Unpacking Japan
Episodes
What life is like as a foreigner in a Japanese maid cafe
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Luna, a maid witch at Afilia Magic Kingdom, who sits down to talk with us about what it's really like to work at a maid cafe in Akihabara.Fol...
What life is like as a farmer in the Japanese countryside
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Byron, founder of Kasamatsu Farms, who shares with us his journey from salaryman in Tokyo to farmer in the Japanese countryside, embracing permac...
Is Japan a good place to retire?
28 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Nick, founder of Japan Remotely, who sits down to talk with us about his work helping clients find the perfect living situation in Japan, and his...
Germans in Japan: the value of immigrant stories ft. MrNippon
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Mr. Nippon, a half Japanese and half German YouTuber in Japan, who sits down to talk with us about his experiences interviewing Germans on their ...
How has Japan been recovering since Fukushima?
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Rob, an engineer for open source environmental data project Safecast, who sits down to talk to us about his work on the Fukushima disaster cleanu...
Why Nynyhon switched from modeling in Japan to streaming full-time
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Fanny, A.K.A Nynyhon, a model who has lived in Japan for 10 years and who has found success as a streamer and content creator. Fanny sits down wi...
Expo 2025: How the Netherlands is Shaping the Future
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Marc, Consul General of the Netherlands in Osaka, who sits down to talk with us about what we can expect to see at the Dutch pavilion during next...
Japanese sake is WAY more complex than you think – interview with "Sake Evangelist" John Gauntner
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet John Gauntner, the world's leading non-Japanese sake expert, who sits down to talk with us about understanding good sake, the growing market arou...
What life is like as a videographer in Japan's creator economy
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Julian Domanski, videographer and creative director of Future Collective, who sits down with us to talk about working in Japanese film production...
Japanese labor unions are weirdly powerful. Why don't more people know about them?
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Dennis, the General Secretary of the General Union in Osaka, Japan, who sits down to talk with us about Japanese labor laws, unions, and how they...
What life is like as a foreigner in a Japanese idol group
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Heidi, American member of Japanese underground idol group Merkmal Mermal, who sits down to talk with us about the origins of Japan's idol cu...
How Billy Matsunaga became one of Japan's leading kimono experts @BillyMatsunaga
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Billy, a German woman who shares her story of coming to Japan and falling in love with its most beloved clothes, the humble kimono. She sits down...
How Mr. Yabatan became Japan's favorite foreigner
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Mr. Yabatan, Japan's silliest and most beloved foreign influencer, who sits down to talk with us about the origins of his character, his ins...
What it's like being a reporter on Japanese TV as a foreigner ft. Cathy Cat
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Cathy Cat, beloved actress, reporter, and overall media personality in Japan who explains the struggles and what to expect as a foreigner when na...
The story of Ladybeard: Japan's loudest pop idol
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Ladybeard, one of Japan's most beloved foreigners, who sits down to talk to us about his experiences in Hong Kong and Japan's entertainment indus...
The biggest challenges for westerners in Japan
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're joined by Jean Francois, who talks to us about what it's like working for the French Chamber of Commerce, and how his journey in Japan has...
How this entrepreneur is creating a brand for Mongolia in Japan
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Zaya, a Mongolian entrepreneur who sat down with us to talk about introducing her culture to Japan through her import company and cafe in Osaka.F...
Manzai comedian explains the problem with Japanese comedy
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Nick, half of Manzai comedy duo Time Bomb, who sits down to talk to us about his Japanese comedy career, and his transition to entrepreneur and c...
Understanding Japan's complicated relationship with North Korea
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Oliver, a Japan-North Korea relations researcher based in Kyoto, who sat down to talk with us about politics, kidnappings, North Korean schools i...
The challenges of running a halal restaurant in Japan
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Stephanie, owner of Burmese restaurant 95Yooya in Shibuya, who sits down to talk with us about her challenges immigrating to Japan and opening a ...
What makes Japanese knives so special?
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Brad, marketer for Japanese knife company Sakai Ichimonji Mitsuhide, who sits down to talk with us about Japanese steel, tradition, business, and...
What life is like running a film production company in Japan
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Ryan, creative director at Cutters Studios Tokyo, who sits down to talk with us about his experiences heading the first foreign-owned commercial ...
Why this man is walking 2500km across Japan in the middle of summer
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Beebo, a live streamer walking more than 2500km across Japan, from Kagoshima to Sapporo. Midway through his journey, Beebo stopped by our studio ...
