Unpacking Japan

Meet Martin Fackler, a journalist and author based in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about his career in China and Japan, what went into reporting his biggest stories, and the problems with Japan's kisha club system.--0:00 Intro0:50 Meet Martin8:50 Advantages of a foreign journalist15:48 Journalistic autonomy29:20 Japanese bank extortion story37:42 Managing information as a journalist44:23 The Hainan incident49:15 Running from the Chinese police55:08 Responsibility to international conflict59:54 The Japanese banking crisis1:09:45 Responsibility as Tokyo Bureau Chief1:15:34 The Fukushima disaster1:31:45 Journalism vs. safety1:40:53 Why don't we know what happened?1:46:33 Failure of the Japanese media1:56:07 The Japanese press oligarchies2:06:28 Social media's influence on journalism2:19:28 Why AI can't do journalism2:22:53 Looking ahead--Follow Martin: https://x.com/martfackFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Philip, an author and photographer who's spent years documenting Japan's jazz kissa, who sits down to talk to us about his work and the cafes he's explored in his book. He tells us about the history and culture of jazz kissa, and the growing interest in analogue culture.--0:00 Intro0:50 Coming to Japan on JET10:40 What he learned as a JET teacher19:54 Starting photography in Yokohama22:39 The importance of Bebop Square32:02 Next photography projects36:05 Documenting jazz kissa45:25 Origin of jazz kissa51:02 Why jazz kissa are so special59:34 Are jazz kissa dying?1:02:30 Looking back1:10:06 Future projects--Follow Philip:https://www.philiparneill.com/https://www.tokyojazzjoints.com/https://www.instagram.com/philiparneill/https://www.instagram.com/tokyojazzjointsFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:26 Some context from Tobi2:32 Meet Hanna3:14 When her pain started5:13 Response from doctors7:40 Realizing her situation is not normal9:39 Breaking free from her family12:27 What are Hanna's illnesses?13:50 Understanding her own life15:08 Starting social media17:37 Japanese health care/social support20:04 Daily life for Hanna23:13 Hanna's medication24:37 Social media response26:26 Has Hanna's messaged reached researchers?28:58 What should change in Japan?32:12 Starting a GoFundMe38:31 Hanna's goals39:59 Hanna's dreams42:14 How Hanna experiences pain44:41 Dealing with prejudice45:44 Message from Hanna--Follow Hanna: @hanna_with_pain https://www.instagram.com/hanna_with_painhttps://www.tiktok.com/@hanna_with_painFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Roland4:29 Building a stronger connection to Japan8:55 Joining the JET Programme to write about Japan15:20 Living alone in Japan24:04 Leaving Japan to build a career29:43 Writing Japanamerica36:40 Studying Tezuka and anime40:22 How otaku brought anime overseas45:34 The 4Kids incident47:49 Has the anime industry changed over 20 years?55:58 The Tezuka documentary1:00:14 Why Tezuka was so influential1:03:27 How Tezuka came to be1:06:44 Challenges of producing a documentary1:11:08 Looking back1:21:39 The power of pop culture1:26:03 The world viewed from Japan--Follow Roland:https://www.instagram.com/rolandkelts/https://x.com/rolandkeltshttps://www.japanamericabook.com/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 How Sayaka learned English10:26 Studying teaching abroad 22:52 Work for company hiring immigrants in Japan27:54 Starting her own teaching company30:53 Growth on social media38:41 Hiring her own teachers40:37 How to make online lessons succeed49:05 Should you learn by watching TV?52:29 How to get fluent in a language57:02 Learning vocabulary1:04:54 Looking back--Follow Sayaka:https://nihongodekita.com/ @NihongoDekita https://www.instagram.com/nihongodekita/https://www.facebook.com/nihongodekita/https://www.tiktok.com/@nihongodekitaFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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.comFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Sandul1:27 Scholarship in Japan10:00 Sri Lankan student association14:27 First job in Japan21:47 Start in content creation25:27 Japanese house tour videos31:29 Why do people let you film their house?34:30 Start in real estate industry38:20 Foreigner friendly apartments?42:54 Biggest surprises in real estate47:07 What makes a good property?49:24 How long it takes to rent54:06 Where Sandul lives57:05 Sandul's favorite stories1:04:50 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_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Christiane5:42 Coming to Japan12:52 Start in acting16:09 Start in improv25:29 Performing improv in Tokyo37:19 Role in Shin Godzilla46:10 Being scouted for Death Stranding49:45 