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Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Unpacking Japan

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

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 weeklyEpisodes173Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Unpacking Japan

Latest Episodes

Meet Kinshasa, an American ballroom commentator, who sits down to talk to us about how underground black queer culture ended up in Tokyo.

Kinshasa tells us about the history and importance of ballroom culture, how queer Japanese women brought it ov... more

YouTube

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we meet Julien, a talented French pastry chef who turned his childhood passion for sweets into a thriving patisserie in Tokyo. From growing up in France to navigating the challenges of running a pastry shop in Japa... more

YouTube

In this episode, we chat with Timothy an American entrepreneur and marketing expert who has spent over 30 years living and working in Japan. Timothy shares his journey from arriving with little more than a backpack to building a career in the Japanes... more

YouTube

Meet Emily, a documentary filmmaker working in Japan's rural revitalization program. Emily sits down to talk with us about moving to Japan and coming to terms with her Zainichi Japanese roots, what the quiet life in a Japanese mountain village is lik... 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.

Recent Guests

Timothy Connor
Founder and President/CEO of Sinovate, a company that helps foreign brands enter the Japanese market.
Sinovate
Episode: Why Ikea failed in Japan (and what we learned from it)
Yurié Collins
Comedian and actress who returned to Japan to pursue stand-up comedy
Tokyo Comedy Bar
Episode: Tokyo Hoe Tales: How Yurie Collins is bringing stand-up comedy to Japan
James Landino
Game and anime composer
Episode: The insane reality of video game music composers
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

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 58 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 States4 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 Kingdom5 months ago
  • Informative

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Saohsmt
    Japan6 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
#149
Japan/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#191
Poland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Ikea failed in Japan (and what we learned from it)
Q: What are some examples of companies that kind of thought it would be easy and tried to enter the market, and it just didn't go well at all?
Connor responds with examples like Ikea and Carrefour, where they underestimated the market complexities and failed to adapt their products appropriately.
The Sword Specialist: Why swords are the Soul of Japan
Q: What drove you to Japan and what was your journey like in studying Japanese swords?
Paul's interest stemmed from practicing karate as a child, leading to a fascination with samurai movies and ultimately a job at the British Museum, where he first encountered real swords.
The harsh reality of adopting in Japan
Q: How was your adoption process for you from there on?
We contacted an agency in the Bay Area that handled international adoptions, but it was sobering because we were told we would be at the bottom of the list for adoption from Japan.
The harsh reality of adopting in Japan
Q: At what point in your journey living in Japan did the idea of adopting a child kind of come up?
The idea of adopting a child from Japan came up when my wife and I were still living in the US after going through unsuccessful fertility treatments.
Emirichu's secret to creativity and avoiding burnout as a creator
Q: How did you decide, okay, I want to make videos about this or about that?
It's usually spontaneous every time. It's because a lot of my fully drawn videos take a while, so it has to be an idea that I really want to commit to and that I'll have fun working on.

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.

How many episodes of Unpacking Japan are there?

Unpacking Japan launched 3 years ago and published 173 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Unpacking Japan?

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What guests have appeared on Unpacking Japan?

Recent guests on Unpacking Japan include:

1. Timothy Connor
2. Yurié Collins
3. James Landino
4. Craig Mott
5. Bellamy Brooks
6. Astrid Klein
7. Yuriko Tiger
8. Jesper Kohl

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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