Unpacking JapanMeet @Akasan, an American streamer and reaction YouTuber who's lived and worked in Japan for more than 12 years. He sits down with us to talk about his life, his content, and how Japanese view western media.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Akasan 1:19 What brought Akasan to Japan 9:10 Becoming a content creator 12:03 What doing reaction content is like 14:22 Japanese TV is basically reaction content 18:11 Japanese companies don't like reactions 23:11 Dealing with video takedowns 28:01 Problems with going to the movies 30:35 How does Japan feel about Marvel? 34:21 Comparing western and Japanese comic culture 38:23 How Japanese view social issues in superhero movies 43:35 Discussing social issues in manga and anime 47:34 What it's like doing reaction content as a job 51:14 Advice to aspiring content creators 57:44 Reacting to life in Japan 1:01:44 What's Next? 1:06:41 Dealing with anxiety as a content creator
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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/
The struggles of making reaction content in Japan ft. @AkasanUnpacking Japan2024-03-15 | Meet @Akasan, an American streamer and reaction YouTuber who's lived and worked in Japan for more than 12 years. He sits down with us to talk about his life, his content, and how Japanese view western media.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Akasan 1:19 What brought Akasan to Japan 9:10 Becoming a content creator 12:03 What doing reaction content is like 14:22 Japanese TV is basically reaction content 18:11 Japanese companies don't like reactions 23:11 Dealing with video takedowns 28:01 Problems with going to the movies 30:35 How does Japan feel about Marvel? 34:21 Comparing western and Japanese comic culture 38:23 How Japanese view social issues in superhero movies 43:35 Discussing social issues in manga and anime 47:34 What it's like doing reaction content as a job 51:14 Advice to aspiring content creators 57:44 Reacting to life in Japan 1:01:44 What's Next? 1:06:41 Dealing with anxiety as a content creator
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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/What its like being a reporter on Japanese TV as a foreigner ft. @CathyCatUnpacking Japan2024-10-11 | Ladybeard and Cathy Cat from @CatwithBeardfromJAPAN came to our studio and also interviewed Tobi! Check out their interview here: youtu.be/W88oPln8S3E
-- Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Meet Cathy Cat 1:08 Cathy Cat's Introduction to Japan 5:13 Getting a degree in science fiction 6:50 Settling in Japan long term 8:09 What is Harajuku fashion 10:10 How to succeed as a street interviewer 13:14 Moral responsibility of an interviewer 15:39 How opinions shift with time in Japan 16:30 Unexpected interviews 19:26 Expanding into more media work in Japan 22:23 The key to success for working in media industry in Japan 23:40 Difference between content creation for personal and professional media 25:39 What's it like being on Japanese TV 27:36 Working on Japan Railway program 29:03 What does it take to make a show on Japanese TV 31:42 Language challenges in a Japanese media company 32:56 Breaking into Japanese media as a foreigner 34:47 Favorite places visited from travel shows 37:01 Recommended train journeys and services 38:40 Perspective on current Japanese society 42:33 Venturing into streaming 45:47 Changes in Japanese content creation community 49:31 Next steps and goals 50:31 Twitch community booming in Japan 53:40 Secrets to time management as a media success 55:26 How did the Cat with Beard podcast start
Liked this episode? Check out our interview with Jean-François, head of the French Chamber of Commerce for Kansai and West Japan! youtu.be/RaHfDIR-Mac?si=312OVjeL6RSNRJHj
Follow us on our social media: @unpackingjapanshorts buzzsprout.com/2158416 / unpacking_japa@ucx3xoy5gyypvce4fdwdfjqa / unpackingjapan x.com/unpacking_japan / unpackingjapan
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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/
youtube.com/@unpackingjapanHow Ladybeard became the loudest man in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-10-04 | Today we're joined by one of Japan's most beloved foreigners, Ladybeard, who talks to us about his experience in Hong Kong and Japan's entertainment industries, and how he rose to fame as a singer and wrestler after over a decade long unexpected journey.
-- Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Meet Ladybeard 1:40 Life pre-Ladybeard 4:34 Acting & Dubbing in Hong Kong 8:25 Ladybeard Origin Story 14:55 From Hong Kong to Japan 18:40 Going viral and blowing up in Japan 21:48 Adapting to idol culture to succeed in Japan 23:49 Differences forming a band in Japan and the West 29:13 Starting a second band 31:32 Evolution of Kawaii Core 33:11 Adapting to the pandemic 35:30 Favorite performance 38:15 Live performances VS recorded media 40:46 Turning off Ladybeard for daily life 44:30 Whats next for Ladybeard 50:46 Changes in the music & entertainment industry 54:04 How to approach collaborations with other artists
Liked this episode? Check out our interview with Jean-François, head of the French Chamber of Commerce for Kansai and West Japan! youtu.be/RaHfDIR-Mac?si=312OVjeL6RSNRJHj
Follow us on our social media: @unpackingjapanshorts buzzsprout.com/2158416 / unpacking_japa@ucx3xoy5gyypvce4fdwdfjqa / unpackingjapan x.com/unpacking_japan / unpackingjapan
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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/Chamber of Commerce West Japan director explains the biggest challenges for westerners in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-09-27 | Today we're joined by Jean-François, who talks to us about what it's like working for the French Chamber of Commerce, and how his journey in Japan has taught him valuable insights on surviving Japanese business culture.
-- Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:32 Meet Jean-François 1:15 Starting Journey in Japan 3:20 Exploring Japanese culture through Kendo 7:45 Deciding to Stay in Japan 9:11 Being a member of Society in Japan 15:14 Life after graduating in Japan 17:34 Entering the Japanese business world 19:25 Small Japanese company culture 22:23 Difference between Japanese & French company hierarchy 26:42 Moving to bigger companies in Japan 28:01 Managerial Experience in Japan 30:32 Importance of Japanese language in the working world 35:29 Growing problems in a big Japanese Company 40:46 Getting started at the Chamber of Commerce 42:37 Purpose of the Chamber of Commerce 48:00 Daily operations of Chamber of Commerce 55:18 Building business relationships in Japan 1:05:07 Mistakes to avoid and how to achieve success 1:09:42 What makes Kansai an interesting region for business 1:16:06 Benefits of doing business in regions other than Tokyo 1:18:53 Booming business opportunities in Japan's regions 1:19:51 Importance of building community for business in Japan
Liked this episode? Check out our interview with entrepreneur Zaya who brings Mongolian culture to Japan! youtube.com/watch?v=XuccmfVsiKQ
Follow us on our social media: @unpackingjapanshorts buzzsprout.com/2158416 / unpacking_japa@ucx3xoy5gyypvce4fdwdfjqa / unpackingjapan x.com/unpacking_japan / unpackingjapan
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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/How this entrepreneur is creating a brand for Mongolia in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-09-20 | Meet Zaya, a Mongolian entrepreneur who sat down with us to talk about introducing her culture to Japan through her import company and cafe in Osaka.
-- Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:33 Meet Zaya 3:15 Leaving Mongolia for Japan 4:27 Studying in Japan 6:45 Looking for work after graduating 7:52 Working at the Mongolian Consulate 9:58 Taking a break from Japan 13:09 Mixing Japanese and Mongolian management systems 14:03 Opening an import business in Japan 18:43 Introducing Mongolian products to Japanese market 23:00 Adapting to Japanese business culture 24:39 Differences in Japanese preferences 26:16 Managing logistics and regulations 29:52 How starting a Mongolian cafe improved business 33:52 What Japanese people like or dislike to eat 35:03 Mongolian communities in Osaka 35:51 How local produce influence the food options 36:45 Managing multiple business 38:32 Future goals and aspirations for business 39:23 What has changed about Japan and its image 42:17 Key points to know about Mongolia
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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/Manzai comedian explains the problem with Japanese comedyUnpacking Japan2024-09-13 | Meet Nick, half of Manzai comedy duo Time Bomb, who sits down to talk to us about his Japanese comedy career and his transition to entrepreneur and content creator.
-- Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:33 Meet Nick 4:32 Studying at language school 5:32 Move to comedy school 10:24 Learning Japanese from comedy 12:25 What is Manzai? 15:30 Nick's breakout success 18:13 Comedians have to play characters 21:42 The grind of comedy shows 25:38 Role in manzai duo 27:31 Why Japanese comedy is like the mafia 32:15 Why you can't do stand-up comedy 33:24 Using YouTube to break away from Japanese TV 37:52 Why Nick hasn't quit traditional comedy 42:57 What Japanese people find funny 45:55 Why Nick prefers YouTube 51:29 Nick's language learning company 54:05 Facts Japanese TV made up about Nick 57:47 Will Japanese comedy ever change? 1:02:01 Where to start with Japanese comedy
Liked this episode? Check out our interview with Universal Studios performer Oleg! youtu.be/aaTOR0XJ2rg
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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/Understanding Japans complicated relationship with North KoreaUnpacking Japan2024-09-06 | Meet Oliver, a Japan-North Korea relations researcher based in Kyoto, who sat down to talk with us about politics, kidnappings, North Korean schools in Japan, and more. -- Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction 0:32 Meet Oliver 9:24 Starting point for Japan/NK relations 13:04 Influence of South Korea 15:26 North Korean Japanese people 16:38 NK Abductions of Japanese people 23:46 Change from Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un 25:46 Japan/NK relations today 29:17 Threat of a nuclear North Korea 32:16 Missile defense systems in Japan 36:29 Actually reliable news sources 39:08 North Korean schools in Japan 42:17 What North Koreans in Japan think 44:21 Influence of celebrities like Yeonmi Park 45:55 What it's like to study NK relations 47:50 Is there a resolution in sight? 48:58 What Japanese things actually gets media attention? 54:22 What people should pay attention to
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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/The challenges of running a halal restaurant in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-08-30 | Meet Stephanie, owner of Burmese restaurant 95Yooya in Shibuya, who sits down to talk with us about her challenges immigrating to Japan and opening a halal restaurant in such a homogeneous country.
-- Timestamps:
0:32 Meet Stephanie 4:50 Benefits of moving to Japan 7:48 Life in Myanmar 8:55 Japan had almost no halal food 11:59 Challenges of opening a restaurant in Japan 16:35 Story behind the name 95 17:43 Why Burmese food? 20:32 Do Japanese people like authentic food? 22:16 What do Japanese people order? 24:28 Explaining halal to Japanese people 26:10 Burmese community in Tokyo 27:12 Spreading Burmese culture 29:31 What it’s like to hire immigrant workers 31:08 Challenges for Burmese immigrants 32:41 Supply chain challenges 37:17 How Stephani’s daughter views Japan 39:27 Burmese cultural events 42:34 What should people know about Myanmar? 43:49 Burmese restaurants in Osaka 47:12 Plans for the year 48:32 Must-try Burmese dish 49:43 Life lessons from Stephani
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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/Why 90% of Japanese chefs use knives made in Sakai, OsakaUnpacking Japan2024-08-23 | Meet Brad, marketer for Japanese knife company Sakai Ichimonji Mitsuhide, who sits down to talk with us about Japanese steel, tradition, business, and everything to do with Japanese knives.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Brad 4:58 How Brad got started in knife making 7:51 Why Sakai knives are UNESCO world heritage 9:32 What makes Japanese knives different 12:32 How to get started in Japanese knives 15:52 Types of Japanese knives 17:45 Why Japanese knives are so expensive 20:40 Why chefs prefer them 23:06 How to take care of your knife 29:26 How the knife industry is changing 34:58 Sustainability in the knife industry 36:40 Biggest challenges starting in the knife industry 42:36 Barriers to entering in the industry 45:34 Different knife-making regions in Japan 47:58 Experiences in a Japanese family business 50:03 Biggest misconceptions about Japanese knives 56:10 Future goals for sakai knives 57:23 Would you become a blacksmith? 1:01:35 Preserving culture
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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/What it was like to create Japans first foreign-owned commercial production companyUnpacking Japan2024-08-16 | Meet Ryan, creative director at Cutters Studios Tokyo, who sits down to talk with us about his experiences heading the first foreign-owned commercial production company in Japan, as well as his time as an interpreter for Tadahito Iguchi.
