In-Depth examinations of the best (and worst) of microbudget cinema.
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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, and the entrepreneurs, and the artists. What are Japanese drag shows like? What drives someone to spend their life as a priest in the mountains? What is Japan like for the thousands of immigra ...
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Meet Chinyere, cyber security expert and personal finance consultant. She talks about Japan being extremely behind in cyber security knowledge and other topics. Follow Chinyere: https://thesistafund.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7UdPuAihqNSIv8-Eupfjyw https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinyere-okoli-816b2b64 https://www.facebook.com/thesistafund…
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Cultural differences between Japan and the Philippines
47:24
47:24
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47:24Meet Mickael, a half Japanese, half Filipino vlogger, who makes content about life in Japan in Tagalog. He sits down with us to share his story of growing up hafu in Japan, before rediscovering his roots in the Philippines. Follow Mickael on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikasan__ https://www.youtube.com/@mikasan_ https://www.instagram.com/…
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How studying obscure Japanese arts can help you build a life in Japan
1:05:46
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1:05:46Meet Justin, a singer who has been studying the ancient art of shigin for more than 10 years, after accidentally discovering it one day while living in the Japanese countryside. He sits down with us to share his story of moving from Tennessee to Japan and falling in love with this beautiful, yet incredibly difficult, traditional art form. Follow Ju…
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"Light in Japan is different. It just is." Photographer Joe Allam on moving to Japan
1:05:03
1:05:03
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1:05:03Meet Joe Allam, a British filmmaker and a photographer who was so fascinated by Japan that he decided to move to Osaka and restart his entire life in Japan. He sits down to talk with us about what makes Japan so special, how he avoids the Japan content trap, and his own inspirations as a filmmaker. Follow Joe Allam: https://joeallam.co.uk/about/ ht…
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Meet Ananya, who sits down with us to share her journey to Japan and unique perspective on living here as a content creator. Ananya makes both educational content to help teach Japanese, as well as comedic skits that reflect her personal experiences in Japan. Follow Ananya: https://www.instagram.com/hiananyaa_ https://www.youtube.com/@hiananyaa htt…
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LGBTQ+ Documentary Filmmaker Discusses Queer Rights in Japan
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53:55Meet Felicity, a filmmaker exploring the theme of identity through her documentary work in Japan. She sits down to talk with us about what she's learned about Japanese views on multiculturalism, awareness of queer issues, and the concept of what "home" is. Follow Felicity's work: https://www.instagram.com/wherenextjapan https://www.wherenextjapan.c…
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AV Actress June Lovejoy explains the Japanese porn industry
1:05:03
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1:05:03Meet AV star June Lovejoy, who sits down with us to break down all the misconceptions about the Japanese porn industry, and explore what life is like for workers in this profession. June shares their own personal experiences, their thoughts on the good and bad of the industry, and the ways it continues to change. Follow June: https://www.instagram.…
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Interviewing the most recognizable voice in Japan
58:49
58:49
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58:49Meet Donna Burke, a singer and voice actress in Japan most widely known as the voice of the Shinkansen. She sits down to talk to us about her 30-year career in Japan, from wedding singer to starring in franchises like Metal Gear, Silent Hill, and Tokyo Ghoul, as well as her life as an entrepreneur. Follow Donna: https://www.donnaburke.com/ https://…
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Is Japan still worth it for Asian immigrants? | How to work in Japan on a trainee visa
48:14
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48:14Meet Jheadear, a factory worker and content creator from the Philippines, who sits down to talk to us about the process of applying to become a technical trainee in Japan. We discuss her daily routines and workflow, her challenges in adapting to Japanese culture and work environment, as well as her work as an influencer helping her fellow Filipinos…
