Youtube comments of (@LifeWhereImFrom).

  1. SUBTITLES! I have two English versions. The regular "English" only translates the Japanese portions. The "English UK" subtitles have captions for the entire video. If you don't know how to change your subtitle settings, check out https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/100078
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  2. FYI: This was filmed mostly in February and a little bit in early March, much before Tokyo was put into a state of emergency. The family is all doing safe and well at home nowadays. EDIT Also hit that CC button for subtitles!
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  3. Who knows if people will see this, but David didn't spit back into the purification font water (what I called the water station). He spit the water outside of it, where it gets drained away. Also, the water is constantly replenished, so it's not standing water. Hope this helps some confusion... if anyone sees this.
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  4. Like most projects, this started simple. Go out for a day and film some of Tokyo's rich areas. It turned out in multiple days of filming and many, many days of research about wealth and properties in Tokyo. I'm working on a video about Christmas and New Year's in Japan. I'm really behind, but hope to get it out before the year is over! Happy Holidays Everyone!
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  5. Azalee now has their own YouTube channel, where you can find more videos about their nursery school at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGG83Iv6mSdizKpHzR9Wm9g COST - In Tokyo, most of the wards (cities) have subsidies for accredited daycare schools http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160611/p2a/00m/0na/021000c. It's on a need's basis, so the more you make, the less you are subsidized. Some even have special subsidies the more kids you have. While the facilities shown are more colorful then shown, the instruction and quality of care is not outside the norm. Here's a calculator you can use https://23kids.tokyo/calc-edogawa.html. If you use Google Translate, you should be able to play with it in English. It's already set for Edogawa ward, where the school is located. This is an approximation tool, but from my experience in the hoikuen system, the numbers seem fairly accurate to me. Oh, what are the numbers? For a family with an income around $45,000 USD a year (around the median household income for the area), you pay $230 a month for a 0-2 year old, and $150 between 3 and 6. Those figures are using the calculator, and not necessarily for this facility. I'll be doing another video and I'll get into the details of costs and standards. But again, based on my experience, the costs given by the calculator seem like they're in the ballpark.
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  6. Haha, I think I'll try some advance question answering: 1. I totally lied, every Japanese meal doesn't have rice. It's a bit of a joke in our family. Mummy panics if there's not rice in the rice cooker. We don't eat rice at every meal, but it's pretty rare that someone in our family doesn't eat rice at least once a day. 2. Aiko was sick that day (as seen at the end of the video), so we didn't do much talking while filming that day. I normally wouldn't have filmed (we only film if the kids want to), but her great Uncle and Aunt had put together the meal for us just so we could film it, so we didn't want to waste the opportunity. 3. I did the subtitles in English, but left out a few spots where I didn't quite know how to translate correctly. I'll try to get it sorted when mummy comes home tonight. If you want to sub in other languages, please be my guest :-) 4. Oops, forgot this one! Yes, mummy doesn't like to show her face. That's just how she is. Nothing more than that :-)
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  7. Because I've seen a few comments about cost and I know not everyone checks the description, here's some more information about the costs. In Japan, hospitals and clinics must be non-profit and owned and operated by physicians. Health care costs are standardized across the country, with no single physicians able to charge a different price for a procedure. However, non-medical expenses, such as rent and food in a nursing home, are up to the discretion of the respective facilities. While costs at Azalee vary patient by patient, Dr. Kurusu, the chairman of the Azalee Group, estimated that a patient might pay about $2,000USD a month for all expenses, including food, lodging, and their portion of medical costs (the Japanese government covers 90% of medical expenses for seniors).
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  8. This is one of the videos that really did take me 5 years to make. That's how long I've been living in Japan with my family. Not only did I need to spend the time to experience enough to be able to speak about this, but if you look at the shots, I had to pull a lot from existing videos I've shot over the years. By the way, this is only my experience with my family, so take that for what it's worth. Thanks!
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  9. 93 hours! I did the math... and I did it wrong! Thanks for the few people that did catch the error in my ways.
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  10. A bit of a different feel and pacing for this story. I hope you all enjoy. - Greg
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  11. Did the world really need a nearly 50 minute video of my family, and let's admit it, mostly me eating half a hundred Japanese ice creams and other frozen treats? I suppose we'll see, won't we? I'll try and answer some questions about the treats if I can, but I think the video contains all my knowledge about Japanese ice cream that I possess.
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  12. Yeah, he's doing just fine. I passed by the other day and the place was packed. He has a strong customer base now.
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  13. Apologies to Benny (Fluent in 3 months). I didn't set out to talk about him at all when I started the video. The intent was initially to commiserate in misery with other struggling language learners. I always get asked about my Japanese, so this was my attempt to answer that. Really, the whole video was just a bunch of excuses and complaints from me about my ineptitude and I totally understood that from the start. For anyone, including Benny, I think it's commendable to try and learn something new. So my hat is truly off to you, I respect the effort. It's hard to fail but still continue on. And I'm not being sarcastic, I truly believe this. Something that turned me around and motivated me to be more consistent in studying Japanese was when I found out it takes MANY, MANY hours of study to become basic, let alone proficient. My goal for the past few years has been to study 60 minutes a day. When I found out basic was estimated at 1,000 hours, I realized that of course I wasn't good, because I needed to put in more time. So instead of making me sad, it actually made me realize I have to look at this as a life long project and that I can't just hack my way to success. So that's how Benny came into the video, because I wanted to believe that I could spend 3 or 6 months, really studying hard, and then I'd be proficient at Japanese. But at least for me, this is not the case, and understanding the difficulty of the task at hand makes it easier to soldier on. One of the big factors that prevented me (and prevents me) from learning Japanese is my fear of failure. It's just something I have in my mindset and the way I get past it is by dedicating myself to things. (Sidenote: there are some things I don't mind failing, so it's not like I'm dedicated to everything in my life). But one example of my dedication (fear of failure) is when I make videos. I really try to not get things wrong. I have to limit myself and say that there's only so much research I can do before I can move on and finish a video. I believe it's this attitude of wanting to get something right before showing people, that results in me being able to be half-decent at making videos. But for language learning, I think type of attitude is detrimental, so I have to consciously fight my natural urge to shut my mouth. One thing I tried but didn't mention was to study full time in a Japanese language school for 2 months. I wanted to study longer, but I had to get back to life. I got marginally better, despite trying really hard, but the big success was that it let me overcome my fear of speaking Japanese in public. So now I can at least do that. Pimsleur is helping me to speak, because it makes me repeat things over, and over, and over. Even if I forget in a week, I can listen to a lesson again and then it come back faster than when I first started out. Something I'm also starting to do is work one-on-one with a tutor. It's also been one of my goals to get a 1 day a week job in Japan, purely so that it forces me to speak Japanese. If I can find a job that is flexible in both my poor language ability and my main work schedule, I would totally do it. Okay, I think that's all I had wanted to say in the video but forgot to. The video was originally 25 minutes long before I cut a ton out and then added a little bit of new stuff in. Thanks everyone!
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  14. Subtitles! Just hit that CC button and you'll get your choice of many languages. Thanks to all those that did the subtitles.
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  15. This was a total spur of the moment video. My wife heard that our favourite ramen place was now doing take out because of the 2nd State of Emergency here in Tokyo, so of course she went and got some. Aiko was actually home early from school today, so she got to join in on the "emergency ramen" festivities. Don't worry about Shin, he ate some too when he got home. The great thing about this take out is that it tasted pretty much exactly like it does in the shop. We were extra excited because this was noukou tsukemen (thick broth dipping noodle style ramen) that hasn't been available at the shop for many years now. Anyway, hope you all enjoy this very quickly edited and short video.
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  16. Yes, I called the town hall “city hall” a couple times. But otherwise, how did you enjoy this quick look at Kofu?
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  17. Back in Canada, and my memory is very fuzzy from five years ago, I'd say lasagna, perogies, and Breyers ice cream were probably some of the top stuff in our family freezer, besides things like frozen meats. What are the top three things in your freezer?
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  18. My question at the end, "What's a house party like where you're from?" obviously is a very different question now than was intended back when I filmed this. Only a couple weeks has passed, yet the world is such a different place. Our family has been on self-imposed isolation for a bit now, seeing how things have gone around the world. Keep safe everyone and I hope this can bring a bit of lightness into your lives for a brief moment. - Greg
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  19. FAQ Time! Why do the kids still share a room? When we were looking at homes we specifically looked for one that had four rooms. Since I work from home, one could be used for the office, one for parents, and one each for the kids. Right now we only use two rooms for sleeping, as my desk fits in my bedroom and the kids prefer sleeping in the same room. If one of the kids wants to sleep in their own room, they can go to the middle one on the top floor or the one one the first floor. In Japan I know families that all sleep together in the same room, even with kids who are teenagers. It'd be kind of interesting to see how other families set up their rooms in Japan, but it's quite a personal thing to get access to not only people's homes, but beyond their living room and into their bedrooms.
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  20. Oh, a big shout out to my bros! They all agreed to be interviewed with no notice. I filmed them all in a single day. Love you guys!
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  21. I never realised zoning laws made such a difference until I started looking into why I was able to afford to purchase a home in Tokyo, something I couldn't do in major Canadian cities. Do you think Japanese zoning would work where you live?
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  22. FAQs (Thanks for all the questions!) ¥3864 (~$40USD) for the food? That's for two adult meals (Aiko and I), one kid's meal (Shin), three drink bars, and three desserts. If you took out the drink bars and dessert it would have been about half the price. Do you have to pay for all the drinks? No, the water and green tea are free. Those are on the left side of the drink bar and you can get them yourself. In restaurants water is always free and often tea (usually green) is as well. Paying for food. Every time you order food, you're brought a new receipt and leave it where the ordering button is. When you're done, you bring it up to the cashier to pay, and they usually scan a barcode or QR code to pull up the order on the computer. You don't tip in Japan and only pay the price shown on the screen. You can split bills if you like. This restaurant is part of a company that owns many different family franchise restaurants, so you can pay with credit card and cash. If you go to smaller restaurants, they may only take cash. How do you write your name on the wait list if you don't know Japanese? If you stand around someone will help you (at least that's my experience). If not, just gesture to some staff when you see them come by and I'm sure you'll be able to get buy. These franchise family restaurants all have great picture menus, so you can easily point and get by. How do the wooden keys work for the shoe lockers? If you watch the video again, you'll see how they work. You take it out of the slot to lock the door, and put it in the slot to open it. Can an adult order from the kids menu? You're not supposed to. Some have the age range written on the menu. If you have kids with you and want to order something for an adult, I'm sure you can get away with it. Does everyone share the bathroom slippers? Yes. I was surprised that there was a smoking section in the restaurant. Yeah, that's one of the things that really gets to me when eating out at restaurants in Japan. I'm allergic to smoke, and don't want the kids exposed, so we end up eating at franchise restaurants a lot as they tend to have divided areas that have OK ventilation. Where is the mom? She wasn't at the restaurant this time, otherwise we probably would have shown her food. She was chilling at home.
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  23. In case you didn't see until the end, Yamamoto Sensei (山本先生) said that we talked a lot about Japanese food etiquette, but please don't worry too much. She'd like you to enjoy eating food in Japan. Except for passing food between two sets of chopsticks or sticking your chopsticks straight up into rice (which are associated with funerals), I don't think any of the stuff will really get you into any trouble if you don't do them. Also, for those with special food diets, there are links in the description to help you out, including a link to a website that you can use to print out phrases (point-and-speak cards).
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  24. Aiko really screwed up our paid sponsorship deal on this one!
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  25. Hey Everyone! It's been a hot minute since I posted a regular vid on the channel. Never fear, now that the feature-length doc is done (Being Japanese for those of you not in the loop), I'll be able to regularly upload once again. Thanks for being patient! As mentioned, my sister-in-law Akko and I plan to do a whole "REALLY" series, so please post what you'd like to know about what Japanese REALLY do!
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  26. Special thanks to David Chart for explaining the ins and outs of Shinto. Find out more about Shinto on his blog at https://www.mimusubi.com/ and support his writing on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/mimusubi. NOTE: David didn't spit back into the purification font (what I called the water station). He spit the water outside of it into the drain. Also, the water is constantly replenished, so it's not standing water.
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  27. I recently made a video about what a typical Tokyo neighbourhood is like and needed a few Japanese related clip art to illustrate what I was talking about. That's when my wife told me about https://www.irasutoya.com, a site where anyone can get quality clip art for basically free. Ever since using it, I found out that virtually everyone in Japan has either seen or used the clip art. Even more surprising was that everything is drawn by one person: Mifune Takashi. How did Takashi-san's illustrations become Japan's de facto clip art? Watch the vid and find out. And no, even though I love Takashi-san's clip art, this is most definitely not a sponsored video. But he was kind enough to let us use all the images for free, despite using over 100 of them! What a boss!
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  28. We moved to Canada a year ago and these are some of the non-food items that we missed and got Japanese versions of. Most of the things in our home are not Japanese though (and even a lot of the "Japanese" items are made in other countries). I put a list of the things we use in the description. We moved to Canada so that the kids could finish off their high school here. We don't usually ask them to be in the videos as we want them to have their own lives. If they want, they can of course go in, but we're happy with them doing their own thing. I (Greg) go back to Japan a few months out of the year to film, while my wife stays with the kids, which is why you may see me without the family.
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  29. I changed the title back and forth. I'm just keeping the original for right now. I'm trying to find the most accurate title for what I'm presenting, which I find a bit tough since I'm still working on my second video. I have a lot to say and I it was very eye opening for me to travel to a developing country for the first time. I've lived in two very wealthy G7 countries my entire life, so I guess I could say I had some "culture shock" getting a brief glimpse into the lives of those who weren't as fortunate as my family. Probably my biggest takeaway is that I think there are so many things that I take for granted while living in Canada and Japan. Like we complain about our corrupt government, and I think we should always push our politicians to do better, but I think we may not realize how well our governments run. Infrastructure, safety, a clean environment; these are examples of things the average person doesn't worry about, allowing us to focus on higher level wants. I wish I could have taken my kids along with me so that they could realize how lucky they have it. But I also feel guilty for saying that, because it sounds so condescending. Since my trip, I've been contemplating on what I could do to help people in situations less fortunate than my own. I honestly feel a bit helpless, since I think what's most needed is some big infrastructure projects that I could never help with like sanitation and transportation. For example, I was thinking about doing some more Kiva loans, but in the big picture, what will be the effect of helping someone fix up their Jeepney be? I have no doubt it'd be good on an individual level, but I feel like the real solution to transportation issues around Metro Manila requires government involvement. I'm not saying the government has to control the whole space, but someone needs to have a better plan and be able to arrange for the financing needed to transform the current situation. However, having read several news stories and studies, I also know it's just not that easy. The agency in charge not only doesn't have the funds, but they also face strong opposition from anyone who could be hurt from changing the status quo. The poor family relying on the tiny income they get from driving a Jeepney doesn't want to see anything happen that jeopardizes their family's well being. I'll say one thing though, which was the heartwarming part of the trip: the families. It was really nice to see how close the families were and how supportive they were of each other. The sacrifices being made, whether it's a parent who goes off working overseas to support the family, or the older sister that's now paying for the education of her younger siblings. Or even just the small things, like the father and daughter showing me their gardens or another father and daughter shopping together. I could really feel the closeness. And they were close, because in both instances they lived a minute away from their parents. If there's one stereotype that I think is true, it's that Filipinos are really quite friendly and hospitable. I have a feeling that despite wanting my next video to be in the 20-30 minute range, I might just make it longer so that I can take the time to really get through all the stories I heard and what my whole thought process was. That was my first time trying to tell a few stories from another country, so I'm still learning how to best make videos about my experiences. All the best, Greg
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  30. He said he actually did bad in English at University, so he went to Canada to get better. It's been 30 years though, so I asked him how he maintained it. In the winter he works at the hotels around Niseko (famous for skiing and Australians), so he gets to practice his English there. Last thing I didn't include about him is that he said he couldn't afford to travel the world and meet people, so he wants to have people from around the world come stay with him so that he can see the world that way. Both the Oikawa's were very, very nice. Good people!
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  31. A big special thanks to Barno and Sherzod, who not only let me into their lives to film this video, but who also organized all the film locations and people to interview. It was a big undertaking and they did so much to help. If you're interested in knowing more about life in Japan as a Muslim, Barno has her own channel (Barno Sulaiman) that covers exactly that https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6mhF61cPByuDgs0airvI6w. Since, like I mentioned in the video, I know nothing about being Muslim in Japan, I'm hoping Barno and Sherzod can jump into the comments and answer any questions you might have. Thanks!
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  32. Hey Everyone! It's been a hot minute since I released a video. Has anything interesting happened while I was gone? I've actually been working on a documentary about Japanese identity called "Being Japanese", so that's why the absence on my part. The good news is that I'm now doing the major part of that edit. The documentary won't be released for a while since I have an manga artist working on illustrations, but I'm now back to being able to put the majority of my focus on creating videos here on YouTube. I have a whole bunch of stuff lined up. I hope you enjoy this one. I was able to get out of the city and explore some beautiful nature and culture around Shikoku. I was supposed to take my mother and father here on their planned trip to Japan, but you know, corona, so they never made it. So it was mostly me with a little bit of my son Shin and my wife on this trip.
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  33. Because not everyone reads the description, going to do a shout to all those that helped put this video together. Andrew Marston, a.k.a Mr. Fancy Graphics Man, Chris Okano the half-naked-full-of-onsen footage man, and Jess and Hai assisting with the stills. Check the description for links to their channels.
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  34. Initially this video was going to explore how profitable independent ramen shops in Japan are. But it's pretty hard to get owners to show their numbers. I received full breakdowns of equipment costs and other metrics, but essentially there were too many variables to show anything definitively. But what did seem apparent was that chef owners don't get rich by doing this type of work, even if their shop is consistently busy.
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  35. I would just like to make it crystal clear that what Professor Tom Gill is providing is a historical view around the turn of the century as to who the homeless in Japan were and what the prevalent attitudes at the time were. Things have ameliorated in recent times, especially surrounding accessing government assistance, which we'll get to in part three (coming early October if all goes as planned).
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  36. There are so many comments! Thanks for the people who have shared the stories and sorry I can’t individually reply to all of them. I did want to make this comment in response to a few of the things I’ve seen written. Japanese are racist. Yes, there are some Japanese that are racist, but for the people that are saying that, do you not realize how that’s a racist thing to say? By generalizing and saying all are racist that’s racist in itself. Hopefully if you watch the whole video, you’ll understand a bit more of the nuance. One thing I thought about was that rental housing discrimination totally happens in Canada, although it wouldn’t be out in the open so much like it is in Japan. One example I have is that when I used to live in Whistler (this is almost twenty years ago now), my wife was able to rent a really nice place for cheap along with other Japanese girls because they were Japanese. The landlord specifically wanted to have Japanese girls rent his place. As a Canadian, I could hardly find any accommodations and what I ended up with was the bottom of the barrel. Nowadays, because Vancouver has very little vacancy in it’s rental housing stock, you need to interview for places (at least with private landlords). It’s like a job interview except they can reject you for any reason. Of course they won’t say it’s because you’re from a certain country or don’t have a job they like or that you don’t look clean cut, but it happens. Although, I think the good thing about Canada is that I think we have decent racism and hate crime laws, so if you get caught in the act, you’ll get into trouble. Discrimination based on race, gender, religion, and other things is not allowed (but everyone knows it can still happen). I really wish Japan had stronger laws like Canada does, and more Japanese willing to stand up and say that things should be different, but that’s how things are at the moment. If you look a the studies that I linked to in the description, you can find a lot more subtlety in what foreigners have issues with in Japan. Interestingly, for some things, like getting stopped by police, Westerners (as opposed to people from East Asia or South-East Asia) face this more. There’s this myth that Westerners are treated better than other foreigners in Japan but current studies don’t support this http://www.davidchart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Discrimination-in-Kawasaki.pdf. So, there are racists in Japan, there are racists in Canada, and actually in the linked study above, the overall level of discrimination in Japan is similar to that in Europe. Discrimination is worldwide issue because it’s a very human thing to do. As for places that are foreigner friendly, UR Housing, which stand for Urban Renaissance, rents on a first come, first serve basis. I actually interviewed them for a separate video and will show you what that’s like. They also do away with a lot of the annoying costs, like key money, renewal fees, agency fees, and guarantors. They used to be completely public, but now the are semi-public / semi-private as far as I’m aware (but someone please correct me if it’s not really like that). But the point is that since they were/are a public corporation, they have a fair system for renting. Actually, Kyde and Eric got into a UR unit, and that’s the apartment they had just moved into when I filmed them (and that’s why it was so empty). All the best everyone, Greg
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  37. Here's a question I have for people working in Japan. In the video I said that "If you're a full-time salaried employee, you don't normally get paid for overtime". I believe I was wrong in saying this. A couple have people mentioned that you do get overtime, no matter your status, or that a certain amount of overtime can be written in your contract. I'd like to hear more about how overtime works and perhaps it really depends on the industry and company. I know that some companies have a kind of grey area where people do work overtime but they don't officially record it. I also believe, that if it's official overtime, like the boss asks you to work for a specific reason, that you would get paid overtime. Would love to get more input on this.
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  38. ディーンさん、日本語の字幕をつけてくださってどうもありがとうございました。ディーンさんのチャンネルは、 くらせいの「この本が読みたい！」です　https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUyHo5EuO3h6-_-DuyuLNCg。Yeah, we have Japanese subs! So fast! Thanks to Dean from くらせいの「この本が読みたい！」for all his hard work.
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  39. For those asking about the grill, we got it from Amazon Japan (non-referral link) https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B0118SXWAW/. In the US it's 2.5X the price (referral link) http://amzn.to/2CzZBfZ.
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  40. I feel like it's obvious, but of course this video is only about a single person's commute. I'd be interested in hearing from other Filipinos, and other people around the world, about what their commute is like. Emiko, the lady in the video, leaves for work early as traffic is not as bad. I know some Japanese people who do the same thing, so that they can get a seat on the train. Like I say at the end of the video, I have 17 hours of footage and I actually cut out a lot of stuff I recorded about traffic in the Philippines. I kind of want to make a "Manila's Traffic Problem" video, although after reading some news articles and a couple reports doesn't make me at all qualified to say anything. I got to experience a lot in the Philippines thanks to many friendly locals who took me along and showed me their everyday lives. Thanks everyone! So you'll probably get a couple videos about my journey to the Philippines. Have a great day!
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  41. I went into making this video knowing that Japan had an overpopulation of deer and had come across the idea (in several places) that eating more deer could be a more humane way of controlling the population. I learned that doing that is easier said than done and that it could never be a 100% solution. I'm guessing that hunters and environmentalists probably already knew this. What do you think about the whole deer problem?
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  42. They keyboard actually isn't that expensive. In fact, most everything else on my desk is worth more... which sounds like I'm trying to flex. I'll just be quiet now.
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  43. I was totally out of my depth on this topic... which is why I had my Japanese teacher help with the interviews. What you see me wearing in videos is really what I wear everyday. Actually wait, it's a bit more casual, since I usually have some kind of pyjama pants or suteteko shorts on when at home. The thing that would get me in trouble in the Japanese workplace, beyond my hatred of suits, is my lack of shaving. My meagre beard hairs are so thick, that no matter what shaver I use or even if I see a professional barber, if I don't leave everything for a few days between shaves, my skin gets irritated and is easy to cut. Anyways, despite my cozy fashion, believe it or not, I dress a bit better in Japan than I did in Canada! And I just saw the other day that they're promoting some comfy fit suit with stretchy fabric, so perhaps I'll have to try those if I ever find myself in a situation where I have to wear a suit more than once a year. It was really interesting to learn about all the considerations that these women had to take into account when dressing for different occasions. I always had this idea in my head that in general, countries in Europe dress more fashionably than Canada/US. What do you all think? And what are the fashion "rules" like where you're from?
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  44. SUBTITLES! The regular "English" only translates the Japanese portions and some hard to hear English. I'll try and work on an "English UK" version that has captions for all decipherable audio. Thanks!
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  45. This took a little longer to put together than I originally thought, but here's the follow-up to what Japanese REALLY eat for breakfast. Next up dinner? Or maybe it'll be showing you what's inside Japanese fridges.
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  46. For all those asking about contacting Kunimoto-san, his Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/MianXinGuomoto/. Kunimoto-san only speaks Japanese though, so if you can't communicate in Japanese... If you're looking to work with happen, happen to be in Japan on a Visa that allows you to work, and can speak some basic Japanese, then I think you have a chance of being successful by getting in touch. He unfortunately doesn't know anything about getting Visas, so if you're out of the country, it's probably a bit too difficult for him to arrange for things. This is only my interpretation of the situation after communicating quickly with him. He's been quite overwhelmed by the response, so thank you all so much for all the positive thoughts you've sent his way.
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  47. I've been meaning to make this video for a couple years, even before I was #trashtag by Rachel and Jun. And as I was about to release, I learned about #teamseas. What a coincidence! Support a good cause by helping to remove garbage from oceans at https://teamseas.org/. Every $1 removes 1lb of garbage from the ocean (The Ocean Conservancy and the Ocean Cleanup will be making sure the donations turn into cleanup). I'll be donating and hope you can join me!
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  48. Would you believe it took me a year to make this? Well you shouldn't, because it really didn't. If I compressed all the time perhaps it was 2-3 weeks. But I did started filming this over a year ago and I could have technically published this last spring. I was so worried about presenting this topic wrongly. I also took so much time to organize and interview people, that I didn't want to rush this out; so it sat, and sat, and sat. The thing I realized is that I'll never be able to cover such a broad topic, whether in this "short" 30 minute version, or the hour long "full" version (which still meant that I cut 3/4 of the interview footage) https://youtu.be/qrWkgVu2MHo. So, there's a lot of perspectives missing, I don't think this is the true picture of what working in Japan is like. The biggest gaping hole I see is that there are not enough blue collar type positions represented. I would also say the generation that is about to retire or who are recently retired didn't get a voice, but I chose the bubble in the 90's as the line to draw in the sand for talking about present day working conditions. It's difficult to find Japanese people to talk about what their current job is like, because who would want to say the wrong thing and perhaps lose their job over it? I think the people that did appear were genuine in what they said, I don't think they were being over positive or negative. Most of the people I interviewed were talking about former jobs and not their current ones. However, I think if I were to randomly and anonymously interview workers about their current jobs, I would have been able to get a fuller picture. And a little plug here. This type of video is really the direct result of my supporters on Patreon. There's no way I could put this amount of time into a single video if I wasn't getting that external support. So thank you Patrons! If you want to become one, you can do so at https://www.patreon.com/lifewhereimfrom. Whether you work in Japan or not, I'd love to hear about your work experience is like.
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  49. Thanks for the patience everyone. It turns out I have over an hour of video left to release about homeless in Japan, so this is part 3 of 5. Good news is that I'm nearly done editing parts 4 and 5, so they'll truly be out in short order. In part 4, I talk to some formerly homeless people as well as follow along with Sanyukai, an NPO, as they feed and aid the homeless. In part 5, I'll finally wrap things up by giving an account of the current state of homelessness in Japan. Please check the description for links to the previous videos, credits, and sources. Have a safe and happy New Year!
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  50. Hey everyone. Thanks for all the comments. Here's my responses to a few of them. Title is kind of misleading. Sorry, totally didn't mean to confuse anyone. This title is an attempt to continue the first video I did about How to Survive Your First Hour in Japan. The number one question was how to get fed, so hence the title How To Survive Hunger in Japan. Some were wondering about food programs for the needy, and I actually have a video on that, it's part 4 of my Homeless in Japan series. Using Japanese or English to order. My original intent of the video was to teach about 30 or so Japanese words or phrases to help you order things in Japan. After experimenting with my brother and his wife, I realized that in popular tourist destinations like Tokyo and Kyoto, you don't need Japanese to get by. And in some ways, if you were able to properly say a few things in Japanese, it may make things more confusing as the staff would assume you have some basic Japanese when you only know a few key phrases. So for the purposes of helping a first-timer with no Japanese, I thought it best to show that you really don't have anything to fear when it comes to ordering and eating food. That being said, I still have a whole video's worth of content where key Japanese phrases about ordering and eating food could be taught. Any interest in that? Is it rude to not learn Japanese and go to Japan? I think it's always nice to learn some key things, like how to say hello and thanks. However, I think no one in Japan would expect you to learn basic Japanese before visiting. Because even if you studied for a month solid in a Japanese language school, you wouldn't be able to smoothly order in Japan using only Japanese is any restaurant. You could definitely do well in certain specific situations, but you would be stumped in certain places, as there would be no way to know all the kanji necessary (unless you're a fluent in Chinese) and there's simply so much vocabulary associated with food. My feeling is that no one will think it rude that you don't speak Japanese. If you're polite and try to follow the customs I don't think you'll run into any issues. Japanese are very forgiving to foreigners that make mistakes, but it is true that they would be offended if you're clearly not trying to follow Japanese etiquette on purpose. Food prices. I think food is quite affordable in Japan. Taxes are generally included in the price and there's no tipping. You can easily get a decent lunch for ¥500- ¥1,000 or dinner for ¥800-¥1500. Of course you can spend more or less, but I think that's a fairly decent range you can work with. If you ate a konbini, the cost would be much less. Tips for vegetarians, vegans, people on a special diet, etc... I've never had to do this, so I can't give any solid advice. I know there are a lot of people have posted content about this on YouTube, so I'm confident a quick search on YouTube will yield a lot of good results. One consistent tip I saw people offer was to have printed cards with both Japanese, English, and an illustration that you take with you that specify your food restriction, whether it be no meat at all, no pork, or no peanuts. Still the best advice I can give is observe the locals and do what they do. See how they order, see how they eat their food, see how they pay. Just copy that as best as possible. And that can be said for you entire trip, whether it's being quiet on the train, waiting in a line, or keeping your garbage with you. One other place I didn't mention was grocery stores. Like convenient stores, they have a lot of grab and go food. It'll be of higher quality than the konbini. Also, if you go after 7pm, the bentos, meal sets, and other ready-made items will be discounted. Okay, last tip that I'll pass on from other commenters. One good thing would be to learn about all the different types of Japanese foods. This may be something we make a video about. You have noodle dishes like ramen, udon, and soba; or meat dishes like yakitori, tonkatsu, or yakiniku; or rice dishes like tempura don or onigiri; or fish dishes like, well, sushi, but I think all of you know that. There are many types of dishes that'll be popular to locals in Japan that you may not encounter in a Japanese restaurant in your home country.
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  51. Just to clarify something Yeonju said. She reached out to me and said she meant to say that the villas/apartments is where many Korean people used to live. Nowadays they live in apartments (like the one's I showed while walking with the architect). Some renovate the brick buildings, changing the inside while keeping the outside. I would have really liked to show the insides of the new apartments, but in the short time I had I couldn't find anyone who was able to show me inside.
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  52. Lots of little things I wanted to say, so here's a numbered list! 1. First things first. My "Being Japanese" documentary I'm trying to get off the ground has 7 days left in the crowdfunding campaign. Perks start at $5, I'm really excited, and I've already started collecting stories https://igg.me/at/lwif-being-japanese-documentary/x 2. This cost of living video is kind of part 2 of my quality of life video https://youtu.be/oqh2F9Xeqx8 3. I actually made a whole playlist with a bunch of videos that will help illustrate what the quality of life is like in Japan, from childcare centres to tours of homes https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwBDd34gIIWm7pg8ZdqHPjfXxjxE1Z75q 4. I was purposely not trying to get into too much details, because there are so many variables, from location to lifestyle. I started collecting all that kind of data, but it got messy so fast, that I chose to focus in on the three main cost differences I found between life in Vancouver vs. Tokyo. I am working on a more messy, discussiony video on the X channel. If you have questions, just leave them below. 5. Overall, Japanese households make less money, but they also have less expenses. I have a suspicion that for the bottom 20%, the quality of life is better in Japan, but that's a whole other series of videos that I will be investigating. 6. The overall thing that still impresses me about the 23 wards of Tokyo (9 million), Tokyo Metropolis (13 million), and the Tokyo Metropolitan area (37 million), is that housing is so varied in pricing for all income levels, from public housing, to micro apartments, to full blown custom houses. I really wish Canada had a simple national zoning policy that allowed for more mixed use and more density. For major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, it's so hard for all but those at the top to make a go at it nowadays. 7. I tried very hard to get all the details correct, sources are in the description. I really hope I didn't misrepresent anything.
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  53. CORRECTION: The stats I gave for median annual household incomes in the United States and Canada are not quite right. I explain why in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61FnnmvFhHY. The numbers should have been higher for both countries.
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  54. Yes, I'm not 100% on all of them, but I know three out of four studied either in international schools in Japan or studied abroad for some portion of their lives. I also liked that by chance, they were all in different industries, so we were able to get a bit of diversity in their experiences. So that's why when you see the recruit suits, it's all the more surprising how they look so similar with them on. They were all professionals, so of course other industries weren't represented. But, if I can make a uniforms video, that should cover a big chunk of other types of jobs. Even though I hate suits, I wouldn't mind some of the uniforms that Japanese people wear to work.
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  55. This is a kind of part 1 of the whole journey. I honestly hesitated a bit about making videos about this since it seems kind of cliche to make videos about buying property in Japan. I think there's some interesting videos that can be made that are related to the topic, such as why there are so many unoccupied homes yet there's very little for sale or what it's like working with an architect. If there are any things you want to know about, I may be able to cover them in future videos. All the best - Greg
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  56. Okinawan's are famous for how long they live. But with the more recent lifestyles, yeah, I wonder how it would compare.
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  57. I started filming thins in March, where I did a walk around tour of the neighbourhood on the X channel https://youtu.be/cnT_q49kvAs Some other related videos touring neighbourhoods that you might like are: Tokyo by Bike https://youtu.be/u0x8EAf4GSg Tokyo by Train https://youtu.be/mlUlZHGxcao Tokyo by Boat https://youtu.be/1a1fdzy7X84 I already got most of the footage for the zoning and how Japan keeps clean videos, so those will be out sooner than later. Hope you enjoy!
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  58. CAPTIONS! Make sure turn them on if you don't speak Japanese :-)
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  59. UPDATE: Watch PART 2 https://youtu.be/HDNN9W_wnEk and PART 3 https://youtu.be/tZvtBkKz73o- I tried to film this series in 2020, abnormally low snow levels. I tried again in 2021, pandemic. In 2022 third time was a charm and I finally was able to film in the snowiest city in the world, Aomori! Please enjoy part 1! - Greg
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  60. My wife was just saying something similar to this when showing his picture to her mother, "Don't they look alike?"
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  61. By the way, I wasn't planning on filming this portion of my trip. I was planning on chilling and enjoying everything. But I do like to fly my drone (I find it fun) and thought you all would like to see some of the images I captured, so here ya go. Have a good one!
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  62. Hope you all enjoy the relaxing vibes of this one. It's a continuation of my Tokyo by series, but this time getting out of the megacity and into the countryside.
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  63. Go to https://teamtrees.org and lets get some trees planted! And yeah, I really did start off tying to make a video about how Japan got its forests back and came out the other side with the conclusion that chopping down a few (and replanting with a better mix) would be a good idea.
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  64. OMG! I forgot to use Google Translate to say Hongdae!!! I can't believe I didn't catch this mistake.
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  65. Hey everyone! Thanks for all the responses as to how you'd like to see viewer stories shared. 60% (20) said in a single video once-a-month, while 40% (13) said at the end of every video. What I didn't count was the number of thumbs up for the once-a-month videos, where a couple of the comments got a significant number of thumbs up. Some arguments for at the end of every video is that the content would be more spread out, organized, and up-to-date. Some arguments for the once-a-month video is that it's more organized, keeps the videos focussed, and it's easier to put together. As the people have spoken, I'll do a compilation video once a month sharing stories. The video won't have every story, as they can be read where they were left (www.lifewhereimfrom.com, Youtube comments, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter). Instead I'll try and focus on a few stories that seem unique / interesting and some commentary. I think once a month will be easier for me to produce as it would take extra recording effort to add a segment at the end of every video. It's easier because if we have some videos done in advance, we're not able to finalize the videos until we receive comments from the latest video, since we would want the comments to be up-to-date. I'll try my best to make the once a month user story video as interesting as the other content. I'm a bit worried making the videos once-a-month since I think some people are less likely to watch them unless they're part of the regular videos. But I believe if the content submitted is interesting enough, there should be no problem. I guess we'll see. Once again, thanks for all the feedback! - The Dad
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  66. A special thanks to Lisa for sticking with me on this project (we've working on it off and on for a year!) Originally it was comparing a city in USA vs. Japan, but there was too much ground to cover, so I decided to focus on the commute to start off with. Then I had all this intro about why the cities look different and I went on and on. I'd still like to cover other urban design stuff, but tackle it a video at a time vs. trying to make some mega hour-long video! Is there anything specific you'd like to see compared? - Greg
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  67. The one where I spend just under 17 minutes explaining how to tackle your first 60! And even then, I know you kind viewers will tell me all that I've gotten wrong :-) But seriously, what are the things I've missed? More importantly (because I can't change this video anymore), what would you like to see if I created a video on how to survive the next 23 hours?
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  68. We're letting her know. My wife and I are sending her all the positive comments!
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  69. I don't know if I made this video well or not. Obviously the production quality of footage isn't the greatest. Some boomy audio and frozen and stuttering video. I was trying to kill a few birds with a single stone. One was that people always ask my background/ethnicity/race on YouTube, so if they actually are interested, this is about as complete as an answer as I can give. Although really, I could have thrown up the pie chart at the beginning of the video and most would have been satisfied. People also ask me why I'm making a documentary. Growing up as Canadian and growing up Japanese are very different in my mind. Same as becoming Japanese vs. becoming Canadian. Many will say you can't become Japanese. If that's their opinion, fair enough, I won't be trying to beat some globalism agenda over their heads. For the stories of people, I'm more interested in the smaller scale, what it's like to be them. To give context to people's stories, I will be delving a bit into the past, mainly focusing on the present, and then look out towards the future. People ask what my bias is, and depending on how you view it, I think this video kind of shows it. Having an identity is important. If I couldn't say I was Canadian (and I'm a proud one), I'd be very distraught. I love being a Canadian and feel very lucky to be one. I don't really understand the prerogative that some have about including and excluding people out of their identities, or out of multiple one's. I think in the end we're all humans. I also think you can be many things at the same time: a baseball player, a musician, a mechanic, and a husband. You can also be part of multiple ethnic groups, and maybe instead of them being all separate parts, it's just additional things that you are. Solid wall of text accomplished, I'm out of here.
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  70. Hey, since there were so many great comments, whether they were tips or requests for more information, I made a follow-up video https://youtu.be/Fjtogsuk-CU. Enjoy!
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  71. Obligatory turn on CC for subtitles (currently English only). I know that volunteers will jump in to translate into other languages, so I'll say it now because I don't say it often enough, thanks for all your hard work!
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  72. First! Make sure to turn on CC to see subtitles!
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  73. Subtitles! Hit that CC button (... on mobile) to get them. Also, this was filmed in June 2019... I'm very slow at editing.
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  74. To attempt to, most likely in vain, head off a rash of comments asking why no kid hosting, this is a kind of adult perspective video on what it's like filming with kids. Don't panic, I don't plan on taking over hosting duties, I know I'm not nearly cute enough! But, be warned, I do have a couple non-kid hosted videos that will be released on the LWIF channel coming soon. So, just remember, no one panic :-) By the way, if you haven't already, check out Angela's version of the day at https://youtu.be/YZAIZl5GAxw. She organized the whole outing, so make sure to thank her for it. That's why I had the behind-the-scenes kind of idea. It's nighttime here in Japan, so I'm going to bed. Enjoy your Sunday (or if you're in the wrong timezone, have a great Monday!)
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  75. Hey, it's Tobias everyone! Sorry I couldn't talk longer. I really was in a rush to get back before it was too late. I had been on the road since 8am and didn't get to the hotel until 10pm. Thanks for saying hi! Yeah, I found some decent coffee quite quickly.
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  76. Hey everyone, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and in general Happy Holidays! I've heard a few comments about the definition of rural so I'd like to explain a bit. Matsuyama city is definitely not rural. I don't think it'd be considered a big city in Japan though, it's 33rd from the top in terms of size. More importantly, it's 248th in terms of density with 1,200 per sq. km. or 3,000 per sq. mi. To put it into context with the U.S., it's as dense and populous as Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ehime, the prefecture (think State or Province) that Matsuyama is located in is mostly rural though (at least in comparison to the Tokyo area or Kobe/Osaka/Kyoto). Sherry doesn't actually live in Matsuyama, but in a smaller town outside of Matsuyama. So she kind of has the perspective of both living in a town, but also being very close to a city that's a decent enough size to have good amenities. Because it's located on the smallest main island of Japan (Shikoku) with no shinkansen train, it's more quaint than places closer to the two big Kanto and Kansai areas. Hope it makes sense. Next time I'll most likely be taking you to a town that's more rural and more distant from a bigger urban area.
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  77. If you read the comments, apparently variations of it do exist, whether it's a salisbury steak, meatloaf, or frikadeller.
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  78. SUBTITLES, so use that CC button if you want them! It was really fun getting to know Tani-san, he's such a character.
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  79. Now you know why I haven't posted in a while! Watch Being Japanese on YouTube. Part 1 https://youtu.be/pmzWknYaNXg and part 2 https://youtu.be/iYMmsiDsHrg I'll be active a lot more now that the documentary is almost out. I spent three years working on it, along with my wife, and many collaborators. I'll be posting a lot about the documentary in the coming weeks, so I won't write a whole essay now. But please, if you have questions, fire away! And don't worry, I have about ten videos I already shot that I'm chomping at the bit to edit. So there should be a steady flow of videos on the channel soon enough.
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  80. While the kids do get involved with some of the cooking, they do also spend lots of time on their screens!
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  81. Well, don't be so impressed, because for the past half year I've only be focusing on making videos :-)
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  82. I just finished the behind-the-scenes video, which you can check out at https://youtu.be/C9lPo1XxXec
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  83. Hey everyone, thanks for all the support, comments, and questions! We'll try and post a video answering all the questions you have. We can't promise we'll answer everything, but we'll try our best.
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  84. Thanks to Dashlane for sponsoring the video. Try Dashlane Premium free for 30 days at www.dashlane.com/life and use the coupon code ‘life’ to get 10% off Dashlane Premium.
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  85. I thought you all would get a kick out of seeing the various kinds of bikes you can find at a bicycle shop in Japan. I was surprised at how you could get a decent quality mama chari (city bike) for not too much ￥
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  86. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the community videos. For future videos, I'm thinking I'll try a couple things. First, anyone can share a 15-30 second video with us and we'll feature one of them at the end of each video. Please show us something unique, cool, or interesting about your where you're from https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/. Second, we are still interested in sharing a more full-length (3-5 minute) video about what life is like where you're from. If you have a good idea, let us know via our contact page https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/contact/.
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  87. Previous videos about the Philippines: What Commuting in Philippines' Capital (Manila) is Like https://youtu.be/OtuA-_BiItQ Life in the Philippines pt 1 | A Foreigner's Perspective https://youtu.be/__LydKSvvBg
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  88. Thanks for the comment! Really good to hear first hand experience.
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  89. Happy New Year's Everyone! This was shot at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, so it's only a year or two in the making! Really, I wanted to release at the end of 2022, but I got a bit delayed. あけましておめでとう！今年もよろしくお願いします！
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  90. It's mostly on behalf. Sometimes I really don't know though :-)
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  91. As is tradition, I traveled through Tokyo, this time by boat. Because my Tokyo by Train and Tokyo by Bike videos were all day affairs, I wanted to have a longer trip for this video. But as I was working on my it's-coming-soon-I-promise documentary "Being Japanese", I didn't have time to do a bigger trip before winter rolled around. So while this isn't an epic all day affair, I hope you can still enjoy the ride nonetheless. And as you can tell, I filmed this half a year ago in August 2020.
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  92. Yes, it's a re-upload. Had to modify a few minor things. Anyways, enjoy once again!
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  93. I debated whether to name all the locations I shot in the video. I obviously didn't. But how many places can you name? If you put the time code down I'll tell you if you're right or not.
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  94. Before you ask, links to all the thermoses I showed are in the description. Will be doing a livestream of the thermoses before I give a lot of them away (locally), so if you have any questions about them, join me on my X channel https://youtu.be/-MyY3zXcbKQ
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  95. Love your channel! Would be cool to do something together sometime.
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  96. Hey everyone! Hope to see you at the Premiere (July 4th, 10PM JST). First time trying this. Decided to do it with an old favourite from the X channel (i.e. this is a re-upload but I'll be watching and commenting on it live at that time). Bye for now!
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  97. Yeah! That was fun trying to translate :-) He's a very interesting guy. If he would let me, could be interesting to do a whole video on just him. He has such done so much yet he's only 30 (or right around that age).
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  98. This is a RE-UPLOAD. Had to block out the recycling company's info. New video coming very soon.
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  99. Even though I wrote it on the video, there are SUBTITLES! Yeah! So please turn them on for English or Japanese (at the moment). Thanks!
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  100. A couple have people have left comments about the chlorine smell and how it's not really chlorine that I'm smelling. I actually edited out a part where I tried to explain further what I meant, so sorry for any confusion. But to be honest, I still don't really understand it all, even after reading stuff like this https://waterandhealth.org/healthy-pools/smells-chlorine/. I'm suspecting that the #1 reason I don't smell anything bad at Japanese onsens is because people are quite clean before entering and thus there is less stuff with which the chlorine can interact with and cause odors. From what I understand, the odors are mainly (or totally) caused by the interaction of chlorine and nitrogen (or in other words organic matters like body oil, urine, etc...). However, answer me this those who know what they're talking about. If I go to a swimming pool or hot tub in Canada that is "fresh", like a pool the first thing in the morning before anyone jumps in, or a hot tub at some condo where there doesn't seem to be anyone using it, I can smell that pool smell from even before I enter. Is it always that chemical reaction between organic matter and chlorine that I'm smelling, or can it be that I can smell high levels of chlorine that are FAC's (freely available chlorine) and not CAC (combined available chlorine)?
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  101. Sorry, no kids again! What am I doing! I usually put these types of more in-depth mini-documentaries on the X channel, but I thought kids may like to see what it's really like own a ramen restaurant. This is actually part of my once-a-month special documentary videos. If you like what you see, feel free to support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/lifewhereimfrom. If you see Kunimoto, he doesn't talk much, but I'm sure if you say "YouTube" he'll understand how you found him. He was so col to let me film in his restaurant for a couple days.
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  102. I'm curious if you have a "bottle keep" service where you're from. Also, what about bringing in food from other restaurants? Address https://maps.app.goo.gl/TR9LJouJpT1qA4ni6
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  103. He was really, really nice!
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  104. Well, if you think about it, with a mixture of Spanish, Chinese, and British blood, that's not too different from Filipinos.
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  105. What? Is it really illegal? I don't see how that would work in cases where families are poor and don't have enough rooms for children.
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  106. Thanks to ONLY in JAPAN * John Daub for joining me on the trip. Here's his version of the experience https://youtu.be/26RfpOnlrOA. In his version he talks with experts to get behind the health benefits of visiting onsens.
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  107. The circle is complete, we have a breakfast, lunch, and now what Japanese really eat for dinner video. Watch What Japanese REALLY Eat for Breakfast https://youtu.be/HqlSqHQZFpg Watch What Japanese REALLY Eat for Lunch https://youtu.be/lXitwWRximE Next up... I think we'll look into people's fridges!
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  108. Special thanks to my wife for setting this project up and for my sister-in-law for filming the majority of it. The temporary shop for the tenugui is https://shop.lifewhereimfrom.com/ UPDATE 5: As of November 2024 we did another run, so we have some for sale.
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  109. Hey Everyone, I hope you enjoyed this profile on Ohkuma-san. This was filmed and edited by Bobby from @Q2Japan (who's also part of the Life Where I'm From team). He's worked on other projects like the recent grape video https://youtu.be/1Ne8XExmhIQ?si=nnCAg5pfoJXFwfiG and the video about the old school noodle delivery https://youtu.be/z5jJ9LTlEp4?si=mxLJbbcTKhOwLhRx
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  110. My wife was perusing the internet and came upon some "interesting" products. I noticed quite a few of them seemed geared towards single people, so I thought, "Hey, why not test some of them out!" What do you think of them?
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  111. If you're interested in Japanese Housing, a made a playlist of all the videos I've made about the topic https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwBDd34gIIWnOWKVxvjgoalT66U3Jq10d
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  112. We're going to film over New Year's, so yes, we'll have that.
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  113. As I learned more about knives, I felt it was like how I started learning more about video cameras. I went from a handheld camcorder 20 year to a mirrorless one that needs a bunch of additional parts just to do the basics, plus some extra stuff to maintain it. Nowadays, you can pick up a camcorder for under $1,000 and it has 4K 60FPS (mine only does 30FPS), better sound, better image stabilization, better zoom, and maybe even an ND filter to control the light coming in. My current setup is the SONY A7III, and that’s only a camera body. I need to add a lens to it just to shoot and the audio is crap. So I also add an extra microphone (which I actually own five of for different purposes). Dust gets onto the sensor, so I need a blower and special liquid and cleaning sticks to maintain that. Need an ND filter to cut down the sunlight when shooting in bright conditions. I have general all-around lens that goes wide but doesn’t zoom much. I have lenses that are called prime lenses that don’t zoom at all, but the image quality is so amazing that it’s worth the tradeoff. I have a tripod, monopod, and stabilizer. I also have higher speed SD cards needed to record the 4K footage. And all this all costs 10X more than the cheap camera. But the control and quality I get over the more complicated setup, is totally worth it. And you know what, sometimes in a pinch, I still use my smartphone camera to record something because it’s what I have and it’s quick and easy.
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  114. If you happen to experience a hot spring home for yourself, Toshiki-san and his wife run a minpaku (guest house) with 2 rooms that has an onsen you can enjoy. Really great value if you're travelling to Beppu https://hinataya.jp/en/ (not sponsored, I just think the place is fantastic for the price and would love to send some people their way)
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  115. Watch Being Japanese on YouTube. Part 1 https://youtu.be/pmzWknYaNXg and part 2 https://youtu.be/iYMmsiDsHrg And because I received so many comments, I want to say that I think the comments I received are not at all representative of Japanese people. I'm fairly confident in saying that those commenters were a very loud but very small minority. Most Japanese I have met have been very lovely, including my wife! Japan is a fantastic country, I love it, and the Japanese people are great as well. No country nor people are perfect, but for the most part, I think all earthlings are A-OK.
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  116. Also would like to point out that while I tried to take a fairly hand-off approach on all the news, I'll have a personal experiences video out later, I'm obviously reporting from a perspective as a Canadian living in Japan, so the types of news I consume are different and thus reflect that perspective. While I did use Japan Times as the basis for creating a timeline, often the news came from other agencies like Jiji, Kyodo, Reuters, AFP, and Bloomberg. Given the task of trying to track what was going on during the pandemic, it seemed the most efficient way (yet it still took me a solid 2 weeks to get this done from start to finish).
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  117. Only a day left until my documentary campaign for "Being Japanese" officially ends on Indiegogo! https://igg.me/at/lwif-being-japanese-documentary/x
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  118. Hey, if you spot some place you think you know and want me to confirm, reply in a separate comment and for the next couple days I'll try and confirm. And also, what's driving like where you're from (or if you've been to Japan, in Japan!)
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  119. One thing I felt while buying the knife and then the sharpening stones is that I hadn't earned it. I needed to have better knife skills, have better sharpening skills. So I'm trying to get better to earn these, and maybe in ten years I'll feel like I have. On the other hand, my wife prepares 95% of family meals, so I think she definitely deserves it.
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  120. Interestingly, I cut out the part where the little brother was explaining that while they're not very good at English like a big hotel, he thought you would get a more Japanese experience by going to their ryokan. So they are indeed very welcoming of foreigners who don't speak Japanese. Yes, Ibaraki prefecture would like more tourists 😃
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  121. Get Nebula for $2.50 a month https://go.nebula.tv/lifewhereimfrom. Sorry I haven't uploaded for a while. I was having issues with my eyes and had to take some doctor ordered break. Doing good now, so I trust uploads will be back to a couple a month. - Greg
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  122. One of the people did mention picking up something from a convenience store (coffee), and if they got some extra time, going to a cafe and getting a little breakfast sandwhich/bread. I think I could do a series about breakfasts on the go.
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  123. I cut out a bunch of footage so it's very likely I'll make a video touring 4 hot spring homes and a bit of Beppu. Any questions? If you happen to be interested in monthly postcards from Japan, please check out my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/lifewhereimfrom - Greg
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  124. Mikiko Jane I would pull that, except we don't have a car. But perhaps the bicycle.... - Aiko's Dad
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  125. I'm sure most people don't care, but I left the white balance on automatic by accident. I didn't notice and the colour of the recording was constantly changing. It drove me crazy watching the footage! So much for fancy cameras :-) On another note, I thought it was pretty funny having to have my daughter promo the new Life Where I'm From X channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnOo8dtBgwJbdwl4HxqPHwg. Oh my!
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  126. These are the kinds of complaints that some Japanese people have when foreigners move in. You can check out the video I made about why foreigners have a hard time renting in Japan for more info. But basically, there's a culture difference, and I think it's hard to blame newcomers when they never grew up with the kind of rules that are ingrained into Japanese people from birth. If after they are taught the Japanese way and still break the rules, okay, I'm all for criticism, but it's also the government's job to educate newcomers (which they've recently admitted and have plans to operate something like 100 welcome centers that are supposed to teach about Japanese culture and its many unwritten rules).
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  127. Sorry that I'm not replying individually to all the comments and am simply leaving this top level stuff. I just only have so much time today to reply (and I do like to read all the comments). I don't know if this matters any, but I used to be completely fluent in French. All my schooling from K-12 was in a French Immersion program. It's been a couple decades now though, and while I can understand news anchors and written French, I can hardly speak a sentence without my brain injecting Japanese words into it! Since I had studied french for most of my childhood, I wonder if I moved to France (or Quebec) how long it'd take me to feel comfortable speaking naturally again.
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  128. I was thinking to.
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  129. Hope everyone is staying safe! We don't talk much about the news, but if that's what you're looking for, I made a whole video covering that https://youtu.be/HRkCAvlTMrE
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  130. Thanks again to David Chart for teaching me about Shinto in everyday Japanese life. If you have an interest in Shinto, I highly recommend checking out his Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/mimusubi/​) and website (https://www.mimusubi.com/). And oh yeah, you can see the first video we made together that has an intro to Shinto https://youtu.be/htxVoNBd5do
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  131. Hey, it's been a while. Have been compiling this video for way too long. Wow, there were so many news stories to go over, so even though this video is super long, it only roughly covers some of things that went on. In my next video, I'll be sharing the experiences of some people I know who lived in Tokyo during the state of emergency here (April 7th to May 25th, 2020). I put links to some main sources in the description, but you can find all the sources plus a transcript on my website at https://bit.ly/LWIFEP147. Stay safe everyone! - Greg
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  132. If you've been to Japan, how did you find the accommodations? I haven't traveled outside of Japan much, so can't really compare to other places around the world.
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  133. If you watch the first video we made, he explains why god is not a good translation for kami https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htxVoNBd5do
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  134. Isn't that usually the case with fathers :-)
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  135. We had fun checking out these tiny buildings around Tokyo. The biggest surprise for me was how normal they felt. - Old school cafe in Taito https://goo.gl/maps/9PQeqiqWk2QuLyPv8 - Building in the middle of intersection in Edogawa https://goo.gl/maps/99ngxRjpV7stcoHu6 - Museca times hamburger shop in Yanaka Ginza https://goo.gl/maps/vSLc2nxaUPWJXWvz7 - Listing for tiny apartment building in Nerima https://suumo.jp/library/tf_13/sc_13120/to_1001964099/?bs=040
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  136. FYI, I'm changing the title for now. I originally had it as "The Worst Traffic in Japan is not in Tokyo", I changed it to "The Worst Traffic in Japan (is America's Fault)", and it's now back to the original. I'm also liable to change it again. Too many people not actually watching the video before commenting. The content of the video is still the same, which is walkthrough of how it came to be that Okinawa has the worst traffic in Japan. It's a result of policies put in place by the U.S. after 1945 as well as inaction by the Japanese government for the past 50 years since Okinawa was reverted to Japan in 1972. I think it's an interesting case study as to how decisions made decades and decades ago can have a significant impact on the day to day lives of people right now.
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  137. I thought the tech was really cool. I was wondering if the could be used in different configurations and in different vehicles. Like could you put 3 or 4 in a vehicle to give it better range or power? Or put a single one on a bicycle (although at around 10kg it's probably too heavy)?
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  138. Yes, it's a re-upload! Only difference is I took out a couple images of hot springs. Enjoy once again!
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  139. Don't forget to choose the subtitles you like! Watch part 2 https://youtu.be/iYMmsiDsHrg お好きな字幕を選んでください。パート２を見るhttps://youtu.be/iYMmsiDsHrg
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  140. He has a very relevant video that acts as a companion to this one https://youtu.be/jlwQ2Y4By0U?si=TH3aNA9UeWNu2oyO
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  141. I've been meaning to make this video for a while, so I'm happy to finally have it out. For a long time I didn't think I could make it because I just didn't know enough about urban design or city planning to figure out how to talk about why I like biking in Tokyo. After seeing the Copenhagenize Index's rankings and seeing how all these other cities ranked similar to Tokyo, I felt more confident that I could at least talk about what I like about Tokyo as well as understand why it doesn't rank so well. If you liked this video, I think you'll like a couple other creators that just made content about Japanese cities and its streets. One is from Not Just Bikes https://youtu.be/jlwQ2Y4By0U?si=TH3aNA9UeWNu2oyO and the other by City Beautiful (it's on Nebula only right now) https://nebula.tv/videos/citybeautiful-tokyo-has-the-best-streets-in-the-world
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  142. They used to have over 100 sentos in Edogawa a couple decades ago. Now there's 31/32 left. So they're closing down. On the other hand, I think that super sentos are becoming more popular (this is my guess, I have no data to back this up). Super sentos are bigger places that are more spa-like (you can get massages, you can eat food).
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  143. If you're interested in tea products from d:matcha, you can use the coupon code "LifeWhereImFromDM" at https://dmatcha.com/ to get 10% off your order of over $150. I don't receive anything additional if you use the code, it simply gives you 10% off a single order. A video I made about how Japanese green tea is made https://youtu.be/S04_KBC8mIA The more I visit the inaka "countryside" of Japan, the more I wonder about how these areas will weather the ageing and depopulation trends. Fortuitously this project — which is sponsored by the Japanese government and d:matcha — fell in my lap. I had free rein to talk about a topic related to Wazuka and tea, so I chose to investigate the effort being made to revitalize the area and how it's longtime residents feel about newcomers.
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  144. Yeah, you could tell they ate better. Something that just popped up in my mind is if it is solely because they have extra time, or if it was the food style they were raised with. I'm assuming it's a combination of both.
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  145. I can't claim to understand all the different ways you can categorize people. Nationality, ethnicity, phenotype, blood, culture, etc... In Canada, calling yourself Canadian seems to be open to anyone. I would never question someone calling themselves Canadian. Although there may be different opinions among indigenous people. I myself have Chinese, Scottish, English, Spanish, and I just found out, some native American (or maybe Mayan) blood, among a mix of other things. And of course I'm Canadian. Now my kids get half of me and half of my wife, and it's even more mixed up. I'm more of a globalist, where I think we're all people of the world.
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  146. Of course people would ask. I think this is the complete list of Media used in this: → Wakakozake → Kantaro the Sweet Tooth Salaryman → Love that makes you cry (いつかこの恋を思い出してきっと泣いてしまう) → Tokyo's Women Campaign (東京女子図鑑) → At Home Dad (アットホーム・ダッド) → The Big Short → That 70's Show → Boyz II Men - It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday
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  147. If I can, I'd personally like to do these kinds of videos more often. As a creator, it's actually nice to be able to quickly finish a project and not overthink it.
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  148. Where's Aiko? Oh, she was busy being too tired to hike. Even getting Shin to come out was quite tough and he only came after a 15 minute talk with mummy. But, as you can see, he had a great time once he was out and he had more energy than all of us. He literally did not stop talking nor get tired the whole hike!
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  149. It was great to meet you as well Zac. Hope the taiko drumming is going well!
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  150. I plan on it!
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  151. I think the rent gift is dependent on the place you go. I didn't need to pay it when I started renting, but it really depends. As @readyset commented, it may be something that's fading out. A reason why the Doya's (flophouses) are a popular option among the homeless/formerly homeless is that you don't need to pay that upfront cash, nor have guarantor checks and all that red tape. You just pay and get in. But for overall stability and a quality place to live, you'd really want to get into a proper apartment (at least that's my opinion).
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  152. One last comment for now. I subtitled everything in English. Some of the words are hard to hear, so even if you speak English, I'd recommend having them on :-)
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  153. Previously we showed you what some frozen grocery store meals were like https://youtu.be/7z4FbrD4IGc. This time we're trying out a healthy frozen meal delivery service. If you use Google Translate, you can see what the service is about Shunsugu website https://shunsugu.jp/. (FYI: Not sponsored, I always tell people if there's a sponsor)
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  154. Good point! I actually did a couple videos on my second channel about living with a disability in Japan. One of the interviewees was Canadian (now he's Japanese) and he did indeed find a lot more freedom in Japan, where he could travel by public transit. https://youtu.be/xycecbwpIzE and https://youtu.be/KKrLQDNuMpI
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  155.  @HandleToBeDetermined  That actually might be fun to check out all the SFX.
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  156. My intent was actually to just be aware that unlike regular hotels, you may not be able to just have friends drop by. Or say you're with a group of buddies and need a place to crash because the trains stopped running, you might not be allowed all into a single room.
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  157. Awesome!
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  158. SUBTITLES Thanks for all the help with subtitles on the last one! If you have time to do subtitles for this one, that'd be super fly! http://www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?v=3hOpP3brwtY. Don't forget to leave a comment saying the language you did and where you're from!
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  159. Another video that I've sat on for a year! This was all filmed in February 2022 when there were record snowfalls in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Watch the full survival videos with Sherman: - Winter Survival Shelter Walk-through (Quinzee) https://youtu.be/L3R1NEnTaPc - Winter Car Essentials Walk-through https://youtu.be/wk2K2qnC8Iw
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  160. That was literally what my wife said as she was filming (she said it quietly, but if you replay the part, you can hear her say it).
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  161. Yeah, it was interesting visiting Taipei and seeing all the scooters. I'll have a video out on that when I can get it edited. On some roads they could do dedicated lanes, but there are also small two-lane ones where traffic is backed up (like the one I was walking along filming) and there's no space to do so. But is it a matter where if you were to get dedicated lanes in enough places where you can you could see significant enough improvements?
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  162. SUBTITLES Sorry for the big delay in finalizing the English, but it's done. Also thanks to those who already did the Dutch, German, and Indonesian! If you feel like do any other languages, you can do so by following this link http://www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?v=ATzWZoEFgcY. Thanks!
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  163. SUBTITLES: "English" ONLY has subtitles for Japanese and hard to hear English, whereas "English UK" has subtitles for all spoken English! Thanks.
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  164. We'll be doing one!
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  165. ​ @WtfYoutube_YouSuck  How does one answer a question like this???
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  166. This wraps up the snowiest city in the world series. I tried my best to answer all your questions. Hope you enjoy! If you haven't already, watch PART 1 https://youtu.be/qqerKWp1kqs and PART 2 https://youtu.be/HDNN9W_wnEk
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  167. Thanks for the past 2 years! And before you ask, all the links to anything talked about in the video are in the description :-) I feel like I wanted to write something else in the comment, but now I forget... Oh yeah, just remembered. For the Patreon, something that wasn't in the survey but that we've added is a monthly lottery for your very own Japanese name penned by Aiko using her calligraphy skills (gained from her weekly classes). She needs the practice, so it's really a win win. The other thing was that the Meetup will be on Saturday, May 27th or Sunday, June 4th. Again, links to those things and everything in the description. Thanks everyone! EDIT: Now I know what it really was that I was going to say, "Yes, that is zit on my face! I know I have grey hair... and a zit!" I get to be simultaneously youthful and old at the same time :-)
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  168. Awesome, great to hear!
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  169. Thanks John. I've been peeping your Instagram posts in Ogasawara. Gorgeous place!
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  170. Fleur Dy I couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. But it actually may be the only little piece of land they have left once the house is built. - Aiko's Dad
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  171. Oh, cool, I obviously never knew this before.
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  172. This video pairs with my previous one about whether or not Japan has a plastic problem https://youtu.be/FU6WogV6UEg What do you think about the incineration process used in Japan?
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  173.  @NotJustBikes  Ok, sounds great!
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  174. Denise Mallalieu True story, she actually asked me to do dishes one day. So I made sure to get the camera to memorialize the event! - You know who I am ;-)
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  175. He's even more grown now! I'm 163cm. He's now 162cm!!!
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  176. I know you know it! I was glad when I saw your video and thinning was discussed.
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  177. +CrazyandLazy She does appear in a couple of the videos, but she doesn't show her face. She just doesn't like being in front of the camera. I understand, because for the longest time I much preferred being behind the camera than in front of it. It was only until about after 10 years of filming did I start getting in front of the camera myself, and it was quite weird for me. Even on her personal Facebook she doesn't post her face, so it's not even a Youtube thing. I get that people are curious, but she just doesn't feel comfortable having her face in public.
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  178. Oh, forgot to mention the barefoot scene! We were at a super sento (public bath house), so not having any shoes or socks on isn't as weird as you might think. It's definitely a must to have no shoes. Whether you want to wear socks or not is completely up to you, either way is fine.
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  179. MvegaM1 Yep, I'm from Canada and Aiko's Mum is from Japan. She spent seven years in Canada and has been in Japan for two. Fluent in both, but she needs to work hard to keep up her English. - Aiko's Dad
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  180. +喵伊恩 Yep, over-reacting :-) She doesn't even like to post pictures of herself on Facebook. There's no big reason, as in there are no issues with our family and she has no problems. The simple fact is that she doesn't like being a public figure.
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  181. Nah, her voice has been in quite a few of them. In fact, you hear her voice in the very first video we ever released :-)
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  182. I'll add to this and say my experience changed depending on where I was. In Tokyo, I honestly can't recall more than a handful of occasions where someone has talked to me out of the blue. But the more remote the location is in Japan, the more I've had conversations with strangers. My best experience was going to Amami Oshima, which is a small island half way between Okinawa and Kyushu, that doesn't get many foreign tourists. Had many nice conversations and the people were so friendly!
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  183. A special shout out to those on Patreon supporting this. I have been making deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes video for them, but I decided to try and put a bit more effort into those videos and release them to the public after they get a chance to view it first (they saw it a few days before this was officially released). I think this worked out well.
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  184. I have a few videos related to this: - Japanese Nursing Home https://youtu.be/Lf-OBn8Nwko - Living in Japan with a Physical Disability https://youtu.be/KKrLQDNuMpI - Travelling With a Physical Disability in Japan https://youtu.be/xycecbwpIzE
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  185. Nope, Mum always wanted a daughter. After 5 times she gave up :-) She has lots of granddaughters though!
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  186. Audio tracks by the way. All from Epidemic Sound Morning Drive 1 - Peter Sandberg Chillseekers 3 - Niklas Gustavsson Manhattan - Cecilia Lindh Echoes 5 - Johannes Bornlöf Head Nod Supreme 1 - Jack Elphick Urban Transitions 1 Remix - Jimmy Wahlsteen Nerdy But Cool Beat 9 - Jonatan Järpehag Sleeptalk - Sandra Brostrom Electronic Twitch 4 - Gunnar Johnsén Nerdy But Cool Beat 6 - Jonatan Järpehag Midnight Grooves 1 - Axel Ljung Getting Tipsy 2 - Martin Landh Electric Documentary Tax 2 - Björn Skogsberg A Figure Of Speech 2 - Peter Sandberg Sorry, I don't have the timing.
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  187. Kyo Proudmoore Don't tell my family, but every once in a while I find washing dishes relaxing. - Aiko's Dad
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  188. I did across his work in my research, but unfortunately so much stuff that I wanted to talk about got left out (otherwise it would have been an hour long video).
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  189. +Khadeeja A Correct
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  190. You can call the front desk. Also, as far as I know, that plastic cap on the lock could come off and let you get out if need be. It might trip an alarm though. In the case of emergency, I'd be surprised if all the doors didn't automatically unlocked. But I'm fairly uninitiated, so perhaps someone with more knowledge could step in.
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  191. Homeless in Japan playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vhdQOH-Tk&list=PLXw1GwgfxFvcHX2nVpe0HWWLkhnC7lB9q Initial video: https://youtu.be/Q8vhdQOH-Tk Part 1: https://youtu.be/eK--oCVP18A Part 2: https://youtu.be/-9RgkZebW1s Part 3: https://youtu.be/kBPyN3LE65g Part 4: https://youtu.be/OUNo06G3BeQ
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  192. She is quite funny and friendly!
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  193. I had a lot of fun filming this one. Here's the other videos in the series! Tokyo by Train https://youtu.be/mlUlZHGxcao Tokyo by Bike https://youtu.be/u0x8EAf4GSg Tokyo by Boat https://youtu.be/1a1fdzy7X84
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  194. For those of you asking, the device he uses to poke holes in the eggs is called an egg piercer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_piercer. I couldn't find the exact one he's using, but here's one on Amazon http://amzn.to/2Ei3iZ5.
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  195. Oh, oh, oh. I just thought of this. But in case you didn't know, there are both English and Japanese captions. So, hit or tap that CC button (or the three dots), or whatever, to get those languages.
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  196. Go to https://nordvpn.com/lifewhereimfrom and if you go for the 2-year plan you get an additional 4 months. It’s also risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee. Filming at Suzuki Soba was so fun and smooth. Everyone there were so helpful and the food was great too!
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  197. Homeless in Japan playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vhdQOH-Tk&list=PLXw1GwgfxFvcHX2nVpe0HWWLkhnC7lB9q Initial video: https://youtu.be/Q8vhdQOH-Tk Part 1: https://youtu.be/eK--oCVP18A Part 2: https://youtu.be/-9RgkZebW1s Part 3: https://youtu.be/kBPyN3LE65g Part 4: https://youtu.be/OUNo06G3BeQ
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  198. I was going to get one so I could make a video about what running a vending machine was like but my wife wouldn't let me ☹
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  199. So true for Vancouver!
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  200. Yes, I'm thankful they ended up showing me. But it was really hard to get some people to show their meals. That's why you didn't see a lot of faces. I understand though, as I think most people feel like they should be doing something better, but they're rushed and just need something that works. Even if you have time to make a nutritious meal, there can very well be people in your family who won't eat the food.
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  201. But think about it. Would you feel it unkind for a Japanese person visiting a different country to not be able to write down their name in Katakana on a waiting list if they were visiting the US, China, or another country with a different writing system? Realistically though, if you wrote your name down in English, they'd figure it out. All Japanese can read the English alphabet, and while they may not be able to pronounce it well, you'll both get by.
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  202. Considering Shin enjoyed hiding in there, I don't know if it would work.
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  203. Sorry Mitchell, we didn't watch these videos until the New Year and didn't realize you had already come to Japan. Sorry we couldn't meet up and say hi to you.
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  204. Both! We're currently in Canada but will be back in Japan in July.
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  205. If you haven't already, watch part 1 ttps://youtu.be/pmzWknYaNXg Don't forget to choose your subtitles パート１をご覧になっていない方は、こちらを先にご覧ください ttps://youtu.be/pmzWknYaNXg お好きな字幕を選んでください
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  206. A lot of people have mentioned that most scooters are now 4 stroke. Thanks for letting me know. I'm curious as to how the 4 strokes do on the smog front. A really quick search point to them being more polluting then vehicles when it comes to smog, but maybe the newest models are better? https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/greenspace/story/2011-09-28/mythbusters-asks-are-motorcycles-greener-than-cars As for transportation, I totally agree that public transit is the best way to go. Living in Tokyo I don't own a car and generally use my feet, my bike, or take the train (and sometimes bus). I believe Taipei is really trying to boost their public transportation and since they started their MRT system in 1996, they've made a really fantastic system. Combined with the You Bikes (their bicycle share service), it was a great way to travel. What I was reporting on was that there is still a massive amount of scooters on the road in the city and in the country. I think that if a scooter is going to be on the road, the best would be to make it electric, but overall, using public transportation is even better. Have a great day everyone!
