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Unpacking Japan podcast artwork
Society & Culture

Unpacking Japan

by Produced by ZenStudio
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Latest episodes

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    Meet Hector, a pastor and the head of Tokyo Union Church, who sits down to talk to us about Christianity in Japan. He tells us about the history of his Church and Christianity in Japan, how present Christianity really is in everyday life…

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    October 1, 2026 · 2 hr 3 min

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    September 25, 2026 · 1 hr 28 min

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  • The challenge of running an art gallery in Kyoto

    September 22, 2026 · 1 hr 56 min

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    September 18, 2026 · 1 hr 22 min

    Meet Pablo Aida, a shibari artist who's been practicing in Japan for the last 10 years. He sits down to talk to us about discovering shibari, the philosophy and history behind it, the differences between shibari and kinbaku, and the common…

  • Undertale translator explains EN to JP localization

    September 15, 2026 · 1 hr 20 min

    Meet Keiko Fukuichi, a Japanese freelance translator, who sits down to talk to us about her experience translating games, particularly indie darlings Undertale and Hades. She talks to us about nuances of Japanese translation, the biggest…

  • Is it actually possible to start a business in Japan as a foreigner now?

    September 11, 2026 · 1 hr 12 min

    Meet Ray, an entrepreneur running a ryokan in Toyama. He sits down to talk to us about his experience in the hospitality industry, his interest and move to Japan, and his challenges establishing a business under the government's new…

  • Should non-residents be allowed to buy Japanese homes?

    September 8, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

    Meet Derek, co-founder of YukiHomes, a service that helps people overseas buy cheap homes in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about his own journey buying an akiya in Japan and running a business from overseas, as well as how YukiHomes…

  • The problem with Japanese mainstream media

    September 4, 2026 · 2 hr 27 min

    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 Intro 0:50…

  • Why Japan's jazz cafes are more important than ever

    September 1, 2026 · 1 hr 16 min

    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…

Full episode archive on Apple Podcasts →

About the show

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