My BFF who lived in Japan for a decade or so told me about this show and I am now officially hooked.
BEGIN Japanology is an English-language series which explores different aspects of Japanese history and culture in each episode. The range of topics is vast, from the most venerable history -- swordmaking, name seals, Kagura dance -- to food -- abalone, mushrooms, seaweed -- to household goods -- rice cookers, bicycles -- to contemporary trends -- plastic food models, vending machines -- and it's all completely riveting.
I watched the Stationary episode yesterday and it seriously almost brought me to tears. The pens... Dear god Jesus the pens...
But okay, anyone who knows me knows that I'm going to plotz the fuck out over pens, especially over pens with tips fine enough to write kanji (the Japanese are the reason micro tips even exist, peace be upon them). It's the shows you don't see coming that suck you in the most, like the episode on traditional storehouses.
And the plastic food models.
The rice cooker episode almost drove to buy a crazy expensive Japanese rice cooker just because they're so damn cool.
The Tale of the Genji, the 11th century novel (often called the first novel) by noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu gets a two-parter, and it deserves it.
I could embed the whole series, really, because so far I haven't found a dud in the bunch. You don't have to be into Japan before you start watching, but I guarantee you will be when you're done.