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  207. Just FYI, we actually encourage people to make their own channels as well as post a full version of their video on it. Some people do it (and we link to it) and some people don't. We talk with Mae and her family, and actually visited with them when they were in Japan a couple months ago. For the money side, that's something I debated a lot before asking for submissions. I'm totally open to it, but it also more complicated than you might think. There are 16 people (17 if you include us) in the video. Not everyone shares equal screen time / effort (for example, NinjaMonkey put a lot of time and effort into the video submitted). If you get a 100,000 views, that's like $100 in Adsense revenue. Split that up 17 ways and it's not too much. You also have to figure out a way to distribute to everyone, getting payment info and all that. Also, what happens if the video doesn't get many views now, but for some reason, goes big later. Do you keep on sending out payments, maybe of $0.10 a month? I can't speak as to why some people submit, but I can guess that some just purely like sharing (which is why we started making videos), others like to see their videos on the channel (a sense of pride), and some others may feel like if some viewers like their content than they'll subscribe to their own channel. Hope that helps explain it a bit :-)
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  208. Because I know some of you will ask, the fruits cafe is Takano Fruits https://takano.jp/ (not sponsored!) If you really want to see an in-depth video about super expensive Japanese fruits, I suggest Only in Japan's video about Yubari melons https://youtu.be/rpeUoeRtejE?si=66zJHhdMCh8Zqi8u
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  209. Ah, that's too bad. Hopefully thing will open up soon.
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  210. Thanks for your feedback. Yeah, I agree, I should not avoid topics because they conflict with my values. It just seemed like a giant ad to me when I was going through all the footage, so I had a hard time figuring out what to do. That's why I left music out of the majority of the video.
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  211. Oh, cool. The new helper is from Hong Kong.
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  212. SUBTITLES! The video is half English, half Japanese, so if you want the subtitles (in English), make sure that CC button is turned on! For my other two videos I talked about in this one, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B37THlDrosw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejr-UntuTb4. Have a good one!
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  213. Thanks to everyone who joined the live stream!!!!
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  214. I got the idea to make the video after you all watched the videos about a typical Tokyo neighbourhood https://youtu.be/TheOkz8oF_I and zoning https://youtu.be/wfm2xCKOCNk It was fun to explore all the different shops in the local shotengai.
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  215. I now have a director's commentary out (23 minutes!) for all those that wanted to know a little more about the shoot https://youtu.be/TZuM7M7E0jU. I say UM a LOT. I would have edited them all out, but UM, it would have taken a long time. Sorry.
    75
  216.  @user-elliseuji  That's exactly it. This won't be our home, so the address will be known sooner or later!
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  217. I put this in the description as well, but here's the Camera setup. Zhiyun Crane was the gimbal used. Sony a7sii with the 16-35mm f4 lens (filmed at 19mm). Besides setting the shutter speed at 50 (to stop the flickering of the lights) and the f stop at 11 (for the dusk) and 5.6 (when dark), everything else was auto since I was on a gimbal (did limit the ISO so it wouldn't go too crazy with noise). I think the camera did a really good job in adjusting for the conditions.
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  218.  @jeansibelius8045  Yes, I was wondering how much is due to zoning and how much is due to other factors, like you mentioned. Japan did have that whole property value bubble crisis a few decades ago!
    74
  219. @sen touji I replied this elsewhere, but I'll put it here since a lot of people will see this. The videos are reviewed twice before release. After that review process and the video was released, they decided they had an issue with images, so asked me to re-upload with them removed or replaced. In this case, the images of a tourism website were used (by me) and they wanted to get the rights to the images if they were to be in the video. I considered their inclusion fair use, but they wanted to be 100% sure that we were ok to use them (and since they weren't 100%, they felt safer having them removed). In general, reviews don't really change what I say or present, but instead add a bit of detail here, correct a small thing there, or remove something. Most of this is to remove risk.
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  220. They've been nice for me in that regard as well. My wife and I are able to see and do a lot of places and things that we didn't know existed.
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  221. Hey Yuta! I was going to message you that I used a bit from your website, but I guess you already saw :-) Yes, I've often heard that English is difficult for Japanese people. One thing I've always wondered is if there are any studies similar to the U.S. about which languages are difficult for Japanese and what the estimated hours to learn the language are. I know my wife studied English in school and privately before moving to Canada for a year to study English full time, then she worked another year entirely in English in Canada. And after that she took regular college classes and worked in Canada, all in English. I think her English is great, but she'll be the first to admit that she has a lot to learn. So I would agree that English is hard.
    72
  222. Yep, that's on the list!
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  223. I would disagree! The airline fashion is a lot nicer IMHO.
    72
  224. Thanks for the kind words!
    72
  225. I think saying impossible is going a bit too far. It would be difficult and not ideal, but it's possible. Especially if you're working for a company that would be helping you to sort out some daily life things like renting a place, getting utilities set up, a phone, etc...
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  226. Yeah, the kids made me go eat ramen after seeing me edit the video. Then after we were done editing, my wife insisted we go to the original restaurant (the one Kunimoto apprenticed at) to eat ramen.
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  227. I hope to. I almost didn't release any content about homelessness because I haven't been able to do interviews so far. But if people are willing to talk on camera, I'll most certainly make the video.
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  228.  @MyLittleGreenHairdedMermaid  Yes, the uniforms are quite pricey, but they're generally well made and they last for years, so in the end, I don't know if they're actually that expensive, all things considered. Recruit suits, on the other hand, do seem like not a good value, since I don't think you'd wear it for more than a small period of your life.
    70
  229. As with most things, there are always exceptions. My kids have dual nationalities at the moment. When they become adults, they are supposed to choose one or the other.
    70
  230. For people asking about links to potters, here's some for you! - Tamba kotoukan http://www.tanbakotoukan.jp/ - Tambayaki https://tanbayaki.com/ - Tanba Style https://tanbayaki.net/ - Rokkoyo https://en.sixancientkilns.jp/ - Taiga kobo http://taigakobo.com/ - Gahougama http://www.gahougama.com/ - Toshihikogama http://toshihikogama.com/ - Tanbungama https://tanbungama.com/ And here's the credits for pottery from the Tamba kotoukan collection: 0:53 大壺 Ootsubo, 14th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 0:56 せんべい壺 Senbei tsubo, 19th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 1:00 桶 Oke, 16th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 1:03 灰釉窯変四耳壺 Haiyu youhen shijiko, 17th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 1:06 灰釉窯変耳付花入れ Haiyu youhen mimitsuki hanaire, 17th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 1:30 墨流し六角徳利 suminagashirokkakutokkuri 白地笹文徳利 shirojisasamontokkuri,19th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 1:32 海老徳利 ebidokkuri, 19th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 1:35 廣口茶入れ hirokutichaire, 17th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 9:55 水差しmizusashi, 17th c, Tamba kotoukan collection 10:04 赤土部窯変大徳利 akadobeyouhenootokkuri, 17th c, Tamba kotoukan collection
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  231. The TRUTH has been revealed :-) Did you also know, that Shin was originally supposed to be in the bathrooms video, taking a bath, but he was too busy playing games in the other room! When Aiko's into it, she really loves explaining things to people. When I looked back at private family videos of her, she always talked to the camera naturally. Shin, on the other hand, is usually off in his world, without a concern in the world. I think that's what makes him good as the comedic relief, but it's also why he struggles to present things, because he's more interested in doing something than showing something.
    69
  232. Thanks for the kind words.
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  233. Thanks to Gen Wa for the difficult task of doing the subs for the master English track! That makes doing subs in other languages much easier http://www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?ref=share&v=iGbC5j4pG9w
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  234. We actually bought a year ago :-)
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  235. Get Nebula using my link for 40% off the annual subscription https://go.nebula.tv/lifewhereimfrom. Special thanks to Alex from Tokyo Portfolio https://www.youtube.com/@TokyoPortfolio who got us access inside the homes. The only thing I think was missing from this video was being able to see inside some of the $5-$15 million homes. I know there's some pretty swanky stuff out there! Anyways, happy holidays everyone! - Greg
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  236. A few comments about the question title cards. Some wanted it to be read out loud, some to take away the music. Fair enough. Here's what I'd like to know, since it's not that big of a difference for me. Would you like A) Me to go "on camera" and speak the questions, B) Me to take away the music and read the questions, keeping the title up on screen, C) Keep it as it is, with title and music, but also read the question. I have 3 more interviews, so might as well do it in a format that people prefer.
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  237. Thank you very much Shiori!
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  238. +Aida Strocovsky Hi back! That's my hometown! - The Dad
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  239. If you liked this one, you'll probably like my video about What the Richest Vacation Town in Japan is Like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDHAjwIZkXs
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  240. You're welcome!
    66
  241. Thanks for dropping by!
    66
  242. For people asking about locations, here's a list of places I visited: - Sasayama castle and Osyoin http://www.withsasayama.jp/REKIBUN/osyoin_top.htm - Kawaramachi street https://www.burari-tambaji.com/spot/10 - Okachimachi Samurai house area https://www.burari-tambaji.com/spot/11 - Narito pan Bakery https://hitotokoto.com/naritopan/ - Magnum Coffee https://magnumcoffee.thebase.in/ - Brewery http://t-brewery.jp/ - Sumiyoshi Shrine https://oniwa.garden/sumiyoshi-jinja-shrine-garden-%E4%BD%8F%E5%90%89%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE%E5%BA%AD%E5%9C%92/ - Fukusumi street https://www.city.tambasasayama.lg.jp/kanko_bunka/bunka/sasayamadentotekikenzobutsugunhozonchiku/8725.html - Hotel and Restaurant https://www.nipponia-fukusumi.com/ - Makekirai Shrine http://www.makekirai.com/ - Anma-Family Samurai Residence Museum http://www.withsasayama.jp/REKIBUN/anma_top.htm - Houmei Shuzou Sake shop https://houmei.com/ - Cafe http://breathroy.jp/
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  243. Yeah, that's one of the things I really like about Japan, how you can get such different climates by travelling a little bit. But yeah, you can definitely get your snow fix if you got to the right spots. I love snow so I was like a kid in a candy shop over there!
    65
  244. It's a known place among locals, but internationally I don't think it's known at all. I heard for certain days, it can be busy, but in general, it shouldn't be anything close to the amount of people that you'd find in Kyoto.
    64
  245. +Mangosmylife Huh, Shin literally talked a few times in this video :-) Perhaps you're referring to narration? Aiko is just better at it at the moment, but Shin is slowly learning.
    64
  246. Both kids rarely do housework. It just so happens that Aiko is showing how it's done in this video. But Shin (my son) does cook a little bit and he likes doing dishes (more so than other chores).
    63
  247. Thanks for joining up for a little bit! We'll have to do a full-length adventure soon.
    63
  248. That makes sense.
    62
  249. If you'd like a tenugui (traditional Japanese Hand Towel), we're selling them at https://shop.lifewhereimfrom.com/ Please note that we were only able to do an initial run of 500 of the popular Japanese Foods tenugui and 200 of the previous scenes from Life Where I'm From tenugui. The shokunin (artisans) are incredibly busy at this time of year. The first batch of orders will be shipped in early December 2024. The second batch will be shipped in early February 2025. Once shipped it should arrive in 2-4 weeks. Thanks! Greg
    62
  250. I was wondering whether I'd get true or realistic coverage because I had a camera. But we kind of randomly went around the facility and staff and residents didn't really know when or where we'd be, so it seems as genuine as can be when you're in front of a camera lens. I think they do care about the jobs they are doing. However, I would like to mention that elder care can be a stressful and taxing job, so care worker positions have a high turnover/burn out rate.
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  251. +RainAngel111 Yeah, we don't currently own yukata's for Aiko, Shin, or anyone in the family. It would be nice for everyone to get an outfit... maybe next year! - The Dad
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  252. Homeless in Japan playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vhdQOH-Tk&list=PLXw1GwgfxFvcHX2nVpe0HWWLkhnC7lB9q Initial video: https://youtu.be/Q8vhdQOH-Tk Part 1: https://youtu.be/eK--oCVP18A Part 2: https://youtu.be/-9RgkZebW1s Part 3: https://youtu.be/kBPyN3LE65g Part 4: https://youtu.be/OUNo06G3BeQ
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  253. We're in both Japan and Canada.
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  254. Save $20 on an annual subscription to Nebula https://go.nebula.tv/lifewhereimfrom Stay tuned for more videos on Okinawa. It's going to be a real traffic jam!
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  255. It could be interesting to explore when Japanese do wear clothing that is quite different from the everyday and why. Whether it's yukatas or cosplay, you can actually dress quite diversely in Japan, but it does seem to be quite contextual (time of year, special event, group your with, location, purpose).
    59
  256. +Dan A family as in for families, but they're not run by families. Family run restaurants tend to be a lot smaller and simpler :-)
    59
  257. Homeless in Japan playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vhdQOH-Tk&list=PLXw1GwgfxFvcHX2nVpe0HWWLkhnC7lB9q Initial video: https://youtu.be/Q8vhdQOH-Tk Part 1: https://youtu.be/eK--oCVP18A Part 2: https://youtu.be/-9RgkZebW1s Part 3: https://youtu.be/kBPyN3LE65g Part 4: https://youtu.be/OUNo06G3BeQ
    58
  258. I kind of thought so to. I grew up wanting to own a castle with tons of property. When I figured out a castle was not a good idea, I still wanted to get that typical American Dream kind of home. Big home, big backyard, that sort of thing. I really don't miss having no yard while living in Tokyo. Would I like a little one, sure, but not for the price I'd have to pay. You can get homes with yards, you just need to pay for it, and in Tokyo you see wealthier people with modest-sized yards. But, if you saw the footage of Edogawa, there are a couple rivers close by and an Ocean as well. They also have parks and green corridors that you can walk around in. So I get my fix of space when I go to the parks or water fronts. The area is safe, so the kids just go and play at the local parks or on the streets. So not having a yard is not an issue. BUT, I totally get that not everyone enjoys city life :-)
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  259. It's only online that I've ever received any hate in Japan. The only discrimination that I can say I've faced is when trying to rent an apartment. My Japanese wife's father was super upset when he found out our rental options were limited because of who his daughter was married to.
    57
  260. I added a small Tottori to the thumbnail!
    57
  261. No doubt!
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  262. It's through a connection, and yes, the group that owns the school is more progressive in my opinion. But, while the school looks different, it's not too dissimilar from what I've seen and heard about at other hoikuen's.
    56
  263. Perhaps Japanese Field Mouse is a better translation? You can check out the Wikipedia page here (need to translate it though) https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%92%E3%83%A1%E3%83%8D%E3%82%BA%E3%83%9F
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  264. Thanks man!
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  265. Thanks a lot! I list my camera equipment at http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/about/
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  266. I personally liked the location, so I think that made for a scenic video. Also, we now have a stabilizer, which allows for some smooth walking shots.
    55
  267. Thanks! We are thinking about doing one around New Year's, which is the most important holiday in Japan. Lots of food. It's also a huge family holiday where people don't work, so I don't know if I can film enough during that time or not.
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  268.  @vzxvzvcxasd7109  As far as I understand it's the retaining wall. If it were ever to collapse, they don't want any house that could go down with it. I don't know how long ago it was built, but it could be 50 years ago or more. So most of the properties have these walls in place and they are grandfathered in. But if you're going to do something new, they'd want you to redo that wall. For the top portion, as long as we prove the ground is sturdy enough, we can build provided it's a certain distance from the wall.
    54
  269. Doing alright.
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  270. We have a much more immersive crossover planned!
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  271.  @gwyn.  But what's the fun in that!
    52
  272. Thanks! For the most part, parks are open all day and night. There are some major parks, like Shinjuku Gyoen which do close. But besides the popular central parks, I don't think they have any closing times. This is why they're really handy for going to the bathroom or getting water. _Parks in B.C. in Canada do close at dusk, and if they don't have gates preventing entry, the bathroom facilities do usually close, so that's why I find it so convenient travelling around Japan by foot or bike.
    52
  273. Yes and yes!
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  274. Shin actually said that, so maybe.
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  275. Ryokans / Onsens (Traditional Japanese Inns / Hot Springs). Lots of people asking about where we stayed. The first place was in the Hagashiyama area http://samurai-city.jp/en/relaxation/1065 and is called Harataki https://www.yumeguri.co.jp/index.php. The second place was in the Ashinomaki area http://samurai-city.jp/en/relaxation/1542 and is called Ookawaso http://www.ookawaso.co.jp/. As far as pricing goes, I thought they were quite reasonable for what you get. I've paid more for lesser accommodations. I think there's more value because it's not as well known as places like Hakone. For all the places we went, you can kind of figure it out by going to http://samurai-city.jp/en/
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  276. Globbi Thank you. Nope, I didn’t go to any language schools. I talk every day in both languages. - Aiko Aiko lived in Canada for seven years and has lived in Japan for two. She still speaks English to her brother and myself every day. She also reads English books, plays English video games, and watches English videos. She goes to a regular Japanese school. - Aiko’s Dad
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  277. +Denise Mallalieu yes, but only because it's you ;-)
    51
  278. Good question, I'd love to know the answer.
    51
  279.  @leenmochizuki5642  Yes, I was sorely disappointed with the speed when I saw a couple different people watch my 4K videos in like 480p. I was crying on the inside.
    50
  280. If you haven't seen it yet, don't forget to watch part 1 https://youtu.be/qqerKWp1kqs and part 3 https://youtu.be/tZvtBkKz73o
    50
  281.  @vzxvzvcxasd7109  Yeah, I was wondering how much explaining the being a Muslim part vs. the being in Japan as a Muslim to do. But I went in assuming that people had zero knowledge of Islam, so that in order to understand how life in Japan would be different, you'd need to understand the practices.
    50
  282.  @benfsinger  Yeah, it would be more literally like "see", but the implication is "See, i told you so" ほら言ったじゃん
    50
  283. Yep, the room with the computers.
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  284. My sister-in-law has a really new one, and man, it's soo good! We baked a chicken in there, and because it's a convection oven, it's so crispy yet juicy!
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  285. Glad to hear you enjoyed the format. I'm personally sick and tired of hearing about COVID-19, so even though I felt I had to make the video as a kind of time capsule of how people were feeling at this time, I don't plan on making another coronavirus related video for the rest of the year.
    48
  286.  @prisheyzeas  Sorry, no clue.
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  287. Lots of people asked this. The scene at the end was taken at 千鳥ヶ淵公園 (Chidorigafuchi Park) https://goo.gl/maps/JrVELjZyPdN2. It's located around the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda, Tokyo. This was a day after peak cherry blossom in late March. We really lucked out with the fantastic weather.
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  288. For once, I have the English (master timing) subs done at the same time I launched the video. I was playing around with Aegisub. Don't know if it's faster than using the built-in sub editor in YouTube or Amara, but it was a lot more precise. The subs aren't perfect, but I think they're fairly good, definitely good enough that anyone is now able to do translations in other languages based off of the timing. As always, thanks for all those who help caption the videos, I know it's a tireless and thankless job. So THANK YOU! http://www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?ref=share&v=5AiLSyNhEXg
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  289. We have plans for a garden, yes, and some other stuff as well!
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  290. Yeah, I was thinking about visiting a koi farm.
    46
  291. I'm pretty sure it's Strasbourg, not Strasburg, sorry French people! In my defence, that was the spelling that I was given :-) Thanks to all those who contributed to the video and again, sorry for taking so long to put this together. The breakfast video should also be coming out this month as well!
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  292. I think 10-15% of content only appears in the short version BTW. So if you're REALLY interested, you might get some out of watching both :-)
    46
  293. That's totally up to her. She shows up when she feels like it 😀
    45
  294. I suppose public transportation wouldn't have the same negative associations that it does in some areas of North America.
    44
  295. It doesn't happen all the time. You'd have to ask Eido, but I think in his case everything was just done at offices. When I applied for a mortgage, I had a banker walk by my house and see me, just to confirm I lived there. Small double-checks. Like Eido said, the reason to go to your house, if they do, is to see if you're living a lifestyle that matches what's on paper. You should watch the full interview for some more colour on it.
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  296. Someone sent me this link, which has a great video explaining things https://youtu.be/S32y9aYEzzo. So, knowing what I know about this specific ryokan, they completely change out the water twice a week. Combine that with the washing with soap before entering and I'm fairly sure a strong taboo against peeing in onsens, I think that's why I don't smell that trichloramine smell. Oh, some onsens have lots of sulfur, which will smell like farts.
    44
  297. ¯\(ツ)/¯
    44
  298. To answer all your questions, I re-interviewed one of the members, Kensuke. Here's the Q+A https://youtu.be/nR9mOCaIHqM
    44
  299. I think it'll be by boat
    44
  300. It was surprising to me as well!
    43
  301. @Identity Hidden I'm specifically referring to my daughter's middle school uniforms, which indeed lasted her 3 years. She bought an outfit that was too big on purpose so that it would last her throughout the time.
    43
  302. FYI, I posted the full tours of the 3 properties on my second channel https://youtu.be/DUbCjxMG9PM
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  303. It's hard walking down the steps not looking at the steps!
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  304. You can change the colors if you go into the settings. I don't know why the colors show up as white on white for some, and then black on white for others. But if you click or tap on wherever you go on the video to adjust subtitles, there'll be an options menu, where you can change them to your liking. In creating the subtitles, I or the other subtitlers don't choose the colour.
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  305. Thanks for having us!
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  306. Oh interesting. On my last video about the rich neighbourhoods of Tokyo, I showed what to me looked like similar style concrete buildings, and people said they were brutalist. I tried researching brutalist buildings for a few hours, but I still obviously don't quite get what makes a brutalist building brutal. Thanks for the comment.
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  307. Added subtitles in English! Previously this was a big task, even with a script. After reading many comments I decided to check the state of technology and the systems are a lot better at timing a script to videos now. Although it's far from perfect and still took me 2 hours to fix up (and the timing and separation could be better, but I figure this is better than what was before).
    42
  308. I'm glad you caught that one!
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  309. It was the wife's voice :-)
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  310. Don't know, good question.
    42
  311. Thanks for the support John!
    42
  312. Had some questions about what kind of welfare was available. Here's an official English breakdown of the support available from the government http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/social_welfare/dl/outline_of_the_public_assistance_system_20101004.pdf. I'll be presenting some of this in part 4 and 5.
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  313. My wife texted me to comment and say that it is fast food. I told her to get an anonymous account and post herself... yet I'm still relaying the message.
    41
  314. Japan only allows you to hold citizenship with a single country, unless you're a child, in which case, you can hold dual citizenship. Once kids become adults, they're not supposed to hold both Japanese citizenship and another country's citizenship.
    41
  315. Faroskalin Yeah - Aiko
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  316. Hi Mangi, it's because that's where I'm coming from, Canada and Japan. It's my only frame of reference. A good chunk of people watching will be from the US and many watch because they've seen me talk about life in Japan and compare it to Western countries. For you talking about Canada, I think almost every Canadian would agree with what you said. Our movies aren't as popular, our economy is smaller. Never lived in Toronto nor visited New York, so can't speak to that comparison. When you talk to your family and friends about your life in the UK, do you never tell them about how things are different there than in Korea?
    41
  317. I actually have a video. Search waste management under my channel's videos and you should see it.
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  318. Thanks for the kind comment!
    40
  319. Thanks, I had everyone run a secondary camera. Yuta and John were YouTubers, so that wasn't an issue. My Japanese teacher had no clue about filming, but her iPhone did a fairly respectable job. I wish the audio was a bit better on her call, but miles ahead of what I would have got only getting the screen capture.
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  320. Thanks, and thanks for posting that snopes link about muslims in Japan (http://www.snopes.com/muslims-in-japan/). All the misinformation was an important reason why Eido started his website. I too thought it was near impossible to become Japanese before meeting someone his site helped become Japanese. Now I kind of feel silly that I didn't know that it's not a super hard thing to do and it's not at all based on any superficial criteria. It's mainly an economic thing. If you can support yourself in Japan (or have someone support you), then it doesn't matter where you're from, if you have disabilities, or anything else.
    40
  321. And done: Tokyo's Coronavirus Timeline (COVID-19 in Japan | Jan 16 - May 25, 2020)
    40
  322. Oh, I cut out a part where he was talking about vending machines. My brother and nephew really enjoyed them. They made a game out of going around and trying new flavours. I had never thought about it before, but with each vending machine carrying 30-40 different drinks, a set of 3 of them can have almost 100 choices. There are repeats, of course, but still it was an impressive selection of beverages for them.
    40
  323. Thanks Yuta
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  324. Glad you got the reference :-)
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  325. I have some videos about working in Japan... but at the moment it's not covering the how part, just the what it's like part.
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  326. I hope to! We had contacted uniform companies last year and they all turned us down. But that was also when the pandemic was really starting to get going. So perhaps when things settle down I can try again and have better luck. "Why Japan Loves its Uniforms!"
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  327. That's exactly how I felt when I went to Yokohama for the first time!
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  328. Thanks, I purposely didn't put any music in because I do think it tells you to how feel instead of having you thinking for yourself. That being said, I do have a tiny bit of music in a few of the videos, but I try to keep it as real as possible. And thanks goes to Sanyukai for both helping the homeless/former homeless, but also in aiding us ensure we could do this in a knowledgeable and respectful way.
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  329. Yes, that's my wife's voice you hear in the interviews.
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  330. After trying both I would say it simply physically feels more comfortable without any clothing.
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  331. I've been asking about this. It suppose it depends on the host. But my wife was explaining to me that you wouldn't want to have a situation where two guests are trying to decide who gets the last bite, or that someone still feels hungry, so you always want there to be food available. From my limited experience in maybe a dozen households, I don't think the food was ever lacking at any of these little get togethers.
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  332. HAHA. I actually researched this for about a 1/2 hour thinking someone was saying it. People have done scientific studies on it and generally the amount of water it soaks up is very minimal.
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  333. We accept submissions from anyone, no matter how poor or rich they are. I do think that those that can speak English and have access to the Internet to watch videos, and a camera to record them, are statistically better off in the world. So by default, we're always going to get submissions from wealthier people in the world. In 2017 I'm thinking about launching a project to send cameras to people who can't normally afford them and get video from places we normally wouldn't see, shot by people who normally wouldn't shoot them.
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  334.  @cardinaaaa4388  I will if they feel like it. But they're mostly busy doing their own things.
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  335. It would be good to compare some other towns that don't have big money makers like the dam and water factory to see. My wife and I briefly looked at the budget (it's public), but I decided not to get into it for this video as I think it would have been too much out of the scope of what I was trying to do. But for a future video, I think that could be interesting.
    37
  336. I ATE THEM!
    37
  337.  @mikimisteinberg4016  Yuta is not an in-law by the way :-) He's a friend, but in a couple videos from now, you'll see some of my in-laws again.
    37
  338. Thanks Dogen!
    36
  339. Hope you enjoy!
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  340. +NEENEE V yeah, that's what I'm figuring and that's why I included multiple videos from India.
    36
  341. UPDATE: SUBTITLES: "English" ONLY has subtitles for Japanese and hard to hear English, whereas "English UK" has subtitles for all spoken English!
    36
  342. I've heard this sentiment, of never being seen as Japanese. In a certain way, I understand. And this is a part of what the documentary will explore. What I find hard to reconcile, is that I don't think there's ever been any type of blood test required to be a true Japanese person. In fact, I quite doubt it, since DNA testing is recent technology. So for being true Japanese, how far back do you need to go? Two generations? Three? Ten? One of my examples, Utada Hikaru, she's Japanese, yet she must have held American citizenship (being born there) and then raised a good part of her life there, but do Japanese people not consider her Japanese? Maybe the answer is no, she's not. I'm looking to say what anyone is or isn't, but rather to investigate what people think and why they think that way.
    36
  343.  @GroovyAsians  Yes, we're in Canada right now.
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  344. Yep, full length. Gahhhh... so tired.
    35
  345. Thanks, I'm a fan too! My brother and mother have studied geography / city planning and work in relevant government departments in Canada. I studied business. I got into cities and urban planning while filming at UBC, where I'd have to record lectures from special presentations. A lecture series was done on liveable cities, which really sparked my interest.
    35
  346. Then you'll probably want to head over to the LWIF X channel http://bit.ly/ytlwifx. This LWIF channel is for kids / family.
    35
  347. You can go to her video and comment. She's pretty good at responding.
    35
  348.  @leenmochizuki5642  Interestingly, I was really worried about the smog, since I have asthma, but I was okay for the week in Manila. But the smell, and the stickiness, I wasn't a big fan 😂
    35
  349. sicarius100 I don't know about monster size, but I like washing dishes in this sink much better than my double-sink in Canada. - Aiko's Dad
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  350. I have no clue. He has never been to Australia.
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  351. Busy, busy working and traveling. However, there are already four videos shot for both the LWIF and LWIF X channels that I'm in the process of editing. So, expect about a video each week throughout December between both channels.
    35
  352.  @birdsarcasm  I was also thinking this. How much nature do you take away when building denser vs. sprawling out?
    35
  353. I visited a couple days ago. He does have people who go in who said they watched the video, but it's not like he now has a big lineup out the door. Right now it seems there are a few extra customers here and there.
    34
  354. Yeah, chains are good for finding a place to relieve yourself! My other go-to's are parks, convenience stores and department stores.
    34
  355. Yeah, there were quite a few places I would have loved to get into, but there were only so many listings and owners that would let us film inside.
    34
  356. Working on a video about Shinto (Japan's kind-of-religion), eating ALL the frozen treats, and one about all the ways you can glamp (glamour camp) in Japan. If all goes to plan, will have a video out roughly ever week for the next few ones. Thanks for your patience!
    34
  357. I think there's a few reasons for it, some that I don't even understand myself. Probably the most relevant is that we don't have heater/cooler units in every room, like the middle one. We can buy one, they're about ¥60,000 ($500USD) for one in a small room. Another reason may be that I like to watch videos off of my computer, so it's nice to have your bed in the same room. It also all fits. I didn't know if it would, but since it fits, it feels more convenient. I also like my room fairly minimal, so I kind of rather have all the storage containers in stuff in another room, and keep the room I'm in most of the time as clutter free as possible. Also, in the winter, I don't need to heat the current room we're in that much, being on the third floor with lots of light. If I were on the first floor, I'd need to use the heater all day in the winter.
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  358. 50+ male is usually a good guess for many homeless. I'll have a video covering who the stereotypical homeless are and why.
    33
  359. It's an unfortunate situation, that's for sure. Looking at news articles, it's been a thing since at least 2014. Canada and a lot of countries need to do a better of job of taking care of their waste. What's quite peculiar, is that the owner of the company who shipped to the waste to the Philippines is claiming that he's not responsible and wouldn't have shipped what got shipped. I have no clue what the truth is. I've read like ten different articles and the whole thing just seems odd. There's been accusations of switched shipments and bribes. I hope Canada does promptly take it back and then actually figure out what actually happened and hold those responsible accountable, whoever they are.
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  360.  @jazmine4746  I actually had to take a bit of a break in the summer (doctor's orders), but I'm doing really well right now. I was mostly away because of working on the documentary though. So no need to worry 😀
    32
  361. That was of a house in the countryside. That would relatively be very cheap to buy. Since it's far away for a major urban area, some people can't even find buyers for those homes and are practically giving them away.
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  362. Yeah, there's a whole whack of castle towns in Japan!
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  363. Haha, the kids don't find walking around very fun. They did enjoy the park though! She actually wanted to go back to the park, so you see in the last shot that's where we ended back at. But yeah, I do think getting older she's obviously maturing and changing. Like I've always said, if she doesn't feel like making videos anymore, she won't be in them any longer. The kids want to make a candy video next, so we're trying to find an old school shop that will let us film inside.
    32
  364. To add to this, I find it interesting that even runners have a specific look/outfit. I wear shorts and my dry fit shirt when the weather's warm, so quite simple, but people have the fanny packs, the compressed leggings, the skirt or shorts over top, the hat, the glasses, etc...
    32
  365. Thanks to you and everyone who have taught me about cops directing traffic. I didn't know you could hire them to do things like this!
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  366. The melodica has been in use for many decades. If I recall correctly (but you can google it), it became popular after world war II. I did say it wasn't a standard looking facility, but what they were showed doing is fairly standard as far as my wife and I know. Maybe the level of band equipment is a bit higher and I know they do have English speakers come in as well, which would be out of the norm.
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  367. I think Asian food is quite a general term. You can find Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, etc... restaurants. The regular ones over here would simply be referred to as restaurants or family restaurants. There are many that specialize in one type of food, such as ramen, udon, soba, tempura, gyoza, tonkatsu, and so on. The family restaurants may carry a good number of these menu items though.
    32
  368. +Joseph me Altfeld honestly, if you write your name in English or simply stand there, they will help you. I don't think you need to worry so much :-)
    32
  369. I don't believe someone has done a documentary quite like this. I know there are others with similar themes, but they were more focused on specific groups. Mine is much more broad, trying to cover all the major groups in one doc as well as try to explore what makes a person Japanese. Did it actually work out? I'll have to wait for the masses to watch and see.
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  370. +Rakesh Wolski That's what you get when you try to climb up a glass table.
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  371. Doing something kind of like that... but kind of not.
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  372. Sorry for the long delay in videos!
    31
  373. Hokkaido also gets lots of snow! Sapporo is the #2 snowiest city. Basically along the west coast in the north, all of the area get dumped with snow because of the warmer ocean hair hitting the Siberian cold front that blows in.
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  374. Honestly, I'm not Japanese, I don't know what it's like to be a "different" kind of Japanese or a "normal" kind of Japanese. While I heard lots of sad stories, especially in the past, I also found that a lot of the interviewees are living happy, well adjusted lives. So, I don't think I would worry so much. Also, the internet amplifies everything. So a small minority of people can put out such a volume of content that it makes you think it's the way the majority of people think.
    30
  375. Now they have chapters! Although I officially don't want anyone to use them since they could skip sections 😀
    30
  376.  @zam023  Well, the interesting thing is that I booked two love hotels, one knowingly (for the video), and one unknowingly (as part of the trip, but I thought it was a regular hotel). For both of them, they seemed like they were expecting me, so one came out from a door behind the empty check-in desk and showed me my reservation and asked if it was me. It was at this hotel that I got "locked" in. I set the time for the food to come in advance the night before. As far as I know, the door was locked up until the food came. They want to pass the food through the little door, I assume, to maintain privacy. But once that food was passed through, I'm fairly sure they automatically opened the door, because how else would I go pay at the machine downstairs. However, since I tried to open the door earlier, I thought I was locked in, so I called the front desk and asked what to do. They said come downstairs and pay. Sure enough, I was able to do that at the machine. For the other love hotel (that I unknowingly booked), there was a person behind a screen that was half pulled down. I can't remember the conversation, but I must have said I have a reservation and then I proceeded to pay in advance. So, my door was always open at that one. I think that place was trying to go mainstream, or be two things at once, because they had the drink bar and their pricing was higher than a normal love hotel (but honestly, it was the least impressive of all my accommodations).
    30
  377. Thanks John!
    30
  378. Okay, I understand you. Just so you know, that's what the channel basically does. Talk about culture and sometimes compare it to other countries.
    30
  379.  @birdsarcasm  I feel like part of it would be more people crammed into the homes and more multi-generational living. That's what my wife's parents grew up like. Also perhaps more people in the countryside areas because of lack of living opportunities in the major cities?
    30
  380. There is a society in Japan that wants to do that.
    30
  381. I was so burned out from making this, so much so, that I haven't watched it since I released one year ago. I only just watched it now so that I could split it up into two and to double-check that there were no errors (there were some problems with the export, but I got those fixed up). I'm very proud of the work, but I'm not even thinking about a part 3. This was enough for me!
    30
  382. Yeah, drug abuse is a big difference. Mental illness as well. https://youtu.be/eK--oCVP18A
    30
  383. He was saying he plays Pokemon Go with his kids. He also said he needs to see his dentist. His wife works with him on Saturdays, so he does get to see her then. Also, the guy in blue was his father, and the lady at night was his mother.
    29
  384. You should watch our other vid on being able to afford a home. You can't do this on minimum wage, but the average wage earner can afford a similar place.
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  385. There are many reasons. And spoiler alert!
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  386. For big items like the fridge, they probably crane them in through the balcony. For other items like +Well Hush said, they tend to break down into smaller parts. Movers do a REALLy good job at covering and protecting your walls, floors, and items when they do a move.
    29
  387. Yep, fridge is not standard. I'll be doing another video showing all the stuff you'd need to buy when you get a new home (which is quite close to all the new stuff you'd need to buy when renting an apartment).
    29
  388. I think I showed a couple shots of the trains that go to and from the airport. Luggage is totally acceptable on trains. However, just be mindful of other passengers are try not to spread out too much.
    29
  389.  @MercenaryBlackWaterz  Or maybe just really naive 😅. I honestly thought the biggest issue would be that I didn't interview enough people, not that people would dislike the title.
    29
  390. Thanks to Strawberry Mochi for inviting us to the hike! I wasn't planning on making a video out of this, so it's a relatively short video and I didn't catch many snippets of her, sorry. But, to see her perspective on the hike, watch her video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvOwTmQBQ7U. Also, don't you like how I polled everyone to see what video they wanted next and did the EXACT OPPOSITE!
    29
  391.  @scrambledegg81  I'm planning on having it available for rent/purchase on the main streaming platforms, like Google, Apple, Vimeo, Amazon. If a major like Netflix or Amazon Prime wants to pick it up, cool, but the most likely is that you can rent/purchase quite easily. I'll have the info ready when it's closer to release date.
    28
  392. +Elano webdes If you put your name on it, you can go to a station and cancel the card. - The Dad
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  393. Professor Tom Gill did mention that a common story would be a man lost his job, and then would often be separated from his wife at the same time, and become homeless. Will touch on that in a future video. I don't know how much history will follow a person nowadays, especially if you move cities or areas. Good question.
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  394. Yep, I definitely have. But I also was thinking these things way before I knew those channels existed.
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  395. True, true. I now use Google Maps to check out the shops, their hours, and reviews, especially when I'm visiting an area for the first time.
    28
  396.  @khankhattak.  Actually, I already shot a video about being muslim in Japan. Will edit in January. It's not focusing on the food, but it'll talk a bit about it.
    28
  397.  @RainAngel111  Well, I hearted it, so that'll give it more exposure.
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  398. A really, quick google search tells me that Japan isn't tapping into geothermal at any significant scale at the moment, despite having the world's third largest reserves. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/Geothermal-hunt-heats-up-in-Japan-from-ski-country-to-hot-spring-areas#:~:text=Japan%20has%20a%20geothermal%20potential,than%20half%20as%20much%20potential.
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  399. Well, he was trying to convert the points to yen :-)
    28
  400. Yeah, we're all mixed up.
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  401. If you missed the first video I made in Beppu about hot springs homes you can buy, here's the link https://youtu.be/8unEF9XAyBY
    28
  402. I keep my Canadian citizenship while my wife keeps her Japanese (and we both have permanent residency in each other's country). It definitely makes it easier to go back and forth between both countries.
    27
  403. People ask all the time. It's on the about page of the YouTube channel and website :-) But it's the Sony a7Sii. It's situations like these where the camera really shines. Besides setting the shutter speed at 50 (to stop the flickering of the lights) and the f stop at 11 (for the dusk) and 5.6 (when dark), everything else was auto since I was on a gimbal. I think the camera did a really good job in adjusting for the conditions. I know if I shot with another camera, it wouldn't have done such a good job. Lens is 16-35mm f4 by the way, and I had it at 19mm.
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  404. I've never stayed in social housing, so I don't know the answer to this, but I kind of thought that there were some maintenance people that did some basic stuff like take care of landscaping and do some light cleanup. In manshon I used to rent, we had a maintenance company that did basic cleanup, like tidy up the hallways and stuff, but the residents were still responsible for not making a mess of the waste collection area, keeping the hallways clear, and that kind of stuff. So it was a shared responsibility. Would love to make a video dedicated to social housing, especially so many people are already interested in this market housing one. I feel the social housing is actually the more interesting story.
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  405. Yeah, I've left my bag on the train twice, and recovered it quickly both times.
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  406. In terms of gender equality, they're 114 out of 144 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/11/02/national/social-issues/japan-drops-114th-gender-equality-rankings-world-economic-forum/.
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  407. I was wondering about this. The roads aren't salted or sanded as far as I know, but they do have some kind of melting agent that they do use which I'm trying to get the name of. How does the snow get taken care of in Finland then? If you put it on land, everything would get into the soil, no?
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  408. I thought she did fantastic! Like her mother said, she was just nervous. I'm glad she had the guts to put herself out there and make the video.
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  409. It's in the description (the map to his restaurant) :-)
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  410. My sister-in-law works part-time with me, so she knows how to film and edit. She's also OK with being on camera. My wife doesn't like being in front of the camera, but she does help with the translation and the research that's done in Japanese.
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  411. Will talk about this in a future video. It's hard for reasons that'll be explained to straight up get public housing, but there are two different systems in place to help. One is Livelihood Protection, which is about $1,300 USD a month. A lot of formerly homeless people have been able to get this. The other is shelters, both emergency and short term, which people who can't get Livelihood Protection can access. Assistance from the government for Livelihood Protection (welfare), has really gone up in the past decade, with now over 2 million out of the 127 million Japanese on it. In the past it was difficult for men to access Livelihood Protection, but that's not so true nowadays. Again, will cover this in future videos.
    26
  412.  @hitachicordoba  Don't forget her appearance as a ninja in the convenience store skit!
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  413. Nope, note rare at all. I think it's more about you're getting a little bit of lots of stuff. Udon, shrimp tempura, egg, chicken nuggets, fries, edamame, jelly.
    26
  414. I don't think so. I didn't like making the other covid videos and they didn't perform well, so I'm totally fine spending my time on other topics.
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  415. Yeah, it would be cool. I don't claim to know much about urban planning, but the topic really fascinates me.
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  416. I actually did them while editing. I didn't hardcode because allows for flexibility if you can turn on and off at will. Plus allows for other languages and corrections.
    25
  417. I do wonder what changed, because I've read of similar accounts.
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  418. Watch the full Tokyo by Train video on the LWIF X channel https://youtu.be/Y49VfddU-L4! Bento picnic lunch video with the kids is coming soon, hang tight!
    25
  419. And I also added it up wrong!
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  420. If I think about it, if you see a Western foreigner working in Japan, they almost always have a University degree. And it's very hard to stay here long enough to be on YouTube if you're not working or not a student. Many come through teaching English, Chris Okano is a case of this, but besides him, he was the only English teacher.
    24
  421. I didn't really talk about it in this video, but yes, I think it does. I still think it kind of weird how I know so many more people in my local community in Tokyo than I do in Canada. There's a few reasons like our local neighbourhood associations and our garbage/recycling group, but I do think the proximity of everything and everyone contributes, as does the fact that a lot of people are commuting and shopping by foot or bike. The chances I'll bump into someone I know close to our home is quite high.
    24
  422. I never mentioned it because in all my talks with people and all the research, I didn't come across it once. Not saying that some homeless were not orphans, but it simply never came up. The common story I heard was they were from a poor rural family, came to a big city for work, then lost that work and survived on casual day labour in a slum district. That work dried up when the bubble burst and voila, lots of older guys who were used to manual labour who have no way of supporting themselves.
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  423. Oh, thanks for the answer! So they do give you a "bill" that you need to pay at a bigger station. It's kind of what I thought might happen, but it's good to cofirm.
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  424. A bit pricey, but I'd go if you have the chance.
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  425. Yoda had to peace out.
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  426. Yes, sorry about that. I did want to use the phrase Easy Peasy, then looked it up and saw that Easy Peasy Japaneasy existed and I coudn't not use it :-)
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  427. I was thinking about doing this but ended up not. Sorry. I can do that for the next ones.
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  428. My wife and sister-in-law help part-time and occasionally I collab with other people.
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  429. Very interesting about the included overtime hours. I didn't realize that this was built into some contracts.
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  430. Thanks! It was actually always supposed to be worldwide from the start, but we just made videos initially to show examples of what others could make. Didn't expect our videos to become so popular, but are happy that we now have many people contributing videos each time we ask. It's such an awesome thing to see!
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  431. I didn't specifically say it, but the night driving were on the roads past Calgary on the way to Medicine Hat.
    23
  432. I think you understood the opposite of what he was saying. Usually people think of sexism as a negative against women. In this case, it was negative against men.
    23
  433. UPDATE: The response has been crazy! So crazy that I've written up a complete blog post with details on how to share your living room videos with us. You can check it out at http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/tips-for-shooting-your-home/ . FYI, We want to try and put together what living rooms look like from maybe 5 countries or so. Perhaps if there's a lot of neat stuff, or depending on editing, it may be up to 10. But so that you don't work hard to make videos that might not make it in, please go to our contact page (http://bit.ly/contactlwif) on the lifewhereimfrom.com website and let us know you'd like to submit one and which country you're from. We'd hate to have tons of people submit but not have their videos shown. Thanks so much and we're looking forward to seeing your living rooms!
    23
  434. Oh, neat! I personally love snow storms, so I would have loved to see that.
    23
  435. Yeah, I also felt that a bit.
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  436. +ONLY in JAPAN haha ;-)
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  437. If I could get permission I would make a video. Record companies are so restrictive about copyright though, so I suspect that unless I had some good connections, I wouldn't be able to do. But would be interesting.
    22
  438. +ara rzlin That announcer lady was annoying! - The Dad
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  439. Yeah, it was very good. Quite surprised even though it makes sense that the broth would be nearly identical and that it's also not too hard to cook fresh noodles given to you. As for kids being in videos, I've always asked them if they want to be in or not, which is why they haven't been in very often lately. They were busy doing other things in their life and I suspect making videos wasn't as interesting as other stuff they could be doing. Even right from the start, a good example is our "12 Reasons Why Japanese Bathrooms are the Best" video. Shin was actually supposed to be in as well, but he didn't feel like being in it, so we switched it up.
    22
  440. The locals from the LWIF community I met were very friendly and nice, always giving me stuff, whether it was food or pasalubong to take home. Filipinos out and about liked waving at the camera, except for this commute video, where everyone was more wary and tired. Just a lot of stares. I've filmed a lot in Japan and people mostly ignore or quickly glance I find, so it was weird to get those intense stares when filming with my camera in the Philippines.
    22
  441. There's a special partnership between the Philippines and Japan that promotes care worker jobs. You can read some more about it at http://www.savvyboho.com/work-and-study-in-japan-under-jpepa-caregiver-and-nurse/
    22
  442. Great to hear!
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  443. Thanks John!
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  444. Well, just to be clear, the documentary really isn't about me wanting to become Japanese or anything. I don't have those types of aspirations. I think the simple answer of being full blooded Japanese and culturally Japanese isn't as clean an answer once you start looking into it. Because there are no blood tests being done, what is full blooded Japanese? If you take someone with Korean heritage for example, and have the family in Japan for a few generations, following Japanese culture, they could theoretically have both of those criteria. But are they considered true Japanese? I'm not trying to come up to a specific answer with the documentary, I think that'd be impossible actually. Beyond the official government status of becoming a Japanese citizen, I think the idea of what a Japanese person is really depends on the person you're asking. So I guess that's really more what the documentary is about. What do you think it is to be Japanese? What does it mean to you?
    22
  445. +Finding Fay Yeah, I'd expect it would be a lot of money. It seems likes it's one of those ingrained parts for the culture. Tokyo itself is composed of 23 wards, and as far as I know each one has their own display (but sometimes they collaborate with other wards). - The Dad
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  446. I've made three videos so far (and have two more on the way), so I don't know if this was published yet or not. But I did ask the professor about why there are still people living on the streets when there currently is room in shelters and there's the livelihood protection program (seikatsu hogo or welfare). Actually, I think those answers are in the next two videos, so you'll just have to stay tuned. I would agree that there are a certain percentage of people who prefer living on the streets.
    22
  447. We have relatives who are six feet tall, so I don't think it's an issue. Yeah, the toilets in this house would be a bit tight, but I think these toilet rooms are a bit smaller than average in comparison to other new homes I've toured.
    21
  448. Haha, that's MY wallet! She does have her own wallet in that bag of hers though :-)
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  449. emscooper Thanks. Yes, I do think we'll have a video or two related to etiquette. - Aiko's Dad
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  450. I've found that there are a lot of small little parks scattered around most neighbourhoods in Tokyo. On top of that, there are bigger parks, but you may need to ride your bike 15-30 minutes to get to one, but not too bad. I always thought I'd want a house with a backyard, but honestly, I don't miss it. And you're right, no maintenance needed. Whenever I want green or open space, there's places I can easily get to. Also, the side streets are very pedestrian friendly, so kids will often play out on the street without worry about cars running them over.
    21
  451. Haha. In this case I don't think Sumimasen would quite work out as thank you :-) Arigatou would fit better. But if a service person helped you out, saying sumimasen and a little bow would be totally on point.
    21
  452. I'm an introvert as well. I find it actually easier than travelling in the U.S. or Canada, as you're generally left to yourself. For directions, Google Maps, but the GPS can be quite wonky with all the tall buildings and when you're underground. And Shijuku station, that's just a crazy maze. No one knows how to navigate it :-)
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  453. I wouldn't really say there are any real bad neighbourhoods to avoid. Some would say certain areas in Roppongi or maybe Kabukicho, but it's not really the area that would get you in trouble. As a general rule, if someone is trying to get you to go into some place to have a good time with women and drinks, don't follow them. People won't grab you off the street or anything. But if you do follow someone somewhere, you could get pressured to pay some very exorbitant fees. I'm just repeating what I've heard though. I've walked through the areas just to see myself (like in my Rules that Rule Japan video), but I don't honestly ever remember being propositioned by anyone (and I've never been in any such storied establishment before).
    21
  454. I can do leftovers for lunch, and often do, but for some reason my mind can't consider leftovers from dinner something that I can eat for lunch...
    21
  455. +Cornelia Karlsson Oh thanks!
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  456. That's what I was thinking while making this video. Don't they use all the hot water for something beyond bathing? The answer, for the most part, is no. They have a few projects, but basically the water is used for bathing purposes and that's about it. I think the mineral content and accompanying deposit buildup also limits what people will want to practically do with the hot water.
    21
  457. Good question. Since airbnb is a relatively new thing, my feeling is that it hasn't been factored into the latest statistics. As far as I know, hotels and minpaku are not included in vacancy numbers, but I could be wrong. What I have heard though, is that vacancies in hotels are quite low, meaning they need more rooms.
    21
  458. Right, that sound brought it all back for me too!
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  459. Akko shot everything 100%. Akko did the first edit and then we did the second edit together. My wife and I did the subtitles.
    21
  460. Thanks for all the extra insight! I can't make it there for the April opening, but would have loved to experience and film it. I did indeed get the seawater part in Shinmachi, that's in part 2.
    21
  461. Yeah, I was told this exact thing about hunters. There's only so much they can eat and it can be difficult and not very profitable to sell the meat commercially. I know that they use incinerated deer ash in construction.
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  462. It was!
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  463. Yeah, I had a few experiences with glass sloshing around after you've broken it.
    21
  464.  @ryan00765  It'll be up for rental or purchase on streaming platforms to start.
    20
  465. Exactly. That mouse is pricier than the keyboard.
    20
  466. I wonder how many people pick up on this one.
    20
  467. Yep, we do plan on going grocery shopping. I need to find a grocery store that will let me film for a while. I could do a quick sneaky video, but I'd rather be able to really walk around and talk about the differences. I also want to go to a bigger store, as they'll look different than mom and pop shops.
    20
  468. I'm still learning.
    20
  469. I will be covering healthcare, it's a big topic. The first look into it will be care homes. I want to try and talk about clinics after that.
    20
  470. I did put the link to Sanyukai in the description :-) http://sanyukai.or.jp/english.html.
    20
  471. Yeah, I think there were a lot of people who got hit by the bubble, which burst in 1992. A lot of middle aged men at the time turned to casual day labour as a way to make ends meet, but that work also dried up. For guys who are from rural backgrounds with little education and have done mostly manual labour, it was hard to be financially stable later on in life.
    20
  472. On Twitter there's some really funny responses to that.
    20
  473. Yeah, I was wondering about doing dates or not. The thumbnail says the rough timeline, but I think I can add dates to the end of the title and still have it fit.
    20
  474. I actually am surprised. My channel usually has a relatively nice comments sections and people generally enjoy the wide range of topics I cover. If people do dislike, I wish they would watch the video before doing so.
    20
  475. Honestly, my favourite part of the video!
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  476. Hey sunglasses, of course I thank you as well for your tremendous amount of translation work! And really, all the people who translate, I know how hard it is and how much time it takes!
    20
  477. That's because I didn't include photos of my fat face era :-) Seriously, in my early 20's, my face for some reason puffed up really big. Now the fat just goes to my stomach, which is both a blessing and a curse.
    20
  478. +rockshot100 at about double the rate of wooden homes
    20
  479. What kind of laptop is it?
    20
  480. Good advice! Also, there actually are a few countries where you're allowed to simply translate your own countries license into Japanese http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/translation/with.htm. It's only a few countries though, namely: Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Estonia and Taiwan.
    20
  481.  @Thekidisalright  Well, he did support a year ago, so that's nice of him.
    20
  482. Happy Birthday!
    19
  483. No, it was an easy transition. There are different types of beds. The one we currently use is nice. The cotton ones I don't like as much. My mother-in-law uses a bed because she has bad knees, so not everyone sleeps on the floor.
    19
  484. That's the Japanese figure, so I think it is a low number relative to the population of the country, which is around 127 million. But that's the official count from the government. Researches I went along with on street counts on it think a more accurate number would be 2.5X that amount, but even then, the number has gone down significantly over the past decade or so.
    19
  485. Ah, cool, thanks for letting me know!
    19
  486. Oh yeah, it would have been exactly as it should be with a single egg.
    19
  487. He does https://washed-coffee.jp/
    19
  488. Or the magic of editing.
    19
  489.  @adinfinitum000  If she was pushing it on others that would be one thing, but I haven't seen anything of the sort. If countries or families are forcing it, I'm not in line with that. My general rule is as long as you're not harming others, practice what you like.
    19
  490. Here I was thinking this would be the controversial point about the video 😂
    19
  491. I actually know the story behind this one. They've never visited Canada but a Canadian friend (not me) gave it to them.
    19
  492. Yeah, I'd assume a small place like that isn't a long term solution. Good for a student or some single person who is out most of the time. There's a lot of light from the windows, which I think would help out a lot. I've personally lived in smaller rooms / setups before, so I would have rented a place like this in my 20s.
    19
  493. Nope, he said he just forgot!
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  494. The title is actually in reference to my video titled "How to Survive Your First Hour in Japan". Sorry, really wasn't trying to clickbait on this. But yes, I do have a series on homeless in Japan, which does talk about free meal programs (part 4 if you're wondering).
    19
  495. Plus a wife who can talk the talk 😄
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  496. Thanks
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  497. Are you talking about me or people in general? I've made over 100 videos between both my channels and I think it's the first time I've ever mentioned Korea.
    19
  498. +Commander Erik That's one of the reasons I made sure I had subtitles.
    19
  499. I looked at when people most watch my videos, and it starts at 10pm JST, so that's why I picked that time to do the premiere. I didn't realize it was America Day that I scheduled the premiere on, but if it's any consolation, I also forgot about Canada Day. What I mean to say, is happy days to everyone!
    19
  500. We actually put ice cubes in! Too hot otherwise.
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  501.  @mdml0  Actually, that was before I did that trip with John! Doctor said I was too stressed. I was quite stressed about working on the documentary, which is why I stopped working on videos for YouTube and focussed mainly on the documentary. I'm now done the majority of the documentary and a lot less stressed!
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  502. It's really not that complicated. When you're a resident of either country (or perhaps more specifically a province or city), you're supposed to register your kids for school. Right now I'm working and residing in Canada and the kids came with me.
    18
  503. My first video on Why Japan’s Public Toilets are Amazing https://youtu.be/8TrxtRuECq8 and Uytae Lee's from About Here's video on Why Public Bathrooms Suck in North America https://youtu.be/d_ZhkZ4hDkI?si=Sogq_RthuvUkHLbf
    18
  504. We were trying to get men for the video, but we failed. I was supposed to be general video about fashion in Japan, but I had to pivot to women's fashion when that was the only I could get to interview within the timeframe I had.
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  505. Actually, the Japanese side of the site does allow credit card donations (http://sanyukai.or.jp/donation.html), either monthly or one-time. Don't know if it works okay with foreign credit cards or not. I'll investigate this a bit more with my wife this evening.
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  506. Thanks Yuta!
    18
  507. Wikipedia has a decent article about health care in Japan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_system_in_Japan. But yes, everyone is granted healthcare, no matter how much money you do or don't have. If you're a senior with $0 saving and no family support, you'd be granted livelihood assistance and free medical care. Although, this facility is not strictly a medical facility, so the non-medical aspects, like rent and food, would not be covered under the national health insurance program.
    18
  508. +Trisha B Hmm... I wonder if I don't notice because I'm too close. What I do know, is that she's a lot better at making videos now than when she first started out. I don't usually re-watch the videos, so I don't see the earlier videos and then the later videos back-to-back like some people do. It also could be that because of editing, it looks like she's better at English in the early videos than she really is.
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  509. Some people have asked where to book places. Here's a list of places you can try: https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/lodging https://www.booking.com/ https://www.priceline.com/ https://www.agoda.com/ https://www.kayak.co.jp/ https://www.tripadvisor.com/ https://www.hostelworld.com/ http://www.ryokan.or.jp/ https://www.airbnb.com/ https://www.homestay.com/ https://travel.rakuten.co.jp/ Good luck!
    18
  510. I've always been meaning to cover New Years, which is more similar to Christmas in North America. Christmas is more like valentines day. There aren't big celebrations for birthdays, so that could prove interesting (or sad for some that really like big birthday parties).
    18
  511. Good stuff!
    18
  512. Thanks! Yes, definitely makes kitchen prep funner.
    18
  513. You never know, might do. I'm doing videos about Shinto. My neighbour is a Japanese Christian. I don't know how much a Christians life would be that different in Japan though. The only thing that comes to mind is that Christmas is not a holiday.
    18
  514. Good points
    18
  515. Thanks Angela!
    18
  516. Yeah, it's not the Netherlands (according to all the commenters), but I think it's more rideable than one would assume.
    18
  517.  @andresaliba  Good question. I'll ask and see, but my gut is that the temperature fluctuation isn't very extreme in the main city parts, so there's not a big deal with potholes. I don't think it every really gets colder than a few degrees below freezing there.
    18
  518. Sorry to hear. My condolences. Yes, it kind be hard to find the meat cut like that in Canada as well. We would go to a Japanese butcher shop, although I'm assuming any butcher could do cuts like that.
    18
  519.  @tobiasopsahl6163  We simply had to get back on the train going the other way at Sendai and backtrack. Wasn't complicated, but took time since it was a nonstop train. No extra charge.
    17
  520. amaguro That's right. And certain cards, like Suica (I believe) you can link with your credit card so it'll auto-charge your card when needed. - Aiko's Dad
    17
  521.  @KonSimpl72  Yeah, it has performed better as of now, but I think over time those other videos will do better. But the real reason is that I didn't enjoy making the pandemic related videos. The only reason I did was because people were asking and I kind of felt I had to. Making those two videos you mentioned; those I enjoyed. So , as you said, views aren't everything, and that's why I'm not planning on making another pandemic related video, even if it were a topic I think would get a lot of views. But one thing I'll say is that it's not to say that I'll never make a video related to it, but it may be something a year or two down the road, when there's some solid analysis of the situation. One thing I wouldn't mind exploring is how the differences between cultural practices of different countries affected outcomes. Even though we were hit with a second state of emergency in Japan, things don't seem like they were ever locked down as hard as in Canada, yet we overall, the rates seem to be lower (although I don't have 100% faith in how the government was handling testing in Japan). This is despite the fact that if you go on trains or to malls, it's fairly busy! But for the most part, people have worn masks, and I've noticed even on my runs on the river bank that has lots of space, I and others still wear masks. I know masks make a difference, but does it account for the big gap in outcomes between Canada and Japan? Once some longer term studies come out, I wouldn't mind exploring that.
    17
  522. If you watch part 3, Housing Japan's Homeless, they do have a shelter system in place to do just that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBPyN3LE65g
    17
  523. +Cutejapanvids I'll ask her when she gets back from school and see what she says. But my gut feeling says that Japanese people don't speak to her in English, unless they have gotten to know her enough that they know she speaks English. Her teacher has been to English speaking countries, so she'll say some things in English to her. Her voice and mannerisms do change when she speaks Japanese.
    17
  524. I'm glad you liked that map! It wasn't originally in my edit, but after watching I thought something like that would help a lot, so I spent a few hours to get that in!
    17
  525. Well, you should be quite happy that this video was already divided into 5 parts! I was going to put it all in a single video, but decided to split it all up. The good news is that all the other parts are currently sitting at under 15 minutes... but there may be one or two of them that sneak past into the 16 minutes range.
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  526. Roger roger.
    17
  527.  @the_number_one  You can, his info is in the description!
    17
  528. Yeah, and those two things, the exercise and picking out clothes that suit me were the reasons I was considering joining. I wouldn't mind help with that. Don't know about the trial period, but my feeling was that since they do a consultation and you have to do a variety of classes to get the whole program, it doesn't seem conducive to a trial.
    17
  529. Will do.
    17
  530.  @melaniet3357  This is purely for use as a ryokan for guests. We don't plan to move to that property.
    17
  531. Yeah, that's a good link. But, there's some fine-grained details that change things. I don't think the article mentions that for the types of homes I showed in the video, you'd pay 1/6th the tax. So 1.4% of $300,000 and then divide by 6 = $700. Then there's the municipal tax at 0.3%, which you pay 1/3rd. So 0.3% of $300,000 and then divide by 3 = $300. Altogether $1,000 a year. But the assessed value for taxes is lower (I believe) than the market value, so it should be less than $1,000. Plus there are deductions for new homes to factor in. Also, as your home devalues (as has been the trend for about 25 years now), the taxes will get reduced as well.
    16
  532. Great, that's good to hear.
    16
  533. +imthefrogman1 Nope, rice was made the same day. - The Dad
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  534. Most hot springs aren't the ideal hot bath temperature out of the ground. Too hot or too cold. So it's very normal to have mechanisms in place to adjust the temperature, which is why I asked to learn how it works. I know in other places their issue was cooling the water down
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  535. I have one filmed. I'll release it next year in February or March.
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  536. I happened to see a video I took (private) of our first Christmas in Japan and he has definitely improved. He's kind of like me, which is a lazy talker, so when he's talking normally, he tends to slur words together and not pronounce things properly. For example, I drop my g's, even though I know how to pronounce them.
    16
  537. Interesting about the escalators. I've read news articles about how some want them to switch to Tokyo style, but push back from people in Osaka who like being unique.
    16
  538. The look of the facility (fixtures/colours) are different, but otherwise it's fairly standard for a licensed place.
    16
  539. It's always on Japanese tv shows. They love to shake the food while showing closeups. We were exaggerating what they do though 😀
    16
  540. Ah, Aiko and Shin love Nutella! I have to buy it from Costco for them in order to get the big containers (they only sell really small containers in Japan at most stores that sell it).
    16
  541. Interesting! Never heard of this before.
    16
  542. Thanks
    16
  543. Wow, why the angry face? We don't care what the color of a person making a video is, we just didn't have any black people submit videos. If you listened to the outro, we specifically asked for videos from different countries, specifically some countries from Africa. We'd really love to see what life is like around the world, no matter the race, beliefs, gender, etc... All the best 😀
    16
  544. Yes, the cool thing about video is that it allows me to make the video downloadable to any who buy. It's DRM free and you can download multiple qualities, including the source file.
    15
  545. Married with kids, sorry!
    15
  546. We did a video on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGbC5j4pG9w&t=25s
    15
  547. That's why you need to tie those ones up!
    15
  548. I might tackle one day, but I wouldn't expect anything soon. I have so little knowledge in that area that I'd first have to do a bit of studying or try to partner up with someone who knows much more than I do.
    15
  549. They do have services for just that. It's under a different brand though. https://www.fundely.co.jp/
    15
  550. We need to investigate my purpose
    15
  551. It matters for whether people initially decide to start watching or not and I do think it shapes how they see the video. I always make videos with the intention that people will watch front to back, but I know that doesn't happen.
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  552.  @FONVash  Yes, it actually was short and easy to edit. All in 6 hours I believe. The real reason I haven't been posting much was because I've been working on a 2-hour long documentary. That's the opposite of short and easy. And the reason why I'm starting to publish more regularly again is because the majority of the documentary work on my end is over. Don't get me wrong, there's still work left, but it's mostly with the manga artist who is illustrating scenes, a sound composer, and a motion graphics artist. Because of the works in progress, it may not be super consistent in timing, but I should be able to do at least 2 videos a month for the foreseeable future.
    15
  553. Oh, fascinating!
    15
  554. Yeah, I've been watching a lot of those urban planning channels as well. I have some more urban planning videos lined up, so please be patient!
    15
  555. +laowhy86 Thanks a lot! Appreciate the kind words.
    15
  556. +Treget Letterwood I know someone who doesn't separate their waste properly all the time and I've never heard of their garbage being returned. But recycling is usually left up to the wards (there are 23 in Tokyo), so what is acceptable and not can vary from place to place.
    15
  557. Thanks, I was somewhat the same. Didn't notice at first but then started seeing the blue shacks on the outskirts, like in a park or riverbank, and started to wonder why.
    15
  558.  @zam023  Nah. I was going to, but never got around to it. Seemed a bit gimmicky and in reality it wouldn't have been a truly robotic hotel. But who knows, I might find myself there one day.
    15
  559. Tons of articles on AirBNB https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/airbnb/. But yes, I probably should have gotten into that a bit. My feeling was because the new law has been in place for near half a year now, that all the problems with cancelled bookings would have largely subsided (because only those with proper licenses would be listed now).
    15
  560. Thanks for the help!
    15
  561. I still can't eat natto! Tried over 20 years ago, and still just don't like the smell, texture, or flavour.
    15
  562. I believe my brother was talking in reference to the outskirts of Tokyo. Before that my sister-in-law was mentioning that she thought it would be more densely populated. So he just thought it'd be more dense outside of Tokyo. I know they both also thought it'd be busier with the 23 wards itself as well.
    15
  563.  @ShaferHart  Really only one snack eating vid 🙂
    15
  564. Thanks for your input and clarification.
    15
  565. Just a lot of interviews about learning and teaching Japanese.
    15
  566. Nara park really isn't the problem though. It's all the deer in the rest of Japan that are very much not off-limits.
    15
  567.  @0neAutumnLeaf  Yeah, that was actually one thing I thought about before buying a whole bunch. Some will go to the homeless non profit we made a video about before, some to friends and family that needed some. I don't want anything that I actually won't use.
    15
  568. That's a very good question. I've always planned to make another documentary called Being Canadian where we explore that question. I'm tired from making this documentary though, so I won't work on that for a few years. So you'll have to wait a bit to see that one.
    15
  569. Some sources are in the description. It used to be 25,000 according to the 2003 government report (based on a 2001 survey) http://www.mhlw.go.jp/houdou/2003/03/h0326-5c.html. Independent researchers think the 2017 number of just under 6,000 should be almost triple that, so more like 15,000. Either way you count it, it has gone down over the past 15 years.
    14
  570. Yep, saw those vids. I will be releasing a video about custom houses soonish.
    14
  571. He rides his bike, so it can't be that far.
    14
  572. Check out the behind the scenes, link in the description :-) If more questions, leave a comment on that channel and as long as I see I'll respond.
    14
  573. Brenda F We were actually going to film a part about the different pass holders. There are tons of options and kind of like cell phone cases in that regard. - Aiko's Dad
    14
  574.  @geishavampiresa  He drinks milk like a mad man.
    14
  575. I have a whole series on homelessness in Japan. Yes you're right, there is poverty everywhere.
    14
  576. Yeah, I'm very happy to be back in the swing of things!
    14
  577. +Blacke Chan I was pointing out that it felt like something from a bygone era ;-)
    14
  578. Would love to, but it's also very hard, due to privacy concerns with school students. But yeah, I do quite enjoy all the little festivals the school and community put on throughout the year.
    14
  579. Yeah I know!
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  580. Yep, I think grocery store and grocery shopping are both good ideas.
    14
  581.  @Yesica1993  If my memory serves me correct, each apartment gets their own toilet.
    14
  582. Yeah, I found it quite interesting as well. I'll have another interview out with someone else who went to Japanese language school as well as share my overall experience learning Japanese. But I think I'll be saving the video about myself until last :-)
    14
  583. She is!
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  584. I'll try and talk about the taxes when I make the X channel vid. Had a whole section about it. I think overall, like for the median household, taxes take up somewhere around 20-25% of income. Canada and Japan were fairly similar in that regard.
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  585. If you can own a new 3 bedroom home in the Lower Mainland within a 30-60 minute commute of the downtown core paying $1,000 to $2,000 a month, including strata fees, then I can tell you I would have probably ended up living in the Lower Mainland. A few years ago, I did find condos within the 10-15 year old range in Coquitlam. It was a 3-bedroom, 1,000 sq. ft. I think it was $400,000 at that time. Now the cheapest I can find looking right now is $600,000 for a similar place that has strata fees of $405 a month. Back then, I think I saw some units at $300,000, but they were due up for renovations due to the age, and not sound proofed well for the young kids that I had. The strata fees alone were so high that they almost matched the increase in the mortgage that you would need to pay for the $400,000 unit. Renting, can your realistically rent a 3 bedroom that's in good condition within a 30-60 minute commute of downtown Vancouver for under $2,000? That means including the time you need to walk to transit or the time it would take you to drive during your morning and afternoon commute. Well, I'm sure you could probably find a few places, there's always some exceptions to the rule. But I'm not lying when I say you can have a $1,000 mortgage in Tokyo within a 30 minute commute of the centre, for a 3 bedroom 1,000 sq. ft. brand new place. Because they offer zero down 35 year mortgages at an interest rate of 1%, it can actually be cheaper than renting. Is the 35 year mortgage a good idea? That's very debatable. You can rent an old place for $1,000 a month, but if you're looking for 10-20 years old, maybe you'd pay closer to $1,250 - $1,500 within that 30 minute distance. Please look at my housing videos, and more importantly, look at my sources and do your research. I'll admit I can get things wrong, but obviously it upsets me to have you think I don't do research and am not trying to get the facts right. I spend a lot of time trying to get it right. There are subjective things in what I say, and I try to point out where something's an opinion vs. a fact. Anyways... I loved living in Burnaby, I was doing well, both my wife and I had good jobs. But, I couldn't get into housing, and I know I'm not the only one. My rent increased from $750 in East Van for a 2 bedroom 750 sq.ft. basement suite back in 2000, to $1,000 for a 2 bedroom 600 sq. ft. on the West side of Burnaby mountain in 2008, to looking at $1,500 in Coquitlam in 2010 when my father let us live in his basement suite. The prices are constantly and it's so difficult to find a place, let alone an affordable place that's in good condition in a convenient location that does not require you own a car. I love Canada. I think anyone who knows me, which is admittedly only my friends and family, they know it.
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  586. Next time you can! Some English breakfast?
    14
  587. Oh, haha, used the shot that didn't have ten lanes! There was one with 10, I swear. It also could have been a section where there were on and off ramps.