What life is like in Japan's traditional sake brewing industry
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Giulia, an Italian sake brewer and a sommelier living in working in Japan, who sits down to talk with us about her work as a brewer and educator,...
Why 80% of Swiss startups survive their first 5 years in Japan
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Dr. Felix Moesner, the Swiss consul to Japan and the CEO of Swissnex. The Swiss consul, located in Osaka, promotes science, and technology, with ...
What it's like to live in a traditional Japanese temple
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Gretchen, a grief and mindfulness educator at Dairyuji temple in Akita, Japan, who sits down to talk to us about Zen, meditation, grief, and her ...
How storm chasers survive Japan's most dangerous typhoons ft. EarthUncutTV
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet James, a professional storm chaser based in Japan, who sits down to talk to us about the thrill and danger of storm chasing, and how his work has...
Tokyo street interviewer explains his secret to viral videos
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet HarriBoi, the mind behind numerous viral street interviews from the Japanese nightlife, asking about their life and dreams, as well as views on c...
What life is like for immigrant factory workers in Japan
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Janna, a factory machinist and TikToker living in Nagano, who moved to Japan 5 years ago to pay off her family's debts. We sat down with Janna to...
Anton in Japan breaks down everything you need to know about buying an abandoned house in Japan
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Anton, a fashion model and home renovation expert living in Tokyo, who sits down to talk with us about his work with Japanese akiya, and the chal...
Zen master explains why you will never reach enlightenment
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Muho, a Zen monk who sits down with us to share his journey from lost child in Germany searching for the meaning of life, to the abbot of Buddhis...
GaijinPot marketer breaks down the Japanese job market
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Sabria, a marketer for GaijinPot – Japan's biggest job board for foreigners – who sits down to talk with us about the origins of GaijinPot, t...
The challenges of bringing anti-Asian-flush medication to Japan
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Beau, an entrepreneur developing Japan's first anti-Asian-flush product, who sits down with us to talk about the challenges of developing such a ...
Startup consultant breaks down everything you need to succeed in Japan
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Tyson, a serial entrepreneur from Hawaii, who sits down with us to share his experiences growing multiple businesses in Japan, to startup consult...
Extended Reality in Japan, and what to do when Japanese banks don't understand your business
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet, Dwayne an extended reality (XR) entrepreneur, who breaks down the challenges of growing a business in such a new field, and the startup landscap...
What modern companies can learn from 1800s Japanese philosophy
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Brittany, an experienced international business adviser from Australia, who sits down to talk with us about human-centered design, as well as her...
What are Japanese forest gardens and why you should want one
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Casey, a university teacher in rural Japan, who sits down to teach us about his experiences as a forest gardener, university English teacher, and...
Why this Facebook engineer left his job and opened a game studio in Japan
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Christoph, game developer and CEO of Nakazawa Tech, who sits down to talk with us about tech, life in Japan, his game Athena Crisis, and his love...
How to keep a business alive for 100 years | Running a textile company in Japan
21 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Hani, president of Japanese textile company Debs Corporation, who shares his experiences as a 3rd generation immigrant running a family business ...
FFXV animator explains what it's like to work with Japanese game studios
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet David, a professional animator from Mexico, who shares his experiences coming to Japan and working on big franchises like Sonic, Mario, and Final...
Kaiseki explained: the traditional Japanese multi-course meal
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Nadja, a kaiseki chef living in Kyoto, who sits down with us to share her insights into Japanese cuisine and the traditional culinary world.Follo...
Being a lawyer is complicated. What about in Japan?
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Catherine, a New Zealand lawyer in Japan, who sits down with us to share her experiences with law firms and large international corporations, ope...
What life is like as a foreign journalist in Japan
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Phoebe, an experienced journalist and a food blogger, who sits down to talk to us about her challenges working as a reporter in Japan.Follow Phoe...
The struggles of making reaction content in Japan ft. Akasan
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Akasan, an American streamer and reaction YouTuber who's lived and worked in Japan for more than 12 years. He sits down with us to talk about hi...
What it's like being a musician for Japan's biggest theme park
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Oleg, a Ukrainian violinist who sits down to share his experiences as a performer at Universal Studios Japan, and his transition to freelance mus...
Tokyo Portfolio explains why Japanese housing is so cheap
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Alex, the man behind luxury real estate brand Tokyo Portfolio, who sits down to talk to us about renting apartments, buying abandoned properties,...
The best ways to save money in Japan ft. Greg from tokyocheapo
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Greg, co-founder and writer for Tokyo Cheapo, a site sharing the best-value deals in Japan, sits down to teach us about how to live and travel fr...
