Recultured is a podcast series by Deep Dive from The Japan Times. It tells the story of how COVID-19 affected Japan in 2020 through the lens of the country¡¯s pop culture.
COVID-19 derailed Japanese pop culture this year, but also transformed it. In four episodes, we look at some of the cultural highlights of the year, including ¡°Terrace House,¡± Animal Crossing, NiziU and ¡°Demon Slayer.¡±
Episode 1: Collapse
In Japan, 2020 started with all things pointed toward one thing: the Olympics. From ¡°Terrace House¡± to music and entertainment, everything was gearing up for a grand international spectacle, but with the arrival of COVID-19, that all ground to a halt. We hear from some of the stars of ¡°Terrace House,¡± about the show¡¯s dramatic ending, as well as how other pop culture industries were laid low by the pandemic. | Full show notes
Episode 2: Isolate
In spring, with most of the world stuck indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people sought escape ¡ª and a sense of normalcy ¡ª in the video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. At the same time, Japan experienced the start of a bigger shift toward embracing digital and streaming entertainment. | Full show notes
Episode 3: Adapt
After the government lifted the state of emergency in summer, Japanese pop culture had to change its approach, and reconsider how to operate in the ¡°new normal.¡± Pop group NiziU¡¯s ¡°Make You Happy¡± became the song of this very strange summer, and people were forced to work out what was and wasn¡¯t OK as the government shifted its language from ¡°stay, stay, stay¡± to ¡°go, go, go.¡± | Full show notes
Episode 4: Rebuild
Released in October, ¡°Demon Slayer: The Movie¡± smashed box office records, and looks to become the highest grossing film in Japanese history. We look to the release of ¡°Demon Slayer¡± and Kyoto Animation¡¯s ¡°Violet Evergarden¡± for hope, as we wait out the long winter for a vaccine and brighter days in 2021. | Full show notes
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