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Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Unpacking Japan

Produced by ZenStudio
Japan
Tokyo
Japanese Culture
Anime
Youtube
Osaka
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 weeklyEpisodes223Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Latest Episodes

Meet Will, a host and content creator for Japan Gay Guide in Tokyo. He tells us about how his love for the band Perfume brought him to Japan, what being gay in Japan is like, and his work in LGBT tourism with Japan Gay Guide.

--

0:00 Intro

0:46 Me... more

Meet Lawson, a British creator who first came to Japan living in Kobe and Nishinomiya, where he quickly picked up the Kansai dialect. Now living in Tokyo, he's become known for his fluent dialect as a foreigner.

A big thank you to our colleagues fro... more

Meet Genoa, a content creator with a very unique life that brought him to Japan. He sits down to talk to us about growing up in a cult, before leaving and eventually coming to Okinawa as an exchange student in high school, and his current life prepar... more

YouTube

Meet Gia, a Korean born creator who grew up in Tokyo. She sits down to talk to us about her very multicultural and multilingual life in Japan, from international school to Waseda University.--0:00 Intro0:45 Meet Gia5:17 Internation school in Tokyo9:2... more

YouTube

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Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
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
Harriet Ocharo
AI researcher and single mother of two in Japan
Episode: The challenges of being a single mother in Japan
W. David Marks
Author and editor-in-chief of The New Japan magazine; author of Ametora and Blank Space
Author/Editor
Episode: Japanese fashion from a sociological perspective
William Reed
Renaissance Samurai, martial artist, calligrapher, and educator
Independent practitioner/teacher
Episode: Sitting down with a renaissance samurai
Karen Hill Anton
Writer and commentator; long-time resident of Japan
Japan Times; author
Episode: What life in a 1970s Japanese farmhouse was like
Peter Frankl
Mathematician and public figure in Japan
Hungarian Academy of Sciences; collaborator with international mathematicians
Episode: Meet Japan's Mr. Rogers of math

Host

Tobias Bieker
Host of the show; focuses on Japan through immigrant, entrepreneur, and arts perspectives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 98 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States9 months 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
  • Nice

    Good podcast to learn abut expat life in Japan.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ぴーちゃん\(^o^)/
    Japan3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes consistently offer intriguing, diverse topics and authentic perspectives.
Some listeners note the host can interrupt and background music is distracting.
Listeners praise professional, nonjudgmental questioning and engaging guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#50
Japan/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The British comedian who became an honorary Kansai Japanese
Q: What initially drew you to Japan and to study Japanese for so long in the UK?
I started learning Japanese in secondary school in London, driven by a long-standing fascination with the language and culture. After university, I decided to move to Japan to use that decade of study, take a job in Tokyo, and immerse myself in the language daily.
What it's like growing up in a "foreign bubble" in Japan
Q: What motivated you to shift from a student-focused life to becoming a content creator and interviewing other students?
A spontaneous, curiosity-driven moment when I posted simple videos for fun, which grew as people showed interest in my perspective; over time it became a platform to express my identity and connect with others, turning into a full-time endeavor.
What it's like growing up in a "foreign bubble" in Japan
Q: How did your time in Nova Scotia influence your sense of self and your language use in Japan?
It exposed me to a different educational and cultural environment, which catalyzed my understanding that identity can be a blend of influences from multiple places, and it encouraged me to embrace multilingual communication rather than sticking to one culture or language.
How kfel became a real life magical girl
Q: What sparked your transition from design to content creation, and then to agency work in Japan?
A combination of the pandemic pause, a successful paid sponsorship that redefined financial viability, and a long-term Crunchyroll contract that made international anime industry connections feasible led to a shift from design to content creation and finally to joining Geeks Plus as exclusive talent, enabling visa-backed work and broader collaboration opportunities.
How kfel became a real life magical girl
Q: How did your internship at TeamLab influence your professional path in Japan?
The TeamLab internship exposed the realities of working in a Japanese company, beyond the glossy office vibe, teaching resilience, long hours, and the need for a serious professional backbone, which shifted the guest away from assuming a straightforward creative path and toward a more versatile, business-minded approach.

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 centers on the lives of foreigners who have made Japan their home, exploring culture, business, and arts through personal journeys. Episodes span issues like immigrant experiences, entrepreneurship, safety and feminism, traditional arts, housing and regulatory environments, and cross-cultural media. A notable strength is the willingness to surface nuanced, insider perspectives—from religious and minority communities to property markets and craft traditions—often blending personal narrative with broader social context. The conversations frequently highlight practical realities for newcomers and seasoned residents alike, such as navigating regulations, building communities, and carving out authentic narratives in Japan.

What makes ... more

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How many listeners does Unpacking Japan get?

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What are the audience demographics for Unpacking Japan?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Unpacking Japan has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Unpacking Japan?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Unpacking Japan:

1. The Austin and Arthur Show|生の英会話
2. CROSSTALK 英会話
3. 世界とつながる|IU-Connectの公式 Podcast
4. English News - NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN
5. 裏技英語

How many episodes of Unpacking Japan are there?

Unpacking Japan launched 3 years ago and published 223 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Unpacking Japan?

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What guests have appeared on Unpacking Japan?

Recent guests on Unpacking Japan include:

1. Honmani Lawson
2. Genoa Orion
3. Bernd Kestler
4. River Akira Davis
5. Harriet Ocharo
6. W. David Marks
7. William Reed
8. Karen Hill Anton

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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