Unpacking Japan

Produced by ZenStudio

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 with someone who’s carved out their own, unique place in this beautiful country.

Host: Tobias Bieker
Production: A. Magdych
Editing: L. Nicholas, J. Sketchley
Social: J. Sketchley
Design: M. Koga

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22 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 1 hr 16 min
English

Episodes 22

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Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Friday · 46 min
What it's like to live with invisible illnesses in Japan
Meet Hanna, an activist who has been living with chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as PTSD. She sits down to talk to us about her experiences living with invisible illness in Japan, and her views on Japan's medial and social welfare systems. -- 0:00 Intro 0:26 Some context from Tobi 2:32 Meet Hanna 3:14 When her pain started 5:13 Response from doctors 7:40 Realizing her situation is not normal 9:39 Breaking free from her family 12:27 What are Hanna's illnesses? 13:50 Understanding her own life 15:08 Starting social media 17:37 Japanese health care/social support 20:04 Daily life for Hanna 23:13 Hanna's medication 24:37 Social media response 26:26 Has Hanna's messaged reached researchers? 28:58 What should change in Japan? 32:12 Starting a GoFundMe 38:31 Hanna's goals 39:59 Hanna's dreams 42:14 How Hanna experiences pain 44:41 Dealing with prejudice 45:44 Message from Hanna -- Follow Hanna: @hanna_with_pain https://www.instagram.com/hanna_with_pain https://www.tiktok.com/@hanna_with_pain Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
Tuesday · 1 hr 33 min
How did anime get so popular overseas, when Japanese companies did not care?
Meet Roland Kelts, an author known for his book Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S. He sits down to talk to us about the anime industry and the spread of Japanese pop culture overseas, as well as his work on the upcoming documentary Tezuka: God of Manga. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Roland 4:29 Building a stronger connection to Japan 8:55 Joining the JET Programme to write about Japan 15:20 Living alone in Japan 24:04 Leaving Japan to build a career 29:43 Writing Japanamerica 36:40 Studying Tezuka and anime 40:22 How otaku brought anime overseas 45:34 The 4Kids incident 47:49 Has the anime industry changed over 20 years? 55:58 The Tezuka documentary 1:00:14 Why Tezuka was so influential 1:03:27 How Tezuka came to be 1:06:44 Challenges of producing a documentary 1:11:08 Looking back 1:21:39 The power of pop culture 1:26:03 The world viewed from Japan -- Follow Roland: https://www.instagram.com/rolandkelts/ https://x.com/rolandkelts https://www.japanamericabook.com/ Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
August 21 · 1 hr 7 min
Japanese teacher's secret to communication, with ⁨@NihongoDekita⁩
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 online. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 How Sayaka learned English 10:26 Studying teaching abroad 22:52 Work for company hiring immigrants in Japan 27:54 Starting her own teaching company 30:53 Growth on social media 38:41 Hiring her own teachers 40:37 How to make online lessons succeed 49:05 Should you learn by watching TV? 52:29 How to get fluent in a language 57:02 Learning vocabulary 1:04:54 Looking back -- Follow Sayaka: https://nihongodekita.com/ @NihongoDekita https://www.instagram.com/nihongodekita/ https://www.facebook.com/nihongodekita/ https://www.tiktok.com/@nihongodekita Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
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August 19 · 1 hr 11 min
Sitting down with the U.S.'s first manga professor
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 in martial arts5:16 Deciding to take manga seriously10:30 Studying with a manga professor13:38 The rules of manga19:13 How this experienced changed him22:50 Manga as an academic art form26:48 Manga can be anything29:28 How Tezuka brought filmmaking to manga34:20 Becoming the manga professor37:52 Manga as a cross-cultural art form43:34 Is there a market for foreign manga?49:36 Kofi's manga53:39 Publishing manga57:28 Working with Japanese manga schools1:01:54 Exhibiting manga in an art gallery1:06:13 Kofi's work in US-Japan cultural relations--Follow Kofi:https://www.kofimanga.com Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
August 14 · 1 hr 9 min
Why are so many Tokyo apartments not foreigner friendly?
