Rephonic
Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Unpacking Japan

Produced by ZenStudio
Japan
Tokyo
Food Journalism
Cultural Differences
Women In Media
Osaka
Abe Assassination
Chocolate Ramen
Media Freedom
Gender Inequality
Olympics
Animation
Zen Buddhism
Video Games
Trend Forecasting
Final Fantasy
Mario
Textile Industry
Sustainability
Forest Gardening

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 weeklyEpisodes166Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Latest Episodes

Meet Emirichu, a popular artist and content creator known for her storytelling, animations, and deeply personal yet humorous content.

From her unexpected start as a teacher to moving across the world, Emirichu opens up about adapting to life in Japa... more

YouTube

On today's episode we talk to James, a video game music composer, to talk all about his musical journey and how it lead him to composing music for games and anime in Japan. We go over what it's like working as a western composer in Japan, joining a b... more

YouTube

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we sit down with Chris Pellegrini, a leading expert on shochu and awamori, and the founder of Honest Drinks. Chris shares his journey from Vermont to Japan, how he fell in love with Japan’s traditional distilled sp... more

Today we talk to Tristan, a historian and professor based in Nagoya, Japan. Tristan specializes in the history of Japanese urban development and infrastructure, and shares fascinating insights into how and why Tokyo is built the way it is. From Edo-e... 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
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

Craig Mott
A writer and photographer based out of Kamakura
Episode: The writer who brought the world's attention to underrated Japanese cities
Bellamy Brooks
Animator in the anime industry and character designer for 'The Digital Circus'
Tonari Animation
Episode: What people don't understand about the anime industry
Astrid Klein
Founding member of Klein Dyson Architecture in Tokyo, with significant experience in large architectural projects.
Klein Dyson Architecture
Episode: Architect explains Tokyo's unique skyline
Yuriko Tiger
Professional cosplayer, idol, and talento in Japan.
Episode: Professional cosplayers in Japan need to be PERFECT ft. @YURIKOTIGERjp
Jesper Kohl
An economist with extensive experience in Japan and a positive outlook on its economy.
Episode: Economist debunks Japan's "stagnant" economy
Mira Simic Yamashita
Psychologist based in Kobe, originally from Serbia
Episode: Psychologist talks mental health issues faced by foreigners in Japan
Sanyutei Kouseinen
Rakugo performer originally from Sweden
Episode: How Japanese rakugo is different than Western comedy
Douglas Brooks
American boat builder and author focused on preserving traditional Japanese boat building.
Douglas Brooks Boat Building
Episode: Why traditional Japanese boatbuilding is dying and this American is their last chance to preserve it
Alex Bennett
A Kendo master and teacher at Kansai University, with research interests in martial arts in Japan.
Kansai University
Episode: Kendo master shares what martial arts taught him about life

Host

Tobias Bieker
Host who presents topics with a keen interest in Japanese culture and the experiences of foreigners. Known for creating a comfortable atmosphere for guests to share their stories.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 53 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 States3 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Informative

    The contents themselves are very intriguing and gripping. I will definitely listen to all the episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Saohsmt
    Japan5 months ago
  • Nice

    Good podcast to learn abut expat life in Japan.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ぴーちゃん\(^o^)/
    Japan2 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 Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the professionalism and journalistic approach of the host, often praising the authenticity and depth of the discussed topics.
Many find the stories of guests intriguing and representative of the expat experience in Japan, which resonates with their interests.
Some feedback points to audio quality concerns, suggesting room for improvement in sound balancing between host and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#141
Israel/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#249
Japan/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The challenges of doing business between Africa and Japan
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to connect with Japan?
Be bold, do your homework, and understand the cultural nuances that govern business in Japan.
The challenges of doing business between Africa and Japan
Q: How did you get the opportunity to observe businesses in Japan?
Even though I was a student, I approached my studies differently, focusing on connecting with business events across Japan to understand cultural differences.
More people should know about Japan's gun martial art
Q: How has responding to that newspaper ad changed your life in Japan?
It accelerated my Japanese skills and allowed me to engage deeply with a community that speaks primarily Japanese.
More people should know about Japan's gun martial art
Q: What got you so deep into this?
My genuine interest in firearms, and the opportunity to join the Matsumoto Castle Gun Corps after responding to their newspaper ad.
Japanese MMA is actually insane
Q: What are your long-term goals in your MMA career?
I want to keep fighting professionally for another five years and eventually open my own gym in Japan.

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?

Content focuses on the intricacies of Japanese life as experienced by foreigners, offering a profound insight into various aspects of arts, culture, and business within Japan. Episodes feature interviews with diverse guests, from entrepreneurs and artists to those navigating unique cultural experiences, thus capturing authentic personal narratives that often go unnoticed in mainstream depictions of Japan. This podcast stands out for its depth, tackling not just popular themes but also lesser-known stories, particularly of those who enrich Japan with their unique backgrounds and perspectives.

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 three 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. Sightseeing Japan
2. Abroad in Japan
3. The Austin and Arthur Show
4. MJ and Adam Show
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 166 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. Craig Mott
2. Bellamy Brooks
3. Astrid Klein
4. Yuriko Tiger
5. Jesper Kohl
6. Mira Simic Yamashita
7. Sanyutei Kouseinen
8. Douglas Brooks

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