Performing motion capture56:40 Looking back1:01:04 Support group for female actors in Tokyo1:09:28 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_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:49 Meet Anton1:38 First commercial project7:41 Documenting the work9:43 The Chiba farmhouse13:26 The dream waterfall house16:05 Chiba farmhouse failure21:38 Lessons learned25:22 What you should know about akiya30:45 How to buy akiya responsibly33:52 How the tax system creates akiya36:38 Tokyo's anti-renovation legislation40:18 Anton's Japandi company43:16 Getting a real estate license48:56 Renovating the waterfall house1:01:34 How much did it cost?1:06:00 Next steps1:09:39 The power of social media1:13:04 Looking back--Follow Anton: @ANTONINJAPAN https://www.instagram.com/anton.injapanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@antoninjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091063962376-https://www.antoninjapan.comhttps://www.japandihouses.comhttps://www.japandirealestate.com-Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Dan2:09 Growing up half Japanese in America8:05 Discovering Japanese comedy16:02 Going to comedy school25:09 Getting signed27:48 Manzai is a marriage33:48 Being funny as a non-native40:55 The reality of comedy agencies45:56 Social media & Japanese comedy53:54 Going independent1:01:48 Performing in English vs. Japanese1:12:01 Looking back1:15:35 How to do dirty comedy well--Follow Dan:https://www.instagram.com/danielywilsonhttps://www.tiktok.com/@danielywilson @Badonkadonk_official @SUPERGREATTIMETOKYO Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Hori Benny7:14 JET Programme in Kagoshima14:21 Introduction to tattoo culture20:31 Tattoo apprenticeship in Osaka32:12 First time tattooing someone35:26 What makes a good tattoo44:22 Opening Invasion Club studio46:24 History of Japanese tattoos50:27 Japanese police vs. tattooers56:25 Otattoo style1:03:33 Benny's tattoo philosophy1:10:55 Taking on an apprentice1:14:32 Expanding to Tokyo1:22:23 Looking back1:26:40 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_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Akira9:06 Interest in nuclear19:25 Types of reactors24:04 Working in Japan28:36 Japan Atomic Energy Agency30:58 Japan's reactors33:51 Nuclear safety and earthquakes37:12 What happened at Fukushima39:38 Government response44:05 How reactors are shut down54:06 Restarting reactors56:08 Life cycle of a nuclear plant58:28 Problems with prolonged shutdown1:00:50 Current public opinion1:05:54 Nuclear's role in carbon net zero1:14:22 Regaining confidence in nuclear1:19:42 Developing nuclear technology1:21:49 Expanding global nuclear energy1:28:00 How to educate about nuclear--Follow Akira:https://x.com/TokuhiroAkiraFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Aki1:16 International school in Thailand7:19 Embracing Japanese side11:27 Finding her own style13:20 Starting a band20:38 Bringing the band to Japan25:50 Start of MC career31:33 Covid and growing on TikTok44:32 Addressing stereotypes online47:40 Aki's unique opportunities50:40 Branching out to English content59:22 Content between languages1:03:01 Aki's message to the dreamersFollow Aki: @akinoyuutsu https://www.instagram.com/akinoyuutsuhttps://www.tiktok.com/@aki_yamaguchihttps://www.facebook.com/akinoyuutsupage/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Kenny2:08 Starting as a rugby player6:25 Going pro10:37 Playing in Australia18:52 Looking back on rugby career21:53 Mochi shop26:30 Becoming a rickshaw driver33:04 Work as rickshaw driver36:52 Tour guide in & out of Tokyo43:37 Working with rickshaw company45:10 Secret to good service49:37 Plans for mochi shop51:43 Most difficult skill for rickshaw drivers--Follow Kenny:https://www.instagram.com/asakusa_rickshawhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kenny_rickshawFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Manami7:31 Moving to Japan16:23 Writing for magazines18:25 Manami's books24:53 History of Japanese tattoos29:05 Tattoo conventions34:45 Is perception of tattoos changing?37:35 The beauty of tattoos42:26 Japanese tattoo artists59:28 How to find artists1:05:06 Japanese book culture--Follow Manami:https://www.maki23.comhttps://www.instagram.com/manami.tokyoFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Jake5:11 First time in Japan12:15 First experience as a teacher20:44 A career in teaching English27:38 The reality of being an ALT36:51 The role of teaching companies43:12 Teaching licenses48:00 Becoming principal1:02:11 What people should know1:06:15 What should change--Follow Jake: @jakejapanjapan Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:50 Meet Priyanka4:46 Moving to