

Unpacking Japan
Produced by ZenStudio
Unpacking Japan explores Japanese arts, culture, and business through the lives of foreigners who have made this amazing country their home. While we’ve all seen vlogs and movies showing Japan from a pop culture perspective, Unpacking Japan tells the stories that get left by the wayside—the immigrants, the entrepreneurs, and the artists.
Tune in every week for an authentic, inspiring conversation with someone who’s carved out their own, unique place in this beautiful country.
Host: Tobias Bieker
Production: A. Magdych
Editing: L. Nicholas, J. Sketchley
Social: J. Sketchley
Design: M. Koga
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 28, 2025 • 1h 15min
How Japanese pop culture conquered the world ft. Matt Alt
Today we talk with Matt Alt, a writer, translator, and long time resident of Japan who you may recognize from appearances on Japanology. Matt shares how his childhood fascination with Japan shaped his life and career, and reflects on cultural changes, soft power, and the evolving image of Japan around the world.Follow Matt:httpes://www.mattalt.comhttps://www.instagram.com/altmattalthttps://www.youtube.com/@AltMattAlthttps://www.x.com/Matt_Althttps://www.blog.pureinventionbook.comFollow Us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.youtube.com/@unpackinghttps://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/

Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 4min
What life is like after 20 years as a professional Japanese mahjong player
Today we talk to Jenn, a professional mahjong player and content creator based in Japan. She shares her journey into the world of Japanese mahjong, what sets it apart from other styles, and what it's like to be part of a male-dominated gaming industry in Japan. From the cultural nuances of the game to building a career around a passion, Jenn breaks down the tiles and the taboos in this insightful episode.Follow Jenn:https://www.instagram.com/mahjongjenhttps://www.youtube.com/@mahjongjenhttps://www.x.com/mahjongjenhttps://www.twitch.tv/mahjongjenhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mahjongjenFollow Us: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/

Oct 21, 2025 • 59min
The challenges of doing business between Africa and Japan
Today we talk to Serges, a multi-business entrepreneur based in Japan. He shares his journey from Africa to Japan, and how he founded companies like Dove Innovations and Japan Connect, which bridges Japanese and international businesses through strategic partnerships. We dive into the cultural differences in business practices between Africa and Japan, entrepreneurship as a foreigner, and building a meaningful network in Japan’s corporate world.Follow Serges:https://japanconnect.org/https://www.instagram.com/japanconnectFollow Us: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/

Oct 17, 2025 • 48min
What it's like to gain citizenship after growing up in Japan as a foreigner
On this episode we talk to Idai, a successful model in Japan, even being featured in Vogue. We talk about her unique experience growing up black in Japan and how she became comfortable in her own skin. We also talk about her model career and the various ways in which things differ for her in Japan as opposed to other Japanese models.Follow Idai:https://www.instagram.com/idaishe_ohttps://www.instagram.com/ales_shopFollow Us: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/

Oct 14, 2025 • 59min
More people should know about Japan's gun martial art
Today on Unpacking Japan, we’re joined by Matt, a gunner and Japanese interpreter from Matsumoto, Japan, with deep knowledge of Japan’s lesser-known gun history. We dive into the fascinating and world of guns in Japan—from the first introduction of firearms to samurai warfare, to how guns were eventually restricted and removed from everyday life. Matt breaks down the unique relationship Japan has had with firearms over the centuries and how that has shaped modern perspectives.Follow Matt:gunsamurai.cominstagram.com/gun.samuraiyoutube.com/channel/UCTESkPCZd7N0zlgfO5NmVoQx.com/_gun_samuraitiktok.com/@gun.samuraifacebook.com/matsumotoguncorpsteppougura.jpFollow Us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapnhttps://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/

Oct 10, 2025 • 56min
Japanese MMA is actually insane
On this episode we talk with Stephane, an MMA fighter in Japan. Stephane goes in depth about being an MMA fighter, like what it's like to learn various kinds of fighting styles, dieting for weigh ins, the business side of getting fights and making money, as well as how MMA culture and rules are different in Japan.Follow Stephane:https://www.instagram.com/smashmuayhttps://www.facebook.com/SmashMuayThaiFollow 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/

Oct 7, 2025 • 52min
Why people love Japanese bento boxes
Today we talk to Thomas, entrepreneur from France who came to Japan and started Bento & Co. a business aimed at selling bento's online for an overseas market. Thomas also founded his next business Shipping & Co., and today we'll talk about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in Japan and how to follow through on your ideas for businesses.Follow Thomas:https://en.bentoandco.com/https://www.shipandco.com/en/https://www.instagram.com/bentoandcojapanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@bentoandcojapanhttps://www.facebook.com/BentoandcoJapanFollow 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/

Oct 3, 2025 • 1h 40min
The writer who brought the world's attention to underrated Japanese cities
This session features Craig Mod, a writer and photographer based near Kamakura, known for his dedication to documenting underrated Japanese cities. He shares insights on respectful tourism, the joys of long walks in Japan, and how these pursuits have influenced his literary career. Craig discusses his journey into indie publishing, creating tactile books, and the challenges of translating his work for international audiences. He also recalls striking encounters on his walks and the importance of promoting lesser-known locales in Japan.

Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 26min
What can we ACTUALLY do with abandoned Japanese buildings?
Today we talk to entrepreneur Matt, who shares with us his diverse experiences during his Journey in Japan including moving here because of music, creating his own hot sauce, surviving a tsunami during the 3-11 disaster, and his passion for revitalizing rural communities and akiya.Follow Matt:https://www.mkultraman.com/https://www.instagram.com/matthewbketchumFollow 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/

Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 16min
How Tokyo Lens finds Japan's most interesting people
Today we sit down with Norm from Tokyo Lens to talk about his 20+ year journey starting from a sudden passion for the shamisen, turning it into a profession, and how it then evolved into the content creation he is doing to this day. Norm shares with us his story, as well as the many lessons he's learned about being a creative and pursuing a life where you explore your own self interests.Follow Norm:https://www.youtube.com/tokyolenshttps://www.youtube.com/TokyoLensExplorehttps://www.instagram.com/tokyo_oneFollow 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/


