Showtime at Japan Expert Insights

About Showtime at Japan Expert Insights

In this entertainment industry-focused version of Japan Expert Insights, Michael William Foster (Boojazz Studios) and co-host Maya Matsuoka (Japan Expert Insights) will explore the multifaceted world of Japanese entertainment, culture, and industry trends. We’ll feature in-depth discussions every other week with leading experts who offer valuable perspectives on the latest developments and timeless aspects of Japan’s entertainment landscape.

Publisher

Boojazz Studios and Japan Expert Insights

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Jan 2025

Latest episode

21 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

46 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Aug 2026

   ORiHANA: A Modern J-Pop Project w/ Olya Prohorova & Hana Fujisaki

   This week on the podcast, we welcome ORiHANA, a Chicago-based J-pop and anime duo founded by award-winning musicians: violinist Olya Prohorova and pianist Hana Fujisaki. Enamored with heartfelt Japanese pop melodies from an early age, violinist Olya Prohorova founded ORiHANA after discovering J-pop through anime. Her passion for Japanese music and culture evolved into ORiHANA, a modern project reimagining beloved songs from anime series and films, alongside popular tracks by celebrated Japanese artists including Spitz, Mika Nakashima, RADWIMPS, Angela Aki, Suneohair, YUI, and Kenshi Yonezu. ORiHANA brings a fresh perspective to well-known music, rearranging pieces for violin and piano by blending Olya’s classical foundation with Hana’s jazz expertise. Their work is featured on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Violinist Olya Prohorova is a versatile musician whose career spans multiple genres, from classical to rock, country, and bluegrass. Ms. Prohorova has performed internationally across Italy, Germany, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Japan, the United States, and Canada, winning awards at violin and chamber music competitions and sharing the stage with prominent artists like Augustin Dumay, Tessa Lark, Anna Tifu, and Uto Ughi. She has performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with Grammy-winning artist PJ Morton, and has recorded as a studio musician with celebrated artists including Kirk Franklin, John Legend, and Chronixx. In 2021, she teamed up with pianist Hana Fujisaki to create ORiHANA. Hana Fujisaki is one of Chicago’s most sought-after pianists, organists, composers, and music educators. She has earned honors at multiple music competitions, including the Yamaha Electone Festival and the Luminarts Jazz Competition. Hana studied organ at the Yamaha Music School in Tokyo, Japan, before moving to Chicago to advance her musical career. She earned her Bachelor of Music from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, studying jazz with Jim Trompeter, Scott Mason, and Paul Wertico, and her Master of Music from Northwestern University under Jeremy Kahn and Victor Goines. In addition to her degrees, Hana holds a Yamaha teaching certification and currently teaches jazz and classical piano and directs a choir at Harold Washington College. As a performer, she collaborates with diverse musical projects including Chicago Samba, soul artist Brandon James, Los Perros Cubanos, the Forever Frida project, and ORiHANA.

2. 

   7 Aug 2026

   Japanese/American Untold Stories with Chie Schuller

   Chie Schuller is the founder of Mano Global Learning and a U.S.–Japan intercultural trainer and consultant. Bringing people together despite differences is at the heart of everything she does.Having lived and worked extensively in both Japan and the United States, Chie is a Japanese-English bilingual and bicultural professional who has spent nearly 30 years helping organizations and professionals bridge cultural differences, strengthen communication, and build trust across international teams. Through intercultural training, consulting, and communication support, she is passionate about helping people connect beyond language so they can collaborate successfully and thrive.Chie believes there are countless untold stories behind the long-standing relationship between Japan and the United States—stories of Japanese expats, their families, American colleagues, and local communities whose everyday efforts have quietly shaped the business partnerships, cultural exchange, and friendships we enjoy today. Chie is also passionate about preserving and sharing the stories that have shaped the Japanese American experience throughout history.

3. 

   24 Jul 2026

   The Art of Crafting Subtitles w/ Harumi Yamamoto

   This week's guest is Harumi Yamamoto, a Toronto-based audiovisual translator with a particular passion for crafting subtitles for Japanese films. Having lived extensively in both Japan and Canada, she brings a nuanced cross-cultural perspective to her work, helping Japanese voices and stories resonate with global audiences while preserving their authenticity. An avid admirer of both classic and contemporary Japanese cinema, she brings both personal enthusiasm and professional insight to her appreciation of the art form.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact Showtime at Japan Expert Insights

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.