    14
  588. It's still around, but it's dying out https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/12/10/lifestyle/last-splash-immodest-japanese-tradition-mixed-bathing-may-verge-extinction/
    14
  589. I don't know specifically about Aomori, but Japan has regular car inspections https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor-vehicle_inspection_(Japan)
    14
  590.  SecretCommie  I've watched Linklater before - I really liked Boyhood - but I honestly don't know what's similar between what he does and I do, but I'll take the compliment :-)
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  591. I actually really wanted the 2 level piece of land that we got. If I hadn't I woudn't have got it. The real question was whether we could properly build on it or not. And yeah, perhaps there are other areas that fit the criteria. The initial plan was considering a place in 3-5 years, but with this new plan, we wanted something that we could operate a ryokan in 2025.
    14
  592. Absolutely is a pretty strong word. If homelessness doesn't have anything to do with how rich a country is, I would argue that it should. Equality among citizens can lead to better outcomes for all, the rich and poor, from health to crime.
    14
  593.  @banshee1133  A few people. It was a massive task doing subs both ways. There's a lot of nuance, expressions, specialty words that need to be translated carefully. There were also certain ideas that only exist in certain cultures, so something that is easily understandable to one group might be totally incomprehensible to another without good translation. I really, really hope that it translates well in both languages, in multiple cultures.
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  594. Yeah, I think it'd be cool to do, so as long as I get the opportunity, I'll try to hit up suburban and countryside areas.
    13
  595. Partly because he needs to have both lunch and dinner hours, but making the broth also takes a very long time, and he's the only one that can do it. Even when he has extra help, he won't necessarily get much more time off for himself.
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  596. +katheriner10 I did the math... wrong. Oops. 93 hours it is!
    13
  597. TonkAtsu (with the A) is the pork cutlet. TonkOtsu (with the O) is a type of broth. There are many types :-)
    13
  598. Nope, his wife works with him, but that's a part time worker.
    13
  599. Trisha B I can't be certain about the very rural areas, but I'd have to say yes. In big cities like Tokyo, I'd have to guess that it's the number one transportation choice. When we traveled around Japan, even to smaller islands, we were able to manage without using a car. - Aiko's Dad
    13
  600. Well, since making this video was so boring, the kids want to go to a candy shop for the next one, so we'll probably pick up some snacks there. Or maybe we'll have to do a separate convenient store snacks episode.
    13
  601. Haha, I love this thread. I'm going to write some more explanation in a separate comment, but since it's asked a lot, I do set aside about 60-90 minutes a day to study Wanikani and Pimsleur Japanese. Because of my priorities, I can often get to the end of the day and not do it. This happens with a lot of stuff beyond Japanese. For example, I have 27 emails I've been wanting to write back to as well, and will try to tackle today.
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  602. Probably my favourite comment :-)
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  603. I saw someone else mention this. In a Japanese food court with a family, you'll usually have different family members ordering things. So if you were to keep someone at the table while everyone takes their turn ordering at a different place, you would actually take more time taking up the spot. Of course you could not take a spot until everybody had their food, but then you'd have a family of people all with trays, trying to find a spot. My family generally leaves the food court as soon as the last person is finished eating, if it's in a busy time, as we don't want to take up a spot another could be using.
    13
  604.  @mrtopcat2  With this system you don't own any of the batteries, so you don't have to worry about "your" good batteries being swapped for good ones. This also means you don't own your batteries, which some people may not like.
    13
  605.  @ropro9817  I don't bother locking up my bike. It's been like that for a decade, so I think in my area it's safe to say that theft is not a big issue. But I think it really depends on where you're leaving your bike and what kind of bike you have.
    13
  606. +SuperZandersmom Are you sure that's not my video on the topic last week?
    13
  607. +chrispkreme I'll check and see, but I very highly doubt it. Parents get to attend school classes once a month on Saturday and I haven't noticed anything of the sort. He does all his writing with his left hand.
    13
  608. That's a good point, especially since there are many things for which I didn't list the value in Yen. I usually do list the Yen, but I don't know I didn't do it for all the amounts in this one.
    13
  609. I had yeast in the script, but sometimes even brewers leave it out of their ingredient list. Just look at some sake bottles.
    13
  610. I asked Josh (who was in our travelling with a disability video) and he said it depends on the restaurants. He usually avoids restaurants that have a genkan (that lowered entrance where you take off your shoes). He says some will have ramps they can put down.
    13
  611. Thank and hello Brazil!
    13
  612.  @Thekidisalright  There were other people who commented that they've been wanting to see but couldn't afford and that they're glad it's out for free on YouTube now. I equally liked those comments as well! It's not about the money.
    13
  613. Love me some Shinkai Makoto!
    13
  614. By the way, this has prompted me to specifically include a budget for fact checking / research in the documentary. I always planned on getting it done, but I think it's important to point out that you need more than a single set of eyes on a big project like this. I need someone to go through all the sources of information and double-check the information. I want to be factual and when I have a mistake like this it's the worst feeling.
    13
  615. Too much MKBHD
    13
  616. We have a family video coming out this month :-)
    12
  617. Yes, will be going to film there this month! Will learn a lot more about the process.
    12
  618. This is funny. I used to get comments a lot that I didn't pronounce g's at the end of ing. Burning. Growing. Etc... I've worked on pronouncing them and haven't seen comments about that lately. I never new that I pronounced iron oddly until this video. So it's eye-ern, that's the way to say it?
    12
  619. They were in the last one :-)
    12
  620. But I could just normally talk Japanese :-)
    12
  621. Yes, there are supports in place. That's what the final video in the series gets into. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it'll be out this month. It used to be true that the government wasn't doing a good job at getting welfare to older men. It's changed in a positive way over the past decade or so. There's still homeless though, and talking with the researches and non-profits, it seems that there will also be a bit of homelessness. Even if you want to break it down very simply, with over 100 million people, there will always be a few individuals who slips through the cracks, even if for a small amount of time, will transitioning from one phase of life to the next. And while it's a small percentage, there are those people who actively don't want to be part of mainstream society. But that's why organizations like Sanyukai are essential, to help those who don't fit in.
    12
  622. You should check out part 1, it explains a bit about the differences. https://youtu.be/eK--oCVP18A
    12
  623. +Cutejapanvids Ok, I asked her, and she said, "No!" So, people don't speak to her in English, unless they happen to know her.
    12
  624. The sources for the stats can be found at https://data.unodc.org/ and http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/burglaries.aspx. The first link is to the UN and you'll have to drill down to find the stats. The second one is the graph that I showed, which is built from the UN data.
    12
  625. She both lived and studied in the U.S., so that would be the reason why!
    12
  626.  @michaelmayhem350  Right now it's only early access, not exclusive. I joined in the spring of 2023.
    12
  627.  @Q2Japan  Wait, you actually kind of like it now???
    12
  628. You mean like this video, and the other one a week ago? ;-)
    12
  629. Yeah, the rental bikes that are easily accessible probably aren't suited to tall people. I'm sure you could rent a suitable bike, especially in Tokyo, but you'd have to do some searching. If you want to the subreddit on Japan travel, I'm sure someone there would be able to give a recommendation.
    12
  630. I never heard from them that they don't allow overweight people. I don't see why they wouldn't take on an overweight member. It's part fitness club after all. I don't know what kind of push there is for the Masters Member club to be honest. Out of 900 there was only 20 at the time of filming, so most don't get that.
    12
  631. Don't be sorry at all. I only wish there wasn't a sad story like that in the first place. - The Dad
    12
  632.  @stephaniesmith8777  It'll be only available on Vimeo for now. But eventually it'll be out on YouTube (but in like 1-2 years)
    11
  633. It can really depend on so many factors, like where you are located, the exact school you get, and even the composition of the kids and teachers at the school. You also have to remember that the people interviewed may be 10, 20, 30, or more years past their time in school and what they experienced may be no longer the case.
    11
  634. Doesn't seem weird to me, thanks for watching!
    11
  635. There are subtitles. Please turn them on. Thanks for watching!
    11
  636. They are Aiko's friends. They're also in a couple other videos, one about elementary school rules and one about fidget spinners.
    11
  637. You're thinking of kuso, which can be the S word or something like damnit.
    11
  638. Zhiyun Crane. It's rare that a gadget actually surpasses my expectations, but it was quite easy to setup and most of the footage I shot was usable. The last time I shot with a stabilizer was probably over a decade ago, so it worked very well. I already bought it, but Zhiyun if you're listening, I'm open to a sponsorship ;-)
    11
  639. Really? If you buy, you can comment. #isitreallyfishy?
    11
  640. Yes, we went to three of them, two of them were shown in the photos. The bathing parts themselves are cooled down to temperatures that are more tolerable, like 37 C to maybe 44 or 45C or so (one of them was quite hot, so I'm not to sure. Usually 42 or 43 is the max that I normally find in most places).
    11
  641. Thanks for watching!
    11
  642. Sorry, I know what you mean.
    11
  643. And that's totally fine and your choice. I don't think I could give up my Canadian citizenship.
    11
  644. +the-exo-sphere I try to show our real thoughts and real actions, but please do realize that people always act differently (if only slightly) on camera. Plus, when you edit things, it makes people sound like better speakers than they actually are. I don't think we're really that different than on camera, but I always worry when people make strong comment that like we're a great family, good parents, good kids, etc... If only you knew our deep and dark secrets, hahahahaha! I just wanted people to know we fight, argue, and have flaws like any family would have. But, we do love each other very much, so that truly make me happy and feeling like a lucky guy.
    11
  645. You can check out all the dog stuff in Karuizawa here https://www.karuizawa-withdog.com/
    11
  646.  @FiveOClockTea  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XElQLXXyblk
    11
  647. Yeah, I think hobbies would be a good one.
    11
  648. Glad you found it!
    11
  649. +Molly Odell Yeah, I'm pretty sure we'll do that sometime. - The Dad
    11
  650.  @lilypad2  SK is for Saskatchewan, a province in Canada.
    11
  651. Thanks for coming along!
    11
  652. +LiquidMuffins Nope, not yet :-)
    11
  653. Actually, the lazy talker part is about how he doesn't always properly pronounce all his words, even though he knows how to. It's true though, that when he's telling his stories, he's not necessarily thinking about those he's talking to. Very different than Aiko, who's very aware of others. That's also why Shin doesn't care that much about talking in public, whereas Aiko is very shy.
    11
  654. Yeah, in some situations I've found Canada and Japan to be more similar than Canada and the U.S.
    11
  655. I'm feeling thirsty!
    11
  656.  @mr.moasunepimchen4907  I do have an X channel :-) https://www.youtube.com/c/lifewhereimfromx. Although, I don't post much behind-the-scenes stuff there. The place where I do that the most is Patreon (but honestly, I don't post bloopers there that much either, but I do sometimes do behind-the-scenes, director's commentary, and discussions) https://www.patreon.com/lifewhereimfrom
    11
  657.  @VoxelLoop  They are reviewed twice. And they figured they had an issue with images, so asked me to re-upload with them removed or replaced. And just as a note for others who might read this, the reviews don't really change what I say, but they always add to add a bit of detail there, correct a small thing here, and or remove something so as to remove risk. In this case, the images of a tourism website were used (by me) and they wanted to get the rights to do that if they were to be in the video. I considered them fair use, but they wanted to be 100% sure that we were ok to use them.
    11
  658. Because I keep having to change a couple images. Will have new uploads soon enough, hang tight!
    11
  659.  @kineokami  Yes, they do!
    11
  660. Oh wow, didn't realize this. I apologize for the mistake. I even have the video linked to in my source and Satoko Miyahara's name is in the title of the video! I swear I've had 7 versions of this video made before releasing, but it always seems you miss something like this. I'll put a disclaimer in the description. Thanks for letting me know.
    11
  661. If it was for an employee, I'd agree. He owns the shop and nobody forces him to do what he does. So, I can't judge him when he decides he wants to work that much. He did work other jobs before, but this is what he likes doing best.
    10
  662. Yeah, I was wondering that. He said he got off early and pointed to around 11:05pm, but he didn't actually leave until right about 11:30pm. To start filming I went to his store on the dot at 8am, but he was already working.
    10
  663. It wasn't the length that was the issue. It was the matter of trying to find a story that flowed for the whole time while watching. I probably could have made a video 30 minutes long if I did it in a different style. But, after I had a cut that seemed to work, I had to continue along that path, and it ended up being that this was what worked.
    10
  664. Good expansion upon what Tom Gill talked about. Just talking about either of those subjects would require a video or videos on their own :-) Perhaps constitutionally unable to would have been more accurate for the statement about war, but I think his point was really that because there are no war veterans seeing action in recent times, you won't have former soldiers with PTSD and other disabilities among the homeless. He did mention though, that he has encountered some SDF (Self Defense Forces) among the homeless, but they weren't a major part of the population. As you probably know, Japan actually does have a modern military, but because of the constitution, it can be only used in self defense. Some even argue the SDF is unconstitutional. Quite a relevant topic nowadays. For the deinstitutionalization, I would agree that if it went as originally planned, it would have worked out a lot better. And I think for many patients it did. But of course, there are those for whom it didn't work out, and unfortunately they often ended up on the streets.
    10
  665. ビデオを見てくれてありがとう！
    10
  666. I thought you needed to twist it, but you need to shake it to change the shapes.
    10
  667. +oxLightxo Because this video is a re-upload of one that had about 300 comments :-)
    10
  668. Congratulations AND sorry to hear. Hopefully you can get it sorted out sooner than later. I heard some sad stories of something of the opposite happening, where some foreign residents in Japan couldn't leave to attend major events, like funerals, because they wouldn't be guaranteed back into the country. Hopefully things ease up soon and the numbers don't spike too dramatically again.
    10
  669. But honestly, I felt this wouldn't have flown well academically as I was too reliant on a single source of news gathering (Japan Times).
    10
  670. No. I think it's cheap in Japan. Expensive overseas, especially if the country has extra taxes and tips to bring that $16 bowl to something like $20.
    10
  671. Welcome back! I put a whole bunch of links to sources and how to rent in the description, so I won't write a looooong comment here with it all again. But if you have any questions, hit me up and I'll try and answer them over the next 24 hours.
    10
  672.  @lingostarr6635  Yep, if you're doing a trip around Kyushu, renting a car can be quite handy!
    10
  673. Oops, you're right, she said wakame!
    10
  674. +mkl Ah, I meant the design, as in the toilet being in the same room as the sink and mirror.
    10
  675. I've seen them in Japan, but I'd say they are very much in the minority.
    10
  676. It's not just what some white dude thinks. It's what a university professor in Japan, someone who has been studying the issue for over a decade, someone who has extensively interviewed, researched, and lived amongst the homeless is saying. There are interviews with Japanese people as well in the upcoming videos, but I haven't found anything that Professor Gill has said that has contradicted what my research with both Japanese academics and Japanese people working on the streets with the homeless and poor have said.
    10
  677. Oh, neat! I don't think I've ever come across such a place in Canada, although I've only driven the Western half. I've only driven a few times in the U.S., but not on any toll highways that I can recall.
    10
  678. Only if it's folding and you may need to put in a bag. I rarely see it done, at least in Tokyo.
    10
  679. Melon soda is quite a popular flavour.
    10
  680. I do like that they publish the kcal. Not every place does this though.
    10
  681. We came across a farm in Hokkaido that does indeed trap deer, keep them on the farm, and then commercially process them. There could be more farms, but so far I've only heard of that single farm that does this. They also do trap deers as part of the culling (cage traps and leg traps).
    10
  682. Thanks for the comment. I actually got a boost in confidence from simply cutting my hair at least once a month instead of going a couple months between haircuts, having it get really messy. Also, getting clothes that were better fit made me feel less like a slob. So I can understand the confidence boost from simply feeling happier with how you look. No one really comments on my appearance, so it's a completely internal thing.
    10
  683. I'll go for the in-between response, which I think it's a mix of facts and personal anecdotes. I try to be clear when I'm stating my feelings or personal experience vs. what's a fact. Like some of what I said about the how the healthcare or educations system works, those are based on research. But how I feel about social obligations, those are more touchy/feely. Affordability of housing is also something I researched. Anyways, a mix, but it's always good to do your own research.
    10
  684. Yes, I meant to say storm drain. As for geothermal energy in Japan, I do want to make a video about. Japan has a lot of potential but is only using a fraction of the potential.
    10
  685. Thanks! Mavic 2 Pro
    9
  686. You need that suit 😃
    9
  687. If it was an employee, I would agree. He's the owner though, so he's doing what he wants to. I used to do hours like some weeks at one point in my life, and I couldn't continue at that pace.
    9
  688. Nope, the cousin is Shoko. She'll be in one of our future videos about camping in Japan.
    9
  689. Deleted scenes video coming before the end of the month!
    9
  690. Thanks!
    9
  691. Looks good to me!
    9
  692. I rather like the name!
    9
  693. I love the vending machines as well, but I do wonder about their effect on the environment. It probably does make me carry my water bottle around less since I know I can buy drinks from a machine easily. However, one thing that's free and does help, is virtually all parks have water fountains (and the water quality is good). So, when I go running, I just make sure to stop off at some parks here and there instead of carry water with me. It also means I can easily refill my water bottle when travelling around.
    9
  694. While I was in Japanese school I met a young guy who I had trouble connecting with. He was on all the messaging apps that I wasn't. I suggested email and he got kind of excited to try something he doesn't do! I personally like email because it allows me to keep track of all the conversations to reply to. With all the social media and messaging apps, it's very easy to not respond to people because there's no easy way to flag them for response later on.
    9
  695. +Debbie Davis Thanks for watching!
    9
  696. +Quint Rankid We have a bunch of English books, which she does read on occasion, but the biggest thing is that her brother and her watch lots of videos and play lots of games, which are primarily in English. English is also their main language of communication between each other. Both the kids need more practice writing English. I find getting physical books to be tricky / expensive, so I go them a subscription to Skybrary (Reading Rainbow app). We also brought a lot of books from Canada.
    9
  697. These particular residents were explaining the old mentality of people in the town. These particular people have obviously welcomed "outsiders" and are helping them. This is anecdotal, but I heard that 95% of the people were really nice and welcoming (with the other 5% being not so helpful).
    9
  698. Never done it before. But it would be fun!
    9
  699.  @eaglenoimoto  Haha, I only got the joke the second time I read it. But yeah, noodles in the morning are great when you're on the go. Tachigui!
    9
  700. I was only alone for a few weeks filming. We're all back together again!
    9
  701. HyperionTitanus :-)
    9
  702. Nah, there were a ton of dislikes in the first few minutes, before people even watched the video. Part of the challenge is trying to explain Muslim practices so that people can understand how that would have an effect on a Muslim's daily life in Japan. So if you know Islam, then yeah, could probably cut out more than half the video. But if you don't, then... you get a long video 😀
    9
  703.  @5433D  Haha, then you clearly haven't watched many of my videos. I always find ways to subtly and not so subtly remind people of this fact 😃
    9
  704. Yes, my parents were in the photos.
    9
  705. Sorry for your loss but happy you could remember something nice.
    9
  706. Done! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf-OBn8Nwko
    9
  707. Oh, I don't know if I can agree with -30 being better than +30. Depends on humidity levels. Japan +30 with near full humidity is pretty harsh. A Winnipeg +30 in the shade isn't so bad.
    9
  708. Using Google Translate was kind of a joke. I did put the place names in text in the description though :-)
    9
  709. Thanks for making the video for us Mitchell! Yes, next time, send us an email via the contact page and we'll try and meet up :-)
    9
  710. Hey Everyone, thanks for being patient with me in taking my time to publish this video. If you haven't already, this video make more sense if you see my other videos on the Philippines: https://youtu.be/OtuA-_BiItQ, https://youtu.be/__LydKSvvBg, and https://youtu.be/b98dy-nFs5k. As I always say, the best part about my trip was meeting all the helpful locals who let me into their lives and showed me around. Totally forgot to say this in the video, but the place I stayed at in El Nido was the Dragon Fly and the owner really helped get everything sorted while I was there http://www.booking.com/Share-M72EnB (not sponsored, just thought it's a nice place to stay). I'd like to go back to El Nido again one day with the family. Thanks for watching!
    9
  711. Trying to get access to the school system, but there's bureaucracy to manage, of course :-)
    9
  712. I never know if SJW is a good or bad thing. Social Justice Warrior. Is that like being an advocate for human rights? I can only speak to Canadian education, but we were always taught that Canada is a mosaic, like a blanket that is made up of a bunch of different patches of cultures. So, multicultural and people can retain parts of their culture. America was called a melting pot, where all the different cultures are mixed together and create a single homogeneous culture. I'm not saying this is what I think, I'm just saying this is what I learned in school. I would have to mostly agree with you in that Japan does seem like a nation of assimilation. I say mostly, because I think dealing with absolutes doesn't work well in the real world. Because as much as people assimilate into the Japanese culture, I think it'd be highly inaccurate to say that they don't influence and change the Japanese culture. But if you had to have some type of scale between assimilating or retaining your culture, yes, Japan would be much more on the assimilation side. The purpose of the documentary really is to talk to people in all walks of life, on all sides of the thought spectrum, about what it is to be Japanese. If you think I won't be getting the true story, I'd love to interview people who might have a different way of thinking than me. Cheers, Greg.
    9
  713. YouTube Drama? Nope, not that I know of, haha. Oh wait, Daruma... yes, it is one. You're supposed to write the number of subscribers you would like in the year. At the time, Aiko wrote 300,000. It worked!
    9
  714. Hi, that is really funny! - Aiko
    9
  715. We were supposed to do one about misogi (purification by water) and then the pandemic hit. If people are interested, I think we're both up to making videos in the future. Would love to do something that has us checking out some different locations. Actually, we were also supposed to do one about a plum blossom festival (which either got cancelled because I was crazy busy at the time or because of the pandemic).
    9
  716. I love how so many people remember the callback.
    9
  717. I was there 😃
    8
  718. If you watch the whole series, you should get a rough idea of how they survive. They can do little odd jobs here and there at day labour places. That work has dried up a lot. There's the can and newspaper recycling that you can do. There are places that hand out food, like Sanyukai and Second Harvest.
    8
  719.  @quailman8238  So weird that YouTube decided out of the blue to auto-generate subtitles a couple months ago. Thanks to your comment I deleted the auto-generated English subtitles and re-uploaded the proper version.
    8
  720. Not true. It depends on the house design / land usage. For our style of house, where the garage is right underneath as opposed to using land beside the house, it didn't raise the price of our house.
    8
  721. That's what the middle room on the top or the first floor room is for. They both didn't want to sleep in the dark middle room, so they've both decided to share the brighter and bigger room that they're in. If someone wants their own room bad enough, they get the middle one :-) I don't think either of them would consider sleeping on the first floor right now.
    8
  722. I thought the plastic cover was nice to have for this kind of short boat ride where you probably don't want to get wet. But I was saying to my daughter Aiko that in Canada when we're rafting, they'd be offering to let people jump into the calm parts of the water (and I always do!)
    8
  723. Globbi It's in Katakana because of the card. If you catch a glimpse of the screen where you enter the name, it's the only choice :-) - Aiko's Dad
    8
  724.  @Jim58223  It wasn't YouTube. No strike.
    8
  725. Yes, that's one of the main goals of the doc, is to bring about more awareness. I try to see the best in people. My take is that a lot of what seems like discrimination is actually simple ignorance. They just don't know what they're doing can be hurtful to people. If they do learn this, I believe a lot will change their ways.
    8
  726.  @jsviva5152  I gave you a heart!
    8
  727. By the way, I responded to your YouTube message, but I don't know if you saw it. YouTube's messages is kind of weird in that it doesn't notify people that they have a message. I should see if I can disable it and ask people if they want to contact me to do it through the website, which emails me, and makes it much easier for me to respond.
    8
  728. Oui! I did all my primary school K-12 in French Immersion. Although, nowadays, claiming I can a speak French might be a stretch. Use it or lose it.
    8
  729. For a more detailed explanation, here's the Okinawa part of my Being Japanese documentary https://youtu.be/pmzWknYaNXg?t=640. I didn't realize annexed would have that connotation. I was under the impression that annexed can mean that the Japanese appropriated the territory for themselves.
    8
  730.  @yusux  Yeah, the guy is Canadian as well. Seems like we'll have to arrange some type of international collab!
    8
  731. I never even thought about this. That is sad, sorry to hear. In Canada I'd leave things like my backpack or sweater to save my spot. Never had it stolen. But, I have had cars broken into and my laptop stolen, as well as my bikes. Someone even tried to break into our home in Vancouver when my wife was still inside the house. Oh, and someone also broke into my office, broke down the wall. And oh right, I also caught thieves breaking into the unit above us in Vancouver as well. All these memories are coming back! But still, I think Canada is a physically safe place to be, but you do have to be careful about theft. Don't leave anything around that you would hate to get stolen, and people do break into locked vehicles and homes.
    8
  732.  @dwdanko  Yeah, tried that and that's basically what I do. I first soak my face in the bathtub for 2-3 minutes. Then put on a, huh, I don't know what it's called, but preshave liquid? Then I put on shaving cream and shave. I tried the double edge, but I would still cut myself. And I did/do use the brush and shave soap, but I just rand out of soap so am using a gel at the moment. But the big thing is that I use one of those gillette fusion pro glide 5 razor blade shavers, and it actually is the least likely to cut me shave I can get it. I have to use a new cartridge after every 3 shaves, as it starts cutting me after that, but since I only shave once a week, it's not so bad. But seriously, even when I go to a proper barber, I can generally shave it using my method with less chance of cutting myself than the barber!
    8
  733. Lorena Solay Hi from Japan!
    8
  734. He answers this in the long version https://youtu.be/Yj855k5066o
    8
  735. Yeah, so many Filipinos told me that. So that's why I filmed in major areas when traveling with locals.
    8
  736. I don't think anything bad will happen if you don't sort your waste appropriately (with exception of dangerous goods, like flammables). 
    8
  737. All the interviewees who did not have their faces blurred were on livelihood protection and were not required to work. In the last video (part 5) of this series, we'll look at the numbers of people getting welfare and how the system has changed for the poor. the number of people in Japan receiving livelihood protection has increased drastically over the past two decades.
    8
  738. Great discussion on this. This project was actually WAY bigger at the start, comparing a city in the U.S. to one in Japan. There were too many things to discuss, so I trimmed it down to only the commute. Indianapolis was chosen because Lisa lives in the area, but also because it could give a decent representation of an average city in the U.S. However, Tokyo is not an average city in Japan or the world, so I really should have found a similar sized city in Japan to do the comparison. So yeah, I would love the chance to do a fairer comparison.
    8
  739.  @veritas.ve.42  Oh, okay, like what typical grocery shopping is like. I always been meaning to do a video doing a proper tour of a grocery store and the behind-the-scenes, but I also like the concept from the household perspective, on how they buy groceries throughout the week. It'll be different than North America, where it'll be smaller amounts and more frequent. the items purchased will be different as well. Interesting idea to explore. I know you were talking about weekend grocery shopping though, which is a bit different.
    8
  740. @ludagouda123 Sorry, YouTube created an English one on it's own. I deleted that and now there's only my subtitles, which should be good. Thanks.
    8
  741. Yep, copyright
    8
  742. +Manuela B. They can mean grandparents or even just elderly people. In this case though, it's Aiko and Shin's Great Aunt and Uncle.
    8
  743. From my testing that seems right!
    8
  744. Had no clue.
    8
  745. I don't see why that has to be the case. A career doesn't mean you can't have children.
    8
  746. Yeah, I think it does depend on the company. I didn't choose people based on their experiences, it just was the way it was. I would keep in mind a couple things. One, we did talk about work life 20-30 years ago, so things that were common back then have changed. Two, if the people said work was fine, it doesn't generally make for a good interview or video, because there wouldn't be anything to talk about. I did purposely ask what was good about the Japanese workplace, and I think Chris had the most positive answer. Quite a few people mentioned things like health insurance or benefits. All the people who started in the 90's appear to enjoy their current working positions in sales, as a Japanese teacher, and as a daycare teacher. For the younger folks, they have mostly moved outside of the big corporate world and into smaller or independent things. They all also generally seemed to be fine with their current working situation.
    8
  747. Thank you (and Dara) so much for making the video!
    8
  748. Occasionally.
    8
  749. I'll be doing a full video talking about these topics. Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but school is only mandatory from grade 1 until grade 9. This video showed a hoikuen, which takes care of kids all day, from ages zero to five/six. The parents need to be working to get in a school like this. There's yochien (kindergarten), that's from ages three to five/six. They are not full days like hoikuen and are supposed to be more academically oriented. Even though not mandatory, I think most parents would put kids in one or the other system before grade one. Most Japanese students do end up graduating from high school (grades 10-11-12 OR 1-2-3 in the Japanese numbering system). Their graduation rate is 94% according to http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/education/. Even though childcare is administered by cities/municipalities and they may have their own standards, there are nationwide standards set by the central Japanese government. As such, the level of care is probably more equal across Japan than it would be where I'm from in Canada, where each province manages health and education on their own.
    8
  750. Yeah, to cover all bases, the romaji would help people who don't know kanji. I'll think about it for the next one. It starts to be a lot of text though, which also means more chance for me to make a mistake :)
    8
  751. I should have asked my mother-in-law. She's obsessed with them :-)
    8
  752. Thanks for watching!
    8
  753. Thanks! I was trying to paint an accurate picture of the landscapes, so I glad you enjoyed it. Biking at night was no big deal. In fact, it was quite relaxing as there was less traffic to contend with.
    8
  754. Yeah, when I was trying to find the name, I read up on that too. Where I grew up in Canada, we called it swamp water.
    8
  755.  @Jhud69  There are only a few that are off limits. Most are on limits if the season is right. I think a big issue is that if that the number of hunters is low while the number of deer is high, so even if a hunter eats what they kill, they can't sell it to anyone, so there's only so much they can eat themselves. If they want to sell, the deer need to be killed and processed in a specific and timely way, which is difficult or impossible in many cases. Also, where the deer live and where the hunters are don't always overlap. Probably the best example would be Hokkaido, where tons of deer live in areas where few hunters do. My wife was reading and watching a lot of content by hunters and it doesn't seem like it's very profitable to hunt and sell deer in a lot of instances.
    8
  756. When I talked with buckwheat (soba) farmer, he said they would pay them to plant buckwheat instead of rice (if I remember correctly). But otherwise don't know about subsidies.
    8
  757. Haha, that line actually really caught me. It could be he was talking about other aspects that would make you a better person. Now I'm really curious as to what they learn in to becoming a better person. If I had to guess in a positive way, one thing I saw was that everyone seemed to be quite supportive of each other, whether it was fitness training or picking out new clothes. So during the process they had to learn how to be vulnerable and show their non-perfect selves, and in return they would support each other.
    8
  758. I had issues with hearing a couple times. I'm fairly sure I got prescribed steroids that cleared it up. So chronic, I don't think so. I also could have used the term tinnitus incorrectly. But I really did have to see an ENT on a few occasions.
    8
  759. Thanks. The plan is a single feature-length video. There's so much to cover that it could definitely be a mini series, but I feel like it'll be most cohesive as a single video.
    8
  760. When it's 7-Eleven stuff, it's made en masse, so not waste. When it's made at home, they really just use a small amount and then use the rest at other times.
    8
  761. +Antanisha Wallace That's what I'm used to in Canada as well. So I was surprised, that despite the crowded train scenes I showed, showing up a few minutes before the show you could still get a good spot to see the show. Since a lot of these displays are held close to riverbanks, there's usually a lot of space, even for hundreds of thousands. Plus, there's so many to choose from, that you can pick displays that aren't as crowded. - The Dad
    8
  762. Japanese is improving, but slowly. My kanji is doing the best, as I have an app I use everyday. I did talk a bit to the formerly homeless individual, but it was very simple questions. My wife was with me for some interviews, as you'll find out in the next video.
    8
  763. I think you'll relate quite well to the doc then.
    7
  764. That would have been a totally different experience. I was kind of bummed that we got there so late in the day, since the light was falling fast. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as we could play around with no one else there!
    7
  765.  @emilybassani9890  Yes, it'll definitely be this year. Was actually supposed to be last year. Technically I have the rough edit done, but getting all the manga artist's illustrations will take time, so it'll still be more than a few months from now.
    7
  766. If you're interested in real estate you could talk to Taka (link in the description). He does that. There are also realtors who specialize in English, just Google and you'll find. Good luck!
    7
  767. I think we'll always disagree on the length :-) But yeah, it was a lot of research that I distilled down into what you see. I will have several more videos, and soon to, covering housing, so this is not it. Yes, I purposely posted on the main channel as I'm going to try something different this year. I want to put up my more polished stuff on the main channel, and less polished stuff on the X. I think most of the people on the main channel appreciate these types of vids. As you know, lots of works goes into videos like this, so as long as people are happy seeing, might as well post on the channel that'll get more eyeballs.
    7
  768. Thanks. Yep, kids will be back. Just had this special one I've been working hard on, and I thought most people on this channel would like it.
    7
  769. They are actually YouTubers (totally by coincidence). So I think it was less a scoff and more a haha. They wanted to be in the video, so... I can't remember the name of their channel though...
    7
  770. You can check out the pinned comment to see the link to the places I stayed and the prices. All the activities, like most in Japan, I find affordable in comparison to Canada. It's the transportation and accommodations that I find are expensive in Japan. But because this place is not as well known, I found the value was a lot higher than in other popular places in Japan.
    7
  771. +Brittany Marie you didn't say hi
    7
  772. Thanks! Yeah, it's really cool that everyone helps collaborate on these vids.
    7
  773. I never addressed this since I didn't want it to be a video about US bases, but if you look at the history of Okinawa, you'll learn that Okinawa was very different from the rest of Japan and that they were in fact colonized. They also bore the brunt of the war, with about 1/3 of the civilian population getting killed. So how Okinawans, especially those that lived through the war, feel about war would be quite different from the rest of the Japanese population.
    7
  774. +chrispkreme there are way too many in my house
    7
  775. We'll have to practice more!
    7
  776. I left that in on purpose! Glad you saw it.
    7
  777.  @sirBrouwer  Yeah, would love to chat with City Beautiful about this kind of stuff.
    7
  778. I never knew about the tissue paper thing, interesting!
    7
  779. Yeah, I think if that was done in Canada, it may fall on the wrong side of the law.
    7
  780. Glad you're enjoying!
    7
  781. I'll be trying to make one about what to do with families/kids. My brother and his family are coming in spring, so hopefully they're cool with that idea :-)
    7
  782. I think they can definitely cut down on the amount used if they were really challenged to. I'd love to see a push from the government to make minimal packaging a good thing and use whatever levers they can to get companies to minimize usage when it's possible.
    7
  783.  @TheBeatles..  Sorry, no plans at this moment.
    7
  784. Oh, good to know! I was truly wondering if it was just some of the workers I saw in Tokyo.
    7
  785. +Denise Agron ah, right, if you're talking about your own grandparents it would be ojii-chan or obaa-chan. It's a double I or double A.
    7
  786. As far as I can tell, the answer is pretty much no on both counts. I know they have a geothermal plant that the Suginoi Hotel uses that is 3,000 kW (but that's the only larger one I can find). I've read that residents and onsen operators are wary of geothermal as they don't want anything to have an effect on having the water available for bathing.
    7
  787. I'm still interested in taking the DNA test. But it's also interesting that if you go back into my family's history, you have some shady past on all sides. Life a hundred or hundreds of years ago was a bit less civilized.
    7
  788. If you YouTube this, you'll probably find a lot of decent videos. Easiest explanation is people do it to prevent the spread of things like the flu, they do it to avoid getting stuff, or they might do it to avoid wearing makeup or showing their face.
    7
  789. Yeah, it was kind of the point that Tokyo is easy. Most first timers to Japan do go to Tokyo or other popular tourist destinations like Kyoto where service staff can minimally communicate in English. I did the boonies thing a bit when I didn't know much Japanese. Still got fed :-)
    7
  790.  @Jordan-inJapan  Who has done what has changed over our relationship. But yeah, for food, it's always been like 95% my wife. But for cleaning toilets and bathrooms, it's been 95% me. When I was working from home, I'd do the child drop-off's, pick-ups, and other daytime related stuff my wife couldn't do. So maybe at that time our household duties were fairly close to 50/50. Anyways, we try to balance it out, but I would say it's been like 70% her, 30% me historically. I've always been full-time (or more) for work hours. She's alway been part-time. But the real, real answer about the food, is that I just don't worry about food like she does. It'll really bug her if we don't have variety in our meals. Me, I eat the same breakfast 6 out of 7 days and have been doing this for years. But it'll bug me crazy if the bathroom is really dirty or certain areas get to messy, so I tend to clean it before she would even think about touching it.
    7
  791. If you have cash on hand, I don't believe it's that difficulty. If you're trying to get a mortgage though, that's a whole different story. I'll probably try and talk to a specialist about this at one point though.
    7
  792. Did you send one in? I actually put in videos from everyone who successfully submitted (sometimes people fill out forms but don't send any videos that they've made). As you saw with the Indian videos, as long as there is variety, it doesn't matter what country you're from.
    7
  793. I think you understood the opposite of what he was saying. Usually people think of sexism as a negative against women. In this case, it was negative against men.
    7
  794. There are government programs. We'll get to that in part three!
    7
  795. Thanks for help Bobby!
    7
  796. We'll all be doing narrations on future videos. The next one should be my sister-in-law's (Akko's) first visit to Canada where she'll narrate. After that, it should be a video where my sister-in-law and I revisit the small town of Kofu and see if foreigners could really live there or not, with interviews by Akko and narration by me.
    7
  797. Well, they actually didn't lose their homes (as far as I know). They were trying to sell to developer but the city wanted to preserve the area. So development plans were put on hold. So these homes that were already in bad shape just sat there, waiting for development.
    7
  798. Ah, thanks! Fixed. I totally knew it was queue, but my mind never caught that error once, thanks!
    7
  799. That's a good question. Personally I have no clue. I see a lot of redevelopment, a lot more than I see in Canada.
    7
  800. Yeah, I was always trying to scale down on my use of cars in Canada, so that's why I think I liked moving to Tokyo so much (I could walk, bike, and use public transit to go virtually anywhere). I feel like it would take a lot to change things in Canada, the biggest and hardest thing probably the culture of liking big spaces and driving.
    7
  801.  @kanoke348  He's an early access Patron https://www.patreon.com/lifewhereimfrom
    7
  802. This one is totally me! We did contact the city and airport to get access to things, but this is totally self-financed and made. I just thought it really interesting to see what the snowiest city in the world is like.
    7
  803. Yes
    7
  804. +Hugo Crystal Thanks. I'll add the idea to our list. - The Dad
    7
  805. Eat it at room temp.
    7
  806. +Majd Anbar That's sad to hear. I really hope the governments around the world can do more to help out Syrian refugees. In Canada (where I'm from), there's a lot of debate going on around how many Syrian refugees to bring in. - The Dad
    7
  807. The professor told me that some issue with housing is that it's not where the homeless want to be. So there may be cheap housing in the countryside, but it's not where their life is. There's a reason that the poor have congregated into certain areas in Osaka, Yokohama, and Tokyo.
    7
  808. Yeah, that was shot a few years ago. Just happened to kind of be relevant to this video by chance!
    7
  809. What? No time for a trailer that's only a minute? Or you mean the doc, because that's almost 2 hours, but it's not out until the 16th of July, so you have time to rest!
    6
  810. I've heard that in the past, but I really wonder if that's so true nowadays. Would be interesting to investigate.
    6
  811. Thanks!
    6
  812. Ever since Tokugawa consolidated power, none of the castles were really in any major battles for a couple hundred years (as far as I know). So yeah, it was fine enough. You can read different reasons for why they didn't finish the keep. The most plausible to me was that they had other priorities and that because of the layout of the land below, it wouldn't have added enough extra protection for the cost and time it would have taken to build it. But again, this is just my summary from a couple hours of internet sleuthing and after talking with some locals.
    6
  813. Just visited. He looks like he's doing great!
    6
  814. Songs are always in description, but that one is Intelligent Design 2. You can search it on epidemicsound.com
    6
  815. Oh, that's too bad. When you play to Chromecast it does (I know that doesn't help you, but that it might be good for someone else to know).
    6
  816. Thanks. I might do a gear update on the X channel sometime. But most people aren't interested, so I tend to focus on other topics.
    6
  817. That's Kozushima.
    6
  818. Nope, your friend is right. The golden poop building and the gold building beside it are part of Asahi Beer breweries.
    6
  819. I believe there are around 30 military bases in Okinawa and that they host about 60% of American bases. I don't believe the anti-base advocated are trying to get rid of all the bases currently in Okinawa, but they definitely want that number reduced and for the rest of Japan to share some of the burden.
    6
  820. Yeah, it'll be nice to catch up!
    6
  821. Old enough to have grey hair!
    6
  822. Yeah, they really surprised me once they started the announcements. I think they begun when the state of emergency was announced. I was able to film the last one, which was when the state of emergency was declared over in Tokyo on May 25th, 2020.
    6
  823. If you know John Daub from Only in Japan, he now has a new channel that he'll be posting on from now on. So if you're already subscribed to his old channel, I'd suggest subscribing to the new one, since he'll be posting his main videos there from now on https://www.youtube.com/c/johndaub. As always, thanks for the help making this video John!
    6
  824. History in the back! That’s the phrase I wanted to say. I couldn’t think of something better than old school.
    6
  825.  @rachelcookie321  Well, hopefully from now on, I'll never forget this pronunciation lesson! EYE - URN. I - URN. I - EARN?
    6
  826. Check out my Being Japanese documentary. They’re in part 1
    6
  827.  @Kwijiboi  I was thinking about the secondary market, and they do have sales on last seasons sets (as mentioned in the video). But since they talked so much about the "Fresher" look, it would seem that getting stuff that's old may be considered a negative and perhaps too much risk to take if it's once-in-a-lifetime chance to get your career started. However, this is just me interpreting what I heard.
    6
  828. I was happily relieved when the speakers started working again!
    6
  829. Ah, right, right, I understand. I'm glad you see it that way, because that is the big point of making these videos, is to show some aspects of cultures that may not be familiar to others (but in an easy to digest way). Thanks! 
    6
  830. If it was my content, I honestly would have, but since others contributed, I felt bad for not releasing.
    6
  831. Oh, what part of Japan are you in?
    6
  832. If you have the room then I'd say that for most items the regular size ones would be generally be better value. We found the electric pot and the toaster to work quite well.
    6
  833. I do feel like it's a luxury or fun purchase. It's not crazy expensive though. It works well enough, but the cooking time is a bit long (like 20-25 minutes for skewers).
    6
  834. Show them your ID? In my five years living here, I've been randomly asked exactly once. I was filming right in front of a Koban (police box/station), and they just wanted to know what I was filming and how long. I truthfully told them I was filming the trains passing by and I would be filming for 10 more minutes. I showed them my residence card and that was that. I'm not really well versed on all the rights or non-rights of the non-Japanese citizens or residents when it comes to this sort of thing, but I've personally never head any negative police encounters. I've been pulled over by the police while driving once, but in that case I was breaking the law (crossed a solid line when I realized I was in the wrong lane and about to go onto a highway on ramp). The police were staking out the spot as they knew people did that. The police officer was quite courteous about the whole thing. I got a small fine and paid it.
    6
  835.  @OnceUponATimeInJapanM8  First off, we knew someone in the government of Tottori, so we had someone to ask. We told them we wanted to get a deep look into a small town. They came up with a few potential places and I personally liked Kofu. So we were then put in touch with the government of Kofu and they were super helpful in making everything happen.
    6
  836.  @cassieengle6182  Yes, what they do with their free time would be interesting. I suspect that there's such a variety of stuff, that you could/would need to have multiple episodes. I'm sure I could even do a V2 of this REALLy breakfast video and get different meals. And the before they go to bed routine, that'd be interesting. Yes, as far as I've ever seen, it's showering/bathing in the evening that's the norm.
    6
  837. +Misted Mind Yeah, I still don't really know why she washed them. I was wondering if it was because she didn't want to cry or if it had something to do with the recipe. I know some Japanese cooking methods soak vegetables in salt water (like cucumbers). - The Dad
    6
  838. Yeah, I agree, there's definitely a difference between single-use and long-term use plastics. And even within single-use, it depends. My biggest takeaway from the video is that it's incredibly complex and the amount of knowledge you need to be able to do the "right" thing where you live is high and what the right thing is changes based on the timing of the markets sometimes. There are some general things that are basically always good (like 99% of the time I use my thermos water bottle instead of bottled water). The biggest changes I saw were when countries decided to put some new system or standard in place and people followed along.
    6
  839. Merseysidenforcer I'm happy to hear! We're hoping that kids around the world can learn about how people live in different parts of it. - Aiko's Dad
    6
  840. Well hey, at least you watched 20 minutes before commenting, so I commend you for that! I think Barno's shyness and lack of energy that you're perceiving is actually more a function of her being nervous (at least that's what I thought).
    6
  841. I was actually thinking the same thing, a halal butcher could do good business in Tokyo.
    6
  842. The original guy actually started teaching the locals to make sickles for agriculture. They were actually quite famous for their sickles. So they had always made non-weaponized blades from the start.
    6
  843.  @IvanMiljenovic  Fixed, thanks!
    6
  844. That's Enoshima. It's not too far outside of Tokyo.
    6
  845. Did a few of them. Check the travel videos playlist :-)
    6
  846. YEBISU38 has it correct. It's a bar in Golden Gai. It was the first time I've ever been to that area and before that I hadn't seen signs like it. I suppose it's because there are some tourist scams or cover charges in the area that foreigners are wary of.
    6
  847. I totally get what you're saying. I don't really think any effect would be different enough to account for such a vast perception difference on my part. I've been in hot springs with lots of different types of mineral content that had thermometers in them, and all with different levels of water movement. I don't think it would account for a 10C difference in temperature perception.
    6
  848. I have pictures of my brothers when they're young that I could swear were pics of Shin. Even as much as my brothers look different, at some point in time Shin looked like each one of them.
    6
  849. I always consider hard coding, but there are two reasons I don't for videos that are mostly in Japanese like this. One is that I can correct translations in the case we make errors (which we are totally liable to do). Second is that when it's translated into other languages, you won't get the double subtitle issue, with one language's soft code titles overlaying over top of the hard coded ones.
    6
  850. I did an interview with a Japanese language teacher. She said most schools are like what Jess described, but that there are more conversation focused schools, like the one's that people in Japan on business would take. The school Jess went to was more focused on JLPT and teaching to the test. So I don't know if you have to discard all schools.
    6
  851. That would be interesting.
    6
  852. No, not only the high class. You could afford these homes if you had a dual income family, and both people were making professional wages. I'd say people who are in the middle or upper middle class. I'd say the homes start from around $250,000USD, but it really depends on what you're going for. The land will probably be the more expensive part of the equation if you're building within the 23 wards of Tokyo.
    6
  853. Sorry, also thinking about it, if you were to interview people about work life in Canada, I think you'd mostly hear complaints from Canadians as well, even though I'd say that working conditions are probably decent in comparison to the world in general.
    6
  854. Thanks for making the video with your sister Dara!
    6
  855.  @fpsColton  Thanks, done!
    6
  856. I totally understand where you're coming from. That's what kept me speaking at all for the longest time. I knew how to ask for something, but I also knew I wouldn't be able to understand the answer.
    6
  857. Yeah, that's kind of the point. Like the Japanese bathroom to Japanese people is normal and boring, but to the rest of the world it's quite interesting. Japanese people are interested in what a normal looking bathroom in other countries are like.
    6
  858. I use it EVERYDAY! The whole family does. Except sometimes in the summer, when it's so hot that I just take a cold shower to cool off. I love japanese baths, and try to go to the onsen / sento (public bath houses) once a week.
    6
  859. Rough order of places I visited: - Incheon airport - Hongdae (Hongik University) - Deoksugung Palace - Nakwon-Dong (little alleys) - Mangwon traditional market - Gwanghwamun (little houses and big apartments by palace walls) - Cheonggyecheon (stream) - Myeong-Dong (touristy market) - Itaewon (U.S. Yongsan Garrison / international area) - Yeouido (financial district and park south of Han river)
    6
  860. It was 2 days I believe. Could have been 3.
    6
  861. They add about a teaspoon or two of white sugar :-)
    6
  862. There were some people who contacted us, but when I tried to reply back, there was an error. I'm assuming it's a typo in the email sent. So, if you sent something and we didn't respond, that's probably the reason. I'm sorry we didn't reply back. But, you can still submit a video by going to http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/tips-for-shooting-your-home/. We're accepting submissions up until June 18th, 2016.
    6
  863. Yeah, my kids do. I think that would be the case with other parents. Whether they can get dessert or not depends on the circumstances. We don't do it every time. They also have to finish all their food. Sometimes they have to choose between dessert or soft drinks. Sometimes no dessert or soft drinks.
    6
  864. Depends what part of Canada you're in, but I think the equivalent would be places like Perkins, ABC Country, White Spot, Denny's and that sort. I don't know the popular restaurants out in the East though, so those examples may not work for you. Swiss Chalet probably also fits in the "family restaurant" category that I consider Yumean to be in. Miletsones, Moxie's, Earls, those are all higher end casual dining (in my books).
    6
  865. Good point!
    6
  866. I’m still curious as to why. I had it twice in two different locations and it did not have that gamey taste. Venison I had in Canada did. Is it what the deer ate or how it was processed? Or was it in the cooking?
    6
  867. I hear ya!
    6
  868. Yes and no. There were five people (I hope I'm not forgetting anyone) who worked on them. Two of them were my wife and I. We spent a LOT of time trying to make sure they were done properly and that there were a variety of English and Japanese versions that you can toggle between depending on your situation (like you want English subs when there's Japanese and Japanese subs when there's English OR you want English subs for the entire documentary).
    6
  869. I'll make a video on this, but I have to be really careful with the research, so it won't be anytime soon. Basically it's very safe. That popsicle index thing I think is the easiest way to convey how safe it feels. I worry more about my kid getting hit by a car then someone purposely doing something bad to them. I leave my bike unlocked most places I go. If I forget my bag on the train (which I've done twice), I've been able to retrieve it at the lost and found within hours. I don't think I've ever been scammed. There are unscrupulous people, not everyone's an angel, but it's less confrontational and safer than Canada in my experience.
    6
  870. Good to know.
    6
  871. Thanks so much for all your support! Interested to see what your question will be for the next Q+A.
    6
  872. Just curious, have you actually watched a few of the videos I make? This documentary will be about my question of identity, but it's really answering mine. I'm from Canada, and I don't identify in any way at all with being Japanese. My identity crisis would be with being Chinese, British, and/or Canadian. The inspiration for the documentary is seeing how identity is looked at in Canada and then seeing how it is in Japan, and noticing that there is a difference. I want to learn more about that difference and present it to people.
    6
  873. Haruka Inoue, not completely true. Prior to 1985, dual citizenship was allowed. But even nowadays, those who weren't grandfathered in can have. One situation is people from countries who don't allow you to renounce citizenship. They are allowed to have both. There are people like my children, who should choose which citizenship to keep by the age of 22.
    6
  874. Oh, interesting, I'll definitely check it out!
    6
  875. He makes breakfeast for himself every day, as you can see in the breakfast video. He'll also make one other meal himself. Sometimes he'll eat with my sister-in-law Akko who would make some food.
    6
  876. It's a good question about how exactly NPO's work in Japan. I don't know.
    6
  877. Don't worry, there will be a rental option come August 13th that'll be much more affordable. And if that's too much, it'll be out on this YouTube channel in 1-2 years. This project took about 2,000 hours to complete if you total up all the hours from those on the production side, so it'd be nice to make that back a bit so I can reinvest in future projects.
    5
  878. You can have guests over, but party, it really depends on the size. I've comfortably hosted a dozen people in my house. But yeah, in comparison to Canada at least, people in Japan are more likely to have gatherings outside their home.
    5
  879. My mortgage is actually cheaper than what I paid in rent for a smaller apartment. But generally, yes.
    5
  880. Aiko told me the director got sick and there was a pause on making more. She told me this two years ago, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt.
    5
  881. My best bet was that it was a knot in the wood that had come out and had never been replaced.
    5
  882. It was really good! Added so much flavour to the meat.
    5
  883. https://www.nipponia-fukusumi.com/ It was amazing!
    5
  884. That's too bad about the annotation, because I did add one, but sometimes it doesn't show up, like if you're on mobile. I really have to remember to put up a message (right at the start) to check for subtitles. In depth, point taken. My initial edit was 50 minutes, which was cut to 20, then 13 1/2, then 10 1/2. There was quite a bit that was left on the cutting floor. Was there anything in particular you wanted to see? I also didn't want to intrude to much on him, since he worked so much. If he had had more time, I would have loved to visit the ramen shop he apprenticed at and talk with his mentor. But he only gets a single day off, so I would have felt really bad asking for more of his time.
    5
  885. If you check out some of the menu shots, the basic ramen starts at 730 yen. If you get more stuff, it's about 1,000 yen. Udon you can get for like 300 yen, but it's such a different process and product. I did have a part where I talked about the difference, but I cut it out. After seeing him work so hard to craft the ramen, I feel 730 yen is a great deal.
    5
  886. The "tower" is actually made of 3 separate plastic shelves that are designed to stack. I bought those at Nitori. The cabinet with the pull out cutting board, that was bought at a home show, so unless I dig up my receipts in my filing cabinet, I can't remember what company I bought it from. However, Nitori sells very similar cabinets.
    5
  887. I'll do a video on this, but I'm told by relatives in Canada (who have built homes) that they are of better quality than the average new build over there. In the past it may have been true that homes were low quality, but I think thanks partly due to the earthquake standards as well as many parts coming from a factory, they are built to a higher standard. In certain areas, like insulation and windows, I think Canada has higher standards. I'm talking wood homes right now, but they also do steel and concrete homes, which are way more robust and insulated. That being said, the new wooden homes all have insulation and double pane windows by default, even the cheaper ones. If you take care of the place (the biggest factor is moisture and ants that would eat away at the wood), it should last as long as other wood frame houses built in other parts of the world.
    5
  888. We plan on doing an episode all about earthquake preparedness. Probably not for a few months though. It's the kind of stuff you'd need to survive without food or water for several days, plus some first aid supplies.
    5
  889. I also like the extra storage as it does help to hide things away. The halls are narrow, it's not the camera. The room with the computer is where my wife and I sleep. The futons were rolled up though, so it may not have looked like our bedroom. And yes, we do have a garage, but no, we don't have a car. I'd much rather spend the money travelling back to Canada when we can, and we can always rent a car if we really need one (which is pretty much never).
    5
  890. We own. I'll probably talk about it on the X channel some day.
    5
  891. Crane! It goes through the balcony window/doors. They take them out and there's enough space. We had to do it for the couch and the fridge.
    5
  892. Like I did say in the video, we asked and were expecting to pay. Would have gladly paid. It was the artist himself who said I shouldn't. And understanding a bit how this all works as a creator, if anything, this video will result in him making more revenue. So it's as close to a win-win as you get in this field. But again, we sent him an email with the rough draft asking how much we should pay for the video and he said that given the content we don't have to worry about the over 20 limit.
    5
  893. The masks the kids wear are brought from home, as far as I know. But if someone knows differently, please let me know. And yeah, they are one day use masks.
    5
  894. Si Kju No password is needed, but I'm 99% sure that if you have a Suica card (a card from another operator), you can have an online account and you can check in on funds (and it may need a password). Yes, they could use your card, but there's a limit to the balance you can put on the card ¥20,000 (around $160 USD right now). The reason behind putting a name on your card, is that you can report your card lost and it'll cancel the card (the replacement fee is ¥500). - Aiko's Dad
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  895. He didn't want to go, so he was just sitting at home playing games.
    5
  896. There are homeless shelters, yes. If I get a chance to, I'll certainly visit. If I can't visit a shelter though, I do think I'll be able to see what some of the housing in doyagai (flophouse area) are like, since anyone can rent for about ¥2,200 ($20USD) a night.
    5
  897. Yeah, I'm sure some exaggeration regarding the difference in times. But knowing what happens to other areas I've driven in when it rains tells me that things can slow down significantly in those times.
    5
  898. Bahala Na. I wrote a whole section about it, but it got cut for time in this video. I might talk about it in the final vid.
    5
  899. Really thought about doing this. Such heartbreaking and heartwarming stories.
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  900. Oh, I have no clue. It's just things that my wife worries about. She hates cockroaches! We've only ever had one (or maybe two) found in our apartment/house while living in Japan. She might claim it's due to her fastidiousness in setting bait traps everywhere, I think she's setting them pointlessly. Who knows!
    5
  901. I'm fairly sure we just asked "how do you feel about the bases?" or "what do you think about the bases"?
    5
  902.  @carochan86  It was our first time. Since the broth bag was oily and thin, it went into the regular garbage flow.
    5
  903. It's probably a few things. First, Shin is getting better at showing things in front of the camera, so he's becoming more involved. Aiko is more conscious of the audience, so more reserved in her actions. Shin doesn't care so much about what people think, he's often in his own world. Aiko also used to be very adamant on being the main person, since she was that person when we started filming (Shin really couldn't present things so well when he was 5/6). Now she's just as happy to have Shin present things. If you noticed on the school supplies video, she did the intro and outro (because she wanted to do it), and she also felt the urge to pop in for certain segments. But it was Shin who was in the mood to show his school stuff, while Aiko didn't feel like it. Aiko also doesn't like talking to the camera in public places, that's actually a big reason why we started doing voice overs.
    5
  904. +Sophie Stafford Close, New Zealand
    5
  905. I don't know if I've ever heard someone say rapid and 20 minutes in the same sentence, but I'm happy you enjoyed!
    5
  906. Thanks! I'll make sure to send the Tokyo Metropolitan Government the bill!
    5
  907. She was indeed! I even cut out some of it!
    5
  908. Hopefully you can get back next year when it seems like things will be more normal for travel to Japan.
    5
  909. I'm assuming a big part is to be able to easily supply the shops. During the day it is common to see hand carts being pushed by delivery people since they can't enter with a vehicle.
    5
  910. Hold up a sec. Japan definitely lets in disabled people. Just watch my video with Josh Grisdale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKrLQDNuMpI. He just became a Japanese citizen. There is absolutely nothing in the nationality law the discriminates based on race, religion, or disability. That being said, if you're disabled, can't provide for yourself financially, or can't find someone who can, then yes, it would be true. But, it's not because an individual is disabled, it's purely a financial thing. Also, to further make the point, being financially independent doesn't mean that the costs of treating a disability is factored in. Josh receives many hours of care, provided by the government. So while he has a full-time job and pays his own way, he also receives a lot of support from the government.
    5
  911. Okay, apparently Jakarta might be worse than Manila. But nope, no plans to go to Jakarta any time soon to experience the commute, haha.
    5
  912. Took me a second to get it, haha
    5
  913. I put this in the description, but after medical cost paid for by the government, a "sample" resident might pay about $2,000 USD a month, as things like rent and food are not covered under the national health insurance. So, I'd say that this isn't a premium facility and it would be in reach of anyone in the middle class.
    5
  914. +Rakesh Wolski Nope, just a simple story. I had this glass table that was thing and long, so not so stable. She crawled up my chair and then tried to go onto the glass table, but it came crashing down on her and hit her right in the forehead. The table didn't break, but she got the scar for life.
    5
  915. +crybaby0614 That's one of the things she was adamant on, making sure the kids speak Japanese. It worked since they were able to transition into schools with relatively little issues (the toughest thing was the Kanji). Now I have to do the same thing for the English side. Speaking isn't an issue, but I really need to make sure they read and write more.
    5
  916. For what it's worth, all the seniors interviewed in the video are quite welcoming. The 83 year old farming lady even gave us some fresh onions! The other farming guy whose rice field Daiki-san was taking over was super smily and nice. The mother and her mother (interviewed in a house on a couch) made us have tea and snacks with them after the interview was over. So yeah, they were explaining how in the past there was resistance to newcomers (and some resistance from other residents), they seem to be very much on the progressive side of things. The big feeling I did get was that if you entered the town through a connection like with Daiki-san, that would go a huge way in integrating with the area (or finding out the small town life is not for you). That's why Daiki-san offers the farm tours, then internships, is doing the guest house and tea business school. They are all ways to help people slowly integrate and test the waters before making a leap into living there. My personal experience with Japan is that if you're trying to respect the culture and making an honest effort, people will accept you.
    5
  917. Yeah, it just seems to be the way it's going. With the tea industry in Japan I think they have the bigger industrial farming in places like Kumamoto where they can easily plant large, fields and mechanize things. But for Wazuka, I feel like d:matcha's strategy of going the premium route is the most viable one for that mountainous region. There are already quite a few abandoned fields in Wazuka already.
    5
  918. That's my mind frame as well. A little backyard would be nice, but I'd rather have no yard but a nice, walkable neighbourhood. If you pay $$, you can get a yard. But even something like 20 square metres would cost like $60,000 or something.
    5
  919. The toaster is what I use the most. 2-3 times a week.
    5
  920. Can you call a number if it's dark and you don't know what to do? I really don't know, good question. I've actually had this exact situation happen to me, on the little island of Amami Oshima. We hadn't missed the last bus quite yet, but we couldn't find the right bus stop. We knew where we wanted to go, so we ran around asking people and we got it in the nick of time. I find most people are quite friendly and helpful in Japan. I think a good tip would be to have ready the address (in Japanese and English) of where you want to go. That way locals could help you. In your case, with no bus, I'm assuming a taxi would be the way to go. And if it's so small that there's no taxi, honestly, I'm fairly sure a local would help you out.
    5
  921. Yeah, pointing works quite well! Family restaurants and franchise fast food joints mostly have picture menus. Some places even have plastic food displays. If not, using Google Translate camera option can help in a pinch. So basically what TJ Welsh said :-)
    5
  922. It's not that it's not safe to carry cash around. It's because most banks outside of Japan won't give you good exchange rates. If you can get a bank to give you 3% or better, then by all means get Yen before you travel :-)
    5
  923. I could never do that. I edited this out, but I had commentary saying that I personally could never go on just coffee, my stomach would hate me and I get headaches.
    5
  924. I was wondering that. I was basically reporting on the news and what I felt the sentiment was around here. The polls, media, and social media all have criticized Abe for a lot of his actions, or lack of quick actions. In general, I think he eventually did what he could, but he was getting a lot of pressure from a lot of governors of prefectures to do more and faster. I think the governor of Tokyo, Koike, was simply better at communicating and advocated for solutions in a more timely manner, so that's why she fared better during the timeline discussed.
    5
  925. Wash, wash, wash!
    5
  926. +likeaspringbear Aiko is 9, Shoko is 10. - The Dad
    5
  927.  @Entertainment-  Yeah, sometimes total bans can backfire. I personally like charging for bags. I always take reusable bags whenever I go shopping, but it's good to have a backup option that's not a bulkier reusable bag for that odd time I don't have one on me.
    5
  928. Copyright thing
    5
  929. I got hit with the same disabling of all comments. What I did was simply bulk re-enable all of them via the YouTube Studio that all creators have access to. Took only a minute or two.
    5
  930. So the interesting thing is that a good chunk of their main lines of knives are VG-10 or SG2, which are stainless steel. I would never have had a rust issue with those knives and those were the knives that I saw getting made. It just so happened that this knife was the single HAP-40 knife they had in their line (that I'm aware of), and it's not even sold to their site. Obviously if I knew more about knives beforehand, I would have recognized what the HAP-40 on the knife meant. Yeah, I agree that having made a mini documentary on the business you would think I would have known about carbon vs. stainless and all the things in between. While there I did learn about the different stainless steels they made, but we never got to the carbon part. But I know now :-)
    5
  931. amazingpepe In Canada, many, many years ago. - Aiko's Dad
    5
  932. If I'm remembering correctly, I think about half the bikes sold in Japan are made in Japan, whereas the other half are made overseas (mostly in China).
    5
  933. I'll actually be going to Singapore next year to make a video about it!
    5
  934. +Saikat Ray Hot pot, I would say yes, but shabu shabu is a bit different. Nabe is a blanket term since it's the name of the pot. I get confused about the different names all the times. Shabu, shabu, you have to actively swish the meat back and forth. Also, I think you usually have broth that is more flavourful. But anyone who knows their hot pot and shabu shabu can come in and correct me.
    5
  935.  @arafpv9530  How hot the water is depends on the location. Some places it comes out at 90-100C
    5
  936. I'm getting back to you! I started, but it was taking so long that I had to stop. You got a lot right, but there are some where I was going to add corrections to.
    5
  937. Actually, not to be pedantic, but in Canada we're taught it's a mosaic, whereas in the U.S. it's a melting pot. The theory behind that is that a mosaic is a quilt made up of all these patches of identities that combine to make one, whereas the melting pot conforms everyone into one. At least I think that's how the analogy is supposed to go.
    5
  938. I've always had Filipino friends. Always so friendly! One of them will finally visit me in Tokyo this year!
    5
  939. The one on the very bottom is Davey, the 2nd youngest. I'm the one above him in the Winnipeg's Jet jersey and the overalls (the peak of Winnipeg middle school fashion at the time BTW)!
    5
  940. I actually don't see anything wrong with the size. There are plenty of options all over the spectrum of sizing. If you want a bigger space, you can easily find them. In fact, it's fairly rare to get a space this small. I'm more pro affordability and letting the user choose what kind of space they want.
    5
  941. Korea??? Haha, where did you get that from :-) We're in Canada at the moment :-)
    5
  942. I think what Yuta was saying was important to note. If you find young or more international companies, you can minimize the cons of the Japanese work place. But, learning the Japanese language is quite important, as well as the culture. Yes, you can find jobs where you can get by with either, but you'll have a much better chance of success and happiness if you have both. I personally circumvented all of that because I worked remotely for Canadian and American companies. I couldn't and still can't make it in the traditional Japanese work environment.
    5
  943. You can find jobs that don't have crazy hours. But like Yuta said, you have to be picky when choosing what company you work for. And unless your seishain (正社員 - Regular Full-time employee), the work hours are more reasonable/controllable.
    5
  944. The big thing is to keep your phone steady and try not to walk and talk if possible. Just shoot one thing at a time and you should be fine :-)
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  945. Link to website in description 🙃
    5
  946. We were both in Canada up until a couple weeks ago. Now I'm in Japan. I'll be doing some filming and then going back to Canada. Wife and kids were going to come for a bit, but with all the pandemic stuff they stayed back.
    5
  947. I filmed Tokyo by Bike in June, and then after Brian from Ramen Adventures watched it, he invited me to do the trip by Boat. So I took the boat ride just 2 months after the bike trip.
    5
  948. My quick guess would be language and cultural barriers. The technical difficulty of getting visas and immigrating is probably not the reason for skilled individuals. Refugees is another story and there's very few allowed into Japan.
    5
  949. Thanks for sharing your video with us!
    5
  950. Thanks for sharing your video!
    5
  951. I honestly think using the word allergy (well, in Japanese, not English) is the simplest. Like I always say I have an allergy to tobacco when I go to restaurants, as opposed to saying that I have asthma, and that I won't die if I inhale some smoke, but that it also could trigger an attack or just make me feel sick. It's not 100% accurate, but it's much easier to get across.
    5
  952. If you liked it, we did another one that I think has a similar feel https://youtu.be/BcPGdM76O2U
    5
  953. You can check out the links in the description. I'm not an urban planner nor architect, but as far as I understand, the zoning applies to the entire country, while local governments can choose how they administer how the zoning is put in place.
    5
  954. Yes, you can use private onsens like at a ryokan.
    5
  955. I'm glad you could enjoy a bit of nostalgia!
    5
  956.  @RedGollum  Oops! I least I said it correctly! Can't do much now. People will just have to imagine that 0
    5
  957. The one really nice thing about the trip was all the people that got in contact with me after I sent out a message on YouTube. They were all so kind and really took care of me.
    5
  958. Links in the description but this is the number for Hokkaido http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ns/nsi/genjyou_english_3101.pdf. This is where Canada and other countries are listed http://www.fao.org/3/i2493e/i2493e03.pdf
    5
  959. Yeah, I think you could be right, that the Masters Member is simply a badge of success, just like a certificate, trophy, or award you might get doing other things.
    5
  960. zeeZ I hope not. Generally, I think content trumps quality. That being said, if you can get both, that's better :-). We'd just be happy seeing anything that people would like to share. - Aiko's Dad
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  961. Maxy Moenen Great, glad to hear! - Aiko's Dad
    5
  962.  SecretCommie  Ahhhhhhh.... I see
    5
  963. Electric scooters are considered motor vehicles. You need a license to drive them and you can't go where pedestrians can (you have to stick to where cars can go).
    5
  964. Open windows and run the fans. Still gets greasy. The power came with the package.
    5
  965. A section that got cut from the video is that they usually have international people participate as well. Before COVID they even had their own team and won one of the awards one year. One of the members of the Kirishima team mentored them. So anyone can participate if they find a team. It's not just for locals.
    5
  966. Based on questions, I think a lot of people think that onsens always smell like sulphur. There are many different mixes of minerals, so it really depends on what your onsen water is like. This one didn't have any smell as far as I can remember, nor did the other ones I showed in the video. But in the Kannawa area, the area with all the steam, there is sulphur content that you can indeed smell. For the communal bath, it's always ventilated. I don't know about bacteria to tell you the truth.
    5
  967. I think in restaurants and take out it's less than North America. But at home I feel like they use a lot of vegetables. It'd be interesting to see an actual study on how much is carb vs. protein vs. veggies.
    5
  968. We live in both at the moment.
    5
  969. The type of NPO the professor was talking about was a specific type. There are others that are probably more familiar to what you'd find in North America. In fact, some of them are actually founded by Westerners. In the next video I'll actually introduce you to one. I'd say they fit in line with what you wondered about, if there's a pro bono organization that doesn't take advantage of the homeless.
    5
  970. True, thanks for adding this.
    5
  971. +anushka sehwal that's totally fine. It's not about if your home is pretty, but rather it's about seeing how people live like around the world :-)
    5
  972. I'm working on the English one right now. Hopefully up in an hour or so. I'm halfway done :-)
    5
  973. Please make a video!
    5
  974. Hopefully she can respond, but I think it was that she was nervous. If you've never been on camera before, it's quite tough, especially when you have to try and remember what you're going to say.
    5
  975.  @Jordan-inJapan  Well, speaking of that, I had to visually cut a scene of those nationalists for fear of them trying to locate my family. I wasn't personally concerned, but my Japanese family was, so we had to alter that tiny bit of footage I had.
    5
  976. I personally don't think it's very controversial. But who knows, I'm often proven wrong about a lot of things.
    5
  977. It will be, but that'll be 1-2 years out. My main goal is to have people watch. But I was just doing some back of the napkin calculations and there were probably about 2,000 hours put into this documentary by various individuals, so it would be nice to recoup some of that via sales for the first part of the documentary's life.
    4
  978. Thanks for the confidence.
    4
  979.  @金城CHRIS  I made it all the way up to Cape Hedo. I also went to Ishgaki, Iriomote, and Taketomi. It was a great trip. Next time I want to take the family!
    4
  980. Ahhh. So the reason I went to Okinawa was shooting for the documentary. Since I asked the manga artist to illustrate a whole bunch for the documentary, it'll be a bit before you can see it. However, I shot so much in Okinawa, I can probably make a video or two out of what I experienced but couldn't put in the documentary. In any case, probably won't release any Okinawa stuff for 3-6 months.
    4
  981. Same thing happened to my father and mother. They were supposed to come in May 2020, but yeah, cancelled!
    4
  982. Thanks for the interview and the stories!
    4
  983. Read the sources. They have studies done. My wife and I married each other but because of our heritage, but because of who we are. I've never really had any trouble renting in Japan beyond needing that guarantor company.
    4
  984. Yes, the data is public. If you watch the whole series, the interviewees do try and explain why they might not get on seikatsu hogo. Sometimes they simply don't know. Sometimes they're intimidated. Sometimes they really want to live outside of society. Sometimes they're waiting. Sometimes there has been some technical issue which they didn't know how to solve (like the address thing). The situation has improved. More people are now seikatsu hogo than ever before.