California12:22 Moving back to Japan14:14 Bullying in Japanese schools25:53 Becoming a model30:51 Entering Miss World Japan34:57 The elephant trainer thing40:27 Winning as a hafu50:56 Start as an entrepreneur1:03:03 Love is Blind1:16:35 Moving to London1:20:22 Learning ikebana1:25:02 Looking back--Follow Priyanka:https://www.instagram.com/priyankayoshikawa/https://open.spotify.com/show/4iVGYMYvEtksY766NhicEq?si=b20f3f83bbcf4ba0https://x.com/priyayoshikawa @AuthenticallyMe-podcast Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:45 Meet Nancy5:32 Coming to Japan11:09 Impressions of the food17:12 Moving to a farm23:05 Homeschooling and edible schoolyard32:24 Writing a cookbook38:54 What you should know about Japanese food43:11 How to incorporate Japanese ingredients51:03 Publishing a book in Japan1:07:04 Current projects1:16:27 Where to start with Japanese cooking--Follow Nancy:https://www.nancysingletonhachisu.com/https://www.instagram.com/nancyhachisu/https://www.facebook.com/nancy.hachisuFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:45 Meet Lauren4:30 Teaching English in Japan8:58 Entering the music industry15:09 What the music industry is like19:05 Cyndi Lauper earthquake story31:50 Working at Sony44:50 Moving on47:32 Establishing her own company51:15 The COVID jackpot58:00 Expansion and burnout1:03:52 Having to leave her own company1:09:13 Lauren's late husband1:12:44 Starting a new company1:15:10 Converting defunct family business1:21:26 Looking back1:25:32 Husband's businesses--Follow Lauren:https://www.laurenrosekocher.com/https://www.instagram.com/laurenrosekocher/https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenrosekocherhttps://laurenrosekocher.substack.com/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Ameya1:20 Growing up Indian in Tokyo11:37 Realizing how society views you14:50 Joining the creative industry19:18 Stepping behind the camera23:04 Making connections28:03 Becoming a filmmaker37:14 Shooting for big brands45:25 Differences shooting in Japan50:58 Ameya's first movie56:10 The creator economy1:02:35 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_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:46 Meet Richard6:56 What is Noh?11:42 The yooooooooo17:24 Noh vs. Kabuki20:14 Origins of Noh22:50 Where plays come from30:31 Richard's start in Noh35:30 Noh actor families41:05 Noh instruments47:57 Writing the book on Noh51:39 Popularity of Noh59:49 The Noh stage1:04:43 Modern Noh plays1:07:08 English Noh plays1:10:30 Noh masks1:23:17 Appreciating Noh--Follow Richard:https://www.theatrenohgaku.org/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro1:07 Meet Matcha Samurai3:14 Interest in studying abroad6:02 Arriving in London10:32 Start as creator13:08 Role as defacto culture expert17:40 Thoughts on "JaPaN" as a Japanese21:42 Why he doesn't monetize his videos23:26 Career in London25:40 Trying not to get cancelled31:25 Topics he avoids33:14 On his unique laugh39:52 Looking back on 10 years in London47:11 Kochi people are different51:46 Where to go in Kochi56:47 Why everywhere in Japan is so different59:12 Looking back1:03:01 What to know coming to Japan--Follow Matcha Samurai: https://www.youtube.com/@matcha_samuraihttps://www.tiktok.com/@matcha_samuraihttps://www.instagram.com/matcha_samuraiFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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.--0:00 Intro0:45 Meet Harald4:14 First music study6:35 Arriving in Japan10:00 Differences playing in Japan14:05 Japanese approach to music18:39 First performance in Japan24:00 Why Harald was selected28:12 Music is like noodles33:04 Impactful performances39:59 Orchestra group dynamics44:10 Bringing a younger audience45:17 Teaching Japanese students57:47 Looking back59:29 Sailing in Japan1:04:05 Getting a license1:08:56 Sailing experiences1:11:30 Why moving here was easy--Follow Harald:https://www.facebook.com/kyototrumpet/https://www.instagram.com/kyotoviking/https://open.spotify.com/artist/2xLfjz5BJ3y6LzJZP0YFIO?si=QMojHzocS52j8axopG12vgFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Sylvia Manchester, a self-titled Natural Born Diva working as an entertainer and drag bar host in Tokyo. She sits down to talk to us about her studies abroad, interest in queer literature, coming out, and the birth of the Sylvia Manchester character.