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 Scholarship in Japan 10:00 Sri Lankan student association 14:27 First job in Japan 21:47 Start in content creation 25:27 Japanese house tour videos 31:29 Why do people let you film their house? 34:30 Start in real estate industry 38:20 Foreigner friendly apartments? 42:54 Biggest surprises in real estate 47:07 What makes a good property? 49:24 How long it takes to rent 54:06 Where Sandul lives 57:05 Sandul's favorite stories 1:04:50 What people should know about his interviewees -- Follow Sandul: https://www.instagram.com/sandulvinsuka/ https://www.instagram.com/vinsuka.fromtokyo/ https://www.instagram.com/japanhometours/ Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
August 11 · 1 hr 13 min
The reality of being an actor in Japan
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 Christiane 5:42 Coming to Japan 12:52 Start in acting 16:09 Start in improv 25:29 Performing improv in Tokyo 37:19 Role in Shin Godzilla 46:10 Being scouted for Death Stranding 49:45 Performing motion capture 56:40 Looking back 1:01:04 Support group for female actors in Tokyo 1:09:28 The magic of theatre -- Follow Christiane: https://www.christianebrew.com/ https://www.instagram.com/christianebrew/ Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
August 7 · 1 hr 19 min
The ACTUAL challenges of renovating akiya in Japan
Today we sit down again with Anton Wormann, an akiya renovation specialist and content creator based in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about his renovation projects, the legal regulations about renovations in Japan, the failure and abandonment of his Chiba farm project, and the lessons he's learned along the way. -- 0:00 Intro 0:49 Meet Anton 1:38 First commercial project 7:41 Documenting the work 9:43 The Chiba farmhouse 13:26 The dream waterfall house 16:05 Chiba farmhouse failure 21:38 Lessons learned 25:22 What you should know about akiya 30:45 How to buy akiya responsibly 33:52 How the tax system creates akiya 36:38 Tokyo's anti-renovation legislation 40:18 Anton's Japandi company 43:16 Getting a real estate license 48:56 Renovating the waterfall house 1:01:34 How much did it cost? 1:06:00 Next steps 1:09:39 The power of social media 1:13:04 Looking back -- Follow Anton: @ANTONINJAPAN https://www.instagram.com/anton.injapan https://www.tiktok.com/@antoninjapan https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091063962376 - https://www.antoninjapan.com https://www.japandihouses.com https://www.japandirealestate.com - Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 31 · 1 hr 21 min
What Japanese comedy school is REALLY like
Meet Dan Wilson, a Tokyo-based comedian performing manzai and stand up between America and Japan. He sits down to talk to us about going to comedy school and finding a manzai partner, signing to and leaving an agency, and the ins and outs of the Japanese comedy world. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Dan 2:09 Growing up half Japanese in America 8:05 Discovering Japanese comedy 16:02 Going to comedy school 25:09 Getting signed 27:48 Manzai is a marriage 33:48 Being funny as a non-native 40:55 The reality of comedy agencies 45:56 Social media & Japanese comedy 53:54 Going independent 1:01:48 Performing in English vs. Japanese 1:12:01 Looking back 1:15:35 How to do dirty comedy well -- Follow Dan: https://www.instagram.com/danielywilson https://www.tiktok.com/@danielywilson @Badonkadonk_official @SUPERGREATTIMETOKYO Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 28 · 1 hr 31 min
Tattoo artist explains traditional Japanese apprenticeships
Meet Hori Benny, a tattoo artist and owner of Invasion Club tattoo studio in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about the history and changing culture of Japanese tattoos, his own grueling apprenticeship, the challenges of running a tattoo business in Japan, and his own anime-inspired "otattoo" style. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Hori Benny 7:14 JET Programme in Kagoshima 14:21 Introduction to tattoo culture 20:31 Tattoo apprenticeship in Osaka 32:12 First time tattooing someone 35:26 What makes a good tattoo 44:22 Opening Invasion Club studio 46:24 History of Japanese tattoos 50:27 Japanese police vs. tattooers 56:25 Otattoo style 1:03:33 Benny's tattoo philosophy 1:10:55 Taking on an apprentice 1:14:32 Expanding to Tokyo 1:22:23 Looking back 1:26:40 What's next -- Follow Hori Benny: https://horibenny.com/ https://invasion.club/ https://www.instagram.com/horibenny/ Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 24 · 1 hr 33 min
Does Japan still need nuclear?