    4
  985. No problem about not being able to support on Patreon. Just leaving a comment like this and watching the videos is all good :-)
    4
  986. Yep, and before that Vancouver, and before that Winnipeg!
    4
  987. Slums... that's a bit of a stretch, at least in compared to slums in the US or Canada that I've seen. Less desirable areas, for sure. But overall, I would not hesitate to walk alone, in the middle of the night, with all my camera gear, in any area of Tokyo.
    4
  988. I think it depends where you live. Maybe if you're out in the countryside and live a frugal life style.
    4
  989. Future videos will address this :-)
    4
  990. Our follow up video: Shinto in Everyday Japanese Life https://youtu.be/iuZHotjtrJs
    4
  991. I don't know if anyone really, really got it though. That's the Kanji for Aiko, so it really is a Dad thing.
    4
  992. And here's the pottery video I was alluding to https://youtu.be/r9uNWxBpJuE
    4
  993. A7Siii now.
    4
  994. Nope, he opened up this place with his brother. It's a very tiny place, so I don't know much the rent is, but it may not be as bad as you think.
    4
  995. A bit.
    4
  996. In this region (Kanto) it'd be Shoyu (soy sauce).
    4
  997. Oh, forgot to answer that. She usually helps because I ask and bug her. This one was a bit different, as she really wanted to make sure that what Kunimoto said was accurate to what we interviewed. I did the initial edit, but was stuck on it for a while. She offered a suggestion and then I reworked it again. Then at that point, it was 13.5 minutes, and she then worked with me for the day to get it more together and be 10.5 minutes. She watched it many times with me. This is one of the only videos she's read comments for lately, and she was really happy that people enjoyed the video and had respect for Kunimoto-san. She doesn't usually read comments, because she can't stand if even 1 out of 100 comments is something not nice about the kids.
    4
  998. To put a hole in them. Maybe the answer as to why can be found here https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/eggs/explore-text.html
    4
  999. Thanks Jack!
    4
  1000. He hurt his back last year. Shop closed for 2 months and lost employees (don't know if some or all).
    4
  1001. Thanks! I've seen models where they're on the second floor as well. I think it's cheaper when they do it on the first floor though. I think most would agree that they'd like it on the second floor, especially since Japanese hang dry their laundry and it's nice to not have to haul the laundry up flights of stairs. I've tended to notice that the nicer homes have only two floors. It's cheaper overall to have a 3 storey house though, since you need to buy less land (and land is the more expensive part of the equation).
    4
  1002. We usually use that board for plating. The kitchen counter next to the sink is a more solid surface, and as you said, if you have wet ingredients it's easier to clean up.
    4
  1003. It was because I wanted to focus on how we furnished the place, and I (and my wife) were the ones who had to organize and buy everything. Unless I told Aiko what to say, she wouldn't have known what we had to buy and why we did it.
    4
  1004. It's the same house! We bought a year ago.
    4
  1005. Yeah, I've seen quite similar bathrooms in the new homes we looked at.
    4
  1006. Yes, we could store things in the garage. 3LDK's and 4LDK's are the standard. I wanted a 4LDK model (not necessarily more expensive) as when the kids grow older, they may not want to share rooms. Also, I work from home, so I was thinking I may put my desk in a separate room one day. I'm sure we have enough room to work things out. But yeah, if you eliminated those two rooms, we'd have to get rid of some stuff or clutter up our other rooms. We keep the room on the first floor relatively empty in case we have guests come over.
    4
  1007. Oh, good idea, never thought of storing drinks there.
    4
  1008. I think it's just the honour system. When my wife wrote to him to inquire about our project, he was the one who actually wrote back. I for sure thought we'd get some assistant writing to us. So unless he has some group of checkers scouring the internet, I think he just trusts that you'll follow the rules. And it's 20 images per project or thing, so one person can make many projects using his art work. So it's quite a generous amount that you can use before you have to pay, and there's exceptions for personal use, non-profits, and what not.
    4
  1009. My wife often buys drinks for people that help out. Tipping is generally not a thing, but people will always accept something from the convenience store or vending machine.
    4
  1010. I think everyone will have their own favourite Sake. I can't remember all the one's we got, but you can kind of see them at https://youtu.be/fO3v7CFmsPc?si=wmANRB-nzyjV6wpS&t=2905 I bought the イットキー (It's the key) and 潟王 (Gatao). The funny thing about the ATM was that for whatever reason the first one didn't accept her card (even though she had money), but the second one would accept mine. I had several (a couple Japanese, WISE, and a Canadian) bank cards on me, so I figured one of them would work. On my first try I got one of my Japanese ones to work. Our backup plan was to do an online transfer from one of our Japanese banks to the ryokan.
    4
  1011. +Notes of Nomads We had about 15 seconds between announcements and trains coming to do a take. - Aiko's Dad
    4
  1012. I think the story of honor suicide is grossly exaggerated. I may do a video on this in the future. But try reading this for a current look at suicides in Japan https://www.tofugu.com/japan/suicide-in-japan/
    4
  1013. I had to look it up, because I was getting tired of not knowing the real reason for the sculpture :-)
    4
  1014. I think it was close to 20C on that day. It started to cool off when the sun set, but it wasn't that cold at all IMO.
    4
  1015. It was a few images. Unless you have incredible memory, you probably won't notice. As for getting points for doing a job sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, I'm doubtful it does much. Perhaps for those that are self-sponsoring their independent businesses, it shows that hey have credible clientele? In my case, it has no bearing, since I'm a permanent resident due to being married to a Japanese citizen and living in Japan.
    4
  1016. Nah, I think it's just a metric ton of comments from a small minority.
    4
  1017. In all truth, I can read kanji a lot faster than hiragana. I still hate katakana. But I don't usually read hiragana that slolwy!
    4
  1018. I would consider looking up the definitions for ethnicity and race. I don't think I personally mention those words in the documentary, but I know that a few interviewees mention them. If you do look up the definitions, and try using multiple sources, you'll find that's it's hard to define either. If you want to go super basic and say that race means physical characteristics, then you'll find that with certain individuals Koreans can be indistinguishable from Japanese. So does that make a third or fourth generation Japanese-Korean Japanese now? Because they would have Japanese citizenship, look Japanese, speak Japanese, have Japanese culture, be born in Japan, and have Japanese identity. In this made up example their parents would have been Japanese citizens, so this fourth generation person is Japanese by your account. Or is it because a few generations ago their parents weren't originally Japanese that they can never be Japanese? Ethnicity is a lot more broad. I'll just copy and paste the Wikipedia definition "An ethnic group or ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups such as a common set of traditions, ancestry, language, history, society, culture, nation, religion or social treatment within their residing area." By all those characteristics, I think that made up fourth generation Japanese person with Korean ancestry would be considered ethnically Japanese. Yes, they have Korean ancestry a few generations back, but again, how far back to do you need to go to be truly Japanese? What kind of score do you need to get on the ethnicity test to be truly Japanese? What does it matter? And I'm serious. What does it matter if this person calls themselves Japanese? Who is this hurting and how?
    4
  1019. I needed to have 5 subtitles tracks that have various mixes of English and Japanese in them. All those tracks are either English, Japanese, or a mix. Vimeo (and YouTube) doesn't allow you to make up the names for subtitle tracks. You have to use existing languages. So I tried to pick languages that didn't have many people speaking them, but I probably failed at that. The first 10 seconds of the doc has a guide for what each subtitle track actually contains.
    4
  1020. Thanks and welcome!
    4
  1021. +naseerahvj it was going to United States in general, not specifically Boston :-)
    4
  1022. The answer is at 14:32 :-)
    4
  1023. It's true!
    4
  1024. Honestly, I think the kids and I would have fairly similar answers, at least based on my recent conversations with them. Kids change their feelings a lot, sometimes in the matter of a few minutes :-) I would say that they both feel like home, and we got used to being in Canada really fast. But, Japan does feel like 'home', since our physical house is there.
    4
  1025. Oh wow, thanks!
    4
  1026. Actually I see you said "first viewer", but since I had to view the video once on YouTube before I published, I'm still sticking with being first. But you were second... that's still cool!
    4
  1027. Technically you're 2nd. I was first! 😉
    4
  1028.  @Pipsqueaker88  all good
    4
  1029. The same thing happened to me. I was thinking about travelling to the coast, not stopping by any stores, going to a completely isolated place. My wife put the brakes on that idea really fast.
    4
  1030. We wouldn't normally go to so many shops, probably just a single one. Angela got special permission to film at all of them.
    4
  1031. You can ask if you like. I don't think it'd be rude. I think the reason why they bag it that way is the paper bag is for presentation, as you may be giving it as a gift. Kind of like wrapping paper. And then the plastic bag is to protect the paper bag, as well as it has handles on it to easily carry.
    4
  1032. +Blooded Fury Um, yeah :-) I'm her father and this is our family channel :-)
    4
  1033. +Blooded Fury Um, yeah :-) I'm her father and this is our family channel :-)
    4
  1034. You can spell Shisa like this. Or like Shiisaa. Or like Shīsā. And you can spell roofs like this. Or like rooves. Sometimes language varies depending on location/culture.
    4
  1035. That means no riding. Walking the bike is fine 😀
    4
  1036. I'm fairly sure a lot of the bags and purses I showed in the video had their valuable items taken out as well... at least I think so. But then again, I did see that camera and suitcase all by itself...
    4
  1037.  @laurah8109  Thanks for the tip!
    4
  1038. I enjoy the discipline of Japanese in many respects, and for many situations I think it has a positive benefit. But on the other hand, I think there are parts where they can relax the rules and people would be happier and more productive. But which rules are too strict, and which need to be relaxed, I don't have a clue. I always find myself wanting to take some parts of Canadian culture and some parts of Japanese culture and mixing them together. In a way, I get to do that because I work from home and get to sidestep a lot of the things that would probably drive me crazy (traditional Japanese workplace rules and suits).
    4
  1039. This should have more info https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Unzen#1991_eruption
    4
  1040. Always happy to do my part :-)
    4
  1041. Yes, very much so. Check out http://www.turning-japanese.info/2012/06/why-arent-koreanschinese-born-and.html.
    4
  1042. Actually, a good number of volunteers at Sanyukai are the former homeless themselves, who are living using livelihood protection. So in an indirect way, the government is doing exactly what you're saying. But Sanyukai is a non-profit, it's not government run, so their operating money comes from donations.
    4
  1043. All kids learn in school, so everyone I suppose.
    4
  1044. Captions should automatically be turned on. But, as I found out, if you had manually turned off CC on a previously viewed video, they won't turn on automatically for you.
    4
  1045. +GamerTime1226 Thanks for the suggestion. I considered it. I always go back and forth on whether or not to. It seems like you came to a good solution though :-)
    4
  1046. Will be doing a video about camping soon enough 😉
    4
  1047.  @rachelk7784  I'd love to do another video and try to tackle some of the points you're brining up. I'm kind of think size of city population-wise would probably be the fairest? And not choosing a city within a metropolitan area (otherwise Edogawa city would actually be smaller than Indianapolis). Sendai would have been a better comparison. Since U.S. cities are often spread out, I don't think going by distance would be the best way to do it though. The key thing that I think makes Japanese cities (and towns) convenient is that they are denser.
    4
  1048. Yeah, obviously depending on your start and end point, you'll end up with wildly different commutes. Ideally I would have used population sizes that are similar and also looked up the average commute time to try and recreate that. I'd like to do another video that does that.
    4
  1049. +marty131 the price is for everything you see, including land. Okay, not the couch, fake TV, and table, but otherwise everything showed is included.
    4
  1050. Actually freezing rice works quite well. Some Japanese people will make a batch of rice and then freeze small portions that can be eaten throughout the week. It works quite well, especially if you just need a single portion or need rice in a hurry.
    4
  1051. I'm sure most are made in China. A lot of Japanese designed products are.
    4
  1052. Automated lockers are a good idea to show for the next 23 hours :-) I like that monorail, it's a nice, scenic ride!
    4
  1053.  @miguelarriola9735  We're going to contact the town to get more information about short and long term rentals. As far as I know, the whole setup is geared towards people who are looking to live there long term (like 5+ years). But you never know, they might have something that would work for short term (like a month or tow, or even a year).
    4
  1054.  @kanive1566  You'd need to learn some basic Japanese in my opinion. But with translation technology, you could potentially get by with a month or two of study.
    4
  1055.  @frankzajac3158  What kind of immigration are you talking about? Like live there for a year or two? Something longer?
    4
  1056.  @colleenbullock3690  Well, it seems that people like this concept, so I'm fairly certain we'll be doing more in this series together.
    4
  1057. Kasha?
    4
  1058.  @davidwingli  That's why I actually made it a soft coded subtitle. You can disable the subtitles by using the CC button (on the phone I think you have to tap on the three dots or somewhere else to get there), but you can turn them off and see everything :-)
    4
  1059. Why they didn't go ahead with the change in the school year? Despite the pandemic, I think it's a huge change for the Japanese system, since so many things are tied to that time of year (end of March / beginning of April), including university graduates and the beginning of new jobs. Although, interestingly, the school year didn't used to be at the same time before (if I'm remembering correctly). But the basic gist of it is that it would be a lot of work to change, so let's just think about it and maybe try for some time in the future. If you google around, I'm sure you can find many recent news articles talking about the subject.
    4
  1060. Nope! It's very mild weather in my opinion. Winter doesn't go much below freezing. Summer can bet quite hot, but not as bad as further south like in Tokyo or Kyoto.
    4
  1061. You have to wait for it...
    4
  1062. I was supposed to film Saga this January but because of rising COVID cases it got cancelled just as my plane was landing in the area. I'm going to try and film it again this May/June.
    4
  1063. +tenishotshot There's lots of things my kids have eaten that I haven't! - The Dad
    4
  1064. For copyright, as long as you keep bits under 10 seconds, you're generally safe on YouTube. As a creator you can upload a video, wait for YouTube to scan it for any copyright issues, and only publish if no flags pop-up.
    4
  1065. I bought a couple Kyocera ceramics a few years back. The santoku chipped badly, so that's out of the picture now. The petty knife is still fine though.
    4
  1066. Katy Scott Hi Jamieson, thanks for watching! Our apartment doesn't let us have pets. And, my Daddy and Mummy are allergic to cats. Me and my brother love, love, love cats. I'm so sad that we can't have them in our home. If I had cats, my brother and I would name them Fluffy and Fluffy Jr. - Aiko
    4
  1067. Yes. I've done this at other bike shops, so it's possible. There was only one shop that I've been to that didn't let me (I guess that owner wasn't so trusting!)
    4
  1068. I think you're safer in rural areas, yes. But with that kind of bike, I'd assume you'd want some way to lock it up. I'd check on Reddit to see what other cyclists have done.
    4
  1069. My exact words were "While transporting a bike on a train is generally prohibited, if you have a compact bike in a bike bag, then they are considered no different than other luggage and you're basically allowed." Are you going on some special train like the B.B.Base? If you go to the JR East Website, this is what they say (translated from Japanese to English) "Bicycles used for cycling or sports competitions must be disassembled and stored in a special bag, or foldable bicycles must be folded and stored in a special bag."
    4
  1070. The video should be out in a couple weeks.
    4
  1071. Yeah, I've seen hoarders on Japanese TV. There are definitely some that hoard!
    4
  1072. Interestingly, the Japanese social housing only checks your income, not your savings. So technically have a ton of cash saved and still win the lottery to get into social housing. Popular areas do have some time limits though. To get onto the equivalent of welfare though, you essentially have to have no savings.
    4
  1073.  @eurasiaennezahard8006  I'll answer most of those questions in the video.
    4
  1074. Chidorigafuchi Park
    4
  1075. Yes, she’s working with me.
    4
  1076. It quickly dissipates into the air, so my guess would be that it doesn't have much of an effect. Also, the really steamy area in Beppu, Kannawa, is only a small portion of Beppu city.
    4
  1077. I went to French Immersion from K-12, so no problem at that time. It's been a long time since I graduated though, so I'd have a tougher time today :-)
    4
  1078. Oh, slipper users as well!
    4
  1079. Try Tokyo Street View, that's basically all they do :-)
    4
  1080. Yeah, I think it's the intent behind the question. If people are politely asking about my background, I don't mind at all. I think it's nice. But if they asked "Where are you REALLY from", that wouldn't sit well with me. I honestly can't remember if I've gotten the REALLY part. If I have, it hasn't been recently.
    4
  1081. As did my wife's family when they first saw pictures of me :-)
    4
  1082. It actually is! My wife used it growing up.
    4
  1083. Yes
    4
  1084. Yeah, Pepper is kicking around.
    4
  1085. Yes! I'm doing Pimlseur right now as well and I find it very helpful.
    4
  1086. Hey Ivy! Thanks for letting me interview you!
    4
  1087. Already did! https://youtu.be/BO5_aD2J9GM
    4
  1088.  @AudiaciousLife  Just kind of living between both countries for the moment.
    4
  1089. My wife really enjoyed this question! Yes, she works. I make more money than she does. The majority of money I make is not from support from places like Patreon, which if that was the case, she would make more money than I. Essentially, with our combined income, we make close to the average household in our area.
    4
  1090. I think to do it for all learners, you'd need to have KANJI - KATAKANA/HIRAGANA - ROMAJI - ENGLISH TRANSLATION, so 4 instead of the 2 that I did.
    4
  1091. Gibberellin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin
    4
  1092. Hey, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't AJATT basically preach the same thing? You need to go for it, you won't be great, you will fail, but you need to keep on going, getting the practice in. Now there's got to be some strategy to make sure the practice you're done is allowing you to improve, but if you're too afraid to even try speaking for fear of mistakes, you won't really get better; at least from my personal experience.
    4
  1093. Yeah, I was kind of thinking something similar as well. In so many countries the person you'll be speaking too is probably better at English than you are at their language, so usually the easiest method of communication wins when trying to quickly get something across.
    4
  1094. Yep, we did, and I was so happy that both families really got along, despite it being the first time we ever met in person. I hope we get to meet up again some time soon!
    4
  1095. It's on our page http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/. But it's December 18th for breakfast and January 8th for the holiday one.
    4
  1096. I inquired afterwards and apparently they are diapers to catch poo.
    4
  1097. Gotta make extra sure!
    4
  1098. Interesting. I wouldn't have thought Oslo would get little snow.
    4
  1099. Dang, there's always at least a typo. Thanks!
    4
  1100. Well, I know that big and wide cars aren't the most practical. You have to choose your routes carefully. But on the right roads, I'm sure they'd be a pleasure to drive. Maybe there's some map network for trucks. Anything that trucks go one would probably be suitable.
    4
  1101. I guess I should drop the link to a relevant video I made with my brother and his family about eating in Japan without any Japanese https://youtu.be/2rppnse7IkM
    4
  1102. What you're pointing out is generally how it goes in many restaurants. It's expected that everyone is ordering at least something. I think this is especially true with restaurants that are a vending machine, where a quick turnaround is expected. If you go to family restaurant chains and don't order anything, I think it's more acceptable, although ordering something small like a drink is probably preferable.
    4
  1103. If you're just eating with friends or family, it's whatever they're comfortable with. It's never been a major concern when we've had Japanese friends over. But thinking about it, separate chopsticks for shared dishes seems the most sanitary and the least likely to cause any potential awkwardness. I don't think you'll run into trouble with having separate chopsticks, but if you're eating with people you don't know, they might think it rude that you're putting your personal chopsticks into a shared dish.
    4
  1104. I've found most tips to be a bit indirect. Like the lady gave Ken-san money for a hot drink. Generally they would just give a drink, but I suppose the lady didn't have one handy but wanted to do something nice. I've seen my wife give drinks (and it's usually drinks) to movers, to repair and maintenance people, and generally people who have been providing services inside of our home.
    4
  1105. I'm half Chinese.
    4
  1106. Oh no!!!!!
    4
  1107. It depends where you go. There's a lot of flower pot gardening going on. I should have shown some more examples. But when people do have space, they tend to grow a lot of stuff. But yeah, with houses tightly built together and many people / developers trying to maximize housing space for dollars spent, it tends to translate into less green space.
    4
  1108. Interesting, I'll have to watch the whole clip. But to answer, bathing with family members is a totally normal thing in Japan. In onsens, the age that you separate children into the male or female side is around 8 or if they kids reach a certain height. It's very common to see pre elementary school kids of the opposite gender. It's also around that age that family members at home start bathing with the same gender as well.
    4
  1109. Depends on where we go and if the kids get the adult menu or the kid's one. If it's two adult meals and two kid's meals, we can sometimes do it for about ¥3,000. If Aiko, Shin, or both go for an adult meal, it'd be more like ¥4,000. If it's more expensive dishes we're ordering, it can run up to ¥5,000 or ¥6,000. I'd say doing it for about ¥4,000 is fairly common for us.
    4
  1110. Yeah, I think it's Coke lemon right now, but I've seen others. The cool thing about the drinks (not just Coke) is that they have special and temporary flavours all the time. The annoying thing is that if you really like one, it could be gone in a month or two.
    4
  1111. Yeah, I might try and visit late spring / early summer to capture that!
    4
  1112. Yep! Wild boars have basically mirrored the deer in their population growth. They are being culled at high rates as well. They're currently doing a bit better at controlling the boar numbers from the latest stats I've seen.
    4
  1113. I will be going there sometime in the next few months, filming for the documentary. So I'll have a video out about Okinawa sooner or later!
    4
  1114. I'll ask around and see if I can get an answer for part 2 or 3. I don't know if I'd say the snow is harsh conditions. More of a pain in the ass?
    4
  1115.  @phineasNBJ  It's basically around that area. I'm asking the city right now about it. Thanks.
    4
  1116. Coming soon, to a YouTube near you!
    4
  1117.  @seraphinaeyukine  Me going through the process was one of the things I was considering. You never know, could be fun to try one day. Although my biggest constraint is time, because it's not like you just go one day and get transformed.
    4
  1118. This is now a couple years ago, but I was at a pub/cafe whose owner was the professor's friend. The professor had invited people who he thought could help with my project. I guess because Okinawa is kind of chill, when Luna came to apply for a job, they asked her to eat with us. I didn't know that part until later. So when I asked her to help me, I had no clue she had no connection to anyone.
    4
  1119.  @banshee1133  It was a lot of work because we wanted to make sure the translations fit the character of each person. There's no way we did a perfect job, but I showed each person interviewed their own section, including the subtitles, to make sure that we got it accurate. So as best as we could do, we tried to make sure that whether someone watches with subtitles in Japanese, English, or some mix, that they would get relatively the same experience.
    4
  1120. Yep
    4
  1121. This was shot in February 2020, so before the coronavirus was widespread in Japan. I can't tell you the absolute latest on student visas, as its changing everyday, but Japan is slowly opening up its borders again so that I hope you can visit a Japanese language learning school in the near future. The best i can offer is check out https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/comments/gdqrxl/coronavirus_covid19s_impact_on_moving_to_japan/ for the latest news. The school featured in the video is https://akitainakaschool.com. If I could have went to a school like this vs. my regular Japanese language school in Tokyo I totally would have. The learning approach seemed a lot more flexible.
    4
  1122. The school was actually in Manitoba. There's a large French community there. Also, it was a French Immersion school (so for students that aren't from French speaking families). - Aiko's Dad
    4
  1123. Cutejapanvids Oh, neat! We're from Canada (as you probably know), but what you may not know, is that all my primary and secondary school (5-18) was in French. Although I can hardly speak any French without slipping in Japanese words. - Aiko's Dad
    4
  1124. You can, but you have to collapse or dissassemble your bike (except for very special and rare trains) https://bike-plus.com/pages/attention-bringing-bike-to-train
    4
  1125. Usually we run the kitchen fans and open windows. For filming purposes I stopped the fan a lot, so it smelled like Yakiniku in the living room for a few days! I think doing Yakiniku is a common enough thing. But probably depends on the family. My comparison would be that some families in Canada BBQ a lot, while others might do it once or twice a year only.
    4
  1126. Wow, 2 levels, pretty neat!
    4
  1127. Oh cool, never heard about this before.
    4
  1128. For the fruits cafe, I heard they use the unsold ones there (but don’t trust me 100%)
    4
  1129. Yeah, that would work!
    4
  1130. Generally by the each. The only one where it wasn't was the cherries (that was for the whole pack).
    4
  1131. I think you’re right.
    4
  1132. Well, it's kind of 20+2. At age of 20 you're supposed to decide, but you have 2 years to do it :-)
    4
  1133. Which movement are you talking about?
    4
  1134. I find the whole thing quite intriguing. Looking at it from a Canadian perspective, it'd be quite shocked if anyone would ever tell me I'm not Canadian (has never happened). But I've had people say I'm not Chinese (I'm half Chinese). I really don't have much Chinese culture and can't speak the language, so it's not something that's a huge part of me. But on the Japanese side of things, I look at my kids and wonder about their identity. To me, they really are both Japanese and Canadian. They also legally are citizens of both countries at the same time. But are they "real" Japanese or "real" Canadian? There are cases, which I'll explore through the documentary, which will cover people born and raised in Japan, yet don't quite fit the stereotypical "Japanese" mold, and others born outside (like Utada Hikaru), which I think most Japanese would consider "Japanese". I don't know why I have all these words in quotes by the way. I guess it's just hard to pin down concepts of identity. That's what makes this project interesting to me.
    4
  1135. It was actually the working title I've had for the past few months. It's really tough to say what works best. For example, on Twitter that name was the least popular, but on YouTube and Facebook it was the most popular.
    4
  1136.  @ScandiNinja  I have a video about this https://youtu.be/xycecbwpIzE
    4
  1137. Steam is rising, but that doesn't mean the water is boiling. It's more like the difference in temperature is causing the steam to rise. The water was warm though. If I remember correctly, maybe something like swimming pool temperature?
    4
  1138. It’s not a ban against foreigners. It’s for non-members. So if you’re not from Beppu you can’t use it (for the time being).
    4
  1139. We're living in both places. Right now we're in Canada at the moment.
    4
  1140. +capierce Yep
    4
  1141. Interesting. I was thinking about renting a room in the area to kind of see what the experience would be like from the perspective of a tourist or cheap business traveler. I talked to my sister-in-law, and she actually books some people from her work near the area, because the rates on the business hotels are quite affordable in comparison to other areas in Tokyo. I never heard about the Tokyo government trying to purposefully redevelop the area from flop houses to budget hotels/hostels. I know San'ya doesn't even officially exist as a proper area name. Purely from a business owner perspective, I can see why they'd be motivated to attract the tourist and business person crowd. You're right, the area does have a bit of a different feel. I don't think I explained it so well in the video. I've walked around many neighbourhoods in Tokyo, and I guess what I was trying to say was that if you took a small slice, like a particular street, you may not notice anything much different beyond some places may look a bit more rundown. But if you start looking at the details, like the signs for the businesses, see some guys smoking or drinking, or the amplitude of street level bike parking, you can start to see that it's different from other areas. I suppose my frame of reference is the downtown East side in Vancouver, where it's very obviously a poor area (the poorest postal code in Canada).
    4
  1142. I added a "Part X" at the end of all the titles :-)
    4
  1143. One night is very different from every night.
    4
  1144. Hey, thank you so much for making the video for us!
    4
  1145. Well, if you're big on kitchens, please submit yours ;-)
    4
  1146. We do have places to go if you scan all our uploads. We don't tend to go to popular tourist destinations, but we occasionally do. The channel isn't really about travelling Japan though, so you might be better off checking out other Japan related YouTube vids. For example, Chris from OkanoTV is pretty much only doing travel around Japan https://www.youtube.com/user/okanochris. Our videos are generally daily life stuff.
    4
  1147. Thanks Mr. LordLiquidBaconII!
    4
  1148.  @望月智久-c6u  What, really! That's too bad. I made the release worldwide, but I guess I can't do anything about an area blocking Vimeo. I'm investigating YouTube Memberships at the moment. I think if I put it as a perk of the membership, and tell people to sign up and cancel right away (so they don't pay more than a month), this may be a way to easily distribute through YouTube.
    3
  1149. I actually had plans to make a follow up doc called "Being Canadian". After making this one, I'm okay with not doing any feature-length docs for a while. But one day I might do a mini-series on it. But I wouldn't wait.
    3
  1150. I wore a mask anytime there was a potential someone else besides family would come by. At times I also just forgot I was wearing one.
    3
  1151. She wasn't on this trip... but I just peaked into her room... and yep, she still exists!
    3
  1152. Yeah, perhaps next year he'll be as tall as me!
    3
  1153. I hope to do videos about gender inequality.
    3
  1154. Yeah, if you come across the right area, you will see them.
    3
  1155. It's actually 43K for the area. With 43K, the max you can get is a 300K loan, so it's at the limit of what can be afforded. But it's possible. Although, you don't have to go for 300K. You can get places that are more affordable by going smaller or by buying used.
    3
  1156. Good question, can't answer in any good way at the moment. I only moved to Japan 3 years ago. It's an interesting topic and I'd like to talk with families and get their take.
    3
  1157. Yes, you noticed!
    3
  1158. Yeah, that's right. If you really want a vacation, you gotta leave the camera behind.
    3
  1159. Yeah, should be out in a week or so.
    3
  1160. Hahaha. Or should I be crying...😰
    3
  1161. Haha... a world of difference :-) I don't even know if they can compare. I eat packet ramen, but... yeah... just not the same.
    3
  1162. Yeah, it's pretty simple. You buy the ticket from the machine, the staff member will take it from you, and then you wait... and then eat!
    3
  1163. Thanks! Life Where I'm From X Channel, just click the link http://bit.ly/ytlwifx
    3
  1164. Yeah, that responsibility for everything and everyone is something that people who have never been an owner may not realize. I hope that kind of came through in the doc, that it's cool to be your own boss, but it is a lot of hard work too.
    3
  1165. That's actually the reflection from the opposite place :-)
    3
  1166. Thanks! Yes, I did make product videos before, as I used to film professionally in Vancouver before moving here. If you're interested, I have a few videos you can see at http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/tokyo-videographer/. My wife helped with the question asking, some of the editing, and the vast majority of the subtitling. I was pretty much all on own for filming everything besides the interview though. The kids were with their grandparents while we were conducting the interview. Unfortunately, Kunimoto-san doesn't get to see his kids too much. They sometimes drop by and see him, but he mostly sees them on Sundays and holidays. He says they like to play Pokemon Go together. For finding part-time workers, I think it's tough because unemployment is kind of low around here. He said he had troubles with employees, as he'd treat them like he'd treat himself, as an owner of a restaurant. There's a different level of dedication when you're an owner. I totally get him, because I used to own a food service myself. He said he now realizes that he has to change his approach to employees who are not necessarily looking to open up a shop of their own.
    3
  1167. No worries about the Patreon. It's for those that have the financial ability to do so. I want to make the videos freely available to everyone, regardless if they can help monetarily. Just leaving comments and interacting is enough for me :-) p.s. do you mind editing out the S word? I usually don't let swear words through on this channel as many kids watch.
    3
  1168. Married with kids, sorry!
    3
  1169. うれしいです。ありがとうございます！
    3
  1170. You have to use the non auto-generated English translation (i.e. the UK version) :-)
    3
  1171. It hides the key holes underneath. It works with an IC card though, so I just tap my wallet to the door to open it.
    3
  1172. It's come in handy at times :-)
    3
  1173. It really is how I close my drawers, that and a hip bump for the higher ones.
    3
  1174. Yep, we already have a video about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OafCWKqwgpY
    3
  1175. It was kind of odd for me at first, but now I'm so used to it, that I didn't even think some may find it odd. My shirts are actually hanging in the closet of the kid's room (my wife gets the closet in our room). I have allergies to dust, so I didn't really want a tatami room. Luckily, it's usually more expensive places that have such a room nowadays, so it worked out for us. Relatives do have tatami rooms, so we get to use one whenever we visit them.
    3
  1176. Crane!
    3
  1177. Sweat! Humans sweat all the time, and without a way for the moisture to escape, your futon will get wet and moldy. Those wood slats underneath make it so that the moisture can evaporate.
    3
  1178. I didn't know the term clip art was so outdated, haha. Yes, I personally always searched for vectors when I did graphic stuff so I haven't really thought about it. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've actually searched for clip art since I was in high school / university, which is a couple decades ago.
    3
  1179. Yeah, I was actually surprised he said I could use for free. I was getting ready to send a big money transfer his way. He seems like a nice guy and I have much respect for him.
    3
  1180. He just added an English search box. However, there are several ways to search, and if you use google translate and then put that term into the Japanese search box, you'll get different results. There's a person that created a search engines for his clip art that'll give different results https://irasutoya-sear.ch/ Lastly, you could use google search using a term like "site:https://www.irasutoya.com/ うさぎ" (which is searching the site for rabbit).
    3
  1181. Yeah. I sent the rough draft to him (well, technically my wife) along with a full translation of the script. We wanted to know how much to send him for the over 20 images fee. He replied back to use as many images as we like and not worry about the fee. My understanding is that it's a video introducing his site, so it makes sense to show a lot of his images. If it were another kind of video I'm sure it would have been different.
    3
  1182. I've heard this about other videos. If you can, try a different device .
    3
  1183. Thanks, and yes, I saw this comment!
    3
  1184. DJI Mavic 2 Air
    3
  1185. I made this video to answer that question (but yes, I'm Canadian, and have no Japanese heritage) https://youtu.be/89tYsu2IQEw
    3
  1186. I'm going based on memory and what I usually budget. For places where we opt out of food or has no food, the cheapest places are probably 5,000 yen per person. Those are basically business hotels. 7,500 yen per person will get you some more room. 10,000 per person might start getting you some decent breakfast and dinner, but a ryokan is more likely to be closer to 15,000 a night. But in general I budget around 10,000 per person per night for the accommodations without food. That generally gets good places.
    3
  1187. You could do it without Japanese if you're using translator apps. But it will be a lot trickier. Even though you would think we didn't, we actually called ahead to check on several things, especially accommodations. That would be quite difficult to do without someone that's able to speak Japanese. But if you only stopped at major areas, it would be easy enough to pick hotels that you could book online. But for the really small places, sometimes they don't even have online booking, or the websites are severely outdated and only in Japanese. I shoot 60fps, but I don't double the shutter speed to 120 (I keep it at 50 or 60), so it basically just looks like 30fps.
    3
  1188. They've been around for ages in Japan. But they're mainly pedal assist, which can be classified as regular bikes, so they can go anywhere a bike can. If it doesn't require pedalling it's considered a motor vehicle and can only go where cars are allowed (which severely limits the practicality of a bike in Japan).
    3
  1189. +Airaharune06theSailorScout You don't need to be a resident to use the card. But, if you want your name on it, you do need a Japanese phone number (I don't think foreign phone numbers would work). You can write names in Katakana, but I don't think you'd really use the name feature of the card if you're only visiting.
    3
  1190. +Eerik Sweden Pretty much, yes, you can use both equally.
    3
  1191. It's most likely no one would catch you, but that would seem to be very bad luck to not pay.
    3
  1192. Interesting question. I know that there are people living in internet cafes, the hidden homeless.
    3
  1193. I initially set up the X channel for topics like this, you're right. After I posted the Ramen video on this channel and it did really well, it's been very hard for me to publish content that I've worked a lot of time on, onto a channel that has 1/10 the subs and less chance of getting exposure. I'm fine with videos not getting many views, but if simply putting on a different channel that I have results in twice as many viewers, then it seems a bit counterproductive to place it on that other channel. But who knows. Right now I'm trying to put more unpolished content on the X channel. I should have more content on that channel in the upcoming months though.
    3
  1194. That'd be cool :-)
    3
  1195. No. Your Name is an amalgamation of a few places: Aogashima, Tokyo; Hie Shrine in Hida, Gifu, Lake Suwa, Nagano https://japaninsides.com/stunning-real-life-location-name-%E5%90%9B%E3%81%AE%E5%90%8D/
    3
  1196. Yep
    3
  1197. You got it
    3
  1198. That's realistically probably the biggest reason. I couldn't confirm this 100% so I left it out, but I heard that the old tracks that used to be there were built over with a lot of homes in the decades after they were torn up. So by the time the 70's hit and Japan was looking at building out a railway system, it would have been pricey and difficult to rebuild in the same way. In the modern reports they can never get the cost benefit ratio past 0.8, so they can never justify doing a more developed system.
    3
  1199. I think it would be very interesting to cover what happened in Japan after world war II. A lot of policies put in place at the time have contributed, in my opinion, to many positive outcomes. I think about it like if the U.S. had a chance to redo their constitution in the 1940's, what would it look like? It would probably look like what they implemented in Japan.
    3
  1200. Nope, not a new camera, but a new gimbal (which helps to keep things steady).
    3
  1201. Yeah, I've been wanting to do bikes in Japan for a while. The gimbal would work great for a portion of it.
    3
  1202. Thanks for the support!
    3
  1203. I cut out the explanation for that. I specifically asked and it was because that house (Jessica's sister's house) was planning to have a balcony one day. You can see the rebar hanging outside of the house as well.
    3
  1204. Looking online I think you're right. Looking back at my raw footage, the lady who showed me the bananas actually said she forgot which one was which, so that makes a lot of sense how I also got the names mixed around in my voice over. Thanks for the correction.
    3
  1205. They have a whole cold chain of delivery in place in Japan. Anyone can ship anything frozen or refrigerated to the vast majority of the country. Because Shunsugu (the meal company) have all the meals frozen, and once they sell out they sell out, they can have all the meals ready to go quite quickly. Just need to pack it in the box and get it to the delivery service.
    3
  1206. I don't think that's fair to say of most Japanese. Yes, there are some Japanese that don't like foreigners or are xenophobes, but my family hasn't had many issues living in Tokyo. It's complicated though. I feel like on the surface it's easier to be who you are in Japan vs. Canada, because as long as you're not bothering others, then I think you're left alone. But underneath, if you're trying to work certain jobs or fit into certain groups, then I think you can be indirectly or directly unaccepted because of your differences. In Canada, this happens as well, but I think the difference is that I think Canadians are more outspoken about standing up against discrimination. So while you might get more open animosity for being different in Canada, you'll also find lots of people willing to openly support you and laws that are used to protect you.
    3
  1207. Thanks, looking forward to you watching it!
    3
  1208. Haha! Yes, the trailer told the whole story!
    3
  1209. Ah, just to correct something. People born in Japan are not necessarily Japanese (or to be clear, Japanese citizens). You need to be born from a Japanese citizen to be Japanese citizen from birth. It doesn't actually matter where that Japanese citizen person is born. But in Canada, that statement would be true. Someone born in Canada is born a Canadian citizen.
    3
  1210. Yeah, I was actually surprised about the translation. From my understanding of the word I thought it would be milder. I think I understood the spirit of the comment though :-)
    3
  1211. Thanks a lot for the support!
    3
  1212. I think the trailer just got posted somewhere and lots of people came to make comments. I've never had an indication that the comments were anywhere close to what the majority of Japanese people think or believe.
    3
  1213. Yes indeed.
    3
  1214. +astrogen1960 she was sick, but it's also the the reason that I was actually about to get a front facing shot of her and use the footage.
    3
  1215. +Notes of Nomads thanks for the info and pics about Kusatsu! Really helped our trip.
    3
  1216. My understanding is that YouTube is not officially viewable from China. You have to get around the firewall to view it, like by using a VPN.
    3
  1217. If it's good, we'll just cut Mae out! Just kidding, but seriously, if it's interesting we'll put it in. I do try and only feature a single video for each country, but I will show multiple videos from the same country after we're done touring the globe. Ex: 16 people submitted videos for this one and I did get all 16 in, even if some were only for a few seconds.
    3
  1218. Thanks. Yes, we've shot a streets video and I'm editing it right now. It won't have nearly everything you mentioned, which I do think is interesting. Sometime later we'll probably make a video about traffic rules and street signs, which would include a lot of what you're talking about.
    3
  1219. Wow, that's so nice to hear!
    3
  1220. Oh, sorry to hear. I should have thought about people who can't walk. We'll be stopping by the accessible Lynn Canyon Cafe at some point, maybe even for lunch.
    3
  1221. Probably nothing much :-) Just do a little walk, enjoy some nature, talk a bit, and eat some food.
    3
  1222. It's just a site where you can sign up and support creators on a monthly basis. Some creators offer some rewards as thanks for the support. One reason it exists is that many people can't afford to do creative projects full time without some type of stable income. While many think a million views on YouTube means lots of money, it really doesn't. You can check out GGP Grey's video about this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW0eUrUiyxo. I've always done the videos as a side thing, but am now thinking it'd be wonderful to focus all my energy on creating videos for YouTube. But honestly, if I can't get a stable enough income to support my family, I'll just keep doing it on the side like I've always done.
    3
  1223. For sure!
    3
  1224.  @jsviva5152  7 hours ago, so noon!
    3
  1225.  @damedesuka77  During the first one they did maze soba, but this is the first time to actually do ramen with broth. On one hand, I expected it to be good, because I think the broth would reheat quite nicely, but on the other, I was still surprised that it tasted so good. Usually with take out it's just not quite the same.
    3
  1226.  @Name-jw4sj  Thanks for posting this. It's so hard to keep up with the latest findings. I've read through many pieces that talk about the effectiveness of using any face coverings, N95 or not. Do you have links to any sources that either prove, disprove, or are undecided about the effectiveness of wearing any kind of masks? Truly curious.
    3
  1227. The main interviews were recorded on May 24th, the day before the state of emergency was lifted in Tokyo. When I was directly talking to the camera, that was on June 24th and 26th.
    3
  1228. From what I've read there's in fact no link. But as with a lot of things, we'll probably know a lot more when there's better studies / data out there. I personally think the biggest factor has been the culture of mask wearing. The way that spaces are packed, it felt like we should have gotten hit so much harder, but it's been relatively low for such a highly concentrated population in Tokyo.
    3
  1229. Yeah, I have family in Manitoba, so it's good to hear that things seem under control over there. Here's hoping that it continues to stay that way!
    3
  1230. We got tons of first world problems!
    3
  1231. Yep, they're operational then.
    3
  1232. I really should have thought about riding a pony. They have parks with ponies but I never thought of it for this trip.
    3
  1233. Glad to hear!
    3
  1234. Yeah, that was after a typhoon, so it was fairly crisp. It would have been even better if I had brought something to properly cover the window from reflections.
    3
  1235. If you look at page 4 of this https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001050453.pdf, you'll see that at category 1 residential zone can include a hotel with up to 3000m2 of floor space. So the answer would be yes!
    3
  1236. Interesting question. In the past I would say second hand goods were generally considered second class. As in people would often throw things away vs. sell them or give them away (this is solely my perspective though). I'm also talking about everyday household items, not collector items. Nowadays, there's a popular second hand selling app called Mercari. I want to make a video about it. My wife has sold over 100 items on it to date. So people definitely enjoy second hand goods in Japan. But I don't think you could easily fence items using that app, since it has all your info attached to that. If you were selling hot items on there, it'd be pretty easy for the cops to track you down. I really would like to know why petty theft is less prevalent in Japan. I think there's a lot of simple answers, but I think to try to get closer to a good answer, I would need to do a mini-series on this. There are so many factors to consider.
    3
  1237. I totally agree with what you're talking about with safety and children. I think Canada is plenty safe for children, and I believe statistically, children are safer than they've ever been. So I personally never really worried about my kids being snatched while they grew up in the 00's and 10's in Canada. But I did notice in a bigger metropolitan area like Greater Vancouver, that I wouldn't see kids freely roaming the streets like I did when growing up in Canada. I do think it is largely a cultural thing. The one thing that did scare me though, was the speed of traffic. I did not feel safe having my kids cross streets on their own when they were six or seven years old and would never let them play around unsupervised in the middle of a street. Sure, if it was a cul-de-sac, I probably would have, but not in the grid system of streets that are most of Vancouver. Even riding my bike around Vancouver, which is supposed to be very bike friendly, I felt so much more afraid than I did in Japan, where no one wears a helmet. I've actually got into a couple bike accidents in Vancouver, one of which could have been pretty bad if I wasn't on the ball (a car turned right in front of me and saw it in time to stop and lightly hit the vehicle vs. smashing into it).
    3
  1238. I am!
    3
  1239. What I found interesting, was that Mao was in IT, but even her casual was a lot more dressed up than I would have thought. Her everyday outfit was more like what I know some IT people in other countries wear to work.
    3
  1240.  @laurielsp  I worked half a year in marketing. I was at the lowest level, so basically I was doing game capture for an editor to then make videos with. I wanted to get into the creation side of things, but did some other stuff instead.
    3
  1241. I can picture it. I used to work at EA in Burnaby like, wow, 14 years ago! So things must have changed, but it sounds like the dress hasn't changed that much.
    3
  1242.  @banshee1133  I don't know their economic situations. But it's probably safe to assume that they're not below middle class. In my mind, upper middle class is actually quite wealthy.
    3
  1243. They're above average for English skills. As far as I remember, even Rei, who only replied in Japanese, understood all the conversation we had in English. They weren't picked for their English skills, but I'm sure it's not a coincidence either. Also, we didn't mention this in the video, but Rei and Sha are actually sisters.
    3
  1244. monique10j Ah, it was shot in February I think. So that's why the disconnect. By April 20th you shouldn't need a jacket as it would be t-shirt weather in Tokyo. - Aiko's Dad
    3
  1245. For the akiya's in the countryside the non-rental or non-sell can be for different reasons from what I hear. I'm investigating that.
    3
  1246. Quite a coincidence!
    3
  1247. How to "fix" the problem is something I constantly think about. I don't think there are any good answers. Just a bunch of pros, cons, maybes and I don't knows.
    3
  1248. Yep, yep, all good!
    3
  1249. I'm fairly sure that they don't have koi in the chlorinated part. The shots you saw of koi and turtles were in the pumped in river water areas.
    3
  1250. haha
    3
  1251. Nope, that's my sister-in-law!
    3
  1252. +J Thomas Given the current laws, yes, you should be able to have permanent residency as long as you are married. Even if you get divorced, you should be able to stay, but I'm not an immigration lawyer, so don't trust me 100%
    3
  1253. You're specifically implying that it's not that simple for Japan-born Koreans to become Japanese citizens. I'm assuming you're talking about Special Permanent Residents. They have a fast track process that makes it much easier for them to become Japanese than regular applicants. So, what you were saying was false. Now, if you meant to say that it's hard for them to become Japanese because they have personal reasons they don't want to become a citizen, then sure, I can agree to that. You also go on to state that they continuously need to request to stay in Japan, which makes it sound like all Japan-born Koreans need to. Please look at http://www.turning-japanese.info/2012/06/why-arent-koreanschinese-born-and.html for more information.
    3
  1254. Try watching the full length video (link in the description). It'll probably answer a lot more of your questions.
    3
  1255. There are many illegal ways to stay in countries. The easiest is to overstay a visitor visa. If you want to naturalize, not the best move.
    3
  1256. +fuego09esmeralda Oops! 😂
    3
  1257.  @r.c.beringuela2426  4K is glorious UHD :-)
    3
  1258. Why mostly men is covered in part 2 https://youtu.be/-9RgkZebW1s.
    3
  1259. Thanks. There is a playlist already https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vhdQOH-Tk&list=PLXw1GwgfxFvcHX2nVpe0HWWLkhnC7lB9q. Part 5 will come out later this month, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
    3
  1260. Mental illness was covered a bit in part 1. For the severely mentally ill, they are institutionalized, so you won't normally see them on the streets. I think it's fair to say that a good number of the homeless have issues with mental health. There can depression, loneliness, addictions, and other issues. As for how the Japanese healthcare system handles mental illness, I really don't know much about the topic. Again, in part 1, we covered drug use. It's not prevalent at all. Alcohol and tobacco or the vices of choice.
    3
  1261. Haha, good question! It's above my pay grade, that's for sure. I also had spirit in there, as in, it's more like deities or spirits than God! So kami are like holy spirits?
    3
  1262. +RaschellXuan What +RaschellXuan said. No embarrassment over how we met. I may even mention in a future video. But before going into anything in detail I clear with my wife first, since she's not as public as Aiko or I are.
    3
  1263. +ElementaryWatson It is a bit weird for us to have people want to send stuff. It's really, really nice of everyone to offer though!
    3
  1264. +Dorothy H Sorry, we don't. But thanks for thinking of us.
    3
  1265. +RaboDabo We want to do a What Japanese Dinner is Like. Just have to get the family organized to get it filmed :-)
    3
  1266. I'm not 100% sure, but from my experience, many of these small regions do indeed have affordable broadband and fast internet service.
    3
  1267. I should have mentioned that. I've always made sure to check and see if they are non-smoking rooms.
    3
  1268.  @FUnzzies1  Honestly don't know the answer to this. Is the start point of the trip in Indy considered rural (roughly 82nd and i-69)? Here's the spot on Google Map https://goo.gl/maps/nYwMkfP6qGjGJYwE9
    3
  1269. Got you covered https://youtu.be/zwefnt23D98
    3
  1270.  @SweetChicagoGator  I think you could do so many versions of a commute in Tokyo (or other cities in Japan) that'll differ greatly. I wouldn't mind taking another crack at doing commutes comparing other cities or having a good commute vs. a bad one.
    3
  1271. The reasoning behind the choice was initially to go for a typical city in the U.S. But I agree that the choice in Japan should have been a city of similar population that was not located in a major metropolitan area. I'd love to make another video with a more apples to apples choice.
    3
  1272. Oh really, I found the opposite. Mostly gas (unless I'm totally remembering wrong). Maybe certain areas electric is more popular?
    3
  1273. I think any Japanese person would say that this house is perfectly well suited for a family of five. How do they do it? I guess you'd have to visit and see :-)
    3
  1274. You put the rice in cling wrap, place in freezer, and then when you need, put it in a covered bowl in a microwave for 1-2 minutes (depends on size of rice and power of microwave). Works great.
    3
  1275. The eggs in Japan are quite safe. They eat them raw all the time. I did rinse them off before boiling. But, usually what I do is boil the eggs in the water a bit, then boil the noodles using the same water. Then I dump that water and boil fresh water for veggies and the broth and then add the noddles and eggs to that.
    3
  1276. For the exchange rate, the consensus I've seen from all the online articles I've read is that ATM is generally your best bet. Consistent rates. For those that travel a lot, getting a low or no fees bank account for international transactions is the best (I don't think Canada has these - but I hear there are a few in the U.S., like Charles Swab).
    3
  1277. Yeah, in the doc I put a link to the comparison site of all the vendors. There's so much choice. I looked at it for quite a while, but then decided to simply recommend what I've personally used and has always worked fine for me.
    3
  1278.  @fpsColton  Ahhh, I like this.
    3
  1279.  @kimc555  I like this idea.
    3
  1280. I just happened to get lucky enough to have the opportunity to do a couple farm stays recently. They were very interesting to do and I'd highly recommend it for anyone trying to get a more authentic Japanese experience.
    3
  1281. NTD, not USD.
    3
  1282. That's what I was thinking! And the reality was that there was lots of locally produced toilet paper, so it was never really a concern. Masks on the other hand, those did have a long lasting shortage, although now you can get yours hands on them if you so desire.
    3
  1283. She also used to be a broadcaster, so I guess she's used to making public announcements.
    3
  1284. I was actually quite surprised at her English level. Turns out she studied in Egypt.
    3
  1285. Okay, so I was starting to think I was crazy by saying that I hadn't seen this kinds of rooms before in Canada. Yes, I have seen porches, mudrooms, and sunrooms, but these are a bit different (but I do admit, they serve similar functions).
    3
  1286. +ez1ollie That's it, time for a new knife (I actually sharpened the knife before they used it, but it's a cheap Ikea one). - The Dad
    3
  1287. I wonder how the CO2 would work out for having those in store plastic bags that they sell switched to paper? Japan has an overabundance of trees that need to be harvested, so they definitely have the raw materials. https://youtu.be/VC4gRGPbTqE
    3
  1288. Thanks for the great comment! Glad to see you appreciate all the complexity of the topic.
    3
  1289. We've just (and by we, I mean Akko) finished packing up all 478. We're creating the shipping labels and shipping them out in batches over the next few days. So should be on the way soon enough!
    3
  1290. People still bring hand towels.
    3
  1291. 100%
    3
  1292. Copyright
    3
  1293. Opposite. In your room it's completely natural and it's warmed up to be hot. If you think about it, to get a temperature suitable for heated enjoyment, onsens must have a mechanism in place to cool or heat the water.
    3
  1294. It's that there's a big variety of knives you can get. If you get a super thin semi stainless it's going to be harder to manage then a thicker stainless, which you can definitely buy. It's all about tradeoffs.
    3
  1295. Nope, I got the HRC scale right. I'm 100% sure on this :-) Other things, maybe not so much...
    3
  1296. Just watch a little bit more...
    3
  1297. Don't know, but I love Mikans because they're super easy to peel. I'll only eat oranges if someone else is doing the peeling :D
    3
  1298. Hey, great guide by the police on riding bikes in Japan http://www.npa.go.jp/koutsuu/kikaku/trafficsafety/traffic_safety_english.pdf
    3
  1299. I don't know if I've seen that many on-street bike lanes in Tokyo. If there are specific lanes, they are usually on the sidewalk portion, where one side is for cyclists and the other is for pedestrians (although I don't see people following those divisions too closely). I've seen cops bike on the sidewalks, so I don't know what the law is about it. I know I've never been stopped biking on sidewalks before and that it's very common. For those with road bikes, I do seem them ride alongside the cars.
    3
  1300. I had a shot of a Christian church, around Waseda dori. It might have got cut from this final version though.
    3
  1301. It's a business, so I don't think it hurts to publish the address. 4 Chome-9-8 Matsushima, Edogawa City, Tokyo 132-0031, Japan
    3
  1302.  @benklehr1824  I have this one https://youtu.be/zwefnt23D98?si=nWc89h9yi2AgyhRk
    3
  1303. No worries. Yeah, if you about the religion than I could totally see how many parts would be boring. Thanks for watching!
    3
  1304. Japanese wooden low-rise apartments of the past do have those sound insulation issues (apato or アパート). If you're getting concrete built stuff (manshon or マンション), they're much better.
    3
  1305. +Mubasshir Alam Just the nabe part, it's actually not that much work. You only need to rough chop a bunch of stuff and toss it in. We will eat that on a regular weekday. But yeah, some meals we'll pick up some karage and tonkatsu from a meat shop, have some rice, and then chop up some cabbage and tomatoes and eat that.
    3
  1306. Chidorigafuchi Park.
    3
  1307. I know the pain. Anything in Canada you can find is incredibly pricey (in comparison to Japan) and generally quite remote.
    3
  1308. Yes, there are many types of hot spring water, so if it's the right mix, you can drink it. There were some places that offered this, but because of COVID, they weren't doing it. I searched hard to find regular Beppu people that were doing this, but it seems it's really more of a touristy thing to do.
    3
  1309. Honestly, you're best bet is to Google arounds. There's tons of blogs that talk about travelling to Japan. But, $4,000 USD for 3 weeks, I think you'll be fine :-)
    3
  1310. The only thing I can say is that upon going back to Canada (Vancouver) and riding on the roads, I felt quite nervous, because of all the cars whizzing by. For the most part I enjoy biking around Tokyo (but I also tend ride on the riverbanks if I can, as there are dedicated running/cycling paths).
    3
  1311. The two resources I've continued to use are Wanikani and Japanesepod101 content.
    3
  1312. Why not have fresh rice :-)
    3
  1313. For closing for the season, there could be issues with pipes freezing. Or it could be that there's not much use in the winter and it doesn't feel worth it to keep it open. Those are my guesses.
    3
  1314. Stephan Ng, yes it is. With Indiegogo, there's an InDemand option, which means I can still accept backers even if the campaign is officially over.
    3
  1315. Agree, it is a matter of privilege to be able to say, "It doesn't matter". I feel very fortunate. For me, there's a difference between knowing where you come from and then letting that shape how you'll be. If I go not too far back with my family routes, my family was both the oppressors and the oppressed. Their is good and bad. I choose to take inspiration from the good stuff and learn from the bad. Being a Canadian, but probably more importantly, growing up with my immediate family, afforded me that chance.
    3
  1316. I think some people are truly just curious about your history. But then again, when I asked my whiter looking brothers, they don't get the question nearly as much, or almost not at all.
    3
  1317. That's very true. I sometimes get onto trouble and eat more than one 😀
    3
  1318.  @Arnold_X3  Thank you, fixed!
    3
  1319.  @Bionickpunk  For bed I'd assume you'd use a futon that can be placed on the ground. For clothes, they have the closets, so you'd have that covered. They have foldable tables in Japan, so I'd assume that.
    3
  1320. If you do research or talk to anyone, they'll always say you can't only do a single thing. Genki is good for grammar, Wanikani works really well for me to learn Kanji, and Pimsleur has been working for learning to actually speak. But I recognize I need to do stuff on top of that, like read and write. I do try and watch Japanese video content and I think that's slowly been helping. Pimsleur is expensive, but nothing compared to classes. One tip I received was to buy off of Amazon or Audible. I bought level 4 and 5 for $55USD. Now it says $79.35 https://amzn.to/2HjAUL4, but that's still better than directly from Pimsleur. If you use Audible, you can use 5 credits to buy a level, which works out to $75USD if you have enough credits saved up from a monthly subscription.
    3
  1321. All commuter bikes like this have wheel locks. I honestly never lock mine, even though I'm in Tokyo. Perhaps if I were in a really busy place I would, but bike theft is quite low (at least in comparison to Canada). I always leave my bike unlocked in my car port, and have never had an issue. In Canada, my bike would be gone, just like what happened to my brother (living in Winnipeg) who left his bikes in his backyard.
    3
  1322.  @GoTeddy  I'll pass on the message!
    3
  1323.  @jessemc3  Yeah, no requirements for helmets in Japan. Only the people riding road bikes do it.
    3
  1324.  @KickF  Yes, cake for dessert is where it's at!
    3
  1325.  @hollyh7924  I do! But not that night at the party :-)
    3
  1326. I kind of feel my Tokyo neighbourhood video is a tour of what would be considered one of the poorer areas of Tokyo. I also filmed some poorer areas in my homeless series. - What a Typical Tokyo Neighbourhood is Like https://youtu.be/TheOkz8oF_I - 5 part series on homelessness in Japan https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwBDd34gIIWkYCcAdjJ4WnHjgK_KKiKzx
    3
  1327. I really hope this is a joke. You do realize I interviewed 8 people who did work in the Japanese workplace, right?
    3
  1328. Good question. I don't really know.
    3
  1329. Haha, yes, that's Chris Okano. He's all over YouTube.
    3
  1330. Oh, the streets video is actually the physical street. Like what it is like to walk around where you live :-)
    3
  1331. The original plan for the channel was always to have other people from around the world participate. But, don't worry, the kids still like making videos, so it's business as usual with hopefully some special guests on a more regular basis.
    3
  1332. Each project I do has a number, like 001, 002, 003 and then a name of the main thing I was filming, like 003_asakusa, 004_tokyo_by_boat, 005_shikoku. When I want to go back to old footage, I boot up my promise storage bay and then search. Since I shot everything, I kind of remember where certain footage would be, but it still can sometimes take me 10 minutes to find something I'm looking for.
    3
  1333. Actually, I was thinking plane...
    3
  1334. That's in Burnaby! Just a random house. I did take the picture though.
    3
  1335. Yeah, I'll make a playlist. 3 more videos are what's in the works. I did like to hear about Risa's struggle and how she went about learning English. From the people I've met who are trying to learn English, the best communicators seem to be the one's who focus less on being perfect academically and more on actually talking.
    3
  1336. Until we made our toilet video, I never used any feature beyond the seat warming one in a Japanese toilet. Now I regularly use the features and don't know how I did without!
    3
  1337. For the holiday video it's January 8, 2017 http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/. It's whatever you do to celebrate. Eating some special food, going to a special place, that sort of thing. Whatever is special to you!
    3
  1338. Hmmm... isn't that what we're doing with this series :-) But actually, I was thinking that it'd be cool one day to personally go to some different countries and do a host family kind of stay and document what life is like in other places.
    3
  1339. There'll be more video submissions in the future :-)
    3
  1340. Thanks for sending in your video. We already did a big video on our bathroom and toilet, so sorry we didn't show too much of yours.
    3
  1341. Because no one from Mexico sent one in. If you're from Mexico, I'd love to see your submission for the upcoming breakfast and holiday videos.
    3
  1342. The cups are really good! We use them to drink all the time. The have a nice weight to them.
    3
  1343. Yeah, I should have had a quick section about layers and covering your extremities and face up to combat the wind and dry cold.
    3
  1344.  @likethepear  I loved that blizzard! So fun!
    3
  1345. It's skyways! Yeah, winter tires depends on the location or resident status. Like in Quebec, only residents have to put them on. Visitors are not required. Whereas in B.C., they'll designate the roads that require them. The whole time I was growing up in Winnipeg we never have snow tires. I think it's a bit more possible because it's so flat. But yeah, of course snow tires will be much safer. We didn't know the highways were in such bad shape (black ice). If we had, we never would have got on. As soon as we could we got off. There are long stretches where there are no good rest stops, and in the cold, you don't want to get stuck somewhere. We were driving at something like 20 or 30 km/h for the icy portions. Very, very tiring (both the night and the ice portions).
    3
  1346. I think there's also the difference between eating publicly vs. eating at home. Like in Canada it's a bit weird for an adult to order chocolate milk at a restaurant, but perfectly fine for a kid. Of course adults can order chocolate milk for themselves, but it would be seen as something that kids mostly do. I think it's similar to furikake. When you're at home, you can do whatever you like! My good Japanese friend who I lived with in Canada put soy sauce directly on his rice. So like Yamamoto Sensei said at the end of the video, don't worry too much and please enjoy the food.
    3
  1347. Thanks on behalf of my wife and daughter!
    3
  1348.  @kyyte  For cleaning up, it's up to the customer. Generally my family would rinse off the dishes and leave them for pick up. I don't know what would happen if you break the dishes.
    3
  1349. You don't have to. If they don't pick it up until the next day we give it a rinse.
    3
  1350. Nah, sorry, only could do so much. Perhaps next time, sounds interesting.
    3
  1351. both???
    3
  1352. Yep, 1958 is when it started to be covered. You can check out some more info at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheonggyecheon
    3
  1353. I've thought about doing something like that. Maybe on the X channel. I think it's good to hear natural sounds and not have too much editing, in order to get a more real experience. But it also could be boring. So I don't know. I might try and see sometime.
    3
  1354. Will probably in the future. We've only traveled back and forth between Canada and Japan (family). Traveling is not so easy/cheap with young kids. But it is quite affordable for a single person to head out to other places around Asia from Tokyo, as I've recently found out.
    3
  1355. Well, we just made the breakfast video :-) If you share a 15-30 sec. video to https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/ we might put it at the end of one of our future videos.
    3
  1356. That’s my sister-in-law Akko.
    3
  1357. Screw collabs, I'm going to film it all myself! Just joking, but I actually did have plans to go across Tokyo trying to go on as many transportation modes as possible. You'd be surprised at how many different boats, trains, and other things you can ride in that you can get on in Tokyo.
    3
  1358. Most definitely. I drink the tap water in Japan almost exclusively, including water from parks. There's actually a free water museum in Odaiba where you can see how they purify the water in Japan. I've never worried once about the quality of water here.
    3
  1359. Thanks!
    3
  1360.  @RenerDeCastro  If you're in the area, I would totally recommend the government towers. But the best experience, I personally find, is Tokyo City View in Roppongi. You can go on the roof if it's not too windy. https://tcv.roppongihills.com/en/
    3
  1361. Yeah, that's one of the things that really gets to me when eating out at restaurants in Japan. I'm allergic to smoke, and don't want the kids exposed, so we end up eating at franchise restaurants a lot as they tend to have divided areas that have OK ventilation.
    3
  1362. Thanks for watching!
    3
  1363. The new homes have proper insulation. It's the older homes that don't.
    3
  1364. In newer homes with proper insulation and those aircon (heatpump) units I don't think it is a big deal. It's really the snow that is a big deal.
    3
  1365. Before you get a vehicle in Japan you need to prove you have a dedicated parking spot. This can be a garage or car port in your home or apartment or a rented space in a parking lot or garage. As for travelling with your car away from home, they have parking lots and garages you can pay to park at, and some stores offer free parking (the more rural you get, the more free parking you'll find).
    3
  1366. I almost exclusively go by foot, bike, train, or bus around Tokyo. I think it's fantastic. However, I don't think trying to make biking in Aomori in the winter work would be a great idea. If you want to lower car usage then transit would probably be the more practical solution for the city. For heating I do think people are moving towards aircon units which are more environmentally friendly provided the electrical energy source is generated in a clean way.
    3
  1367.  @Masterhitman935  I didn't come across much mention of disease during my interviews and research. There was general mention of how culled deer may be sick or old, and thus not good candidates for processing into meat, but nothing more specific than that.
    3
  1368. Sorry Brod!
    3
  1369. Yes, the pricing is different. But it's also a transparent pricing scheme. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the reason is that the government subsidizes local tuition, but also that the universities use foreign students as a way to make money.
    3
  1370. I'd like to go one day, but it's not in any near term travel plans sadly.
    3
  1371. For this trip, yes. On another trip, filming for my documentary "Being Japanese", I visited the Nibutani area and filmed with Ainu. Hokkaido is so big that I'd need to go up for a bit of time to truly see a good chunk of it. Another time...
    3
  1372. Interesting. I totally thought it was for eating, because they do eat horses in Japan (although it's not a super popular thing).
    3
  1373. I'll probably be going to Fukuoka sometime in the next 12 months...
    3
  1374. I made another video about the area, where I show what a Japanese castle town is like nowadays https://youtu.be/hOIOM24AXdM
    3
  1375. I wouldn't imagine there'd be much soil in any of the snow, but I've read in other comments that other countries do in fact have treatment facilities.
    3
  1376. I think that's the big thing. They have the infrastructure and the workforce to deal with the snow, so what would shut down other cities is just another day.
    3
  1377. Ahhh, I really should have fixed this with the re-upload. Yes, I meant -18ºC.
    3
  1378. While making this video I looked back at 15 years worth of photos. I realized that I don't really care about what others think of me (and to be fair, no one has said negative things about my looks), but I do care about what I think of myself. If I don't mind what I see looking back at me in the mirror I'm happy. But if I think I look sloppy or unkempt, I'd rather not.
    3
  1379. No, not worried about being on TV, but caring about being seen on TV, like it makes you cool. And as I put up quickly on the screen, I'm not one to talk since I've had the chance to be on TV three times.
    3
  1380.  @alrightride  Haha, yes, edited that to have NOT now :-)
    3
  1381. I usually use the USA for comparison as most viewers come from there :-)
    3
  1382. ***** Great, would love to see it! - Aiko's Dad
    3
  1383. LetsPlayKH Thanks for the kind words. - Aiko's Dad
    3
  1384. Yes, first time. It's Nyanta and Niru, you got it right.
    3
  1385. I was a bit confused, but now I think I know what you're talking about. July 2018 for the digital stream and updates? I took it to mean that I'd be delivering the updates starting July 2018. But the documentary won't be done until 2020. Is that the confusion? I think it would have been better for me to put it at June 2020 but I unfortunately can't modify it now.
    3
  1386. Yeah, I've talked to several people who have been back and forth like yourself and it's definitely a complicated subject. So interesting though. If you're interested in being interviewed, or just chatting off camera, feel free to be in touch at https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/contact/.
    3
  1387. As you know, I come from Canada, and for simplicity's sake let's just say I'm half Chinese and half European, but if I had to lay claim to anything, I'd say I'm Canadian. My parents were born in Central and South America, so I probably have more of that culture in me than Chinese. But overall, culturally I'd have to say I'm Canadian and I think I'm fairly well integrated over there. I have friends from all sorts of backgrounds and haven't felt any racial tensions personally. It's really only been hearing about things on the news. I do feel concern over the growing sense of nationalism, especially with Canadians and Americans, as the only people I think can truly call themselves indigenous to the land are the indigenous people. They are countries built on immigration, so to pretend otherwise, I just don't understand.
    3
  1388. I would have if I were allowed to.
    3
  1389. As far as I know, the apartment building is either a regular apartment building or a low income city or prefecture run place. But there are many apartment complexes that anyone can rent that have more modern looking communal baths. That gentleman is a specialized onsen maintenance guy. He's apparently the guy you can when you need to know about onsens in the area.
    3
  1390. There's got to be some... I'll be going through everything I have in the livestream, so you can always check that out in a bit https://youtu.be/-MyY3zXcbKQ
    3
  1391.  @steemlenn8797  I'd say the frequency is fairly good from Tokyo. You can look yourself if you search for Tobu Nikko station or Nikko station. You can generally get every hour, but at certain times it can be every half an hour.
    3
  1392. Thanks!
    3
  1393. In high school you wouldn't get kyushoku. But they're in a Canadian school right now, so they can either eat at the cafeteria or bring their own lunch.
    3
  1394. They were cooked beans with some sugar, but it's more of a side dish than dessert.
    3
  1395. One child is much bigger and going through a growth spirt!
    3
  1396.  @haidaw8904  Thanks, the bikes video was a fun one to make.
    3
  1397.  @sumpitmalay6999  Yes, same sister
    3
  1398. Thanks!
    3
  1399. Yeah, it's a bit too hard to put all the full-length videos in. We're lucky that we get to see them all. Some people did post their videos on YouTube, and for those that did, we embedded them on our website post http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/lwif-ep43-living-rooms-around-the-world/. Maybe next time more people will also upload to YouTube so we can embed even more full-length videos.
    3
  1400. +Figgy5119 Aiko knows that Hawaii is a state in the US, but Hawaii definitely is a household name in Japan. It's one of the top travel destinations. That's probably why she said it, as she hears it so often.
    3
  1401. Do it!
    3
  1402. Please make the kitchen video! - Aiko 🍴
    3
  1403. Because no one from Singapore sent us a video :-(
    3
  1404. Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying and that it helps to educate a bit :-)
    3
  1405. It's always me (the Dad), unless it has - Aiko after it. I used to put my name after every comment, but then it got annoying and I'd forget half the time :-)
    3
  1406. Yes! I hope she makes some more vids!
    3
  1407. Thanks, I'm glad that everyone participated, and we're eagerly anticipating videos of kitchens around the world.
    3
  1408. He can also basically record a video in a single take, whereas it takes me 5-10 tries per couple lines.
    3
  1409. Or, maybe David should chill and wear some regular clothes 😀 Just joking. But that's an interesting question for David. Does it matter what you wear to a jinja?
    3
  1410. Oh, interesting!
    3
  1411. I'd be very interested in what you think after watching. It has subtitles in both English and Japanese, as well as interviews in both languages. So I tried to make the doc as bilingual as possible.
    3
  1412. Of course! Have about 10 videos lined up and waiting to be edited.
    2
  1413. It’ll be soon!
    2
  1414. Well, I can tell you, I really enjoyed my time with the Okinawans I interviewed. But yeah, I interviewed people from all over the place, so hopefully you'll find it intersting.
    2
  1415.  @rowanelessar5892  I'm considering it. I explained elsewhere, that's it can actually cost a bit of money to put the doc on other platforms. That's not to mention that they would take a 50% cut of all revenues if places on Apple or Google Play. However, my wife just asked why don't I make it a part of a YouTube Membership? I think she might have a point. I'll investigate this, but since I won't have any other special member perks, perhaps the only way to make it work is to have people who want to rent the doc join the membership then cancel right away. That way they don't keep on paying for a one time thing.
    2
  1416. There's only Vimeo right now. But when it comes out and you want to pay via an alternate method, you can reach me at https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/contact/ and I can sort you out.
    2
  1417. Thanks for that early love!
    2
  1418. I don't believe that there is anyone interviewed where both people were not Japanese and then moved to Japan, and had kids. I have quite a few people where one parents was not from Japan. And other cases of naturalization. But as far as I know, no case like you were talking about. Oh wait, no, that's not true. In the refugee section, that's exactly the case. Right, that makes sense (law wise) that your son would only have a Japanese birth certificate. Beyond the refugee story, there's also a person who had a Japanese mother and American father, but because of the laws at the time, he only has American citizenship (but was born and raised in Japan).