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 Intro1:07 Meet Sylvia Manchester6:35 First interest in drag7:54 Being gay in Tokyo vs. Britain12:10 Starting drag in Japan14:02 Queer literature and gay identity22:08 Start in drag bar24:54 Being closeted in a Japanese office27:37 Becoming a professional drag queen32:16 Golden Gai 35:45 Interest in Chanson41:30 Birth of Sylvia Manchester43:29 Busking in Tokyo47:15 Finding a place in the Tokyo drag community50:00 Translating Chanson to Japanese51:43 What Golden Gai is like58:32 Balancing drag and normal personas1:00:36 The Sylvia Manchester queendom1:03:40 Sylvia's literature reviews--Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Will, a host and content creator for Japan Gay Guide in Tokyo. He tells us about how his love for the band Perfume brought him to Japan, what being gay in Japan is like, and his work in LGBT tourism with Japan Gay Guide.--0:00 Intro0:46 Meet Will5:30 Arriving in Kagoshima10:35 Coming back to Japan17:49 Being gay in Japan vs. Sydney25:45 What is Japan Gay Guide?28:40 Japan as a safe haven32:58 Planning what to publish38:01 How views on LGBT have changed41:52 Where to go in Japan46:55 What's next--Follow Will: @willbennett2000 https://www.instagram.com/willbennett2000/https://www.tiktok.com/@willbennett2000Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Lawson, a British creator who first came to Japan living in Kobe and Nishinomiya, where he quickly picked up the Kansai dialect. Now living in Tokyo, he's become known for his fluent dialect as a foreigner.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 Intro1:07 Meet Lawson4:36 Learning Japanese7:41 Studying Japanese in university10:19 Coming to Japan16:11 Becoming a salaryman25:18 Origin of name Honmani Lawson29:51 Move to comedy videos36:39 How Japanese comedy works 41:42 Reacting to videos as a foreigner43:22 Learning Japanese comedy48:08 Does this interfere with your job?52:14 How comedy changed his life in Japan54:30 Looking back58:31 Impact of his platform--Follow Lawson: @honmanilawson https://www.instagram.com/honmanilawson/https://www.tiktok.com/@honmanilawsonhttps://honmanilawson.com/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Genoa, a content creator with a very unique life that brought him to Japan. He sits down to talk to us about growing up in a cult, before leaving and eventually coming to Okinawa as an exchange student in high school, and his current life preparing for studying at language school and going viral sharing his experiences in Japan. 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 Intro1:07 Growing up in a cult5:07 Reactions to cult story9:55 Interest in Japan study abroad13:02 Arriving in Okinawa17:26 Life in Okinawa21:14 Japanese high school25:43 Comparisons to American school33:42 Going viral41:28 Thoughts on social media career48:02 Genoa's view on "Japan" content51:21 Consulting Japanese on his comedy53:09 Working with brands56:04 Language school in Japan --Follow Genoa:https://www.instagram.com/genoaorion/https://www.tiktok.com/@genoaorion@genoaorionFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Gia, a Korean born creator who grew up in Tokyo. She sits down to talk to us about her very multicultural and multilingual life in Japan, from international school to Waseda University.--0:00 Intro0:45 Meet Gia5:17 Internation school in Tokyo9:25 Applying to Waseda12:39 Growing up in a foreign bubble16:28 Student life at Waseda20:07 Studying at Waseda22:43 International school vs. university in Japan26:17 University life29:46 Content interviewing other students33:40 Transitioning to full-time creator36:02 Japanese vs. foreign viewers39:44 Waseda vs. other universities43:32 Looking forward46:02 Being Christian in Japan51:56 Seoul Sista podcastFollow Gia: @gialores  https://www.instagram.com/gialores/https://www.tiktok.com/@gialores Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Bernd Kestler, a German knitter living in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about moving to Japan in the 80s, his love for knitting, and exactly how he's established this unconventional career in Japan.--0:00 Intro0:45 Meet Bernd7:08 First interest in knitting12:32 Knitting in Japan14:55 Knitting full-time16:54 Knitting in Japan vs. Germany22:27 Understanding knitting designs24:03 Japanese knitting designs28:33 Guiness record blanket for Tohoku37:07 First knitting book42:29 Japanese yarn44:28 How the book affected his career46:51 Translating knitting concepts to Japanese49:36 Collaboration with Komeda Coffee54:10 Knitting creative projects58:55 Japanese color palettes1:01:30 Those spiky things on the table1:08:51 Looking back1:16:29 Knitting innovation--Follow Bernd:http://berndkestler.com/ ⁨@BerndKestler⁩ https://www.instagram.com/berndkestler/https://www.facebook.com/bernd.kestler/https://linktr.ee/berndkestlerFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 the restaurants around train stations.