Youtube comments of Jordan, inside-outsider in Japan (@Jordan-inJapan).

  1. This is related to what a couple of the interviewees said, but I’ve been told by Japanese friends that they really envy how foreign people in Japan can just strike up a conversation with a stranger. “If tried that”, one friend told me, “people would just think I’m weird or creepy”. (Making small talk isn’t really that common here, especially if we have no existing connection with someone.) But somehow, foreign people like myself can be excused for such socially ‘abnormal’ behavior (for Japan) because, well… we’re foreign, so are expected to behave a bit differently. 😆
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  2. I wonder if most of the audience watching this understands how cool and impressive those two kids were. I’ve been teaching English in Elementary schools and junior high schools in Japan for over 20 years and I haven’t had any students who can speak like that— except for a FEW cases with kids who’ve come back from living abroad with their families. So… it was a cool interview, but maybe not for the reasons that most people are thinking. (Don’t assume these kids are representative of ‘typical’ Japanese kids!) That said, their parents are awesome and I want more Japanese parents and teachers to see this video to understand how language learning really works!
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  3. I agree with the point that the communication style generally used by Japanese people can make having an intimate relationship with them difficult for non-Japanese people. Not only is it less common for people here to talk about their feelings openly, there is also an assumption that we are able to ‘read’ the emotions or even wishes of our close friends or romantic partners. This can be frustrating for both parties involved. (Personal experience!) That said, in most cases I’ve known where relationships didn’t work out, it actually had more to do with lack of language skill than anything cultural. Well, I’ve been married to a Japanese woman for the last 15 years, so I guess I’m getting the hang of it! 😆
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  4. A video about clip art, using only clip art for imagery. That’s so meta! But seriously, Irasutoya makes my job as a public teacher in Japan so much easier. We have strict rules about use of copyrighted materials in my office, I basically have to explain where any imagery I use comes from. But with Irasutoya stuff, there’s no need since it has a particular look that everyone recognizes. And yes, I sometimes use it in videos for YouTube too. 🍻
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  5. In rural Japan (at least where I live) the “mizo”, or irrigation-runoff canals are a central part of life for a lot of people. Well, the rice farmers most of all — they clean them out a couple of times a year, constantly adjust water levels, etc — but the surrounding community as well. We feel a kind of responsibility to keep them clean and sometimes report and even remove invasive species that can harm the rice crop. And on hot days kids play in them, and even catch fish and crayfish for fun. (The Cray fish are an invasive specie too, but they don’t hurt the rice so we let them be.😆) In spite of the small amount of upkeep we have to do, I love having the mizo canal next to our house. Except that every time we have heavy rain and it threatens to overflow into our yard & house. That part’s kind of scary. ⛈
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  6. If you didn’t know anything about Japanese political strategy before, that was basically the 101 level course for free. 😆
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  7. I think this is the reason why you can feel calm and refreshed after a trip to Kyoto, in spite of huge crowds of tourists you often encounter there. For comparison, I always feel pretty exhausted after a trip to Osaka (even though I love the place). I’d never thought about just how much effect the colors etc of an environment affect one’s emotional state, but I guess it makes sense!
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  8. MIXI??! 😂 Dogen-san, I didn’t realize you’d been in the country that long. (For those of you who haven’t been around as long, MIXI is Japanese Facebook from 20 years ago.)
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  9. This is so much more interesting to me than than seeing landmarks or flashy shopping districts. It’s just a totally different feeling than the rural part of Japan I live in. (Overall, I think I prefer living in “Inaka”, but I do crave urban stimulation now and then.) Anyway, thanks for the high-quality upload, as usual. Kp! 🍻
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  10. As a long-term foreign resident of a small town in Japan, my own experience is that people are quite welcoming as long as you make an effort to integrate into the community. This includes joining volunteer duties, local events, and local committees — to the best of your ability. No one cares whether you’ve mastered polite-form Japanese or follow cultural norms perfectly (not even all local people can manage this!). The point is putting in the time and effort. It’s not always easy, but overall my own experience has been great.
