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Published by Matthew Owens & Devin Hurt
Mat and Devin, having spent the majority of their adult lives in Japan, unfold the layers of this fascinating country, bringing you stories, explaining social issues, doing deep dives into the history, and everything in between. Your one stop shop for Japan.
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In this series Mat and Devin continue their voyeuristic journey into the houses and, a little smidgen, the minds of the Japanese people. We pick up from last episode with the beginning of modernity brought on by the Meiji restoration, continue on to the tabla rasa created by the destruction of WWII and the mad building rush that created the somewhat acquired taste of the modern eclectic residential areas found throughout Japan that continues to this day. Listen on if you want to discover about the shocking price differences between Japan and much of the West, have some of your preconceptions burst, and hear first hand about the joys of Japanese bathrooms. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this series Mat and Devin sneak a peak under the stylish eaves of the Japanese house. If you've ever wondered 'how the other half live' in historic Japan, we have you covered in part one of the series. We travel all the way back into the mists of history to the ubiquitous pit houses, smattered here and there with stone age skyscrapers, and all the way to luxury palaces and street design that possibly inspired the modern supermarket! Listen on to hear about houses in Japan from pre-history to the mid 19th century. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin continue the deep dive into the long connection between the Netherlands and Japan. We reveal what exactly it was that made the dutch willing to sail around the world and endure the tiny claustrophobic prison island of Dejima. We also explore the unraveling of this relationship once Japan opened up, even to the point of open hostilities, and the more wholesome relationship they maintain to this day. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin , fresh from the disappointment of Japan's tragic loss in the world cup, bury themselves in the past, and explore the unique relationship between another unlucky team this year, the Netherlands. We detail the fateful early tragedy that first brought the Dutch to Japan, and how they eventually became the last men standing. Listen on to find out how, as Japan was famously closing their door to the Western world, they left that door ever so slightly ajar... As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin lace up their football boots and seek the origins of the beautiful game in the land of the rising sun. From early signs of success to the doldrums of large company teams, we trace the revival under the suspiciously high salary of Gary Lineker, and recent near misses of the Samurai Blue. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin keep riding the true crime band wagon, although this one is more of a mystery, you can decide if a crime was committed or not! For part two we explore the mystifying case of the giant SOS sign from the 80's which has a whole host of unanswered questions for you to ponder. Listen on to find out about one of Japan's most famous mysteries, involving missing persons, superhuman building skills, and some very strange goings on in the mountains of Northern Japan! As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin jump on the true crime band wagon, if it ain't broke don't fix it as they say! Part 1 we delve into a mysterious unsolved robbery from the 60's which leaves people scratching their heads to this day. This story has it all, fake cops, cyanide, getaway cars and bucket loads of cash! listen on to find out about one of Japan's most famous heists. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin continue on their whistle-stop tour of the regional specialities to be found in Japan. This time we veer off the comforting main island of Honshu and plunge into the icy waters of Hokkaido for King crab, take a peek at the prefecture with a frankly ludicrous love of Udon noodles, and head south, where you'll learn about the incongruous love of tiny shortbread cookies in Okinawa. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin, dip a toe into the world of Meibutsu, the regional specialities which define the identity of all the different regions and towns of Japan, creating a must eat, or must buy, product in basically every town or city in Japan! Listen on to hear about the prefecture that's gone all in on peanuts, or the practically violent rivalry for Japan's best Okonomiyaki - Japan's answer to the pizza, pancake, and lasagne rolled in to one. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin dive right in to the swirling mire of Japanese post war politics. Intended as an overview, we chart the early experimentation with democracy following the war,through decades of LDP dominance and how it came about, and check in on the state of play with Japan's very own Iron Lady. While Japanese politics can feel deliberately opaque, we hope the light of unfolding Japan is able to pierce the shroud and leave you with at least a glimmer of an insight! As always, if you want to get intouch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon orinstagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin lift the lid on the state of Edo to peer into the lives of the ordinary city dwellers. We explore the flourishing of the printing industry, Tea Houses, Kabuki, Firemen and much more, discovering a slew of customs and traditions that remain vibrant to this day, and some very surprising modern cultural elements that started way back in Feudal Japan, including the first fan mail and shady backroom 'art' for sale! As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin delve further into the governance of the Edo period, exploring how the families of the daimyos were kept as respected guests (ie hostages!) of the Shogun to keep them in line, the long biannual progressions to Edo draining time and resources to keep everyone compliant, and how 1,000 'policemen' managed to keep a city of 1 million under control. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin embark on another multi-part epic about everything Edo, the long period of peace and isolation that still in many ways defines Japan to this day. In part one we look at the bones of the system introduced by the shoguns to run society, from poor but proud samurai, the emperor shut up away in luxury, and power through land, and rice of course! As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreonor instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
This week Mat and Devin have a miniature time traveling mission all the way to three weeks ago, as we delve into the traditions and history of New Year in Japan. We explain the entrenched TV traditions, the symbolic, traditional foods that suspiciously resemble dad jokes, and the most expensive fish in the world. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreonor instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
First of all apologies for the long delay! We had a busy run in to the Christmas/New year holidays with work and then family commitments, but we're back and we've got a special episode on castles to get right back into it! We take you through the history and design of these magnificent structures, from early simple hill forts to the majestic, later warring states beauties. Learn all about how and why they were constructed, and maybe gain a few tips on the best one's to go and visit if you come to Japan, including Devin's very own Matsumoto, barely a mediaeval cannon shot's distance from his house! As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin prise themselves off the white sandy beaches of Okinawa and instead sit down to a performance of shamisen and sake, accompanied by a professional entertainer known as a Geisha. Or, we would if that was remotely feasible, so, in lieu of the real thing, we will take you through the origins and roles of the Geisha, the courtesans they are often confused with, and dispel a few myths along the way. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin conclude the epic deep dive into all things Okinawa, we have giant fruit bats in downtown Naha, 'sea grapes', tips and favourite places to go, and the thorny issue of the continued American and Japanese military presence throughout the islands. As always, if you wantto get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode Mat and Devin are finally back podding together, and we ended up having so much fun that we went way over time, so we split it in half, this now being part 2 of 3 episodes on Okinawa! We begin by getting a little distracted by autumn in Japan from last episode, and a few recollections of his wedding, before picking up with the transfer of power from America to Japan, thoughts on the differences in personality and time-keeping culture of the Okinawans vs the Japanese, and a mini deep dive into the famous snake liquor! As always, if you wantto get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
In this episode, Mat is forced to go solo due to Devin's recent nuptials, but do not be alarmed, he will be back and raring to go very soon! As it is, a shorter episode where Mat looked out of his window and gained inspiration from the season around him. We have fish guts, blood red leaves, and dangerously high festival floats to bring in the new season! As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram:instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon:patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email:unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
Many apologies for the delay for the latest episode, however, in partial recompense, we have the first bumper episode in a two part series on Japan's southern islands, the Okinawa island chain, in this episode Mat and Devin unfold the layers of Okinawa's unique history and geography, that have shaped its past and continue to mold its future, from it's pristine coral beaches to unfortunate attempts to woo the emperor of China. As always, feel free to get in touch or help support the show using the links below Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com
Ranking source
Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 20, 2026.
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