    2
  1419. Thanks!
    2
  1420. Thanks!
    2
  1421. Thanks for the support!
    2
  1422. $20 is the purchase price which includes download of DRM-free copy plus bonus content. It'll be available to rent a month after. That price will obviously be a lot more affordable. Yes, I do plan on having a couple other parts of the documentary shown. Don't worry about the blunt feedback. You were kind about it. I hope you watch some version of it (purchase or rental) and enjoy it.
    2
  1423. I actually did go to some more peaceful areas. I liked it much better outside of Manila.
    2
  1424. Glad to hear!
    2
  1425. Thanks!
    2
  1426. I never did a documentary on the homeless in Vancouver, but through my life I incidentally learned about the situation. I used to work right next to the downtown Eastside and a charity that helped the homeless was in a neighbouring office. I also used to film lectures for UBC, and issues such as homelessness were often covered. Another job I had was as a photographer for the students newspaper at SFU, so I covered some homeless stories during that time.
    2
  1427. Yeah, I hear ya. I'm trying to switch things up for the next little bit and see how they go. The current plan is to put polished videos on the LWIF channel and less polished ones, or behind-the-scenes things on the X one. If you even look at this video, it has 60,000 views in one day, whereas my Tokyo by Train video on the X channel doesn't have that in over a month. If I can get so much more eyeballs by simply publishing on a different channel AND people are still happy, then I guess this is what I'll do.
    2
  1428. Nah, the 300K is not necessarily the average home price in Edogawa, and it's definitely more if you average out the whole of the 23 special wards of Tokyo. For 300K in Edogawa, you can get something like 50 to 60 m2 in land size. 400K would be more like the 80m2 size. In other parts of Japan, yeah, you can get land for very cheap, and in fact some places are pretty much giving away the land if you move there. Would be interesting to go to such a place and see.
    2
  1429. I think we're going to go a Tonkatsu restaurant soon (breaded pork). Soon can mean a few months though :-)
    2
  1430. Not Toyota, but I'll check out several manufacturers.
    2
  1431. Yep, get out of the city and you can find places that don't cost and arm and a leg that have backyards. You can get backyards in the 23 special wards of Tokyo, but it just means you're really paying for it :-)
    2
  1432. At $300,000, you can usually get a single parking spot. It's a fairly standard thing on new homes nowadays. But the $200,000 home I showed, there's no parking. There are quite a few homes that don't have parking spots, which help drop the cost. For those that do need parking, there are always lots nearby that you can rent, maybe $100 to $150 a month.
    2
  1433. Thanks. I don't know if pencil home is an official term or just slang that people use. Where I'm from in Vancouver, Canada, we have something called the Vancouver Special, that people there would know, but again, I don't know if it would actually be a real term. I really enjoy the YT platform, as I can interact like this and I have complete control over the content. I really don't think I'd like working for an official TV production company. The houses are generally made of wood, but in a future video, I go to show homes for custom housing, where they do build using concrete. And yes, there's a big difference in value, with concrete being worth more than wood. buildings.
    2
  1434. That's a reason I put the median annual incomes in there, because it's hard to compare from one country to the next. I know people from the Philippines come to work and live in Japan, and if you worked minimum wage over here, you'd make more than double that amount.
    2
  1435. I know next to nothing about Visas. I had a real easy scenario, since I've been married to a Japanese citizen for a long time. I might try and do a video about working Visas in the future though.
    2
  1436. They do! It's now standard in new homes. Don't know when exactly it switched though.
    2
  1437. Yep, by about half. I talked about it a bit in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI0v9r0E1pQ
    2
  1438. Good question. I think it depends on your priorities and job situation. Right now I think it's a good place to raise my children. As they get older, I don't know how the schooling will be, so will have to wait and see how that goes. For jobs I don't work in a Japanese company, so I don't have to experience that. So for me, I think it's fine, but things may change. For my parents-in-law, I think they're in a good situation now. Good healthcare and many daily needs things, like groceries or clinics, are within walking distance for them.
    2
  1439. Here's one for you http://imgur.com/a/ShF4Q
    2
  1440. Check the description, many links in there :-) But I believe what you're looking for is this PDF http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/000234477.pdf
    2
  1441. If you check the description I have the songs listed in order of appearance.
    2
  1442. I'm talking off the top of my head, but from my research I think one of the main factors is that supply outstrips demand, making sure housing doesn't get too crazy. With the population growth in the last 25 years at 3% (and now it's on a decline), there's not a growing demand. Also, because of zoning, I've seen many homes in Edogawa that would be bulldozed and made into two. Since land is the most expensive part of the equation, a low-middle class family with a stable income can still get into the market. They just buy a smaller piece of land.
    2
  1443. Absolutely. Getting a mortgage though is a different story. If you're a permanent resident, you shouldn't have difficulty provided you meet the banks income requirements.
    2
  1444. Cost? Hard to give any good answer. Really depends where you're moving from and what you're bringing with you. We had family to initially stay with when we moved to Japan. I'd say with a budget of 5 to 10 thousand, you should be able to get set up with the basics once you're here. You'd need things like a fridge, washing machine, lights, curtains, deposits, and that sort of stuff.
    2
  1445. I think that's not a fair assessment anymore, and I'll show why in a video coming soon :-)
    2
  1446. I haven't researched the subject, so can't say anything too specific. From reading other people's stories, it seems that it is true that foreigners have a more difficult renting than Japanese. However, from what I understand, it's not necessarily a racism thing. I think the language barrier is a factor. Also, renting has historically worked on a guarantor system, and if you're new to the country, who would guarantee you? You don't have the history that a Japanese person would. Nowadays there are companies that you can pay to guarantee you. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can weigh in.
    2
  1447. Gotchya! I'll try the British way next time :-)
    2
  1448. Sorry
    2
  1449. Well, I want to talk about things that are said, like homes last only 30 years. But in fact, new homes should last much more than that. I'll explore that in a future video :-)
    2
  1450. Great, glad it helped! You should really go around different neighbourhoods and check out open houses. I find that on the weekend it's quite easy to bike or walk around and drop in on places. I also found that even if I had the layout from a flyer or online, actually going into the home really changed my perspective.
    2
  1451. The average home size in Japan is close to 1,000 sq. ft. Really depends on the area. Main parts of the city are a lot smaller than off in rural areas. But 1,000 sq. ft. place would be marketed towards a family, with 1-3 kids. They would have 3-4 bedrooms and thus be called 3LDK or 4LDK (L=living room, D=dining room, K=kitchen).
    2
  1452. If you're a permanent resident and have a stable job, no bad credit, and make over 3,000,000 a year, you shouldn't have an issue. In other situations, yes, I would think it would be harder. Keep in mind that I'm essentially a freelancer, and thus I wouldn't think that a stable job, but in my case they used my income tax returns and took the averages over the last 3 years to determine what salary I had. So stable job doesn't necessarily mean a regular, full time position at a Japanese company.
    2
  1453. It's constantly replenished water, not standing.
    2
  1454. I have a whole video about it (actually two). Short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkO8lwHrLZE, full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj855k5066o
    2
  1455. I'm working on the English one right now.
    2
  1456. And to be specific, Tsurunoyu. Yes, it's one of those places where that actually lives up to the hype.
    2
  1457. Thanks!
    2
  1458. Yeah, I would think June is too soon.
    2
  1459. From everything I'm reading out, the government has no clue about their timelines. They're not even sure about out-of-country spectators for the Summer Olympics, so who knows!
    2
  1460. Probably
    2
  1461. Not really, sorry.
    2
  1462. Wow, yes. Yes it is. No one caught it. But good job! It's Tambasasayama
    2
  1463. It's really hard to tell where to travel, especially if you don't know the area and don't know Japanese. There are a lot of sites that are trying to help with that though (when you Google about travel related Japanese stuff, you'll come across them).
    2
  1464. https://www.nipponia-fukusumi.com/
    2
  1465. I've started it back up, so please be patient. At least for English. I have to figure out other languages. Before the community could submit captions on their own, so it everyone helped to make the captions. Now, I have to add the captions or none are shown :-(
    2
  1466. Thanks! Well, this is actually part of my documentary series. I was thinking of doing a feature-length one (90 minutes), but it really scared me to put in a year of work on something that may not work out. So, I decided to cover a variety of subjects in small chunks, with 10-30 minute videos. I'll have another documentary video out next month on the X channel.
    2
  1467. Yeah, the pace, I don't know how he does it. I need more rest than that. I used to have a boss that only slept 5 hours a night, but he always seemed fine, so... I was going to let it slide, but my wife wanted me to say that she didn't edit the video. Well she did, but more as a, "I don't think that works" role more than making the actual cuts. Whatever she did or didn't do, she helped a lot and spent a couple days with me to make it and translate it.
    2
  1468. One by one! If you see the whole video, you'll realize it's quite a involved task, much more than dishing out from a giant pot of soup. I didn't mention this in the final cut, but he had to make many different broths for all the different types he offers. He's constantly cooking them all day, every day.
    2
  1469. Well, he did take a nap for those 15 minutes ;-)
    2
  1470. When I'm in the area, I definitely visit! It's always great pizza!
    2
  1471. We're going to see the movie today! Date time with the wifey!
    2
  1472. I'll take it as a compliment :-)
    2
  1473. They are there! Just click on CC if you're on Desktop, or three dots if you're on mobile :-)
    2
  1474. There are so many different styles, that I don't really know if you could know. But I'm sure there are some ramen buffs who will watch this who can give a better answer.
    2
  1475. They've been there from the start :-) You just have to turn them on.
    2
  1476. Oh, awesome. I'll publish them now!
    2
  1477. You would hide under a table or go into a doorway. You don't run outside as you can get hit by falling debris.
    2
  1478. He said like 1 minute!
    2
  1479. Love them!
    2
  1480. This video will give you a better idea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGbC5j4pG9w&t=25s
    2
  1481. I like the simplicity as well. It's basically rectangles stacked on top of another, so in some sense, not much design. But I like it since it allows us to maximize the space. There were quite a few houses we toured where some of the areas felt quite chopped up.
    2
  1482. Our reason is half earthquake / half not wanting to put holes in the wall. I wouldn't mind putting up a few pictures, but they'd probably be a canvas print or a frame that doesn't have glass.
    2
  1483. Check the FAQ section at http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/about/
    2
  1484. I don't think they are. I'm quite sure there must be something similar. I really like it because they stack and their sturdy. I haven't seen one break yet and our aunt gave use some that were 15 years old that were still in great condition. I considered buying dresser drawers or proper cabinets, but they're not as flexible, as the FITS can also easily fit into closets. Also, since we may re-arrange the rooms (when the kids want their own ones), when we have guests, or if I want a separate room for my office, it allows me to quickly do so. But, it's not the prettiest.
    2
  1485. Nope, completely different place :-)
    2
  1486. Yes, we'll be doing one!
    2
  1487. Avenir
    2
  1488. We don't often have guests, and if they are, they're usually family. I might have had to bath when we had friend over, and in that case, I'd just put on clothes in the sink/laundry room.
    2
  1489. +thelazyparent has it right.
    2
  1490. Unless I'm really wrong about this, the walls are drywall with wallpaper. In the bathroom, there is a plastic moulding all around, it's not tiles. In older places they will have tile. I much prefer the plastic, so much easier to clean. But I know some don't like it and rather have tiles.
    2
  1491. Hopefully coming out soon! I got sidetracked a bit with the housing videos, as I have limited space on my hard drives (and my mind) and was trying to get through them all and finish off the series. It should be out in April, very sorry about the wait.
    2
  1492. Should have a vid next week as well!
    2
  1493. Link in the description
    2
  1494. Oh, very interesting.
    2
  1495. In depends on the school. I'll have to research this, but the public one's around my area don't have uniforms until middle school.
    2
  1496. Yeah, about $1,000 CAD is a good price if you can get it. Should always be able to get a direct for $1,500 CAD unless you're buying in some super busy time period.
    2
  1497. Yes, but they need to be in a bag and as far as I know you'll probably also need to use a foldable back that can be compacted. Although it'll depend on the train and where you're storing the bike. I traveled across Japan with my brother using foldable bikes in bike bags and had no problem.
    2
  1498. There are different train companies for sure. But yeah, some are under JR. Really depends on the region.
    2
  1499. Yeah, they own them. They are most likely paying a small monthly fee to store them there.
    2
  1500. haha
    2
  1501. s3xyScorp Yes, you can use at convenience stores, kiosks around train stations, some grocery stores, and other merchants that accept them. - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1502. looxx008 Wow, thanks, what a compliment!
    2
  1503. ありがとう。I'll try my best making videos! - 愛子
    2
  1504. They spoke both from birth. English with my, Japanese with my wife.
    2
  1505. I actually have 3 videos about Christmas. 2 are on this main channel, and one is on the X channel. Just search "Christmas" on the channels' video page and you'll find them :-)
    2
  1506. Yeah, they're actually an invasive species back where I'm from in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada https://huntfishmanitoba.ca/blog/2015/06/22/species-spotlight-manitobas-gone-carp-crazy. I don't know what it's like now, but back about 30 years ago I remember hearing that if you caught one you should never release it back (because they're not native to the waterways).
    2
  1507. You can book as a single person as well. So it could be a good way to hang out with people if your'e travelling solo.
    2
  1508. Yeah, that's why I did the video with them. If you don't know any locals to show you around on your trip to Japan, it's the next best thing.
    2
  1509. Unfortunately I couldn't show the entire interview (I'll release on the X channel at some point though). But he did say that in all his time (more than a decade) of researching and interacting, he's been begged off very few times. Those that did approach him could speak broken English, so he believes that it was because he's a Westerner and they believed him more likely to give.
    2
  1510. Yep, he'll be in future videos.
    2
  1511. In one of the parts, I will talk about housing and shelters. But to quickly answer, right now a shelter in Yokohoma, which is one of the three major areas for homeless, is at half capacity. So there's actually housing available for individuals in that area, although there are reasons that they wouldn't be accepted or that they don't use it.
    2
  1512. May make a video about suicides in Japan. I recommend reading this in the meantime https://www.tofugu.com/japan/suicide-in-japan/
    2
  1513. Many places still don't allow tattoos because that's associated with Yakuza. Obviously this doesn't make sense with regards to visitors from other countries, but that's the way it is. It's slowly changing though. And there are onsens that allow tattoos, but you have to specifically find them.
    2
  1514. It's in the pinned comment now!
    2
  1515. Just depends on your taste. I've gotten to enjoy sashimi (would never eat it before), but I'm not quite there with shirako.
    2
  1516.  @haterzgonnahate8195  I'm editing that video right now!
    2
  1517. I'll have to remember if I ever visit agai.
    2
  1518. You can do the stuff without needing to be fluent in Japanese. Aizuwakamatsu is not big like Tokyo or Kyoto, but they're developed enough that you'll get by.
    2
  1519. I think it was tonjiru, a hearty miso soup with pork, potatoes, and other veggies in it... but I could be remembering incorrectly.
    2
  1520. It's in the pinned comment now!
    2
  1521. I think you got most of it. I don't have any hate towards America. They did what they thought was best for them and I'm sure they also thought they were helping out the locals. There's a lot of not great stuff that Japan did to Okinawa before, during, and after the war. And to this day, I still think there's a lot of things that happen unfairly to Okinawa. But specifically regarding transportation, I do feel like the key time that made Japan's rail transportation great was missed in Okinawa. And by the time Japan did get power (which yes, was 50 years ago), ideas were shifting as to what the best solutions would be. I think the pendulum has swung back towards mass rapid transit, and who knows, maybe they'll make something work in Okinawa. I don't think Okinawa is ruined and I really love visiting.
    2
  1522. This was filmed in November 2022, so that's probably the reason for the high percentage.
    2
  1523. I haven't studied it in depth, so I can't properly answer you. But I know from reading up on them a bit is that they can't get the cost benefit ratio about 0.8 and they want to a least hit a 1 before starting something. They are also very much tied to connecting the airport to Nago city by train in 1 hour. If they changed their criteria they would have more options and I think the cost benefit ratio would go above 1. Also, I think the majority of funding would come from the central government, not the prefectural or municipal ones, so it's not necessarily the local governments that are kicking the can down the road. And once you start talking politics about how Okinawa is treated vs. other parts of Japan, it opens up all sorts of discussions, including talks about the bases.
    2
  1524. I was going to mention Taiwan, since I was just there. In Taipei they're building out a fantastic metro system. Geographically they're probably the most identical to Okinawa Island.
    2
  1525.  @mirta000  I'm also on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/lifewhereimfrom
    2
  1526. Same thing! It's cold, but it's usually above freezing in Tokyo in the winter.
    2
  1527. Both different and the same! So you can get a cheeseburger, fries, and coke, and it'll be pretty much the same, but there are Japanese only menu items as well.
    2
  1528. Oh, the auto caption. That's the computer algorithm. If a real person does the English captions it won't say that. YouTube does those automatically.
    2
  1529. Someone I visited lived there. But, we only stopped by briefly.
    2
  1530. Ah, thanks!
    2
  1531. If you want, check out their site and you can see all those details.
    2
  1532. I can see how read in a certain way that can be passive aggressive. All the translations from the website were google translate, so the original Japanese doesn't have that same connotation.
    2
  1533. Yep.
    2
  1534. Okay, do they do sell at the grocery store! That must be where I saw it.
    2
  1535. I can't answer for this specific service, but for food items like this, it can actually be more environmentally friendly because of the very little food waste involved.
    2
  1536. We've revealed in a past video. The small, female cat is Niru. He's orange, black, and white. The bigger, male cat is Nyanta. He's grey and white. They're both rescue cats we were fostering for a shelter but decided to adopt.
    2
  1537. Yeah, there'll be some in the upcoming What Japanese REALLY Eat for Lunch video. Hopefully that'll be out late September.
    2
  1538. No, she didn't want to be eating in the video. Trust me, she approved the footage before release (as she has done for years now).
    2
  1539. I was supposed to do a video on sports day (undokai 運動会), but that was cancelled due to COVID. Perhaps next year when things ease up.
    2
  1540. Yes, that's Shin!
    2
  1541. Yes, Lam, Lin, Hayashi!
    2
  1542. Awesome, thanks for the support all those years ago! Congratulations on the upcoming kid!
    2
  1543. It does! These comments didn't get to me, but comments still do, which is why I don't tend to read them after a video has been released for a couple days. Need that mental break.
    2
  1544. Thanks for watching!
    2
  1545. This actually makes me quite curious as to if there have been documentaries made about Canada by people from other countries. Would be interesting to see their perspective.
    2
  1546. What! You never knew my name! I guess I was just the Dad for a long time.
    2
  1547. Me too!
    2
  1548. Hey, you saw that! Nice.
    2
  1549. Nope, generally quite nice in the comment section. I think it got posted somewhere and people decided to come on over and comment.
    2
  1550. They should be downloadable. Just try to download again and you should see the option to download subtitles. But, I also have them in this Dropbox link, do you can just download from here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vjujlir7c40lqs7/AABkuY5mjITgSvDTEcPQo3M4a?dl=0
    2
  1551. Thanks, and like I mentioned in the vid, rental will be avail. from August 13th, so much more affordable then.
    2
  1552. No, definitely not a social scientist.
    2
  1553. They aren't, it's a very small amount of anonymous people online. Japanese people I meet in real life are kind to me.
    2
  1554. I actually do have the intro in the first four minutes of the doc. I was planning on releasing on this channel, but made this video instead, because I kind of thought it covered the intro, bu in a different way. Still might release the intro, but don't know if it'll be in a few days or closer to when the doc is available for rental. What I honestly wished would have happened is that people simply asked before assuming. Trailers are supposed to be short, so there was only so much I could say in the limited amount of time available.
    2
  1555. Yes, I'll announce it when it's ready to rent. And yes, there are actually so many reason to make a doc like this, and an important one is for my kids. I'll probably release the first 4 minutes of the doc sometime on this channel and you'll be able to understand better.
    2
  1556. Yep, every place has its issues. I've lived in Japan for 8 years and everyone I've met (ok, like 99% of the people) have been kind to me. I wouldn't hesitate to move to Japan.
    2
  1557. Yeah, I think a lot of people who have mixed roots will be able to relate.
    2
  1558. The museum have them the special catcher to do it. It was all above board 😀
    2
  1559. She was sick.
    2
  1560. +Felix Hamaguchi ah, at Cioffi's! Was all good. You could have said hi :-)
    2
  1561. Thanks, I published it so at least people can see for now. I'll take a look at it as well. Currently reading survey responses! Thank you so much!
    2
  1562. Sorry, I don't remember, but thanks for that suggestion!
    2
  1563. I thought Kusatsu was better, but they're both good. I liked how with Kusatsu there were lots of interesting things within walking distance. There were several interesting places in Hakone, but they required different transportation (which was interesting in its own right).
    2
  1564. Level 26.
    2
  1565. You can now check out the latest project by going to http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/! Thanks :-)
    2
  1566. Planning on it!
    2
  1567. I don't send out notifications with the email list (at least I haven't yet), but I have just made a permanent page on our website so that you can always see the latest project http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/.
    2
  1568. Well, technically it's Kariyushi Wear 😀
    2
  1569. It's coming, don't worry!
    2
  1570. We're just in Canada for a few months :-)
    2
  1571. Thanks for the offer! Yeah, I was going to do it from the house, but now that I've gone and rode around, I'm really glad I did the bike tour version instead of the sitting at home one :-)
    2
  1572. Oh, I'll have to thank John for the recommendation!
    2
  1573. I'll pass on the message :-)
    2
  1574. Nope, just temporarily
    2
  1575. I'm of two opinions on this. There are a lot of special bike routes, whether they be side roads that are designated as bike paths or specific portions of the road sectioned off for bikers. On the other hand, if you're casually biking, it doesn't feel as safe as when I do in Japan. There's more traffic to worry about in Canada. So for a Canadian city, I think Vancouver is probably quite bike friendly, but I much enjoy biking in Tokyo and Japan better, more relaxing.
    2
  1576. We talk about it in our about page on the website :-) http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/about/
    2
  1577. Working! And while I'm working, I brought the kids out with me. Will be back in Japan in July.
    2
  1578. Well, the reason for taking them with me on my trip to Canada was to get them into a Canadian school, keep in touch with relatives, and keep on being used to Canadian culture. It's been 4 years since they were living in Canada, so it's a long time for children, it is half of Shin's life. We're back in Japan in July. Aiko is actually fairly decent at reading English right now, but it's the writing which is the harder one. I've noticed an improvement in both of the kids' English since we arrived.
    2
  1579. No doubt about that :-)
    2
  1580. I was wondering about what to do if bad weather. If a light rain, I'd still do it as planned. If really crazy rain, then I think I'd just find a place not too far away that could accommodate.
    2
  1581. Great!
    2
  1582. I think they probably would. It only took a few training sessions. Although my big cat usually relies on my small cat to figure these kinds of things out, so I wonder if I isolate them if he'd become better at the bell.
    2
  1583. Sorry to hear.
    2
  1584. Yes, a bit, around 50 a day or so. I was kind of expecting it once things opened up more. Hopefully it can keep at relatively stable level though and not spike https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/
    2
  1585. Oh, haha, I was there! I was on my to Odaiba for a shoot.
    2
  1586. It feels like people are becoming less concerned in Japan as well. I hope that it doesn't flare up again too bad in both our countries. I know that if the numbers do start to go up too much over here that there'll be more strong requests put in place (I was going to stay restrictions, but we don't really have those).
    2
  1587. I think they did indeed keep it from getting a lot worse. The trains are so packed that there's no way you could even remotely social distance from people. Yet it doesn't seem like the trains have been huge transmission locations. But as far as I know, virtually everyone riding the trains where masks. If you look at the Japanese numbers, even accounting for the relatively low rate of testing, the rate of positives vs. tests is fairly low right now and the death rate hasn't jumped, so for a country that is mostly operational, I think it's about as good as can be expected. But hopefully I'm not proven wrong in the near future and the numbers don't drastically spike up again.
    2
  1588.  @Name-jw4sj  OK, so he's still recommending that people wear face coverings though, just pointing out that the science isn't all there yet, which I can understand. And also saying that social distancing is the best thing to do, which also makes a lot of sense.
    2
  1589.  @Name-jw4sj  Thanks!
    2
  1590. Yes! We had already been using a coop for weekly groceries for years. During the pandemic it got so popular that many items were limited. You can get a decent selection of dry goods from Amazon as well as other online retailers.
    2
  1591. Yeah, I've been hearing a lot about you folks on Reddit 😀 Keep up the good work!
    2
  1592. It's a new thing
    2
  1593. It hasn't really. There's some small scale tests with business travelers from specific countries, but for practical purposes, unless your a citizen, it's pretty locked down. If in the future you want to be up to date, I think this subreddit would be a good place to start, as their compiling travel information https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/
    2
  1594. Yeah, we went into self-lockdown March 22nd I think. Tokyo didn't go into a state of Emergency until April 7th, so we were a couple weeks early. Besides my Tokyo by Bike trip on June 9th, haven't really left my local neighbourhood.
    2
  1595. No, the fireworks are cancelled as far as I'm aware. They did hold a very brief 5 minute fireworks across the country a few weeks ago. I even set up my camera to film, but they had nothing going on the East side of Tokyo, so I didn't catch it. All the locations were secret, so I had no clue where they would be. It turns out, not where I was living :-)
    2
  1596.  @juddosborne305  Ah, I see. Yes, hopefully the worst is behind.
    2
  1597. Oh, what area are you from?
    2
  1598.  @charu002  I think that October/November and April/May are the best months. Nice weather.
    2
  1599. Yeah, that's pretty much it, isn't it. Getting through it. Keep up the fight!
    2
  1600. +chrispkreme there are way too many in my house
    2
  1601. Yeah, she like's being the boss! Sometimes it's good, like a motherly / big sister thing. But other times it's just her wanting to be the one in control.
    2
  1602. I'm pretty sure Kumon is a Japanese company. Yep, it is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumon
    2
  1603. You can ask to have no packaging. If you say something like kekko desu at 7-eleven when they try to give you a bag, you can get the items without one. You can also just wave your hand politely in a no like motion and they'd probably understand as well. I'm sure if you said no bag they would understand too. The upside is that the packaging tends to be thinner gauge than in Canada, and most of the packaging gets recycled.
    2
  1604. ありがとう！
    2
  1605. kendama :-)
    2
  1606. Thanks! I did cut out a Shin complaining scene, where the wind was blowing his paper ball away :-)
    2
  1607. Well, it was probably a few degrees above 30, so something like 33. But when you throw in the humidity (something like 85%), that makes a heat index of 50C, which is 122F :-)
    2
  1608. Yeah, Shin's getting better at presenting!
    2
  1609. Half the amount was for the Yakatabune at the end, so it would have been much cheaper if we had taken a Tokyo Curise ferry instead. But I wanted to do the bonenkai (year end party) thing.
    2
  1610. Would be nice to do!
    2
  1611. Haha!
    2
  1612. Yeah! For a bit I was wondering why the passengers waiting to get on were in our way!
    2
  1613. Went for the Yakatabune instead, but otherwise would have ridden Himeko.
    2
  1614. Yes
    2
  1615. Fixed.
    2
  1616. Fixed!
    2
  1617. Titus Spree
    2
  1618. No intention to deemphasize. Please check out the documentary linked if you want a full accounting of what happened.
    2
  1619. You can see the links to the stats in the description. If it’s what I think you’re talking about, those are by year.
    2
  1620. Nope, I actually do work on occasion for local tourism associations, but they are always clearly marked. This is not at all sponsored in any way and I'm very happy about it. I can say whatever I want.
    2
  1621. Yeah, I know what you're saying. Which is also why I'm going to throw down some Okinawa videos soon (and I hope to film more there and dig even deeper than what I've already filmed).
    2
  1622. I think a video doing a very different feeling station would be great. Probably a bigger one. And then maybe after that a really small one.
    2
  1623. Ah, that's from my music composer, Carlo Carosi! https://carlocarosi.bandcamp.com/ He made the music for my documentary plus the music for my previous video, "What Japanese REALLY Eat for Breakfast". This track he made for the credits of that video, and I liked it so much, I decided I would use if for the credits in all the videos moving forward. He's not actually MY music composer, but I did work with him to make music!
    2
  1624. Sony A7SIII
    2
  1625. Well, we just connected via comments, so it sounds like there'll be a very strong possibility of some kind of collab.
    2
  1626. Yes, opposite that shot of Harajuku, as you know, is Meiji Jingu and Yoyogi park.
    2
  1627. I'm working on getting that up and running. YouTube switched their community subtitling which prevents the community from self-publishing subtitles. But it is on my list of things to get sorted.
    2
  1628. Yes, I super hope COVIDchan chills out next year!
    2
  1629. Nope. I shot it, but I still have to edit. Maybe September or October.
    2
  1630. Thanks. I think going to one of the bigger stations would be kind of neat to use as a comparison point.
    2
  1631. I do have a couple. They're on my X chanel. https://youtu.be/xycecbwpIzE and https://youtu.be/KKrLQDNuMpI
    2
  1632. I tried to do an in-depth look at a conbini, but didn't get the OK from 7-Eleven headquarters. I could always guerrilla film it, but I wanted to do more than just film the inside, which many people have done already.
    2
  1633. There are special driving schools with close off courses, so in that sense, yes. But for regular roads, as someone who has driven in both countries, I would say Canadian streets are easier to learn on. You can find some empty parking lots, quiet side streets, drive slow, and there's not too many other things to worry about. In these Tokyo neighbourhoods, there's much going on, and the streets are narrow, so it can be quite nerve wracking. If you were in the Japanese countryside it'd be a different story.
    2
  1634. Yes, it's only 13 million. If you talk about the Tokyo Metropolitan area, and depending on which metric you choose, it's as high as 38 million. If you do a bit of googling, you can see the different ways you can slice and dice the Tokyo area.
    2
  1635. Sounds like a good idea!
    2
  1636. I definitely will if I can manage it, especially since the initial plan was to have a balance of both.
    2
  1637. Yes, they can have variants based on the season. But I know for my daughter's middle school that she wasn't allowed anything over her dress. So to stay warm, she had to wear warm clothes under the uniform. I'd sometimes find it quite ridiculous that I'd have a big sweater and jacket on, with hats and gloves, and then see the kids exercising in the middle of winter with only their shorts and t-shirts (like shown in the video). This is Tokyo, so it barely ever gets below zero degrees celsius, but I think they could be more lenient on the rules when it comes to being too cold or too hot.
    2
  1638. I just went with the flow 😅
    2
  1639. International schools in Japan or overseas study.
    2
  1640. Amelie Harrisson It might be a "Champion" logo... - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1641. My wife and sister-in-law contacted a few shotengai and we were able to get an interview with them, which is a big reason why we went there. It was a great experience. But there are so many shotengai that it is surprising that you saw a couple other vids in the past couple of weeks.
    2
  1642. Ah, interesting!
    2
  1643. Oh, interesting. I kind of thought pedestrian malls were making a comeback in the US.
    2
  1644. Sorry, sorry. I was going to say Richmond Night Market. Should have went with that instead.
    2
  1645. The law changed in 2000, so big stores can open up anywhere where the zoning allows for it. So in the areas with more traffic you tend to see more and more chain stores. The shotengai are often managed by associations that only watch over a single shotengai. But they can be managed by a city, prefecture, or have no management at all. As far as I can tell, there is no special rules or law in a shotengai except for that if there's things like signs, gates, roofs, the owner's of the property would be required to pay for that. I don't know how it legally works though.
    2
  1646. I just didn't feel like it this time. But yeah, probably could have put a few tracks in there.
    2
  1647. You have a really good memory. That side of the face discussion was from the party video if I remember correctly.
    2
  1648. I never knew it existed. Similar vibes!
    2
  1649. Super old!
    2
  1650. In Canada and the U.S. a very high percentage of zoning is dedicated to single family housing only https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajSEIdjkU8E
    2
  1651. I'd like to experience them some day!
    2
  1652. She's married with 3 kids (they're in some of the other videos). Sorry.
    2
  1653. Thanks!
    2
  1654. Yes, I can only assume this is the reason. There's a constant flow of water to clear out fish poop and any street runoff (it's only 100 meters long, so it's not a massive area).
    2
  1655. I learned this later on when I was checking to see how to fix the issue. Luckily I did get the speakers back to normal in the end.
    2
  1656. I think the safest answer is it depends. If that family member was born to a Japanese citizen, then yes, as far as I know they can easily get Japanese citizenship. My kids were born in Canada to my wife who is a Japanese citizen, and they hold both Japanese and Canadian passports (citizenship)
    2
  1657. No, he didn't. He promised the Japanese government that he would. Then he did.
    2
  1658. If you look at the longer video, that my answer some more questions. In regards to permanent residency, it actually isn't a requirement to get citizenship. I actually know someone who got citizenship without it. I think you're right though, in that getting a proper working visa and finding a stable job is probably the hardest task.
    2
  1659. Nope, watch the full interview for a more detailed explanation https://youtu.be/Yj855k5066o. Or visit Eido's site for some documentation http://www.turning-japanese.info/. For those too lazy to check, you do need to be in Japan a majority of the time. There are exceptions for Special Permanent Residents as well as those with family connections to Japan (ex: Eido only needed one year in Japan before naturalizing, as he had been married to a Japanese citizen for about 10 years at the time).
    2
  1660. Good article on it here http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2016/09/14/issues/japans-dual-citizens-get-tacit-nod-keep-status-shadows/
    2
  1661. +earlysda what you said is true. 10 years for permanent residency, 5 years for naturalisation. There are exceptions to both though. Example, being married for a long time meant I only needed 1 year for permanent residency and Eido only needed one year for naturalisation.
    2
  1662. +Andrew Le Compte Thanks for watching! It's always nice to hear that families and kids are enjoying.
    2
  1663. +Han Vu I really don't mind the comments. It's interesting to see what people from around the world think. I think it's fine for someone else to think something is gross or unpleasant. Hopefully the videos will help them open their eyes to different ways of doing things. I thought I was a bit rude talking about hot tubs in the way I did.
    2
  1664. She said she worked 7am-5pm. I'm assuming she also gets breaks.
    2
  1665. I did end up in the provinces and the beaches. Future videos :-)
    2
  1666. In my short time there I experienced the same kind of unpredictability with traffic conditions.
    2
  1667. It's not about what I think should be done, how would I know :-). I've been reading some reports from people who have actually studied the problem and came up with ideas. I would like to present some of those potential ideas in a future video. But honestly, if it were an easy fix, it probably have been done already. There are so many different issues at play, from money to finance ideas, to people losing jobs if the modes of traffic change, to people being able to afford the new solutions.
    2
  1668. I honestly wouldn't visit to go to Manila, but I enjoyed my time out in the provinces and then at the end of my trip, I spent a couple days in El Nido, which is definitely worth visiting. A popular tourist place, but not as touristy as I was expecting.
    2
  1669. You can easily adjust it :-) Instructions are found at https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/100078?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en. Good luck!
    2
  1670. Stay tuned for part 5 :-)
    2
  1671. That's why we worked with Sanyukai, the NPO. They made sure to get permission from all involved, so there was no one in there that didn't want to be. Once the video was edited, we sent a copy to do a double check.
    2
  1672. The next topic up is working in Japan and then learning Japanese. I'll be doing some more on health care, cost of living, and maybe poverty. I'll also be doing some lighter documentaries, such as the greener side of Tokyo and keeping Japan clean.
    2
  1673. By the way, on the Japanese side of the site they take credit card donations http://sanyukai.or.jp/donation.html
    2
  1674. They do have a donations page http://sanyukai.or.jp/donationeng.html. But I'm guessing for those not in Japan, it may be hard for them to actually get money to a Japanese bank account. I haven't talked to them about receiving donations from people outside of Japan.
    2
  1675. I've been back for a while. And yes, I'm editing a couple videos about the Philippines right now!
    2
  1676. What I liked the most was the tsuboniwa. I'd love to have a little engawa to hang out on.
    2
  1677. Interesting! I don't think we've ever got a submission from Russia itself.
    2
  1678. So is sounding like a Muppet a good thing or a bad thing...
    2
  1679. You're English is fine, I completely understand. Thanks for sharing!
    2
  1680. +Maybe they get priority, but non-staff can use of there's availability.
    2
  1681. Thanks!
    2
  1682. Mrs. Viewer, if you pay attention to the very start of the video, there is some text on screen. I think it'll help you out a lot.
    2
  1683. +Chelsie Flores Thanks!
    2
  1684. +Krieghandt HAHAHA. That would be cool though. She needs to first practice writing English at all ;-)
    2
  1685. +Tobi draft Yep, she's fine :-) If the kids ever don't want to make videos, I don't film anything. And if they wanted to stop making them all together, that would be their choice. Right now they like making videos, and they often enjoy watching them several times after the editing is done.
    2
  1686. +mrlibrary03 I would love to do this. The dilemma is getting permission, and my Japanese isn't good enough to go asking around yet... But I really, really want to film in schools.
    2
  1687. +Chuck McCrossan They play with the stuffed toys all the time! Thanks!
    2
  1688. +evan guanzon I really don't know Evan. People sometimes think I look Filipino, and I've never felt any discrimination in Japan. Perhaps I'm too inattentive to notice. Most Japanese people I meet are quite polite and accommodating.
    2
  1689. +Blanca Frias Sorry, we don't have a PO box.
    2
  1690. Definitely felt it, but not anything to write home about. Wife off to work and kids off to school, as usual. 
    2
  1691.  @malwinbelahurkey1836  This is correct!
    2
  1692. Thanks Joe!
    2
  1693. I'm making a video about deer, so we'll find out.
    2
  1694. Thanks for your thoughts!
    2
  1695. Interesting questions and thoughts you pose.
    2
  1696. Thanks!
    2
  1697. Oh interesting. I've visited a couple times now and have had friends and relatives that have lived there. I heard a similar story about a farm on the Sunshine Coast, where it's a retired city person that's losing money running it.
    2
  1698. This spring!
    2
  1699. I think the are other YouTubers in Japan doing that.
    2
  1700. Good point! There's so many cases of that in Japan. Almost everything has burned down at some point.
    2
  1701. Already was! He's great! Was supposed to do a collab in Japan, but then COVID kept on being a thing.
    2
  1702. Yep, I hope I can do one!
    2
  1703.  @ishansharma1920  That's Asakusabashi. It's one station away from Akihabara.
    2
  1704.  @calvin2307  Yeah, I think doing a video about different areas in Japan (like Chiba) or even smaller population centres (1 million or under) would be interesting and a better comparison.
    2
  1705.  @findtherightbeat  Sorry, no she doesn't
    2
  1706. Yeah, I wasn't there personally.
    2
  1707. I was pointing it out tongue in cheek :-) I don't think Goto-san was trying to be rude or discriminatory though.
    2
  1708. Will do a video about it, but I know you can get up to 35 years (I don't know if you can get longer for residential). You can get away with paying closing costs only and the variable right now is around 1%. You can lock in a rate between 1 and 2% for 35 years if you have a down payment.
    2
  1709. Depends on layout. Some have it reversed. The higher you go, the brighter, so I think nowadays people want the living room on the second floor. Bathrooms (I believe), are cheaper if they're built on the ground floor. Will show a home with a different layout soon enough :-)
    2
  1710. There are many ways. The simplest (but initially most expensive), is to put in エアコン (air conditioner) units. Although the name is an abbreviated form of air conditioner, there's also a heat pump, and it acts as a heater. You'd need to install one in each room you want heating and cooling for. You can get portable gas and electric heaters units as well.
    2
  1711. I was debating with my wife whether the service people actually get inside or not. She's convinced they do, but she says there are now robots as well. I'd like to see someone go in, because it's not a big hole.
    2
  1712. It's the caulking that has the shelf life of around 15. The siding itself will last :-)
    2
  1713. If you watch the previous housing video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGbC5j4pG9w, you'll see that some houses do have more space. But in general, it's very common to have tight spaces between homes in the 23 special wards of Tokyo. If you go out to the countryside (or if you have lots of money), you can get more space, and actually for quite cheap if you go to certain areas.
    2
  1714. ● UN data on crime: https://data.unodc.org/ ● Burglary country comparison: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/burglaries.aspx
    2
  1715. I found that most kitchens aren't that much different. If you saw the video of our kitchen, that's what it would look like with all the cabinets and gadgets in it. If you custom design your house, you can make it as big as you want though :-)
    2
  1716. Yep, we'll be doing a house that is affordable for the average family as well :-)
    2
  1717. I'll have a video on this! They are designed for the strongest of earthquakes, all homes are according to building regulations. But that's not to say that if somehow the strongest quake in the world hit that it'd be a guarantee that the building wouldn't collapse.
    2
  1718. Yeah, they have a faucet on top of the tank so that you can wash your hands after you flush and the water gets re-used as it goes into the tank to be used to flush later. This barrier free concept is a bit different, as it's used for aiding seniors or people with mobility issues. But, it's not barrier free in the sense that a person in a wheelchair could easily live in the house. The X symbol with hands is very common.
    2
  1719. Hmm... If I remember correctly, it's maybe 70 -80 square metres.
    2
  1720. +Corey Newcomb I'm quite confident it's safe regardless of locks.
    2
  1721. +Corey Newcomb as far as I understand, it's simply a hole in the wall. But I could totally be wrong.
    2
  1722. You can buy special microwave ovens (and even a full-sized oven if you really want). You'd never use it to heat your home. They have portable gas heaters that are much safer and cheaper to buy.
    2
  1723. You can have basements, but they are costlier to build. Because building up to three stories is no issue, people generally build up rather than dig down.
    2
  1724. The panels really aren't that complicated once you realize that on a daily basis you only need to touch a few buttons. If you look at a TV remote control, it would look complicated as well, but the main ones you need to know are the power, volume, and channel changing buttons. There are 2-storey models you can buy. You can get a bigger oven if you like, but yeah, not standard. Clothes don't get crunchy, must be something in the detergent to prevent it.
    2
  1725. We did in a previous video, the one about the very old Japanese house. I might see if I can get a proper home tour of a bigger house though.
    2
  1726. I think you need it locked so steam doesn't escape.
    2
  1727. It was very handy. I used it many times.
    2
  1728. I hear what you're saying about the latch, but the 1 level one had latches that were both normal to open, so I do think the one latch on the 2 level one was a result of bad quality control / design.
    2
  1729. Exactly!
    2
  1730. Like perhaps making a feature length documentary?
    2
  1731. No, you can do it on your own, especially if you're in cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. There's enough English speaking visitors that the major places are used to dealing with people that have no Japanese language ability. I won't say it'll be smooth sailing, but very doable if you have patience and your are kind to those helping you.
    2
  1732. Link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJWAuVjKGOQ
    2
  1733. Portable wifi should be very reliable, unless you're really going deep into the countryside. I've personally never had any issue with Wifi, travelling even to small islands in Japan. But it would be smart to not 100% rely on it. Google translate will give you some hilariously wrong answers at times, but as long as the person you're trying to communicate with is patient and willing, you should be able to get yourself understood enough to accomplish the basics.
    2
  1734. I've been actually considering doing a series, I don't know if on this main channel or on the X, where I walk around explore a different area each month.
    2
  1735. Well, there are baggage delivery services from ANA and JAL at the airport. Your airline will also check in baggage at an extra cost. What's the most affordable way though, I can't say without knowing specifics. I shipped a couple bikes bike and they only counted as one checked luggage each. Going to Vancouver, you get two checked luggage up to 22kg, on all the airlines I've been on (ANA, JAL, Air Canada, Delta).
    2
  1736. It depends. If the tattoos are small enough to cover with some medical tape, just cover it up and it should be no issue. My family had some small ones and everything was fine wherever we went. If they are bigger, there are places that do allow tattoos. If you google it, I'm sure there are people who have compiled lists. All baths allow kids, but if they're not a toddler yet, then I haven't seen it done that often. It's mostly from about 3 and up that I've seen in the baths. Do note, that some baths will require a small child who would still be in water diapers to have a swim diaper (if so, they usually sell them there). While others ones would expressly prohibit them.
    2
  1737. The key word is international passengers. If you can show me some stats that say otherwise, please do. But all the official stats I've seen (and used) say Narita is still #1 in Tokyo and Japan by a large margin.
    2
  1738. This was filmed in May 2023. But as an overall trend, I've been hearing this from rice farmers for a long time.
    2
  1739.  @_chipchip  This! The source is basically the same for the water, but they run it through a facility to make sure it's safe.
    2
  1740. My Japanese is really, slowly getting better.
    2
  1741. Added subtitles in English! Previously this was a big task, even with a script. After reading many comments I decided to check the state of technology and the systems are a lot better at timing a script to videos now. Although it's far from perfect and still took me 2 hours to fix up (and the timing and separation could be better, but I figure this is better than what was before).
    2
  1742. Thanks!
    2
  1743. It's because they now have tap water. In essence, it's still the same water, but now it goes through a water plant to ensure certain standards.
    2
  1744. I went there and filmed it! But I didn't include it in this video as it's not in Kofu.
    2
  1745. Note taken. I already did stretch out some subtitles, but you're right, I almost always cut when there's a change of image. So it's a possibility that I could leave it up even if the image changes. I think about it when making the next video.
    2
  1746. Yep, I think this needs a video.
    2
  1747. Are you able to help me out and explain a bit more? I always used to do softcoded subtitles that you could turn on and off, but this has proved to have issues, even though technically I think they are the best option (some people don't know how to turn on, some systems don't work with softcoded subtitles). I'm assuming that for people with hearing disabilities there's some way to take those softcoded subtitles and....??? As for other languages, YouTube stopped allowing automatic community subtitle posting, so I've been meaning to get that all sorted out, but was too busy with the documentary to do so. Now that I have a little more time, I would like to sort it out to be as accessible as possible to everyone. I just need to know how. Thanks! Looking forward to your response.
    2
  1748. I wanted to get a bit more in-depth about the gluten thing (I have a few friends with Celiac disease), but it's hard to give good advice, especially if you can't read kanji. So the best I thought I could do is say that while towari/juwari soba is gluten free, unless you eat them on their own, there will be gluten in the dipping sauce or any toppings or side dishes that come with it, so be careful!
    2
  1749. That's correct. But I spent 4000 yen, which is roughly 40 dollars :-)
    2
  1750. You didn't see my wife? Her hand was in there very briefly. Kids had school!
    2
  1751. Check the subtitles, they're there :-)
    2
  1752. Uh oh, maybe you guys broke it with too many visits! It was up the day before...
    2
  1753. I'm sure John Daub will probably cover something like that. He's been really eager to travel. I don't usually do spur of the moment videos, so it's unlikely I'd cover a topic that specific.
    2
  1754. It was pretty awesome. On my way back on that train, there were two cars, and one was a party train with tatami mats. There was this oji-san party and it was the funniest thing to see.
    2
  1755. Yeah, I heard similar stories in Canada, where they were limiting the amount of people that entered stores. As far as I know, in Tokyo, I've never seen such restrictions.
    2
  1756. I'm sorry to hear about the losses on the reservation. It's such a confusing time.
    2
  1757. Well, they actually have procured quarantine areas. They have procured many hotel rooms, most of which (at last report), have been going unused. Most people opt to quarantine at home.
    2
  1758. What's funnier thing is that his full name is Richard Pound. So he doesn't have to shorten it to Dick.
    2
  1759. Check the very, very, very end :-)
    2
  1760. I know I showed an excerpt from the study quickly in the id, but it also pointed out there was no evidence that BCG was effective at combatting COVID-19. So it was simply a theory, among many, that I was pointing out that people were speculating about. However, more and more it seems like mask usage really is one thing you can point to that Japanese residents are doing well in order to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
    2
  1761. I'd agree the testing is very low. There are undoubtedly many unreported cases. It'll be interesting to find out (if they ever do) in the future about how many people actually contracted the virus.
    2
  1762. They are taking action, but they are getting heavily criticized for their slow response. They seem to try and do the right thing, but it always feels a few weeks late. I feel they're trying though. Also, I'm very sorry to hear about what's happening in the States. All around the world we need to acknowledge inequality, so I completely understand why the protests. I hope they can accomplish some change, in the U.S., but across the world as well.
    2
  1763. Same here, regarding when travel ban restrictions will open up. For next year, it's hard to say. Most of the stuff I hear is talking about things within the next 1-3 months. Hope it works out for you.
    2
  1764. Sorry to hear. Please stay safe!
    2
  1765.  @vanessayu4528  Okay, I looked up mudrooms and I know what those are. Thanks for letting me know.
    2
  1766.  @wholisticwholesomehealing888  I forgot to link the video in the description, but this is the video from 1961 that can help partly answer that question https://youtu.be/-yUCZfwpIww
    2
  1767.  @mrnoobssayshi  If you have fresh, clean snow and you're melting it, I don't see any problem with that. In fact I do this in a future video about Surviving Winter in Canada.
    2
  1768.  @spidey6180  I don't know about Aomori, but when I visited Iwate, they were using it in a warehouse as a way to keep it cool for flowers they were growing. https://youtu.be/pzD8MZwmy_A?t=149
    2
  1769. From what I've seen of this in Canada, it can last a long time, but by the next winter season, it would all be melted.
    2
  1770. Yes, there are businesses that offer snow clearing.
    2
  1771. I'll try!
    2
  1772. I'll ask and see!
    2
  1773. I'll try and answer this in part 3!
    2
  1774. Yes, they have great powder snow... and also some stormy weather!
    2
  1775. +hasen195 No, it's not like Tahini (at least I think not). It's one of our favourite dressings. I'm sure you could find it at a Japanese grocery store or online. - The Dad
    2
  1776. +Ding Dong I don't think so. Shoko just likes to cook. - The Dad
    2
  1777. +Annie's Toy Vault It's actually a bit different than jello. It's konnyaku jelly, which has a thicker consistency. - The Dad
    2
  1778. Yep, Shoko is Aiko's cousin.
    2
  1779. +Frances Margaret Rebollido Nope, no cooking lessons. She simply enjoys cooking. Yes, Japanese love plating things in small dishes. - The Dad
    2
  1780. +ara rzlin It's like thick jello. But it's not Jello :-) - The Dad
    2
  1781. +Hannah Mandelberg Ah, my kids occasionally have nutella and bread for breakfast. - The Dad
    2
  1782. +Deadlylyon15 I have no clue. - The Dad
    2
  1783. I've been constantly wondering this about the vending machines in Japan. I really love the convenience of them, but lately I've cut back a lot on them as I know the best is to not drink it in the first place. But if they were able to get a reusable option in place using the vending machines, I'd feel a lot better using them more again.
    2
  1784. For 2:09, I was actually trying to get the most heavily packaged fruits in Japan to compare them to something that is also heavily packaged in Canada. I was actually trying to find stats on Canada's single-use plastic usage, but could never find anything good (if you do, please let me know). I did find that Canada uses 125 kg of plastic per person, but I think that's overall plastic, and not single-use plastic https://oceana.ca/en/press-releases/drowning-plastic-new-report-shows-canada-contributes-disproportionately/#:~:text=Canada%20uses%204.6%20million%20metric,million%20metric%20tonnes%20by%202030. My point wasn't to say that Japan is doing great in comparison to Canada. Rather it was to point out that it can be hard to tell how much is being used. But also important would be to see what happens with that plastic. Even if Japan's is less weight, it's most likely being thermally recycled, which means it's not being made into plastic again. With those clamshells in Canada that weigh more, are they being made into new plastics? I don't know. I was going down that rabbit hole a bit but got stuck at the point where my municipality says they collect and recycle it using a third-party, but I don't know what that third-party actually does. For 15:15 I agree that the idea of packaging as customer service should change. Did I not basically say that in the video? "So all the excessive use of packaging involved with gift giving may be able to be cut down if the idea of what a well presented gift can change." At the end I said that "That being said, everything being equal, reducing usage is always the best." So I agree, that reducing, reusing, and then recycling is the proper order. Anyways, the point of the videos isn't to say Japan is doing great with plastics. It's more to lay out the current state of plastics in Japan and say that the whole world needs to be doing a better job and I think the most significant changes will occur when governments around the world put good laws and standards in place.
    2
  1785. Oh, interesting.
    2
  1786. I really wanted to know how much plastic did end up in the environment in Japan. I don't remember running across solid numbers in the research. My assumption is that single-use plastic waste ending up in the environment in Japan is probably not a massive issue in comparison to some other countries as their waste collection is fairly robust. But cutting down it's usage in the first place will also result in less ending up in the environment, so work towards smartly reducing single-use plastic is good in my opinion. As for nuclear, I read recently that they are looking to speed up the start-up of old reactors. I think building new reactors in Japan would be a good idea (like you said, the new ones are much, much safer than the older generation).
    2
  1787. You're correct that Japan does export a lot. And what happens once exported, who really knows. If you can trust these stats, the amount exported has come down a lot since China banned the import of plastics in 2017 (from 1,431,000 tonnes in 2017, to 820,000 tonnes in 2020, to 623,000 tonnes in 2021) https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193746/japan-plastic-waste-export-volume/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20the%20export%20volume,countries%20banned%20plastic%20waste%20imports. So while still not great, it's on a positive trend.
    2
  1788. Oh interesting. I could see how returning the bottles to shops can be inconvenient.
    2
  1789. I had a whole section in the video where I show all the different stats and try to make sense of it. I basically couldn't. Sometimes the plastic waste generation by a country per capita numbers total all manufactured plastic in the country, whereas sometimes they're only talking about single-use plastic used. And because you're comparing countries against countries, you don't always know how the data is gathered. I never found a solid stat for Canada. Oceans ca says Canada uses 125kg of plastic per person, but I'm fairly sure that's not single-use plastic https://oceana.ca/en/press-releases/drowning-plastic-new-report-shows-canada-contributes-disproportionately/#:~:text=Canada%20uses%204.6%20million%20metric,million%20metric%20tonnes%20by%202030.
    2
  1790. Yeah, for sure. If you can not even use plastic in the first place and that has no negative consequences, then that would seem like a good outcome. Now that I think about it, I don't remember any produce getting weighed at a regular grocery store (whereas scales at the register in Canadian grocery stores is standard). For items where plastic is of no benefit, I wonder if switching to something like paper would be better on the CO2 front? Japan actually has a massive amount of trees that need to be harvested.
    2
  1791. Already did!
    2
  1792. Thanks! The price shouldn’t have went up unless the exchange rate changed. But even then only by a pound. And checking now it looks like that’s what happened.
    2
  1793. It's https://www.rienzome.co.jp/
    2
  1794.  @spineman253  Everything was shipped by September 4th. Unfortunately for many of the orders they had to be shipped by boat, so I'd expect to get your delivery sometime in November if you haven't gotten it already. Thanks!
    2
  1795. Glad to hear. It's Japanese Cypress (Hinoki).
    2
  1796. Yeah, I enjoy seeing behind-the-scenes as well. I was very happy that they gave me the access! They were a really nice family.
    2
  1797. If you search online, you can find the proper phrasing for saying you have a shellfish allergy in Japanese. Some of the items are shellfish, but I think it's the minority of food in most places and you probably can get it substituted out. I don't enjoy shellfish, so it's never an issue for me, but I don't have an allergy to them, so I don't know how strict you have to be with cross contamination.
    2
  1798. I actually don't know if there is a water bill for the hot spring water. They are pumping it directly. There's an onsen tax, like 150JPY per head if I remember correctly that needs to be paid. But they have regular water as well, so I don't know how much of that is used in a facility like this.
    2
  1799. Could have been, haha!
    2
  1800. Actually, looking at waste management facilities is one of my future video plans.
    2
  1801. The business has changed throughout the years. So it's been a family business for 113 years, but they've done various things and have built and renovated as time has gone on.
    2
  1802. Check the website 😃. I think around $250USD, but depends on what exactly you're going for.
    2
  1803. 60 guests were there and it was fairly full from what I was told. There are much bigger places, but also ones that are smaller. It really depends.
    2
  1804. @AT22 Those are yukata. I'm not 100% sure about the official answer. I always thought those robes at a ryokan or onsen are just for relaxation/comfort and perhaps a bit of fun.
    2
  1805. Haha, yeah, that's not a tornado.
    2
  1806. Oh, neat! I want to visit that Battle of Sekigahara area as well some day.
    2
  1807. For those looking to book the place and wondering the cost, you can go to an English site at https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/tosimayayue-bang-notang.html or to their Japanese site at https://www.tukihama.co.jp/. Per person it seems like the lowest packages start at about $135USD per night. Our package was more around the $200USD range.
    2
  1808. My assumption is that Japanese people would just apprentice at local ramen shops, which is something that a foreigner couldn't easily do.
    2
  1809. 50% is the amount of shops are still around after 2 years.
    2
  1810. I could have used any place around Vancouver as an example. I just happened to have pics of that place on my phone. Yes, we do spend time in both B.C. and Tokyo.
    2
  1811. Yeah, I would guess that the turnover in Japan much be so much higher. For these type of small shops, the minute you're done you're supposed to leave so the next person can eat. So if it's busy, there's no empty seats.
    2
  1812. Yeah, I had bought a Kyocera Santoku before. It got chipped badly and had to throw away unfortunately.
    2
  1813. Kappabashi
    2
  1814. I think you're missing the point...
    2
  1815. Haha. Everything was fine in the end... maybe just skip past that part.
    2
  1816. Many of Ryusen's knife lines use VG-10 steel, which would have the rust resistance you're looking for. But it's definitely not something you'd want to throw in your sink and leave there. That's also why I still will have a couple cheaper knives, that can be abused without thinking too much. Though once you cut with the nicer knives, it really does change the experience, so I feel it's worth treating them properly.
    2
  1817. Only expensive road bikes would have. The rest have little wheel locks. I only occasionally use mine.
    2
  1818. https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    2
  1819. I actually want to do a little mini-doc about cleaning the streets. It's actually a combination of things. Home-owners clean in front of their houses. Japanese people don't litter as much (in comparison to Canadians). There are also silver workers (seniors) who are paid to clean places like parks. And then there are office workers who clean up the streets as well.
    2
  1820. We're in Canada for a bit. We'll be back in Japan in July. We will talk about school stuff, but it's very hard to film in public schools.
    2
  1821. Thanks for watching and have a nice trip!
    2
  1822.  @misanthropicsophist  If you watch one of my earlier videos, I talk with my brothers about our background. But basically my father is Chinese and my mother is Scottish with some other things mixed in.
    2
  1823.  @adrianadciocan  The hand towel itself is 37cm x 98cm. With the tapestry hanger, it would be something like 45 cm x 105 cm (I'm guessing since I'm on a filming trip at the moment).
    2
  1824. +blondego56 bought it in Japan. Don't know if ask on US, sorry.
    2
  1825. +blondego56 bought it in Japan. Don't know if ask on US, sorry.
    2
  1826. LeVQChi Mum is Japanese, I'm Canadian. Aiko's lived in Canada for seven years and Japan for two. - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1827. Snowstorm323 がんばれ！愛子のお父さん
    2
  1828. Aaron C This is the cutting board http://www.josephjoseph.com/en-us/product/rinse-chop-plus - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1829. cand7e7ack Haha. I think she was being a little dramatic ;-) - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1830. DFG224FDF I actually feel bad about saying North America, because what I really mean is Canada and the United States, but Mexico is obviously a part of it to. Perhaps I should just be more general and say the 'West'. - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1831. Kat Lopez I don't know about installing ovens, that's probably not very common. However, having an oven that's like a big microwave, that's a lot easier. You can see some of the units here http://www.yodobashi.com/ec/category/index.html?word=%E3%82%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96%E3%83%B3%E3%83%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8&searchbtn=true。The most common thing is having a toaster oven. - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1832. wantsanewvehicle Good point, not every home in America has a dishwasher. I've never seem anyone plug up their sink (on purpose) like we do in North America. At the very end of the video, we show a bowl that you put in the sink. I think that's what most Japanese people do if they want to keep the water (for soaking, washing, or rinsing) dishes. - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1833. cand7e7ack Wow, you want to trade? - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1834. Geekproductions Perhaps one day! - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1835. Helsy Flores Met in Canada. Lived there together for over a decade. Moved to Japan 2 years ago. - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1836. Kitten MacDonald Sorry, not Aiko, but there's just a ton of small dishes everywhere! - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1837. Deandra Noonkester Yep, have lots more planned. I do think the little things are quite interesting. I'm hoping that one day we can get to learn about the lives of other kids living around the world. - Aiko's Dad
    2
  1838. Miserybahamut Some people have dishwashers, but the average home does not. I've visited a bunch of brand new homes, and it seems more common that they'd have a half-sized (in comparison to North America) dishwasher masquerading as a cabinet. You can buy countertop dishwashers, but I've never been in a Japanese home that's used one. - Aiko's Dad.
    2
  1839. I think it's moving towards super sento. Ryokan's are still popular as far as I can tell. But these sentos are more bare bones and were started in the era when baths at home weren't common.
    2
  1840. A flat tire is a bit different. I've gotten it fixed a couple times the day of. But I think you need to pay 2,000 or 3,000 yen if I remember correctly.
    2
  1841. Actually, this looks like a very good link explaining bike transportation on trains with a lot of good pictures https://bike-plus.com/pages/attention-bringing-bike-to-train
    2
  1842. Late November / early December.
    2
  1843. Wait, learning that we were using email makes you feel old or that it was from 2018 😅
    2
  1844. That's what I thought, but they were less than I expected. It's not like they're cheap, but for something you can buy and own for life, the price is reasonable IMHO.
    2
  1845. You're mostly right about the prices. I picked up a couple for $150 USD, but they're not actually listed on the site, so you wouldn't know that. I would basically agree that a $30USD knife can do roughly the same job, I own a couple, but there is an actual practical difference in the more expensive knives. I'm making a video about what I found out, so I won't write too much. But as an example, I bought a knife from Ryusen Hamono that was very thin, yet hard, because of the materials and manufacturing they used, and it cuts sharper than anything I can get the cheaper knives to do. It's also very light weight. Spending 5X the amount won't get you a 5X better knife, but if it's something you'll keep for decades and will sharpen yourself, I think it's worth the investment.
    2
  1846. Thanks!
    2
  1847.  @Matando  No, you didn't seem rude at all! Thanks for looking into it for me. I guess that makes sense to look the subtitles though. I'll have to take another look at the subtitles when I get some time then. Currently working on the next 2 videos at the moment.
    2
  1848. Really? Community contributions is turned on... Corrections of typos would be appreciated.
    2
  1849. My impression was that the whole local blade making industry was in a big decline previously. Like Masutani-san said, they went from 100 sickle makers to 1. However, what they did do was get together and make a blade making association, focusing on promoting the traditional way in which they make the blades. There are many local companies that are a part of this and this helped them revive http://www.echizenuchihamono.com/. But I honestly don't have any stats on how the local blade industry in Echizen (formerly called Takefu) is doing. Ryusen Hamono specifically went from OEM manufacturing to branding and improving their own knives, so they've successfully transitioned, that I do know.
    2
  1850. All over the place actually, but yes, some footage in Edogawa-ku
    2
  1851. That's not uniformly true though. What you're talking about is older Japanese housing stock. I'm guessing with the time frame, but anything built within the past two decades is decently insulated for the weather in Japan and have proper aircon, which both heats and cools, within the units. I have been in the older places though, so I now what you're talking about. Even my old manshon place that was built in the 90's and had older aircon units cost a lot more in electricity than my 3 year old house, which is so much better insulated. That being said, I wouldn't doubt that the insulation in an average new build German home is better than in Japan, but they've made a lot of good strides over here.
    2
  1852. Ah, good point. I had the part about no guarantor fee, but in my mind that was the same as not needing a guarantor. Good catch.
    2
  1853. Interesting. In Japan, the social housing can be found in pricey neighbourhoods as well https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2015/04/04/how-tos/japans-public-housing-system-shelf-life/#.XX7H5Sgzb8B. I explored this in one my other housing videos (links in the description), but as long as you follow the national zoning laws, you can build wherever you want. So, there's not the NIMBYism that you find in other places. There are a few poor areas in Japan, but relative to the size of the population and cities, they are quite small and rather well kept (I cover this in my homeless video series).
    2
  1854.  @dashingmay  I'd like to do that.
    2
  1855. I tried for a couple hours to find music, but didn't find anything that seemed to add to the video, so I kept it out for this one.
    2
  1856. Haha, thanks so much for the pic!
    2
  1857. I have a video about this, quite recently. Check it out.
    2
  1858. Actually, I think it was closer to 2pm if I remember correctly. Sometime early afternoon in any case. Trying out a bit of the walk and talk in this one. I don't think it'll become a standard or anything, but I thought it'd be fun to try it out for this one. In some ways being in front is easier than voice overs because editing is easy, just pick the best take (which is generally the last one). It's also harder though, because I'm not too talented and speaking properly at length, so it takes me many tries to kind of say what I was planning to.
    2
  1859. Daytime
    2
  1860. 世界の中心で､愛をさけぶ Crying Out Love In The Center of the World TV Series (TBS on Amazon Prime)
    2
  1861. I love me some Rare Earth! Both Evan Hadfield (Rare Earth) and Tom Scott inspired to try some walk and talk this time around, but it was this scene I saw on twitter (which may very well have been tweeted by one of them) that prompted me to really do it. It was this BBC broadcaster that was talking about trains then hopped on one. Perfect timing! Planned of course, but it made me think that talking live out in the real world could add something to the video beyond my usual film and voice over style.
    2
  1862. I don't think this is true. At our local school, they ask for reconfirmation of our children's allergies and the nutritionist specifically plans meals to avoid serving anything that might cause an issue with our kids. I also saw this at the latest school I did a video in. So at least nowadays, in the current kyushoku program, I think allergies are recognized and accounted for. Now, for eating out, I can't say. My kids don't have major allergies (slight allergy to kiwi, which is not a common food item and nothing that will cause any major issues), so we've never asked. I do believe it's not common to remove ingredients from a menu item. That's probably what the information you were getting was trying to say. Like if you have an allergy to peanuts, don't order a dish with peanuts in it and ask for it to be removed, it's probably likely they wouldn't do it (but again, I'm speculating, so it'd be much better to talk to someone with allergies that lives here and deals with it on a daily basis).
    2
  1863. Wife
    2
  1864. +Laura Church Ah, good eye. I wanted to mention that. It's not bamboo, but it is disposable wood. For guests, I find that at least with our Japanese family, they like to give them the disposable ones because they're clean and new. From my Canadian perspective, I would never want to give my house guests disposable cutlery. In our home we do have some chopsticks that certain members are more likely to use, but they're not really reserved for any one individual.
    2
  1865. +jeanine vitollo 3 months, wow! The kids do get a summer vacation. It's from the last week of July until the end of August (about 5 weeks or so).
    2
  1866. +G. Dub Yeah, we do eat Western-style food. Small examples, I eat muesli and yoghurt everyday for breakfast and from time to time make pancakes on the weekends with the kids.
    2
  1867. +Quint Rankid I think I have a lot of the answers to your questions on the blog post http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/ep-35-what-japanese-dinner-is-like-nabe/ :-)
    2
  1868. +BabyAlive Tales Oops! That's why I hate titling everything, because there's always bound to be a mistake. Unless I take down the video, no way to correct it. But thanks for letting me know!
    2
  1869. Watch our video about physical disabilities in japan. It's on the X channel.
    2
  1870. If you look at the How to Survive Your First Hour in Japan, I showed an onsen near Narita airport. There are a ton of onsens around Japan, so it really depends on where you will be located.
    2
  1871. Yeah, I'm always going off onto the side streets as well. Much more relaxing and you can bump into some quite interesting stuff.
    2
  1872. No personal knowledge of JET. There are some other YouTubers that have been through it, so info on YouTube shouldn't be too hard to gather up. From what I know, if I were young again and looking to come to Japan, I'd definitely consider it.
    2
  1873. I really don't know. I'd love a good answer to this.
    2
  1874. Yes, so hot and humid in the summer. I was not expecting that the first time. Eating out was also cheaper than I thought it would be.
    2
  1875. Oops, that was my fault. It's up there now. Simply put, I forgot.
    2
  1876. Property values in Tokyo have generally been stagnant for decades, but as of recently, bumped up a little. But the value of the homes on the property all decline as they age (unless they are renovated).
    2
  1877.  @tommoex  Sorry, I don't know if the hot water has any effect on the foundations or soil around homes.
    2
  1878. Yes, I love onsens! Never been to Karuizawa but have been wanting to go.
    2
  1879. +Mercy Romin yep, that's what he meant. He has trouble with the teens.
    2
  1880. Wow, that far! The surprising thing, is that from central Tokyo, you can find hiking within a 1-2 hours train ride. I'm not surprised anymore, but the food stalls and vending machines were surprising, especially at the top of a hiking trail.
    2
  1881. He's doing great! Might do a follow up.
    2
  1882. If we're talking about Tokyo, you'll be fine on your own. Especially if you're using something like Google Maps and have data (mobile WiFi are quite affordable). But I agree, it's always great to have a local tour guide!
    2
  1883. I think Canadians understand and use both British and American humour. A lot of our media is from non-Canadian sources :-)
    2
  1884. Nope, same Sony A7Sii I've been using for almost 2 years now. Just shooting in a different style (mostly taking more time to set up shots and making more use of prime lenses).
    2
  1885. +lucy girl haha yes. Some rules are very real, but there's a healthy sprinkling of sarcasm and fabricated rules as well.
    2
  1886. Yep, two months ago
    2
  1887. There's a dedicated recycling place / waste disposal in the area. I actually took footage of the separation but forgot to include it.
    2
  1888.  @mrnekokittycatsaki1419  I don't know if there is a good explanation. Might have to do a little investigation.
    2
  1889. Yeah, I think overtourism is hurting publicly accessible but private toilet access in the popular areas that you mentioned. Still no problem in most areas of Japan from my anecdotal experience.
    2
  1890. In other comments, people said it's for wheelchair users who would like to wash their hands before touching their wheelchair again.
    2
  1891. I always carry a little bottle of alcohol spray with me just in case there's no soap. I'd much rather have a toilet and running water than soap (but I'll always take soap if there's the option).
    2
  1892. I never really answered what people think I am. I mostly get Filipino and Mexican/Latino. But one day I kind of want to do a man on the street thing in Tokyo and see what strangers would guess.
    2
  1893. Yes, we went when I was eight! One of my brother's lived in England for a while and we have a bunch of family from both sides living in the U.K.
    2
  1894. The interesting thing is that I had genealogy buffs on both sides of my family who did ancestry charts way back four to five generations. So at least I have a decent idea of my family's history... or at least I think I do. I will continue to investigate the history, because it's fascinating, but it's made me feel even more like it's more about being who you are today that's the most important, like what my brothers were saying.
    2
  1895. I think you definitely beat me when it comes to having a complex background :-)
    2
  1896. Wow! Very similar.
    2
  1897. Half of mine too!
    2
  1898. Much better than instant. It's quite similar to the non frozen stuff in my opinion.
    2
  1899. It appears as if every apartment has undergone a renovation. So I'm assuming it's been cleaned out, but as of a week ago there were apartments available for rent.
    2
  1900.  @iamdmc  per month
    2
  1901. Haha! But you knew what I meant!
    2
  1902. No parking requirements. If you want to park your car and your property doesn't have, you can rent a space somewhere else.
    2
  1903. I feel very "normal" in Japan. When I go back to Canada, I can really notice that I'm shorter than average. And then when I visit the U.S., I sometimes feel like a child.
    2
  1904. Of course! I was watching when they were airing on TV!
    2
  1905. We're doing self-imposed isolation right now.
    2
  1906. I don't think it's as common in Japan, or at least in Tokyo, to have people over to your home. And as my sister-in-law and her friends were saying, it's usually get togethers of people who all know each other and have some type of association. In Canada, I didn't have random strangers come to any adult house parties, but we would definitely have friends of friends or friends of family members that could join and there'd be people meeting for the first time.
    2
  1907. I actually do find it tough to keep things natural yet still record. So for talking parts, like the little interview, I asked people to be quieter for that time.
    2
  1908. Yes, BBQ's are popular there, aren't they!
    2
  1909. I told her the same thing!
    2
  1910. Yep!
    2
  1911. This is what I do right now. But I'm working on a documentary and have been for almost 2 years now. Hopefully I'll get it wrapped up by this summer.