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet James3:32 Shanghai in the 90s8:27 Studies at Fudan University12:18 Coming to Japan15:34 Finding community in Tokyo18:14 The reality of Midnight Diner21:20 Experiences as an outsider28:42 Differences in Tokyo neighborhoods33:53 Street food in Japan?37:02 James's NHK program41:42 Differences between Tokyo and Shanghai46:23 Foreigner-run restaurants50:50 Challenges telling stories on TV55:10 Kabukicho nightlife59:30 How comparable are Tokyo and Shanghai really?1:02:36 Have you found your place in Tokyo?1:09:24 The paradoxical freedom of big cities--Follow James:https://www.nishiogiology.org/https://www.instagram.com/japanfoodresearch/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesfarrer/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 TikTok, and becoming a magical girl--0:00 Intro0:45 Meet Kristine7:07 Internship in Japan18:47 Start in content creation20:58 Getting her first sponsor26:52 The struggle of bringing cats to Japan33:09 How Kfel got so fluent41:47 Moving to Japan43:55 Finding a community here48:17 How Japan changed her videos50:34 How girl walk in Tokyo56:28 Working with GeeXPlus1:01:12 Advice for aspiring creators1:04:05 Getting into cosplay1:07:40 What's next1:09:57 Kfel's favorite anime1:13:07 What makes a good anime?1:15:28 Kfel's struggle with identity--Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Intro0:45 Meet River4:40 Deciding to stay in Japan9:05 Being a journalist in the Trump presidency12:18 Start at WSJ and Bloomberg16:11 Being unbiased a a journalist19:40 Moving to Japan as a journalist26:32 Journalistic ethics vs business31:03 Personal interest in stories35:40 Finding experts to interview40:31 Investigative journalism42:30 Where are you when big events happen?47:01 The Alaska LNG story55:00 Treatment as a female journalist59:19 Role of written journalism1:06:47 Balancing business and integrity1:10:41 What's next for River1:12:52 Portrayal of Takaichi 1:16:13 How much context readers need--Follow River:https://www.nytimes.com/by/river-akira-davishttps://x.com/riverakiradavisFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

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 Mana, and how she got the chance to sing for Final Fantasy XIV.--0:00 Intro0:45 Meet Paula2:11 Teaching on the JET Programme9:45 Start in localization industry14:25 Misconceptions about game localization22:37 Challenges in localization25:53 How long does localization take?27:30 Naming consistency31:42 Gaming as work vs. hobby33:15 Context when translating34:22 Translating Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters42:31 How big is the localization team?43:41 Fan reaction45:53 Other big projects at Square Enix48:31 Localization process between games49:52 Changing industry51:29 Singing/voice acting for Final Fantasy59:56 Voice director for Visions of Mana1:02:00 How to be a good translator1:04:44 Upcoming projects1:06:32 More localization misconceptions--Square Enix:https://www.square-enix.com/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Avril Haye-Matsui, a professor at Aichi Prefectural University in Nagoya. She sits down to talk to us about the reality of being black in Japan, raising mixed black children here, how people treat black people can vary depending on what country you're from, and --0:00 Intro0:45 Meet Avril3:36 Arriving on the JET Program9:16 Staying and moving to academia14:57 Research on identity in Japan18:54 PhD studies24:33 Study into being black in Japan28:33 Students' perception of identity37:47 Changing perception of blackness today39:55 Personal experience of blackness in Japan44:01 Avril's children's experiences51:03 Being black as children vs. teenagers53:53 Interactions with Japanese schools57:35 Women's empowerment circle1:06:56 Advice for black people coming to Japan--Follow Avril:https://womenempowermentcirclegroup.net/https://www.instagram.com/bwijgroup/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet David Kornhauser, Director of Global Communications at Kyoto University. He sits down to talk with us about how Japanese universities are becoming more international, his work in science communication, and the proliferation of nobel prizes from Kyoto University.--0:00 Intro0:45 Meet David3:15 Rediscovering Japanese roots9:46 International bubble universities12:41 PR for Tokyo Electric Power17:30 Working in foreign services in China22:48 Connection to Japan while abroad25:53 Returning to Japan30:03 Working for Kyoto University32:54 Language barrier at international universities37:48 How Japanese universities operate39:44 Perception of international students47:36 Nobel prizes from Kyoto University52:31 Science communication1:02:07 Kyoto's Yoshida dorm1:12:31 The importance of Japanese universities--Kyoto University:https://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/enFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Dr. Harriet Ocharo, an applied AI researcher from Kenya working in Tokyo. She sits down to talk to us about coming to Japan on the MEXT scholarship, moving to Tokyo to work in the tech industry, and her experiences as a single mother here in Japan.