-- Timestamps: 0:33 Meet Ryan 6:08 Starting Cutters Studios 7:16 Work as an MLB interpreter 17:23 Setting up a business in Japan 19:30 In Japan, process over results 22:18 What clients wanted high-end commercials? 24:07 Differences between American vs. Japanese production 26:43 Failure in Japan vs. America 30:28 First significant project 34:14 Significant milestones 40:23 Change in commercial filmmaking over the years 42:05 Japanese ad cliches 44:08 Working with TV/Netflix 47:38 Entertainment production timeline 50:35 Figuring out his role in the business 53:08 Understanding Japanese comedy 58:11 What would you have done differently? 1:00:18 Advice to aspiring commercial filmmakers 1:02:48 Question for Tobi
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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/Why this man is walking 2500km across Japan in the middle of summerUnpacking Japan2024-08-09 | Meet Beebo, a live streamer walking more than 2500km across Japan, from Kagoshima to Sapporo. Midway through his journey, Beebo stopped in Osaka to talk with us about his adventure.
-- Timestamps: 0:30 Meet Beebo 6:33 Starting as a streamer 8:06 Moving to the city and RL streaming 11:27 Logistics of streaming walking across Japan 15:48 Issues with walking across Japan 17:42 Reaction from family/first day 19:32 How far do you walk every day? 21:48 How suitable are Japan’s roads for this? 26:25 Most difficult part of the journey 34:01 Most surprising things about the journey 35:43 People bringing him presents 39:42 Plans for the next half of the trip 42:11 What it’s like streaming this journey 43:38 How do you manage technical issues? 45:50 Lessons learned 46:54 How has Japan changed you? 49:05 Advice for anyone thinking of walking across Japan 53:51 Funny stories
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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/What life is like in Japans traditional sake brewing industryUnpacking Japan2024-08-02 | Meet Giulia, an Italian sake brewer and a sommelier living in working in Japan, who sits down to talk with us about her work as a brewer and educator, and the challenges of Japan's sake industry.
-- Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Giulia 2:57 How Giulia first got interested in sake 8:00 Pursuing a career in sake 13:20 Work as a sake educator 16:38 What is sake? 19:25 How sake is made 21:56 First experience in a brewery 25:05 Life in a sake brewery 30:21 Starting her own company 32:12 Pairing sake with food 35:12 Explaining types of sake 38:49 Biggest misconception about sake 39:42 What sake to buy 43:12 Understanding sake qualities 46:35 How to brew sake to a specific taste 51:43 Brewing sake in the summer 52:44 You have to be crazy to brew sake 55:47 Japan’s changing sake industry 1:06:25 Where to learn more about sake 1:09:08 Where to visit in Japan for good sake 1:11:25 Future plans
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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/Swiss consul explains why 80% of Swiss startups survive their first 5 years in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-07-26 | Meet Dr. Felix Moesner, the Swiss consul to Japan and the CEO of Swissnex. The Swiss consul, located in Osaka, promotes science, and technology, with the goal of connecting Japan and Switzerland through innovation.
-- Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:33 Meet Felix 3:21 Getting a robotics PhD in Japan 6:38 Moving away from academia 10:52 Becoming a consulate 17:33 Why Switzerland spends so much on science 26:49 Why a consulate in Osaka? 28:34 Reaction from the city 35:22 Challenges for Swiss startups in Japan 40:55 Communicating with Japanese vs. Western governments 46:50 What it's like working with local governments 49:54 Challenges of navigating Japanese culture 56:21 Goals of Swissnex 1:02:02 How connected are Swissnex around the world? 1:09:31 Advice to people interested in building a startup in Japan
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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/Zen meditation teacher breaks down how to deal with griefUnpacking Japan2024-07-19 | Meet Gretchen, a grief and mindfulness educator at Dairyuji temple in Akita, Japan, who sits down to talk to us about Zen, meditation, grief, and her life since marrying into a Japanese buddhist temple.
-- Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Gretchen 4:49 Marrying into a Zen temple 9:33 Spirituality vs. religion in Japan 11:32 Life at a Zen temple 16:50 Temples are like family businesses 19:34 The changing role of Zen priests in Japan 21:42 Finding her place at the temple 27:29 Establishing meditation practice 30:48 What is a mindfulness retreat 35:41 Japanese vs. foreigners meditating 40:34 Meditation shouldn't be complicated 44:03 How Gretchen started grief education 51:01 Dealing with grief 59:38 Where to find Gretchen 1:02:32 Upcoming plans for Dairyuji 1:04:11 Advice for visitors to Japan
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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/Storm chaser explains how he survives one of the worlds most dangerous jobs ft. @EarthUncutTVUnpacking Japan2024-07-12 | Meet James, a professional storm chaser based in Japan, who sits down to talk to us about the thrill and danger of storm chasing, and how his work has changed over the past 20 years.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet James 4:13 Moving from China to Japan 6:31 How James began storm chasing 9:14 What do storm chasers do? 11:18 Turning storm chasing into a business 12:36 How James isn't dead 15:44 How to prepare for a storm 21:06 James's first typhoon in Japan 24:17 Japanese typhoons are DEADLY 27:23 Who uses his footage 30:09 What cameras does James use? 33:31 How many people actually do this? 35:36 Near-death experiences 39:05 The eye of the storm is a surreal experience 42:57 Climate change is making storms worse 46:56 Chasing volcanoes 49:14 Witnessing the eruption of Kirishima 51:21 How to prepare for an eruption 53:35 Reaction to James's work 58:25 Biggest misconceptions about storm chasing 1:01:13 Is storm chasing a sustainable career? 1:05:06 Japan's warning system
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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/Tokyo street interviewer breaks down his most viral videosUnpacking Japan2024-07-05 | Meet HarriBoi, the mind behind numerous viral street interviews from the Japanese nightlife, asking about their life and dreams, as well as views on controversial topics like sex, cheating and prostitution. We sat down with Harri to learn about his interview process, as well as his day job as a data scientist in Tokyo.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:33 Meet Harri 1:32 How Harri learned Japanese 6:18 Working a data scientist 11:46 How he started street interviews 13:29 Approach to interviewing 15:55 Why people are so open with Harri 17:19 What makes a good viral interview? 23:47 Is Harri creating a negative image of Japan? 27:21 How many interviews don't get used? 31:00 Japan street interviewer community 34:13 Is street interviewing dangerous? 38:09 Why street interviews go viral 45:40 Advantages of being a foreigner 47:55 Balancing content creation with a full-time job 51:39 Future plans 54:54 Advice to aspiring content creators
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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/What life is like for immigrant factory workers in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-06-28 | Meet Janna, a factory machinist and TikToker living in Nagano, who moved from the Philippines to Japan 5 years ago to pay off her family's debts. We sat down with Janna to hear about her experiences as an immigrant laborer, and how her sudden TikTok success has changed her life.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Janna 1:54 "Study now, pay later" programs for immigrants 6:50 Being selected to work in Japan 10:23 First day in a Japanese factory 13:48 What Janna's job is like 17:17 How Janna retains her Filipino roots 24:18 Future as a machinist 26:02 Janna's breakout on TikTok 32:22 Why Janna's bread reviews are so popular 35:45 Response from the Filipino community 39:57 Janna's goals for the future 44:29 What people should know about Japan
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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/Anton in Japan breaks down everything you need to know about buying an abandoned house in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-06-21 | Meet @ANTONINJAPAN, a fashion model and home renovation expert living in Tokyo, who sits down to talk with us about his work with Japanese akiya, and the challenges of buying and renovating old and damaged properties.
Interested in Japanese housing? Tobi recommends our interview with real estate agent Tokyo Portfolio: youtu.be/6awVGa1xpZ0
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Anton 2:42 Modelling in Europe vs. Japan 7:23 First interest in akiya 9:44 Anton's first akiya 14:54 Buying a second akiya 20:39 What is an akiya? 24:55 What makes a good investment? 27:55 What to look out for 30:26 Who should buy an akiya? 34:26 The renovation process 39:47 Regulations around house renovation 43:32 Why Anton started making videos 44:47 Blowing up on YouTube 50:38 Anton's next project 52:04 Inspiration for writing a book 55:43 Tobi's home renovation 59:09 Planning your home renovation
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Interested in working at a multinational e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/Zen master explains why you will never reach enlightenment ft. @muhoUnpacking Japan2024-06-14 | Meet Muho, a Zen monk who sits down with us to share his journey from lost child in Germany searching for the meaning of life, to the abbot of Buddhist temple Antaiji in Kyoto prefecture.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Muho 6:34 Coming to Japan 11:40 Day in the life of an apprentice monk 16:04 Struggling with enlightenment 18:41 The importance of cooking in Zen 21:18 Becoming the abbott of Antaiji 23:21 Transition from homeless monk to abbott 24:56 Role of Zen abbott 29:58 How outsiders perceive Zen 35:03 Role of Buddhism and religion in Japan 38:54 Why he retired as abbott of Antaiji 42:47 Misconceptions about enlightenment 52:47 Benefits of living in a monastery 53:24 Bringing in new ideas 55:08 Teaching Zen on YouTube 57:00 What is enlightenment? 1:00:10 Where to learn more 1:02:59 Intensive Zen retreats
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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/GaijinPot marketer breaks down the Japanese job marketUnpacking Japan2024-06-07 | Meet Sabria, a marketer for GaijinPot – Japan's biggest job board for foreigners – who sits down to talk with us about the origins of GaijinPot, the challenges created by its controversial name, and the future of parent company GPlus Media.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction 0:32 Meet Sabria 4:45 Coming to Japan on a working holiday 6:08 How Sabria first got interested in Japan 7:26 Arriving in Japan 10:31 Getting started at GaijinPot 16:35 GaijinPot's approach to marketing 22:21 How GaijinPot got started 23:24 Expanding into real estate 27:10 Challenges of having a politically incorrect brand 31:17 How GaijinPot has changed over time 35:03 Why GaijinPot started a podcast 38:40 The GaijinPot expo 40:19 GaijinPot movie night 44:57 Advice for people coming to Japan
