Japan
New play ‘Kyoto’ looks at the global agreement that first aimed to curb greenhouse gas emissions
As the world faces stronger and more frequent storms, a new play honors the extensive discussions that led to the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, which brought world leaders together to address greenhouse gas emissions.
Out of Eden Walk: Getting by on the generosity of strangers
On a long trip away from home, some of the most memorable moments come from the hospitality of strangers. National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek has come to rely on hospitality daily on his Out of Eden Walk, traversing the path of human migration. Host Marco Werman speaks to Paul about hospitality, starting in Japan with a recent stay in a traditional roadside inn.
Recycled whirligigs remain a fixture in the Japanese countryside
A constant fixture of National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek’s journey through rural Japan was the whirligig, or as he called them, “seismic scarecrows.” Gardeners he spoke to use these contraptions to scare away crop pests like mice and foxes. Host Carolyn Beeler spoke with Salopek about the whirligigs, rural Japanese architectural aesthetics and how he got aboard a cargo ship to cross to North America.
Out of Eden Walk: An eerie walk through Japanese ghost towns
National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek’s walks through the countryside of Japan have been unexpectedly lonely. That’s because he’s been trekking through a region undergoing depopulation. Host Marco Werman speaks with Salopek about his all-too-rare encounters with people on this stretch of his journey, as well as the difference between traveling through natural landscapes that are uninhabited and traveling through towns that once thrummed with life, gone quiet.
Out of Eden Walk: Record-breaking heat in Japan is hurting rice farms
National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek experienced record-breaking heat in Japan on his walking journey. Salopek witnessed the heat’s havoc on the rice farms he passed by. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Salopek about his conversations with rice farmers and how they’ve adapted their farming techniques as the heat continues to break records in Japan.
Japan moves to shut down the Unification Church
A court in Tokyo has ordered the once-powerful Unification Church in Japan to be dissolved. The case against the religious group goes back to the 2022 assassination of Japan’s former prime minister, Shinzo Abe. The church is accused of violating the human rights of its followers, by demanding that they hand over their material wealth to the group. But church leaders deny any wrongdoing and say they will appeal the decision.