It looks delicious at first sight. Perfect ramen, glossy sushi, fluffy pancakes until you realize it's not real. Welcome to the world of Japanese food replicas, or sampulu (サンプル), where plastic food is not just decoration, it's a multi-million dollar industry and an art.

We explore the intriguing history of Japan's hyper-realistic restaurant windows. Spawned from functionality and refined through craftsmanship, these mock foods have assisted diners in comprehending menus for more than a hundred years particularly when words do not suffice.

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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ

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Summers in Japan isn't just hot, it's a battlefield against the sun. We look into why Japan is so obessed with covering up during the hot and humid weather, its cultural roots and why modern sun protection of all sorts is a multi-million dollar business.

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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ

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What scares Japan today? From traditional ghost tales and vengeful spirits to viral videos, survival horror video games, and haunted escape rooms — Japanese horror has extended far beyond the traditional.
We explore how Japan's romance with horror has evolved in the modern era. No longer rooted in centuries-old folk stories and religious superstitions like yūrei and yokai, horror has also turned digital for the modern age. We’ll discover how horror is experienced in real life too — through cutting-edge haunted attractions, horror-themed cafes, and immersive escape rooms. New platforms like AR, VR, and interactive storytelling apps are opening up terrifying new ways to feel fear. Find out how fear keeps evolving...

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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ

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One-time unchallenged holy land of otaku, Tokyo's Akihabara was a heaven for anime, manga, video game, maid café, and collector's items. But today. it is different. So what happened to Akihabara?
We chart the past from Akihabara's early days as an electronics district to its growth in the 1990s–2010s as a thriving subculture hub during the golden era of otaku culture. We'll then look at which anime, doujinshi, figure fever, and maid cafés transformed the district into a fans' pilgrimage site from all over the world.
Now, as Japan's economic downturn-chasing weak yen and pandemic tourism bonanza coinciding with it, Akihabara is evolving — welcoming more tourists than hardcores.
Is it otaku heaven anymore? Or has it become a theme park version of what once was? We split it all up — past, present, and future.

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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ

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Why is Japan so obsessed with all things small, fluffy, and irresistibly kawaii? From adorable mascots to tiny replicas of food and robot puppies, Japanese cuteness is everywhere — but how did it all begin?
We explore the deeper psychological and cultural roots of kawaii, how postwar society, youth culture rebellion, and femininity changed kawaii as a national sentiment — influencing everything from fashion and media to urban landscapes. This is your definitive in-depth exploration of kawaii land.

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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ

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Who exactly were the Japanese ninjas? Forget the legends in the films, we delve into the true history of the mythic spies and shadow warriors.
Discover where ninjas first emerged, what they actually did (hint: it doesn't involve throwing stars!), and how they shaped Japan's history through espionage, sabotage, and survival.
We'll also look at how the ninja legacy lives on to this day — from ninja schools and ninja tourism in Japan, to anime, cosplay, and Hollywood.

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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ

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We dive into the emotional world of Japanese street fashion — from the pastel-meets-pain aesthetic of Yami Kawaii, to the mental health expression of Menhera, and the dramatic, heartbroken elegance of Jirai Kei. Discover how these styles use fashion to speak the unspeakable — blending cuteness with vulnerability, and self-expression with emotional depth.

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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ

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We explore the eerie world of Japanese folklore through two of its most chilling concepts: Onryo; the vengeful spirits who return from the grave seeking retribution, and Tatari; the terrifying curses born from deep resentment or divine wrath.

What happens when a soul cannot rest? How do ancient beliefs shape the way misfortune is understood in Japan? We'll dive into ghostly tales, historical legends, and the cultural impact of these supernatural forces.

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Music | 5 p.m‼ - 桜餅ルナ

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.