Japanology Plus (2014)

Season 8: Episode 6

Japanese use a wide range of cleaning implements, from old-fashioned brooms to modern carpet rollers. There's always a dedicated tool for the job. Sometimes, those tools have a deeper meaning. Our main guest, museum researcher Watanabe Yumiko, explains their special significance, and talks about the evolution of Japanese cleaning tools over time. We also meet broom-maker Kanbara Ryosuke, who shows us how traditional handmade brooms are put together.