This time, another installment of our special talk-show series Japanophiles, which features lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. New Zealander Alex Bennett studies the way of the samurai - bushido - and its expressions in martial arts. Through decades of practising kendo, Bennett has learned bushido is not about winning or losing, but about being self-possessed while living life to the fullest. We'll discover how he is bringing samurai philosophy to life in the modern world.

The "snow country" that covers nearly half of Japan gets huge amounts of snow every year. Local people have devised various practical ways of coping with harsh winters, and in recent years, innovative ways of attracting visitors have been breathing new life into the region. This time on Japanology Plus, Natsuo Numano, a professor who has pioneered the field of snow country studies, will guide us through Japan's snow country. And in Plus One, learn the secrets of shoveling snow the right way!