Meet Akira Tokuhiro, a Japanese Canadian nuclear engineering professor based in Ontario, Canada. He sits down to talk to us about the current and future role of nuclear as a clean energy source, Japan's response to incidents like Fukushima, and how we can move towards carbon net zero. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Akira 9:06 Interest in nuclear 19:25 Types of reactors 24:04 Working in Japan 28:36 Japan Atomic Energy Agency 30:58 Japan's reactors 33:51 Nuclear safety and earthquakes 37:12 What happened at Fukushima 39:38 Government response 44:05 How reactors are shut down 54:06 Restarting reactors 56:08 Life cycle of a nuclear plant 58:28 Problems with prolonged shutdown 1:00:50 Current public opinion 1:05:54 Nuclear's role in carbon net zero 1:14:22 Regaining confidence in nuclear 1:19:42 Developing nuclear technology 1:21:49 Expanding global nuclear energy 1:28:00 How to educate about nuclear -- Follow Akira: https://x.com/TokuhiroAkira Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 21 · 1 hr 6 min
I was a confused kid—growing up half Japanese in Thailand, with Aki Yamaguchi
Meet Aki Yamaguchi, a Thai-Japanese content creator and MC living and working between both countries. She sits down to talk to us about growing up in an international school abroad, finding her own identity and starting a visual kei band, and how her unique background led her to where she is today. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Aki 1:16 International school in Thailand 7:19 Embracing Japanese side 11:27 Finding her own style 13:20 Starting a band 20:38 Bringing the band to Japan 25:50 Start of MC career 31:33 Covid and growing on TikTok 44:32 Addressing stereotypes online 47:40 Aki's unique opportunities 50:40 Branching out to English content 59:22 Content between languages 1:03:01 Aki's message to the dreamers Follow Aki: @akinoyuutsu https://www.instagram.com/akinoyuutsu https://www.tiktok.com/@aki_yamaguchi https://www.facebook.com/akinoyuutsupage/ Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 17 · 56 min
What it takes to be a Japanese rickshaw driver
Meet Kenny, a rickshaw driver in Asakusa, Tokyo, who sits down to talk to us about what its like to work as one of these traditional tour guides. He tells us about his professional rugby career, his plans to open a mochi shop, and what it takes to be a rickshaw driver. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Kenny 2:08 Starting as a rugby player 6:25 Going pro 10:37 Playing in Australia 18:52 Looking back on rugby career 21:53 Mochi shop 26:30 Becoming a rickshaw driver 33:04 Work as rickshaw driver 36:52 Tour guide in & out of Tokyo 43:37 Working with rickshaw company 45:10 Secret to good service 49:37 Plans for mochi shop 51:43 Most difficult skill for rickshaw drivers -- Follow Kenny: https://www.instagram.com/asakusa_rickshaw https://www.tiktok.com/@kenny_rickshaw Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 14 · 1 hr 12 min
Is Japan's attitude towards tattoos changing?
Meet Manami Ozakaki, an author who writes books on Japanese arts and culture. She sits down to talk to us about the history of Japanese tattoos, the artists who made them, and how Japan's tattoo culture is changing in the modern era. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Manami 7:31 Moving to Japan 16:23 Writing for magazines 18:25 Manami's books 24:53 History of Japanese tattoos 29:05 Tattoo conventions 34:45 Is perception of tattoos changing? 37:35 The beauty of tattoos 42:26 Japanese tattoo artists 59:28 How to find artists 1:05:06 Japanese book culture -- Follow Manami: https://www.maki23.com https://www.instagram.com/manami.tokyo Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 10 · 1 hr 15 min
How to ACTUALLY make a career of teaching in Japan
Meet Jake, an international school principal living in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about the reality of teaching in Japan, including what people should expect, what companies do, and how to actually build a career teaching here.. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Jake 5:11 First time in Japan 12:15 First experience as a teacher 20:44 A career in teaching English 27:38 The reality of being an ALT 36:51 The role of teaching companies 43:12 Teaching licenses 48:00 Becoming principal 1:02:11 What people should know 1:06:15 What should change -- Follow Jake: @jakejapanjapan Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 7 · 1 hr 28 min
The reality of growing up half Indian in Japan
Meet Priyanka, an Indian-Japanese entrepreneur who sits down to talk to us about her life growing up as a hafu in Japan. She tells us about being the only hafu in Japanese school, winning Miss World Japan in 2016, her time on reality TV show Love is Blind Japan, and her work as a model and entrepreneur. -- 0:00 Intro 0:50 Meet Priyanka 4:46 Moving to California 12:22 Moving back to Japan 14:14 Bullying in Japanese schools 25:53 Becoming a model 30:51 Entering Miss World Japan 34:57 The elephant trainer thing 40:27 Winning as a hafu 50:56 Start as an entrepreneur 1:03:03 Love is Blind 1:16:35 Moving to London 1:20:22 Learning ikebana 1:25:02 Looking back -- Follow Priyanka: https://www.instagram.com/priyankayoshikawa/ https://open.spotify.com/show/4iVGYMYvEtksY766NhicEq?si=b20f3f83bbcf4ba0 https://x.com/priyayoshikawa @AuthenticallyMe-podcast Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
