Janni Olsson (born 22 March 1985) is a Swedish TV host, model, actress and outdoor columnist. She is the creator, producer and host of the outdoor documentary series Getting Dirty in Japan which started streaming on Amazon Prime Video in Japan in April 2023 and is known for her appearances on Japanese television shows such as ''Trails to Oishii Tokyo''(former ''Trails to Tsukiji''), ''Cycle Around Japan'', ''J-Trip Plan'', ''Tokyo Eye 2020'', and ''Journeys in Japan'' of

NHK World-Japan NHK World-Japan (formerly and also known simply as NHK World) is the international arm of the Japanese state-controlled public broadcaster NHK. Its services are aimed at the overseas market, similar to those offered by other national public-ser ...

. Olsson plays the character Alena Treasurehunter in the

Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming and Renting, rental service of Amazon (c ...

series ''

The Benza ''The Benza'' is a Japanese web television comedy that premiered on Amazon Prime Video via Prime Video Direct in April 2019 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan. It then premiered in Germany in July 2019. It is currently available in ...

'' and its spin-off series

Benza English ''Benza English'' is a Japanese on demand comedy series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video via Prime Video Direct in April 2020 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan. Shortly after, it began streaming in seventy additional territori ...

and the video game

The Benza RPG ''The Benza RPG'' is a 2020 role-playing video game that takes place in the world of the Japanese on demand comedy series '' The Benza'' and its spin-off series '' Benza English''. It was released in 148 countries via the iOS app store and shor ...

. She additionally works as an outdoor journalist in Japan, being featured in major magazines such as BE-PAL, PEAKS and GARVY.

Career

Olsson started out in the entertainment industry as a

costumed character A costumed performer or suit performer wears a costume that usually, (but not always) covers the performer's face, typically to represent a non-human character such as a mascot or cartoon character. These range from theme park "walk-around" or "m ...

at a

theme park An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...

in Sweden, where she worked for 10 years. Her modeling career started when she was scouted during her time as an exchange student studying at Gakugei University in Tokyo. Her breakthrough came when she first appeared on the Japanese TV show Trails to Oishii Tokyo (formerly: Trails to Tsukiji). She then went on to appear on several Japanese travel programs. In 2018, she joined the independent production company Tokyo Cowboys, on the web drama ”

” as ”Alena”. The following year, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Seoul Webfest 2019 for her performance.

Personal life

Olsson is from Gothenburg, Sweden. As a child, she frequently went camping, horseback riding, and canoeing. Her interest in the outdoors led her to take classes involving outdoor survival skills including an intensive survival course at Bushcraft Denmark. Olsson is also a certified onsen sommelier. After graduating high school, Olsson took a five week trip touring Japan with her brother. It was during this time that she realized she would like to live in Japan. On her days off, she enjoys climbing mountains,

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

and

canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other acti ...

. She also enjoys sports such as

bouldering Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help sec ...

and

cycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

. She additionally spent thirteen years practicing

Wing Chun Wing Chun (Chinese: 詠春 or 咏春, lit. "singing spring"), sometimes spelled Ving Tsun, is a concept-based fighting art, form of Nanquan (martial art), Southern Chinese kung fu and close-quarters system of self-defense. In Mandarin, it is ...

. Her passion for the outdoors led her to having her own columns in magazines such as BE-PAL and GARVY. She writes about both the Japanese and the Scandinavian outdoor scene, earning her the nickname ”The Swedish Outdoor Girl” (sueeden no autodoa gaaru）in Japanese media.

Filmography

Television

Magazine

Magazine Serialisation

Radio

Musical

Video games

Awards

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Olsson, Janni 1985 births Living people Expatriate television personalities in Japan 21st-century Swedish actresses Swedish television actresses Swedish female models Swedish journalists