Unpacking Japan

Meet Peter Barakan, who you may know from NHK's Weekend Japanology (Now called Japanology Plus). Peter has hosted various TV shows as well as radio broadcasts introducing all kinds of music to both Japan and overseas. After living in Japan for over 50 years, Peter shares his experience in the industry and the various insights he learned along the way ranging from working at record labels to hosting NHK's longest running TV broadcast.Follow Peter:http://peterbarakan.nethttps://www.instagram.com/petebarakan/?hl=enhttps://x.com/pbarakanhttps://www.livemagic.jp/Follow us on our social media:https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Today we sit down with Endigo, a metal singer and overall musical artist who produces music, performs vocals for video games, and blends many genres to produce a truly unique catalogue of work. Endigo explains their experience finding their niche in Japan and how Japan's take on music and genres have also helped them discover things about themselves and their style as well.Follow Endigo:https://www.instagram.com/endigopinkhttps://www.instagram.com/pinkdollxoxo_https://www.youtube.com/@endigomusichttps://www.youtube.com/endigohttps://x.com/EndigoPinkhttps://x.com/pinkdollxoxo_https://www.facebook.com/endigoskybornFollow us on our social media:https://open.spotify.com/show/2YrHVOAvn4tddEGGclYMtP?si=564959cca6a74cdahttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Today kendo master and historical researcher, Alex, joins us to talk about his unexpected journey into the world of kendo as we deep dive into the practices and cultural background surrounding the way of the sword.Follow AlexAlex's websitehttps://www.instagram.com/alex.bennett_budo_culture/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuEFJrxMVIzIix3QVD5mkUAhttps://www.kendo-world.comhttps://www.instagram.com/kendo_worldhttps://www.twitter.com/kendoworldmaghttps://www.facebook.com/alex.bennett.3597789https://budobooks.jp/Follow us on our social media:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapan⁠https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Today we talk to Mar, founder and director of animation studio Mar Exposito, who will share with us insights of being an animator in Japan as well as the unique career path of creating your own studio vs joining an big anime studio.Liked this episode? Check out our interview with Joshua, a "foreigner" born and raised in Japan who shares his perspective on being a foreign Japanese native! https://youtu.be/Pp1vdHkhn48--Follow Mar:https://www.https://www.maruexposito.comhttps://www.instagram.com/maruexposito.arthttps://www.youtube.com/@MaruExpositohttps://www.twitch.tv/maruexpositohttps://www.patreon.com/maruexpositohttps://www.windylightning.comFollow us on our social media:https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Today we sit with Joshua, who was born and raised in Japan despite his "foreign" appearance. Joshua is a content creator and is passionate about sharing stories like his, of foreigners living in Japan with unique backgrounds and stories that challenge many perspectives of what a "Japanese" person is. He shares his experiences born and raised in Japan and the many challenges he's faced with his identity.Follow Joshua:https://www.instagram.com/jj.jj.7/?hl=enhttps://www.youtube.com/@joshuasjapanchannelhttps://www.youtube.com/@joshuainlondonhttps://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/u30c8u30e0u30bdu30f3-u30b8u30e7u30b7u30e5u30a2/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf3neMkW6dncRYML3766cPd4HkFvDQXsHFAnAkIykyJlhHG1CPSnPim5vVb7w_aem_M0siSeXZ7O_kfBD20Zg1EAFollow us on our social media:https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Meet Shawn, a master shakuhachi player, who sits down to talk to us about the history and cultural significance of one of Japan's most ubiquitous, yet paradoxically unknown instruments.Shawn teaches us about the challenges of learning shakuhachi as well as his thoughts on the recent popularity of the instrument in the west. Stay tuned for a beautiful performance from Shawn at the end of the episode!Follow Shawn:https://www.youtube.com/@TairyuShakuhachihttps://www.shawnheadmusic.com/Follow us on our social media:https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Today we are joined by Sunshine, a Rakugo storyteller who dives into the world of Rakugo and what it's like being one of the only foreigners to take on this role. We talk about the tradition of Rakugo storytelling, the apprentice-master dynamic, and the overall apprenticeship experience in the journey to becoming a Rakugo storyteller.Follow Sunshine:https://www.rakugo.lolhttps://www.instagram.com/katsurasunshinehttps://www.youtube.com/user/KatsuraSunshinehttps://www.facebook.com/KatsuraSunshinehttps://www.sunshinedenimkimono.comFollow us on our social media:https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Joining us today is Nury, a trade and agricultural attaché to the Embassy of Chile, who shares what it's like to bring new products from Chile to Japanese markets and how to navigate trade relations with Japan and all of it's meticulous business practices.Follow Nury:https://jp.linkedin.com/in/nury-disegni-gili-90750754https://www.chile.gob.cl/japon/enFollow us on our social media:https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanInterested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Today we talk with Capsule Bunny, a content creator and fashion designer who makes content about Japanese fashion and it's subcultures in Japan. In this episode we take a dive into the world of J fashion and talk about Tenshi Kaiwai, designing clothes, and other unique aspects of Japan's fashion culture.Follow Capsule Bunny:https://www.instagram.com/CapsuleBunnyhttps://www.youtube.com/c/CapsuleBunnyhttps://www.x.com/capsulebutthttps://www.capsulebunny.blogspot.jpCheck out her designs:https://www.instagram.com/mumu__internationalhttps://www.instagram.com/mumu_mugenmusohttps://mumu-official.stores.jpFollow us on our social media:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2158416https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/

Today we are joined by Sergio, an American welder living and working in Japan. He shares his inspiring journey from U.S. shipyards to becoming the first foreign employee at a Japanese manufacturing company. We talk about his path to learning Japanese, getting the Specified Skilled Worker visa, adapting to life in Japan, and his thoughts on Japanese work culture, language, and society.Follow Sergio and learn about his work:https://www.instagram.com/sergsplurgehttps://wakita-develop.com/wakita/wp/Follow us on our social media:https://www.youtube.com/@unpackingjapanshortshttps://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.x.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.facebook.com/unpackingjapanSubscribe for more in-depth discussions about life in Japan! Interested in working at a global e-commerce company in Osaka? Our parent company ZenGroup is hiring! To learn more, check out https://careers.zen.group/en/