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
May 12, 2023 • 43min
How this Bulgarian man became one of Japan's most popular photography YouTubers
Meet Ilko, a portrait photographer who shares his challenges living and working in Japan, as well as growing one of Japan's biggest photography channels.Follow Ilko:https://www.youtube.com/@ilkoallexandroff/https://www.facebook.com/ilko.allexandroff.photographyhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/ilkoallexandroff/https://www.instagram.com/ilkoallexandroff/https://twitter.com/ilkoallexandrofFollow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
May 5, 2023 • 42min
What it's like running a retro game bar in Osaka's liveliest nightlife district
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.instagram.com/spacestationosaka/https://www.facebook.com/SpaceStationOsakaFollow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
Apr 28, 2023 • 48min
Japanese idol fan meets are crazy
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:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
Apr 26, 2023 • 50min
Japanese vs. western cosplay scenes
Cosplayer Klepto breaks down Japan's cosplay scene and shares her personal challenges cosplaying in Japan.Follow Klepto:Twitter: https://twitter.com/kleptoyadeTumblr: https://kleptocos.tumblr.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kleptodayo/A few of the many cosplayers Klepto admires:Gelushttps://twitter.com/gelus_noisehttps://www.instagram.com/gelus_noise/Masanhttps://twitter.com/ma_san_YPLady Zerohttps://twitter.com/ladyxzerohttps://www.twitch.tv/cosplayletsplayKuja oniisanhttps://twitter.com/kujaoniiSayoriChuhttps://twitter.com/sayorichuhttps://www.instagram.com/SayoriChu/Yuomiihttps://www.instagram.com/yuomii/Holy Grail Cosplayhttps://www.instagram.com/holygrailcosplay/https://twitter.com/holygrailcosZaleshttps://www.instagram.com/zales_starlight/https://twitter.com/TeriChickiPizzaFollow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
Apr 20, 2023 • 1h 4min
Everything you need to know about gambling in Japan
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:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
Apr 17, 2023 • 50min
HR professional explains how to survive the Japanese job market
HR professional Charley breaks down the ins and outs of the Japanese job market.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
Apr 11, 2023 • 30min
Everything you need to know about teaching English in Japan
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice discuss English teaching in Japan.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
Mar 30, 2023 • 27min
Everything you need to know to find a job in Japan
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice share their experiences job hunting in Japan.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
Mar 28, 2023 • 35min
Your biggest challenge moving to Japan: paperwork
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice share their experiences about Japan's biggest nightmare.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
Mar 25, 2023 • 27min
Everything you need to know about Japanese housing
Tobi Fish and Andri Rice share their experiences about renting apartments in Japan and dealing with Japanese real estate agencies.Follow us on our social media:https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshorts Subscribe 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/