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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/Why dont Japanese people know about Asian flush medication?Unpacking Japan2024-05-31 | Meet Beau, an entrepreneur developing Japan's first anti-Asian-flush product, who sits down with us to talk about the challenges of developing a product in Japan, and the legal nuances of developing medical products vs. supplements.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Beau 2:25 How Beau first got interested in Japan 5:03 Joining a traditional Japanese company 12:41 Japanese factory culture 15:26 Starting a company 17:21 Japan didn't have a cure for Asian flush 19:29 Japanese supplement drinks 26:11 Why Japanese companies will refuse to work with you 30:23 How to register a trademark in Japan 33:49 Deciding to leave his job to start a company 40:57 Starting a company right before lockdowns 44:07 Legalities of supplement vs. pharmaceutical products 50:02 Making it not taste horrible 54:01 Not being able to advertise what your product does 1:01:16 Response from customers 1:06:15 How to market supplement drinks in Japan 1:09:52 Lessons learned as a startup in Japan 1:16:48 The key to success as a startup
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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/Startup consultant breaks down everything you need to succeed in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-05-24 | Meet Tyson, a serial entrepreneur from Hawaii, who sits down with us to share his journey from entrepreneur growing multiple businesses in Japan, to startup consultant helping other succeed in his footsteps.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:33 Meet Tyson 3:31 Starting as an entrepreneur 5:57 Starting an English teaching company 13:37 How to grow a small company 19:59 Scaling your company 25:32 Structuring a company with foreigners 29:05 Starting a Japanese school 32:34 Starting a consulting company 39:02 The startup landscape in Japan 41:15 Challenges of entering the Japanese market 46:56 Shortcuts to working with Japanese companies 53:49 Memorable stories from interviews 56:50 Best Japanese cities for startups 1:03:53 What you really need to get started 1:05:54 How entrepreneurship in Japan has changed 1:08:18 What most entrepreneurs misunderstand 1:12:20 Advice for startup entrepreneurs
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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/What to do when Japanese banks dont understand your businessUnpacking Japan2024-05-17 | Meet, Dwayne an extended reality (XR) entrepreneur, who breaks down the challenges of growing a business in such a new field, and the startup landscape in Osaka.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:33 Meet Dwayne 1:00 What brought Dwayne to Japan 3:39 Starting a company during lockdowns 5:26 What is XR? 9:19 What to do when Japanese banks don't understand your company 15:22 Explaining your business costs money 21:43 Constructing an XR space 26:07 Creative differences with XR clients 29:45 Navigating the language barrier as a foreigner 34:25 The startup ecosystem in Osaka 38:58 The Osaka startup guild 43:49 Types of startups in Osaka 51:44 What startups need to succeed in Osaka 53:18 Plan for Expo 2025 56:11 Advice for listeners interested in starting a company in Osaka
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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/What modern companies can learn from 1800s Japanese philosophyUnpacking Japan2024-05-10 | Meet Brittany, an experienced international business adviser from Australia, who sits down to talk with us about human-centered design, as well as her personal challenges starting a business Japan.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Brittany 1:16 Visiting Japan vs living in Japan 3:54 Challenges of running a business in Japan 5:56 Why Brittany came back to Japan 9:40 Getting a Japanese business visa 14:49 Opening corporate bank accounts in Japan 16:56 Bringing family to Japan on a business manager visa 18:42 What is human centered design and how it works in Japan 25:57 How to approach Japanese companies and offer solutions 30:43 What prevents Japanese companies from focusing on customers 34:23 Not new western, but traditional Japanese principles 39:38 Building a community: the most important thing in Japan 44:19 Japanese employees hate to feel alone 52:45 Balancing life and business as a mother in Japan 59:34 The 1% rule 1:03:15 How to start a business in Japan 1:09:17 Future plans 1:11:48 Sexism and ageism in Japan 1:16:12 Outro
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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/What are Japanese forest gardens and why you should want oneUnpacking Japan2024-05-03 | Meet Casey, a university teacher in rural Japan, who sits down to teach us about his experiences as a forest gardener, university English teacher, and English learning podcaster.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 1:02 Coming to Japan 3:15 From eikaiwa to university 6:54 The Ishikawa earthquake 8:32 Engaging with students 11:31 The Beanpod Podcast 14:55 Living in Ishikawa 20:18 Releasing music 22:13 What is forest gardening? 26:13 Getting into sustainable gardening 28:46 Why you should grow functional plants 35:08 Satoyama: Japan's forest gardens 39:59 How to plan a forest garden 43:15 Forest gardening community 45:39 Building a life as a foreigner 54:11 Book recommendations for gardeners
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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/Why this Facebook engineer left his job and opened a game studio in Japan | Athena CrisisUnpacking Japan2024-04-26 | Meet Christoph, game developer and CEO of Nakazawa Tech, who sits down to talk with us about tech, life in Japan, his game Athena Crisis, and his love of open source development.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Christoph 4:22 Deciding to start a company 9:43 Establishing the company 15:48 Publishing a game 20:52 What is open source code? 24:42 Open source code in Japan 26:43 Breaking language barriers with code 30:35 Core values for building a game 35:22 Japanese vs. foreign publishers 38:49 Athena Crisis 46:05 Tech startups in Japan vs. other countries 49:45 Advice for future game developers 52:07 Using ChatGPT in game development 57:30 Future steps & final thoughts
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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/How to keep a business alive for 100 yearsUnpacking Japan2024-04-19 | Meet Hani, president of Japanese textile company Debs Corporation, who shares his experiences as a 3rd generation immigrant running a family business in Japan.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Hani 2:21 What a textile company does 6:23 Why sell textiles in Japan? 11:31 Changing with the industry 14:08 Exploitation and fast fashion 20:38 Made in/with Japan 23:51 Balancing tradition and innovation 28:05 Growing a business ecosystem 32:36 Pandemic challenges and rewards 36:28 Working with an international mindset 38:43 Taking over the family business 42:22 Expanding your business 45:55 Misconceptions about textiles 52:56 Future plans for Debs Corporation 56:02 How to keep a business alive for 100 years
