# Janni Olsson

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. 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.
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 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.
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 The Benza 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 and canoeing. She also enjoys sports such as bouldering and cycling. She additionally spent thirteen years practicing Wing Chun.
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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2016–Present | Trails to Oishii Tokyo (former Trails to Tsukiji) | Self | Reporter |
| 2017 | Doki Doki! ワールドTV | Self | Reporter |
| 2017-2018 | Yojimo!Shibugoji (四時も!シブ五時) | Self | |
| 2018 | J-Trip Plan | Self | Reporter |
| 2018 | Tokyo Eye 2020 | Self | Reporter |
| 2018 | Prime News Evening (プライムニュース イブニング) | Self | Reporter |
| 2019 | Nippon hyakumeisan special (にっぽんの百名⼭スペシャル) | Self | Reporter, Special Guest |
| 2019 | The Benza | Alena Treasurehunter | |
| 2020 | Benza English | Alena Treasurehunter | |
| 2020 | At One with Nature National Parks of Japan | Self | Reporter |
| 2020 | Sekai ga hoshii mono ni afureteiru (世界はほしいモノにあふれている) | Self | |
| 2022 | Asagaya Apartment （阿佐ヶ谷アパートメント） | Self | |
| 2022–Present | BOSAI: Be Prepared | Self | Reporter |
| 2022 | Gojinimuchuu (5時に夢中!) | Self | |
| 2022-2023 | Waruiko atsumare (ワルイコあつまれ) | | |
| 2023 | The Masterfully Marbled World of Japanese Wagyu Beef | Self | Reporter |
| 2023 | CYCLE AROUND JAPAN | Self | Reporter |
| 2023 | Journeys in Japan "Amami Oshima: Beauty in the Rain" | Self | Reporter |
| 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 |
| 2023 | Nippon Hyakumeizan (にっぽんの百名⼭) | Self | Reporter, Special Guest |
| 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 |

## Magazine

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2023 | Outdoor Japan Issue 87 「Getting Dirty in Japan」 | Interview |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2022 | TRANSIT Issue 56「いつか泊まりたい、世界の山の宿」 | Writer |
| 2022 | English Journal March Issue「世界で輝く女性たちの言葉」 | Interview |
| 2022 | Anan March Issue 「私たちが見てきた世界と日本のSDGs」 | Interview |
| 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 |
| 2022 | Be-Pal Oct Issue | Model |
| 2021 | 週刊新潮【異邦人のグルメ】Issue 96 | Interview |
| 2021 | Liniere Dec issue「北欧から届いた暮らしのアイデア」 | Interview & Model |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2019 | BE-PAL May Issue | Cover Model & interview |
| 2019 | PEAKS March Issue 「日本で見つけた登山の魅力と癒やし」 | Interview |
| 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 |
| 2017 | GARVY Sep Issue 「ヤンニのアウトドア日記・燕岳・北燕を歩く」 | Writer & Model |
| 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 |

### Magazine Serialisation

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2017 | GARVY （ガルヴィ） | Writer & Model |
| 2018–Present | BE-PAL （ビーパル） | Writer & Model |
| 2023 | Liniere （リンネル） | Writer & Model |

## Radio

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2023 | NHK Radio 英会話タイムトライアル | Navigator |
| 2023 | FM Yokohama The Burn | Interview |
| 2023 | FM Yokohama SUNSTAR WEEKEND JOURNEY | Interview |

## Musical

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
| 2019 | SIGNS! | Various Roles | | |

## Video games

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

## Awards

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