Podcasting has taken off in Japan. Quality varies, of course, so I put together a list of the very best podcasts being made about Japan today. I do my best to keep it up-to-date. All of the podcasts listed below publish regularly, have solid production values, are genuinely interesting, and have something worthwhile to say about living in Japan.

Please give them a listen, and be sure to let me know if there are any other high-quality Japan-focused podcasts that you think should be included.

I’ve also put together The Japan Podcast Master List, to let you know about shows I have not had the chance to really check out yet.

 

The Very Best of the Best

Japan Innovation & Startup Podcasts

Disrupting Japan
A fantastic source of information on startups, venture capital, and innovation in Japan. Each week, Tim Romero sits down over beers with founders and CEOs to talk about fundraising, selling to Japanese enterprises, and the social pressures of starting your own company in Japan.
Japan Times: Deep Dive
A great conversational and informative dive into the stories behind Japan’s headlines. The Japan Times is one of the oldest sources of English-language information about Japan, and it’s great to see them moving into podcasting.
Coral Capital
James and Ken from Coral Capital talk with VCs and founders about venture capital and startups in Japan. It’s an interesting mix of Japanese and Western voices. Episodes come out sporadically, and I look forward to them.

Japanese Lifestyle Podcasts

Japan Eats
Everyone loves Japanese food, but if you really want to understand it you should listen to Japan Eats. Each week, New York-based food writer Akiko Katayama and her guests dive in-depth into a specific Japanese dish, drink or aspect of Japanese food culture.
Uncanny Japan
Every month Thersa Matsuura explores a different and little-known area of Japanese culture, folklore, and language. Uncanny Japan leans towards the creepy side of Japan, which is kind of a refreshing counterpoint to the cuteness that permeates modern Japanese culture.

Podcasts for Learning Japanese

News in Slow Japanese
Each week Sakura picks an article from the news and reads it to you twice. Once is slow Japanese and once at regular speed. It’s a great way to practice your listening skills. They don’t link to the podcast on the site, but a quick iTunes search will turn it up.
Bilingual News
Despite the title, this is not really a news podcast. Each week, Michael & Mami read a few current event stories in both Japanese and English and then chat about them while bouncing back and forth between the two languages. It’s perfect for making sure you can talk about current events with your Japanese colleagues.
Japanese Pod 101
You have to buy a separate subscription if you want access to the full library of Japanese lessons and learning tools, but their free podcast and video lessons are well worth your time. A few times a week, Japanese Pod puts out lessons ranging from the very beginner to intermediate levels.

Japanese History Podcasts

History of Japan
If you are a Japanese history buff, you probably already listen to this podcast. Even if you are not, however, you might want to give it a listen. History scholar Isaac Meyer tells stories of significant Japanese historical events and lets each tale unfold over several months.
Samurai Archives Japanese History Podcast
This is the official podcast of the Samurai Archives History Forum. The emphasis here is less on historical storytelling and more on a detailed analysis of specific events in Japanese history.  The hosts also discuss how historical events still influence Japanese society today.

The Japan Podcast Master List

When I first starting maintaining this list, I actually listened to all of the English-language podcasts about Japan. However, since independent podcasting has grown so much in Japan, I can’t possibly keep up with them all. I don’t want to leave anyone out, so I’ve extended my Japan-podcast list to include podcasts that I don’t listen to regularly, but that are created by people passionate about their subject, and that have been recommended to me by podcast fans in Japan.

These are the podcasts that meet all of the following criteria:

  • Topical: English-language podcast about Japan
  • Established : A minimum of seven episodes released
  • Active: At least one in the last six months
  • Loved: At least one fan has told me they enjoy it

With so many new independent podcasts being created (and abandoned) all the time, I’ll need your help to keep this list current. Please let me know if I’ve overlooked anyone.

