Best Expat Community In Japan Podcasts (2026)

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The economist behind Japan's sudden commitment to "womenomics" 57:58

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38m ago57:58

57:58

Meet Kathy, an economist who coined the term "womenomics" back in 1999. Kathy sits down to talk to us about her career as an economist, her work in promoting womenomics, and her women-focused investment philosophy. Follow us:https://unpacking.jp/https://www.instagram.com/unpacking_japanhttps://www.tiktok.com/@unpackingjapanhttps://www.facebook.com/…

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The strange logic behind Japan's constant media scandalsold 1:13:59

3d ago1:13:59

1:13:59

Meet Igor, an author and Japanese media scholar from Ambis University in Prague, who sits down to talk to us about Japan's history of media scandals. He talks about the social psychology behind scapegoating, the public desire for retribution, and how society's elites can play the game to their own advantage. Follow Igor: https://www.instagram.com/i…

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What it takes to be a Japanese race car driver ft. Hana Burton 1:00:30

6d ago1:00:30

1:00:30

Meet Hana, a Japanese-American race car driver, who sits down to talk with us about her life and career. She tells us about her journey into the racing world, cultural differences between Japan and the West, and what it takes to be a Japanese race car driver.Follow Hana:https://www.youtube.com/@hanaburtonhttps://www.instagram.com/hanubuu_https://x.…

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Kara Folkerts | Running Tour Guide, Bikepacker and so much more! 1:10:36

7d ago1:10:36

1:10:36

Welcome back to the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, where we dive deep into the stories behind the pedals, exploring the grit, gear, and glory of bikepacking and ultra-endurance cycling. I’m your host, Chris Panasky, and today’s guest is someone who doesn’t just wander, she thrives in the wild unknown. Kara Folkerts is a trail running guide, bikepacke…

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What you should know before opening a restaurant in Japan 1:13:23

10d ago1:13:23

1:13:23

Meet Alan, owner of Kyojin stewhouse in Shimane, who sits down to talk to us about the challenges of running a restaurant in Japan, and why he pivoted his business to shipping quality frozen food across the country.Follow Alan: https://www.kyojin-company.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alan.kyojin.stewhouse/ ⁨http://www.youtube.com/@kyojinstewhouse …

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How to solve Japan's overtourism problem ft. YamaTrips 1:15:59

13d ago1:15:59

1:15:59

Meet Tony, an entrepreneur and travel consultant who sits down to talk to us about his work helping promote tourism in rural Japanese towns. He sits down to talk to us about marketing strategies, complications of overtourism, and his own journey to and from Japan. Follow Tony: https://yamatrips.com/https://www.instagram.com/yamatrips/Follow us:http…

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The challenges of tourism for a small Japanese town 53:20

17d ago53:20

53:20

Meet Victoria, a local ambassador for Bizen, Okayama, who sits down to talk to us about her work promoting tourism for a small Japanese town. She talks about her time on the Rural Revitalization Program, her transition to independent business owner, and how she found her place as a foreigner in rural Japan.--Follow Victoria:https://www.instagram.co…

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How underground black queer culture ended up in Tokyo 1:08:25

20d ago1:08:25

1:08:25

Meet Kinshasa, an American ballroom commentator, who sits down to talk to us about how underground black queer culture ended up in Tokyo. Kinshasa tells us about the history and importance of ballroom culture, how queer Japanese women brought it over to Japan, and how it evolved to be what it is today. --Follow Kinshasa:https://www.instagram.com/ki…

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Why being a chef in Japan is so exciting 1:06:29

24d ago1:06:29

1:06:29

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we meet Julien, a talented French pastry chef who turned his childhood passion for sweets into a thriving patisserie in Tokyo. From growing up in France to navigating the challenges of running a pastry shop in Japan, Julien shares his journey through culinary school, working in Michelin-starred kitchens, and adap…

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Why Ikea failed in Japan (and what we learned from it) 1:03:52

27d ago1:03:52

1:03:52

In this episode, we chat with Timothy an American entrepreneur and marketing expert who has spent over 30 years living and working in Japan. Timothy shares his journey from arriving with little more than a backpack to building a career in the Japanese business world, including launching his own branding agency. He offers candid insights into Japane…

