Hello, and welcome to Japanology Plus.
I'm Peter Barakan.

Our theme for today is “camping,”

something that I personally
have very little experience of.

I'm at a campsite about an hour's drive
outside Tokyo, in Kanagawa Prefecture.

It's a weekday today
so there are not too many people here,

but come the weekend this whole area
will be bustling with campers.

Camping has become a very popular activity
in Japan in recent years.

There are sites like this
which are devoted to it,

and for example if you go to some of
the larger rock festivals in the summer,

the whole area becomes
a massive campsite for the duration.

On this program
we'll take a look at why it is

that Japanese people have become
so fond of camping.

In Japan, the popularity of camping
is increasing year by year.

In a recent survey,

8.6 million people said
they had been camping in the past year.

People often go camping together,
whether families or other groups.

It's an opportunity
to enjoy meals, leisure activities

and each other's company
in natural surroundings.

There's been a recent increase
in women-only camping trips.

This group is dressed quite fashionably
for a camping expedition.

And they arranged for bulky items to
be delivered in advance to the campsite.

The tent is decorated
to look like a room at home.

Just the outside scenery is different.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19,
home camping became a hot topic.

People got a taste of the outdoors

by setting up a tent or canopy
on a balcony, or even inside the home.

Here's a more conventional way
of doing things.

A camper van.

In Japan, some are converted light trucks.

This approach is getting
a lot of attention,

thanks to reasonable cost
and customizability.

This one has space
for four people to sleep.

These days, in Japan,

people are customizing the camping
experience for maximum pleasure.

Hello.

Hello.

Nice to meet you.

It's a pleasure to meet you, too.

Our guest is Sangawa Hajime,
an “outdoor life advisor.”

He teaches camping skills that actually
may prove useful in times of disaster.

Have you ever been camping in Japan?

Not in Japan, no.

We had a little tent when I was a child,

and we used to put it up
in the back garden occasionally,

but that was about the extent
of my camping experience.

I used to take a sleeping bag whenever
I was traveling.

But normally it would just be there
on the ground,

and if it rained, it rained.

If that's the case, I think you'll
be surprised by a modern campsite.

Let me show you
what Japanese camping is like.

OK. Let's go.

First, let's examine the facilities
at this typical campsite.

Here's the laundry.

Washing machines!

Dryers, too.

This vending machine has options ranging
from firewood to rental bedding.

Oh, this is all the stuff.

Wonderful.

Take a look at this.

- That's for cooking rice, yeah?
- Yes.

There are tents here,

- and chairs.
- Right

Tables too.

You can go camping
without bringing anything at all!

That's a little surprising.

Over here there's a kitchen area.

Oh, but...hot water too?

Oh. OK.

Hot water has become pretty
much a standard feature.

Let's see where the tents are pitched.

There are power outlets.

Oh. You can just plug in.

Families can use heated carpets.

And pet owners tend to be big fans
of power outlets too.

The power supply might be used
to keep a dog warm, for example.

As you can see, Japanese campsites
are well equipped.

Modern facilities have allowed
everyone to camp comfortably.

That even includes pet owners.

And you bring your dog with you as well.

You've got a special tent for the dog?

That's right.

“Hello, I'm Snow.”

- All dressed up to keep warm.
- Keep warm.

Does the dog sleep in the tent?

He gets cold, so we let him in.

I see you've got a nice big tent here.
Are you regular campers?

Yes; we camp about once a month.

We go to various places.

What do you like about camping?

The peace and quiet.

It's an enjoyable change of pace.

Once a month,
we can relax and recharge.

Solo camping is another approach

that's become more widespread
in recent years.

Hello.

Are you here on your own?

Yes, I'm camping solo. With my friend.

Next door, but solo?

Do you cook together?

No; separately.

We just share a spot.

Hello.

Hello.

He's setting up a fire,
and you've got one too.

But you don't share?

No, we don't.

We cook and eat separately.

And we chat.

Interesting.

Why is it that you come together
but camp separately,

although you're friends?

Doing things together can be a hassle.

So we prefer to take care of ourselves.

Each in our own way.

But we talk as we go.

There's actually more people here
than I was anticipating,

and it's interesting that all
of the tents look completely different.

Approaches to camping are diversifying.

And that has led
to a wide variety of tents.

Why is there so much variety?

A campsite isn't home or work.

It's a so-called “third place,”
where you can find like-minded people.

Other examples include cafes and bars.

Campsites have come to play
that kind of role.

OK, so it's kind
of a normal leisure activity.

I mean, when you think of camping,

I would have thought of going
by yourself, out into nature,

and really enjoying that totally different
experience from what you get at home.

Whereas in Japan it seems to be

that there are these fairly large
camping sites that people come to.

Again, why do you think that is?

Well, for one thing I've noticed
a difference in the way

that Westerners and Japanese
perceive the natural world.

Japan is regularly hit
by all sorts of natural disasters.

For that reason, we tend
to see nature as something to fear.

It inspires awe, and respect.