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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/Professional animator explains what Japanese game studios are likeUnpacking Japan2024-04-12 | Meet David, a professional animator from Mexico, who shares his experiences working in Japan on franchises like Sonic, Mario, and Final Fantasy.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet David 3:58 Japanese studios vs. Mexican studios 5:49 The business of an animation studio 9:29 Deadlines and workflows in Japan vs. the west 15:05 Managing Japanese client expectations 19:48 Comparing different Japanese studios 24:56 Communicating in Japanese 27:38 Animating Final Fantasy 15 32:24 Preconceptions about working in Japan 35:03 Western vs. Japanese animation style 41:17 Pros and cons to living in Japan 51:11 Future projects 53:36 Advice for aspiring animators
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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/Kyoto chef breaks down high-class Japanese foodUnpacking Japan2024-04-05 | Meet Nadja, a kaiseki chef living in Kyoto, who sits down with us to share her insights into Japanese cuisine and the traditional culinary world.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Nadia 0:54 What brought Nadia to Japan 3:53 Finding a trades school in Japan 7:18 Dangers of eating Japanese pufferfish 10:39 Studying at a Japanese culinary school 16:38 Restaurant training 25:54 What is a kaiseki meal? 34:31 Structuring a kaiseki meal 40:51 Most impactful experiences as a chef 44:38 Explaining Japanese omakase dining 46:30 Why Nadja doesn't do fushion cuisine 49:13 What Japanese kitchens are like for women 51:24 Licenses needed to be a chef in Japan 54:06 Advice for aspiring chefs 59:05 Nadja's goals for the future
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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/Being a lawyer is complicated. What about in Japan?Unpacking Japan2024-03-29 | Meet Catherine, a New Zealand lawyer working with large international corporations in Japan, who sits down with us to share her experiences with law firms, opening her own practice, and advising companies as a board member.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Catherine 1:11 What brought Catherine to Japan 4:02 What foreign lawyers in Japan do 7:04 Common vs. civil law 9:40 Japanese legal jargon 13:16 Setting up a law firm in Japan 18:28 Why Catherine specialized in corporate law 21:48 First contract as a new firm in Japan 25:07 Communication issues in Japanese law 28:01 How to get a corporate board position 39:00 Being a foreign woman on a Japanese board 43:22 Balancing commitments as a lawyer and board member 47:18 Misconceptions about practicing law 53:01 In Japan, you're guilty until proven innocent 56:50 Where to learn your rights and responsibilities as a foreigner 1:00:39 Catherine's law podcast
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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/How this foreigner became a full-time journalist in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-03-22 | Meet Phoebe, an experienced journalist and a food blogger, who sits down to talk to us about her challenges working as a reporter in Japan.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Phoebe 1:05 How Phoebe first came to Japan 6:03 Getting into journalism 11:51 The impact of journalism on society 17:55 How Phoebe became a reporter for NHK 25:06 How to deal with live reporting 28:46 Writing stories by drinking in the back alleys of Tokyo 32:07 How Phoebe got into food blogging and tours 41:41 How to experience local culture 45:38 Food etiquette tourists should know 48:45 Why Japan doesn't have street food culture 55:45 Current food trends in Japan 1:03:30 Advice for aspiring journalists 1:08:03 Japan lacks media freedom
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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/What its like being a musician for Japans biggest theme parkUnpacking Japan2024-03-08 | Meet Oleg, a Ukrainian violinist who performed at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka for several years, before leaving to become a freelance musician.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Oleg 1:00 What brought Oleg to Japan 2:24 Becoming a Violinist 3:22 Joining USJ 9:48 Behind the Scenes at USJ 16:47 After USJ 19:14 Modernizing violin performances 25:58 Japanese want to see foreigners 31:12 Do musicians collaborate in japan? 34:58 Oleg as an artist 37:26 How Japanese audiences are different 41:44 How technology affects performers 44:15 Why Oleg doesn't like street performing 49:55 Plans for the future 50:35 Advice to aspiring musicians
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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/Tokyo Portfolio explains why Japanese housing is so cheap @TokyoPortfolioUnpacking Japan2024-03-01 | Meet Alex, the man behind luxury real estate brand Tokyo Portfolio, who sits down to talk to us about renting apartments, buying abandoned properties, and everything you need to know about the housing market in Japan.
For more on Japanese akiya, check out our interview with Anton in Japan! youtu.be/hB55umiwRk0
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:33 Meet Alex 2:46 Getting into real estate 5:41 Discussing Japanese housing size 8:50 Is Tokyo actually expensive? 11:10 Japanese real estate industry is outdated 16:17 Discrimination against foreigners? 18:30 How Tokyo Portfolio started 23:49 Japanese houses only have one bathroom 25:05 Japanese build quality 30:22 What makes luxury housing so expensive 35:37 Why Japan has so many unique houses 40:53 Japan doesn't do renovations 47:03 Japan's "free" houses 52:04 Getting a loan in Japan 57:22 Japanese landlords don't negotiate 1:02:49 Future of Tokyo Portfolio 1:04:42 Advice to aspiring realtors
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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/Co-Founder of Tokyo Cheapo breaks down the best ways to save money in Japan @tokyocheapoUnpacking Japan2024-02-23 | Meet Greg, co-founder and writer for Tokyo Cheapo, a site sharing the best-value deals in Japan, sits down to teach us about how to live and travel frugally.
Greg shares the history of Tokyo Cheapo, as well as his new passion, cheap, abandoned houses that people buy and renovate, called Akiya.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Greg 3:52 Origins of Tokyo Cheapo 6:52 Developing a business model 15:10 Adapting and expanding 20:10 Greg's Tokyo perspective 25:20 Prioritize experience, not price 29:51 Expanding to new cities 30:46 Buying an Akiya 49:35 Advice for starting a digital media company 51:34 Expanding to TikTok and Instagram 55:22 Japan's beer scene 58:55 Final thoughts
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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/Why this foreigner became a priest in the Japanese mountains ft. @kiwiyamabushiUnpacking Japan2024-02-16 | Meet Tim, a Yamabushi, which is a type of priest, or "mountain ascetic," as he describes it, who sits down with us to tell about his journey from New Zealand to the mountains of Yamagata.
-- Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Tim 8:36 Discovering Yamabushi 11:47 What is a Yamabushi? 16:29 Practicing Shugendou 23:02 The Role of Mountains 27:17 Week-Long Training 29:36 Obligations 35:51 Hardest Parts 38:35 Shinto vs. Buddhist Yamabushi 42:32 Membership Secrecy and Growth 52:56 Pilgrimages vs. Trainings 57:56 Philosophy of Acceptance 1:01:42 How to Learn More 1:05:05 What's Next for Tim
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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/Sustainability consultant breaks down urban farming in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-02-09 | Meet Jon, a sustainability consultant living in Tokyo, who teaches us about using urban farming techniques to support greener, healthier and more efficient food production techniques.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Jon 3:46 Getting into urban farming 8:56 What is urban farming? 13:00 Private vs. corporate urban farming 15:45 From a hobby to teaching 21:05 Misconceptions about urban farming 26:28 Developing community & interest 31:17 First steps for growing food 40:11 Why bother growing food? 43:29 Regulations with urban farming 47:12 Changes & technology in the industry 52:23 Japanese urban farming vs. other countries 56:11 Advice for future urban farmers 1:00:50 Attracting a community
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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/How this Australian woman became one of Japans most prolific consultantsUnpacking Japan2024-02-02 | Meet Melanie, an international consultant for some of the biggest brands in Japan, who sits down to share her unique life and career with us.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Melanie 1:21 Coming to Japan 8:31 Early career as an interpreter 11:49 Japanese vs. Australian communication styles 18:31 Role as a board member 25:30 Experiences & impact as a foreigner 29:27 Japan's openness to change 37:12 Advocating for women's rights in Japan 44:51 Positive changes for women's rights 51:03 Celebrating Women in Japan Project 56:21 Advice for moving to Japan 59:24 Melanie's future goals 1:01:54 Preconceptions about being a board member
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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/Why this massive 35-room studio is the best place for cosplay in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-02-02 | Cosplayer Klepto takes us to the absolutely massive cosplay studio Haco Stadium in Osaka, Japan, showing us why it's her absolute favorite place to cosplay.
A big thank you to Oga-san, the helpful manager, who welcomed us into this magical place, giving us a free pass to explore the heart of Osaka's cosplay scene.
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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/What people dont understand about the Fukushima nuclear accidentUnpacking Japan2024-01-26 | Meet Jayne, a long-term Fukushima resident from New Zealand, who sits down to tell about her first-hand experiences with the earthquake and nuclear disaster that happened 10 years ago.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
0:00 Intro 0:33 Meet Jayne 1:13 What brought Jayne to Japan 5:59 What Fukushima was known for before 2011 7:44 What living through the disaster was like 13:54 What the government warnings were like 16:01 Leaving everything behind 20:04 Coming back to Fukushima 22:13 Escaping to New Zealand 26:44 The aftermath 28:16 What people don't understand 32:52 What Fukushima is like now 36:43 Trying to repair Fukushima's image 39:20 Starting a podcast for foreign women in Japan 43:02 Women in Japan are lonely 49:11 How to make people open up again 53:38 Challenges of English podcasting in Japan 57:41 Future of Fukushima 1:01:06 Advice to women coming to Japan
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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/How this foreigner started her own voice acting studio in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-01-19 | Meet Kimberly, an American voice actress living and working in Japan, who sits down to tell us about how she broke in to the industry and how it's changed since she started.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
0:00 Introduction 0:32 Meet Kimberly 3:04 Kimberly's acting experience in the U.S. 6:56 Moving to Japan 9:34 Becoming an English acting coach in Tokyo 16:13 Other movies Kimberly worked on 19:39 Start as a voice actor 26:43 Research needed as a voice actor 30:17 How to prepare for voice acting roles 32:53 How dubbing works 35:08 Japan doesn't use dubbing systems 38:38 Favorite project 40:35 How long it takes to dub media 44:48 Opening a production studio in Japan 49:21 How AI is affecting the voice acting industry 1:02:11 What AI will never be able to replace 1:06:03 Advice to aspiring voice actors 1:08:04 How to break into the industry
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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/Fitness researcher breaks down Japanese beauty standardsUnpacking Japan2024-01-12 | Meet Toshi, a Japanese-American medical and fitness researcher, who sits down to talk with us about beauty standards in Japan vs the US.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Toshi 4:15 Why Toshi came to Japan 6:01 Toshi's background as a researcher 11:33 Japan's health standards 16:21 Health consequences of beauty standards 19:58 Role of Japanese genetics 23:06 Japanese exercise trends 27:51 How to start exercising 34:24 Discussing fitness trends on social media 43:45 Media portrayals of fitness 47:04 Eating disorders in Japan 50:32 Malnutrition in Japanese athletes 55:46 How to correct nutrition misinformation 1:01:47 Japan and the U.S. are opposites
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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/Investment adviser breaks down the challenges of running a startup in JapanUnpacking Japan2024-01-05 | Meet Schyler, an American investment professional living in Tokyo, who teaches us about the investing climate and challenges of raising capital in Japan.
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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/What living in the Japanese countryside is REALLY like ft. @TheMartinShowJapanUnpacking Japan2023-12-29 | Meet Martin, an American visual artist living a quiet rural life in Shizuoka prefecture, who tells us why he thinks that Japan is the most peaceful place on earth, even going so far as to call it a utopia.
