165: Why 2023 will be a deciding year for Japan’s iconic summer festivals

<div>As the population gets older do we risk losing the summer festivals that make Japan unique? <strong>Alex K.T. Martin</strong> joins Deep Dive to discuss this and other demographic-related woes the country faces. <br> Hosted by <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/shaun-mckenna/">Shaun McKenna</a> and produced by <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/david-cortez/">Dave Cortez</a>.<br> <br> <strong>On this episode:</strong> <br> Shaun McKenna: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/shaun-mckenna/">Articles</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jt_sloosh">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/slooshiness/">Instagram</a><br> Alex K.T. Martin: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-alex-k_t_-martin/">Articles</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexktMartin">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tokyojunkmood/">Instagram</a> </div> <br> <div> <strong>Read more:</strong> </div> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/06/26/national/social-issues/nanmoku-oldest-village/">Inside Japan’s oldest village</a> (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/10/national/inheritance-abandoned-houses/">In Japan, plenty of inheritances, but no one to claim them</a> (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63830490">Japan was the future but it’s stuck in the past</a> (Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/05/28/general/photo-essay-sanja-matsuri/">Does the pure joy seen at this year’s Sanja Matsuri hint at a summer of celebration?</a> (Johan Brooks, The Japan Times)</li> </ul> <div> <br> <strong>Get in touch:</strong> Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/japandeepdive?lang=en">Twitter</a>!<br> <br> <strong><em>Photo: </em></strong><em>A man stan