Unpacking Japan

Today we sit down with Wakkyai, a Japanese comedian and content creator who grew up in California before returning to Japan. Wakkyai shares what it’s like to grow up in Japan with an international background. We explore his experiences teaching Japanese, how he navigates identity and culture, and the unique challenges and rewards of living in Japan as someone who’s both an insider and outsider.Follow Wakkyai:https://www.youtube.com/@wakkyaihttps://www.instagram.com/wakkyaihttps://x.com/wildkumadaFollow 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 with Tristan, founder of Kaikoku Ko. and Around Akiba TV, and talk about his love for exploring Akihbara's unique culture. We'll discuss the unique cultural experiences that have evolved in Akihabara, the different ways it has changed over the years, and Tristan's journey creating his own business in Japan.Follow Kaikoku and Around Akiba:https://kaikoku.co.jp/en/home/https://www.facebook.com/KaikokuJPhttps://www.youtube.com/@kaikoku7490https://www.instagram.com/kaikokujp/https://www.youtube.com/@AroundAkibaTVhttps://www.instagram.com/aroundakibatvhttps://x.com/aroundakibatvhttps://www.twitch.tv/aroundakibatvhttps://www.facebook.com/aroundakibatvFollow 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/

On this episode we talk with Matt from  ⁨@mattvsjapan⁩  to talk about his method for efficiently reaching fluency in a language, and his personal journey to becoming known as one of the best Japanese speaking Westerners online.Follow Matt:https://www.youtube.com/@mattvsjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/mattvsjapan_/https://x.com/mattvsjapanhttps://www.skool.com/mattvsjapan/about?ref=e3fd412621664aebb2953a273e3dbab2Follow 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 talk to Tyler, the owner of a traditional Japanese ryokan in Gunma Prefecture. We discuss what it’s like running a ryokan as a foreigner in Japan—from building an outdoor onsen bath by hand, to navigating guest expectations and preserving Japanese hospitality culture. Tyler also shares stories of trial, error, and joy that come with life in the Japanese countryside.Follow Tyler:https://kamesei.jp/enhttps://www.instagram.com/kameseiryokanFollow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://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/

In today's episode we talk to Astrid, an architect who talks to us about the journey of becoming an architect in Japan, the differences in regulations in Japan vs the West, and the rewarding feeling of leaving an architectural mark on a city.Follow Astridhttps://www.klein-dytham.com/https://www.instagram.com/klein_dytham_architectureFollow us on our social media:https://unpacking.jp/https://open.spotify.com/show/2YrHVOAvn4tddEGGclYMtP?si=564959cca6a74cdahttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/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/

The podcast dives deep into Japan's evolving real estate landscape, highlighting the surge in international buyers and redevelopment projects in Tokyo. Discussions reveal complex rental dynamics and the tension between urban development and preserving green spaces. Experts explore how foreign investment is reshaping the market, along with shifts in luxury real estate preferences. Listeners gain insights into the intricacies of renting in Tokyo and the unique challenges faced by property owners, including cultural aspects influencing home design.

Today we talk to Meilyne, the director and president of Tokyo based content creator management company GeeXPlus! Meilyne and her team at GeeXPlus help bring content creators to Japan and provide various management services, and she has helped start and produce projects such as Trash Taste. Meilyne talks about getting started in this industry, what it's like moving from Tokyo to a countryside island in Japan, what management companies look for in content creators, and more.Follow Meilynehttps://www.instagram.com/gourmetmeihttps://www.x.com/gourmetmeihttps://www.twitch.tv/gourmetmeiFollow us on our social media:https://unpacking.jp/https://open.spotify.com/show/2YrHVOAvn4tddEGGclYMtP?si=564959cca6a74cdahttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/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 Yuriko Tiger, a professional cosplayer who sits down to talk with us about her 10-year career in Japan. She tells us about her beginnings in the idol industry, her viral appearance on Japanese TV, and the challenges of being the official cosplayer for some of Japan's biggest IP.--0:00 Intro0:53 Meet Yuriko Tiger1:59 Yuriko's start doing idol dance covers4:53 Origin of the name Yuriko Tiger7:19 Being scouted as an idol12:15 Yuriko's viral moment16:42 Being a talent on Japanese TV20:36 Getting established as a cosplayer23:55 Memorable experiences on TV27:23 What Japanese TV is really like31:55 What makes a professional cosplayer different?33:59 Do you make your own cosplay?35:07 How to act as a cosplayer37:27 Yuriko's favorite characters to cosplay43:01 Craziest convention stories44:34 Cosplay abroad vs. Japan49:33 Conventions abroad vs. Japan54:56 Working as an official cosplayer1:03:15 How her career has changed1:07:42 Life advice from Yuriko's dad--Follow Yuriko Tiger:https://www.youtube.com/yurikotigerjphttps://www.youtube.com/yurikotigerhttps://www.instagram.com/yurikotiger/https://x.com/yurikotigerhttps://www.tiktok.com/@yurikotigerFollow 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 with bunny girl hostess Silvie, who talks to us about what life is really like as a bunny girl in Japan. We talk about the interactions with customers, safety, explain the ranking system, and many of the questions people often think of when hearing about this unique part of Japan's culture.Follow Silviehttps://www.youtube.com/@silviethequeenhttps://www.instagram.com/silvie_the_queenhttps://www.tiktok.com/@silviethequeenFollow us on our social media:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/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 Kurt, aka  @softypapa , an early j-vlogger who started uploading videos to YouTube all the way back in 2006. Kurt sits down to talk to us about his early YouTube fame, starting a business and going bankrupt in Japan, and what losing everything taught him about life.As well, he tells us about his journey moving back and forth from Japan, starting over from nothing, before finally coming back to Japan to retire.Follow Kurt: @softypapa  goingalone.orghttps://www.x.com/softypapahttps://www.discord.gg/srfDtMN5jAhttps://www.patreon.com/softypapahttps://www.facebook.com/LylesBrotherhttps://www.instagram.com//softypapahttps://www.flickr.com/photos/oldjapanphotosKurt's book: a.co/d/6IwCcBAFollow 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/