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What life is like in a Japanese mountain village 1:06:18

1M ago1:06:18

1:06:18

Meet Emily, a documentary filmmaker working in Japan's rural revitalization program. Emily sits down to talk with us about moving to Japan and coming to terms with her Zainichi Japanese roots, what the quiet life in a Japanese mountain village is like, and her passion for foraging wild vegetables.A reminder from Emily: don't eat anything you haven’…

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The Sword Specialist: Why swords are the Soul of Japan 1:10:48

1M ago1:10:48

1:10:48

Meet Paul Martin, one of the world's leading Japanese sword experts, who sits down to talk to us about the make and history of Japanese swords, regulations around ownership, and what we can do about Japan's disappearing art of swordmaking.Follow Paul:https://www.thejapanesesword.com/ @Paul_Martin_The_Japanese_Sword https://www.facebook.com/The.Japa…

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The harsh reality of adopting in Japan 1:30:46

1M ago1:30:46

1:30:46

Today we speak with Andrew, an American who became a foster and adoptive parent in Japan. He opens up about the challenges of navigating Japan’s child welfare system, cultural differences in parenting, and what inspired him to open his home to children in need. Andrew shares his personal journey, misconceptions people often have about adoption in J…

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Tokyo Hoe Tales: How Yurie Collins is bringing stand-up comedy to Japan 1:04:49

1M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we chat with the quick-witted half Japanese half American comedian Yurié Collins aka @babypinkhaus! Yurié opens up about her experiences growing up biracial in Japan and the US, her journey into stand-up comedy, and the cultural challenges and humor she navigates between both countries. From awkward family moment…

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Emirichu's secret to creativity and avoiding burnout as a creator 59:59

2M ago59:59

59:59

Meet Emirichu, a popular artist and content creator known for her storytelling, animations, and deeply personal yet humorous content. From her unexpected start as a teacher to moving across the world, Emirichu opens up about adapting to life in Japan and how her art and voice have changed along the way. We also explore her anime influences, her lov…

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The insane reality of video game music composers 1:19:22

2M ago1:19:22

1:19:22

On today's episode we talk to James, a video game music composer, to talk all about his musical journey and how it lead him to composing music for games and anime in Japan. We go over what it's like working as a western composer in Japan, joining a big company vs being independent, what makes a good song, and all the things a composer thinks about …

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Japan's most misunderstood drink 1:17:03

2M ago1:17:03

1:17:03

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we sit down with Chris Pellegrini, a leading expert on shochu and awamori, and the founder of Honest Drinks. Chris shares his journey from Vermont to Japan, how he fell in love with Japan’s traditional distilled spirits, and why shochu deserves more recognition globally. Follow Christopher: https://honkakuspirits…

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History professor explains why Tokyo is built the way it is 1:18:05

2M ago1:18:05

1:18:05

Today we talk to Tristan, a historian and professor based in Nagoya, Japan. Tristan specializes in the history of Japanese urban development and infrastructure, and shares fascinating insights into how and why Tokyo is built the way it is. From Edo-era planning to post-war reconstruction and subway development, we explore how history has shaped the…

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Nathalie Baillon: Tour Divide Winner, Guiness Record Holder and so much more 1:26:02

2M ago1:26:02

1:26:02

Welcome back to the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, where we dive deep into the stories behind the pedals, exploring the grit, gear, and glory of bikepacking and ultra-endurance cycling. I’m your host, Chris Panasky, and today’s guest is someone who doesn’t just ride hard, she lives full throttle. Nathalie Baillon is an ultra-distance cyclist whose re…

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How he went from The Bachelorette to become Japan's most recognizable stadium MC 1:11:52

2M ago1:11:52

1:11:52

In this episode of Unpacking Japan, we sit down with Malachi, a stadium MC born and raised in Hokkaido, Japan, who shares what it was like growing up as a foreign-looking local in Japan. Malachi talks about finding his identity, navigating life in Japan, and how he eventually ended up as an MC at major sporting events across the country. We also di…

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How this Tokyo chef broke free from the stereotypical immigrant restaurant 55:07

