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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 weeklyEpisodes217Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Latest Episodes

Meet James Farrer, Professor of Sociology and Global Studies at Sophia University. He sits down to talk to us his sociology study in China and Shanghai, before moving to Tokyo and finding his own community by studying the third spaces that exist in t... more

YouTube

Meet Kristine aka Kfel, a Filipino Canadian content creator based in Tokyo completing what she calls "magical girl sidequests." She sits down to talk to us about her interest and subsequent internship in Japan, her journey to fluency, going viral on ... more

YouTube

Meet River, a correspondent for the New York Times based in Japan. She sits down to talk to us about Japan's current political and economic climate, the life of a journalist in Japan, and the role of a journalist in the age of social media.--0:00 Int... more

YouTube

Meet Paula, English localization lead at Square Enix in Japan. She sits down to talk to us about how she broke into the localization industry, misconceptions about game translation, what it was like to work on titles like Final Fantasy and Secret of ... more

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.

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Recent Guests

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
Shibuya Kaho
Writer and cosplayer with a background in journalism and AV industry work
Independent creator
Episode: Sitting down with Shibuya Kaho about her life as a writer & cosplayer
Evie Bunniex
Tokyo-based content creator focusing on J-Fashion and feminism in Japan
Independent creator
Episode: How safe is Japan for women? ft. eviebunniex
Tove Bjoerk
Professor specializing in early modern Japanese literature
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Saitama
Episode: Why early kabuki performances were banned

Host

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

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 93 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom10 months 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
  • Has potential

    Some of the guests seem potentially interesting, but the podcast is let down by the host regularly interrupting and the very annoying continuous background music, both of which make this a difficult listen

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Gloopy Puff
    United Kingdom3 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
#126
Japan/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
How kfel became a real life magical girl
Q: What initially brought you to Japan and how did it evolve into a longer-term move?
The guest came on a working holiday visa from Canada, originally for two weeks, then extended through a series of visits and eventually long-term stays, driven by a mix of YOLO mindset and a desire to experience Japan more deeply, including a formative exchange in Osaka and later professional experiences that anchored a permanent relocation.
What it takes to be a translator for Square Enix
Q: What is the biggest challenge when translating a game text for English speakers, especially for long lines and space constraints?
Balancing accurate meaning with space; we provide guidelines on line length, font size, and sometimes alternative visuals to ensure the text fits and remains readable in English while staying faithful to the original.
What it takes to be a translator for Square Enix
Q: What was the first opportunity that led you into translation work, and how did you land at Square Enix?
I started in a mobile game company through an outsourcing firm after passing N1, which helped me get in-house translation experience and then move to Square Enix where I could work on bigger projects.

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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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. 世界とつながる|IU-Connectの公式 Podcast
4. English News - NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN
5. 台本なし英会話レッスン

How many episodes of Unpacking Japan are there?

Unpacking Japan launched 3 years ago and published 217 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.

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What guests have appeared on Unpacking Japan?

Recent guests on Unpacking Japan include:

1. River Akira Davis
2. Harriet Ocharo
3. W. David Marks
4. William Reed
5. Karen Hill Anton
6. Peter Frankl
7. Shibuya Kaho
8. Evie Bunniex

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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