In the past, deities were thought
to dwell in the mountains.

Those weren't places
that people should go to.

Westerners, meanwhile, love adventure.

They'll climb up a mountain,
in order to conquer it.

The natural world is a context in
which they can exercise their strength.

But for Japanese,
nature in essence is scary.

We think we should leave it alone.
It's a different mindset.

But you want to go camping,
so you come somewhere like this.

That's right.

Japanese have always loved bonsai,

and recreating scenes
from nature in gardens.

We want to be in our own comfortable space
when we engage with nature.

That's the idea.

Fair enough.

Recreational camping first began
to gather momentum

in the early years of the 20th century,
in Britain.

The practice quickly spread to Japan.

A key role was played by a man
who taught the young Emperor Showa.

He saw camping as a great form
of character building.

In the 1960s,

when the economy was booming,

camping began to catch
on as a leisure activity.

By the 1990s, many people had a car,

and weekend work was becoming less common.

Driving to a campsite with family
or friends became a national pastime.

Then, more recently,

the COVID-19 pandemic boosted
the popularity of glamping.

“Glamping” injects the idea
of “glamor” into camping.

You don't have to set up
the tent yourself, or cook meals.

It's more like staying in a nice hotel.

Campers can dine in a private space,

and avoid unnecessary
close contact with others.

During the pandemic, that was a big plus.

Hello there.

My name is Kyle Card,
and on today's edition of Plus One,

we're going to explore the world
of Japanese camping products.

Products that have been
increasing in variety,

performance and ingenuity,
year after year.

I know I'm excited.
Let's go take a look.

Our first stop
is a major department store.

Alright, so first up
we have a clothing designer

that has apparently developed
some unique apparel

for use in the outdoors and camping.

I wonder what makes it so special?

Oh, hello.

Hello.

So I've been told that you make some
very unique clothing for camping.

What makes it so special?

Well, as it says here,
it's insect-repelling clothing.

“Insect repelling clothing”?

Insects don't linger on the fabric.

Really?
Do they not like the smell or something?

It's not a smell.
It's a substance in the material.

So the insect repellent...

type of like solution is like
in the fibers themselves?

This line of clothing includes shirts,
hats, arm covers, gloves and trousers.

Kyle tries on the entire outfit.

What do you think?

I'm completely impervious to insects now.

I even think I could be a beekeeper.

Yup, you're all set.

Yeah!

It would be so great go camping and go
in the outdoors without bugs bothering me.

This is perfect.

Our next destination
is a shopping complex.

This shop specializes
in camping equipment.

What is this?

It's a tent you can put up using only air.

That sounds ridiculous.

Let me show you.

For Japanese campers,

compact convenience is a key theme,
as we shall see.

You attach the pump...

OK.

Alright.

It only takes around 30 seconds.

The tent is ready.

Oh, you need a hand?

Oh! OK.

Even children or elderly people
can easily prepare this tent.

That is ingenious. Wow.

It uses sturdy material.

If it's hit by the wind, it bounces back.

OK.

So it's just as hardy as a tent
with a regular frame.

It's very durable.

OK.

And here's a sleeping mat.

This inflates itself.

No way!

When I lay it out,
you can see it's still flat.

Still flat.

But if I open this valve,
you'll hear the air.

Yeah, it's making a noise, but...

The mat starts to inflate.

How does that work?
How is it sucking in the air like that?

There's a sponge inside.

At first it was tightly compressed,

but now it's sucking up air,
and expanding.

Well that's genius.

Got a squished sponge in there,
and it sucks the air back in. Wow.

And look at that,
just inflating by itself.

Less than a minute after opening
the valve, the mat is fully inflated.

Good night!

Oh,

and this bed's nice and comfy.

I don't feel the ground. It's soft.
It's just conforming to my body.

Well this looks like quite the elaborate
fire pit. Am I wrong?

It's a “kamado” oven.

An oven? Kamado?

Yes, a kamado.

You can put a Dutch oven in here,
and cook using that.

A Dutch oven. Wow, OK.

And there's an opening here, on the side.

That's for pizza.

Wow!

Not just convenient, it looks nice.

That's important in Japan, too.

You can use the Dutch oven
at the same time.

At the same time?

That's right.

Remove the upper components,
and the product can be used as a fire pit.

This is a collapsible kettle.

Oh wow, you just squish that kettle. OK.

And it can be used on an open flame.

Let's do the opposite.

Now that is useful.

Here's something else.
It's a mini barbecue.

It looks like a little briefcase,
but it opens up to become a barbecue.

No way!

Would you take a look at this thing!
That is so cute.

It's for one person.

You just have a barbecue by yourself.

Look at this tiny thing!
It's so compact and cute.

That's perfect.

You can be out in the wilderness,

and make yourself some tea, coffee,
whatever you want,

and just put it right back in your pocket.

Well I've definitely found some
of my favorite camping goods.

I hope all of you at home can travel
to Japan and discover some for yourselves.

Until next time.

After the Great East Japan
Earthquake in 2011,

attention focused on the value of camping
as a way to be prepared for disaster.

