Unpacking Japan

In this engaging discussion, Jesper Kohl, also known as the Japanoptimist, shares his insights as an economist who has lived in Japan since 1986. He passionately debunks the notion of Japan's stagnant economy, highlighting emerging opportunities due to labor shortages and evolving corporate dynamics. Jesper explores the balance of high public debt and significant private savings, recent shifts in monetary policy, and the changing attitudes among generations towards investment. His optimistic outlook encourages a fresh perspective on Japan's future economic landscape.

Meet Mira, a Serbian psychologist practicing in Japan, treating foreign residents and travelled Japanese patients. She sits down to talk with us about mental health in Japan, and her work with traditional and RTT therapy.--0:00 Intro0:54 Meet Mira 1:08 What brings you to Japan 1:30 Were you interested in Japan before coming 3:38 Expectations of Japan 4:20 Psychology in Japan vs Overseas 6:24 Studying in Japan 8:21 Noticing differences in how research is understood in Japan 10:34 Pursuing a PhD in Japan and goal afterwards 12:42 Mental health in Japan vs the West – what stood out? 14:25 Mental health stigma in Japan and the role of collectivism 17:00 How did you establish yourself in Japan? 20:17 What is Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT)? 25:17 How common is hypnosis in Japan? 25:49 Bringing RTT to Japan: licensing and legal requirements 28:12 Common mental health challenges among foreigners in Japan 31:53 What does it mean to process unresolved issues? 33:36 How do you define depression? 35:38 Distinguishing clinical depression from everyday lows 38:13 Do language and cultural concepts affect therapy? 41:14 Does therapy change across cultures and languages? 43:15 How fast does Rapid Transformational Therapy work? 45:18 How does online hypnosis work? 47:50 Can it put you to sleep at night as well? 48:30 What are you teaching now? 49:11 Improving how therapy is taught in Japan 49:54 What cultural topics do students compare most? 52:53 Where do you keep your focus as a therapist? 54:46 Shifting attitudes toward mental health in Japan 59:32 Is tech making mental health worse? Can therapy keep up? 1:02:25 Long-term vision for therapy and mental health in Japan--Follow Mira:https://mirasimicyamashita.com/https://www.instagram.com/dr.mira.simic.yamashita/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mira-simic-yamashita-phd-b322331a9/https://www.facebook.com/MindYourHead.mmhttps://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCaUHiChi49OUbXKCk0kVddgFollow us on our social media:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2158416https://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/

On today's episode we sit down with CNN international correspondent, Hanako Montgomery, who covers breaking news and fascinating stories in Japan & other regions of Asia. We discuss what it's like reporting on breaking news, the importance of proper journalism on society, and the intricacies that go behind covering controversial stories. Hanako has worked for not only CNN but also companies like Vice and NHK, and today she share's her insights and advice for those interested in pursuing journalism both in Japan, and all over the globe.Follow Hanako & check out her work:https://www.instagram.com/hanacocoaahttps://edition.cnn.com/profiles/hanako-montgomeryhttps://www.tiktok.com/@hanakomontgomeryhttps://x.com/HanakoMontgome1Follow us on our social media: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/

Today we talk to J'Nique Nicole, singer-songwriter who you may have heard from games like NieR: Automata, Final Fantasy, or Street Fighter. J'Nique tells us about her journey in Japan in the music industry, advice for those looking to pursue a career as a singer, and how NieR completely changed the trajectory of her career.Follow J'Nique Nicole:https://www.jniquenicole.com/https://www.instagram.com/jniquenicolehttps://www.youtube.com/jniquenicolehttps://www.facebook.com/jniquenicolehttps://x.com/jniquenicolehttps://www.tiktok.com/@jniquenicoleofficialhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/j%E2%80%99nique-johnson-58b185282/Follow us on our social media: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/

On this episode we talk with Larisa, a stage manager that founded and is director of International Stage Academy. She talks about what it's like teaching performing arts in Japan and the ways in which theater education can be improved in Japan's theater scene to help students find success. We discuss what it takes to make it to Broadway, the differences in theater education in Japan vs the West, the reasons why Japan's theater scene is struggling to grow, and how to solve these issues and more.Learn more about International Stage Academy:https://www.facebook.com/larisa.amaya.baron/https://www.linkedin.com/in/larisaamayabaron/https://www.facebook.com/stageacademy.japanhttps://www.instagram.com/stage_japan/www.stagejapan.comFollow us on our social media: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/

Follow Eillen:https://www.tiktok.com/@Eillen78Follow us on our social media: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/

Today we talk with Khôi, founder of the rock band Kurrock which blends Vietnamese and Japanese to create a unique musical experience. Khoi explains what it's like creating a band in Japan, working with the cultural differences, navigating challenges, and finding Kurrock's musical identity.Follow Khôi and Kurrock:https://www.kurrock.net/enhttps://www.instagram.com/kurrockofficialhttps://www.youtube.com/@KURROCKhttps://x.com/kurrockofficialhttps://www.facebook.com/KURROCKOfficialhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kurrockofficialFollow us on our social media: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/

Today we sit down with Janelle, a former Nasa operations engineer, and current Flight Director working on lunar missions at a private space company in Tokyo. We dive into what it's like working in such high stake environments, what it takes to carry out a space mission, manning the control center, and the endless opportunities space exploration means for mankind. Hear all about her journey working with space, and also how quitting a dream job as a literal rocket scientist at NASA for an opportunity in Japan has changed her perspective on working in the industryFollow us on our social media: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/

In this episode we talk with Justin, a journalist who is based in Hokkaido working on rural revitalization programs. Justin explains the ways in which programs aim to keep lesser known rural communities alive through revitalization efforts including tourism PR, social programs, and a variety of other ways of stimulating the local economy. We also talk about what it's like living in Hokkaido with it's rich and unique cultural history, and the ways in which it can feel like an entirely different country from Japan.--Follow Justin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinarandallhttps://justinrandall.studio.sitehttps://www.instagram.com/justinarandall_Follow us on our social media: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/

Today we talk with Sanyutei Kouseinen, one of the few foreigner professional rakugo performers. We talk about the differences between Western and Japanese comedy, what it's like to perform the traditional Japanese art as a foreigner, and the hard apprentice journey one must take to become a rakugo storyteller.Follow Sanyutei Kouseinenhttps://www.instagram.com/sanyuutei_kouseinenhttps://www.youtube.com/@sanyuteikouseinenhttps://kouseinen.comFollow us on our social media: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/