Rephonic
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 weeklyEpisodes227Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Latest Episodes

Meet Ameya, an Indian director born and raised in Tokyo. She sits down to talk to us about growing up in Japan, her entry into the Tokyo art scene, and her work as a film director.

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0:45 Meet Ameya

1:20 Growing up Indian in Tokyo

11:37 Realizin... more

YouTube

Meet Richard, a professor of Noh and Asian performing arts at Musashino University in Tokyo, as well as the founder and director of Theatre Nohgaku. He sits down to talk to us about the art and history of Noh, common misconceptions that foreigners an... more

YouTube

Meet Matcha Samurai, a Japanese creator known for his infectious laugh. He sits down to talk to us about his identity as someone from Kochi, his life abroad in London, and being a creator with the role of assumed Japanese culture expert.

A big thank... more

YouTube

Meet Harald Naess, a trumpeter for the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. He sits down to talk to us about moving to Japan, learning Japanese while finding a common language in German, and the differences in work ethic and performance in Japan.

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0:00 Intr... 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.

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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 – 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
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 Unpacking Japan

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 98 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 States15 days 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 States2 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 States10 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

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
#127
Japan/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#227
South Korea/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 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 listeners does Unpacking Japan get?

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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. 裏技英語
3. 英語で雑談!Kevin’s English Room Podcast
4. 世界とつながる|IU-Connectの公式 Podcast
5. Hapa英会話 Podcast

How many episodes of Unpacking Japan are there?

Unpacking Japan launched 3 years ago and published 227 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.

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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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