When the West first established trade relations with Japan, one of its major exports, alongside goods, was religion. Brought in by foreign missionaries, Christianity began to catch on—especially around Nagasaki, the port that became Japan's key link with the Western world. Fearing Christianity's expanding influence, Japan's rulers banned the religion and persecuted its followers—but rather than abandon their faith, many of Japan's Christians went underground, practicing in secret for around 250 years.

70% of Japan's land is covered in forests and woodland. For centuries, wood has been used for furniture, buildings, and tools. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is the cultural significance of wood. Our main guest, architecture expert Kazuyoshi Fumoto, explains why wood continues to be a mainstay of modern Japanese life and why people feel so warmly towards it. And in Plus One, Matt Alt discovers the level of precision that Japanese carpenters are able to achieve.