 

Arama! Japan
Japanese pop culture chat, celebrity gossip, and talk about games and anime.
Abroad in Japan
Abroad in Japan is the podcast companion to one of the biggest English-language YouTube channels in Japan. It features Chris Broad’s sarcastic take on life in Japan.
Bilingual News
Michael & Mami read a few current event stories in both Japanese and English and then chat about them while bouncing back and forth between the two languages.
Coral Capital
James and Ken from Coral Capital talk with VCs and founders about venture capital and startups in Japan. It’s an interesting mix of Japanese and Western voices.
Cutting Edge
Long-time Japan business author and trainer Greg Story talks about sales and doing business in Japan.
Deep in Japan
Weekly interviews, thoughts and rants about music, books, people and just life in Japan in general from thee foreigners living in Japan.
Disrupting Japan
A deep dive on Japanese startups, venture capital, and innovation. Tim Romero sits down over beers with founders and CEOs to discuss fundraising, selling to enterprises, and the social pressures of starting a company in Japan.
Got Faded Japan
Johnny and his friends get drunk and talk about Japanese events, music, and sub-culture. Got Faded Japan was one of the first English-language podcasts about Japan and is still going strong after more than 10 years.
History of Japan
If you are a Japanese history buff, you probably already listen to this podcast. Even if you are not, however, you might want to give it a listen. History scholar Isaac Meyer tells stories of significant Japanese historical events and lets each tale unfold over several months.
Inside Japan
Originally called the ALTInisder, James rebranded to reflect the range of topics he covers. There is a lot of English-instruction-related content, the show also covers culture and current events.
Japan 2.0
David and Matt are two friends that seem to have a great time podcasting about Japan’s pop-culture, little-known festivals, and off-the-wall fashion trends.
Japan Eats
Everyone loves Japanese food, but if you really want to understand it you should listen to Japan Eats. Each week, Akiko Katayama dive into a specific Japanese dish, drink or aspect of Japanese food.
Japan Experts
Traveling in Japan is amazing. Miyuki Seguchi is a bilingual licensed tour-guide who shares tips and secrets about how to get the most of your trips to, or within, Japan.
Japan on the Record
American scholars of Japan provide thoughtful commentary and analysis of issues in the news.
Japanese Pod 101
You have to buy a separate subscription for the full library of lessons, but their free podcast and video lessons are well worth your time.
Japan Times: Deep Dive
A conversational dive into the stories behind Japan’s headlines. The Japan Times is one of the oldest sources of English-language information about Japan, and it’s great to see them podcasting.
Learn Japanese Pod
Alex started podcasting as he was learning Japanese to share his journey to fluency. He and his Japanese friends team up to help others learn Japanese and to share tips he wishes someone had shared with him.
Made in Japan
 A podcast about everyday Japan and the people who live there. Interviews with people who have made it, and with those who have not.
NHK World English News
Does what it says on the tin. This is the news. In English. Read to you by NHK.
Now and Zen
Andrew Hankinson interviews Japan focused business professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in bars around Tokyo and share stories and insights about Japan.
Samurai Archives Japanese History Podcast
This is the official podcast of the Samurai Archives History Forum. The emphasis here is less on historical storytelling and more on a detailed analysis of specific events in Japanese history.  The hosts also discuss how historical events still influence Japanese society today.
Scaling Your Company Podcast
Tyson Batino talks about founding and growing a company in Japan. Each episode he brings on a guest to focus on a particular aspect of scaling a company in Japan.
Tofugu
Tofugu is one of the biggest Japanese-language learning sites out there, so it was only a matter of time until they expanded to podcasting. Lots of mini-lessons and practical advice on speaking everyday Japanese.
Trash Taste
Three Western YouTubers relocated to Japan to be closer to the anime and pop-culture that they so dearly love, and they launched a podcast to talk about it together.
Tokyo on Fire
If you are a Japanese policy wonk, you need to be listening to Tokyo on Fire. In short, weekly videos, Tim Langley tears apart a current event and explain what they think the Japanese press is overlooking. Tim seems.
Tokyo Speaks
This podcast introduces you to a wide cross-section of Japan’s international community. There are interviews with entrepreneurs, artists, social advocates, salarymen. and people are still trying to figure out who they are. Early episodes were recorded in the back of the host’s 1999 Chevy Van, but the podcast has a more fixed address these days.
Uncanny Japan
Thersa Matsuura explores little-known areas of Japanese culture, folklore, and language. Uncanny Japan leans towards the creepy side of Japan.
Voices in Japan
Podacasting from snowy Sapporo, Burke and Ben talk about what it’s like to live in Japan. They talk about work, studying Japanese, customs, holidays, traditions, and anything else that comes to mind.