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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/Sustainability consultant explains why Japan cant stop using so much plasticUnpacking Japan2023-12-22 | Meet JJ Walsh, a sustainability consultant based in Hiroshima, who helps Japanese businesses develop sustainability-focused tourism and business marketing strategies.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet JJ Walsh 2:41 Move to Hiroshima 5:45 Focus on sustainability 12:22 Using sustainability to appeal to tourists 17:37 Appealing to local tourists 23:31 Japan's view of sustainability 26:22 Japan needs more regulation 28:17 The importance of training 31:07 The influence of social media on sustainability 36:34 Influences growing up in Hawaii 42:47 Japan's reluctance to give up plastic bags 45:11 Recycled plastic is a lie 51:10 Using media to promote sustainability 57:19 The future of sustainability in Japan 1:00:00 Advice for sustainability activism 1:09:55 Where to learn more about sustainability
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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/Why this Rockstar developer left his job to make games in JapanUnpacking Japan2023-12-15 | Meet Liam, a British game developer, who shares his journey from working in the world's biggest game companies to starting his own studio in Kyoto, Japan.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰ 0:00 Intro 0:32 Meet Liam 1:42 Working at Rockstar Games 4:34 Escaping to Japan 6:01 Teaching English in Okayama 8:30 Moving to the Japanese games industry 12:45 Japanese vs. Western approach in development 16:27 Japanese game studio offices are super boring 19:01 Opening his own studio 25:56 How to get investment as an international studio in Japan 30:16 Going viral in Japan 33:23 Second wave of popularity through Covid 35:39 What he learned from going viral 41:23 Liam's creative process 45:56 Explaining Project Tanuki 49:42 Japanese games have a better creative vision 52:43 How to market your game 1:00:57 Biggest challenges for indie studios 1:06:16 Advice to aspiring game developers
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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/How this British magician built a career in JapanUnpacking Japan2023-12-08 | Meet Ben, a magician and escape room designer from London, who shares his experiences performing as a magician, and the differences in magic in Japan, China, and the West.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
00:00 Intro 00:56 Ben is from London, but it feels alien to him 03:13 Leaving for China with his girlfriend and living there for 6 years 06:23 Coming to Osaka without knowing what it was 08:58 Osaka is the most "Chinese" Japanese city 11:40 Real life "comic book characters" make Ben interested in magic 16:42 Japanese language schools are horrendous 18:45 Turning magic into a more professional thing 24:10 The reasons why people learn to do magic 29:12 Starting the "Impossible Theater" with friends 31:52 What types of magic there are 35:50 Main principles behind all magic tricks 37:33 The Elusive Illusive book by Ben 43:10 What types of magic magicians do in Japan 45:45 Communication in magic and differences in Japan and abroad 47:53 Escape room games and interactive movies 50:38 Escape rooms were invented in Japan 52:01 Designing new types of escape rooms in Japan 55:23 Expanding escape rooms and becoming more ambitious 59:05 Next steps for Ben's magical journey 1:02:39 Ben's advice for beginner-magicians 1:05:29 Final message, closeup theater 1:06:15 Outro
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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/The surprising origins of the Japanese tea ceremonyUnpacking Japan2023-12-03 | Unpacking Japan visits one of Japan's oldest tea schools in the heart of Kyoto.
00:00 Intro 00:50 Welcoming Tobi 01:41 What happens in the tea room 02:22 Serving the sweets 05:05 Serving the tea 08:34 After-tea talk 10:18 Tobi makes tea 12:39 Outro
-- Host: Tobias Bieker Director: Andri Magdych Editor: Julian Sketchley Design, Japanese Subtitles: Moe Koga Social Media: Megan Murayama, Jennifer Kulessa
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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/Professional DJ breaks down Japans music sceneUnpacking Japan2023-12-01 | Meet Demsky, a DJ and producer from Canada, who shares his background in teaching math and chess strategy, and how that led to his life as an artist in Japan.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
0:00 Intro 0:39 Demsky introduces himself 2:42 Teaching chess and mathematics in Canada 5:08 Dropping everything and moving to Japan 6:56 Playing drum'n'bass, hip hop and hardcore in Japan 8:07 Most surprising things in the Japanese music industry 11:51 How people approach music in Japan 13:43 Demsky is trying to explain his music style 17:45 Life in Japan changed Demsky a lot 19:24 Japanese people express themselves differently 22:30 "If the audience is not responsive, I make it an experimental show" 26:51 Collaborating with other Japanese artists 30:56 Working with music production labels now and in the future 34:36 Favorite and underrated places in Japan 38:12 Connecting with local communities in and outside Japan 43:52 Future plans to play at bigger festivals 46:16 "I had no idea about Japan before arriving" 50:28 Final thoughts and outro
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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/Hunter breaks down Japans strict gun lawsUnpacking Japan2023-11-24 | Meet Stinton, a rice farmer and hunter living in rural Japan, who teaches us about traditional farming techniques, and Japan's extremely strict gun laws.
-- Timestamps 0:00 Intro 0:27 Stinton’s key Japan moments 2:27 What first brought him to Japan 3:23 His first time experiencing local culture in Japan 7:01 His life before farming and hunting 10:10 Discovering passion for farming 12:03 The world of rice farming 15:14 How rice production processes look like in a year 17:20 Preparation for planting 26:51 From planting to harvesting 28:38 Process of harvesting rice 36:36 A lot of challenges for agriculture 39:02 Impacts of climate change on rice production 43:44 Getting into the world of hunting 45:56 Trust is a key to get a hunting gun in Japan 48:38 Earning a hunting license for trapping 51:19 Licenses needed for hunting with a gun 58:23 Hunting animals in the wild 1:07:02 How being part of rural community impacted his perspective on life in Japan 1:10:51 Stinton’s plan ahead 1:12:46 What could bring young people back to countryside 1:16:13 His messages for today's world
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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/Cross-cultural consultant explains why Japan needs foreignersUnpacking Japan2023-11-17 | Meet Rochelle, a cross-cultural consultant and activist in Japan, who shares how she gained her her passion for bridging cross-cultural divides.
-- ⏰Timestamps⏰
0:00 Intro 0:54 Rochelle encounters Japanese arts in Chicago 2:16 Motivation behind learning Japanese 3:08 Finding out the regional dialect 5:27 Working for a traditional company in Tokyo 7:40 Supporting global operations of Japanese companies 11:46 The first years of her business 14:02 How the Japanese communicate differently than the Americans 15:25 Localization of the management 18:32 Corporate culture types in Japan 22:01 Bridging the communication gaps 27:48 Ideal Leaders in Japan and US 30:24 Diversity in leadership 33:14 Jingu Gaien Redevelopment Project 50:04 How petitions work in Japan 56:00 How consensus building is like in Japan 1:01:01 Foreigners as part of the Japanese community 1:10:41 Her involvement in the activism in Japan 1:14:04 Her plans for the future 1:15:45 Talk less, listen more
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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/