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  11. First of all, I loved the answer of that last guy who was interviewed. (He wouldn’t ‘take the bait’. 😆) But as far as things that my Japanese friends often complain about regarding foreign visitors here, I’d say the volume level of conversations in public ranks first. Especially on the train (as was mentioned by one of interviewees). Also, I wanted to mention… although consumption of alcohol in public places is acceptable in Japan, public drunken behavior is not. Of course, Japanese locals are guilty of this on occasion as well, but we foreigners stand out more. Just something to keep in mind. 🍻
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  12. Sage advice, my friend. I have raised two kids here (they’re teenagers now), and can vouch that Dogen speaks truth. I would just add one point: prepare yourself for PTA duty. “It won’t happen to a foreigner like me”, you might think. As I thought. Until I was selected (by lottery) to be head of PTA for my daughter’s school. The…horror… 😓
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  13. And while we’re on the topic… A little advice for food travellers in Japan. There are a lot of intriguing little independent sushi places around. And while they are sometimes amazing, they often don’t have a price (clearly) displayed, and you can find yourself stuck with a 10,000¥ bill unexpectedly. So if you’re not a local, it’s usually safest to stick to the chain restaurants OR if you have the budget, well-established places like the one in this video. KP!
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  14. Wow. As someone who lives in Mie prefecture (central Japan), where it doesn’t really snow, it really makes me appreciate how ‘climatically diverse’ this country is. Now, I’m originally from Canada too, and I admit I sometimes miss the snow. But…maybe I should just be content to drive up to Shiga or Gifu for the weekend when I need my fix.
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  15. If you want to know what an actual healthy Japanese diet looks like, check out what old people here eat. My Japanese grandma is 104, and she seems to subsist mainly on root vegetables, tiny fish, and ‘mikan’ (oranges). As much as I’d LOVE to live that long, I just don’t think I can give up Fami-chiki…
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  16. Well, the beginning was a bit Tokyo-centric, but overall very solid. That said… I now feel obligated to ‘represent’ and add something from rural Japan. How about, “…until you start bringing your own fruits and vegetables to share with your coworkers.” Or maybe, “… until you start feeling defensive about generalizations on Japan based on Tokyo-centric data.” 😆
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  17. As a long-time foreign resident living in Japan, I found this quite interesting. Coming from a multicultural nation (Canada) it is tempting fault Japanese society for a lack of tolerance to difference. But while this is generally true, and it can be an annoyance and even barrier full participation in Japanese society, I think this reality is actually harder on Japanese people living in Japan. I think that being ‘foreign’ actually gives me more freedom because people don’t expect me to always conform to social or cultural expectations…and many of my Japanese friends tell me they’re a bit jealous of this! The negative side of this is that Japanese people do tend to be nervous about interacting with foreign people here because they can’t predict how they will act, or whether they will properly follow social rules, etc. But to be honest, I find myself thinking the same way after being here so long. A certain amount of social homogeneity can be comforting!
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  18. I live in central, rural Japan, and it’s true — a lot of the bath houses have gotten some interesting amenities over the last 10 years or so. But nothing so cool as a DJ and craft beer on site…that sounds like a Tokyo thing. (I’m a bit jealous.) That said, we do have one local place that includes a ‘beer bath’ — you actually bathe in a mix of beer and hot spring water. (Seriously, if you don’t believe me I’ll be happy to post a link. 😂 🍻
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  19. I had been considering buying an old house in my area, but my wife (who is Japanese) said “absolutely not”. So we ended up building a new house instead. Can’t say I regret it at this point. (Of course it costs more to build a new place, but land is pretty cheap rural Japan. And then there are those zero interest bank loans… 😆)
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  20. I thought the idea of ‘protecting the company brand’ as a reason for strict workplace fashion rules was interesting. It makes sense. In a group-oriented society like Japan, every member of an organization is suppose to represent it, not only in name but in image and behavior as well. I work for the city as a teacher, and while fashion rules are pretty relaxed (depending on the situation), behavioral rules are strict. Even on days off, teachers and city hall staff are expected to act ‘majime’ — be polite, follow social norms, and general be on good behavior whenever they are in the public eye.
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  21. I’ve lived in a few areas of Japan, and my take is that at least compared to people living in the Tokyo area, Osaka people are less ‘emotionally guarded’. It might translate to friendly…or maybe aggressive, depending on the situation. 😆 From my experience, people in Shizuoka are the friendliest. When I lived there, I was really impressed by how open people were. They just seemed to sincerely enjoy social interaction.
