." How will our foreign guests feel about many characteristics of Japanese calligraphy.

The tender and high quality of Japanese marbled beef is now well-known as "Wagyu" in the world. Our foreign guests are surprised to see that high-grade beef is sold for 8, 000yen per 100g! Also, thin-sliced beef is well-accepted in Japan and Japanese eat beef such as Sukiyaki or Steak on special occasions, which made them surprised. They visited a massive factory to find out the secret behind the reasonable and tasty Beef Bowls. How will foreigners respond to the Japanese beef innovation of "Mold-coated aged beef"

Autumn, the season for traveling has arrived! Expectations of traveling in Japan and overseas are quite different. Our foreign guests went on a one-day bus tour visiting 5 places you see a factory and enjoy grape picking which was very busy and surprised our foreign guests. One type of tour in Nagoya features gOmotenashi Bushotaih--Hospitality Warlords, which attracts more tourists. What is the secret of their popularity? Our foreign guest also tried the Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage and was deeply moved by the warm hospitality of locals, gOsettai.h How do our foreign guests feel about Japanese tours?

Cool Japan special--Stepped out of the studio and explored Kyoto with our foreign guests! We didn't visit typical Kyoto attractions such as Kiyomizu-dera or Kinkaku-ji but visited places recommended by foreign residents of Kyoto. Kyoto Studio Park has been made for movie productions and you can also enjoy the period play attractions. We even experienced a newly opened haunted house there! We've also visited a Manga museum which stores approx. 300,000 mangas as well as their history. And we visited Machiya --A traditional Kyoto styled house which shows old Kyoto life style as preserved and renovated nicely to modern Japan.

Do Japanese people like dolls? When you take a walk in the city, you see mascot dolls and people hold mobile phones with doll straps around every corner. A Japanese fashion doll that has been loved in Japan had numerous observations and innovations repeatedly to create the little girl's world with the dolls family and friends. And Ningyo joruri was handed down in Nagahama city in Shiga prefecture, an American who is fascinated by dolls has been under apprenticeship there. Our foreign guests will see and discuss the latest updates of Japanese dolls and Japanese doll lovers.

"Joshi Power"is refocused after impressive performance during the London Olympics. In these days, we hear the word "Joshi" quite often such as "Joshi power boost", "Joshikai."What is "Joshi" really? We had conducted the survey in the city to find out. And we visited a car manufacture that has developed a car targeted for women. We interviewed the "Joshi" team that developed the car for women. Also, we followed the "Joshikai" that is happening in the city. How does Japanese "Joshikai" differ from "Girls night out." Our foreign guests will look into true meaning of "Joshi."

Foreigners are always surprised to be served, "Oshibori" and free water at restaurants in Japan. They are also impressed with courteous taxi drivers, and information attendants available at many of the train stations. Japan is overflowing with the spirit of "omotenashi" hospitality. We will introduce a world famous cosmetics company that is spreading Japanese "omotenashi" hospitality around the world with its beauty consultant competitions. Our foreign guest new to Japan to spend the night at a Japanese familyfs home in a village in Nagano with spectacular natural beauty, to experience real Japanese "omotenashi" hospitality.