Japan on the Record

Tristan R. Grunow, a historian of modern Japan at Pacific University, created this podcast to bring scholarly expertise directly to bear on issues making headlines about Japan. Across 56 episodes published between 2019 and 2021, Grunow sat down with academic specialists from universities around the world to discuss topics ranging from Japan's vaccine hesitancy and nuclear energy policy to the country's pacifist constitution, opposition party politics, and the cultural impact of hosting the Olympics. Each episode runs about 20 minutes and follows a straightforward interview format, with Grunow asking pointed questions that draw out the research and analysis behind the news. The guest list reads like a who's who of Japanese studies scholars at major research institutions including Waseda University, the University of Tokyo, and various American and European programs. What makes the show valuable is the speed and specificity with which it connects current events to deeper historical patterns. Rather than offering hot takes, each episode provides the kind of informed context that helps listeners understand why something is happening in Japan right now and what historical forces are shaping it. Rated 5.0 stars from 6 reviews on Apple Podcasts, the show stopped producing new episodes in late 2021 but the back catalog remains a strong resource for understanding post-2019 Japan. The format also makes it a genuinely useful entry point into recent Japanese studies scholarship.