On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake off the coast of northeast Japan caused a devastating tsunami that left around 18,000 people dead or unaccounted for. Ishinomaki, in Miyagi Prefecture, was one of the worst-affected areas. In a Japanophiles interview, Peter Barakan meets a long-term resident of the city: Richard Halberstadt, from the UK. Halberstadt talks about the disaster and its aftermath, and explains why he decided to stay and help Ishinomaki recover.

Lacquerware is made by coating objects with the sap of the lacquer tree. It's a traditional craft that dates back thousands of years. Lacquer offers incredible durability, as well as a distinctive luster that develops over time. Our main guest, Professor Hidaka Kaori, explains how production techniques are evolving to meet the needs of the modern world. We also see David Morrison Pike, an American potter, demonstrating Kintsugi, a technique that uses lacquer to repair broken ceramics.