    2
  1912. No, it wouldn't be thrown away. Yeah, sometimes guests will take home some food (at least in my experience).
    2
  1913. It even has a timer that'll shut off the stove for you. I thought that was cool.
    2
  1914.  @fame2mouse  Sounds very much like what we do in Canada. If lots of people are brining dishes and it's not the main responsibility of the host, we'll call it a pot luck.
    2
  1915.  @MsZeldasaga  Card games! I would like to start doing that. Also board games.
    2
  1916. They offer and they at least clear dishes. Whether the host accepts, it depends on the host. For this party, everyone kind of pitched in (except me, because I was filming!)
    2
  1917. Oh, you're talking about Toronto/Vancouver, right? Yeah, I keenly know the problem.
    2
  1918. Yeah, I was on the fence about using the intro music.
    2
  1919. haha
    2
  1920. Parts of Shitamachi are in fact below sea level, so it's not exaggeration.
    2
  1921. +Tommy Xiong Didn't you see the end :-) We weren't close to being able to afford them.
    2
  1922. I believe Sekisui House http://www.sekisuihouse-global.com/ builds outside of Japan. I really want to make a video touring their factory. I'm trying to organize :-)
    2
  1923. +DVS1 The simple answer is that it depends. I think most of the homes would be at least $250,000+. That's only the building, not the land.
    2
  1924. +rockshot100 I do updates once a month on Patreon, plus do Q+A's there. I've actually never done a livestream on this channel. I sometimes do on the X, but it's usually just me on it.
    2
  1925. Lobed elm.
    2
  1926. I was asking Maya this and her grandmother is well known, so her bolt of fabric can fetch around $10,000 I believe. I might be wrong if the measurement is different than a bolt. But it's not cheap.
    2
  1927. Honestly, I tried and tried to get it to under 20, but beyond cutting out topics, I couldn't find a way to cover what I did. I kind of needed the intro part about working in the 90s to show the progression and to make better sense of what might be in store for the future. If I would have cut out the intro part, I probably could have cut out a lot of the outro, but then I feel the video wouldn't have been as valuable. Anyways, I totally hear you, I did want to make a shorter version.
    2
  1928. It's on the description :-)
    2
  1929. Well, there really isn't that many homeless in comparison to the size of the population. It's abut 5,000 according to official government daytime counts, or maybe up to 15,000 if you go with academic night time counts. Out of 125 or so million people, that's a low number. There's about 2 million people on social welfare, so most of the needy are on that. You can never have an unemployment rate that's 0 because people will always be in between jobs, so that's a factor. But also, just because there are jobs available, it doesn't mean that the people who are looking for jobs have the skills to do it. Like you can't suddenly take a factory worker and put them into computer programming. If they were retrained it might be possible, but it can take a while, take money, and maybe the individual doesn't want that type of training. That's just a few factors, but hopefully you kind of get the point. For the crime, that's just what makes headlines. I've heard that if you look at the overall stats, but I'd really have to research this, foreigners actually commit less crimes than Japanese nationals.
    2
  1930. It was not equal opportunity a generation ago. Nowadays it appears very much improved, which is great to hear. But because opportunities weren't equal for the previous generation, this does make it quite difficult for them to take leadership roles today.
    2
  1931. Love that makes you cry (いつかこの恋を思い出してきっと泣いてしまう)
    2
  1932. Oh, also allergies.
    2
  1933. No green screen used.
    2
  1934. When you get back then :-)
    2
  1935. +Sher Thom You forgot an adult :-)
    2
  1936. +Rachel James ¥4708!
    2
  1937. +Life Where I'm From Thank you so much for the subs everyone!!! Sorry it took me so long to approve them. I was without Internet for a few days.
    2
  1938. +Nadia Mushi-shi Ok, I just re-did all the English subs, using +Rashid Ja'afar's translation as a base (thanks!) I hope it now has the timing in there. I searched through all the Youtube help on subs and I think I did it ok. The automatic sync didn't not work at all........ Oh my goodness. Anyways, I hope it works out for future subbers on this video. Next one I'll try and sub it before I publish and we'll see if it works out better. Off to work and thanks a bunch everyone!
    2
  1939. +ChannelRalph Thanks!
    2
  1940. Yes, +InternationallyMe (Angela)!
    2
  1941. +Red October ¥4708, that's correct!
    2
  1942. Thanks for the answer! In addition, you can order items that don't come on a plate, which is why you saw the lady come by with her pocket computer to tally up anything else and to double check it was accurate. Although, now that I think about it, all the non standard orders are done via iPad, so I don't know if she really had to manually add anything. Perhaps the self serve alcohol?
    2
  1943. I actually had footage of a supermarket that I was going to include. I cut it though as I thought it was so similar to the convenient store. But I agree it's a good place to go.
    2
  1944. I do have a video about that. Check out part 4 of my homeless in Japan series.
    2
  1945. I think we explain it in our Valentine's video
    2
  1946. It was a sento, a public bath house. That's why no socks. But if it were summer and a restaurant where you took off shoes, going bare foot wouldn't be an issue.
    2
  1947. But by the way, that specific video is not one that I made. They do have a video that compares American bathrooms to Japanese ones, which our footage does feature in.
    2
  1948. ATTN got permission from us probably a couple years ago now to include some clips in the video. I didn't like the usage so I've never officially approved any usage of our footage to post on Facebook since. If individual creators ask and tell me what the footage is for, I generally check out the request and approve it's in line with the tone of what we're doing. Thanks for looking out for us!
    2
  1949. That was honestly one of the biggest reasons I was slow to learn Japanese. I was so afraid of being rude or wrong that I'd always turn down opportunities to speak. It took me 2 months of full time Japanese classes until I got the courage to try and speak more. I'm still very apprehensive about it though. My advice would be to do things with gently and with a smile and I think they'll understand your intention through your non-verbal cues.
    2
  1950. If you're embedding the video, that's fine. Please don't reupload though.
    2
  1951. Different dude for sure, but we have talked about doing a collab if we find ourselves in the same city.
    2
  1952. Finally! Someone noticed!
    2
  1953. If you search on YouTube, I'm quite sure you'll find your answer 😀
    2
  1954. Wages are lower in Japan than in Canada. I was going to add a whole income section to this, but it's something I'll talk about when I make the X channel vid.
    2
  1955. It was only the consultation part I was referring to. The prescription is different. I couldn't find my bills for my asthma inhalers, but unless I'm remembering incorrectly, they seemed to be about half the price of what I'd pay in Canada.
    2
  1956. I've never heard about such a control in privately owned spaces. If it's public housing, then I do believe there are limits if I'm remembering correctly. But honestly, don't really know.
    2
  1957. Check out the playlist for the answer.
    2
  1958. Yes, playing piano is standard amongst all teachers. It's a necessary thing. For the kids playing melodica's, I'm fairly sure it's standard and common, but don't quote me :-)
    2
  1959. I actually looked this one up. I've seen both terms being used in publications. I went with nutritionist as I saw a major newspaper use the term and figured I couldn't go to wrong in using it. But I do know that in Canada a dietician goes to University whereas a nutritionist can be from a shorter program. Don't exactly know how much education the Japanese nutritionists or dieticians have to go through, but there are two levels from what my wife tells me. Good question.
    2
  1960. They were actually super easy to film. Yeah, they'd sometimes look at the camera or want to "perform" for it, but in general, I think they largely went about their day. The only thing that was really difficult for me, is that they didn't want me to focus in on the face of any one kid. So sometimes I would get good shots, but cut it out so as not to feature any kid. I also ending up shooting wide and from behind more than I usually would.
    2
  1961. Thanks for watching, and thanks for your support!
    2
  1962. Would love to do an elementary school, but need permission. Sports centre, that may be a little easier. Good idea.
    2
  1963. Yep
    2
  1964. Cat person is what the shirt says. Yes, there's a vacuum sealed hambagu you can buy, where you boil water and drop the pouch in. After a few minutes the hambagu is ready to eat.
    2
  1965. It's probably close to 100.
    2
  1966. Already did two! One on Ainu and one about how the North is kind of like Canada.
    2
  1967. Nothing to do with 2011. There were hikers around, but not too many.
    2
  1968. Just take it out I believe. I don't think there's any restrictions.
    2
  1969. Thanks for noticing 😄
    2
  1970. Check the link in the top comment. He has a new channel.
    2
  1971.  @tsukiyomi3539  Patreon supporter!
    2
  1972. Thanks for watching!
    2
  1973. And thanks again for the invite and the tour!
    2
  1974. Nope, it's free
    2
  1975. I'd like to cover some issues that people living in the countryside face. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the people in the countryside already don't have enough workers to work the fields as is. I know there are programs to get people into the housing, but don't know if there's much uptake on it or not. I would REALLY love to do some work with a local government to live in one those renovated homes for a month, kind of like what Micaela did.
    2
  1976. Hahaha! I used some of the footage for my Patreon behind-the-scenes as well. I don't think I have any more of the footage left to use. I need to go out into the countryside and get some more footage! Maybe Gunma ;-)
    2
  1977. +MaaikeInJapan Thanks! Yes, just look at balconies of places and if they don't have poles or curtains it's a good bet that it's unoccupied.
    2
  1978. Thanks! I just watched your Myanmar video, really enjoyed it!
    2
  1979. Do you have any sources for your Tokyo data? And what do you mean by Tokyo? There's the 23 special wards of Tokyo (~9 million people), the prefecture of Tokyo (~13 million people) which has countryside within it, and the Tokyo Major Metropolitan area (~33 million people, depending on what definition you use). I'm not saying you're not right, but I'd be surprised to see data showing that abandoned homes is more of an issue in say, the 23 special wards of Tokyo than it is in less populated areas. What I said in the video, is that it's more of a problem in the countryside or areas that are not an easy commute to the major cities.
    2
  1980. Hi Alexis. I think you're right in that real estate can be quite localized. So certain areas can be a lot worse than others. However, on a whole, owning a home in Canada and the United States has very much been an asset. Here are links to two different places https://milescorak.com/2016/01/27/american-economic-policy-as-told-by-martin-feldstein-at-harvard-university-lecture-2-where-are-we-how-did-we-get-here-what-next/ and http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2016/08/daily-chart-20.
    2
  1981. It's not a myth that the birth rate is low. However, it's low for many developed countries. It's what happens. But since immigration numbers in Japan are lower than countries like the U.S., Canada, the U.K., or Germany, it's made out to be more of a crisis than in other places. I don't know the breakdown or rural vs. urban for birthrates. I'd have to look into it, but I remember reading that in the more rural areas, you'll find the really young and the old, but less working age people, as they tend to move to more populated areas for work.
    2
  1982. Yeah, I think you're right, there is some formal English, but it's usually seen as a barrier in my experience. Like if someone calls me Mr. Lam, I'm thinking it must be a salesperson or someone who's going to be trying to tell me about something serious. I used to film in the business world, and I don't recall ever calling anyone Mr., even if it was a CEO of a billion dollar company. The only time I feel I would use a title would be for a professor or doctor. But even then, the rest of the language was basically how I would talk to anyone else. I suppose I wouldn't use slang words, unless there was a point I was trying to make.
    2
  1983. Yeah, I feel English is the global language. On the other side of the coin, sometimes people come to Japan wanting to speak Japanese and get offended if they are spoken to in English, as they want to practice Japanese. I personally don't really care much about what language someone tries to speak to me in. In Japan I find it's almost always Japanese, while in the part of Canada I used to live it was English. Since I took French Immersion for all of my primary school, I try to speak some French if I know someone also speaks it. But generally their English is much better than my French, so that doesn't last too long :-)
    2
  1984. I felt I was a bit stuff on some of them when I was showing my face. I usually normally talk fast and slur words in real life, so I try to slow down and speak clearly, but that also makes it a bit stiffer. I almost re-shot some of it so that it would be more natural.
    2
  1985. I think it's a tricky thing. I definitely think tourists should try to adapt to the local culture and follow the customs as best as they can. Learning some Japanese would be great. On the other hand, if you put off visiting another country until you could do something well in that language, you may not be able to travel much. It probably wouldn't be good for the host country or the visitor. I still might do this, but I had put together a whole bunch of words and phrases for how to get by in Japan. But then I realized it was getting to be 100 things, and even if the person mastered that, they would have no clue what the Japanese person would say back to them. So, I personally do try and tell people that they can get by in Japan without much Japanese, they'll survive. But it's nice to learn a bit of Japanese and to try and be as respectful as possible. Like Risa said, if you try and speak some Japanese, most Japanese will be quite happy.
    2
  1986. What would you title it? Honest question. I used JapanesePod101 in the title, but it was doing really bad initially, so I just used the more generic "Learning English and Teaching Japanese". I'm open to trying something that works better.
    2
  1987. I do know French, but it's more because I went to a French Immersion school from K-12. It's been 20 years, so I'm now not so great at it.
    2
  1988. My sister-in-law Akko. She’s been in all the “really” videos.
    2
  1989. Yes it was!
    2
  1990. Open windows and have the kitchen fan running!
    2
  1991. Thanks for sending in your video!
    2
  1992. Interesting idea. I'm thinking we might make the rounds of foods, from breakfast, to lunch, then dinner. Then after that maybe dessert and then another one on snacks, etc...
    2
  1993. It's a pretty open topic. More like what you do in that time of the year. I think it'd be fine.
    2
  1994. Thanks for sending in your video!
    2
  1995. Yep! https://shop.spreadshirt.com/rachelandjun/
    2
  1996. Yes, they do! It depends on where you live of course. So Tokyo kids probably wouldn't go to Kochi, they go to places like Nikko, but kids local to the area would go to places like we showed.
    2
  1997. Good question. I just checked and it looks like no. http://www.ryugadou.or.jp/en/courses.html. It said that, "Groups or individuals who are unable to speak Japanese cannot do the adventure course." For the unguided course though, you don't need a guide.
    2
  1998. Haha. She actually wore that on her own. I think she had one about Mummy as well.
    2
  1999. They're from Rachel and Jun. You can actually get a dog one at https://shop.spreadshirt.com/rachelandjun/
    2
  2000. Rice
    2
  2001. I had a car, but I really wanted to ride around on the trains some more. When you're driving you can get to lots of neat places, but as the driver, you can't relax and see the landscape so well.
    2
  2002. I kind of feel that yes, no matter where you go in Japan there are interesting places. I've yet to be disappointed.
    2
  2003. Yep
    2
  2004. It was a three day trip!
    2
  2005. Could have been. I was there for my brother's wedding!
    2
  2006. Maybe someone else can chime in on where the snow goes. But as far as I know, they just push it and pile it up on site. Annnnnd..... they do have a few locations where they dump now, which you can find at https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/snow/default.stm
    2
  2007. Yeah, I loved street hockey in the winter. We used tennis balls instead of the red/orange ones though, as those were like pucks in the cold.
    2
  2008. Those "snowballs" really are quite dangerous.
    2
  2009. I think you can complain, but it's a different winter. Very grey. Although this winter we did get a few weeks of snow on the ground, which I very much enjoyed.
    2
  2010. That's my youngest brother's car, so a different one. Yeah, my friend Sherman showed a portable power pack in this car essentials tour https://youtu.be/wk2K2qnC8Iw
    2
  2011. I enjoyed Montreal last time I was there about 20 years ago. Will have to check out RÉSO next time I get a chance to visit.
    2
  2012. The Alberta roads were all at night, so those terrifying night shots were from the province!
    2
  2013. There's a block heater in the car which warms up the engine/fluids.
    2
  2014. Thanks for the kind words.
    2
  2015. $90 a day, each day it's $30 for room and board. So for 10 days, it would be $900 - $300 = $600. I don't know whether the room and board was optional.
    2
  2016. Good catch, I actually didn't need to blur his face, and on my rewatch before publishing was wondering why I blurred it at one point but not another. He was definitely aware of is filming (I had three camera, one attached to the windshield, haha).
    2
  2017. Pixel 2 XL
    2
  2018. Haha
    2
  2019. There are maps that show where it's legal and where it's not. In Tokyo illegal without permit, so that's why my shot of Tokyo is not actually from within Tokyo.
    2
  2020. Yeah, I should have said Canada instead of North America :-)
    2
  2021. Well, it's actually a different middleman. If you look closely, it's not Rakuten, it's rental cars.com that's handling the transaction. So in effect different companies that are getting different prices.
    2
  2022. I was going to include some counting stuff in the video, but it's so easy to just use fingers, that I cut out that portion. The way you say numbers in Japan depends on the item. So you'd need to learn many different counting terms. Too much to cover in this video, but here's one that covers it (it's 16 minutes!) https://youtu.be/RMXVrHBpCKI
    2
  2023. I can't see why this would be a problem. Usually people leave something behind to indicate they're still there, like a sweater, bag, or something. I usually just go after ordering and before the food comes.
    2
  2024. Thanks!
    2
  2025. Thanks for the clarification! I think in the context we were explaining, like when you see an item with 定食 (teishoku) or 単品 (tanpin), tanpin would mean you're only getting the main dish. But you're right, it literally does mean single item.
    2
  2026. Yeah, check out the print out cards in the description. That should help you along.
    2
  2027.  @juddosborne305  Haha. I've only ever seen this happen in Asakusa, a big tourist spot.
    2
  2028. Generally you're supposed to stand in one place and eat.
    2
  2029. That's why I asked the question about flipping the hashi (chopsticks). I also left out the part where my family told me to not do it because we were family and we could all use the mouth touching side of the chopsticks for shared dishes. But I suppose for those really concerned about hygiene or politeness, separate chopsticks is the most formal/safe way to go. And many of these things are more etiquette when eating with Japanese rather than rules that you have to follow when you're visiting Japan.
    2
  2030. That was me noting that I wasn't looking at a picture as I drew it. I have other one's where I was looking at a picture.
    2
  2031. This working in Japan one, yes https://youtu.be/4fTrOmDrDgU. Also, a few other of my videos on the X channel.
    2
  2032. It's just the cover for the tsukemono (Japanese-style pickled things)
    2
  2033. You can! I cut this from the video, but yeah, totally fine to ask.
    2
  2034. Haha, thanks!
    2
  2035. I'm 99% sure it's the shop's.
    2
  2036. Yep
    2
  2037. You can watch the video (linked in the description). My body can't process alcohol in the same way people without it can. So I get these reactions where I'll get itchy skin and all over my body it'll be red. I can handle one drink or so, like I'll have a 3% can of something, but in general I'm not a drinker.
    2
  2038. It was a lovely weekend day in May, right after it rained, so yeah, lots of people seemed out and about.
    2
  2039. Yeah, there were quite a few things that I would definitely do if I get to go back a second time. One thing for sure is doing some hikes in the mountains.
    2
  2040. Yeah, that's the general advice, isn't it. I only need to exchange the equivalent of $200USD and was in a rush, so finding a better way just wasn't worth it to me.
    2
  2041. Oh, I showed near the start. I just asked on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) asking for some help and some nice people did just that :-)
    2
  2042. Rough order of places I visited: - Incheon airport - Hongdae (Hongik University) - Deoksugung Palace - Nakwon-Dong (little alleys) - Mangwon traditional market - Gwanghwamun (little houses and big apartments by palace walls) - Cheonggyecheon (stream) - Myeong-Dong (touristy market) - Itaewon (U.S. Yongsan Garrison / international area) - Yeouido (financial district and park south of Han river)
    2
  2043. There are suicides, but if I remember correctly, I think the main cause of death was by accident. Of course officials could fudge the numbers of what's a suicide vs. accident.
    2
  2044. I would have no clue. I've only ever visited South Korea for really only two days and a bit. Sorry.
    2
  2045.  @annahuynh1366  Not the exact same, but this is what I found on Amazon Japan https://amzn.asia/d/1F7a8qC
    2
  2046. Sorry for your loss. Glad to hear it brings back fond memories.
    2
  2047. To answer your question, there have been people that have visited, but I don't think it's been more than 10 groups or so since the video has been published. This is not located in a touristy spot at all, so it's only people who really want to go there that go. And the Mama-san is SUPER happy every time people visit. So if people read this, please feel free to visit.
    2
  2048. Don't worry, you'll get your turn 😀
    2
  2049. +rockshot100 a few hours working on subtitles, including some googling.
    2
  2050. Thanks for making it!
    2
  2051. Thanks for the input and extra info!
    2
  2052. No, my sister-in-law. Yamamoto-sensei is my Japanese teacher.
    2
  2053. Sorry, we'll be done editing the living room videos soon, and after that, we'll ask for something else, so you can participate with that :-)
    2
  2054. If you watch the first video on that channel I explain the name :-)
    2
  2055. That was Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba.
    2
  2056. +す す in home baths.
    2
  2057. Did you not watch until the end?
    2
  2058. There are certain onsens that allows tattoos. Eat Your Kimchi (Simon and Martina) would probably know more than I though. If they're small, you can cover up with medical tape.
    2
  2059. I didn't know it wasn't out in other countries until just recently. S2 has been out in Japan for a few months now.
    2
  2060. Nope. Practicing before the trip, I was doing 30-50km, and my legs were fairly tired after those runs, so doing this had me quite nervous. But it turns out that filming every 10 minutes forces you to take so many breaks, and ride slower, that I was honestly never tired the whole trip, and at the end I had plenty of energy left (and also rode the fastest since I stopped filming).
    2
  2061. Ahhh, that would have been kind of cool. I posted the full map on my website at https://bit.ly/LWIFEP148
    2
  2062. As far as I know, a wheelchair can get around on the right side, but I think you're right about the riding hand bike, I don't think they'd fit. I've seen hand bikes on the river banks, so I wonder how they do it... These gates are only at some spots, so perhaps they enter from a different location, and then once they're on the banks, the can travel tens of km's without having to come across a gate like that.
    2
  2063. It's the Tokyu-Setagaya line.
    2
  2064. Haha. I think we said them in the ice cream video for the first time... if I recall correctly.
    2
  2065. If I lived by it, I would have went there all the time too!
    2
  2066. Didn't know about the sad timing of his death, but it indeed was a reference to the book.
    2
  2067. I don't actually meet up with other YouTuber that much, and especially not to film. For this specific video, nothing at all was scripted. I just filmed here and there. I did want to capture the goodbye, so I had my camera on, but that really was the goodbye. After that I didn't see John (he was actually in a rush to go to a meeting, so that's why I never stopped by Daiba park before the bridge).
    2
  2068. Yep, that's the reference!
    2
  2069. I don't think electric scooters are that popular. Bikes are definitely the number one two wheeled vehicle.
    2
  2070. It in fact my neck and shoulders that were sore!
    2
  2071.  @codewiz  ¥200 is cheaper than I would have guessed. I think if you pace yourself you could do much more than 50km. When I was doing my practice runs, I was getting tired after 40 or 50km, but that's because I was hardly taking any breaks. But during the ride, I had to stop and film a lot, so my legs and butt were totally fine. The only part that got tense were my shoulders and neck.
    2
  2072. Filming made sure I had to bike slowly and take lots of mini-breaks.
    2
  2073. He's doing well, Kunimoto-san. I drop by about once-a-month or so, but haven't been lately because of the virus. Just once to pick up a take-out order.
    2
  2074. Could be, I'd have to go down and see. I know of several places where they purposely have rocks that span shallow rivers. In Kyoto they have this a lot, and in small river parks in Tokyo you'll often find it as well.
    2
  2075. I still haven't been to Disney Sea or Disney Land yet and I've lived here for 7 years now!
    2
  2076. Vancouver is supposed to be cyclist friendly, but what you describe in San Francisco is how I feel when I bike there. There are many good cycling paths in Vancouver, but cycling there feels more like a sport than a chill thing to do, so I definitely relax more when cycling around Japan.
    2
  2077. Yeah, I tried to show the route here and there, but I think you're right, even a static map of where I was at a certain point would have been helpful.
    2
  2078. Good luck! I was surprised that I didn't see more bike riders when I visited the Philippines.
    2
  2079. Not that I can specifically think of. If it's either, there'd be clear warnings as well as gates and/or guards to prevent access.
    2
  2080. Thanks a lot! I really enjoyed the trip. Going by bike you can cover a lot more ground, as you can see. But walking also provides access to many locations that can't be accessed by bike. Of course, you can simply combine the two and get the best of both.
    2
  2081. I would definitely like to visit the Netherlands and try biking their one day!
    2
  2082. Thanks! Someone suggested Enoshima/Kamakura. I think that area would be fun.
    2
  2083. I have link to the rules on my the LWIF website, plus other info about the trip https://bit.ly/LWIFEP148. There are lots of exceptions about riding on sidewalks, but the biggest one, as far as I know interpreting them, is that if you don't feel safe on the road, you can ride on the sidewalk. You have to ride less than 10km/h plus give priority to pedestrians (which we both know doesn't always happen).
    2
  2084. I'm sure you can easily google the answer, but I'd say within the 23 wards, taking the train is probably the number one way to commute to work. It's very common for people to cycle short distances, even if it's just to the grocery store or something like that. I think most every train station in Tokyo has paid bicycle parking as well, so there are many who commute by bike to the train station.
    2
  2085. It has three gears! The shopkeeper in fact convinced me to get that model over the single speed, and I'm glad he did. Tokyo is hilly in places, but on the East side, where I live, there really isn't much hills. The West side is much hillier.
    2
  2086. That's partly why I wanted to make the video, to show that there's greenery to be found in Tokyo. You do have to choose your routes though.
    2
  2087. You reminded me, I wanted to make a video about motorcycling around Japan! I don't motorcycle, but I want to film some people who do. I think it'd be pretty interesting.
    2
  2088. I did a behind-the-scenes video. Link in the description and pinned comment. For #3, no, it's not legal to have passengers sit on your bike, but many people still do it, including seniors. If a cop sees the most likely outcome is they ignore it or they'll give a warning.
    2
  2089. Thanks. I actually did test runs before the real ride, and tried with a go pro mounted to the handlebars with a gimbal. But the quality wasn't what I wanted and the gimbal would go limp if I hit a bump, so I though the best was to take a single camera and lens and have it permanently on a gimbal that I could access quickly in the big basket in the back of the bike. Worked out really well. I got a lot better at starting it up and stopping it as the trip went on.
    2
  2090. Cool, thanks for answering. I was googling for about 10 minutes and couldn't find the answer.
    2
  2091. Because most people are going short distances and riding for practical reasons, not for pleasure. There are road cyclists that like to ride along the river paths though.
    2
  2092. I think they're slowly getting better with designating places for bikes, but because Tokyo is so haphazard and cramped in many places, there's nothing that can be done on many streets (without tearing down houses or restricting vehicle access).
    2
  2093. Working on a video about that. Should be out next week.
    2
  2094. No snow, or almost always no snow, because it's Tokyo. Less green for sure, especially from the big trees. The shrubs though, those still stay green.
    2
  2095. Well, the biggest tip I can give is zoom in on Google maps and you'll see all the greenways. Many of the river systems have them. So look for green and blue on the map. Then do a google street view and you can really see what it looks like (although some green areas sadly don't have street view). But yeah, knowing Tokyo a bit did help me navigate it for the whole day. I spent half a day planning the route, although I did deviate at some points. However, I think anyone could have a lot of fun just randomly biking around. If you have GPS, it's near impossible to really get lost.
    2
  2096. I talk about the camera a bit in my behind-the-scenes video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9lPo1XxXec. It wasn't too bad, since I was filming sporadically. But yeah, my hand was tired at the end of the day. Yes, my teacher is great, you should definitely try her out. You can always do a free trial lesson https://www.nihongo-pro.com/online-japanese-teachers#yamamoto-miki
    2
  2097. I might do it one day. But here are some basics https://www.jitco.or.jp/webtomo/pdf_news/150701_en.pdf
    2
  2098. I've never felt danger at night anywhere in Tokyo or Japan. I've walked through the "seedier' areas around 9 or 10pm at night, with my camera gear, and never had any issues. I don't give it a second thought to be honest.
    2
  2099. https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07B45J57H/, it's Japan only as far as I know and they're currently sold out. Though truthfully, this one's more meant for UV protection than against coronavirus.
    2
  2100. I've been meaning to ride the Shimanami Kaido for a few years now.
    2
  2101. Oh, I forgot to add that. My app said 3,000.
    2
  2102. I have more video in the raw footage, but I didn't shot a ton anywhere honestly, because I had to keep on moving, so usually 1 minute here, 1 minute there. The longest filming time is probably 5 minutes.
    2
  2103. You can easily rent. You can bring bikes via airplane, I brought some Japanese bikes to Canada, but it's a bit of a hassle unless you plan on doing a lot of biking and are really attached to your bike.
    2
  2104. udon
    2
  2105. I would like to interview someone who actually does a lot of cycling in Japan and who knows about the infrastructure. Maybe I'll get to do it this year and then he could answer in a smarter way. But his site it coincidentally titled the same as this video http://www.tokyobybike.com/. I'd agree that there's not a ton of dedicated infrastructure for cycling, but because of the mixed use and the low speed of traffic, I don't think it's seen as a major issue to solve. But I really don't know much, so I'd check out that site for a much more informed discussion.
    2
  2106. Niru and Nyanta. Niru is the female with the little stubby tail and is orange, white, and black (mike neko). Nyanta is a male and is the other one.
    2
  2107. I want to bring the family and go to one of those boat tours and chill on a small island. But in reality, I don't think that'll happen anytime soon.
    2
  2108. I totally get what you're saying. For this one though, I wanted it to be more chill, so it's kind of long on purpose.
    2
  2109. I have to visit and see for myself! I'm kinda comparing to normal roadways I see in Canada and the U.S., where I always where a helmet and am afraid of traffic, even on side streets.
    2
  2110. Nah, I probably never hit over 15 km/h while filming, and probably more like 5-10km/h most of the time. The wide angle and closeness to objects can distort the sense of speed. Check out this video as an example https://twitter.com/AkiyoshiKitaoka/status/1224691032173842432
    2
  2111. 7-Eleven rents pedal assist bikes. So, basically everywhere in Tokyo. Well, it's actually not 7-Eleven itself, but they host pick-up points.
    2
  2112. For sure
    2
  2113. +strass park nope, the Lower Mainland :-)
    2
  2114. Some restaurants do have English staff and menus, especially in the more touristy areas. This one doesn't. However, you should be fine, since they have great picture menus. I'm sure you can gesture and point your way through the whole thing.
    2
  2115. Every time you order food, you're brought a new receipt and leave it where the ordering button is. When you're done, you bring it up to the cashier to pay, and they usually scan a barcode or QR code to pull up the order on the computer. You don't tip in Japan and only pay the price shown on the screen. You can split bills if you like. This restaurant is part of a company that owns many different family franchise restaurants, so you can pay with credit card and cash. If you go to smaller restaurants, they may only take cash.
    2
  2116. I'm really thinking about it!
    2
  2117. Don't worry, I have and will.
    2
  2118. It'll probably be October/November.
    2
  2119. Yeah, it's the last. Might go back and film in the summer or fall...
    2
  2120. Oh, that's interesting. Didn't know about that!
    2
  2121. Try Japanese field mouse
    2
  2122. They do. But it can only do so much.
    2
  2123. So I have very limited travel experience. In Canada and Japan, for the majority of things, there's a single price. You can get discount codes or coupons, but those are generally available to anyone. When I visited South Korea all the services I used seemed above board and fine. Same for the U.S. The Philippines was the first place where I had to actively talk to my local contacts each time I wanted to do something to try and get the true price for something. Even then, they'd still usually charge me more, but just not a ton more.
    2
  2124. Yeah, don't know why I pronounced that way.
    2
  2125. I did cover some of it and will show in my documentary next year, but I agree it would be good to cover OFW's more in depth. Both fascinating and heartbreaking stories.
    2
  2126. It's new to 2019. Automatically added so most probably didn't even notice.
    2
  2127. Yes, there are definitely still some things in Canada and Japan that are open for negotiating. Although it's not usually for things you buy on a daily basis. It's more for major things like buying a car, house, or getting something done custom like home renovations.
    2
  2128. I have a video where I talk about weird Japan that addresses this.
    2
  2129. Never forget!
    2
  2130. Research!
    2
  2131. Yeah, you could eat it raw and we did! I kind of couldn't believe it, because I always grew up cooking it as well. I really was shocked that it could be so sweet and tasty without anything added.
    2
  2132. Yes, I did eat some awesome ramen while there. One of the restaurants was normal, but this highly rated one we went to was definitely among one of the best bowls I've eaten.
    2
  2133. It is
    2
  2134. I hadn't had hashbrowns in many years at that point. Yes, I do love crispy hashbrowns. I think the Oikawa's weren't the crispiest, but they were good, there's no doubt about that in my mind.
    2
  2135. That's correct. It's the bad potatoes that are to be used to make potato starch.
    2
  2136. What's being said is that there are a lot of rules around sorting and it's kind of complicated for anyone (whether they're Japanese or not). So if you're doing it for the first time it is confusing and mistakes will probably be made.
    2
  2137. Yeah, I was actually able to visit that area a couple years back!
    2
  2138. I guess I didn't speak clearly enough. I said, "What is often the case when hearing about these kinds of traditional practices, is that you find out it's a dying craft. So it's encouraging to hear that this group of potters have not only been able to keep the craft alive generation after generation, but they are still thriving to this day." So what I meant to say was that it wasn't dying.
    2
  2139.  @MSmith-Photography  I guess so, haha!
    2
  2140. Yeah, I filmed an episode there this winter, so it'll be out maybe for the start of next winter? The total snowfall paled in comparison to Aomori, but because it never really melted off during the winter in Winnipeg, the amount of snow looked very similar between both cities (well, comparing January 9th in Aomori to February 22nd in Winnipeg)
    2
  2141. Very much so! In fact I visited Winnipeg in February and was able to directly compare the 150cm level of Winnipeg to Aomori's levels. The snow levels were surprisingly similar in certain places as the snow in Winnipeg hadn't melted at that time, just kept on accumulating. But Aomorit gets much more snowfall, so much more snow removal to do on a regular basis. Yes, they have snowshoes that they can use to do recreational activities.
    2
  2142. Hahaha! I never noticed that!
    2
  2143. Yeah, I think it'll be a lot more snow over there. Good luck with the exchange!
    2
  2144. Haha! After reading a lot about how planes land in the winter, it's all about the braking action / surface friction. As long as you're not running into hard sheets of ice that have no texture you can bike in it. You can also get special snow tires, but I doubt he was using those.
    2
  2145. Yeah, up in Mount Hakkoda it would have been so epic. With all the filming I didn't really have the time to go, plus I would never have gone myself without a guide (my sister-in-law doesn't ski/snowboard).
    2
  2146. This is pretty much in the centre of Aomori.
    2
  2147. Huh, never heard about this before.
    2
  2148. Yeah, it hasn't been doing well with the algo!
    2
  2149. Hey, maybe you could style your beard in four different ways!
    2
  2150. It actually is what you're thinking about, but I keep it PG here :-) She also did say it in an roundabout way, so I think the translation was in the spirit of the way she said it (which was probably more like nighttime activities).
    2
  2151. Thanks for sharing!
    2
  2152. Even though it's a 17 minute video, I didn't cover some aspects of it. Like what they do for the fashion / make-up is help you figure out colors that work with your skin tone / eyes / hair color. Apparently people can have different body types and will put on weight in different places. So they teach you how to dress with this in mind.
    2
  2153. Actually, I should point out that as far as I know, it was all done in good fun. I was there for a day and she was participating in lots of things and they all seemed to be joking around. So out of context, yeah, that judgement is not cool in my eyes, but having seen the environment, I think they were being playful as opposed to mean. As an example, with my personality, I wouldn't have minded one bit. Kind of like when I'm practicing running drills and missed the mark by a split second and someone made fun of me for it. That would motivate me to do better next time, but for others, it could be a big turn-off.
    2
  2154. I want to respond so that you know that I read your message, but I'm finding it hard to figure out what to say. I think if you look at other comments, you'll see a mix of people who see it as a positive place, a negative place, or perhaps both. I'm kind of in the middle in that it really depends on how you see it and what the true motivations of everyone involved is. For interviews, yeah, of course most people won't say overly negative things about a place when they're nearby to trainers and know they're being filmed. Just a note though, that the main person interviewed did that outside of the gym. But yeah, I wasn't going in with much thought at all beyond wanting to know what the gym was all about as it was a new concept to me. To clarify something, suicide rates in Japan have been dropping for over a decade, and in fact, at this point in time it could be that the U.S. has a higher suicide rate. The problem in Japan is mostly economic. So if you had to really simplify the average person who commits suicide in Japan, it's an older male who's lost his job and is living in a small town. I've said this before in other comments, but without being there as a member, I think it's really hard to know what it's truly like. I also think different personalities will react differently. I saw the SAT measuring as harmless joking around and I would not have minded one bit if my trainer did that to me. You saw it very differently. Without privately talking to the lady, I don't think either of us can say what it was. The lady also let me film her doing make-up, which surprised me a lot, because I would have thought that people who were image conscious wouldn't want to show themselves in that way. I saw many examples of this while there, people showing their vulnerabilities, which made me think that you have to be really confident and comfortable with yourself to do that. Anyways, I could write a lot about the whole thing, but in the end I really was trying hard to present something that I didn't think people have heard of before. I'm not trying to change your mind on how you feel, so I hope this doesn't come across that way. But I did want to write to you and say that I can understand some of where you're coming from.
    2
  2155. That's a single goal of becoming a Masters Member. The other part of that body component is getting a fitness score of 85, which as far I know, you need to have good muscle mass to do (although nothing crazy, because I think I had enough muscles, but too much fat, to hit that number). It's a good question about plus size people.
    2
  2156. You're welcome!
    2
  2157. Sorry, no clue.
    2
  2158. It's Katsushika Keita. His work is fantastic! https://www.instagram.com/ktsksketch
    2
  2159. I think it really depends on the person. Like the photographer titled his book Hāfu2Hāfu, so he has no issue with the word, nor the people who were photographed. But there are some who take it to mean they're half a person and like to be called double instead. But then there are some that think saying double implies you're twice that of others. Neither term would be accurate for those that have more than 2 identities. I don't think there's a perfect term, but Hāfu is very, very commonly used, so a lot of people just go with that.
    2
  2160. That's too bad! I wish I knew how to fix that.
    2
  2161. Yes. She's actually in a lot of videos.
    2
  2162. You can get additional private health insurance policies, yes. One thing to keep in mind is that there are caps based on monthly maximums and ability to pay, so it's not something that I believe is absolutely necessary. But of course having that extra insurance can relieve a lot of stress and provide comfort when you're undergoing treatments for something serious. It can also provide extras like paying for private rooms.
    2
  2163. I have permanent residency in Japan. I think they gave me a 7 year one, but it could be 8. It's a long time in any case and should be easy to renew. Anyone can buy in Japan. And if you want financing (like I needed), it's fairly straightforward when you're a permanent resident and have consistent tax returns. I was actually surprised at how easy it was. Basically, as long you have the right paperwork (permanent residency, tax returns, and a few other things), you can get financing for a house that's within your income range.
    2
  2164. I've been to small towns, but I couldn't credibly say what they're like on a day-to-day basis. I suggest trying to find some other YouTubers who live in a small town.
    2
  2165. Haven't checked out the report, but it would be an interesting read. I think I read somewhere else Japanese people didn't fell any safer (crime-wise) than some other countries with notably worse crime. So I wonder how much perception plays into things.
    2
  2166. Working on something, but don't expect it anytime soon.
    2
  2167. Oh hey Mandy! I tried sending you an email last year in November, but I never heard from you...
    2
  2168. English Breakfast! My wife handles the meetings, I just do the stuff, so not too bad for me. I do things like read English books to the kids and take pictures of events.
    2
  2169. Thanks for sharing!
    2
  2170. Good eye! But, there's really only 2 shots I think. One is from ground, where you can see the Yokohama waterfront. The other one or so would be from the Ferris Wheel.
    2
  2171. They are called tenji blocks and yes, they are for people with visual impairments.
    2
  2172. Not at all. Just winter! I filmed this back in February.
    2
  2173. Sure, if you're just grabbing some quick shots, go for it! Thanks!
    2
  2174. Triok1000 Don't worry, it's very easy. So many opportunities ;-) - Aiko's Dad
    2
  2175. Jenny O'Brien Thank you, I'll do my best! - Aiko
    2
  2176. AuroraWhispers Great, looking forward to it! - Aiko's Dad
    2
  2177.  @Scl45689  Just sent your postcard out today!
    2
  2178. Yes! You can get at certain grocery stores.
    2
  2179. It was actually the only shot I had of snow falling at an onsen, haha.
    2
  2180. You're not the only one, so don't worry. I displayed the title in a weird way.
    2
  2181. Except for the extra footage from the future, yes
    2
  2182. Another video????
    2
  2183. That's why I made this LOOONNNNGGGG video. Just in case someone is in Japan on a hot and humid day and trying to figure out what to try.
    2
  2184. As you saw, unfortunately the review wasn't too hot.
    2
  2185. That's the right one, although it's cheaper on amazon.com (referral link) http://amzn.to/2CzZBfZ and even more so on Amazon Japan (non-referral link) https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B0118SXWAW/
    2
  2186. Just for eating the garlic, nothing else.
    2
  2187. Mother-in-law said there are 60 members in her team and 2-3 people are from Kanto, whereas the rest are from Kirishima city. She said that most of the other teams are similar, with most members being from Kagoshima.
    2
  2188. Hope it works :-)
    2
  2189. Yeah, I realize that about the December one. That's when I'll be sending postcards. I hope people will understand. I'm worried about redoing this one as there are addresses attached to the postcards and I don't want to mess anything up by redoing that perk.
    2
  2190. Thanks. This is my first project on the platform, so I'm a bit unaware of the payments. I don't really know a good answer to your question at the moment.
    2
  2191. Thanks so much!
    2
  2192. Thanks!
    2
  2193. Here's the link to support the documentary on Indiegogo https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/being-japanese-documentary/. I've got a lot to say, but perhaps I should start by asking what you want to know. Questions? Whether you can financially support or not, thanks for watching, whether's it's been for the the three years or it's only been three days! I don't often say this, but also thanks to all in the community who do the little things (but that take a LOT of time), like subtitles. It really helps to make the videos accessible to more people around the world. Cheers, Greg.
    2
  2194. I'll consider it. I totally get not having much financially, I was in the same boat for many years of my life. I did try to make the $5.00 option have as much as possible, with all the updates and access to a streaming version once completed. I think a lot of projects only allow you to see the finished film/video/movie at $20+ levels. I didn't want to have that restriction. For the $1 option, is there anything you'd want in return? Anyone else in this same position?
    2
  2195. Good catch LordLiquidBaconII. Didn't realize I had that old link at the bottom of the description. The correct link for the Indiegogo campaign is https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/being-japanese-documentary/
    2
  2196. Thanks a lot!
    2
  2197. I just saw it in the spam and published it. There are automatic filters that sometimes remove comments.
    2
  2198. The documentary is still a bit away from being done. Goal is 2020 before the Tokyo Olympics. At that point, it'd be pay to watch, but after 1-2 years, would like to post the whole thing free to watch on YouTube.
    2
  2199. No official Spanish translator. The biggest translation need will be Japanese to English, as that will be the main language that all the content will be in. Once production is wrapped up, then translations for other languages will be great.
    2
  2200. It's definitely a part of the plan.
    2
  2201. Thank you!
    2
  2202. I think I'll be making a video about this sometime soon on the LWIF X channel.
    2
  2203. Yes, it's a complex question, isn't it Ayumi.
    2
  2204. Good point :-)
    2
  2205. Yeah! Just got to that point!
    2
  2206. Thanks.
    2
  2207. Thanks for joining the Premiere!
    2
  2208. And now that it's not in Premiere, it's in 4K!
    2
  2209. I know!
    2
  2210. Yes, it is a cemetery. The people passed away are in urns in the graves, which are in the stone monuments. It would make a really interesting video, but it'd be also very hard to get the permission to film the funeral process. We unfortunately had to go through one last year.
    2
  2211.  @ausmartin1  Thanks for the clarification everyone!
    2
  2212. Not at all.
    2
  2213. There is no other city in the world with more hot spring output. The only area in the world (not city) with more hot spring output is Yellowstone National Park in the US.
    2
  2214. Ah, cool.
    2
  2215.  @Mel-qr5ob  Yes, the water is warm, but not boiling. If I remember correctly, it's like swimming pool temperature.
    2
  2216.  @itsourtubenow9729  nope, not at all.
    2
  2217. I think I watched the Bill Murray video more times than I actually tried it for the camera. I did maybe 5-6 takes. But I didn't do a perfect job at it... but I figured those who watched Lost in Translation would get it.
    2
  2218. Get a case! I dented mine all the time. A case has basically solved those issues.
    2
  2219. They actually sell the American version over here Thermos Stainless King 40 Ounce Beverage Bottle, Midnight Blue $27.00 https://amzn.to/344KZWb. Although I don't know what fire safe actually means 😀
    2
  2220. I'm basically living in both.
    2
  2221. Yeah, I was thinking of putting names for every single item, but I thought the captions were enough. Perhaps for next time I can have both Japanese names and English names for all dishes.
    2
  2222. Crockpot meals sound great.
    2
  2223. Actually, while similar, they are different!
    2
  2224. I'm sure they'll be in sometime soon.
    2
  2225. +Notes of Nomads Same in Vancouver, Canada. Ours last 15-20 minutes. When we had our nephew visit with us, he said "Is that it?" once they were over ;-) - The Dad
    2
  2226. +Cutejapanvids Yeah, I went by bicycle to another one and definitely a lot more relaxed doing it that way. I think we got lucky with the trains, as we were able to catch the first train after the fireworks (but we were rushing to get to the station ahead of all the crowds ;-) - The Dad
    2
  2227. +A Essaunce Hahaha, I know what you're saying ;-) - The Dad
    2
  2228. Next video!
    2
  2229. It was covered a bit in part 1 https://youtu.be/eK--oCVP18A. A lot of people are hospitalized, which is why you probably won't see people with severe mental illnesses on the streets. The NPO I met with in the next video are trying to help people get back into society.
    2
  2230. It's part of a series. So same professor, but different content :-)
    2
  2231. Here's an official document from the Japanese government http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/social_welfare/dl/outline_of_the_public_assistance_system_20101004.pdf
    2
  2232. Oh, that's fine to talk about your channel. As long as it's relevant (which it is in your case), it's all good :-)
    2
  2233. Awesome thanks. I did take French throughout all my primary school, but it's been a long time since I used it. As far as I can tell, it looks good to me. Thanks! Sure, translations are always welcome, I would never say no :-)
    2
  2234. Coming soon!
    2
  2235. Next time!
    2
  2236. Outside, playing with friends :-)
    2
  2237. That's the next video :-) Didn't want the video to be too long.
    2
  2238. I make the length of videos based on what I think makes sense and sometimes just on what I'm on the mood for.
    2
  2239. Ah, that's because I cut to the little shrine. Someone did come out 😀
    2
  2240. That he is!
    2
  2241. Well, Chart-san is Japanese, so what can I say. But I just released a trailer for a documentary where I interview lots and lots of Japanese https://youtu.be/irPeP0uwkys
    2
  2242. Check out his website or patreon (it's in the description). He writes about all of this.
    2
  2243. Not at all. We did an intro to Shinto religion video which inevitably has some similar talking points https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htxVoNBd5do
    2
  2244. If you want to sell the doc you have to pay a third-party to check out your video and the upload it on your behalf. That costs money. And then Google takes 50% of all revenue. So at this current point, it's not very worthwhile.
    2
  2245. The documentary is done, so no changing that. But they do kind of appear, as you'll see.
    2
  2246. The best type of comment!
    1
  2247. I have heard from both sides, North America and Japan, and they said something similar, about how they have a lot in common. Interestingly, for one of the Nikkei-Brazilians I met, he said he was treated quite nicely by the Japanese that he encountered in Japan, but it was actually with other Brazilians that he had some issues with. But I also heard stories like were shared with you.
    1
  2248. Yes, I'm very tired actually. But all the travelling was done over a couple years. Right now it's the editing and all the finalization work that's gotten me tired.
    1
  2249. Thanks for the heads up. Deleted that. The full doc already has subs in both languages.
    1
  2250. Yeah, it seems to really depend on the family. While interviewing people I did hear some similar stories.
    1
  2251.  @TheWaterf0b  Yeah, me neither!
    1
  2252. Not initially. The problem with those platforms is that it cots money to get them up there and they take a 50% cut of revenue. It would only make sense to put them on those platforms if there were many thousands of people who would only pay to watch it if it were on those platforms. Since most people will find out about the documentary through me or someone else on the internet, I feel the platform wouldn't be the deciding factor for most. But I could be wrong. What people told me was that even if I spend thousands to get it on Google Play or iTunes, you won't get sales unless you drive traffic to those sites. So for now, no plans, but I'm always open to sharing it on more platforms if it makes sense.
    1
  2253. Hi, unfortunately not. As you saw in the trailer, I included many groups, but to include everyone, it would have had to been a mini-series! I actually went to the Philippines to interview temporary foreign workers coming to Japan, but didn't have enough room to fit them in this unfortunately. Although, I will probably put that footage out on this channel sometime this year.
    1
  2254. It'll be available to rent from August 13th. That'll be much more affordable than the first month purchase price.
    1
  2255. I can always change the title... but I won't at this point.
    1
  2256. Hey, I've almost got it done... yes, it took a very long time.
    1
  2257. Hope you enjoy it!
    1
  2258.  @mtwhatley3253  Never have. I think I just got lucky, so how do you teach people luck?
    1
  2259. I'm still kicking!
    1
  2260. Wow, long time subscriber!
    1
  2261. Shoko is my niece. Aiko and Shin are my children.
    1
  2262. Hope you enjoy!
    1
  2263. Thanks a lot!
    1
  2264. I'm happy as well!
    1
  2265. There are actually some serious Japanese trekkers, but yeah, from my experience they're more cautious than the average Canadian when it comes to the outdoors. For this video I had to cut out a scene that I filmed with my family two years ago where I was swimming in a very calm river that was no more than 10 get deep. The reason: I wasn't wearing a life jacket.
    1
  2266. I went there in October, filming for the documentary. I'll be doing an edit of extra stuff I shot there, but I won't be working on that for a few months as I have some other videos I'm working on first. Lovely place though!
    1
  2267. Yeah, a SnowPeak campground, so that's why, haha!
    1
  2268. Yes, it's the Sony A7siii. Liking it so far!
    1
  2269. It would definitely help to speak some basic Japanese. I wouldn't say it's necessary though.
    1
  2270. Thanks for adding those details. There was actually a lot I cut out, I had 2 1/2 hours of interviews and additional research that I couldn't fit in to the already long 30 minute video.
    1
  2271. Don't know. But I think the guarantor is about more than just money. Plus even if you paid the year, you could damage the place which could cost a whole lot more.
    1
  2272. Look at the sources on the description. They have much more detailed breakdowns.
    1
  2273. Yes, I still have a Canadian passport. I'm a permanent resident of Japan only, not a citizen
    1
  2274. Thanks!
    1
  2275. I'm fairly sure it's part of the original constitution that was made after world war 2 in 1947. You can read the full English version at https://japan.kantei.go.jp/constitution_and_government_of_japan/constitution_e.html.
    1
  2276. Mostly men over 40 years old. In part 2 of the series, we talk about who they are and why. Criminals (former criminals) do make up a portion. If I remember correctly, it's like 1/4 or 1/3. But I could totally be wrong on that.
    1
  2277. You can watch this for more info https://youtu.be/1SiPGP_BDS4
    1
  2278. Are you talking about 20 years ago?
    1
  2279. Thanks and you're welcome! Yeah, I've thought about how the housing in Toronto or Vancouver could be moderated without popping the bubble and crashing the economy. I'm assuming that if it was a simple solution people would have enacted it. The thing I find sad about housing in places like Toronto or Vancouver, is that it's very difficult to stay in the same neighborhood you grew up in. I was looking at 2 bedroom condos in the Lower Mainland and it felt like a losing game. By time I could save up for a down deposit, the amount needed would be 50% more, due to the rising cost of homes. And even a 2 bedroom condo is not an ideal solution for my family of four, especially since I also work from home. I don't care about a ton of space, I can make under 1,000 sq. ft. work, but in comparison to Japanese homes, you don't find 1,000 sq. ft. 4 bedroom homes in Canada. The mortgages in Japan worry me a bit, because I'm used to the more strict Canadian mortgage rules, and have it in my brain that it's what will help avoid another meltdown like what happened in 2008 in the US.
    1
  2280. I'll probably outline them in a future video. Taxes, repairs, that sort of thing, right?
    1
  2281. Nope. Easiest past for non-Japanese citizen is to become a permanent resident. You can get a mortgage without being a permanent resident, but more difficult. But once you're a permanent resident and have income requirements, was surprised at how easy it was. I'm a freelancer, with a non-stable income, and was able to get a mortgage. If you read https://catforehead.com/, they cover housing in depth, and talk about their loan application process. Minimum is 3,000,000 JPY a year I believe (but I could be wrong). At today's exchange rate, that's about $26,000USD a year.
    1
  2282. Yeah, the not needing to own a car thing is a big difference. That plus employers usually pay for public transportation to and from work as well.
    1
  2283. Yep, generally just me :-)
    1
  2284. You don't have to go with 35 years, but knowing the Canadian mortgage rules, 35 years does sound a bit concerning. I went with 35, but I'm able to pay extra without penalty whenever I like, so I went with that to offer more flexibility. I'd hope to pay it off in under 35.
    1
  2285. I was going through street view, trying to get a sense of what it would be like to live in the Bronx. It's geographically double the size of Edogawa, so I'm assuming there's a variety of areas or neighbourhoods that are better/worse than others. I'd love to visit the Bronx and New York if I go out to the East coast in the States.
    1
  2286. Ah, ok, I see where you're coming from. It's tricky! If I would have said Edo is the old name of Tokyo and Kawa means river, then said Edogawa, I think people would have been confused as well. Unless I stopped and explained how the Kanji changed the way you say it because..... you could get sidetracked quite a bit. So yes, I understand what you're saying and I think it's good that you pointed out that alone 川 would be pronounced kawa. No argument here :-) I was thinking about 日本橋 for this video as well. Because 日本 can be read as Nippon or Nihon, but then with bashi, it's actually Nihombashi in most writing (but sometimes it's Nihonbashi). So it can be an N or M. If some learners are reading this, a good takeaway is that there can be many ways to pronounce and say Kanji.
    1
  2287. When you study kanji, you'll learn that there can be more than one pronunciation for a character. If you are talking about a river in general, then you kawa (かわ) works. But for Edogawa, it really is pronounced えどがわ. I'm no expert on the Japanese language, so can't explain why it changes from kawa to gawa in this circumstance, but it's true https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edogawa,_Tokyo
    1
  2288. Yes, your blog post http://urbankchoze.blogspot.jp/2014/04/japanese-zoning.html was great at giving me a basic understanding of how Japanese zoning law works. Thank you so much for that. Several times I meant to reach out to you but I can give you no solid reason as to why I didn't. I really enjoy your blog, so keep up the good work!
    1
  2289. +Jason A. The are federal and municipal taxes. For that mortgage price point it'd be more in the range of $100 a month. Depends on a few factors of course. Will do a video (probably X channel) in the future going into more detail.
    1
  2290. They can buy a home, but mortgage, I'm uncertain.
    1
  2291. If you custom build, you can do whatever you like. I'll be showing custom homes soon. For older homes, anything built up to the 1981 earthquake codes should be structurally OK. Before then, it's riskier (will have a video on this too). Modern homes have double pane windows and insulation as a standard, so better at keeping in heat or cold when appropriate.
    1
  2292. Yes. Will cover that and other social issues in future vids :-)
    1
  2293. It really depends on where in Japan. If you're out in the country side where land can be had for cheap, it's mostly whatever it costs to build the house. I guess it depends on how American you want the home. A garage and space for a dryer and washing machine shouldn't be an issue, I've seen it.
    1
  2294. For the first part, I'd really have no clue. For the second part, I know you can get housing for at least 1/2 the prices that I mentioned in the video (that's for new homes). For older homes, in some cases you can practically get them for free.
    1
  2295. Thanks for the support!
    1
  2296. It's really cold in the winter and then hot in the summer :-) I hear the mosquitoes aren't as bad anymore. Even though I was active, I think the weather kind of keeps people indoors during the winter. Most places you live, you'll probably need to own a car. Honestly, I don't know. I wanted to live in BC ever since I visited as a child. I really love the mountains. The one thing I do miss, beyond family, is a nice snowfall on a calm night, or sunny non-windy days during the winter. Vancouver is quite cloudy during the winter, so that's kind of depressing, but when it's blowing like crazy in Winnipeg, you don't want to go outdoors as well.
    1
  2297. Honestly, haven't lived in Winnipeg for over 15 years, so I don't think my opinion would be that useful.
    1
  2298. Most people out of University would not make enough. I don't have the stats in front of me, but when I looked they weren't that great. I can only speak from my experience, but I lived here for 3 years, had that many years of income tax records, had permanent residency, and had no credit cards, so really, no credit history. Either that's scary because I was able to get a loan, or good because I could get a loan. I guess it depends on your perspective.
    1
  2299. Don't know if I'll cover that part of it, at least not in the short term.
    1
  2300. I was thinking about that. I usually do go with Yen in most of my vids, but with such big numbers, it felt easier making everything USD. Most statistics in English actually use USD as the base currency, so that's a bit of the reason as well.
    1
  2301. I feel ya! Even when you go out in the burbs, it's still crazy expensive!
    1
  2302. I'll be posting more videos shortly, so hang tight! Also, many links to source materials in the description.
    1
  2303. Sometime...
    1
  2304. I live in Tokyo, but used to live in Burnaby in Canada :-)
    1
  2305. In another video you'll learn some reasons why.
    1
  2306. Thanks!
    1
  2307. You can try here http://www.homes.co.jp/. Yes, you can certainly find properties that are 100 square metres in size. However, I think it might be a bit rare for already built places like this. But if you wanted to find an empty plot that size, I don't see any reason why you couldn't. You may need to combine two smaller lots though.
    1
  2308. Most of the videos are with the family :-) Aiko's mum, my wife, doesn't want to be directly in the videos, so you most likely will never see her face. If you pay attention, she's in a lot of the videos, whether it's her voice, her arms, etc... So she's there, she's just very camera shy.
    1
  2309. Rentals. Yeah, there's rentals of many different price points. May do a video about it. I think there are several Japanese YouTubers who have done videos about the costs of apartments. Really depends on size and location, but students can afford.
    1
  2310. Yes, it's standard now. Even the cheapest houses have insulation. Will show it future videos :-)
    1
  2311. I want to do one on a grocery store. I have to get one to allow me in to do a proper video on it. I think multiple trips throughout a week is how Japanese typically shop for groceries. In the city, grocery stores are often located next to train stations, so it's easy enough to pick up some groceries on the way home from work. There are also delivery services you can use as well.
    1
  2312. You're welcome, thanks!
    1
  2313. I don't think I'm the best guy for advice, since I don't work with Japanese companies and I have a wife, kids, and Japanese relatives that make my life much easier than someone who is single with no family or friends. But if you're going to one of the big cities, you can get buy with very little Japanese. In rural areas though, would be a lot tougher.
    1
  2314. Yeah, housing is crazy back around Vancouver. Some of my relatives got into housing before it really blew up, so they're on the more fortunate end of things. BTW, do you mind censoring the S word. Family channel, so I usually delete comments with swear words. Have to draw a line somewhere :-)
    1
  2315. I was thinking of using New Jersey, but I feel that the better comparison would have been Chiba, the prefecture on the East side of Tokyo. I've never been to Jersey or the Bronx, so am going purely off of anecdotes and Google Maps to make my comparisons.
    1
  2316. Yeah, I know, it's nuts!
    1
  2317. I was wondering what kind of building that was. It may not be used as a home. But I have seen homes with shapes and sizes like that :-)
    1
  2318. Ah, thanks for pointing that out. If you read that article (and where it says it got it's idea from: core77), you can see how misinformation spreads a bit. It's just a little thing here and there. The article says interest rates are locked in at 1% for 35 years, whereas I say you can get rates from 1% to 2%. It says Tokyo, whereas I try to define that's a specific part of Tokyo, Edogawa. It says that any building allowed in zone 1 can be allowed in all zones. My reporting was more nuanced, in that it's allowed, but there are some exceptions.
    1
  2319. Really, I just clicked on it and I see stuff. Perhaps it's the country you're in? I have the full gear list at https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    1
  2320. It was fantastic!
    1
  2321. Which word was it? Jokamachi? If I said it mati, that's just me sucking at pronouncing. I would have tried to say it machi.
    1
  2322. I'd suggest watching my videos about kyo-machiyas. We talk about it there. If they're built correctly, they're supposed to be able to withstand. Also, if they are a hundred years old and still standing in Japan, then it's probably a good sign that they have indeed been built well. Some get some extra support with the renovations. Personally, I think a brand new home from a quality builder will perform the best in an earthquake, since the technology has advanced a lot.
    1
  2323. Yes, she's helping to film at times. Although technically a couple of the gimbal shots were done by someone else.
    1
  2324. I noticed the bamboo, which is why I included that shot, but didn't know it was part of Kyoto University project. Interesting.
    1
  2325.  @hazesystem2213  Oh, thanks for doing that!
    1
  2326. Oh, what kind of feedback? I'm always wondering about the specific demographics of viewers. Because families share accounts and kids under 13 can't technically have accounts, I really don't know. I might try a survey at some point, but unless it's the parents reading it, kids are unlikely to reply as well.
    1
  2327. Hmmm... Doesn't the subtitles (captions) have a solid black background and white font? Or maybe you're talking about the titles of the ramen dishes, which yes, may be hard to read?
    1
  2328. He was calling the noodle supplier at night, at one of the end shots. His part-timer bought some negi (the long green onions), but I asked him and I believe most of it comes via delivery.
    1
  2329. My wife didn't get this joke, even though she was on the other "ramen shop" shoot :-)
    1
  2330. It's not rare to have small restaurants like this. If you go down the hallway there are similar sized restaurants in the building.
    1
  2331. Awesome!
    1
  2332. I should also point out, that if you're going through Narita airport, the station where his restaurant is located is on one of the main train lines that goes there.
    1
  2333. Oh cool, glad one of your dreams came true! I do hope to do some more day in the life documentaries like this.
    1
  2334. Ok, I see. I think the more I do these, the more leeway I'll get in crafting them. I didn't want to bug anyone, so that's why no customer feedback. But I think now that I have this example, the next time I interview an owner, I can show them this, and tell them how I want it to be different. I don't think the shop is especially different from any other owner operated shop. You can get ramen at family restaurants and other places, where it's just part of their overall offering, and those ramen won't be nearly as good. Like going to a specialty burger shop vs. ordering a burger at McDonalds. Ramen is interesting, because even the top ramen places aren't necessarily that expensive. Kunimoto-san said he wanted to keep his prices affordable, so he uses certain ingredients. But the price difference may be from 730 Yen (Kunimoto's price) vs. 900 Yen (at a more expensive place). I'll be doing a commentary on the video for Patreon supporters, where I will be adding more stuff that I cut out. I have eaten there many times over the years.
    1
  2335. Thanks! Check out the description, it's in there :-)
    1
  2336. Thanks! Yeah, the dude works crazy hard.
    1
  2337. If it's any of the toppings, then no, it's not rude to ask them to not put something in, at least at ramen shops. At other types of places, modifying food may not be as acceptable (it's not as common as it is in Canada for example).
    1
  2338. Yeah, you order via ticket machine.
    1
  2339. Oh, thanks! I do try to choose appropriate background music, as it does change the mood if you use ones that don't fit the scene or mood.
    1
  2340. Ah, thank you!
    1
  2341. Welcome!
    1
  2342. Oh great, now you know!
    1
  2343. I didn't want to put any filters on, so for the most part it's as is. The only exception is the footage of the interview, where I did adjust the white balance a bit. The place was tough to shoot in, as there are three different light colours. Thanks!
    1
  2344. I think he lives fairly close. He rides a bike to work.
    1
  2345. I think you're out of luck at this shop. But I have heard there are some shops that you could go to.
    1
  2346. Haha. I was thinking about linking to it at the end :-)
    1
  2347. That's what I was wondering, if he found someone who had the same commitment as him, could he scale back his hours a bit, and maybe take some more days off here and there. But he said he would open up a second place. One of the issues, I think, is that he's constantly making broths, and maybe he feels like he needs to be the one who's constantly checking them. Since he does the broth from open to near close, that means he has to be around.
    1
  2348. Thanks for the comment. Even if there are hundreds, I almost always read them all, it's always nice to hear someone enjoyed the video.
    1
  2349. Yeah, you gotta use the English (UK).
    1
  2350. Yeah, I had a voice over part about it, but you buy a ticket, give it to the staff member, they seat you (only 9 seats to choose from), and you get your food. Very simple process. Once you're done your noodles, and if you still have broth, they ask if you want to dilute it so that you can drink it all. If you look closely, Kunimoto is seeing doing it at one point.
    1
  2351. Pandu Suryo Wicaksono Thank you so much!
    1
  2352. Great, thanks!
    1
  2353. +Happy In Japan you can come cook in it anytime!
    1
  2354. Old? Well, not that old. I don't things have changed in the less than a year that I've published this :-)
    1
  2355. I think so. They're quite narrow.
    1
  2356. All the time!
    1
  2357. Don't know about internationally getting them. In Japan, they're easy to come by. There must be something similar in the US.
    1
  2358. They might be called sunoko https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duckboards. Although that terminology may be for something else, but how it looks is quite similar.
    1
  2359. Nope, we actually have an attic you can go up in. Only saw it when we had the TV guy come in and install a receiver.
    1
  2360. I think it's pretty common. You can get blinds as well, if that's more your style. I like having the two curtains, as the white one is for privacy / cutting down the brightness, while the darker one is to block the light in the mornings.
    1
  2361. No cover, no steamy video shot!
    1
  2362. Since I was 5.
    1
  2363. Never heard about it, so don't know, but I'll be interested to find out :-) The takyubin only use the video phone. I've never seen one try to enter. I've had a fellow parent (neighbour) come in to the area without knocking though.
    1
  2364. Well, if you're talking about the new house tour, then no, that was a completely different place. But in our last couple videos, Valentine's and Shin's Yo-Kai watch one, that was filmed in this house.
    1
  2365. I've heard about the book, but never read it. Oh, I didn't know the European naming conventions were different!
    1
  2366. Yeah, I would generally search vectors as well for graphics for my stuff. Whether it's from stock sites or creative commons stuff. Which is probably why I never thought to use irasutoya's stuff before.
    1
  2367. Right, yes, I used his music a lot in the past. I also used some other people's stuff, but I started running into YouTube copyright autodetect issues (even though I had permission from the artists to use the audio), so I now mostly use music from epidemic sound (paid monthly subscription).
    1
  2368. I hadn't thought about that. I'm not a lawyer, and making my documentary where figuring out rights was super complicated, so I understand how it's tough to figure this stuff out. From what I understand, Mifune Takashi still keeps the copyright on his stuff, so he wouldn't be able to make it creative commons while keeping his rules about using over 20 on a project or not using it for certain things. He still has some control over his work. But I also know he wants people outside of Japan to use it, he even told us himself.
    1
  2369. The food program is mostly elementary school and middle school. Most manga is probably high school, with uniforms and bring or buy your own lunch.
    1
  2370. I think the working in Japan video I made this year shows some cons.
    1
  2371. I did a Q+A video about Kyushoku. You can watch it at https://youtu.be/inWmS9PGKTw.
    1
  2372. Me too!
    1
  2373. Try messaging me through https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/contact/
    1
  2374. Thanks!
    1
  2375. Depends on the train. Shinkansen totally okay. They even sell food on it. Specialty trains most likely. Rural trains probably also ok. Not ok would be most trains travelling within a city (metro), like most trains in Tokyo.
    1
  2376. April
    1
  2377. Peak design everyday backpack 30L
    1
  2378. April 18-20 was the trip I believe.
    1
  2379. Yeah, a bit frightening!
    1
  2380. The SL wasn’t available that day. Only the DL was running.
    1
  2381. This is a good guess!
    1
  2382. Oh, I didn't know that.
    1
  2383. It's a mix between the SONY A7SIII and DJI Pocket 3. But I'd say the majority of footage is the Pocket 3.
    1
  2384. Everyday 30L
    1
  2385. +Frances Margaret Rebollido If it's a foldable bike you can do it, otherwise no. - The Dad
    1
  2386. They're cards from different rail networks, but they work in the same way, so there's virtually no difference. If you Google it you can find out the minor differences. - The Dad
    1
  2387. It was a joke :-) Mana just happened to be short.
    1
  2388. They have the prices at http://bit.ly/2T68Ig2. Different tours are different prices, so it depends on what you're going for.
    1
  2389. Ok, I understand what you're saying about being 'present'. I'd have to say that they mostly are. It's difficult to get hard drugs, and if you're really mentally ill, you're probably institutionalized. There are alcoholics though.
    1
  2390. +Seohn Aranys oh, do you have the link?
    1
  2391. Have you not seen that it's a 5 part series?
    1
  2392. Good question, I don't know.
    1
  2393. Umm... not at all +Kenjihiro Sakamoto.
    1
  2394. Thanks. I didn't know Vox had a video about homeless in Japan, I'll try and find it.
    1
  2395. Economics is a major factor, as well as age. Read https://www.tofugu.com/japan/suicide-in-japan/.
    1
  2396. From what I understood, there's a lot of smoking and drinking among the homeless population in Japan as well.
    1
  2397. Interesting idea.
    1
  2398. Yeah, that one doesn't hold up so well, does it!
    1
  2399. Neat!
    1
  2400. Definitely fine for foreigners
    1
  2401. It's in the pinned comment now!
    1
  2402. I should have known this. I filmed an abalone farm a decade and a half ago...
    1
  2403. What I noticed was that when I was visiting vs. living, is that you eat much more. If you're eating more like a normal person living in Japan, the quantities are less :-)
    1
  2404. Links and everything are now in the pinned comment now. But Harataki and Ookawaso are right.
    1
  2405. MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop).
    1
  2406. I did a video there actually! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuA-_BiItQ
    1
  2407. You'd probably be interested in the video I made there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuA-_BiItQ
    1
  2408. Thanks Hannah!
    1
  2409. The majority of the population in Okinawa live in cities, not rural areas.
    1
  2410. Because no one's done it yet :-) I try to when I get the time, but it's mostly done thanks to the great work of volunteers.
    1
  2411. They've both been a couple times and walking around streets isn't their idea of fun, probably like any kid. The streets are also completely normal to them, so they don't like at anything with the same excitement that's never seen them before would. They did enjoy the park very much though!
    1
  2412. That's actually Aiko speaking :-) And she says "buying stuff".
    1
  2413. Yes, it is free. It's the Asakusa tourist information center. It's shown when we're crossing the street and can be seen from the big kaminarimon (thunder gate) at the entrance to the nakamisedori (the main open-air shopping alley).
    1
  2414. They've been to Tokyo Tower and the free Metropolitan Government Building, so there's not an immediate need to spend around $100 US to bring the whole family up.
    1
  2415. Great!
    1
  2416. Actually, it was quite a short filming time, relatively speaking in comparison to other shoots. It was from 4pm until about 6pm or so. The nice thing about the gimbal (stabilizer) is that you end up with a lot more footage that you can use.
    1
  2417. gimbal, check the description :-)
    1
  2418. Of course it does. There's employment insurance if you were previously working enough hours and there's income assistance if you're in need and have no other resources. There are situations where you can fall through the cracks and the systems are different based on what province you live in, but there are also alternative programs and charities that can help someone get back on their feet. It's not perfect, but if you're in need you can find help. I've personally had to use the system many years ago.
    1
  2419. Most toilets I used were pretty much the same as Canadian or American ones. But I stayed at either tourist places or above average places. I never once saw an automatic bidet or heated seat (although I don't doubt they're there). What kind of toilet would you say the average house in the Provinces have.