What life is like as a priest in the Japanese mountains
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim is a Yamabushi, or a mountain ascetic as he describes it in English. He was born in New Zealand and shortly after moving to Japan he was introduce...
How urban farming could transform how we think about food in Japan
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Jon, a sustainability consultant living in Tokyo, who teaches us about using urban farming techniques to support greener, healthier and more effi...
How this Australian woman became one of Japan's most prolific consultants
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Melanie, an international consultant for some of the biggest brands in Japan, who sits down to share her unique life and career with us.Follow Me...
What people don't understand about the Fukushima nuclear accident
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Jayne, a podcaster and long-term Fukushima resident from New Zealand, who sits down to talk about her podcast for foreign women in Japan, as well...
What life is like running a voice acting studio in Japan
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Kimberly, an American voice actress living and working in Japan, who sits down to tell us about how she broke in to the industry and how it'...
Fitness researcher breaks down Japanese beauty standards
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Toshi, a Japanese-American medical and fitness researcher, who sits down to talk with us about exercise, genetics, and beauty standards in Japan ...
How to get investments and start a business in Japan
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Schyler, an American investment professional living in Tokyo, who teaches us about the investing climate and challenges of raising capital in Jap...
What living in the Japanese countryside is REALLY like
30 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Martin, an American visual artist living a quiet rural life in Shizuoka prefecture, who sits down to talk to us about why he thinks that Japan is...
Why Japan can't stop using so much plastic
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet JJ Walsh, a sustainability consultant based in Hiroshima, who helps Japanese businesses develop sustainability-focused tourism and business marke...
Why this Rockstar developer left to make games in Japan
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Liam, a British game developer, who shares his journey from working in the world's biggest game companies to starting his own studio in Kyot...
What life is like as a performing magician in Japan
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Ben, a magician and escape room designer from London, who shares his experiences performing as a magician, and the differences in magic in Japan,...
What life is like as a DJ in Japan
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Demsky, a DJ and producer from Canada, who shares his background in teaching math and chess strategy, and how that led to his life as an artist i...
What life is like as a rice farmer in the Japanese countryside
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Stinton, a rice farmer and hunter living in rural Japan, who sits down to teach us about traditional farming techniques and Japan's extremel...
Why Japan needs foreigners
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Rochelle, a cross-cultural consultant and activist in Japan, who sits down to talk to us about her work as a consultant and how she gained her pa...
What being a Japanese politician is REALLY like
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Jon, an American-born Japanese politician, who sits down to talk about his daily challenges, how Japanese people see him, and his own journey of ...
What life is like as an office artist in Japan
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Daniel, artist and mind behind TokyoDex, who teaches us about how art helps build connected spaces, and how he blends Japanese tradition with con...
What life is like as a traditional Japanese indigo farmer
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Sally, a farmer and artist working with the Japanese art of indigo, who teaches us about traditional farming and dying practices, as well as her ...
Understanding the Japanese art of ikebana flower arrangement
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Daniel, an ikebana master and teacher, who shares with us the philosophy behind this traditional art, as well his personal view on the evolving r...
Everything you need to know about podcasting in Japan ft. SmallTalkJapan
15 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Everything you need to know about podcasting in Japan ft. SmallTalkJapanFollow Mitch on his social media:https://youtube.com/@SmallTalkJapan ht...
What it's like to have kids in Japan ft. kemushichan
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Loretta, aka kemushichan, a YouTuber and mother in Japan, who shares her experiences with childbirth and child support in a foreign country.Follo...
How this American woman broke into Japan's traditionally male-dominated film industry
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Riki, a TV and movie director in Tokyo, who sits down with us to share her experiences in the Japanese film industry, and the difficulty of navig...
Everything you need to know about buying anime figures in Japan
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Rodrigo, a figure collector living in Osaka, who tells us about his journey to Japan, his love of figures, and the unique Japanese second-hand ma...
The history of veganism in Japan
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Alin, a vegan activist from Germany, who teaches us about how his vegan lifestyle has evolved in a city known for its seafood-centric cuisine.Fol...
Understanding the history of the Japanese tea ceremony
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Olga, a tea ceremony master from Russia, who teaches us about the intricacies of this traditional art, as well as her own journey from student to...
The struggles of being a female DJ in Japan
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet DJ Itssu, an Indonesian-Japanese artist who shares the challenges of working and performing in Japanese nightlife, as well as her own experiences...
Fashion designer breaks down Japanese streetwear
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Zane, an American fashion designer living in Osaka, who teaches us how he blends traditional Japanese clothing with modern aesthetics.Follow Zane...