--0:00 Intro0:45 Meet Harriet4:55 Why Japan?8:13 MEXT scholarship10:25 Arriving at a Japanese university20:17 Cultural surprises27:02 Move to Tokyo30:55 Japanese questions about Kenya35:17 Joining a large Japanese company38:11 Challenges joining a Japanese company41:49 What AI is actually useful for47:11 Japanese AI situation52:47 Do Japanese companies want foreigners?54:19 Being a single mother in Japan1:00:40 What support does Japan provide?1:03:49 Raising black children in Japan1:07:05 What made you stay?1:08:55 Next steps--Follow Harriet:https://savvykenya.com/https://x.com/savvykenyahttps://www.instagram.com/savvykenya/https://savvykenya.wordpress.com/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet David, a writer based in Japan, who sits down to talk with us about the origins of Western fashion and culture in Japan. He tells us about how Western fashions are brought over, common misconceptions people have, and how Japanese culture actually develops over time.--0:00 Intro0:46 Meet David5:04 Moving to Japan12:35 Unpacking the myth of Japanese culture23:02 Interest in fashion25:56 Evolution of fashion in Japan vs. the US29:18 Fashion genres in Japan33:30 David's book about social status40:02 Research for cultural analysis43:32 Societal value changes over the last 25 years49:38 Work on The New Japan magazine53:34 Rediscovering rural Japan1:02:29 Japan's disappearing places1:09:15 Japanese fashion magazine authority1:15:19 Do you understand Japanese culture yet?1:18:07 Japan is not an other--Follow David:https://www.neomarxisme.com/https://culture.ghost.io/https://www.instagram.com/wdavidmarx/https://x.com/wdavidmarxhttps://bsky.app/profile/wdavidmarx.bsky.socialFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Yumechi, a fashion creator living in Tokyo and working for the brand ACDC RAG. She sits down to talk to us about the birth of fashion subcultures, how trends change over time, and her work in the Japanese fashion subculture world.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Yumechi2:47 Interest in j-fashion9:56 Finding a community through fashion13:06 Gyaru and lolita today15:02 What makes j-fashion trends so interesting17:00 The sad story behind jirai-kei23:56 Has jirai affected mental health discussion?27:33 Yumechi's fashion styles29:07 Fashion vocabulary30:17 Working for ACDC RAG36:13 Fashion trend cycles38:38 J-fashion overseas41:57 How social media affected trends44:20 Communicating trends to overseas audiences47:06 How fashion affects perceptions of mental health49:31 Who wears these fashions?51:03 Dealing with trends as a brand54:59 Do subcultures branch out to the mainstream?57:34 Growth of j-fashion overseas1:00:25 Yumechi's content journey1:02:43 What is oshikatsu?1:06:04 Yumechi's time as an idol1:07:08 How important are fan groups?1:10:58 The growth of kpop in Japan1:15:57 Looking forward--Follow Yumechi: @yumechi15 https://www.instagram.com/yume.chii/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Shala, a singer, dancer, and musician who was born in Nagoya and grew up in London. She sits down to talk to us about her career across the 2 countries, and her identity as a biracial and bicultural artist.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Shala4:03 Interest in music6:54 Interest in dancing11:09 Growing up mixed in London13:16 Moving back to Japan15:48 Dance career in London25:53 How being Asian affected her career35:46 Finding her own path as an artist39:55 Shala's first viral hit45:03 Writing an album48:10 Whitewashing and cultural homogenization53:25 The importance of an album58:33 Writing a bilingual album1:01:41 Japanese music industry vs. multiculturalism1:04:45 Shala's new single--Follow Shala:https://www.wabisabishala.com/ @wabisabishala  https://www.tiktok.com/@wabisabishalahttps://www.instagram.com/wabisabishalahttps://x.com/wabisabishalahttps://soundcloud.com/wabisabishalaFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet PiNKII, an artist producing what she calls "domme-pop," and former jpop idol. She sits down to talk to us about her first interest in idol culture, moving to Japan with the help of an unscrupulous man, and how she left that all behind to become the artist she is today.