In ningyo joruri, three people work together to make beautifully crafted puppets seem amazingly lifelike. US puppeteer Martin Holman is a devotee of this Japanese performing art, which has around 400 years of history. Nowadays, he leads a troupe of his own in Tokushima Prefecture, home to Awa ningyo joruri. On this episode of Japanophiles, Peter Barakan explores the world of ningyo joruri and learns how Martin Holman is expanding its horizons with the help of performers young and old from several countries.

Japan was arguably one of the cleanest places in the world in centuries past. But today, garbage is a major issue. In other countries, rubbish may be sent straight to the landfill, but in Japan—where available space is limited—it is generally incinerated first. Even so, landfill space is running out, and new methods are needed. Among the sites Peter Barakan visits as he explores paths to the future is a surprisingly beautiful incineration plant, designed by world-renowned artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.