    1
  2420. I had so much video of friendly cats. Everywhere I went! Might put it in the next video.
    1
  2421. I didn't get the feel their house was typical. They own three houses, so I think it's safe to say they're on the wealthier side of the equation.
    1
  2422. I visited in January, so I thought I had pretty good weather. Much better than summer in Tokyo. Too bad about the stolen device. People warned me about it, so I only really brought out my camera in the city when I was with other locals so they could help watch my back. In the Provinces I was less cautious.
    1
  2423. "The 2015 survey results revealed that Filipino families had an average annual income of approximately 267 thousand pesos" https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/FIES%202015%20Final%20Report.pdf This is data from the Philippines government. I had the source in the description. What did you think it was?
    1
  2424. Yes, I interviewed one of the Profs for a different documentary I'm working on.
    1
  2425. Yeah, I'd really have to spend WAY more time in the Philippines to truly tell the story of life there. Hopefully this gave people a quick glimpse of some aspects of life.
    1
  2426. I'm not too sure about what part of Edmonton they live in, or if they live on the outskirts. One of my family members lives on the outskirts on a farm with horses, sheep, and cattle, so they would have no neighbours close by.
    1
  2427. Actually it wasn't too bad for both those trips. Going to Antipolo though, that was a journey!
    1
  2428. Most of Makati is very nice. One of the wealthiest areas I believe. If you go to the right places you can almost stay in a wealthy bubble. It was when I left Makati and the BGC that things really seemed a lot different than major city area in Japan and Canada.
    1
  2429. I would say that fresher is subjective, since while these foods are frozen, they are made in-season and doesn't have the amount of preservatives that conbini food with have.
    1
  2430. Huh, I know that name. Did they also sell at the supermarkets?
    1
  2431. At this time they're both currently not. Although Shin will be, he only has 1cm to go. Aiko and I are kind of in a competition right now. We'll see who comes out on top.
    1
  2432. Yep, I'm in Canada at the moment.
    1
  2433. Yeah, I have like 8 more to edit. Then hopefully I'll be back in Japan and filming some more.
    1
  2434. But I liked it when he ate like this https://youtu.be/VEGsWyL0Yw4
    1
  2435. It's incredible!
    1
  2436. It was around before COVID.
    1
  2437. Yes, he's left handed.
    1
  2438. Yeah, they do, they had it before the U.S. It's been there since at least the 90's.
    1
  2439. My wife's sister, so my sister-in-law.
    1
  2440. I find it interesting that I was it never occurred to me that this topic might be controversial. Learning though!
    1
  2441. It totally could be. You never know online. But I do know that the trailer got posted on a Japanese website and then soon after that I got a wave of comments. So I'm assuming some of them were from Japanese.
    1
  2442. I would love to have subtitles in other languages. I purposely made this documentary bilingual in both that it's spoken Japanese/English and subtitled in Japanese/English. Getting accurate subtitles in both languages was a huge task. This was because of specialty words used, cultural context, expressions, and the characters of people. I feel to do this properly in other languages would be equally hard, if not more so, because you would need people that understand all three languages: Japanese, English, and then the additional subtitle language. Because using an English translation of Japanese to translate into Portuguese will probably result in some bad translations. So, if sales go well, hiring pro translators in different languages, then getting people from the community who know the various cultures to act as a doublecheck on the translations feels like what would be necessary.
    1
  2443. Hahaha
    1
  2444. Yep, the alien card!
    1
  2445. I didn't even think that there were using something like Google translate. Maybe.
    1
  2446. I should point out, that beyond sharing my own family's story, so people know who I am, the facts I present are from Japanese researchers or news, and the stories you hear are from Japanese. I'm simply asking questions and showing the answers.
    1
  2447. The only time I ever remember really encountering it for myself was with a video I made on the LWIF X channel talking about my pet peeves of living in Japan. These were minor things that personally annoyed me, but not really anything wrong about Japan. Despite having made over 100 videos talking great things about Japanese culture, there were those that were so distraught that I might have anything negative to say about Japan that there were calls for me to go home. The Japanese people I meet in real life are nothing like the trolls I hear from online.
    1
  2448. Here's my honest answer. I read a lot of comments on that trailer and deleted a whole bunch, so I can't remember if there was a comment with that exact wording. But basically I was taking the same wording that people were commenting and using it as the title. There are two other things though. One is that there's this popular guy, Atsugiri Jason, whose line is "Why Japanese people!" I thought the title was similar to this and I liked the way it sounded. Two, and the deciding factor, was that being grammatically correct in titles can make them long and boring. So I could have wrote, "Why is this Canadian making a documentary about Japanese?", but it didn't seem as catchy to me. Lastly, yes, I did have second thoughts about using that grammar after reading comments because I it's not my intention to make fun of anyone's language ability. I don't think that's nice. Hope that helps clears things up a bit.
    1
  2449. Thanks Jess and Hai!
    1
  2450. And poutine!
    1
  2451. I don't know much, so can't say.
    1
  2452. Yeah, I watched it 2-3 years ago when it came out!
    1
  2453. I've been hearing that a lot, that people without any connections to Japan can still relate to the doc. That's nice to hear.
    1
  2454. Many have asked why I went to the Philippines. The main reason was to film for my documentary https://igg.me/at/lwif-being-japanese-documentary/x/18921005. You won't really see much of that video until my documentary comes out next year, but I was covering how Filipinos are trained before coming to Japan. While there, I decided to enlist the help of some locals and capture a bit of what daily life is like. In the next video, I'll be including a lot more discussions with Filipinos about family, working overseas, and the joys and struggles of life in the Philippines. I actually never planned to go to a tourist place like El Nido, but after I had done all my scheduling for my first eight days, I found I had an extra three with which to travel somewhere. So upon the recommendations of many, I went out to El Nido which was much more relaxing than Metro Manila, haha. If I had more time, I would have went to more secluded areas, but alas, I need to get back to Japan sooner than later. Thanks to all my local Filipino guides for your tremendous hospitality, I was very fortunate to have met all of you. You're all good people!
    1
  2455. Just to be clear, I was talking about that one food court. The shot you saw, was from the mall in general, which had many foreign chains, like Dunkin' Donuts, McDonalds, KFC, and much more.
    1
  2456. Yes, I know Dunkin Donuts. And I actually showed Tim Hortons. What I was referring to was that specific food court, where there was only the Pizza Hut. In the rest of the mall there were plenty of foreign chain restaurants, from McDonalds, to KFC, to Dunkin Donuts. I was actually surprised by the number of foreign shops I could find. If you watch the video I did about the commute in Manila and part 2, where I visit people's homes and talk about family and work life, you'll get a better sense of what I experienced in general. I don't pretend to know much only spending eleven days in the Philippines. One thing I'm wondering though, I did watch the Make it Happen and The Juicy Vlog, based on the recommendations of other comments. I don't really understand how what they're presenting is closer to the everyday life of a Filipino than what I'm doing with my series. They seem to be enjoying a lifestyle that only the top 10 or 20% in the Philippines can enjoy. They show having a fun time, I can't argue with that.
    1
  2457. Appreciate the comment. I was thinking along the same line as you are, that if the Philippines hadn't been the first third world country I had visited, would I be pointing out all these differences in the way I did. I'll have to see as I travel to more places, but I'm guessing I would become more used to the differences and they wouldn't be so surprising for me. I was though, trying to present this through the eyes of a Westerner who may not see these types of things, even when visiting poorer countries, as they might be on a resort or some kind of tourist bubble. For example, if I did a more typical thing and stayed in a nicer hotel (which some suggested I do) and went straight to the tourist spots, like El Nido, I feel I would have most definitely had a different view of the Philippines. I'm currently editing the next video and one thing that I see is how much fun I had with my local guides and their families. We were always kidding around and generally enjoying ourselves. I didn't get a chance to show that very well in this video. In some ways, it wasn't a given to me that we were worlds apart. If you look at pictures online of BGC or Makati, it's quite modern and nice. And if you show the tourist images of beaches and resorts, it looks really nice. Anyways, I appreciate your thoughtful comment. I'm glad you're trying to improve things and if you know of some way I could help, please let me know.
    1
  2458. It's out! https://youtu.be/b98dy-nFs5k
    1
  2459. UNIQLO if I remember correctly
    1
  2460. You can find ones that don't have the rule. And for the ones that do, if they're not too crazy big and you can cover it up, you'll most likely be fine.
    1
  2461. Awesome!
    1
  2462. If you don't stop and rest, I think it's only about 3 hours, give or take a bit.
    1
  2463. Ah, they were both in it!
    1
  2464. Hahaha, I'm glad you caught that. I knew that I actually said both, but I couldn't figure out the difference, so I was kind of waiting for someone to mention it :-)
    1
  2465. They're all part of the same complex. Usually the vending machines are outdoors from the few stops I've visited.
    1
  2466. +Ethan Leong you can share the link, but you can't download and reupload
    1
  2467. Yeah, actually talked to the wife about alternating languages a week at a time. One week English, the next week Japanese. It actually could be beneficial for the kids if they didn't have the chance to escape to Japanese when trying to explain things. And for me, yes, I think it would help a lot.
    1
  2468. Yep, she's later on in the video.
    1
  2469. If you look at when the black end screen comes in, you'll see the answers :-)
    1
  2470. They are! Just hit that CC button.
    1
  2471. Okay, I'll say hi back :-)
    1
  2472. Fantastic! I'm glad he loves the semi bugs one :-) Good luck with the potential move and the potential channel!
    1
  2473. There is a difference between the systems, but going from Japan to Canada is probably the easier transition. They seemed to fit right in from almost day one. I don't know if their teachers would say the same, but the kids themselves didn't have any issues that they've told me about. Would like to make a video about the experiences if the kids are up to it. Right now I'm just letting them experience it.
    1
  2474. Kids love them!
    1
  2475. Oh, thank you so much! I have considered making some videos on old vs. new, but I was thinking more old like cash vs. new like IC cards. But you're talking about really old, which is a neat idea as well. I think things like bathing and taking off shoes when entering a house or tied to quite old customs.
    1
  2476. We might!
    1
  2477. It's true!
    1
  2478. Yep, lots of interest in Japan. Totally makes sense of course, since that's been the majority of content on the channel. I'm sure there are lots of differences within Japan that are interesting to explore. One thing I thought would be cool was to live in a small village (kind of like what Micaela did) and see what life is like over there. It has to be a lot different than Tokyo life.
    1
  2479. Thanks! You have a great day as well!
    1
  2480. Just for a few months.
    1
  2481. I'm not :-)
    1
  2482. Temporary work thing. Back in Japan in July.
    1
  2483. Go for it!
    1
  2484. Thank you so much for the kind words! I don't think it'll be a travel channel, but doing a trip once or twice a year to see everyday life would be super cool.
    1
  2485. 11 and 8 now
    1
  2486. We won't show their Canadian school for privacy reasons. We might talk about the experience in school if the kids are up for it though.
    1
  2487. Or is it you that didn't say hi to me!
    1
  2488. Wow, he liked the natto. Even I can't eat at (although my kids love it). I'm thinking I have to try again sometime soon. Maybe if I eat one bean once a week, I'll eventually learn to like it. Good luck on the saving!
    1
  2489. We're in Canada right at the moment. We're back in Japan in July.
    1
  2490. Oh wow, didn't know the geese didn't care that much!
    1
  2491. Yeah, I wouldn't to have stock footage with the kids in them. The thing about video, is that when I do commercial work and make decent money for the time spent, but it's not near as fulfilling as creating this type of content that I put up on YouTube.
    1
  2492. Bit I just uploaded a new video only hours before you posted this...
    1
  2493. Yeah, I just went running yesterday and I saw a group of joggers running without masks. I get not wearing a mask when jogging, there's lots of space on the riverbank now so it's very easy to stay more than 2 metres away from people, but it was odd to see a group tightly packed running without masks. If they want to run together, they could have just spaced out a bit more. It's not like they were talking to each other. Never heard about the lucky bags. I tried setting up phone or video meetings to get my prescriptions, but ended up having to go in person.
    1
  2494. Oh, interesting. In Japan it was the opposite. The governor of Tokyo, Koike, wanted stricter requests sooner, while the prime minister of Japan, Abe, was taking his time. I think once the government finally put in the state of emergency and stronger requests, residents started taking it a lot more seriously. I notice that people are back to work though, because for my past couple runs along the riverbank, it's been relatively unbusy, like pre-coronavirus times.
    1
  2495. Well, it started off at 50 minutes ( and before that it was hours of interviews), so trust me, I was trying 😀
    1
  2496.  @russellschaeffler  Sorry to hear. That's got to be tough.
    1
  2497. Now he can play outside with his friends. Although I ask my kids to remain social distance. If they're sitting around, even outside but relatively close together, than they have to wear masks.
    1
  2498. Check out my timeline video https://youtu.be/HRkCAvlTMrE. Quick answer is first confirmed case was January 16th, 2020
    1
  2499. August 24th.... I don't mean to be a downer, but I'd be quite surprised if they open up to most travelers by then. They're doing tests with business travelers from a few select countries with extremely low counts right now. Even permanent residents like myself can't leave and expect to be able to return at the moment.
    1
  2500. Yep
    1
  2501. I think he was more concerned about being hit by one the kids or their toys :-)
    1
  2502. Ok, will practice :-)
    1
  2503. Thanks! French, Japanese, and of course, English!
    1
  2504. The kids and mother two, I speak three (but one I forgot a lot and the other I'm not terribly good at).
    1
  2505. Haha! Edit: Laughing with you, not at you :D
    1
  2506. Yep, kendama!
    1
  2507. Kids can be quite a handful! I might ask them to introduce something here and there, which they may or may not want to do (so I won't necessarily get any good footage). But generally I just try and capture whatever it is they're doing.
    1
  2508. They're pretty cheap. I think the paper balloons were 100 yen for 3, and the propeller was also 100 yen.
    1
  2509. Sorry, nope.
    1
  2510. Yes, the swan boats were from Ueno. There are swan boats in other parks as well though.
    1
  2511. Oh, it really should have read "Don't stick your hands out" or "Keep your hands inside"
    1
  2512. I specifically don't do that as the locals don't tend to like those carts.
    1
  2513. She saw the video as I was editing and she didn't get the wrong idea. I never thought about it until all the commenters!
    1
  2514. It can be difficult to find a good place to eat sometimes. We happened to find that bench outside of the monorail station to eat at.
    1
  2515. Not a bad idea.
    1
  2516. Yeah, you don't see too many skateboards on the streets.
    1
  2517. Sorry, I don't know.
    1
  2518. You got it right!
    1
  2519. Osmo Pocket 3. It's quite handy.
    1
  2520.  @I_am_Diogenes  Yes, exactly, you are misreading. The numbers are in 10-year periods. So at 12, that means 120 (12x10). Like I said, if you want to verify, check the link in the description.
    1
  2521. Look at the research paper linked to in the description. You're also reading the graph wrong.
    1
  2522. No, it was in reference to a study that talked about thinning vs leaving alone natural forests and it's ability to capture carbon. We need to do things for both the short and long term, especially when talking about climate change.
    1
  2523. Look at the sources.
    1
  2524. Interesting. I'll do some investigating.
    1
  2525. One of the studies I read referenced Finland's forests, so I understand what you're saying. I'm by no means any expert in all this. I wish I could have went more in depth, but I think making the Japanese forests more natural would be a good step. However, even the natural forests have been touched a lot be humans, so they may not be as natural as Finland's. Thanks for your comment!
    1
  2526. That can explain more modern times when they opened up the markets, but until the 1950s they were essentially self sufficient.
    1
  2527. I researched CLT, but there was so much to cover that I wanted to make a spare video and try to visit some factories producing plus some buildings built using it.
    1
  2528. Not much can grow in the plantation forests besides the trees that were planted. If they were managed better more light would hit the ground allowing for ground cover to grow. Other species of trees would allow for more biodiversity. Watch the ted talk video in the description and read some of the sources of you'd like to understand better.
    1
  2529.  @badllama4554  Ok, so I said it wrong no matter the locale!
    1
  2530.  @Martha-Novalin-  See, those ones I think I know how to pronounce!
    1
  2531. Interesting, right? I don't know the reasons.
    1
  2532. どうも！
    1
  2533. That'd be interesting to look into the stats of pedestrian accidents, especially vs. other places around the world. I also wonder about the severity of accidents. Yes, I don't know why drivers in Tokyo don't like stopping at pedestrian crossings. Yeah, I've heard different explanations for the "jingle", which tune and timing can be quite different depending on the location or time of year. But I know that in my area it's often used as a queue for children to go home.
    1
  2534. Yeah, I'm kind of thinking about doing something like that. I do plan on making a video called something like "The Greener Side of Tokyo" or "The Green Side of Tokyo".
    1
  2535. I don't know. We filmed that in-person one day. The sound was quite distorted because of echoing through the city.
    1
  2536. I'm actually working on getting them all done for the videos, but just getting back up to speed making videos after finishing off my feature-length documentary.
    1
  2537. I love Akita! Wouldn't mind living there myself for a bit.
    1
  2538. Why not!
    1
  2539. Yep, definitely an oversight. There were just so many things to list!
    1
  2540. Still have to edit that. Will probably release in October.
    1
  2541. This is the English version https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001050453.pdf. The Japanese site is here https://www.mlit.go.jp/crd/city/plan/03_mati/09/index.htm
    1
  2542. I'm not an urban planner, but in general, there are three major types of zones within a city: residential, commercial, and industrial. However, you can mix and match items and have different restrictions. So you could have 4 different types of residential zones, 3 different types of commercial zones, and 2 different types of industrial zones. They designate what the buildings can be used for, the square footage of the buildings, the size of them, and that kind of criteria. But the way Japan does zoning is very different from North America. Perhaps look up the channel City Beautiful, which must have quite a few episodes on zoning.
    1
  2543. At this place I definitely saw tattoos, so that's an issue with this one. I'll get into why they're disappearing in the video, but I don't think it's because of the tattoos.
    1
  2544. Hahaha
    1
  2545. Never thought the drying your clothes might be something that's prohibited.
    1
  2546. I think it would be fascinating to film everyday people. The hard thing is getting the permission from the person to do so, as well as all the places they would visit. In a small town I feel like you could kind of pull it off, but for some place like Tokyo, you would get blocked from officially filming at a lot of places. I think everything in Japan is moving towards chains and less small shops, but yes, my wife still does shop at specialty shops on occasion. But almost always it's easier to go to a chain. I personally love specialty restaurants that only serve a single item. It's not expensive but it's generally very high quality, since that's all they do.
    1
  2547.  @doriswaddington2418  I won't opine on whether moving to Japan or not is right for a person, but I would like to point out that foreigners can very much own property in Japan. It's actually quite easy. Ironically, renting would probably prove more of a challenge (which I made a video about).
    1
  2548.  @shinybaldy  Oh wow. I'll have to get in touch with the shadier side of Japan and find out!
    1
  2549. It's really a numbers game. In such a large area, there is always something bad to report on.
    1
  2550. I actually do have this video planned. I was supposed to film earlier this year but it got COVIDED. I'm hoping when things calm down, I can go and film that, probably early next year.
    1
  2551. I kind of covered it in my "A Guide to Your First Hour in Tokyo" video https://youtu.be/IsngamFa1ps. But I'm fairly sure there are lots of other people who made similar videos.
    1
  2552. Yes, you can cycle year round. The worst is actually the rainy season in June. I love the winter in Tokyo as it rarely goes below freezing and it's quite sunny. It's the summer in Tokyo that really sucks and makes me wish I was in Vancouver (although the area around Vancouver had some pretty intense heat and forest fires to the East.
    1
  2553. I'm not a big fan of driving around Tokyo. Outside of Tokyo in the countryside I can really enjoy driving, but inside of Tokyo, it's not the funnest. If you really want to get into nature, nature, not some landscaped nature, you have to travel a bit to get to such a space. Whereas in Canada, I feel we have lots of relatively untouched nature that's a lot easier to access.
    1
  2554. Hey to each their own.
    1
  2555. Generally, the basic bikes have locks on them, as you saw. For the more expensive road bikes, people will usually use a chain to lock it to something.
    1
  2556. Thanks!
    1
  2557. I used to, but too many people don't know how to turn them on and I can't force them to turn on automatically, so a lot of viewers stop watching once it turns into Japanese unless I have them hardcoded like I do (vs. softcoded like you want and like I used to do).
    1
  2558. That's honestly a question better left to my sensei, who actually has some fashion sense. All I can generalize with is that in comparison to US/Canada, the base level or dress is more tidy and that there's a lot of uniform wearing. I guess makeup is generally more toned down, as well as piercings and dyed hair. Big difference is tattoos, since it was associated with the Yakuza (organized crime), so very few Japanese have tattoos. But as to the actual fine details of stuff, no clue.
    1
  2559. Luckily it's on YouTube! https://youtu.be/T15ijlK_wvM (the name I used as a source is not the official translation of the show - I couldn't find it, so I tried to translate it as close as possible). This is show name in Japanese: 就活生日記
    1
  2560. +starystarystary You're right, just deleted them :-)
    1
  2561. https://goo.gl/maps/AfX6E9KxemPqGV3Y9
    1
  2562. In the past 20 years I haven't been East of Winnipeg, so I'll have to make sure to visit areas like that whenever I make it out T.O some day in the future!
    1
  2563. It really depends on where you go. Maybe the really big ones do (or arcades with roofs), but as someone who drinks a lot and goes to the bathroom a lot, I feel like it's safe to say that the majority don't.
    1
  2564.  @ayeyeb4083  I hear ya!
    1
  2565. To be clear, I was saying that the decline of the number of shotengai is inevitable. If you only factor in the shrinking population, there's no way it's not going to decline. I believe shotengai will continue to survive, but there will be fewer of them in the future. Small businesses can very much thrive in the future, but it all depends on what they're offering and how. There are plenty of small businesses that can do away with overhead costs by working from home or selling online (which is basically what I do. If I had to rent a studio space I don't know if I'd be able to comfortably make ends meet).
    1
  2566. That's a good question to which I don't know the exact answer to!
    1
  2567. As long as it was open to traffic they probably didn't think much at all!
    1
  2568. Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. If you're going to have your shutters closed, it'd be nice to have something on them that'll help brighten up the place.
    1
  2569. Which area is this? Commercial Drive? West 4th? Curious.
    1
  2570. It was really nice to explore the shops with her!
    1
  2571. Awesome!
    1
  2572. "Maybe the shuttered shops could be a place to rest and eat all the snacks?" That's what I was thinking.
    1
  2573. Thanks!
    1
  2574. I think it's really tricky. I have bought a place in my 20's, worked for 50 years, and retired at 75, I don't think I'd be too inclined to move and I wouldn't probably want to deal with someone working below my house. I can understand why they don't. But yeah, to keep the shotengai lively, I think it would help a lot if they continued on as shops. Once there's a certain % that are shuttered it feels sad.
    1
  2575. Darumaya だるまや餅菓子店
    1
  2576. They actually don't get protection from huge stores anymore. That ended in 2000.
    1
  2577. I really like it. Favourite backlpack so far. I also like the tripod.
    1
  2578. No one knows when it'll open back up. It always seems a few months away.
    1
  2579. All good!
    1
  2580. I'd assume so.
    1
  2581. I think the kois are too big and fast. They always have a place to hide so it wouldn't be hard for them to tuck away somewhehere.
    1
  2582. They actually changed up their permanent residency requirements recently. I would like to interview a specialist dealing with visas and permanent residency some time this year.
    1
  2583. No idea about American tax law, but as a Canadian, I can confirm that you only need to pay taxes in the country you're resident of. However, there can be exceptions if you're working / doing business in both countries or have investments. But if you're straight up working as an employee and have no financial ties, you'd only pay taxes in the country you're working in as a resident.
    1
  2584. He talks in detail about it in the long version https://youtu.be/Yj855k5066o
    1
  2585. Good eye!
    1
  2586. Watch the long version or visit Eido's site http://www.turning-japanese.info. I believe you can be out of the country up to 100 days a year (but please double-check, I could be wrong). I don't know if it can be broken up, but I don't believe so.
    1
  2587. I haven't seen that, I'll have a look.
    1
  2588. I'm a permanent resident, and there are no requirements for giving up your citizenship for that. You get the majority of rights that a full on citizen would. The big non-emotional differences I can think of off the top of my head are being able to vote and being able to participate in politics or other government type positions that require citizenship.
    1
  2589. If you watch the long one https://youtu.be/Yj855k5066o, you'll find answers to both. Quick answers 1. Needs to use Japanese characters, but name can mostly be anything you want. 2. You can leave Japan, but the majority of the time needs to be spent living there.
    1
  2590. I do! the long version is on the X channel. Kids, they're playing in the backyard at the moment, as I will soon be doing as well :-)
    1
  2591. You do talk with the caseworker. Also, you need to be able to make a living in Japan (unless someone is supporting you). If you can find stable jobs with a not-so-great level of Japanese, than you're theoretically OK. If you look at the longer video, he talks more about it. Realistically though, if you really want to be a citizen and fit in, learning Japanese would be a good idea.
    1
  2592. +earlysda what you said is true. 10 years for permanent residency, 5 years for naturalisation. There are exceptions to both though. Example, being married for a long time meant I only needed 1 year for permanent residency and Eido only needed one year for naturalisation.
    1
  2593. +earlysda what you said is true. 10 years for permanent residency, 5 years for naturalisation. There are exceptions to both though. Example, being married for a long time meant I only needed 1 year for permanent residency and Eido only needed one year for naturalisation.
    1
  2594. If you watch the longer video (link in the description), you'll see a very detailed answer. You can have any name you want, but it has to be spelled out using Japanese characters.
    1
  2595. +RainAngel111 The hoodies are both from Uniqlo! Yeah, I wanted to do a kitchen tour type of video. I'm sure we'll get to it one day.
    1
  2596. +Evy Saunders Well, I do have some Spanish in me, so that would make sense that I look Mexican. I'm fairly sure part of my bloodline were part of the Spanish conquistadors who went to the Americas many centuries ago. Even though I'm half Chinese, I think only one person has ever guessed that correctly. People are way more likely to think I'm Filipino, Portuguese, Mexican, or Spanish.
    1
  2597. I actually did let people know I was coming. I posted it in the community section. That's how I met a bunch of locals who toured me around! But I didn't do a meetup, because, well, I just generally don't do that. Only did a small one once in Canada a couple years ago.
    1
  2598. Yeah, if you just walk like you belong there they sometimes don't even bother to check :-)
    1
  2599. Just under 20km.
    1
  2600. From what I read, half the commuters in the Philippines go by Jeepney (my memory may be wrong though). Jeepneys need to get licensed, but pretty much anyone can get one, so it's not well regulated at all. They do have their own routes, but there's not some central organization that plans them all. So in effect, they're not as efficient as they could be. Also in many places, they just drop and pick up wherever, although there are some places that are known where they'd go to. For the buses, it's what in Canada we'd consider a tourist or intercity bus that they mostly use. But a lot of roads can't handle the size of the bus, plus they are expensive to get, so Jeepneys fill a need. There are several rail systems, but they are either really slow and infrequent (PNR) or are at capacity, have long waits in rush hour (like the LRT or MRT), and there's simply not enough of them. There are apparently apps that can help with the unofficial transportation systems like Jeepneys and Trikes, but I also hear that it's really hard to know. So yes, there'd be a lot to talk about with a second video about traffic in the Philippines.
    1
  2601. I asked about the bicycles. I did see a very, very small amount of people use them. But the common answer I got was that it was too dangerous to use bicycles. Really surprised me, the lack of bicycle usage, because it's so popular here in Japan.
    1
  2602. I did a 5 part series on homelessness in Japan. Please have a look.
    1
  2603. Yeah, in the non-traffic videos I will do, I will probably compare Japan to the Philippines.
    1
  2604. Met someone from there but didn't make it all the way up there.
    1
  2605. I did for a couple stops, but it was in middle of day, so actually not bad. The PNR, though, that was TIGHT! Will be in a future video.
    1
  2606. Just like me!
    1
  2607. I believe that in part 1 the professor touched on mental health a bit. For those with really big mental health issues, they're already institutionalized. Beyond NPO's like Sanyukai, I don't know if there's any mental health and addiction support.
    1
  2608. It's in Japanese, but they do accept donations http://sanyukai.or.jp/donation.html.
    1
  2609. Not yet! If you speak the language, you can do it if you like :-) http://www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?v=OUNo06G3BeQ&ref=share
    1
  2610. Sanyukai does have an English portion to their website http://sanyukai.or.jp/english.html. They are one organization. If you're not located near where they are, I'm certain they must be in touch with other organizations that they could link you up with.
    1
  2611. Not anymore ;-)
    1
  2612. Yeah, I guess affordable is quite relative. The website will actually list prices http://www.hachise.com/. There's quite a range, depending on the location, size and condition of the property. It seems like you'd be starting from $300,000USD and going up from there.
    1
  2613. I kind of do have one. It's my Wife's Grandma's old place. It's called something like "What an old Japanese house is like".
    1
  2614. I did that edit totally on purpose, haha
    1
  2615. Here's the link http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/. Right now I don't know what future videos I'd like, but I'm thinking of trying to focus on a single creators for the next few ones. And by that I mean one creator per video.
    1
  2616. I was wondering the same thing! Maybe one day I'll get to visit (as a video maker, not an occupant).
    1
  2617. +G. Dub It does make sense. I hope the kids won't be stunted in their English abilities. Although, I think both Shin and Aiko do speak better English than when they left Canada, but it's hard for them to think about how they were 3 years ago. Shin is definitely better at reading now, since he couldn't really read when we left Canada and now he can. Aiko's reading is probably just a bit better than it used to be. Her writing though, I would agree with her that it hasn't improved.
    1
  2618. +Reena Carlos Wow! Devoted.
    1
  2619. Maybe it was someone else's. We've never had one in Aiko's school before.
    1
  2620. Homework video? I checked it and it's up...
    1
  2621. +colin brown I'd say difficult. Best way? You got me stumped. http://learnjapanesepod.com/how-difficult-is-japanese-to-learn/
    1
  2622. Yep, they definitely accept foreigners at d:matcha!
    1
  2623. I think it's two international, the rest Japanese. But yeah, in the inaka (countryside), anyone not from the area is an outsider, which I found fascinating. There are people there that are also from small towns, but not from that area, and they're also considered outsiders.
    1
  2624. It'd definitely be interesting to explore more small towns. I got the sense that a lot of the young people were advised by the older generation to leave town for better opportunities. Yeah, if it's not profitable, it's not sustainable. Which I guess is why every time Daiki-san mentioned about preserving history and culture, he also said in the same breath that you need to modernize things and run a profitable business.
    1
  2625.  @derrickheng564  I agree!
    1
  2626. You can find contact info on their site https://dmatcha.com/
    1
  2627. Yeah, it's like a 90 minute drive from Kyoto/Osaka.
    1
  2628. Yep, I had a previous video about the making of Japanese Green Tea https://youtu.be/S04_KBC8mIA and Rachel and Jun did make a video about d:matcha as well.
    1
  2629. The robotic tea harvester is very accurate according to this https://youtu.be/t6-m_3LRwX0
    1
  2630. Yeah, I'm excited for the new operations in Yubune.
    1
  2631. It's indeed a balancing act. Daiki-san said a lot that he has to preserve tradition and culture while also trying to modernize certain aspects and creating a sustainable business.
    1
  2632. Yeah, I don't think this kind of plan would work in most places.
    1
  2633. Daiki-san was talking about how the weather in Wazuka is really nice because of the mountains and the way the fog stays around. There are different elevations and they plant different cultivars that can do better in different environments or have different harvesting times. I can't see how climate change wouldn't have an effect.
    1
  2634. That's tough.
    1
  2635. That's right!
    1
  2636. You have to watch until the end 😀
    1
  2637. Really depends on location and quality. They're comparable from my experience, but someone feel free to step in and give a more definitive answer.
    1
  2638. It's a screen you pull down. So cuts out light, but not all the sound.
    1
  2639. Yep, haha
    1
  2640. Still allowed, but now there's a law on the books and many failed to comply and were delisted.
    1
  2641.  @Sally0602  Thanks. It's weird, I thought I had that in there but I didn't. So I fixed it. Cheers!
    1
  2642. Well to be exact I said tourists. Most tourists in Japan are Japanese :-)
    1
  2643. Thank you!
    1
  2644. I would generally agree that parking in Japan is a lot tougher than parking in Canada (can't speak for the U.S., but I know a lot of our city planning is similar). In Tokyo, definitely, going by car is almost always more inconvenient, which is why my family doesn't own one. But if we were to live in a smaller city, we'd be much more likely to own one.
    1
  2645.  @rachelk7784  By the way, I was playing around on Google Maps. Looking at where people actually live, if I go to the edge of where, let's just say, 90% of the people live, it's still not so bad going by public transit. Under an hour, but sometimes closer to 30-45 minutes. But yeah, totally agree, in smaller population centres owning a car can be necessary.
    1
  2646. I did a whole series on it!
    1
  2647.  @tankshot3256  Thanks for watching the Manilla Commute!
    1
  2648.  @akaiPi.3.14  Yeah, a different city to city comparison for commuting would have been a better comparison.
    1
  2649.  @kristinesharp6286  Yeah, there are cities with population sizes that are similar AND are also NOT within major metropolitan areas. But I don't think I would find a city that's as sprawled out as Indianapolis but has a similar population size.
    1
  2650. There are Subtitles, just turn them on :-)
    1
  2651. You can close the door and spray everywhere, no shower curtains necessary :-)
    1
  2652. I think at the very end I showed another house that has a small rooftop patio.
    1
  2653. I really wanted to find an actual clip of 'oo sugoi', but after 10 minutes I gave up.
    1
  2654. I've only seen it in homes that are designed for multiple generations. It'd be quite rare.
    1
  2655. Ah, my mistake. I had it in my research doc, but forgot to put it in the description. Thanks for the reminder! ● UN data on crime: https://data.unodc.org/ ● Burglary country comparison: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/society/burglaries.aspx
    1
  2656. Condos in Tokyo are very common, will try to arrange a video on one.
    1
  2657. If you go outside of major cities, you can get used houses for much cheaper.
    1
  2658. I'll do a video about it, but I'd say the norm is about 1,000 square feet or so for a house that size.
    1
  2659. It's the caulking that cracks, not the siding. There are homes that can be had for 300K or less. This house was for above average income earners. Houses built nowadays should have no problem lasting the life of the owners if maintained properly.
    1
  2660. Yeah, they could.
    1
  2661. That video Rachel & Jun did was awesome. Had me LOL in real life.
    1
  2662. As far as I know, anyone with money can buy.
    1
  2663. It's masu, and it's a polite end for verbs.
    1
  2664. Oh, I don't know if it was subtle ;-)
    1
  2665. They might be back in the next video. Working on several vids at the moment, so it just depends on what ends up getting finished first :-)
    1
  2666. If you dig around in the settings, you can adjust the font, size, and colours :-)
    1
  2667. Yeah, if the power cut out, it would. I've seen people store spare water for flushing toilets (and spare water for drinking). A recommended earthquake kit item is a portable gas heater.
    1
  2668. Then turn them on :-) Just press the CC button.
    1
  2669. My Japanese is horrible in relation to the number of years I've been here. I'm trying to improve though. I understand the basic idea of what the agent would be saying, but I'm at the level where I'd miss the little details, some of which are important or interesting.
    1
  2670. Unless I completely misunderstood the agent, he's talking about a single person's income. Median family income is about 43K in that area of Tokyo.
    1
  2671. Nope. If they fall down, they're down. But, they are designed to sway, so maybe that's what you mean.
    1
  2672. Yep, lots of little parks scattered around and close-by. Bigger parks may be a 15-30 minute bike ride away.
    1
  2673. The square was the cover for the hole. The hole is a service area so that you can access things like the water hoses.
    1
  2674. Correct!
    1
  2675. Thanks for the support!
    1
  2676. Don't know about the cost per square foot, but it's prefab in the sense that all the wood is pre-cut at a factory, and then quickly assembled on site. For more expensive / custom construction, they do have more pre-fab like construction where the walls are all built in a factory and assembled on site.
    1
  2677.  @byzantineladybug9471  Nope, the toaster has been all good!
    1
  2678. @First Last Yes, you could use an oven mitt. I feel like a better designed device would have made an easier to open latch (I really think that latch was a bit defective since the other side and other box weren't nearly as hard to open). Also, they could have had something like a little handle or some plastic part you could hold to deal with the heat (the box is metal, which is why it's so hot).
    1
  2679. The heating element is below the eggs. I think it would take longer to cook without the cover. I don't think you need to use the cover.
    1
  2680. An old video of a Japanese egg processing plant https://youtu.be/BwMFMqE4UMM
    1
  2681. Don't know, sorry...
    1
  2682. You can use the Suica on the JR line, and in fact, most lines in Japan. You have to return Suica to a JR station though.
    1
  2683. YES! I've done it several times myself. Once was really in a dicey situation, where I was on the small island of Amami Oshima, between Okinawa and Kyushu, and didn't have enough cash. MY RBC card worked like a charm!
    1
  2684. Clothes shopping, never thought about that.
    1
  2685. That's for another video!
    1
  2686. For the IC card return, I'll have to doublecheck with another return, but I think I got everything back no fee charged. Look at https://www.pasmo.co.jp/en/use/repayment/. There is a 220 JPY fee charged for PASMO Commuter passes that are returned. But a Named or Blank one shouldn't get dinged.
    1
  2687. Thanks. Good luck with the visit! What I've seen people do, is become a Patron for a single month, and then stop your subscription after the first charge. This requires you to remember to cancel, but Patreon does give you a reminder when you're being charged, so hopefully it's not too hard to remember.
    1
  2688. +Laxen would be great, but unfortunately this isn't possible with maps in Tokyo. 😞
    1
  2689. Really. I've had to connect to it a few times, and I've had family members do the same in order to contact me before they got out of customs, and I don't recall having any issues. Is this recent? But yeah, overall, I don't trust the WiFi in Japan, too spotty. And customs took hours? That's too bad. I've never seen myself or my family experience that over dozens of flights, but perhaps the arrival times of planes from Vancouver don't occur during busy times at the airport.
    1
  2690. Thanks for the suggestion.
    1
  2691. Any ATM is fine
    1
  2692. I've read the same thing about Project Fi, that it's pretty decent in Japan. Never used it though.
    1
  2693. Only 200 yen for 10 minutes!
    1
  2694. You'll probably end up going on the wrong train? Even my wife who has grown in up Tokyo does it on occasion when traveling to new places.
    1
  2695. Nothing against NEX. If it works for you it works :-) I had to kind of pick one option for each piece of advice, so I was going with what I thought was simplest, but also what I knew best.
    1
  2696. Yeah, some of the train signs do end up being in Kanji only, although I'm surprised to hear that one going from the airport is. I don't even know the colors. I generally follow Google Maps and then catch the train that shows up on time. What I have found quite helpful is knowing the names of different places, because it can be confusing to know which track to go on. I think I've traveled enough in the past 5 years that I mostly choose correctly when traveling around Tokyo (but not always!). Yeah, if you can say something like kono densha ha Asaksua ni ikimasuka (この電車は浅草に行きますか), you'd be able to get the help you need.
    1
  2697. Description. I created a whole website page and PDF you can download.
    1
  2698. Well, I agree with you :-) You're right, if you have currency they want like USD or perhaps Chinse Yuan, you can get an OK rate at the right place. But I had to try and go with some safe and simple, so that's why the ATM suggestion. For travelling out of the airport, it really depends where you're going and how long your flight way and how much you're willing to pay. Flights from Vancouver are only around 9 hours, so not nearly as bad as yours.
    1
  2699. I'll think about it.
    1
  2700. You can get Suica on your phone using the app but I've never been successful at it. As far as I know, you need a phone that was purchased in Japan to enable this. I've gotten Nexus and Pixel phones, which aren't manufactured specifically for the Japanese market, so no mobile Suica for me.
    1
  2701. 4 brothers, there are five of us boys in total! The only to have not visit me yet is coming this spring!
    1
  2702. It's one IC card per person :-)
    1
  2703. Wow, OK. I did read the same thing, that's a withdrawal limit, but I'm actually surprised it's not per day. Good to know!
    1
  2704. Yep, hotels and reservations will definitely be another video!
    1
  2705. Oh cool, didn't remember that. I've bought it a few times, but it's over a half decade since I've been able to (you need to be a non-resident to get it).
    1
  2706. You can use the Icoca card in Tokyo. Don't think you can return it in Tokyo though.
    1
  2707. Oh, interesting, thanks for the heads up!
    1
  2708. +hinataaozora That's the standard in most places. I bring my own towels all the time.
    1
  2709. I used GEOlayers 3 and Google Earth Studio.
    1
  2710. I'm looking into this.
    1
  2711. Well, it's not called a village in Japan. All those "villages" are part of the town of Kofu. There are villages in Japan though, it's just that it's not what I was showing.
    1
  2712. It's there now!
    1
  2713. Honestly, no clue. Living in a town for a few months on a tourist visa should be relatively easy. But for longer term stays, I don't know. You'd need some kind of visa that would allow you to do so.
    1
  2714. Added Tottori to the thumbnail!
    1
  2715. I think the internet is just fine, but I'm double checking that. For what to do, I think most young people go to Yonago for entertainment.
    1
  2716. Yes, they do. https://www.town-kofu.jp/ebiclinic/
    1
  2717. Don't know, but I'm asking.
    1
  2718. Oh wow, didn't know this was a thing. She'll be happy to hear. Maybe she started the trend years ago!
    1
  2719. It wasn't an egg. It was mentaiko (spicy cod roe) :-)
    1
  2720. It's actually 空きにくい。I won't get easily hungry (because rice is filling) - Ms. Lam
    1
  2721. Wow, really being an adult in Japan. It's stressing me out already!
    1
  2722. What!!!!
    1
  2723. Interesting question. Probably incredibly hard to get real footage of, but I think we could manage to interview people and then perhaps shoot some of the situations they talk about. This would be an interesting challenge.
    1
  2724. No, she's been on our channel many times over the years. But she'll be helping make videos here often.
    1
  2725. Thank you very much for watching and supporting us:) - Ms. Lam
    1
  2726. Thank you very much for watching and supporting us:) I talked on the microphone for "Have you tried Tonkatsu ? video. I really don't like my stuffy voice. If I looked like Kitagawa Keiko, I 'd totally be in front of the camera! - Ms. Lam https://youtu.be/xgPKrJUo7Oo
    1
  2727. Will try to.
    1
  2728. Well she had all the mise-en-place done the night before, as she mentioned in the vid. So she only had to do the cooking part.
    1
  2729. I think it's per day, per person. That's how most accommodations work in Japan.
    1
  2730. In January, so before your trip!
    1
  2731. It's there, but you can't really see it from the picture. It's on the side you can't see from the street.
    1
  2732. Sorry, you must have seen the automatic subtitles generated by YouTube. I just deleted those. The English one manually created by me should be relatively good. Thanks!
    1
  2733. I don't know if it was the right way to caption, but he was saying cross in English, so I wanted to somehow distinguish that. But yeah, you understood what I did correctly.
    1
  2734. That was along the JR Sobu line. There are many along that line. We happened to film that at JR Kinshicho station. The one where I ate at was at Futako-tamagawa station on the Tokyu line.
    1
  2735. Yeah, we'll be eating toshikoshi soba in a few days!
    1
  2736. Yeah, it'd be in Japanese for this one.
    1
  2737. Never did a video, it was a shot from a personal family vacation after the New Year. I did, however, shoot some footage in Akita for a project, but it's been delayed indefinitely until visitors are able to more safely enter the country, so I have no clue when I'll be able to post that.
    1
  2738. I didn't know what CERB meant (Canada Emergency Response Benefit), but I pay taxes only in Japan, so I wouldn't be eligible. But because I do pay taxes and reside in Japan, each of my family members gets 100,000 JPY (which is like $1,225CAD right now).
    1
  2739. The numbers are almost certainly lower because testing is limited, so you can't do a direct comparison vs. other countries. However, provided alternate data, like excess mortality and hospital bed occupancy, I think it's fair to say that virus isn't rampant at the moment. It doesn't mean it's not around, it is, but for the moment it seems to be in check and not reproducing at an exponential rate, which is the best we can wish for.
    1
  2740. Thanks for the feedback. I did try to stick to the chronological timeline as much as possible, but there were a few stories that stretched a significant period of time, like the Diamond Princess cruise ship, that felt easier to tell in one chunk.
    1
  2741. Article link is on my website in the transcription https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/lwif-ep147-tokyos-coronavirus-timeline-covid-19-in-japan/, but it's that Japanese thought toilet paper was made in Japan. The truth was that the majority of toilet paper sold in Japan is made in Japan.
    1
  2742. I'll say that the Japanese culture is less huggy and touchy feely, so that could be helping. But at the same time, I think the biggest danger is transmission through breathing/speaking/coughing/sneezing, so I think Japanese friends and family normally communicate closely enough where it wouldn't be much of an advantage. I've actually had to physically distance myself from a number of family and acquaintances alike who don't seem to know that 2m (6 feet) social distancing exists. As for suicides, I'd have to check some news sources, but I recall hearing the opposite, that suicides are actually lower right now.... and yep, the dropped 20% in April, but there are worries that they might spike later https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/17/national/social-issues/japan-suicides-coronavirus/#.XtxD2jozb8A
    1
  2743. Interesting, thanks for the input. So you're basically saying it's be more of a correlation thing. Like being obese, you'd be more likely to have diabetes, which means you'd be at a greater risk of having complications with COVID-19.
    1
  2744. I cover that in the video. But the quick answer is no. There were a lot of reasons why the government didn't have high testing numbers, but I believe the main reasons were due to a lack of testing kits available and existing laws around handling infectious diseases which had strict guidelines. Those guidelines meant you needed to have been in contact with someone or someplace with the virus AND show symptoms or be really sick for four days. Even then, there were only so many places set up to handle infectious diseases, so many places wouldn't want to see patients. Also, there was initially a requirement to hospitalize all people who tested positive, so I believe as part of a strategy to keep the hospitals from overflowing, they recommended that people with mild symptoms stay home instead. Later on, after May 6th, they did ease up on restrictions and get hotel rooms for those with mild symptoms, plus more testing kits, but overall, testing is still low. This all being said, was the government concerned about high numbers because of the Olympics. I have no doubt they were. But as the facts continue to come out, there hasn't been an increase in excess mortality (so more deaths than usual) in Tokyo up until then end of March, and the amount of infected of those tested is relatively low (around 2% right now), so I can't really buy that there was some big coverup. You can find Tokyo specific data at https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/ and overall Japan data at https://covid19japan.com/
    1
  2745. No, it's definitely not over. I am though, trying to document a specific moment in time, which is set from when we first heard about cases in Japan until the end of the state of emergency in Tokyo (and maybe it'll end up being the first one, and a second one will hit).
    1
  2746.  @BrogeKilrain  For that story, was it the American government or the Japanese government that did that? There was so much news, it was hard to follow. But in general the whole Diamond Princess handling was a fiasco. On the Japanese side I know some patients who later tested positive were sent home on public transport.
    1
  2747. Yeah, I'm sure there were cases earlier, but the first official positive was confirmed on January 16, 2020.
    1
  2748. Interesting, this is the first time I've heard of opening up travel between Hawaii and Japan. I've heard talk of other places, like New Zealand. I have to imagine that some kind of testing and/or quarantine for people entering during initial reopening would be a half decent way of starting things back up.
    1
  2749. I don't have family and friends in a similar situation as yours, but I definitely felt a huge disconnect between what my family was doing in Canada, what I was hearing in the news about Italy and New York, and then things being seemingly normal here in Tokyo (at least before the state of emergency).
    1
  2750. I honestly can't say as to why Japan has avoided a bigger outbreak, but I'm thankful it didn't get as bad as some were predicting. However, both the government and people did change the way the went about their daily lives, so I can't doubt they had an effect in flattening the curve. As for the future, yeah, who knows what will happen. It feels like at least Tokyo is ready to tighten restrictions again if numbers begin to rise.
    1
  2751. True. Although truth be told, a lot of people received the masks as the state of emergencies were being lifted, so virtually everyone had to turn to alternate sources to protect themselves and others.
    1
  2752. It's all volunteer based, so as far as I know, they've constantly increased the number of languages from the start. I'm sure if there were volunteers for those languages they could be added. What the site is doing is compiling official statistics.
    1
  2753. I feel for you. I was thinking that it must have been so hard to be a teacher through all of this, never knowing what was going to happen next. I'm assuming it would have been so much less work and stress on your side if the kids actually had gone to school. All that while having kids of your own to worry about too. Thanks for all your work!
    1
  2754. It kinds of sounds similar to what Aiko and Shin are doing now. They started off last week going back for only an hour a day, and their class is split in to half its size. This week it'll be half days, and then the week after will be full days. There's some online stuff they were doing, but at least our public school system in our city doesn't have too much available online.
    1
  2755. I'm not too sure if I'd say hand washing is more regular than in North America. In comparison to Canadians, I feel like Canadians are better at the hand washing with soap. It's still very common (at least until the pandemic) for Japanese to quickly rinse at the taps. This is all anecdotal evidence though. I'm sure there must be some science studies that would give a better idea. But mask wearing, yeah, there's no doubt it's incredibly more prevalent in Japan than North America.
    1
  2756. If you're working with fresh, clean snow, then yeah, you can. I don't see how it's any different than drinking rain water that you cleanly collect.
    1
  2757.  @killroy255  No, I don't have any access to military bases. When I was in Okinawa I was filming outside of one of the entrances and one of the soldiers got upset.
    1
  2758. It would be fine being dropped in the snow. I was being a little dramatic. But you would definitely not want to lose something like keys there, because the chance of finding it again would be.... I don't want to think about it. The camera is big enough that I don't think I would lose it in the snow.
    1
  2759. Yes, the newer homes with proper insulation do get by with just the heat pump. I'll cover this in part 3.
    1
  2760. Well, I'll cover heating and how they do it. Costs... I may be able to check and see.
    1
  2761. Yes, children still walk to school like anywhere else in Japan. And I did ask about snow days and apparently it's very rare to have one. The kids in Japan go in groups to school (at the elementary level).
    1
  2762. Wow, that must have been so much fun!
    1
  2763. Kids go to them... (joking, but yes, they do go to school just like any other kids. I asked and it's very rare to have a snow day where there's such bad weather that kids don't go to school).
    1
  2764. I'll try and touch on it in part 3. Beyond waterproof boots it doesn't seem like they were anything out of the ordinary for winter (in comparison to what I'm used to seeing in Canada). Strollers can be used but it really depends on the conditions of the ground you're travelling on.
    1
  2765. There are mudrooms. In my mind I didn't equate them with the windbreak rooms. But I do admit they serve similar functions.
    1
  2766. The glimpse I got was quite interesting. Unfortunately I didn't film it as he was set to only show me the outdoor part. The only reason I went inside was to experience climbing out the second story window.
    1
  2767. My guess is that you'd need room to store the snow blower and you'd also want to have enough sidewalk and driveway to make it worthwhile. If you don't have enough snow to clear, it can be more troublesome to get out the snowblower than it is to simply clear the snow with a shovel, pusher, or scoop.
    1
  2768. https://youtu.be/-yUCZfwpIww
    1
  2769. I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Perhaps my memory is super off, but I don't recall visiting many homes that have the same kind of big room in front of the house. The closest thing I can think of are sun rooms or enclosed veranda's. Definitely not ubiquitous like it is in Aomori city.
    1
  2770. Black will not reflect the heat of the sun and thus melt the snow a lot better than a white mat.
    1
  2771. I almost always use the metric system, but for measuring the height of snow, 20 feet sounded a lot better than 6 metres to me.
    1
  2772. Having lived in snowy locations (Winnipeg and Whistler) the answer is fairly simple. You dress for the weather and go. It's only in the most severe storms that you might decide it's unsafe to go out and stay at your location. But that's quite rare. It's kind of like if you're from a rainy location. You can use an umbrella, you can have a rain jacket and pants, and you can still go out when it's raining hard. But if you get a huge storm coming through you might decide it best to stay indoors if you can.
    1
  2773. If there's snow, you shovel before work. And after work, you shovel when you get home. So basically you have to get up early in the morning in case you have to shovel snow, and if there's no snow, you can sleep in longer if you want.
    1
  2774. +Koroeskohr My four year old niece speaks better than I do. So that's my level of Japanese at the moment. - The Dad
    1
  2775. +david plas Enjoy your trip!
    1
  2776. +MrChochomama That's true, although growing up in Canada I would have to say that sandwiches were the number one food I saw other students eat. I hate sandwiches. - The Dad
    1
  2777. +TheRedLobsterMan Yeah, I was thinking it would be interesting to gather some Japanese kids and have them try things from non-Japanese cultures. Food would be an easy one to do, but perhaps some games or other things would work as well. - The Dad
    1
  2778. +ozdoits Thanks for responding!
    1
  2779. +tokanite You mean option A? ;-)
    1
  2780. +Robert Cheung Yep, there's a Costco outside of Tokyo that we visit every couple months. - The Dad
    1
  2781. +木ノ下じょな You're English writing seems native (I don't know whether you're a native English speaker or not). What we did with Aiko and Shin was to have me (the English speaker) talk to the kids in English while the mother (the Japanese speaker) talk to the kids in Japanese. It worked really well, as the kids changed languages depending on which parent they were speaking to. We always had books and tv shows in both languages, so they got exposure to both. When they hit school age in Canada, we sent the kids once a week to Japanese school. When they moved to Japan when they were 5 and 7, they were behind native Japanese kids, but in the two years I think they've almost caught up. Their English proficiency isn't progressing as much as it would as it would have had they remained in Canada, so I'm now trying to do extra work in that area. With Shin, we started reading I See Sam books (https://www.iseesam.com/). This has gone really well. 6 months ago Shin couldn't read and now he's on Set 4 of the books. For Aiko, writing is what she struggles with. I'm using those I See Sam books to teach her how to spell, as I'll read the stories and then she'll write them out. We just started this, so I can't comment on how well it's working. I tried getting her to write stories about questions I ask her, but think having to simultaneously think of something to write plus try to write it was too much. Her reading, listening, and speaking levels are way above her writing level, so I'm now trying to get her to write at a lower level with the I See Sam books. I See Sam is a structured progression, so the stories gradually get harder and harder, but not at a pace that's too fast. - The Dad
    1
  2782. +Operibus Antinux I wonder if it's because if you're viewing content in English, a lot of English speaking countries have many European aspects to it? Living in Canada, I was surrounded by Europeans from England, Scotland, Ireland, Ukraine, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, etc... So when I see images or hear people talk about their lives in various European countries, they don't seem so different to what I've known in Canada - At least not in comparison to the lives of people living in Africa or Asia. Looking at Japanese media, I would say there's lots of interest in Europe, and it seems like a popular tourist destination. - The Dad
    1
  2783. +Megan R That's nice to hear, thanks for sharing. I hope you make it back for a visit with your family - The Dad
    1
  2784. +0kamisama Looks like an interesting (and long) read. I'll have to sit down and check it out! - The Dad
    1
  2785. +0kamisama I'm not too sure why eggs are popular additions. It makes sense that they would do it for protein. Tofu and fish are popular protein additions. - The Dad
    1
  2786. +Faith S Half Chinese, part Scottish, part English, part Spanish, and probably some other stuff. In other words, Canadian :-)
    1
  2787. +ihascakez BBBBBUUUUUUMMMMMPPPPP
    1
  2788. +santa4ever222 I'm thinking that no matter whether it's once-a-month or in every video, I'd have to focus on a select few stories (instead of trying to show little snippets of each one). - The Dad
    1
  2789. +Kaeli Zweber Hmm... There's probably lots of mythology videos that could be made. Thanks for the idea. - The Dad
    1
  2790.  @Ann_niana  Here's the export stats https://www.statista.com/statistics/1193746/japan-plastic-waste-export-volume/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20the%20export%20volume,countries%20banned%20plastic%20waste%20imports. There was so much data I left out. The export stats weren't on purpose. Looking at the trend after China banned the import of plastics, it would have actually made Japan look good if I would have included them, as they've dropped the number from 1,431,000 tonnes in 2017 to 623,000 tonnes in 2021. It really was more of a matter of having so much data that I sometimes didn't know what to leave in vs. cut.
    1
  2791. I don't notice anything...
    1
  2792. I don't think so. As far as I can tell it's back to pre-pandemic times.
    1
  2793. https://www.rienzome.co.jp/
    1
  2794. Sure. it's https://www.rienzome.co.jp/
    1
  2795.  @yukononun  Did you try watching the tutorial video I made? https://youtu.be/ii_0ZGNpdkE
    1
  2796. Unfortunately for the U.S. and some other countries the only affordable option to ship was by SEA (like on a boat), so the expected arrival date is probably in November. Before COVID hit, you could ship to the U.S. for under $10. Now it's about $30 to do it by air mail, so that obviously couldn't work for the $40 shipping included price. Sadly we didn't find out about this until we were trying to ship them out. In any case, sorry for the wait.
    1
  2797. You should be able to now!
    1
  2798. Well, I really hope that’s not the case with this one!
    1
  2799.  @NamelessMonster  That would be this link then https://www.rienzome.co.jp/tenugui/
    1
  2800.  @samerrabadi  The link is still there, but here it is again https://shop.lifewhereimfrom.com/
    1
  2801. Yep! Link is in the description.
    1
  2802. Todaya Shoten https://www.rienzome.co.jp/
    1
  2803. There currently aren't any plans for a second run.
    1
  2804. Different kanji and pronunciation. Female Chief Manager / proprietress / landlady = 女将 = Okami whereas Wolf = 狼 = Ōkami
    1
  2805. At some places you can say your preferences and they can change what they'll give you. I can almost assure you they'd serve you fish if you didn't say anything, and I don't think you'd get into any huge issues by not eating it. We've been unable to eat everything at places.
    1
  2806. I actually deleted the part where I explain in more detail about what you did. Thanks for adding it back in these comments. I understand it's the byproduct of chlorine and organic matter that causes itchy eyes and stuff like that, but even with a fresh, never entered pool, you're saying that smell isn't chlorine?
    1
  2807. Oh, the Canadian one?
    1
  2808. Yeah, I've never been in ones that hot, but have seen people enter them. I think I might have gotten up to 46°C or something.
    1
  2809. But you saw the son at the end!
    1
  2810. They have prices on booking.com https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/tosimayayue-bang-notang.html. Per person it seems like the lowest packages start at about $135USD per night. Our package was more around the $200USD range. You can also go directly to their site (but you'd need to know Japanese) at https://www.tukihama.co.jp/
    1
  2811. You can go to an English site at https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/tosimayayue-bang-notang.html or to their Japanese site at https://www.tukihama.co.jp/. Per person it seems like the lowest packages start at about $135USD per night. Our package was more around the $200USD range.
    1
  2812. In general, many onsens don't allow tattoos because they were associated with Yakuza (Japanese gangsters). Of course, tourists are not Yakuza gangsters, but it can make the older generations uncomfortable. There are onsens in Japan that explicitly allow tattoos (just google and you can find some info). There are others that have private facilities, like this, where you won't have an issue with tattoos. If you have a small tattoo that can be covered with a waterproof bandage (think something like 2x2 inches), then I've had relatives that have never had an issue going to any place. But to make sure I answer your question clearly, if you go here, use the in-room bath or the family bath, not the public bath.
    1
  2813. He says he's struggling a lot with staffing. Can't find any staff.
    1
  2814. Yeah, I was wondering about that too. If you read Japanese, you'll see that his startup costs were 30,000,000 yen. Perhaps the depreciation was in the other part of the expenses section? I'd be really interested in getting a more general picture of costs, but for this video I realized that no matter what figures I ended up finding out, it would be a generally true statement that independent ramen shop owners work long hours and are not getting conventionally rich from it. Like even if he made double the profit, that's still not a ton of money for everything you have to sink in.
    1
  2815. It'd be interesting to see the video. Have a link? 300K debt over 6 years is 50K a year (not accounting for interest), so definitely clearable with a place that is doing well.
    1
  2816. I was thinking that yeah, if you raised prices by $1 dollar a bowl, that'd be enough to decently pay your staff and yourself better. But with the competition so intense, it seems like owners feel like they can't. I'd personally be happy to pay the extra if I knew it was going to a better quality of life for the people working there.
    1
  2817. True. Technically I didn't do anything bad to the knives, it was my kids and brother-in-law. But I still felt that I should have know more to be able to teach them the simple step of washing and drying after use.
    1
  2818. Yes, Jun does have Ryusen Hamono knives. I asked him if I could use his footage in my video and he told me how he owned some. Thanks for the encouragement with the Japanese.
    1
  2819. I've actually come across a few of his videos in the many, many hours of knife videos I watched!
    1
  2820. I think I'm too far into it now! I don't think I'll be making any more purchases for a long time. I'm actually having some family friends bring their knives over so I can sharpen them. I already did my mother-in-law's and she's quite happy with the results.
    1
  2821. For some of the shots I did, but the majority for this video was with my 16-35mm F4 lens (which is actually the most expensive lens I have, but since it's all arounder, it's not as crisp and good in low light as my prime lenses).
    1
  2822. Just a warning. The sharpening steel is OK for Western knives (softer steel), but for the harder steel of the Japanese knives, I'm told you don't want to use sharpening steel.
    1
  2823. Yeah, I found that as well. Sharpening is tough because of the bolster.
    1
  2824. https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    1
  2825. https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    1
  2826. https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    1
  2827. He's in the latest video about Canadian parks!
    1
  2828. https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    1
  2829. https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    1
  2830. https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    1
  2831. https://kit.com/lifewhereimfrom/youtube-filming-gear
    1
  2832. I showed two!
    1
  2833. If it's' the old guy with shades, then I see it in the background on occasion. I don't really watch Japanese (or any TV) for that matter.
    1
  2834. Just a regular day.
    1
  2835. Yeah, I'm no expert on it, but when I have vegetarian friends and family visit, it can be tricky, especially if you're trying to go outside of Tokyo or to independently run places. Most seem to settle on being OK with dashi or bonito flakes (fish) being used. Because if you want your food without that, your choices become very limited.
    1
  2836.  @susanpurcell3120  Yep. The option should be there if you go to the store.
    1
  2837. ***** I've never seen a garbage disposal unit, but I'm not saying they don't exist. - Aiko's Dad
    1
  2838. Zeus Jupiter Oh, that's good to know. I didn't know that Indonesian sinks are similar. - Aiko's Dad
    1
  2839. ***** If you want! - Aiko's Dad
    1
  2840. Some will provide soap and shampoo, while others you'll have to bring your own (or buy little versions from the counter). Some people just bring their own anyways. Same goes for towels in that you bring your own, but can rent or buy small ones if you didn't.
    1
  2841. What you didn't know is that I did in fact pick it up and gave it to him in the next room.
    1
  2842. Thanks! I didn't have much expectations going into it, so I can't set it's different than what I expected. But I really wished I could have captured some inside the bath scenes as that's where the customers would chat a lot. But of course I wasn't able to film people bathing, haha!
    1
  2843. You definitely shave, shampoo, soap up, file away dead skin from your feet, etc.... at the cleaning stations. Then you go into the bath parts when you're all clean.
    1
  2844. Yeah, I found this good article that talks about the process and has good pictures https://bike-plus.com/pages/attention-bringing-bike-to-train
    1
  2845. If you're talking about the adult tricycles, then you can get them with pedal assist (but I've seen versions without, as well as versions with 3 gears and versions with only the one).
    1
  2846. I'll be making a video about this next year!
    1
  2847. Yeah, I understand the times can be variable. When Barno and Sherzod were doing it near the beginning of the video, it showed that it took them roughly three minutes to do the Sunnah and 3 1/2 minutes to do the Farz. But that wasn't as obvious as when I asked Ismail again how long he takes.
    1
  2848.  @baloch4912  Oh, how coincidental!
    1
  2849. Quenching was what the knife makers told me. Some things can get lost in translation, so I double checked, and as far as I can tell, it is quenching that is happening. Look at the Wikipedia entry for quenching, and it involves both the heating and cooling. All the best!
    1
  2850. Nope, coke.
    1
  2851. You could always try the subtitles.
    1
  2852. Even the private owned, most fancy places hang dry laundry. I don't even know if there are any high-end residential buildings that don't have balconies where you could do your laundry on.
    1
  2853. When I went to the apartment history hall at UR and read their history, UR built places for workers that were coming to cities en masse. I think those workers were considered the middle class back then. Nowadays, if you were starting out at a factory, the wages you'd make would probably not be enough to qualify for UR units, at least in major cities. If you were a manager or supervisor, then I'd assume you'd fall into that middle class category.
    1
  2854. My guess from memory is about 80 per building, but I could be off. I've seen clusters of 5-10 buildings like this in a lot of places. I should have included more of the maps for the places to show how many buildings there are in each complex.
    1
  2855.  @jadecummings8093  This is what I do now... so yes?
    1
  2856. @Roxas in Japan / Roxas Rosenkrantz Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. I was talking about how the danchi were often built as communities, not stand alone complexes, hence the image.
    1
  2857. Sorry. But also, it's a Japanese teen drama. Of course it'll have some happy ending. I'd be really shocked if there weren't one.
    1
  2858. Vinnie Chu  Yeah, I could do the broll thing. That's essentially what I do for voice overs. With this one I was trying to push myself by doing it in single takes. The end was supposed to be a single take but I was running out of time. I didn't like some of my on camera presentations, too fast, but I think I learned a lot making this video.
    1
  2859. Just FYI, the concept for the video was done independently of the sponsorship. They had no control over my content (beyond the ad read part, which was fairly obvious). Since I talk about Japanese culture in nearly all my videos, any one of my videos would have fit well with a Japanese history course (which is the course I independently chose to talk about). This is the reason I took the sponsorship, because it's a product I use, that I can recommend, and they don't negatively effect the content that I put out. Make sense?
    1
  2860. Hahaha, sorry
    1
  2861. Haha, you have a good memory... or you just watched a previous video.
    1
  2862. It was a joke
    1
  2863. Nope, not even close, but thanks for the kind words.
    1
  2864. Hahaha
    1
  2865. Thanks, good luck with the move!
    1
  2866. Vanessa R  Well, I'll try and find out some more information (and when I say this, maybe you might see a video ONE year later), so don't be waiting for a video anytime soon :-)
    1
  2867. I'd be very interested in this type of research. On the one hand, I feel like Japanese get sick just as much as Canadians. But on the other, their worn in hospitals, so they must be wearing for a reason...
    1
  2868. Oh yeah, I agree that younger kids would end up watching South Park or Ren & Stimpy. The contrast I was trying to make was the Japanese anime I was showing was for elementary school aged children. It wasn't for a teen audience. Totally get what you're saying though.
    1
  2869. Yeah, I'd say Simpsons is mainstream family stuff. But I thought South Park was more adult or at least teenager cartoons, no?
    1
  2870. My wife is told me the manga started as something for a more mature audience. The anime is currently Prime Time TV stuff that elementary school kids would watch.
    1
  2871. I apologize if you misunderstood my intentions. My point is that weird is in the eye of the beholder and there are many definitions for what "weird" is. It can be foreign, different, magical. So of course, of you're not from Japan, there will be things that are weird for a foreigner. Weird doesn't have to be a negative word. If you watch the other 100 videos I've made, you'd see that I think Japan is quite normal and it's a great place to live with great people. I hope that clears things up a bit. Cheers!
    1
  2872. Yes, definitely a kid's show for elementary school children. It's been going on a long time.
    1
  2873. Haha
    1
  2874. Yeah it actual is. It's Yokai watch.
    1
  2875. +Veronica So The kids are off of school at the end of next week, since it's the end of the school year. They'll be off for about a week before the new school year starts. In May, there's Golden Week, which is about a week of holidays (you may or may not get the time off, depending on where you work though).
    1
  2876. I sometimes do, but I just like the simplicity of not having to worry about what to have for breakfast, and muesli and plain yoghurt is fairly healthy. 
    1
  2877. Yeah, I think it depends on your expectations. If I want some relative peace and quiet I go to the riverbank or a park. That's usually good enough for me. But yeah, getting out into the countryside is nice and I'd like to do more of it.
    1
  2878. Haha, you'll be fine. This was a very specific incident in a very specific place. I've otherwise never been attacked by birds.
    1
  2879. This was a small one and no one was there. You would definitely want to ask permission. The only one's I've been able to video or photograph were private family one's (since no one would be there).
    1
  2880. Nope. In fact, you can shave at one if you like. Most will sell or provide disposable razors.
    1
  2881. There's a whole video about it on this channel. Just search it and you'll see :-)
    1
  2882. I talked about this in one of our old FAQ videos. I might be doing a video specifically about this sometime this year though. Would be interesting to do one of those DNA tests.
    1
  2883. I LOVE bike riding!
    1
  2884. Sitting on the floor for more than 10 minutes really killed me when I first came. I generally have to shit my sitting position every so often. Since they were sitting for the video, I think they were trying to stay in the same position, so that's probably also why their legs hurt a bit.
    1
  2885. It really depends on where you are. If you're in parks or train stations, they won't be nearly as clean as in onsens, hotels, or restaurants. But overall the bathrooms are quite clean.
    1
  2886. They were here for 2 weeks. I think they experienced a good amount, but I've known singles or couples that day way more. It helps that they have locals to take them around, but with kids you can't easily travel as much as when you don't have them.
    1
  2887. I've been pleasantly surprised that all the people who've visited for the first time have really enjoyed their trip. I thought it'd be more hit and miss, but people seem to truly enjoy the experience.
    1
  2888. You won't get the same experience now, as that was only available for a few days during cherry blossom season. But really, if you look around, you can find plenty of scenic walking and biking paths, even in the city of Tokyo. I'll do a video about it sometime this year.
    1
  2889. I kind of want to to go back expressly to film kite attacks. That would be the whole video, much of it shot in a high frame rate so I could do slow motion :-)
    1
  2890. If you're at an onsen/sento (hot spring/public bathing house) it would be common to not put on your socks if your walking around the relaxation area or the dining area, which many of them have.
    1
  2891. I think my brother was fairly fine doing the videos. My sister-in-law was doing it to be nice to me. She said she doesn't mind answering the questions, but she'd rather write up a blog post than be on camera, especially since she likes to think about the answers for a while first. I totally understand, as I'd rather write out my ideas and think about them as well. That's why I do a lot of voice over work.
    1
  2892. I'll probably do a video about it, since so many people ask. Not anytime in the next couple of months though. Have other ideas I'm currently working on.
    1
  2893. You really just wear them awkwardly. Cram your toes in!
    1
  2894. I couldn't make this anymore, since I'm way too far removed. I first went to Japan nearly 20 years ago. I remember being blown away.
    1
  2895. Sorry to hear about your father. Third time's a charm?
    1
  2896. That's interesting. I don't generally bump into them, but besides specifically filming for this channel, I don't really go to tourist destinations that are popular with foreigners.
    1
  2897. I wonder if part of the reason is that you would need a tankless water heater?
    1
  2898. As far as I could see it went into the sewer system.
    1
  2899. Thanks for your insight OllamhDrab!
    1
  2900. Depends on the area. Some places have more sulphur content, which would smell.
    1
  2901. For an initial reaction, I'd agree, but for prolonged exposure, I'd say no. I've done many dips into hot and cold water and while you may be shocked at first, if it's possible to put your body in the temperature it'll get used to it fast. With this water there was no way I could keep my hand in longer than 2 seconds. Simply too hot.
    1
  2902. Poutine! Of course! Maple syrup! You betcha! My wife and I made a cross-Canada trip back in 2000.
    1
  2903. All the old stuff, like the walls and Château Frontenac. It has a very different feel than a lot of other Canadian cities, so I found it quite interesting. I grew in Winnipeg, so all of the prairie cities feel very similar. It was nice to visit Québec and have different architecture and city design.
    1
  2904. I've hiked a little bit in Vancouver (perhaps 10 different trails or so), but never in Québec (although I have visited the city).
    1
  2905. Not yet, we want to. It's a bit expensive to take the family out.
    1
  2906. Full details are at https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6054623. I just added the English captions, so the timings are set. This is quite new, but now you can automatically get credited for captions (as long as you turn on that setting in your profile) https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6392394.