Rice cooking is one of many outdoor skills

now taught at educational
events across the country.

When disaster strikes,
practical knowledge can be invaluable.

So this is your tent?

- It kind of has a Mongolian feel to it.
- That's true.

A large, dome-shaped tent like this
is suitable for around eight people.

OK.

Camping like this could
be really important after a disaster.

It allows you to live with a degree
of comfort and convenience.

That's its purpose.

It's not exactly the same
as regular camping.

For example, look at this.

Solar panel.

Yes, a solar panel.

It uses sunlight
to charge up this battery.

And that can be used
to power lanterns in the evening,

or to recharge cell phones.

That's what this is for.

Right. OK.

And here's my humble abode.

Please step inside.

You can stand up.

OK. And it's quite warm, actually,
just stepping inside here alone.

At night, you sleep in a sleeping bag.

This one works well right down
to minus ten degrees Celsius.

In the middle of the night,
you might still feel the cold.

What can you do in that situation?
...Well, here's one idea.

This is a plastic bottle.

You fill it with hot water.

You boil water on a fire, pour it in,
tightly close the bottle,

and put it in the bag.

Oh, a hot water bottle.

Yes. Let's look at another idea.

This is a regular backpack.

You open it up.

And you can put your legs inside.

And that keeps your legs warm?

Yes.

This simple trick stops your feet
from getting cold.

You can combine various objects
in useful ways.

Coming up with new ideas is part
of the fun of camping.

Peter's going to learn some new skills.

First, how to prepare safe drinking water.

Scoop up some water.

- In the cup? OK.
- In this.

If you do it roughly,
you'll stir up mud and other impurities.

So do it gently.

OK.

Do it bit by bit.

That's it.

Ohh, it's full.

A small water purifier is attached
to the mouth of the container.

If necessary, a coffee filter
can be used instead.

The filter catches particles.

Then we boil the water.

You must make sure to boil it.

And here we have a fire.

Right.

You can stay warm, boil water, and cook.

Right.

But this doesn't use gas.

Oh, I see. You're not using gas at all.

Electricity, water, fire.

We've managed to set up those resources.

OK.

It's time to light the fire.

OK.

To do that, we take string made
from hemp or jute, and do this.

Oh I see.

I thought you were going to cut bits off.

It breaks into fine fibers.

And that's going to burn easier. I get it.

Next, I'll make it into a ball.

And place it here.

I'd like you to try using a metal match.

Use a knife—but not the blade.

The blunt side, here.

Hold it against the metal match,
and pull them apart.

Like this.

OK. I'll give it a try. OK.

Oh, nice!

Oh, nice!

You did that very well.

Except the wind direction is changing!

OK, let's boil some water.

Lovely.

OK, shall we sit down?

Sure.

Having a fire is very calming.

It's nice just to watch it.

This is another great aspect of camping.

Go ahead.

Made with river water!

The water you collected and purified.

Ah, a nice cup of tea. Nothing to beat it.

Wonderful.

After a disaster, with no utilities,
you can still do this.

As I'm sure you're already well aware,
I'm not very much of an outdoor person,

but this is actually fun.

And I can see how somebody coming
for the first time,

and getting a lesson in
how to do this stuff,

would get a feel for it
and want to do it again.

And I can kind of understand
why camping has become

as popular as it evidently is
in Japan now.

Do you think
that popularity will continue to increase?

If camping continues to be very popular,

I think it will be because
of the connection

to being prepared for disaster.

Disasters are going to keep happening.

There's no doubt about that.

Right.

Recently there was a
big earthquake in Turkey.

A lot of people died,

and right now many people there are
still living in emergency accommodation.

In Japan, it's possible that there
will be a big earthquake in Tokyo.

In fact, the whole country is at risk.

It's something we all have to think about.

More and more local authorities have
been asking me to teach outdoor skills,

to help people be prepared for disaster.

There's been a lot of interest,
and it continues to increase.

That's partly to do with a lack of space
in evacuation shelters.

In Japan,
their capacity tends to be limited.

Many communities—especially in cities—

have evacuation space for less
than 50 percent of the local population.

So there's interest in the idea
of people looking after themselves.

Even without utilities,

people can make a fire,
and prepare safe water.

If people do see camping as a form
of training for disaster,

that could help to make up
for the lack of evacuation shelter space.

That's one way of thinking about it.

So there are some basic skills
that probably everybody should have

if you're living in place like Japan,

which does have natural disasters
on a fairly regular basis.

And besides tools and skills,

there's another important
element: the mind.

What I mean is this.

For my drinking water,
I can use a purifier.

But I might choose to get one big enough
to purify my neighbor's water too.

When I make a fire, I can let
other people sit around it, and warm up.

Beyond technology and tools,
a sense of mutual support

can help everyone cope
in the event of disaster.

It makes us more resilient
in the face of disaster.

And best of all,
it makes camping more fun.

I think that social element
is especially important.

Have a good time, but be prepared.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.