What life is like running a Tiki bar in Japan
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Brandon and Kim sit down with us to share their experiences running the only Tiki bar in the Kansai area, and the challenges they face as small busine...
Why Japan struggles with entrepreneurship — Building a femtech company in Japan
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Anna, the CEO and founder of Japanese FemTech company Flora, who shares her challenges running a business as a foreign woman in Japan's tech...
The challenges of developing esports in Japan
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Alexander, an event planner specializing in esports, who teaches us about the challenges and future of the industry in Japan.Follow Alexander:htt...
Japanese vs. Western drag — interview with a foreign drag queen in Osaka
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Drag Queen KiraKira shares her journey into Osaka's drag scene as a foreigner in Japan.Follow KiraKira:https://www.instagram.com/kirakira_ofcl/Fo...
Why flying cars could be the future of Japan — Urban Air Mobility
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Asa, founder of startup Urban Air Mobility, who shares his journey and challenges as an entrepreneur in Japan.Follow Asa: https://skyscape.site/...
What life is like running a cafe in Japan
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Jacky, an American barista and coffee roaster, who shares his challenges living and working as an expat in Japan, as well as his view on the futu...
The Challenges of IRL Streaming in Japan
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lito Cruz from ALitoBitofJapan shares the challenges he faces as an IRL streamer broadcasting from Osaka, Japan.Follow Lito: https://www.youtube.com...
Everything you need to know before buying a car in Japan
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Rory, a Canadian expat, who sits down to teach us about the challenges of obtaining a driver's license and buying and owning a car in Japan....
What being queer in Japan is REALLY like
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Klepto, who sits down to teach us about the current state of LGBTQ rights and acceptance in Japan, and the challenges LGBTQ people face here.Foll...
How this foreigner used YouTube to break into the Japanese music industry ft Dr. Capital
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Dr. Capital, an American music teacher making educational videos for his Japanese YouTube channel, who sits down to share with us his experiences...
The struggles of finding transgender healthcare in Japan
10 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Chari, a nonbinary individual, who shares their challenges living and receiving gender healthcare in Japan.Follow us on our social media:https://...
The challenges of doing street photography in Japan
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Noel, a British street photographer, who shares his challenges living and working in Japan, as well as the philosophy behind his art.Follow Noel ...
What you REALLY need to succeed as a musician in Japan
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Winz, an American singer and musician, who shares his challenges breaking in to the Japanese music industry. Follow Wiz:https://www.instagram.co...
From 4 to 400 employees in 10 years – life as an entrepreneur in Japan
20 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Slava, CEO of ZenGroup, who shares his journey as an entrepreneur building a company from 4 to 400 employees over the course of 10 years. Check ...
How this Bulgarian man became one of Japan's most popular photography YouTubers
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Ilko, a portrait photographer who shares his challenges living and working in Japan, as well as growing one of Japan's biggest photography c...
What it's like running a retro game bar in Osaka's liveliest nightlife district
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Matt, a retro game bar owner in Osaka, who shares his challenges running a business over 12 years in Japan.Check out Matt's bar:https://www....
Japanese idol fan meets are crazy
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Yin Chi, a jpop fan living in Osaka, who tells us about her experiences in Japanese idol concerts and fan meets.Follow us on our social media:htt...
Japanese vs. western cosplay scenes
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cosplayer Klepto breaks down Japan's cosplay scene and shares her personal challenges cosplaying in Japan.Follow Klepto:Twitter: https://twitter....
Everything you need to know about gambling in Japan
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Rory, a gambling expert, who shares his insights on Pachinko, Crane games, and Japan's unique gambling market.Follow us on our social media:...
HR professional explains how to survive the Japanese job market
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
HR professional Charley breaks down the ins and outs of the Japanese job market.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps...
Everything you need to know about teaching English in Japan
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice discuss English teaching in Japan.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/...
Everything you need to know to find a job in Japan
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice share their experiences job hunting in Japan.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.ins...
Your biggest challenge moving to Japan: paperwork
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice share their experiences about Japan's biggest nightmare.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapa...
Everything you need to know about Japanese housing
25 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice share their experiences about renting apartments in Japan and dealing with Japanese real estate agencies.Follow us on our soc...
Everything you need to know about Japanese public transportation
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice discuss the benefits of Japanese trains vs buses, and when to rent a car.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@u...
Everything you need to know about grocery shopping in Japan
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice share their experiences shopping at Japanese supermarkets, giving hints on what to look out for when you first arrive in Japa...