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Why Japan is at the forefront of the next AI revolution
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59:00Meet Jad, cofounder of Integral AI, a software developing a system called universal simulations, in order to help advance AGI (artificial general intelligence). He sits down to talk with us about the future of AI, and if we really can develop it in a way that benefits humanity. Follow Jad & Intergral AI https://www.x.com/jad_tarifi https://www.inte…
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Where Ricchaado's inspiration for skits about being black in Japan comes from
1:09:15
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1:09:15Meet Ricchaado, a comedian from the UK most known for his exaggerated skits about his experiences as a black foreigner in Japan. He sits down to talk to us about the inspirations behind his famous characters Momo-chan and Mr. Hashimoto, his other business endeavors, how Japanese and Western viewers see his content differently, and more. Follow Ricc…
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An honest conversation about animal rights in Japan, with a Kobe zoo veterinarian
1:21:00
1:21:00
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1:21:00Meet 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 Kingd…
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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:/…
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What life is like as a foreigner in a Japanese maid cafe
56:13
56:13
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56:13Meet 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_afilia https://www.tiktok.com/@luna_afilia https://www.youtube.com/@luna_afilia Check out Afilia Magic Kingdom EN: https://linktr.ee/afilia.kingdom JP: https://linktr.ee/…
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What life is like as a farmer in the Japanese countryside
1:14:50
1:14:50
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1:14:50Meet 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/kasamatsufarms Follow us on our social media: https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.i…
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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.com https://www.instagram.com/japanremotely/ Follow us on our social media: https://youtube.com/@…
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Germans in Japan: the value of immigrant stories ft. MrNippon
1:01:05
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1:01:05Meet 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.com https://www.youtube.com/@MrNippon https://www.instagram.com/misuta_nippon https://www.discord.co…
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How has Japan been recovering since Fukushima?
48:06
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48:06Meet 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.jp https://about.me/robouden Follow us on our social media: https://youtube.com/@un…
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Why Nynyhon Switched from Modeling in Japan to Streaming Full Time
56:54
56:54
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56:54Meet 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://ww…
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Expo 2025: How the Netherlands is Shaping the Future
1:08:20
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1:08:20Meet 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-netherla…
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Japanese sake is WAY more complex than you think – interview with "Sake Evangelist" John Gauntner
1:03:13
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1:03:13Meet 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/johngauntner https://sake-world.com/ https://sake-…
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Film director explains what it's like working with some of Japan's biggest YouTubers
1:02:35
1:02:35
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1:02:35Meet Julian Domanski, videographer and creative director of Future Collective, who sits down with us to talk about working in Japanese film production, as well as working with Netflix and some of Japan's biggest YouTubers. Follow Julian & Future Collective: https://www.instagram.com/kantanjapan https://www.youtube.com/c/KantanJapan https://x.com/ka…
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Japanese labor unions are weirdly powerful. Why don't more people know about them?
1:16:17
1:16:17
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1:16:17Meet Dennis, the General Secretary of the General Union in Osaka, Japan, who sits down to talk with us about Japanese labor laws, unions, and how they can help protect workers from many of the challenges of the Japanese workplace. Follow Dennis & the General Union: https://www.instagram.com/jpenonline https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN861GtRXgWEyn…