    1
  2907. Thanks!
    1
  2908. It's hard if you're watching people, because many Japanese don't even follow the "correct" procedures.
    1
  2909. For the most part sounds very similar to Canada. I've never felt there was much of a social class difference, but maybe that's because I wasn't in the higher one :-)
    1
  2910. It was the same day as a big typhoon cleared. So some nice views for sure!
    1
  2911. Nope, as I said near the end, for the most part, I really enjoy them. There's a kind of freedom to the rules. Although, I don't think for a minute that I really understand all of Japanese culture or anything.
    1
  2912. 98% or 99% shot in Tokyo.
    1
  2913. I report all income to Japan, including Patreon and YouTube. I'm a permanent resident of Japan both immigration-wise and for tax purposes (they sometimes can be different).
    1
  2914. I'm fairly sure the boosted board will run you into trouble. I never seen them ridden on the regular streets. If you go to the riverbank or larger public parks you'd be okay probably. I do see kids on blade boards though, but they're generally local kids not travelling very far. Your best bet is probably a bike. They can go pretty much anywhere.
    1
  2915. Sony A7Sii. In stable conditions with good light, even cheaper cameras can look great. It really depends on the situation.
    1
  2916. Yes, I'm sure that's the case in most cultures. But I do think in Japan actions are a lot more subtle, so if you're used to American or Canadian culture, you can't read the situation at face value as much.
    1
  2917. I'm sure you'll be just fine :-)
    1
  2918. Look at the description. I always list music and it's in the order of appearance.
    1
  2919. Where are the no drone signs? I know in Tokyo it's pretty much banned unless you have the proper permits.
    1
  2920. We're going to YouTube studios to film something in their school set. So something is coming soonish :-)
    1
  2921. For Japanese traffic lights, it really depends on the street and situation. I think the majority do follow the signals though.
    1
  2922. Well, talking on the phone is pretty much frowned upon in the entire train. You shouldn't have any audible ringers on. Virtually no one talks on the phone, and if they do, they're probably quietly and quickly trying to do it. You can silently use your smartphone in all other parts of the train besides the priority area. But in practice, people usually use their smartphones in the priority area as well (even if the signs say not to). At least that's what I recall the signs indicating.
    1
  2923. Yes, Premiere Pro. The more I make videos, the more I respect what photographers can do. There are similarities, but I still find they're different skill sets.
    1
  2924. Thanks!
    1
  2925. Yeah, couldn't get to all the rules :-)
    1
  2926. I'm sure an adult could have rolled down if he wanted to.
    1
  2927. Yeah, they had a hill just for kids to roll down.
    1
  2928. That was the first night 😀
    1
  2929. Yes, it's in Izu.
    1
  2930. Yes! Freshly made!
    1
  2931. It's definitely a chimney. I'm pretty sure it was wood smoke coming out.
    1
  2932. Here you are http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/koku/uas.html
    1
  2933. And what makes you say that?
    1
  2934. There are programs in certain areas where they say it's OK to not buy anything and use it. Practically speaking, I always try to get something small, like a drink, when I use a toilet at a conbini. But there are times when I'm travelling a lot and I've stopped at 3 different Lawson's in one day and I didn't buy anything every single time I used the toilet. So, it's the polite and respectable thing to do to buy something, but nothing bad will happen if you don't.
    1
  2935. That was part of my point with the number of convenience stores across Japan. There are 44 per 100,000 residents. Just those alone provide amazing coverage. But if you add in train stations, malls, hotels, restaurants, cafes, and other places where you're expected to be a coverage, there's a lot.
    1
  2936. I was thinking the same thing. I only go number 2 out in public if I absolutely have to!
    1
  2937. In my whole time in Japan, I've only ever seen one pay toilet. It was in Karuizawa. I have it in the video at https://youtu.be/LDHAjwIZkXs?si=kCjzQ1VAQVTCunId&t=549
    1
  2938. Yeah, that's where my Mum got her DNA testing done.
    1
  2939. Hahaha
    1
  2940. Thanks. If it's the one of being Scottish, then yes, it's me.
    1
  2941. She did it via ancestry.com
    1
  2942. Sorry to hear about the discrimination.
    1
  2943. I put the map on because I don't think most people would know where Guyana is :-)
    1
  2944. The Chinese side came from Canton and the boats left from Hong Kong in the 1800's. The Portuguese got into the family while in British Guiana (modern day Guyana).
    1
  2945. Styling! It may have even been given to be by my father, who on occasion cut my hair. At some point our family got a shaver and you can see my shaved look somewhere in one of the pics.
    1
  2946. Yep, will cover that in the documentary.
    1
  2947. I'd probably do Great Britain (or whatever British sounding thing they have) and Chinese. Even though, like as seen in the video, I have virtually no Chinese culture. I have much more Caribbean / West Indian, but would never check that in the box.
    1
  2948. It was one of the very first videos we made.
    1
  2949. Good question. I think it depends on the quality of ingredients you use to make it from scratch and how much waste you have while making the food.
    1
  2950. I think they're about ¥250 depending on where you buy them.
    1
  2951. I think we always have some both in the freezer and fridge.
    1
  2952. We made natto in the breakfast video
    1
  2953. I'm fairly sure it depends on the plastic.
    1
  2954. Oh, it's from Australia!
    1
  2955. It is our oven as well. Some could work in an oven, but some might not.
    1
  2956. Yep, you're correct. I mistakenly wrote spinach and my professional fact checker (my wife) didn't catch it. I blame her.
    1
  2957. Frozen is not as firm. But it was not bad.
    1
  2958. We recycled pretty much all the packaging.
    1
  2959. It is expensive in Japan, but I think it's closer to $2.50USD, but I'll have to take a look at different stores. Convenience stores are more expensive, discount grocery stores obviously cheaper.
    1
  2960. It was actually alright. The one's we make from scratch are better though.
    1
  2961. I don't think sugar... but salt probably. Would have to read the labels carefully to really know.
    1
  2962. That's from one of the very first videos we released over three years ago.
    1
  2963. We've had cats for a year now Angela 🐱
    1
  2964. Yes, it was only open for 2 weeks.
    1
  2965. Sorry, it's already closed. It was only open for 2 weeks.
    1
  2966.  @PowerSynopsis  I just watched Tokyo Lens' video and yeah, it was definitely the same apartment that I filmed. But now I think all the units have been renovated.
    1
  2967.  @_human_1946  pinned
    1
  2968.  @Bionickpunk  At my house, they used a crane to put in furniture through the windows. Although in this place, for regular tenants, I'd assume most would have furniture that wouldn't be big enough to require that.
    1
  2969. I'm assuming you'd use the sink in your room instead.
    1
  2970. It'll be soon. Have them all mostly edited. Except my experience, that I haven't done yet. But that'll be the last one.
    1
  2971. Now you know!
    1
  2972. Intersting.
    1
  2973. Haha. My good friend in Vancouver does the movies on the wall thing. He just invites the neighbours over so that there's no complaints! Although I think they watch more family-friendly movies :-)
    1
  2974. He's the one cooking takoyaki with my son Shin.
    1
  2975. Yep!
    1
  2976. Bonito (fish) flakes.
    1
  2977. This was a couple weeks ago. Things change fast, don't they! Now we're under self-imposed isolation. It hasn't hit big in Japan yet, but you never know.
    1
  2978. You can also put in cheese! We used gouda and it was really good.
    1
  2979. She did have a drink later on, it just wasn't shown.
    1
  2980. Yes, she's been in several videos cooking food. The lunch video, the bento (picnic) video, and a few others.
    1
  2981. Ah, I see!
    1
  2982. Not yet, but this was shot a couple weeks ago. There might be soon.
    1
  2983. I've never seen Japanese watch movies, but they do often have the TV on.
    1
  2984. It was shot a couple weeks ago when things in Japan were relatively calm. Now we're doing self-imposed isolation.
    1
  2985. Not eating like that everyday!
    1
  2986. True! My family and I have had bikes and parts of them stolen in Vancity!
    1
  2987. She's fine, it was a couple weeks ago :-)
    1
  2988. ありがとう！
    1
  2989. Wow, you go all day!
    1
  2990. Right now there's a jump in cases, so the government is considering stronger measures. I feel like anything can happen and we're at a pretty critical stage right now. If you want daily updates, you can go to https://www.japantimes.co.jp/liveblogs/news/coronavirus-outbreak-updates/
    1
  2991. Maybe now she will :-)
    1
  2992. The yellow stuff was a spicy mustard.
    1
  2993. That's nice!
    1
  2994. There are wheel locks you can use. I never use them.
    1
  2995. Yep
    1
  2996. I was kind of working off that theory at one point, but I couldn't get enough evidence to support it. Shirokane and Shoto didn't seem any greener than other areas to me.
    1
  2997. - What a Typical Tokyo Neighbourhood is Like https://youtu.be/TheOkz8oF_I - I have a 5 part series on homelessness in Japan https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwBDd34gIIWkYCcAdjJ4WnHjgK_KKiKzx
    1
  2998. You're right, I could have went to many, many more areas.
    1
  2999. Yeah, I've been to Shibuya many times and had no idea there are such big homes so close by.
    1
  3000. If you're buying a place that is over 30 years old, you're most likely only paying for the value of the land.
    1
  3001. They're exhibition homes, so they're not quite built like a real home. So they'd never sell them. They would just tear it down when done.
    1
  3002. +Chibi*Ai These specific steel and concrete buildings are more earthquake resistant than the wooden homes.
    1
  3003. +kellyness nope. It's a special area with something like 10 different companies. There's not some big development behind it. If someone wants a house built by the builder, it'll likely be a one off affair.
    1
  3004. +ShikataGaNai100 I don't actually know. I'm curious to find out.
    1
  3005. +rockshot100 About...?
    1
  3006. That's a good question. I don't actually know since I wasn't able to go there for the full process.
    1
  3007. Unfortunately no, no trip planned to the new museum. I'm actually supposed to go down south to cover Ryukyu / Okinawans. Coronavirus has put that on hold, but hopefully sometime soon.
    1
  3008. I don't know if a homestay is possible or not. From what I remember, there are student groups visits done with indigenous groups in other countries like New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the U.S., so it doesn't seem far fetched to arrange for something. I had a couple links in the description. You might be able to try those for more information. It also has Maya's YouTube channel, and you can probably get in touch with her through that.
    1
  3009. I don't have the complete interviews, but there is a hour long version. Link is in the description.
    1
  3010. Yuta was working in IT, so he's probably referring to a lot of tasks that companies outside of Japan would be using specialized apps for. I don't work in IT in Japan, but as an example, our local school would make their newsletter in Excel and share it via thumb drives. There are so many better ways to do a newsletter nowadays, but yet Excel is the standard.
    1
  3011. It's all listed in the description :-)
    1
  3012. Well, this is only people's experiences. There's really no hard data in here. But I think it does help illustrate some things about work life in Japan.
    1
  3013. I've never actually done a video about lunch in schools :-)
    1
  3014. Haha, yeah, no worries. There were a few salaryman that I wanted to interview for the video that I couldn't get on camera.
    1
  3015. Thanks for the feedback. I've added a pinned comment to get more input from others in the Japanese workplace. I must have assumed there was more unofficial unpaid overtime than there actually is for seishain. Do you mind asking what industry or type of job?
    1
  3016. Only Chris and Angela are native English speakers.
    1
  3017. My English or...? Many of these people were born and raised in Japan and English is not their first language.
    1
  3018. I talked about this in the intro as well as my long comment. I realize this is a flaw. Although, one guy does do blue collar work, he works in manufacturing.
    1
  3019. As far as I've seen with family and friends, you can get time off of work for anything. One day especially. So I couldn't see any good reason why someone couldn't take time off for a funeral. I've seen time off for graduations, special days, being sick, etc... It's more the long term vacations that is very tough to pull off and the fact that you may need to make up for that time off.
    1
  3020. Well, the editing of the Thailand portion of the video is all Nana. So you'll have to compliment her!
    1
  3021. Yes, you can submit at http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/
    1
  3022. September 12th. You can submit at http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/share-your-video/
    1
  3023. I think that's fine.
    1
  3024. +岡部知則 私たちのアイスシュークリム :-)
    1
  3025. +Nadia Mushi-shi Thanks for the message Nadia. I didn't write the subs in English, but I can do so for future ones. Sorry, I'm new to the subs thing and didn't know that having the English subs would set the timing and make everyone's job easier.
    1
  3026. Oh, well, I don't know how to say this, but it's free with the meal. 🙄
    1
  3027. We won one or two times the last time we visited.
    1
  3028. +Apple Pie depends where in Japan you go. But yes, Japan has winter in January-February. Where we live in Tokyo it's usually between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius.
    1
  3029. +Brian Eagle Thanks, I fixed it. I think I have to use a URL shortener or cut out the http:// part. Cheers!
    1
  3030. Link to website in description 🙃
    1
  3031. Only the 36th dish that Shin ordered, satsuma-imo fries, wasn't completely eaten.
    1
  3032. It was at a sento.
    1
  3033. The food court at skytree is so so. I'd recommend the restaurant floors instead. I think it's on the 5th and 6th floors.
    1
  3034. That is the tricky part, finding a place to eat. Parks are the best, as long as the weather is agreeable. On Google maps they'll show up as green areas. There are lots of little parks in you look closely.
    1
  3035. Onegaishimasu is more polite. But unless you look Japanese, I think the Japanese give non-native speakers a lot of slack on making errors.
    1
  3036. Never went. Might go one day. But I hear the hike is super busy.
    1
  3037. It's a sento. So not as strange as you might think.
    1
  3038. Yeah, the loud taking one is a good one. It can be situational, so listening to what others are doing should clue you into what the appropriate way of conducting yourself is.
    1
  3039. So they probably know 20 or even 50 words, but that's not even close enough to order competently only using Japanese. So they know hello, thanks, good night, stuff like that. But they don't know tanpin or teishoku or shoyu.
    1
  3040. It was at a sento, so not as weird as you might think.
    1
  3041. They've only been here a week so far and there's lots of food they still haven't tried!
    1
  3042. It was for him and his 3 children :-) (and actually me as well to think of it)
    1
  3043. I did provide translations for both those words earlier on though :-) Of course, the people that would see and remember may not be super high, but I actually did think about how many times I would translate the same word.
    1
  3044. Very interesting question. Here's an article about the situation https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2017/12/31/how-tos/lessons-japans-school-catchment-areas/#.W0aTeNgzZQI
    1
  3045. Happy to help!
    1
  3046. Unless my memory is totally shot, yes, that's a view from Deer Lake looking out onto Metrotown.
    1
  3047. Interesting question. Maybe I should make a video about it. But the truth is, they don't do much. So it'd be fairly deflating video.
    1
  3048. Wow, 75K! When was that? My parents bought in many years at 24K I think, and even a second home was at 60K. Now, even in Winnipeg, I think regular family homes are above 250K (but I guess it really depends what part of town you're in).
    1
  3049. Very good point about the under 30 hours limit. I wasn't aware of this (as my wife works more than that and I'm self-employed). Good to know! https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/2zkxpe/alt_company_wont_offer_insurance/
    1
  3050. I don't think I said main budget line items in Japan. I said the main budget line items in Canada were housing and transportation. For my family, those are quite a bit less in Japan than in Canada. In the X channel video I'll make, I'll try to get into the details of things a bit more.
    1
  3051. The answer is somewhere in the sources in the description.
    1
  3052. I honestly don't know, best to an immigration lawyer about that. I will try to interview one sometime this year though. But, having worked for foreign companies while living in Japan, it's a pretty decent situation, since your pay would be more in line with American income, which is more than what the equivalent in Japan would most likely make.
    1
  3053. That's just somewhere in Edogawa. You can find plenty of places that look like that in Tokyo.
    1
  3054. Yeah, that's the thing with comparing country to country, because it can really depend on location and even the time period you're talking about. I'm comparing my costs from 5 years ago in Burnaby to present day Edogawa. The health care system has changed in B.C. with how we pay for M.S.P. (provincial health care). Unless I'm really remembering wrong, I did pay for all the prescriptions for children, plus visits to the dentist or optometrist. So for my specific family, the costs were about even... except for the fact that I'm self employed and I end up paying more in Japan. That's great that in Ontario your health care costs are less. I think it also depends on your family make-up and illnesses. I know that in B.C., my additional health care costs were enough to pass the threshold where I could write off the medical expenses on my income taxes (needs to be over 3% of your net income https://turbotax.intuit.ca/tips/allowable-medical-expenses-on-tax-returns-5243). I also wanted to point out that in Quebec, the childcare there is way more affordable than in B.C. https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/05/quebec-child-care-family-leave/559310/
    1
  3055. I made a video about it 😀
    1
  3056. Search on YouTube why people wear masks. Why people wear may not be the reasons you think.
    1
  3057. So, the national government regulates health care, so it's fairly uniform across the country. But, it's the municipalities that administer it, so there can be differences depending on exactly where you live. I think for most places, everything for kids is free up until they are 15 years old. For the spouse, if the other one is a regularly employed worker, the workplace would cover his/her health care cost, as far as I know (but I'd double check this). There's a lot of provisions for low income, single mothers, elderly, disabled, so I really meant it that it should be affordable to get coverage. But, even though you're supposed to, you don't have to get health insurance. So if you don't register with a city and you don't pay your health insurance bills, coverage can stop after about a year or so. I'd have to double check, but I recall reading that 10% of people in fact don't have health insurance. Ah, just found it. 8.55% of people don't pay the premiums https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/08/11/business/japans-health-care-far-free-ballooning-costs-mean-higher-premiums/#.W0aWo9gzZQI
    1
  3058. Just FYI, you can certainly get a brand new 3 or 4 LDK house on the East side, still within Tokyo's 23 wards, for under that amount. Check out my housing videos to see more.
    1
  3059. Sorry to hear this. I unfortunately can't control the Indiegogo system in that way. All I can suggest is you get in touch with Indiegogo and see if they can help you out. Sorry.
    1
  3060. Sorry, added my train video to the playlist. Should be there now.
    1
  3061. The thing is that's it's so dependent on your exact location. That's why the only real trustworthy video I could make had to based off of my family's expenses. If I had lived in a small town in Canada, it could very well be that my cost of living would be cheaper there. But then again, if I compared against a small town in rural Japan, some places even help you get housing and other incentives. But overall, I think what I wanted to get across was that you'll see that Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world. But if you compare to other major cities, I think the cost of living for a family is a lot more reasonable than you might think.
    1
  3062. Yep, location really does change a lot!
    1
  3063. Haha, yes, that's true. I'm also kind of comparing to major cities around the world, like New York, L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Toronto.
    1
  3064. Yes, it was fun filming! This was shot in a single day. I actually wanted to shoot later on in the afternoon plus evening, but was only able to get in from 7am to 1pm.
    1
  3065. I found this online: 1) Panis is the Latin word for bread. The Spanish 'pan', the Portuguese 'pão' and French 'pain' derive from this Latin root. (@ToddWilcox) 2) パン was introduced to Japan by Portuguese Missionaries. (see answer below, as well as this Wikipedia article compliments of @leoboiko) So you're right @The Pep Channel, it's from the Portuguese, but the original origin is Latin. Always learning!
    1
  3066. Pan in general means bread. I think it's from the French word "pain". I don't even know if the Japanese have a word for bun, but I'm sure someone will step in and let us know.
    1
  3067. Yep
    1
  3068. Yes
    1
  3069. I was supposed to go before corona hit. I'll go there someday though.
    1
  3070. The vast majority of onsen are gender separated and are not in the wild. So you really wouldn't have to worry.
    1
  3071. Good question.
    1
  3072. For sure
    1
  3073. They're just busy with their own lives. When they feel like it they go in.
    1
  3074. John had an explanation in his video by the expert. It's the calcium carbonate in the dissolved limestone that gives it that cloudy blue colour if I remember correctly.
    1
  3075. I'm actually editing a featuring length documentary right now, so that's mostly the reason currently.
    1
  3076. They take their water directly from the source, so not at all.
    1
  3077. You can do the regular onsens by public transportation, but much more convenient by vehicle.
    1
  3078. Tsuru no yu is. I've never tried searching, but the term is konyoku.
    1
  3079. Really? That's odd. I just tried it and it worked... You're trying this link? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeKGFXpVg0BaeebrHn4_nkA
    1
  3080. Yeah, I know the place! I really like that area.
    1
  3081. That was with gas!
    1
  3082. I remember reading somewhere that they recycled 80-90%. If you google it you might be able to find out. Don't know about the popularity of earthquake insurance.
    1
  3083. This might help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkO8lwHrLZE&t=1s.
    1
  3084. There's a company that specializes in renovating and reselling old ones. If you go through my sources in the description, it's either in one of the Forbes articles or it's in one of the article's links.
    1
  3085. That's correct. Link is in the sources in the description :-)
    1
  3086. Interesting, I didn't know that!
    1
  3087. Well, I did point out in the video that you can no longer leave homes abandoned. They just changed the laws (you can check the sources in the description) so that you can't leave abandoned homes on plots of lands anymore while still getting the tax benefits. That being said, there's a lot of abandoned homes to go through, and there's probably a not insignificant number of houses that belong to people who have passed away, in villages that don't have the budget to demolish homes. Land in the major cities is still very valuable and expensive. The reason that housing is relatively cheaper than major cities in other countries, is because you can build on really small plots of land in Japan, and there's very little in the way of zoning that can prevent you from building a house on land that you've purchased.
    1
  3088. +alexis nadal I did point out that change in the video :-)
    1
  3089. Thank you so much!
    1
  3090. Gibberellin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberellin
    1
  3091. Yeah, I agree, she wanted water for herself. But I think when realizing she was thirsty, she thought I must be thirsty and wanted to know if I needed some water as well.
    1
  3092. Hi, thanks for all the thought you put into this. Please don't take this personally, I had about 20 title ideas, so I rejected a lot and I still haven't come up with one I like. After some more thought and looking through all the content, I've decided to try "The Best Advice for Learning a New Language". I think what Risa said really is the best advice, which is to not hesitate to speak the language and to make sure you don't lose interest, so do things you enjoy doing in that language. Anyways, I'll try it out. It's unfortunately impossible to truly A/B test on a live video (as far as I know). But I do know that once I switched the title (in the middle of the night) it did bump up the realtime views. So I'll see if this new title does anything or not.
    1
  3093. It's much more likely. I think they have a base set of ingredients (like my family and relatives will always have onions, carrots, daikon, tofu, and what not) and then just get some extra ingredients for the next day or two.
    1
  3094. I don't know about milk at costco, but you can definitely get blocks of cheese, which is what we normally did.
    1
  3095. Yeah, but it’s in the pantry stored dry.
    1
  3096. https://www.graniph.com/ Althought I got 2-3 years ago, so don't know if you can still get it.
    1
  3097. She meant we're asking for 2 more community submitted videos. We have a bento (lunch) video coming out shortly.
    1
  3098. Yes, Shin is left handed.
    1
  3099. What? No! The t-shirts are great. We wear them every week. We love the mascot and wanted to buy more.
    1
  3100. To cool your hands!
    1
  3101. I don't see why they wouldn't.
    1
  3102. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakamoto_Ry%C5%8Dma
    1
  3103. That museum was really impressive. They had so many well done scenes. So if you are interested, I'd recommend visiting.
    1
  3104. The national government gives money to the local governments to spend or revitalization, and part of it is increasing tourism in certain areas. So we worked with the Monobegawa area specifically. I was unaware of Sharla and Micaela doing a video for Kochi. It's different governments that sponsored the vids I believe, but the same idea. I just heard about a beyond 2020 initiative that's in place. For me, I haven't really done any local tourism sponsored videos, so it wouldn't matter that much to me. I can't speak for anyone else though.
    1
  3105. It means cat person. You can get it at https://shop.spreadshirt.com/rachelandjun/
    1
  3106. Hahaha, you describe it quite well!
    1
  3107. I really enjoyed the cave. It was really amazing, plus so nice and cool.
    1
  3108. To cool your hands.
    1
  3109. High humidity and over 30 degrees Celsius
    1
  3110. Summer! August
    1
  3111. We talked to him afterwards. He's really into it. He even grows his hair in the same style. Cool guy.
    1
  3112. Here's the full video of the Quinzee building https://youtu.be/L3R1NEnTaPc
    1
  3113. Warmer than -7C they use salt. Colder they use sand. https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/snow/facts-stats.stm
    1
  3114. I don't remember where he wasn't wearing a hat. But if he had taken it off it may have been because we were quite hot from the Quinzee building.
    1
  3115. That's what we claim!
    1
  3116. It's common policy (law?) to have many things in both official languages, even if they are the exact same spelling in both French and English.
    1
  3117. On that day, it was very windy, so with windchill it was -37. I'd call that pretty cold🙂
    1
  3118. They use both salt and sand. Past -7 they go with sand. Above it they use salt. https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/snow/facts-stats.stm
    1
  3119. English subtitles are up now! If you go to http://www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?v=-9RgkZebW1s&ref=share I think you'll find what you need. Thanks!
    1
  3120. Sorry, there's no English CC yet. Usually a kindly viewer does it within a week or two.
    1
  3121. Nope, my wife wasn't with me on that trip. It was Bobby who was helping me shoot on that day.
    1
  3122. The Mavic 2 Pro https://amzn.to/2Qbt9XV (affiliate link)
    1
  3123. Because they also use one Japanese symbols (there are about 50 to choose from) plus a city name.
    1
  3124. You shouldn't have to wait too long to hear the story. I several projects on the go, but it might be the next one I make, or if not, it'll be out sometime this year.
    1
  3125. Ultimate guide to kinetic type
    1
  3126. I have a whole series on it. Just search my videos and you'll easily find.
    1
  3127. Haha, wow, that was a while ago!
    1
  3128. I was going to include more about the process, but it was pretty straightforward so that's why I didn't cover it much. For late return, it probably depends on company, but they generally charge you extra per hour fee. But I would definitely call to let them know about being late as someone else may have booked the car.
    1
  3129. Haha, Bobby who was helping me actually filmed a shot of it. It was a bit shaky though, so I cut it :-) I guess I've seen my share living in Vancouver, so they're really anything that amazing to me.
    1
  3130. There's a map in the DJI app that shows you.
    1
  3131. You'll see in an upcoming video.
    1
  3132. Thanks! The the is lit up for fun as far as I know.
    1
  3133. Yes, you can have different pick up and drop off locations
    1
  3134. The Mavic 2 Pro https://amzn.to/2Qbt9XV (affiliate link)
    1
  3135. The Mavic 2 Pro https://amzn.to/2Qbt9XV (affiliate link)
    1
  3136. Huh, interesting.
    1
  3137. The Mavic 2 Pro https://amzn.to/2Qbt9XV (affiliate link)
    1
  3138.  @robertgeorge5020  It's back https://youtu.be/dkzj8bgULhU
    1
  3139. Nope. The only thing that might make people really uncomfortable are the chopstick taboos associated with funerals (passing food between two sets of chopsticks and leaving your chopsticks sticking up in rice). Besides that, I don't think you'll run into any trouble, especially at casual restaurants. If you're visiting a high end place, then maybe you'd want to know the proper etiquette better.
    1
  3140. Thanks!
    1
  3141. 2012? Must be a different channel, since my channel isn't that old. But good point nonetheless. Do you have any good links to a site that would help other viewers deal with a gluten intolerance in Japan?
    1
  3142. Yeah, I've heard the same rule as well regarding the blending of wasabi and soy sauce. I'm speculating that it might be a difference between eating sushi casually vs. a nice sushi place. Casually, I've never seen an issue with blending, and like you said, so many Japanese people do it.
    1
  3143. That's so nice to hear!
    1
  3144.  @benfsinger  I think the same can be said for any sauce that goes on rice. So many sauces contain soy sauce, so if you're having any kind of don (rice bowl dish), yeah, it'll have. I think the no soy sauce on rice thing is more of having a bowl of only rice and then putting only soy sauce on it, it's kind of a taboo to do in a restaurant or with company, like you said.
    1
  3145. 'sumimasen, okaikei onegaishimasu' is probably more modern a phrase to use. But yeah, hand gestures usually get the job done :-)
    1
  3146. My son is left handed. It doesn't matter as far as I'm aware.
    1
  3147. Hahaha
    1
  3148. Nebula is better, but as someone with YouTube Premium (and thus no ads, just like Nebula), I watch on whatever platform I happen to be on.
    1
  3149. https://goo.gl/maps/WmUhxdVWswK6vu7BA
    1
  3150. In May 2023.
    1
  3151. East side of Tokyo. Map link in description.
    1
  3152. Yes, if you look at the in-store shots, there should be one of the cash register area where they accept credit cards and smartphone payments (like PayPay). It's only for the demae (their in-house delivery service that they only accept cash). Theoretically though, they could probably get some mobile app and accept PayPay for delivery. However, based on their comments, most of those delivery customers are older and they are very used to paying cash, so there's probably little demand for cashless payments.
    1
  3153. It's OK, you were nice about it. I'll know for next time :-)
    1
  3154. As of the past year, this.
    1
  3155. I think you meant chan (no g) :-) And hikikomori is used for people who don't generally leave their house and mostly stay locked in their room. While it's true I do stay at home editing a lot, unfortunately filming requires me to go outside, so I can't be a good hikikomori.
    1
  3156. Just responded on Twitter DM.
    1
  3157. No, I don't. My brother and mother do though. I used to film lecture at UBC (University of British Columbia) and they did a whole series on the Global City. So I'm sure that those things influenced my interest in the topic.
    1
  3158. I think it really was bought like 20 or 30 years ago. It's old.
    1
  3159. Nope, just my format :-) it's all still just talking with my family.
    1
  3160. Yeah, having it with curry is quite normal.
    1
  3161. Coarse bread crumbs. It's a Japanese thing.
    1
  3162. It's probably not as popular as you'd think. But very available in many places, even grocery and convenience stores. Can be inexpensive to quite pricey. There's a big range.
    1
  3163. That's from when she was a toddler.
    1
  3164. This was Hamakatsu. It's good. There is also Saboten. Those are both franchises, so you'll see them in different locations. There's better independent shops, I'm sure.
    1
  3165. Some places will have chicken.
    1
  3166. They did it like that in Japan initially, but eventually switched over to this style.
    1
  3167. It's a dinner set. Many places will have a cheaper lunch set. You can get a lot closer to the $10 mark if you go the right place (and still get a decent meal). This one had a private room we could film in, so that's the main reason behind the place we chose (but it's a good place, so I'd still recommend going).
    1
  3168. Green tea. No sugar :-)
    1
  3169. Hamamatsu!
    1
  3170. No, never heard of the place. Will try it out.
    1
  3171. I used to. All my education from K-12 was in French. It has been over a decade since graduating from high school though, so I'm terrible now.
    1
  3172. Should be working now. There was a ) in it by accident. Here it is again https://maps.app.goo.gl/TR9LJouJpT1qA4ni6
    1
  3173. Definitely, not a problem. I’ve had stories of people visiting who saw the video and couldn’t speak Japanese.
    1
  3174.  @michaelmayhem350  In that case you can turn the subtitles off and it'll only be English. I just tried.
    1
  3175. Yes, they are still there.
    1
  3176. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/lets-talk-about-anyways
    1
  3177. Thanks! I fixed the subtitles.
    1
  3178. Haha, we do! We might do a video on a special weekend breakfast before we head back to Japan. Pancakes, omelettes, bacon, fruit, juice, coffee, tea, etc...
    1
  3179. Yeah, it's quite hard to show a single dish and say that this is what a country eats for a meal. So it's good to see polite comments that point out that there are many other dishes that are eaten.
    1
  3180. June 18th, 2016. Thanks!
    1
  3181. Yeah, Shin and I went hiking with Strawberry Mochi! When I filmed that day, I wasn't filming with any intent, so I don't even know if Strawberry Mochi is talking in the footage I took.
    1
  3182. Awesome, thank for making the vid! For people interested, the video is at https://youtu.be/FvOwTmQBQ7U. Unfortunately, according to the polls, the hiking video will be the last one I edit :-)
    1
  3183. Haha, yeah, looking for vids from other countries around the world :-)
    1
  3184. That's pretty much like our living room, especially in the apartment. It's only after a year in Japan that we got a 20 year old couch that the parents-in-law were throwing away and then finally bought a TV. Before that it was a big coffee table with some cushions on the ground... and that was about it.
    1
  3185. We have all the footage shot already, so the plan is to do them all, we just wanted to see which one you guys were the most eager to see :-) Plus, it was fun to try out the poll feature!
    1
  3186. Not too many bugs, so he was fine. He's scared of bugs, but 80 degree slopes that he could die if he falls down, not so much.
    1
  3187. Andrew Marston did (link in the description)!
    1
  3188. You're not supposed to shower off right after :-)
    1
  3189. It's a play on Peeping Tom :-), sorry +Kona Tanaka
    1
  3190. Thanks for letting me know!
    1
  3191. Depends on the onsen. If it's small, you can put medical tape over and you should be fine.
    1
  3192. Mine was pretty funny, as I went with Shin when he was in diapers. I thought I should take them off, but my wife wanted me to put a swimming diaper on. About a minute after I got in, this older female attendant came up and told me that going in with a diaper is no good. So that was a bit awkward. But otherwise, just fine. Really love onsens now.
    1
  3193. This is the first time. He did the motion graphics / fancy stuff :-)
    1
  3194. Interesting idea.
    1
  3195. Oh, that's neat, I've yet to see a boat go through it, although I'm usually just crossing over that section quickly when I do go.
    1
  3196. Well, it was a weekday, so on a weekend they would be much busier. Most everyone seems back to work and school, so it's not busy. During coronavirus it was the busiest I had ever seen them.
    1
  3197. I got the ride in right before rainy season. May's really nice weather.
    1
  3198. Cool, I didn't even know that. But that area is popular, so I did want to do a ride by to show some more known parts of the city.
    1
  3199.  @Yesica1993  Yeah, but they wouldn't have gone too far, since these gates are found at the entrances.
    1
  3200. They're pedestrian / cycling paths, so motorcycles going at 50 km/h would be dangerous and noisy. You'll see these kinds of prevention measure on many pedestrian paths along greenways, because otherwise they'd be so convenient for motorcycles to shortcut their way through regular city roads.
    1
  3201. Hopefully soon enough
    1
  3202. Like what happens if you're arrested? I've only heard bad stories about it but have no personal experience. But as for the not getting arrested or harassed by police, I'd say they seem fairly decent. I think they're use of force is quite low and when I have talked with cops, they seemed generally quite polite (including that time I found myself about to enter a highway, quickly turned off across a solid line, and got a ticket, as I should have).
    1
  3203. Wrap it around the hot air? Do you mean whip it? I do wrap a wet cloth around my neck to keep cool in the summer while outdoors.
    1
  3204. Sorry to hear. Even in Vancouver, I wouldn't leave my back like that with all my gear in it. When I went to the washroom, I would just leave all the gear in my bike. The only time I did take my gear with me was when I stopped to eat with John and then my Japanese teacher.
    1
  3205. I'm 99% sure they are.
    1
  3206. I don't know if I would say popular. I seem them around, but the bike I'm riding is definitely the most popular type.
    1
  3207. For the going around the corner and finding ugly concrete mess, I think that's largely because there's very minimal zoning rules. So anyone can build anything anywhere (not really, but it's kind of like that). I made a video about Japanese housing that explains this a bit. In the main 23 wards (cities) of Tokyo, there's not a lot of planned neighbourhoods, so it's haphazard. Outside of Tokyo, you can find planned developments, which have their pros and cons. I should try visiting some of them and make a video out of it one day.
    1
  3208. No, the kids are lazy. They like staying at home.
    1
  3209. Oh, so it's more for the pedestrians than the cyclists, interesting to know.
    1
  3210. Don't know
    1
  3211. Don't know. I have the whole route at https://bit.ly/LWIFEP148
    1
  3212. It's VERY common in Tokyo. That's why I was also pointing out the incineration plants, as every single one I've been to so far has nice parks around them.
    1
  3213. Yeah, I was in the nicer area of Tokyo!
    1
  3214. Discrimination is probably more accurate. When looking for a rental, it was tough for us. Besides that, not that I'm aware of. The people thad do talk with me are generally quite nice. And I suppose if they don't like me because I'm a foreigner, I've never been told. I have a video about why foreigners have difficulty renting in Japan.
    1
  3215. Glad you enjoyed it!
    1
  3216. Well, technically it's a spin-off of my Tokyo by Train video 3 1/2 years ago.
    1
  3217. Haha, which of the dozen that I crossed or rode along that day? I'm sure the answer is yes, since I know there are many dramas and animes set in Tokyo and I crossed all the major ones (Edogawa, Arakawa, Sumida, Tamagawa, Meguro, Kanda).
    1
  3218. I'm daring!
    1
  3219. I listed some places on my website https://bit.ly/LWIFEP148. For the soap, yeah, it's generally a good idea to BYO soap and towel, especially at parks. If you're in malls, restaurants, and cafes, they usually have soap. Train stations are hit and miss.
    1
  3220. Nope, SONY A7III and a gimbal. GoPro can't get the kind of quality and control that I was able to film.
    1
  3221. Good luck with the master thesis!
    1
  3222. Ah, nice to know. Thanks for the translation.
    1
  3223. I explain in my behind-the-scenes https://youtu.be/C9lPo1XxXec?t=848
    1
  3224. Yeah, maybe I can try getting a rental bike in a different area, because I think people are curious about how the rental bikes work. And I wouldn't need to cover such a big area, so can stop and get some better shots.
    1
  3225. Huh, that could explain it.
    1
  3226. You should!
    1
  3227. https://aescripts.com/geolayers/
    1
  3228.  @Nynke_K  I know I unfortunately won't get the chance to visit anytime soon, but when I do go that way, I'll be making an announcement on the channel.
    1
  3229. I'm sure you could. If you spread out the biking long enough, it's not really that challenging. I was expecting it to be a lot harder.
    1
  3230. Yeah, I know. I was roughly doing the 23-ku. To bike ride the whole of Tokyo Metropolis in a single day would be an amazing feat.
    1
  3231. Now they have rentals at lots of 7-Eleven's, so it's definitely getting easier to easily grab a bike in Tokyo.
    1
  3232. The day of, they were surprisingly fine. The next day a bit sore, but also, surprisingly not too bad. I think the pace was slow enough, with all the filming and all, that it ended up not being nearly as strenuous as I was imagining.
    1
  3233. Ahh... now that you mention it, a viewer offered up a boat that I can travel on...
    1
  3234. I've been meaning to do a series about this.
    1
  3235. Yeah, totally would say it's cyclist-friendly enough for a tourist or casual rider, especially if you stick to side streets and greenways. The pace of riding is so much slower than Canada and the traffic is not nearly as fast. This guy talks about riding in Tokyo http://www.tokyobybike.com/. You can easily rent battery assisted bikes from 7-eleven's now, at least in Tokyo.
    1
  3236. The breaks were key! I had done 30-50km practice rides before, but did them at a 15-17km/h pace, and my legs were tired after. This was, in the end, only an 8km pace, so the built-in filming breaks assuredly helped. I wasn't sore the day off at all, and the next day I could feel it, but honestly not too bad.
    1
  3237. We've planned on it many times, but timing has never seemed to work out. But we'll do a whole video together at some point.
    1
  3238. Oh cool. That part of Odaiba is pretty easy to access.
    1
  3239. https://aescripts.com/geolayers/ You also need Adobe After Effects.
    1
  3240. I personally think the waters around Tokyo simply aren't that nice. You're right, that there are some places you can do that kind of stuff within Tokyo though.
    1
  3241. One handed, but I was generally going slow, like 5-10 km/h while filming.
    1
  3242. Yeah, google it. It's simply basic udon (cold broth over cold noodles).
    1
  3243. Handheld gimbal with my regular SONY a7III camera. Could never get the quality of footage from a GoPro, especially for the night shots.
    1
  3244. Check out my behind-the-scenes video https://youtu.be/C9lPo1XxXec. I talk about trip planning near the end of that vid. For greenways, the easiest way is to look at google maps, and zoom in far enough that you can see the green and blue (parks and water). They often have cycling friendly paths. You can use street view or satellite view to confirm this.
    1
  3245. Yeah, fairly rare.
    1
  3246. I've taken it as far as Aomori, but never into Hokkaido. I've also taken it all the way down to Kagoshima.
    1
  3247. Yep
    1
  3248. But my runkeeper app said I did 2000m in elevation throughout the day. Don't know how accurate that number is.
    1
  3249.  @Parcolai  There were only a few, and they generally weren't that long or the grade was very low.
    1
  3250. It has three gears! For this type of bike a single gear or low number of gears (like 3 or 5) is quite common. This bike, the mama chari (mama's bike) is the most common.
    1
  3251. I rode those same trails in Winnipeg!
    1
  3252. John? He had a mask, but wasn't wearing when he was distant from people.
    1
  3253. I can imagine!
    1
  3254. Good question. I see inline skaters on the greenways, especially on the wider paths along the big rivers. I don't think there's any issue with it. I would think the Shimanami Kaido could handle an inline skater.
    1
  3255. It actually is the name of the udon.
    1
  3256. I incidentally have them in a few of my videos. But honestly, I don't go to those areas much, so if you really wanted to see, I know you can search around YouTube and find many. Some that even just do no talking and walk around, like https://youtu.be/6qGiXY1SB68 or https://youtu.be/BDW9P60NgHs
    1
  3257. If you search my channel, I have a few videos about Japanese housing which will provide some answers. As for old and worn, that's interesting, since there's actually a lot of new home construction in Tokyo. What you're probably witnessing is that houses are being maintained well. Yes, bike helmets are rare, although people riding race bikes often wear them as they're going high speeds.
    1
  3258. I have all the details at https://bit.ly/LWIFEP148. Yes, you can rent bikes from 7-eleven quite easily. There are sites online if you search on Google, but you honestly don't need to do anything in advance. You can sort it out when you get here.
    1
  3259. You should totally do it!
    1
  3260.  @siparnell9071  I got a really nice day. Even though it hit 30C, perhaps because I was riding by greenways a lot of the time, I never felt overly hot.
    1
  3261. That's funny you say that. I was in Amami Oshima, which is relatively close to Kagoshima city, and when I was in the urban part, it still looked like very much like any other street in Japan. So for modern streets, I guess they do look quite alike.
    1
  3262. Legs were fine, and yeah, I screwed up at 22:02.
    1
  3263. Too much to edit, since I wasn't continuously filming, but I am uploading a behind-the-scenes to my X channel as I write this.
    1
  3264. Interesting, thanks!
    1
  3265. Yep, will definitely visit Vancouver again. We have family there.
    1
  3266. No, it's just that I drink a lot. If I don't have at least 2 litres of liquid everyday, my lips start getting chapped. So I'm always thinking about water and toilets!
    1
  3267. The most similar is Tokyo by Train, which is linked to in the description. If you like shots of the city, then maybe The Rules that Rule Japan or Random Walk Around Tokyo have a variety of shots.
    1
  3268. Oops, I meant to say "like", not "in".
    1
  3269. I think someone already made that whole series, haha.
    1
  3270. Glad you could enjoy!
    1
  3271.  @custardo  Well, I haven't even contacted the owner of the site to see if he is open to an interview, but I'm hoping to!
    1
  3272. Thanks!
    1
  3273. I was supposed to be in Singapore this May, but coronavirus cancelled those plans. Yes, you can easily rent bikes in Tokyo, 7-Elevens now offer pedal assisted bikes.
    1
  3274. I planned on meeting him.
    1
  3275. That sounds lovely, I really like the area.
    1
  3276. No, State of Emergency ended on May 25th, so about 4 weeks ago now. Just today people were now able to travel freely within Japan (before residents of Tokyo and 4 other prefectures were asked not to travel to other prefectures). Tokyo's requests for businesses to not operate or have reduced hours has also been removed. However, it's not all back to normal. Lots of businesses and employees are making adjustments, from having people work from home to leaving more spacing and separation where people gather. For road rules, check out my driving in Japan video.
    1
  3277. It was a joke :-) I actually messaged Jun to get his OK about including his footage in this video and the one before it. Much respect!
    1
  3278. Good question. They sponsored this video, so in that way they are supporting the crafts by bringing out awareness. I know there are also rural revitalisation money floating around, so I'd be quite surprised if some of that money didn't get spent supporting the traditional crafts. But as to the how much support, I couldn't say. In the end, you still need to be producing something people are willing to buy in order to keep the craft alive. I think the more successful people are finding way to use traditional techniques to make things that people in this era would like to have.
    1
  3279. Hahaha
    1
  3280. They are revamping their site, as far as I know, but you can find their existing site at http://www.echizenwashi.jp/english/. If you go to the contact page and send a message, I believe you can find out. If that doesn't work out for you, send me a message using https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/contact/ and I'll try to put you in touch with someone. I know they do have programs for day trips as well as for longer residencies.
    1
  3281. Thanks for the kind words.
    1
  3282. +Hans Krebs and Andrae tuber you pay all at once at the end of the meal. The drink bar is unlimited.
    1
  3283. +strass park nope, the Lower Mainland :-)
    1
  3284. +strass park nope, the Lower Mainland :-)
    1
  3285. If you stand around someone will help you (at least that's my experience). If not, just gesture to some staff when you see them come by and I'm sure you'll be able to get buy. These franchise family restaurants all have great picture menus, so you can easily point and get by.
    1
  3286. I like that as well. That way I don't have to struggle to get someone's attention :-)
    1
  3287. I don't think they're explicitly labeled vegetarian, but you can find vegetarian friendly food.
    1
  3288. Yes!
    1
  3289. A restaurant for families :-)
    1
  3290. Thanks for the feedback! I did originally start doing it to point out things like the bench seating or smoking that weren't abundantly clear. Perhaps I got carried away with doing it for everything.j
    1
  3291. They do have them! I even filmed it, but left it out for some reason.
    1
  3292. Yeah, from Winnipeg originally. I have personally never been to a spot in Japan that I thought was super cold, but I suspect there are parts of Hokkaido or up in the mountains of certain areas that can give you a proper chill. Interestingly, I was in Winnipeg just a month after the Aomori trip and even though it went down to -30C, I didn't find it to be that bad. With a dry cold on a sunny day it's not too bad. I'd take that over a cloudy, humid cold. I filmed in Winnipeg, so will probably make that video for the start of next winter.
    1
  3293. Not that I saw.
    1
  3294. They were in school in Canada!
    1
  3295. Only trucks, snow plows, bulldozers and buses going up to the mountain areas seem to. I didn't see any regular cars with them on.
    1
  3296. Hmmm... but I read about a problem in Quebec https://globalnews.ca/news/8652200/quebec-deer-population-mass-culls/
    1
  3297. There's a hunter that replied. Check the pinned comment :-)
    1
  3298. One of the biggest issues is that they've already damaged 20 out of 30 national parks, which have protected plants and wildlife.
    1
  3299. Don't know
    1
  3300. That's what I found in my other videos. When I was doing the daily life stuff with locals, didn't see any overcharging https://youtu.be/OtuA-_BiItQ, https://youtu.be/__LydKSvvBg, and https://youtu.be/b98dy-nFs5k
    1
  3301. Yes, sorry.
    1
  3302. If I open my mouth they'd instantly know.
    1
  3303. This was the last of my videos on the Philippines. Most videos for the next while will be from Japan, with perhaps one from Canada as I'm here visiting family right now.
    1
  3304. Agree, more time would have been ideal
    1
  3305. It honestly never crossed my mind, but of course, I'm coming from he family friendly perspective.
    1
  3306. Definitely. In Japan it's always easier to know Japanese, but yeah, you can assuredly do it with little to no Japanese.
    1
  3307.  @ladyflimflam  Thanks for the additional info!
    1
  3308. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong (I'm not lactose intolerant), but isn't cheese more lactose friendly? So if that were the case, you'd figure they'd be even better at making cheese. The plain yoghurt they make is great, as is the full fat milk (3.6%), as is the ice cream. I don't know why cheese got left behind. Perhaps I'll have to investigate! By the way, as far as I know the Japanese first really started to drink milk after WWII as part of the kyushoku (school lunch programs).
    1
  3309. Among major Canadian cities Quebec is actually number one! https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/snow-clearing-winnipeg-1.3921491
    1
  3310. No, we couldn't get there, too crazy busy. This is Emerald like. The lake equally as stunning, but, the background of Moraine lake is what makes it iconic.
    1
  3311. It's in the description :-)
    1
  3312. Sorry, I should have been more clear in the video. Iwate is the next prefecture that's closest in size. Iwate is the second biggest prefecture.
    1
  3313. You have to taste the freshness to understand it.
    1
  3314. The campsite did provide food, but it's an optional thing that you book in advance.
    1
  3315. I knew I was saying it wrong!
    1
  3316. All the info is in the description :-)
    1
  3317. I've had what I thought was fresh stuff from Chilliwack, but honestly, I've had nothing better than that corn I tasted in Hokkaido. Could be just Oikawa-san's corn, or the timing, or some other factors I don't know about though...
    1
  3318. You're probably thinking of the plastic video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU6WogV6UEg&t=0s
    1
  3319. You don't really need to imagine! Up in the mountains that's pretty much the case and they are much higher!
    1
  3320. Gritting trucks? Are those trucks with sand or salt?
    1
  3321. Glad you enjoyed. Must have been a shock returning to Texas as well, no?
    1
  3322. They don't salt the roads in Aomori, but they do have a different chemical they use, which I'm trying to get the name of (I'll try and talk about it in part 2 or 3). Yeah, Japan has snowshoes. I didn't have too bad of a time walking in the snow in the mountain, but my sister-in-law on the other hand....
    1
  3323. Yes, I had no other choice but to talk Japanese, haha! I might be trying a Japanese experiment when I'm next in Japan this May/June. I have improved but I also really suck at it. I'm trying though.
    1
  3324. Interesting. We were using a 2WD from the city for the main city parts. When we went up to the mountains we switched cars for one with 4WD. I personally rented a 4WD because I wanted to go everywhere. But perhaps if you limit where you drive a 2WD is sufficient?
    1
  3325. I had my snowboard boots, but those felt like overkill for a lot of situations. Living in Tokyo and Vancouver I haven't owned Sorel's for a couple decades.
    1
  3326.  @myamygdala22  Yeah, totally understand about the slow snow melt. I was there for the Flood of the Century back in '97. Don't want a repeat of that.
    1
  3327. I filmed there in February! I'm debating on whether to release the video later on, like in April, or just wait until winter time. It'll probably be winter time since I have 2 more videos about Aomori to release and people might be snowed out by then.
    1
  3328. I WAS! I even filmed it! I don't think I'll release until the start of the next winter though.
    1
  3329. As far as I remember, he had summer blades and winter blades. I think it was just some spare stuff he kept in his trunk. None if it seemed really useful for the winter. His outdoor storage area of his house has all his summer tires. What he did have specifically for snow was a telescoping snow brush and scraper, winter tires, and remote start. So not much.
    1
  3330. I honestly don't know the answer to what image / who's image. Maybe some member will step in and say.
    1
  3331. 1. I kind of agree with the style thing. Even though I think others look good in certain styles, they're just not for me... or so I think. I've never tried doing any different styles for more than a quick second at a clothing store. 2. The body fat is one component, but they actually do cooking and nutrition, plus the In Body test checks for muscle as well, so it's not just one thing they're trying to hit. 3. Yeah, it's the looking cool part which I couldn't quite wrap my head around. The only way I could kind of see it is if I compared it to trying to be good at a sport or making visually beautiful videos, because I've tried those things and don't feel I was being superficial. So for this club, I just tried to accept that some people are into fashion and appearances and they enjoy trying to be good at it. The one vibe I got that maybe didn't show through and can't unless you're there, but everyone seemed to be comfortable with each other and having a good time. Weirdly, for such an image conscious club, they weren't afraid to show themselves doing their make-up, hair, or sweating it out in a gym.
    1
  3332. They're coming in April!
    1
  3333. See, I wasn't lying, had a hard time editing this!
    1
  3334. Yes, they accept anyone. The girl going clothes shopping was Chinese.
    1
  3335. So, when I heard that number I looked into it. Below 10% for a male athlete doesn't appear to be unhealthy. For a female, yes, 10% wouldn't be good. Again, this is according to reading a few articles after doing a Google search, so I'm no expert.
    1
  3336. Thank you!
    1
  3337. Thank you!
    1
  3338. Thank you!
    1
  3339. There is! If you go back to the start of the vid there's a little graphic showing you. Here's a help article that details it https://www.wikihow.com/Turn-On-YouTube-Subtitles
    1
  3340. I kind of feel the rest of the videos on the channel cover the other half of the answer you're looking for. It's not neatly packaged into a single documentary, but I think that topic gets covered over the variety of subjects I cover.
    1
  3341. If it is, none of my family told me.
    1
  3342. Sure, German subtitles would be fantastic! Here's the subtitles for part 1 and 2 (if you want the English for everything, that's would be track 002_EN_US https://www.dropbox.com/t/C4JLc6bWN9RAgxCH
    1
  3343. 20 miles per hour is roughly 30 kilometers per hour.
    1
  3344. I'm a permanent resident. Was able to get after 1 year due to my 10+ year marriage to my wife (Japanese citizen). Once you have that, all you really need is to financially qualify and you can get a mortgage.
    1
  3345. I have it listed on my about page https://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/about/.
    1
  3346. I found the live action easier to watch.
    1
  3347. Yes, homes and businesses are very much mixed together!
    1
  3348. Yep, it's all me
    1
  3349. So don't take my word for this. I've done a bit of research but I'm just responding quickly. Yes, as an adult not born to a Japanese citizen, I can't carry any sort of dual nationality. My kids are one of the exceptions, as they are under the age of 22 and can have both until then. Does marrying make it easier? Practically, yes, technically, I don't know. Practically, I'm able to be in the country without requiring any special skills. This gives me time and freedom to find permanent employment. Being gainfully employed (or having someone be able to provide for you) and living here for 5 years are roughly the base requirements for citizenship. By being married, this is much easier for me to do then just any other foreigner. As of the moment, I can stay in Japan indefinitely, as can my wife in Canada. We both have permanent residency in each other's respective country. BUT, permanent residency isn't a guarantee, so that could be lost one day, whereas citizenship cannot. If you're really curious, watch my interview about can anyone become Japanese. There's a short version on this main channel and a long version on the X one.
    1
  3350. For someone working at a university you are assuming a lot about what I do and don't know. You're listening skills need a bit of work. At no point did I say healthcare was free. I said we pay for it, but it's universal. Kids are free though, I did say that. If you'd watch more than you spent writing...
    1
  3351. In general, if you're here on a non-tourist visa you get it. If you work for a company, they'll pay the premiums, whereas if you work for yourself, you'd pay through the city.
    1
  3352. Patreon early access. Some videos I publish a bit early as thanks for the support.
    1
  3353. For someone with a disability, watch my series on that on the X channel. That should explain a lot. And yeah, a care worker would assist you with your neighbourhood duties. Legally, I'm sure there are quite a few "rules" that you could not do. It wouldn't be looked kindly upon by the neighbourhood. But honestly, as long as you keep your property up and aren't bothering others, I can't see what kind of trouble you'd get into. Perhaps the only thing would be the waste. I don't know if they could fine you for consistently not disposing of things properly. I've seen them put stickers on things to say you've done it wrong and leave it there. So I guess if you don't follow the rule, you have to keep your garbage.
    1
  3354. Could be. It's been five years. I think I would make a video with a similar tone about Canada, and I've lived there for 33 years. Yeah, of course there are things that can be improved in either country, but when I look at it as a whole, I'm fairly happy to be born in Canada and have the ability to live in either Japan or Canada, which I believe are some of the most developed/desirable countries in the world.
    1
  3355. Yes, they have different levels
    1
  3356. Yes, just check the description.
    1
  3357. If I were in Canada, but I currently live in Japan.
    1
  3358. The guy shovelling snow? It was into a sewer / stream system. The water flow is great enough that it flows away. There are hot springs around, so it could be that the water is also warm enough that it doesn't freeze over. This I'm unsure of.
    1
  3359. Yeah, foreigners can definitely run business in Japan and there are opportunities in small towns to repurpose old schools into all sorts of things, from rental housing to office space to restaurants.
    1
  3360. Geologic Thanks for the suggestions. We'll probably cover those things off, although summer is fast coming to a close :-) - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3361. Ángela Ríos Valencia Great, I'm happy to hear! I wish you a nice visit when you make it over. - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3362. Christine Kuang We met a long, long time ago ;-) - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3363. Thanks!
    1
  3364. alinahlee Thanks so much! Aiko's mum is a bit camera shy, so I'll be surprised if we see her as well, but you never know. - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3365. meliztify Cool! - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3366. ***** Sounds good :) - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3367. servant berserker Fantastic! - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3368. Wysteriacon We just missed filming a nice summer one, but there's always lots of them, so I'm sure we'll cover one soon enough. - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3369. +Jasmine Lim OK https://youtu.be/dGjm7CixmCk
    1
  3370. Danna Barahona Ok, we'll be waiting! - Aiko's Dad
    1
  3371. Yep, you can get a lot of them there. But if you want the kind of variety we did, try a big grocery store.
    1
  3372. He just got a haircut two days ago.
    1
  3373. I think Yuta just happened to be wearing a shirt that was nearly identical to mine and we had relatively similar haircuts. But no, no relation whatsoever.
    1
  3374. Thanks. I want to make a video like the one you're asking for.
    1
  3375. No, I completely switched up the order of a lot of what we ate. I was trying to make the video shorter by grouping them, but I obviously didn't have much success.
    1
  3376. Thanks, glad you liked it
    1
  3377. Complete coincidence
    1
  3378.  @Riel93  Yeah, I've been editing a lot recently...
    1
  3379. Totally forgot it was happening, so I guess that answers your question, haha.
    1
  3380. +h baker I don't think there are English instructions, but I bought mine in Japan. It's not that complicated though.
    1
  3381. Haven't really tried Duolingo. I've been using Wanikani, and it's the only app that I've ever stuck with long term. Really works well for me.
    1
  3382. Don't season, only flavour from sauces. For the meat, if you're getting the fatty cuts, you almost don't need any sauce.
    1
  3383. Put a link in the description
    1
  3384. Interesting!
    1
  3385. I put a couple links in the description :-)
    1
  3386. We do both, make our own food, eat fast food sometimes, and at restaurants other times. We mostly eat food at home or at school (Japanese elementary schools provide lunches).
    1
  3387. Usually run the kitchen fan and open windows. Turned off the fan a few times for filming purposes, so places was smelling like yakiniku for a few days :-)
    1
  3388. I put a link in the description :-)
    1
  3389. I added a link in the description :-)
    1
  3390. The eringi and maitake aren't slimy. The enoki is a bit slimy in my opinion. My favourite is shiitake, but we didn't eat that this time.
    1
  3391. Definitely plan on getting out of Tokyo and going to a variety of places in Japan, including the inaka.
    1
  3392. Thank you!
    1
  3393. We do have parts of video that are in Japanese, like the last one, the one about Tonkatsu. We also have the skit "My Ramen Shop" which is all in Japanese https://youtu.be/0i1xHDuw0Ok.
    1
  3394. Ah, but I was able to make that perk hidden and create a new one with the June 2020 date. Hope that's less confusing now.
    1
  3395. I'm actually quite similar to you. Not the ethnicities, but the mix of everything. I actually think I'll be making a video about my personal story sometime soon. Probably on the X channel though.
    1
  3396. There's always got to be something not quite right about any video you publish :-) I actually had many people watch this before it went out, but not one mentioned the pronunciation of homogeneous. I knew of this way to pronounce it as well, but it looks like I went the wrong way. Always learning.
    1
  3397. Thanks for the support!
    1
  3398. There's been a lot of people with stories similar to yours contacting me. Very interesting.
    1
  3399. Ok, got a link for you. Thanks! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/2388329/x/18921005?secret_perk_token=08a5ab0f
    1
  3400. Thanks!
    1
  3401. Awesome, thank you so much!
    1
  3402. Thanks!
    1
  3403. Yeah, I plan on briefly talking about the past, because I think it helps understand the present day. So yeah, if you have a good source of public domain photos from the 19th century I'd love to know.
    1
  3404. Yes, I think identity is so fascinating. I recently found out my mother was part Native American (although I feel like I should say Indigenous, but that was the term used in the results). But like you, I wouldn't consider myself indigenous as it's so far down the ancestry line. I also believe it's from the Central America area, not up in Canada.
    1
  3405. I hopefully plan on filming the majority myself. But if there's an important story out in Toronto and I'm not able to go there myself, I'd consider it :-) Thanks!
    1
  3406. Yeah, I was actually trying to find out. I think it's up to her to disclose it or not. But just according to laws at the time, I'm fairly sure she would have been both at birth.
    1
  3407. Thank you!
    1
  3408. I hope to provide an interesting story for you.
    1
  3409. Huh?
    1
  3410. Yeah, that's actually a point I was going to put in this video. I talked to some American Japanese people, who weren't quite American in America, yet not truly Japanese in Japan. And in either country you're thought of as the opposite. I had a bit of this happen to me to, although only within Canada, where in Winnipeg (predominantly white) I could identify as Chinese with no issue, whereas in Vancouver (huge Chinese population), I was considered white (European). In the end, I call myself Canadian and no one disputes that, but I wonder what will happen with my kids as they grow older.
    1
  3411. No worries :-)
    1
  3412. But if that Chinese person is born in the USA and is indistinguishable from any other American in culture, language, etc... are they not accepted as American? I'm actually confident the answer is both yes and no, depending on who you talk to. So I'm wondering, if you take that situation, but instead of the US it's Japan, what is the general feeling for the everyday Japanese person?
    1
  3413. Cooling down the hot spring water. It's how it was traditionally done. As far as I know, it's now done more for tourism purposes nowadays, but they do have these wooden channels that are used to cool down the waters without diluting the minerals in them. Check out our video to see though https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WYb6qhrJ9w&t=2s.
    1
  3414. Thank you!
    1
  3415. I'll try!
    1
  3416. November 2016
    1
  3417. Thanks, fixed with the proper link https://youtu.be/u0x8EAf4GSg
    1
  3418. If you try to go out at the same station, your card gets flagged and if you have to talk with station staff. So at that point, you'd have to tell them where you went and they would charge you for that distance. I know you get caught entering and leaving the same station because I've gone in by mistake, went to the bathroom, or went to see someone off. If you tell them in advance that you have to go to the bathroom or see someone off, they're generally pretty chill.
    1
  3419. Yep
    1
  3420. It's ok 😀
    1
  3421. If you've done it before, I won't argue with you, I only know what I've read and heard from people. A lot of the water in the area is hard with minerals, so unless you treat it before, it can be an issue with deposits in the pipes. So you'd want to run a closed loop system I would imagine. But as far as I know you'd really want to drill down some to do a closed loop system, which you're not permitted to do, too much drilling in the area already. You have to be 100 metres from another drilling point, which means in practical terms, very little can get done in the city. Onsens were well established in the area before any of the modern geothermal tech was available.
    1
  3422. You're on the other side of the fence, so it's much quieter, but you can hear it.
    1
  3423. The Tiger I have is made in Vietnam
    1
  3424. I had never heard of Takeya before looking up bottles in America, but yeah, it's actually from Osaka I believe. I don't seem them in Japan though.
    1
  3425. Except for the fact that I say my favourite thermos is Zojirushi, haha.
    1
  3426. Of course. Every single time. But tea and coffee will stain like that over a year or two.
    1
  3427. I mixed all the ice in so that the starting temp was all the same. So no ice to start.
    1
  3428. What? They were both in the video! Hydroflask was only a picture from the community who sent one in, but I talked about the Yeti a couple times.
    1
  3429. I'll be giving them away.
    1
  3430. In description, but I think it might not be purchasable outside of Japan unfortunately
    1
  3431. Literally sleeping
    1
  3432. I'll be showing all sorts on the livestream https://youtu.be/-MyY3zXcbKQ
    1
  3433. Sorry
    1
  3434.  @etherdog  Oh, haha. I actually get the question a bit about other shirts I wear, so I didn't catch on!
    1
  3435. It's an old shirt, but it was from https://www.graniph.com/
    1
  3436. I plan to make a future video about this. I am curious about why you would think that having guests would be a bad thing for this part of Nikko? It's in an already quite touristy with both long established lodging (both big hotels and small independent run places) of all sizes. Where we're located is already in a zone that gets defacto approval for ryokans. When we checked with the city before buying and they found out the location, they informed us that there would be no issue getting a license in that area. This area is already a touristy area next to a world heritage site with many accommodation facilities and services that cater to visitors (who are mostly Japanese). I don't believe this is taking away any housing for any people who want to live in Nikko. The land has been vacant for over a decade and trends indicate that this isn't changing. If the alternative is to let the area slowly dwindle down to nothing is that better? At the same time, I would also agree that small towns could greatly benefit from long term residents. I'd be curious as to the negatives for the town as I couldn't think of any major ones, or I wouldn't be doing this.
    1
  3437. Yeah, I was looking at the area. There’s a lot of nice places.
    1
  3438. I'm full time. My wife and her sister work part time.
    1
  3439. Actually, yes! I thought the retaining wall this was a huge bonus. You can't build a structure that people can live in, but you ARE allowed to have structures that people can rest and play, like a garden, a deck, and a sauna!
    1
  3440. Oh, I didn't know this! That would have been great! Yes, in the fall in peak season it can get busy with traffic along that route.
    1
  3441. Yeah, I'd like to touch on some of the building aspects.
    1
  3442. If you're willing to get a vehicle, then yes, the places you could get expand considerably. For me personally, I'd rather be close enough to places that I didn't need to own a vehicle. For the ryokan though, I think we'd really limit the appeal if it was a place that necessitated owning a vehicle.
    1
  3443. I know what happened to one of them. It was bought by a Japanese company that now owns several other properties in the area. They rent them out to tourists.
    1
  3444. It'd be interesting to look at the stats and see what the case is. I think what you may be seeing is a lot of foreigners buying akiya and talking about it on YouTube. Even if there were a hundred or a thousand different people doing that, it's a tiny drop in the bucket in comparison to the tens of millions of akiya in Japan. More interesting would be the housing markets in very specific areas. I know there are many areas in Tokyo that are seeing a big increase in value. I've heard that Okinawa is also experiencing this. But outside of major metropolitan areas, I don't believe there is any bubble.
    1
  3445. Planning on some electric pedal assist bikes!
    1
  3446. It's been answered many times before, and I thought I had kind of said it in this one, but she simply doesn't like showing her face on camera. There's really no other big reason for it.
    1
  3447. If all goes as planned we'll have something ready by then.
    1
  3448. I've met with Jaya once. He's a nice guy!
    1
  3449. A 5 minute walk to the entrance of the grounds.
    1
  3450. Oh, interesting. I was also looking at Nagano, and I did visit the Nasu area. One of our Japanese friends bought a place up there and is running a glamping site. I'd agree that in most inaka areas a car is very hard to do without.
    1
  3451. Over here is Canada. We're in Canada at the moment and our sister is in Japan.
    1
  3452. Sorry to hear that. I did personally judge all the subtitle and it seemed fine to my eyes, but I'll try to more careful next time.
    1
  3453. Huh, what country?
    1
  3454. Yuko. You would have seen her in several videos. The 19 y/o is Souta (not Shota) :-)
    1
  3455. Thanks, I usually have top search for an hour or two to find songs that I think fit the footage. - The Dad
    1
  3456. +Axis 1-2 hours. - The Dad
    1
  3457. It's the town. - The Dad
    1
  3458. +beenwandering Oh, that sounds fun. - The Dad
    1
  3459. +Faten Higazi Yukata is a light and casual summer kimono. Real kimonos tend to be for more ceremonial things and not seen as often. Perhaps like a tux vs. a suit? I'm no expert on this, so please don't take too much stock in my explanation.
    1
  3460. +Isabella He ok - The Dad
    1
  3461. Probably not anytime soon unfortunately. More likely to cover the health system in general.
    1
  3462. Fixed!
    1
  3463. Indepth, probably not. I do have a video on it though https://youtu.be/1SiPGP_BDS4. I would like to go out to the countryside, where there are businesses that specialize in buying and renovating those cheap houses.
    1
  3464. I'm unsure. All clinics/hospitals also need to be NPO's as well, and run by physicians... if I remember correctly.
    1
  3465. Next couple videos will attempt to answer that question.
    1
  3466. Ah, this will be covered in the fifth video. But to answer quickly, as far as I know, you do get healthcare when you're on livelihood assistance. Yes, there are preconditions for getting on welfare. You don't need to be a citizen. Address used to be a requirement, but I'm told that's no longer the case. But, since it's administered by municipalities, you have to prove you live there, otherwise they won't be able to help you. I don't quite know the logistics of how that works out. Some NPO's can provide lawyers or assistants to help the homeless navigate the system. And again, as far as I know, welfare is actually made up of different types of assistance. A typical amount would be 80,000JPY for general expenses and then 50,000JPY for housing. So together that's 130,000JPY, or around $1,150 USD based on today's exchange rate. Depending on the municipality, the cost of living can be a bit different, so the amount you receive can vary a little bit. I've never heard of a food bank.
    1
  3467. +eka iswara she's actually in this video, didn't you see her?
    1
  3468. Hey! Thank you so much for submitting your wonderful video! Sorry we couldn't put the entire vid up.
    1
  3469. We got Japan covered, so any other country is cool :-) Deadline is July 24. All info and submission form is at http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/lwif-ep43-living-rooms-around-the-world/
    1
  3470. Yeah, that would have been cool to see! I think we'll do another living rooms around the world later on, and we can try and get countries that haven't submitted yet.
    1
  3471. Oh, great. For translating videos, you can do it at this link https://www.youtube.com/timedtext_video?v=j3f7iEmOInc#. Full info on how to do a translation is found at https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6054623?hl=en. Thanks!
    1
  3472. Okay, English is done!
    1
  3473. Would love to see some videos from the Middle East.
    1
  3474. You can submit a streets video! Just go to http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/lwif-ep47-japanese-kitchen-tour/
    1
  3475. That's ok, you can still send it in. It doesn't need to be a fancy kitchen. If you explain why it's a simple setup (studio apartment), that could work.
    1
  3476. Thank you so much for making the video!!!
    1
  3477. +Keziah Tagao (amaziahng) info is on the website, but deadline is July 24
    1
  3478. Complete instructions are found at http://www.lifewhereimfrom.com/lwif-ep43-living-rooms-around-the-world/
    1
  3479. Yes, I'm glad to have this video as well. It may seem simple, but I've had a tough time trying to figure out what would work in terms of showing what life is like around the world. Hopefully people enjoy this format enough, where we can ask for a specific type of video, then do it like this.
    1
  3480. Sure! The deadline is July 24th.
    1
  3481. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING IT!
    1
  3482. At some point in the future we may do another request for living rooms from the countries we didn't see (or types of living rooms we haven't seen).
    1
  3483. Oh, too bad. We announced it in our channel update video. We hope to do this once a month. Next one is kitchen's, so if you want to show your kitchen in Morocco, please go for it. And who knows, we may revisit some parts of the house, since we only covered a few countries in this video.
    1
  3484. We just visited Hakone in our last video :-) If you check our travel playlist, we do have some videos from other places. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwBDd34gIIWmmqS_4bs7SpfJ8_9Xvpdh7
    1
  3485. I think the same could probably be said for Japan and Buddhist practices as well.
    1
  3486. Yes, that's sad. Last I heard the creator of noragami was sick...
    1
  3487. Didn't know that was the reason for bless you. Interesting.
    1
  3488. Yes, I noticed that when I made my Being Muslim in Japan video.
    1
  3489. I did try "In N Out Burger" when I was in Cali, but never noticed the Bible Verse.
    1
  3490. No, John is only in it in spirit (he provided a few shots for me). It's a fairly serious doc.
    1
  3491. It'll be out for rental on August 13th. In 1-2 years you'll be able to see on this channel. Yes, it was a bit of effort.
    1
  3492. Yeah, I heard that so many of the Japanese I interviewed.
    1
  3493. Thanks for the support!
    1