
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
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 249 | Founded | 3 years ago |
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| Number of Listeners | Category | Society & Culture | |||

Meet Keiko Fukuichi, a Japanese freelance translator, who sits down to talk to us about her experience translating games, particularly indie darlings Undertale and Hades. She talks to us about nuances of Japanese translation, the biggest challenges s... more
Meet Ray, an entrepreneur running a ryokan in Toyama. He sits down to talk to us about his experience in the hospitality industry, his interest and move to Japan, and his challenges establishing a business under the government's new regulations.
Aft... more
Meet Derek, co-founder of YukiHomes, a service that helps people overseas buy cheap homes in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about his own journey buying an akiya in Japan and running a business from overseas, as well as how YukiHomes fits into Jap... more
Meet Martin Fackler, a journalist and author based in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about his career in China and Japan, what went into reporting his biggest stories, and the problems with Japan's kisha club system.
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0:00 Intro
0:50 Meet Mar... more
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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!
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.
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!
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!
The contents themselves are very intriguing and gripping. I will definitely listen to all the episodes!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #181 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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The show centers on foreigners who have built meaningful lives in Japan, exploring the intersections of culture, entrepreneurship, arts, and everyday life. Episodes often feature founders, artists, journalists, and creatives who share intimate journeys—from navigating language and immigration processes to building businesses, documenting subcultures, and shaping cross-cultural understanding. Notable strengths include in-depth, long-form conversations, practical insights for expatriates or aspiring entrants into Japan's scenes, and a curiosity-driven approach to Japan's evolving arts, tech, and real estate landscapes. A distinctive thread is the emphasis on personal origin stories linked to broader social and economic questions, such as prop... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Unpacking Japan:
1. The Austin and Arthur Show|生の英会話
2. Sightseeing Japan
3. 裏技英語
4. Misa Yuka Podcast
5. 世界とつながる|IU-Connectの公式 Podcast
Unpacking Japan launched 3 years ago and published 249 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Unpacking Japan include:
1. Martin Fackler
2. Philip Arnil
3. Roland Nozomu Kelts
4. Sandul Winska
5. Dan Wilson
6. Hori Benny
7. Aki Yamaguchi
8. Kentaro Sato
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