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What life is like as a foreigner in a Japanese idol group
1:01:16
1:01:16
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1:01:16Meet Heidi, American member of Japanese underground idol group Merkmal Mermal, who sits down to talk with us about the origins of Japan's idol culture, as well as her own unique challenges as a foreigner in the idol scene. Follow Heidi & her group Merkmal Mermal: https://www.instagram.com/heidichandesu https://www.youtube.com/@heidichandesu https:/…
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How this German woman became one of Japan's leading kimono experts @BillyMatsunaga
1:03:08
1:03:08
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1:03:08Meet Billy, a German woman who shares her story of coming to Japan and falling in love with its most beloved clothes, the humble kimono. She sits down to talk with us about the nuances of kimono crafting, the culture and history around it, and the many misconceptions people have of kimono. Follow Billy: https://www.internationalwafuku.com https://w…
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How Mr. Yabatan became Japan's favorite foreigner
1:01:14
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1:01:14Meet Mr. Yabatan, Japan's silliest and most beloved foreign influencer, who sits down to talk with us about the origins of his character, his insights on Japanese comedy, and what it's like being such a recognizable face. Follow Mr. Yabatan: https://www.instagram.com/mr_yabatan https://www.youtube.com/mryabatan http://www.tiktok.com/@mr_yabatan htt…
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What it's like being a reporter on Japanese TV as a foreigner ft. Cathy Cat
58:01
58:01
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58:01Meet Cathy Cat, beloved actress, reporter, and overall media personality in Japan who explains the struggles and what to expect as a foreigner when navigating a career on social media and television Japan. Ladybeard and Cathy Cat from Cat with Beard from JAPAN PODCAST came to our studio and also interviewed Tobi! Check out their interview here: htt…
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The story of Ladybeard: Japan's loudest man
58:00
58:00
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58:00Meet Ladybeard, one of Japan's most beloved foreigners, who sits down to talk to us about his experiences in Hong Kong and Japan's entertainment industries, and how he rose to fame as a singer and wrestler after over an unexpected decade-long journey. Follow Ladybeard: https://www.ladybeard.com https://www.instagram.com/ladybeard_japan https://www.…
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The biggest challenges for westerners in Japan
1:22:37
1:22:37
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1:22:37Today we're joined by Jean Francois, 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. Follow Jean Francois: https://www.ccifj.or.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/jeanfrancoisrauch/ https://www.instagram.com/cci_france_j…
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How this entrepreneur is creating a brand for Mongolia in Japan
44:54
44:54
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44:54Meet 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. Follow Zaya: https://mongorusei.co.jp https://www.instagram.com/mongorusei https://x.com/bigmangas https://www.facebook.com/MONGORUSEI https://www.facebook.com/cafemongolia Follow us on our social med…
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Manzai comedian explains the problem with Japanese comedy
1:04:02
1:04:02
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1:04:02Meet 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. Follow Nick: https://youtube.com/@nikkuniisan https://www.instagram.com/nickniisan/ https://x.com/TIMEBOMBGEININ https://youtube.com/@atsueigo Follow us on our social media: https://yo…
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Understanding Japan's complicated relationship with North Korea
56:32
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56:32Meet 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 the complicated relationship Japan has with its neighbor to the north. Follow Oliver: https://www.foreignperspectives.net/ https://twitter.com/OliverJia1014 Follow us on our social media:…
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The challenges of running a halal restaurant in Japan
51:27
51:27
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51:27Meet 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. Check out 95Yooya: https://www.instagram.com/95yooya/ https://www.facebook.com/people/95Yooya/61551720519731/ Follow us on our social media: https://you…
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What makes Japanese knives so special?