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  22. Wow, it seems like Tokyo is a different world from rural Japan where I live. Since there aren’t many HQs here, companies doesn’t really hire non-Japanese people for office-type jobs. (Unless you actually grew up here, that’s a different story.) Factory work? Sure. Convenience store? Sure. English teaching? Lots of options there! Marketing team? Uh…
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  23. In my area, we have ‘jichikai’, a kind of neighborhood committee, which handles many of the activities you discussed. For example, we manage the ‘gomi toban’ that way — one household is responsible to maintain and clean the area’s garbage-collection bin (where we take household garbage every day). We also have a garbage cleanup event one every month or so where all members of the community walk around together and pick up trash, etc. And lots more. This is a common system in rural areas, like where is live. It’s kind of a pain sometimes, but the result is we have a strong sense of community, are well-organized, and yes, our streets and parks stay clean.
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  24. Of course the main island of Okinawa is beautiful, and people are relatively friendly and warm (at least compared to typical residents of cities in other areas of Japan) but the Okinawan (Yaeyama) islands further south are on another level altogether. I’ve been to Ishigaki Island a couple or times with my family, and it’s just amazing. It just feels…magic being there. Less developed. Less English spoken. And everyone drives under the speed limit. But once you experience that feeling once, it keeps a hold on you forever, and you always dream of going back. (No I’m not getting money from the Okinawa Tourism Promotion society or anything. Really! 😆)
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  25. Nice topic! I’m from Canada but my two daughters were born here and now they’re 11 and 14 years old. And our experience has been very positive, like the family that was interviewed here. During the pandemic, as well, the government has been regularly sending out support payments to families with children, to help them get through the challenging economic times. No complaints. 😆 The main challenge I can think of is when my daughters started to become embarrassed about being different from their classmates, and tried to act (and speak) Japanese all the time in public. But it was only a phase, now they seem to have embraced their bicultural identity.
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  26. Gotta love these seaside Japanese markets. No scams, no haggling; just honest, friendly vendors, fresh seafood, and chocolate bananas.
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  27. I live an hour or so from there, in another castle town: Matsusaka. I was surprised at the similarities! Merchant district, old-style buildings and streets,... our castle doesn’t have a palace though, since it was defensive only. Oh, and we also don’t have a brewery. Yet. Lots of sakura trees and beef restaurants, though. Kp!🍻
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  28. Exactly! This has been the bane of my existence for the 20 years I’ve lived in Japan. Luckily for me I work in schools here...so everyone is just, “SENSEI”.
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  29. As for the “kind”, stereotype… I agree with the point that Japanese people are particularly kind to people they are connected with in a clearly-defined way. I mean, there are very well-established cultural rules and norms for how to treat & speak to people etc, which is one of the reasons we have such a harmonious society here. But on the other hand, for people who we have no clear connection with (like someone on the train with you or whatever) there isn’t really that much expectation of…anything. It’s almost like people don’t bother to acknowledge each other’s existence until there is a reason to do so. All that said, most people in Japan are actually very kind…once they notice you exist! (Being a ‘foreigner’ does also work as a kind of social ice-breaker, in my experience.) Anyway, really interesting video, Takashi!
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  30. There is something to be said for ‘moderately rural’. There are a lot of beautiful, rural areas in Japan that are not far from small or medium sized cities. I’ve been living is such a place for nearly 20 years now, and it’s fantastic. Not only the scenery and the cheap fresh vegetables, but also the more laid-back lifestyle. Especially if you’re raising kids…it’s just so much easier in a less urban area. ‘Inaka’ is where it’s at!
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  31. Ah, the “friends” issue. Not a big thing but it’s come up for all the international couples I know. I admit feeling a bit left out at first when my girlfriend (now wife) didn’t invite me when she hung out with her friends. And she didn’t really want to hang out with ‘my’ friends. (Because they weren’t ‘hers’.) But after years of marriage (in Japan) we’ve shifted to a comfortable point somewhere in the middle. It all gets easier with time!
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  32. I read a lot of comments about how Japanese products are so much better/cooler/cuter than those from other countries. And I agree, the selection and quality of products here is pretty amazing. I think it all comes down to the fact that most companies around the world are overly focused on the bottom line — a product is selling well, so there’s no need to waste money updating or improving it. Better to keep the product cheaper for the consumer, right? But NOT Japanese companies. Here, companies are focused on making the best product possible. They just trust that consumers are willing to pay a little more for something new and slightly better. Then there is the business culture of “KAIZEN”... the constant striving to improve products and practices. Because…well, that’s the culture.
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  33. Fresh wasabi is a COMPLETELY different thing than the stuff in the tubes. A bit hard to to get your hands on, but if you have the chance I definitely recommend you try it.
