Unpacking Japan

Meet Trevor, a baseball journalist reporting on the Hanshin Tigers to foreign and overseas fans. Trevor sits down to talk to us about the importance of Japanese baseball, his own journey to Japan, and why Tigers fans are so passionate about their team.--Follow Trevor: https://x.com/thehanshintigerhttps://trevorraichura.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 Tiffany, an LGBTQ+ consultant & speaker, who sits down to talk with us about her life in Japan as a trans woman from the 90s to today. She tells us about her own experiences, her work in a cabaret bar, and her work as an activist and documentary filmmaker today.Follow Tiffany: https://www.tiffanyrossdale.com/https://www.instagram.com/tiffanyrossdaleofficial/https://x.com/DJTokyoHottiehttps://www.facebook.com/OfficialTiffanyRossdale/https://linkedin.com/in/tiffanyrossdaleFollow 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/

Join author Hiroko Yoda, a translator and pop culture expert, as she delves into Japan's spirituality, exploring Shinto, Buddhism, and the concept of 'Yaoyorozu no Kami'—the eight million spirits. Discover how Japanese identity contrasts with American individualism, and why yokai illustrate deep-rooted animistic traditions. Hiroko also reflects on personal experiences with grief and reconnecting with nature, emphasizing the everyday spirituality found in rituals and shrines, and how her book can act as a gateway for understanding this unique cultural landscape.

Meet Kathy, an economist who coined the term "womenomics" back in 1999. Kathy sits down to talk to us about her career as an economist, her work in promoting womenomics, and her women-focused investment philosophy.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 Igor, an author and Japanese media scholar from Ambis University in Prague, who sits down to talk to us about Japan's history of media scandals. He talks about the social psychology behind scapegoating, the public desire for retribution, and how society's elites can play the game to their own advantage.Follow Igor:https://www.instagram.com/igorprusa/https://x.com/PrusaIgorFollow 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 Hana, a Japanese-American race car driver, who sits down to talk with us about her life and career. She tells us about her journey into the racing world, cultural differences between Japan and the West, and what it takes to be a Japanese race car driver.Follow Hana:https://www.youtube.com/@hanaburtonhttps://www.instagram.com/hanubuu_https://x.com/hanubuuFollow 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/

Join Alan as he shares his journey from IT in Tokyo to owning Kyojin Stewhouse in Shimane. Discover the unique challenges of introducing Irish cuisine to Japanese diners and the importance of meticulous planning for restaurant success. Alan discusses his pivot to frozen food during the pandemic and the realities of running a restaurant in Japan, from licensing requirements to tight profit margins. He also highlights community support through ambitious cooking events and his future plans for sustainable growth in the food industry.

Discover the journey of an entrepreneur passionate about revitalizing rural Japan through tourism. He shares marketing tactics and the challenges of overtourism while celebrating local culture. Learn how rural exchanges inspire youth and the importance of immersive experiences over mere photo spots. The discussion touches on increasing local pride, the intricacies of government subsidies, and the quest for sustainable travel. From Matsusaka beef to unique hiking trails, it’s about creating a balance between tourism and community enrichment.

Victoria shares her journey from a working holiday in Hiroshima to becoming a tourism ambassador in Bizen, Okayama. She discusses the unique charm of Bizen, including its pottery and heritage, while navigating the challenges of promoting tourism in a small town. The impact of COVID-19 on her plans, the slow pace of local government, and her efforts to build trust in the community are highlighted. Victoria also reflects on her passion for sustainable tourism and her future plans to launch freelance tours, focusing on authenticity and respectful visitor experiences.

Meet Kinshasa, an American ballroom commentator, who sits down to talk to us about how underground black queer culture ended up in Tokyo. Kinshasa tells us about the history and importance of ballroom culture, how queer Japanese women brought it over to Japan, and how it evolved to be what it is today.--Follow Kinshasa:https://www.instagram.com/kinshasa_basquiatFollow 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/