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Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Unpacking Japan

Produced by ZenStudio
Japan
Tokyo
Japanese Culture
Anime
Osaka
Youtube
Cultural Identity
Japanese Language
Cultural Differences
Animation
Cosplay
Community Engagement
Content Creation
Urban Development
Buddhism
Akiya
Identity
Sake
Kyoto
Philippines

Unpacking Japan explores Japanese arts, culture, and business through the lives of foreigners who have made this amazing country their home. While we’ve all seen vlogs and movies showing Japan from a pop culture perspective, Unpacking Japan tells the stories that get left by the wayside—the immigrants, the entrepreneurs, and the artists. Tune in every week for an authentic, inspiring conversation ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes236Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Latest Episodes

Meet Hori Benny, a tattoo artist and owner of Invasion Club tattoo studio in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about the history and changing culture of Japanese tattoos, his own grueling apprenticeship, the challenges of running a tattoo business in... more

YouTube

Meet Akira Tokuhiro, a Japanese Canadian nuclear engineering professor based in Ontario, Canada. He sits down to talk to us about the current and future role of nuclear as a clean energy source, Japan's response to incidents like Fukushima, and how w... more

Meet Aki Yamaguchi, a Thai-Japanese content creator and MC living and working between both countries. She sits down to talk to us about growing up in an international school abroad, finding her own identity and starting a visual kei band, and how her... more

YouTube

Meet Kenny, a rickshaw driver in Asakusa, Tokyo, who sits down to talk to us about what its like to work as one of these traditional tour guides. He tells us about his professional rugby career, his plans to open a mochi shop, and what it takes to be... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kentaro Sato
Former professional rugby player turned rickshaw tour guide and mochi entrepreneur
Independent entrepreneur in Japan and Netherlands
Episode: What it takes to be a Japanese rickshaw driver
Priyanka Yoshikawa
Miss World Japan, entrepreneur, reality TV participant
Independent
Episode: The reality of growing up half Indian in Japan
Nancy Singleton Hachisu
Cookbook author and educator who documents Japanese home cooking and farm-to-table cuisine
Episode: Demystifying Japanese home cooking
Richard Emertz
Noh specialist, author on intercultural Japanese theatre and masks
Author/Researcher in Nohgaku
Episode: The Noh professor: what even Japanese people don't understand about Noh
Matcha Samurai
Japanese content creator who makes videos about Japan for an international audience
Self-employed content creator
Episode: Matcha Samurai on on the state of Japan content
Honmani Lawson
A UK-born comedian and finance professional living in Japan who creates content under the alias Honmani Lawson
Independent creator
Episode: The British comedian who became an honorary Kansai Japanese
Genoa Orion
Content creator focused on Japan and bilingual comedy
Independent creator
Episode: Genoa's very unique journey to Japan – from cult to Okinawa to going viral
Bernd Kestler
Knitting expert, author, and educator based in Japan
Independent craft entrepreneur
Episode: Sitting down with Japan's most unconventional influencer
River Akira Davis
New York Times correspondent based in Japan, covering business, economy, and energy
The New York Times
Episode: Journalism in Japan in the age of rising nationalism

Host

Tobias Bieker
Host of Unpacking Japan

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 107 ratings
  • Excellent podcast on Japan!

    I’m shocked to see that this show only has a few ratings so far on Apple Podcasts. Tobi is an incredible interviewer and gets the most out of his guests. This show is worth a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anotherauthor_
    United Statesa month ago
  • A different view of Japan

    I love his style of interviewing. The host lets the guest shine and seems to be interested in learning and asking just the right questions to keep the conversation interesting. He does his homework so he gets the most thoughtful answers. I will be visiting Japan this Fall and these episodes give a different perspective than travel podcasts. Thank you for what you do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    K Twist
    United States3 months ago
  • Professionalism

    I have a lot of appreciation for how well Tobias presents himself. He asks questions in a nonjudgmental way like a true journalist. The guests and topics are interesting. I highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    anotherunnecessaryopinion
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast on Japan

    Really enjoying the 9 July 25 episode, especially as an ex-JET. Really interesting to hear about the remotes areas of Hokkaido! My one suggestion is that the host sounds a bit quiet and muffled whereas the guest sounds louder and clear. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Erica Crump
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Informative

    The contents themselves are very intriguing and gripping. I will definitely listen to all the episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Saohsmt
    Japana year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Interviews are well-researched and insightful, though some listeners note host volume parity.
Listeners value the international, authentic lens on Japan life and culture.
The host asks thoughtful, nonjudgmental questions that let guests shine.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#139
Japan/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From salaryman to drag bar: a conversation with Japan's biggest diva
Q: How did you grow from Baby Sylvia to Sylvia Manchester?
A combination of street performance, mentorship in Golden Gai, and a laboring process of developing a personal fusion of Chanson, literature, and theatre, which gradually shaped the Sylvia Manchester persona.
From salaryman to drag bar: a conversation with Japan's biggest diva
Q: What was your first encounter with drag by yourself like?
Trying drag for the first time was pure joy and a pivotal moment; it felt like stepping out of the closet and into a space where I could express the full spectrum of my artistic interests.
From salaryman to drag bar: a conversation with Japan's biggest diva
Q: Did you have any interest in going overseas to begin with? And you're like, maybe when you were younger, thinking, oh, maybe I can go study abroad or can do something.
I was always interested in learning languages, especially English, and was drawn to the idea of studying abroad as a way to broaden my horizons, which led me to the UK rather than the US.
The Noh professor: what even Japanese people don't understand about Noh
Q: How would you compare Noh to Kabuki? Are they from the same era or developed in the same circles?
He explains that Noh predates Kabuki, with Noh tied to the samurai class and courtly tradition, while Kabuki emerged later for the merchant class, each with different stylistic tensions and storytelling approaches.
The Noh professor: what even Japanese people don't understand about Noh
Q: What exactly is Noh and how would you describe it to someone unfamiliar with the art form?
He describes Noh as a 600–650-year-old classical Japanese stage form with stylized movement, a distinct musical vocabulary, and a debate about whether to label it theatre or Noh itself.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Unpacking Japan

What is Unpacking Japan about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features in-depth conversations with foreigners who have built meaningful lives in Japan, covering culture, language, work-life balance, and personal identity across diverse fields such as arts, media, academia, technology, and entrepreneurship. Guests often share transformative experiences—ranging from language learning and navigating workplace norms to forging creative careers in Japan—along with practical insights for others considering a similar path. Noteworthy patterns include cross-cultural storytelling, resilience in diverse industries, and a focus on authentic, lived experiences in both urban and regional Japan. The format tends to be thoughtful, interview-driven, and internationally minded, offering listeners actionable ... more

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How many episodes of Unpacking Japan are there?

Unpacking Japan launched 3 years ago and published 236 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Unpacking Japan?

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What guests have appeared on Unpacking Japan?

Recent guests on Unpacking Japan include:

1. Kentaro Sato
2. Priyanka Yoshikawa
3. Nancy Singleton Hachisu
4. Richard Emertz
5. Matcha Samurai
6. Honmani Lawson
7. Genoa Orion
8. Bernd Kestler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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