2M ago55:07

55:07

Today we talk to Kanchan, a Nepalese entrepreneur in Tokyo who runs both a restaurant and a fashion brand. From humble beginnings to creating a community hub, Adi shares what it was like building a business in Japan, blending Indian-Nepalese culture with Japanese customer expectations, and how his restaurant grew into something much bigger than jus…

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Beyond the Passes: Meaghan Hackinen's Journey Through the Silk Road Mountain Race 1:20:07

2M ago1:20:07

1:20:07

In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, I sit down once again with ultra-endurance athlete and writer Meaghan Hackinen, fresh off her incredible performance at the 2025 Silk Road Mountain Race. Over 1,954 kilometers and 28,000 meters of climbing through the rugged terrain of Kyrgyzstan, Meaghan not only finished the race, but she also c…

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40 years of crazy stories from a Japanese wedding MC 1:11:34

2M ago1:11:34

1:11:34

Today we talk to Greg Irwin, a voice actor, singer, and wedding MC living in Japan. Greg shares what it’s like to hear your own voice all over Japan—from train stations and commercials to iconic roles like Street Fighter. We also dive into the experience of voicing characters that become part of people’s childhoods, his journey into Japanese voice …

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How Japanese pop culture conquered the world ft. Matt Alt 1:14:42

2M ago1:14:42

1:14:42

Today we talk with Matt Alt, a writer, translator, and long time resident of Japan who you may recognize from appearances on Japanology. Matt shares how his childhood fascination with Japan shaped his life and career, and reflects on cultural changes, soft power, and the evolving image of Japan around the world.Follow Matt: httpes://www.mattalt.com…

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What life is like after 20 years as a professional Japanese mahjong player 1:04:10

2M ago1:04:10

1:04:10

Today we talk to Jenn, a professional mahjong player and content creator based in Japan. She shares her journey into the world of Japanese mahjong, what sets it apart from other styles, and what it's like to be part of a male-dominated gaming industry in Japan. From the cultural nuances of the game to building a career around a passion, Jenn breaks…

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The challenges of doing business between Africa and Japan 58:59

3M ago58:59

58:59

Today we talk to Serges, a multi-business entrepreneur based in Japan. He shares his journey from Africa to Japan, and how he founded companies like Dove Innovations and Japan Connect, which bridges Japanese and international businesses through strategic partnerships. We dive into the cultural differences in business practices between Africa and Ja…

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What it's like to gain citizenship after growing up in Japan as a foreigner 48:23

3M ago48:23

48:23

On this episode we talk to Idai, a successful model in Japan, even being featured in Vogue. We talk about her unique experience growing up black in Japan and how she became comfortable in her own skin. We also talk about her model career and the various ways in which things differ for her in Japan as opposed to other Japanese models. Follow Idai: h…

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More people should know about Japan's gun martial art 59:21

3M ago59:21

59:21

Today on Unpacking Japan, we’re joined by Matt, a gunner and Japanese interpreter from Matsumoto, Japan, with deep knowledge of Japan’s lesser-known gun history. We dive into the fascinating and world of guns in Japan—from the first introduction of firearms to samurai warfare, to how guns were eventually restricted and removed from everyday life. M…

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Japanese MMA is actually insane 55:55

3M ago55:55

55:55

On this episode we talk with Stephane, an MMA fighter in Japan. Stephane goes in depth about being an MMA fighter, like what it's like to learn various kinds of fighting styles, dieting for weigh ins, the business side of getting fights and making money, as well as how MMA culture and rules are different in Japan. Follow Stephane: https://www.insta…

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Unpacking Bikepacking #9 with Carl Presseault 2:00:29

3M ago2:00:29

2:00:29

Welcome back to the Bikepack Adventures Podcast. I’m your host, Chris Panasky, and today we’re diving into another round of Unpacking Bikepacking, a series where we ditch the polished narratives and get real about gear, grit, and the glorious chaos of bikepacking. Whether it’s the saddle that saved your soul or the mud puddle that swallowed your eg…

4M ago1:34:57

1:34:57

🎙️ In this episode of the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, we are sharing the story of a very personal journey—a 2-week family bike trip through Northern France, Belgium and Netherlands. Joined by my wife, who was taking on her first loaded bike tour, and our young daughter, we set out to explore the coastal charm, rich culture, and world-class cycling…