Janni Olsson

Janni Olsson (born 22 March 1985) is a Swedish TV host, model, actress and outdoor columnist.^[1] She is the creator, producer and host of the outdoor documentary series Getting Dirty in Japan^[2] 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^[3](former Trails to Tsukiji), Cycle Around Japan,^[4] J-Trip Plan,^[5] Tokyo Eye 2020,^[6] and Journeys in Japan of NHK World-Japan. Olsson plays the character Alena Treasurehunter in the Amazon Prime Video series The Benza and its spin-off series Benza English and the video game The Benza RPG.^[7]

Janni Olsson
Born	(1985-03-22) 22 March 1985 (age 40) Gothenburg, Sweden
Occupation(s)	TV host, actress, model, outdoor columnist
Employer	Free Wave Co. Ltl.

She additionally works as an outdoor journalist in Japan, being featured in major magazines such as BE-PAL,^[8][9] PEAKS^[10] and GARVY.^[11]

Career

Olsson started out in the entertainment industry as a costumed character at a theme park 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.^[12]

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.^{[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]}

In 2018, she joined the independent production company Tokyo Cowboys, on the web drama The Benza as Alena.^[24][25] The following year, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Seoul Webfest 2019 for her performance.^[26]

Personal life

Olsson is from Gothenburg, Sweden. As a child, she frequently went camping, horseback riding, and canoeing.^[27] 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.^[28]

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.^[12]

On her days off, she enjoys climbing mountains, hiking and canoeing. She also enjoys sports such as bouldering and cycling. She additionally spent thirteen years practicing Wing Chun.^[12]

Her passion for the outdoors led her to having her own columns in magazines such as BE-PAL^[29] and GARVY.^[30] 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.^[29]

Filmography

Janni Olsson Benza English Premiere

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2016–Present	Trails to Oishii Tokyo (former Trails to Tsukiji)	Self	Reporter	[31]
2017	Doki Doki! ワールドTV	Self	Reporter	[32]
2017-2018	Yojimo!Shibugoji (四時も!シブ五時)	Self		[33]
2018	J-Trip Plan	Self	Reporter	[34]
2018	Tokyo Eye 2020	Self	Reporter	[35]
2018	Prime News Evening (プライムニュース イブニング)	Self	Reporter	[36]
2019	Nippon hyakumeisan special (にっぽんの百名⼭スペシャル)	Self	Reporter, Special Guest	[37]
2019	The Benza	Alena Treasurehunter		[38]
2020	Benza English	Alena Treasurehunter		[39]
2020	At One with Nature National Parks of Japan	Self	Reporter	[40]
2020	Sekai ga hoshii mono ni afureteiru (世界はほしいモノにあふれている)	Self		[41]
2022	Asagaya Apartment （阿佐ヶ谷アパートメント）	Self		[42]
2022–Present	BOSAI: Be Prepared	Self	Reporter	[43]
2022	Gojinimuchuu (5時に夢中!)	Self		[44]
2022-2023	Waruiko atsumare (ワルイコあつまれ)			[45]
2023	The Masterfully Marbled World of Japanese Wagyu Beef	Self	Reporter	[46]
2023	CYCLE AROUND JAPAN	Self	Reporter	[4]
2023	Journeys in Japan "Amami Oshima: Beauty in the Rain"	Self	Reporter	[47]
2023	Getting Dirty in Japan (ゲッティング・ダーティ・イン・ジャパン)	Self	Host, Producer & Creator	[48]
2023	Nippon Hyakumeizan (にっぽんの百名⼭)	Self	Reporter, Special Guest	[49]
2024	Gaikokujin ga erabu nihon no onsenchi sousenkyo (外国人が選ぶ好きな日本の温泉地総選挙)	Self	Special Guest	[50]

Magazine

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2023	Outdoor Japan Issue 87 「Getting Dirty in Japan」		Interview	[48]
2023	NHK Publishing 「スウェーデンの人が英語も話せる理由は？【英会話タイムトライアル】」		Interview	[51]
2022	Liniere Aug Issue「Outdoor with Nordic Style 北欧スタイルに学ぶ自然に親しむアウトドア」		Interview & Model	[52][53]
2022	TRANSIT Issue 56「いつか泊まりたい、世界の山の宿」		Writer	[54]
2022	English Journal March Issue「世界で輝く女性たちの言葉」		Interview	[55]
2022	Anan March Issue 「私たちが見てきた世界と日本のSDGs」		Interview	[56]
2022	GOODSPRESS Oct Issue 「キャンプ&アクティビティに取り入れたい"アウトドア・フィーカ"【趣味と遊びの秘密基地ギア】」		Interview	[57]
2022	Be-Pal Oct Issue		Model	[58]
2021	週刊新潮【異邦人のグルメ】Issue 96		Interview	[59]
2021	Liniere Dec issue「北欧から届いた暮らしのアイデア」		Interview & Model	[60]
2021	PAPERSKY Nov Issue 「Old Japanese Highway歩いて旅する、日本の古道 祖谷街道トレイル」		Model	[61]
2019	BE-PAL Dec Issue 「本格的北欧式サウナに北欧ガールが入ってみた！」		Interview & Model	[62]
2019	BE-PAL Aug Issue 「ヤンニ・オルソンの北欧アウトドアのススメ」		Writer & Model	[63]
2019	BE-PAL May Issue		Cover Model & interview	[64]
2019	PEAKS March Issue 「日本で見つけた登山の魅力と癒やし」		Interview	[65]
2017	GARVY Oct/Nov Issue 「 全身で自然と戯れるボルダリング×キャンプ 」		Model	[66]
2017	GARVY Sep Issue 「ヤンニのアウトドア日記・燕岳・北燕を歩く」		Writer & Model	[67]
2017	GARVY April Issue 「服と冒険とガール・スリルと春を探して西伊豆林道ドライブ」		Model	[68]

Magazine Serialisation

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2017	GARVY （ガルヴィ）	Writer & Model		[69]
2018–Present	BE-PAL （ビーパル）	Writer & Model		[70]
2023	Liniere （リンネル）	Writer & Model		[71]

Radio

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2023	NHK Radio 英会話タイムトライアル	Navigator		[51][72][73]
2023	FM Yokohama The Burn	Interview		[74]
2023	FM Yokohama SUNSTAR WEEKEND JOURNEY	Interview		[75]

Musical

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2019	SIGNS!	Various Roles		[76]

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2021	The Benza RPG	Alena Treasurehunter	Voice Actor	[77]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Role	Result	Ref.
2019	Festigious International Film Festival	Best Ensemble Cast	Alena – The Benza	Won	[78]
2019	Festigious International Film Festival	Best Original Song "Running Around"	Self – The Benza Soundtrack	Won	[78]
2019	Seoul Webfest	Best Supporting Actress	Alena – The Benza	Won	[79]