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet PiNKII4:33 First coming to Japan8:11 Posting her own idol dance videos11:56 Getting "discovered"16:27 Arriving in Japan19:42 Experiencing kindness22:32 Bouncing back23:21 Coming back for the fashion industry28:06 Advice for those dreaming of being an idol32:17 Move to the fashion world34:23 Going to idol school35:27 Rediscovering her love for music38:37 PiNKII's music today41:48 PiNKII's proudest work43:34 Moving to Berlin45:56 Performing in Japan49:46 What is Japan to PiNKII now?51:05 Japanese fashion now53:36 What PiNKII wants people to know--Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet William Reed, also known as the renaissance samurai. He sits down to talk us about moving to Japan in the 1970s, his lifelong practice of martial arts and calligraphy, and his passion for teaching Namba, the samurai walk. 0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Will5:15 Discovering aikido9:06 Homestay in Japan13:17 Tokyo in 197217:38 Deciding to come back to Japan21:46 Returning in the 80s24:10 Practice of martial arts33:00 Key martial arts teachings44:33 Finding balance with Namba56:28 How Namba walking is different1:00:05 How this is relevant today1:09:56 Studying calligraphy1:17:49 What is good calligraphy?1:25:22 The importance of a signature1:34:11 Looking back--Follow William:https://www.samurai-walk.com/https://www.instagram.com/showmeshodo/https://x.com/william_reedhttps://www.facebook.com/will.reedhttps://www.youtube.com/user/taproot55Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Cory, a sofubi (soft vinyl toy) producer under his company Science Patrol. Cory sits down to talk to us about getting into sofubi, learning the trade and setting up his company here, creating officially licensed merchandise for Japan's one-day license events, and everything that goes into creating these toys.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Cory4:58 What are sofubi?8:44 Why so many kaiju?9:54 What's being produced today14:20 Typical day as a sofubi producer19:33 Learning the sofubi trade23:57 Trends in sofubi28:27 Collecting sofubi30:42 Managing the secondary market33:32 How sofubi molds work37:27 Japan's one day license events41:49 How Chinese sofubi affect the market45:13 Cory's design philosophy48:53 How many sofubi producers are there?52:12 Biggest challenges55:17 Overseas clients59:43 Science Patrol's new workshop/storefront1:02:22 Mass producing vs. collector's items--Follow Cory:https://scipatrol.thebase.in/https://www.instagram.com/science_patrols/https://x.com/Science_PatrolsFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Berry, an idol from California performing in the group himi♡chuu. She sits down to talk to us about chasing her childhood dream of becoming an idol, turning an internet hate mob into an opportunity, and finally coming to perform in Japan.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Berry 5:07 Berry's idol dream8:08 The SORB3T incident15:58 Turning her setback into an opportunity24:01 Debut as a soloist28:45 Are Japanese interested in overseas idols?32:39 Performing in taiban35:47 Interacting with fans39:13 Performing in Japan40:05 Achieving her dreams42:35 How much creative control does Berry have?47:44 Balancing her persona and real self51:38 Transitioning to being based in Japan56:16 Collaborating with other idols58:24 Berry's plans for 20261:00:01 How to start as an idol--Follow Berry: @blooberrytrain  https://www.instagram.com/blooberrytrainhttps://www.tiktok.com/@blooberrytrainFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Karen Hill Anton, a writer who first came to Japan in the 1970s. She tells us about living in a martial arts dojo before moving to an old farmhouse and raising her children in the countryside, and sharing her experiences here as a writer.--0:00 Intro4:05 Living in a dojo7:48 Moving to an old farmhouse14:21 Deciding to stay long-term19:48 Life in Hamamatsu22:27 Karen's dance class24:24 When did you decide to settle permanently?27:58 Key topics in her Japan Times column31:05 Raising children in Japan36:25 What is home?41:17 Working as a corporate consultant50:15 Karen's novel set in 1970s Japan58:58 Looking back1:02:26 Advice to people moving to Japan--Follow Karen:https://www.karenhillanton.com/https://www.instagram.com/karenhillanton/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Micaela, a vlogger based in Fukuoka, Japan. She sits down to talk to us about going to Japanese high school and music school, working as a full-time influencer at an agency in early YouTube, and her current life in Fukuoka.