Konamon means "flour-based cuisine," but in Osaka Prefecture the word generally refers to 2 specific dishes: takoyaki (bite-sized batter balls with pieces of octopus inside) and Okonomiyaki (savory pancakes made with cabbage). This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Konamon: flour-based cuisine. Our guest is lifestyle researcher Mana Kumagai, who takes us to outstanding Konamon and Okonomiyaki restaurants. And in Plus One, Matt Alt learns how to make Monjayaki, a Tokyo twist on flour-based food.

In Japan, people often wear slippers inside their homes, schools or workplaces. It's a well-known custom, but how did it come about, and how is it evolving in modern Japan? This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is slippers. Our guest is footwear history expert Kunihiro Takechi, who tells us how and why they were invented in Japan. He also introduces some new trends in the slipper industry. And in Plus One, Matt Alt decorates a pair of indoor shoes using a technique called decoupage.