1:03:18
1:03:18
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1:03:18Meet 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. Follow Sakai Ichimonji: https://global.ichimonji.co.jp/ https://youtube.com@ichimonji-jp https://www.instagram.com/ichimonji.jp https://x.com/ichimonji_jp https…
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What life is like running a film production company in Japan
1:07:36
1:07:36
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1:07:36Meet 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. Follow Ryan: https://cuttersstudiostokyo.com/ Follow us on our social media: https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapan…
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Why this man is walking 2500km across Japan in the middle of summer
56:34
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56:34Meet Beebo, a live streamer walking more than 2500km across Japan, from Kagoshima to Sapporo. Midway through his journey, Beebo stopped by our studio in Osaka to talk with us about his adventure. Follow Beebo: https://www.twitch.tv/beebo https://www.instagram.com/beebojapan Follow us on our social media: https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapan https://…
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What life is like in Japan's traditional sake brewing industry
1:17:11
1:17:11
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1:17:11Meet 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. Follow Giulia: https://www.jijisake.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jijisake/ Follow us on our social media: https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapan https://ww…
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Why 80% of Swiss startups survive their first 5 years in Japan
1:12:57
1:12:57
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1:12:57Meet 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. Follow Dr. Moesner: https://youtube.com@SwissnexJapanOsaka https://jp.linkedin.com/in/felixmoesner https://swissnex.org/japan/ https://…
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What it's like to live in a traditional Japanese temple
1:06:15
1:06:15
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1:06:15Meet 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. Follow Gretchen: https://www.dairyuji-oga.com/ https://www.dairyuji-oga.com/reserve/retreat/registration/dairyuji https://sarah-furuya-coaching.myk…
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How storm chasers survive one of the world's most dangerous jobs ft. EarthUncutTV
1:08:45
1:08:45
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1:08:45Meet 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. Follow James: https://www.youtube.com/@EarthUncutTV https://www.earthuncut.tv/ https://www.x.com/EarthUncutTV https://www.instagram.com/earthuncuttv/ https://www.faceb…
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Tokyo street interviewer explains his secret to viral videos
57:15
57:15
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57:15Meet 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. Follow HarriBoi: https://www.…
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What life is like for immigrant factory workers in Japan
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48:20Meet Janna, a factory machinist and TikToker living in Nagano, who moved 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. Follow Janna: https://www.tiktok.com/@jannajapandiaries https://www.facebook.com/p/Janna-Ja…
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Anton in Japan breaks down everything you need to know about buying an abandoned house in Japan
1:04:29
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1:04:29Meet Anton, 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: https://youtu.be/6awVGa1xpZ0 Follow An…
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Zen master explains why you will never reach enlightenment
1:08:43
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1:08:43Meet 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. Follow Muho: https://www.youtube.com/@muho https://antaiji.org/en/ Follow us on our social media: https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapan https://www.instagram.com/un…
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GaijinPot marketer breaks down the Japanese job market
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49:48Meet 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. Check out GaijinPot: https://gaijinpot.com/ https://gplusmedia.com/en/ Follow us on our social media: https:/…
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The challenges of bringing anti-Asian-flush medication to Japan
1:22:56
1:22:56
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1:22:56Meet Beau, an entrepreneur developing Japan's first anti-Asian-flush product, who sits down with us to talk about the challenges of developing such a product in Japan, and the legal nuances of developing medical products vs. supplements. Follow Beau: https://www.reiwaseiyaku.co.jp/ https://www.instagram.com/reiwaseiyakukk/ https://jp.linkedin.com/i…
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Our long national nightmare comes to a close with the return of No-Budget Nightmares! And this time we’re tackling a fan-request and.. HOO BOY does Doug Phillips’ 2012 film REMAKE stink. Picture a horror film about a devious ex-cop-turned-snuff-filmmaker who kidnaps young women and makes them part of his unholy art projects. Sounds ok, right? Well,…
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Startup consultant breaks down everything you need to succeed in Japan
1:19:55
1:19:55
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1:19:55Meet Tyson, a serial entrepreneur from Hawaii, who sits down with us to share his experiences growing multiple businesses in Japan, to startup consultant, helping other succeed in his footsteps. Follow Tyson: https://scalingyourcompany.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tysonbatino/ Follow us on our social media: https://youtube.com/@unpackingjapan h…
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Extended Reality in Japan, and what to do when Japanese banks don't understand your business
59:18
59:18
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59:18Meet, 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. Follow Dwayne: https://www.hello-xlab.com/ https://jp.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-grech-77677912 https://jp.linkedin.com/company/startup-guild-japan Follow us on our social media: https://youtu…
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What modern companies can learn from 1800s Japanese philosophy
1:16:54
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1:16:54Meet 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. Follow Brittany: https://www.youtube.com/@BrittanyArthur1 https://www.instagram.com/_brittanyarthur/ https://twitter.com/_brittanyarthur https://www.lin…
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