

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

Jan 24, 2025 • 1h 22min
An honest conversation about animal rights in Japan, with a Kobe zoo veterinarian
Meet Dr. Miaka, a veterinarian at Kobe Animal Kingdom, who sits down to talk with us about her daily life taking care of the zoo's wide variety of animals, as well as discuss animal rights in Japan, the role of zoos in science and conservation, and how her zoo recreates the natural habitats of its animals.Follow Dr. Miaka and the Kobe Animal Kingdom:https://www.instagram.com/@zoovetjapanhttps://www.kobe-oukoku.com/enFollow 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/

Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 41min
Dogen's secret to Japanese fluency
For our 100th episode we are joined by one of Japan's most recognizable foreign content creators, pitch accent specialist, and writer, Dogen! In this long awaited interview, Dogen talks about his creative process, inspirations, and challenges he has faced through his journey in Japan, in creative writing, and content creation.Follow Dogen:https://www.youtube.com/@Dogenhttps://www.x.com/dogenhttps://www.patreon.com/dogenFollow 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/

Jan 10, 2025 • 56min
What life is like as a foreigner in a Japanese maid cafe
Meet Luna, a maid witch at Afilia Magic Kingdom, who sits down to talk with us about what it's really like to work at a maid cafe in Akihabara.Follow Luna:https://www.x.com/luna_afiliahttps://www.tiktok.com/@luna_afiliahttps://www.youtube.com/@luna_afiliaCheck out Afilia Magic KingdomEN: https://linktr.ee/afilia.kingdomJP: https://linktr.ee/afilia_kingdomFollow 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/

Jan 3, 2025 • 1h 15min
What life is like as a farmer in the Japanese countryside
Meet Byron, founder of Kasamatsu Farms, who shares with us his journey from salaryman in Tokyo to farmer in the Japanese countryside, embracing permaculture and sustainable agriculture.Follow Byron:https://kasamatsu-farms.com/https://www.instagram.com/kasamatsufarmsFollow 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/

Dec 28, 2024 • 1h 7min
Is Japan a good place to retire?
Meet Nick, founder of Japan Remotely, who sits down to talk with us about his work helping clients find the perfect living situation in Japan, and his insights on the challenges of turning Japan into a long-term home.Follow Nick:https://japanremotely.comhttps://www.instagram.com/japanremotely/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/

Dec 20, 2024 • 1h 1min
Germans in Japan: the value of immigrant stories ft. MrNippon
Meet Mr. Nippon, a half Japanese and half German YouTuber in Japan, who sits down to talk with us about his experiences interviewing Germans on their immigrant journey, and what life in Japan is like for them.Follow Mr. Nippon:https://www.mrnippon.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@MrNipponhttps://www.instagram.com/misuta_nipponhttps://www.discord.com/invite/KmXZENZJejFollow 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/

Dec 16, 2024 • 48min
How has Japan been recovering since Fukushima?
Meet Rob, an engineer for open source environmental data project Safecast, who sits down to talk to us about his work on the Fukushima disaster cleanup, as well as his own sustainable living in the mountains of Nara.Check out Rob's work:https://bgeigiezen.safecast.jphttps://about.me/roboudenFollow 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/

Dec 6, 2024 • 57min
Why Nynyhon switched from modeling in Japan to streaming full-time
Meet Fanny, A.K.A Nynyhon, a model who has lived in Japan for 10 years and who has found success as a streamer and content creator. Fanny sits down with us to discuss her path to Twitch streamer and the intricacies of a career as a model in Japan, from easy part-time gig for foreigners to sustainability as a full-time job.Follow Fanny:https://www.twitch.tv/nynyhonhttps://www.instagram.com/nynyhonhttps://www.youtube.com/@Nynyhonhttps://x.com/Nynyhon_https://www.boutiquenynyhon.com/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/

Nov 29, 2024 • 1h 8min
Expo 2025: How the Netherlands is Shaping the Future
Meet Marc, Consul General of the Netherlands in Osaka, who sits down to talk with us about what we can expect to see at the Dutch pavilion during next year's highly anticipated Expo 2025 Osaka, and all of the work and themes being put into its development.Follow Marc and the Consulate:https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl/your-country-and-the-netherlands/japanhttps://www.instagram.com/nlinjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@NLinJapanhttps://www.facebook.com/NLinJapanhttps://www.facebook.com/OrandainJapanhttps://www.x.com/NLinJapanhttps://www.x.com/OrandainJapanFollow 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/

Nov 22, 2024 • 1h 3min
Japanese sake is WAY more complex than you think – interview with "Sake Evangelist" John Gauntner
Meet John Gauntner, the world's leading non-Japanese sake expert, who sits down to talk with us about understanding good sake, the growing market around the world, and his own journey to Japan and how he became THE sake guy. Follow John Gaunter:https://www.instagram.com/johngauntner/https://x.com/johngauntnerhttps://sake-world.com/https://sake-world.com/store/books/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/