25. Bamboo

Bamboo is sturdy, supple and abundant. For thousands of years, it has been indispensable in Japanese crafts and construction. This versatile plant can also be eaten: bamboo shoots are a quintessential taste of spring. Our guest, Kyoto University's Professor Shibata Shozo, introduces the unusual lifecycle of bamboo, and talks about its potential applications in many different contexts. And in Plus One, Matt Alt looks at various creative uses for surplus bamboo from neglected groves.