July 3 · 1 hr 21 min
Demystifying Japanese home cooking
Meet Nancy Singleton Hachisu, a cookbook author living on a rural farm in Saitama. She sits down to talk to us about coming to Japan, discovering the beautiful simplicty of Japanese farm food, and writing her cookbooks on Japanese home cooking. -- 0:00 Intro 0:45 Meet Nancy 5:32 Coming to Japan 11:09 Impressions of the food 17:12 Moving to a farm 23:05 Homeschooling and edible schoolyard 32:24 Writing a cookbook 38:54 What you should know about Japanese food 43:11 How to incorporate Japanese ingredients 51:03 Publishing a book in Japan 1:07:04 Current projects 1:16:27 Where to start with Japanese cooking -- Follow Nancy: https://www.nancysingletonhachisu.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nancyhachisu/ https://www.facebook.com/nancy.hachisu Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
June 30 · 1 hr 29 min
What it's like building multiple businesses in Tokyo
Meet Lauren Rose Kocher, an entrepreneur and CEO of multiple businesses in Tokyo. She sits down to talk to us about her journey to Japan, working in the Japanese music industry before leaving to start her own business, and inheriting businesses from her late husband. -- 0:00 Intro 0:45 Meet Lauren 4:30 Teaching English in Japan 8:58 Entering the music industry 15:09 What the music industry is like 19:05 Cyndi Lauper earthquake story 31:50 Working at Sony 44:50 Moving on 47:32 Establishing her own company 51:15 The COVID jackpot 58:00 Expansion and burnout 1:03:52 Having to leave her own company 1:09:13 Lauren's late husband 1:12:44 Starting a new company 1:15:10 Converting defunct family business 1:21:26 Looking back 1:25:32 Husband's businesses -- Follow Lauren: https://www.laurenrosekocher.com/ https://www.instagram.com/laurenrosekocher/ https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenrosekocher https://laurenrosekocher.substack.com/ Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
June 26 · 1 hr 19 min
Born and raised as an Indian in Tokyo (as a film director)
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. -- 0:45 Meet Ameya 1:20 Growing up Indian in Tokyo 11:37 Realizing how society views you 14:50 Joining the creative industry 19:18 Stepping behind the camera 23:04 Making connections 28:03 Becoming a filmmaker 37:14 Shooting for big brands 45:25 Differences shooting in Japan 50:58 Ameya's first movie 56:10 The creator economy 1:02:35 Gaining confidence as a creator -- Follow Ameya: https://ameya.click/ https://www.instagram.com/ameya.click/ Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
June 23 · 1 hr 34 min
The Noh professor: what even Japanese people don't understand about Noh
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 and Japanese people have, and his own journey to the Noh world in Japan. -- 0:00 Intro 0:46 Meet Richard 6:56 What is Noh? 11:42 The yooooooooo 17:24 Noh vs. Kabuki 20:14 Origins of Noh 22:50 Where plays come from 30:31 Richard's start in Noh 35:30 Noh actor families 41:05 Noh instruments 47:57 Writing the book on Noh 51:39 Popularity of Noh 59:49 The Noh stage 1:04:43 Modern Noh plays 1:07:08 English Noh plays 1:10:30 Noh masks 1:23:17 Appreciating Noh -- Follow Richard: https://www.theatrenohgaku.org/ Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/
June 19 · 1 hr 5 min
Matcha Samurai on on the state of Japan content
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 you to our colleagues from ZenMarket for sponsoring this episode. Interesting in buying anything from Japan? Find out more here: https://go.zenmarket.jp/unpackingjapan -- 0:00 Intro 1:07 Meet Matcha Samurai 3:14 Interest in studying abroad 6:02 Arriving in London 10:32 Start as creator 13:08 Role as defacto culture expert 17:40 Thoughts on "JaPaN" as a Japanese 21:42 Why he doesn't monetize his videos 23:26 Career in London 25:40 Trying not to get cancelled 31:25 Topics he avoids 33:14 On his unique laugh 39:52 Looking back on 10 years in London 47:11 Kochi people are different 51:46 Where to go in Kochi 56:47 Why everywhere in Japan is so different 59:12 Looking back 1:03:01 What to know coming to Japan -- Follow Matcha Samurai: https://www.youtube.com/@matcha_samurai https://www.tiktok.com/@matcha_samurai https://www.instagram.com/matcha_samurai Follow us: https://unpacking.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japan https://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapan https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts https://www.x.com/unpacking_japan https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapan Subscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

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