Rephonic
Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Unpacking Japan

Produced by ZenStudio
Japan
Tokyo
Japanese Culture
Anime
Osaka
Youtube
Cultural Identity
Japanese Language
Cultural Differences
Animation
Akiya
Cosplay
Community Engagement
Content Creation
Urban Development
Buddhism
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 weeklyEpisodes242Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Latest Episodes

Meet Sayaka, a Japanese teacher known for her work on her channel Nihongo Dekita. She sits down to talk to us about her own journey to English fluency, discovering a passion for teaching language, and how she built her brand and Japanese school onlin... more

Meet Kofi Bazell-Smith, the United States' first manga professor. He sits down to talk to us about the rules, form, and history of manga, his work in teaching and cultural relations, as well as his own projects as an artist.

--0:00 Intro0:50 Start i... more

YouTube

Meet Sandul, a real estate agent in Tokyo. He sits down to talk to us about the reality of renting, the difficulties of renting as a foreigner or student, and how to settle in as a new resident in Japan.

--

0:00 Intro

0:50 Meet Sandul

1:27 Schola... more

YouTube

Meet Christiane, an actress based in Tokyo. She sits down to talk to us about her work in theatre in improv, performing for Japanese vs. English audiences, and her roles in projects like Death Stranding and Godzilla.

--

0:00 Intro

0:50 Meet Christ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Sightseeing Japan
Sightseeing JapanJason Nieling and Paul Bresin
裏技英語
裏技英語BJ Fox & 石井てる美
Misa Yuka Podcast
Misa Yuka PodcastMISA and YUKA
世界とつながる|IU-Connectの公式 Podcast
世界とつながる|IU-Connectの公式 PodcastArthur Zetes (アーサー・ゼテス)

Recent Guests

Dan Wilson
Comedian in Japan, podcaster, performer
Badon Kadonk / Badon Kadonku (co-host)
Episode: What Japanese comedy school is REALLY like
Hori Benny
Tattoo artist, owner of Invasion Club
Invasion Club (Osaka/Tokyo)
Episode: How Hori Benny became Japan's best anime tattoo artist
Aki Yamaguchi
MC and content creator; half Thai and half Japanese, based in Bangkok
Episode: I was a confused kid—growing up half Japanese in Thailand, with Aki Yamaguchi
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

Host

Tobias Bieker
Host of Unpacking Japan

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 114 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 States2 months 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
#246
Brazil/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The ACTUAL challenges of renovating akiya in Japan
Q: How does Anton decide whether to start a project given the risks and costs involved?
He prioritizes location, the potential charm, and whether he can genuinely invest the time and energy required, recognizing that planning is important but the real assessment comes from spending time on site and feeling the space.
The ACTUAL challenges of renovating akiya in Japan
Q: What did Anton see when he first arrived at the Chiba property that made him decide to take on the project?
Location and charm were the initial draws: a good place to spend six months, surrounded by a garden, running water, and a sense of history, which made the space feel right despite its overgrown condition.
What Japanese comedy school is REALLY like
Q: How did social media change the industry for you, and what did you change about your own approach after leaving the agency?
Social media flipped the power dynamics; it became a primary channel for getting gigs and building a following, which led to leaving the agency to pursue independent opportunities while continuing to adapt content for different audiences in English and Japanese.
What Japanese comedy school is REALLY like
Q: What is the core mechanism of the Manzai system, and how does the ranking and graduation process affect a comedian's career?
Manzai relies on duo-based performances with a strict progression from class to graduation, where performance quality, audience feedback, and agent interest determine who gets signed and who advances, with heavy emphasis on networking and continued monthly performances.
What Japanese comedy school is REALLY like
Q: You moved from the US back to Japan and entered the comedy world here. What initially drew you to pursue stand-up in Japan?
A gut feeling and early exposure to live Japanese shows made the comedian realize comedy could be a profession in Japan, especially after seeing the live scene and recognizing the potential to connect with audiences.

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Unpacking Japan?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Unpacking Japan. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Unpacking Japan and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Unpacking Japan get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Unpacking Japan, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Unpacking Japan?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Unpacking Japan, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Unpacking Japan have?

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. 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

How many episodes of Unpacking Japan are there?

Unpacking Japan launched 3 years ago and published 242 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Unpacking Japan from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Unpacking Japan?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Unpacking Japan. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Unpacking Japan?

Recent guests on Unpacking Japan include:

1. Dan Wilson
2. Hori Benny
3. Aki Yamaguchi
4. Kentaro Sato
5. Priyanka Yoshikawa
6. Nancy Singleton Hachisu
7. Richard Emertz
8. Matcha Samurai

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days