--0:00 Intro0:46 Meet Micaela3:05 First interest in Japan 6:25 Was Miyazaki a personal choice?8:02 High school in Japan 13:11 Why Japan became home14:36 Choosing Kyushu over Tokyo16:12 Teaching English in Japan20:36 Vocational school in Japan24:58 Experience at YouTuber agency34:57 Experiences on Japanese TV40:57 What makes Kyushu special56:31 What's next for Micaela59:15 How content creation has changed over time1:04:31 What has changed in Japan over 20 years1:08:23 Micaela's recommended dishes--Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Peter Frankl, a Hungarian mathematician living in Japan. Peter sits down to talk to us about his life and journey to Japan, his NHK series for children, and why he thinks the Japanese have a mathematician's mindset.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Peter5:14 Arriving in Japan in 198210:08 Researching in Japan15:04 Peter's fascination with math19:51 Japanese people are kind of like mathematicians29:28 Peter's autobiography39:37 Peter's NHK show Mathematica52:07 Being an independent mathematician57:25 Current work1:03:09 Working with Japanese mathematicians1:10:21 Peter's juggling career1:27:35 Looking backFollow Peter:http://peterfrankl.com/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Harry, an indie music promoter working in Tokyo. He sits down to talk to us about his love of Japanese indie music, the mind-boggling variety of acts you can find, and how you can get tickets as a foreigner in Japan.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Harry7:05 Interest in Japanese music12:21 Japanese music has EVERYTHING22:18 Favorite stories26:51 How to support the scene32:12 Helping foreigners get tickets with Gigs in Tokyo39:49 Reaction from performers and venues42:42 Is it working?46:57 Organizing his own events54:09 Scene beyond Tokyo57:10 Next steps--Follow Harry:⁠ @angura_live https://www.instagram.com/gigsintokyo/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Shibuya Kaho, a writer, cosplayer, and livestreamer from Tokyo. She sits down to talk with us about her time as a journalist, her book on the AV industry, and her current life as a streamer and cosplayer.--0:00 Intro4:17 All-girls school in Japan7:57 Journalism internship11:48 Time as a sports journalist17:58 Book about the AV industry23:18 Reaction from the industry29:52 Suing the AV industry33:12 Cosplay career37:06 Being a cosplay judge/host44:40 How to work with Japanese companies50:42 Overcoming stigma as a woman and former AV actress52:49 Streaming career55:21 Learning kimono1:00:44 Book about becoming fluent in English1:08:36 Kaho's single life--Follow Kaho: https://www.kaho-shibuya.comhttps://www.twitch.tv/shibuya_kahohttps://www.instagram.com/shibukahohttps://www.tiktok.com/@shibuya_kahohttps://x.com/ShibukahoFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Zhafira, an Indonesian content creator who spent several years in Japan growing up, returning to Indonesia and coming back to Japan as an adult. She sits down to talk to us about her life between countries and the challenges faced by Japanese Muslims and Muslim immigrants here.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Zhafira4:24 Growing up Muslim in Japan8:31 Going to school as a Muslim in Japan11:10 Culture shock returning to Indonesia15:20 Coming back to Japan19:04 Interest in academia26:49 University in Japan as Muslim29:39 Managing prayer schedules here as Muslim32:00 Halal food in Japan34:30 Growing islamophobia in Japan40:58 Misconceptions about Muslims in Japan45:24 Is there a Muslim voice on social media?51:08 Zhafira's work and research in sex education58:28 Sex education taboo in Islam1:03:48 Moving to Tokyo1:08:06 Muslim community in Japan1:12:05 Challenges with employment as Muslim in Japan--Follow Zhafira:https://zhafiraiha.com/ ⁨@Zhafiraiha⁩ https://www.instagram.com/zhafiraihahttps://www.tiktok.com/@zhafiraihahttps://medium.com/@zhafira.aqylahttps://x.com/zhafiraqylaFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/

Meet Dani, a content creator from Venezuela also known as the guy in the fox mask. Dani sits down to talk to us about his journey to Japan, what it was like for him to work here, the reality of being a Japan content creator, and where the heck the mask came from.--0:00 Intro0:44 Meet Dani6:37 Start in content creation9:24 Content creation process13:06 Becoming a full-time creator16:52 How to stay unique in a sea of content19:15 Story behind the mask22:06 Taking off the mask24:46 Thoughts on overtourism and content creation30:11 Favourite areas of Japan34:34 Is it possible to stay authentic?37:41 Misconceptions about Japan creators39:57 Moving forward--Follow Dani: ⁨@foxmaskdaze⁩ https://www.instagram.com/foxmaskdaze/https://www.tiktok.com/@foxmaskdazehttps://www.facebook.com/foxmaskjapanon/Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/unpackingjapanSubscribe 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/