Almost every primary school student in Japan uses the same type of school bag. These distinctive, blocky satchels are spacious, durable, and packed with clever features. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is school satchels. We explore their history, production, and future potential. Our guest is Kuniyo Hayashi, the president of a long-established satchel-making company. And in Plus One, a primary school student shows us how she uses her bag on a day-to-day basis.

Aloha shirts are popular symbols of Hawaii, worn by tourists and Hawaiians alike. A look back at their history reveals a Japanese connection -- they were often made by people of Japanese descent, using materials and techniques from kimono making. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is aloha shirts. Our main guest, Nakano Yoshihiro, has worked with the garments for over 20 years. He goes into detail about the contribution Japanese made to their origin and development.