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  34. Well, I’ve only dated one Japanese woman (she’s my wife now) but what mostly caused problems was the difference in communication style. She often seemed disappointed when I couldn’t ‘read’ her expectations, whereas where I’m from (Canada), people tend to just state what they want or expect from one another. Usually.? 😆 Well, I guess dating is never easy no matter where you’re from!
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  35. I could add quite a few…especially if you add the word “rural” before Japan. Just one now: 自治会, or ‘neighborhood committee’. Takashi might not be able to relate to this living in a city. But in small-town or rural Japan you join one of these committees when you move in to a house. It collects money from all the members to manage upkeep on a meeting hall, where it has regular meeting about all kind of local issues that community members are suppose to attend. It organizes area cleanup and weeding days (and more) that residents are expected to take part in. It has a fire brigade that members are expected to join. Everything on a rotating basis, so eventually, all able bodied community members will have to do everything, even be the area leader for a year or two. “You won’t have to do all that as a foreigner”. People told me. But I did… and still do…. and it’s a lot of work. 😅
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  36. Long-term foreign resident in rural Japan here. I was interested to watch this video to see how prices in Tokyo compare with where I live in Mie prefecture. Interestingly, restaurant prices don’t sound much different than where I live. Rent is a little cheaper here…but not by much, at least if you live in an apartment. On the other hand, you don’t mind living in an old house that’s far away from a train station, you can get a decent sized place for 200$ (US) or less per month. As for locally grown vegetables or (sometimes) fruit, it’s super cheap here. The last point is about clothes. One interviewee mentioned a lack of ‘fast fashion’ here…which is funny to me because everyone I know here buys most of their clothes at Uniqlo and GU (cheap and cheaper)… department stores aren’t really a thing anymore! Maybe Mie people are just cheap..? 😆
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  37. Fantastic video, Greg. It’s so great to see these old schools being re-purposed like that. Where I live in central Japan, one of the schools that shut down due to population decline has been repurposed as a training center and gym for aspiring wrestlers — and it’s actually run by the famous Olympian, Yoshida Saori! (She’s from here.)
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  38. “Land of opportunity”. Haha, yyyess as an English teacher of 20 years this one rings true in a painfully personal way. It’s lucky I actually enjoy teaching, cause my salary is actually slightly lower now than it was when I first started. (Hmmm... Maybe I can make it as a YouTuber, instead... 😆)
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  39. The timing of this video is interesting… Just a few weeks ago, there was a shocking incident where some jerks uploaded videos of themselves licking the soy sauce dispensers and just generally behaving in an unhygienic manner in another SushiRo restaurant. Initial public reaction was for people to freak out and stop going out for sushi (as much), but since then many others have been showing their support for the industry by eating going out for sushi even more — especially to SushiRo since they got hit the worst image-wise. So I’m wondering if the timing of this video is just coincidental, or are Chris and Ryotaro making a statement and Standing in Soidarity with Sushi?
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  40. Ah, Akita-prefecture is so beautiful. And it’s telling that people there are much ‘friendlier’ to non-Japanese residents than places overrun with tourists. One thing to keep in mind though, is that this kind of situation is pretty specific. I mean, (seemingly) short-term residents of the area who are here for a specific reason. If we were to ask medium and long-term foreign residents of rural areas we would get different kinds of answers. My own experience (20 years in Mie Prefecture) has been mostly great. But here, it all comes down to shared activities and ‘service’. If you regularly take part in community roles and events, for example, you will be accepted as a community member. If not…then not so much. Anyway, I think this language school featured in the video provides a great experience for students there. An excellent way to experience Japan!
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  41. High quality as usual, Greg. I’ve always enjoyed wandering around ‘shotengais’, especially the ones in Nagoya and Osaka (the nearest big cities from me). Here in Mie, they’ve been steadily dying since the 90s. BUT, have actually been getting a bit popular again since the pandemic started. My favorite local one (in Yokkaichi) has a craft beer bar that kind of expands out into the street, like a covered biergarten. Well-ventilated, social drinking for the pandemic era! 🍻
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  42. I’d like to give another perspective. This incident is of course horrible and very upsetting, but I don’t think it’s actually an “assassination” — not in a political sense anyway. Sure, there will be political repercussions, but the guy who did this didn’t have any political motive. He was just angry. (He vaguely said something about blaming Abe because his mother had donated too much money to one of his campaigns I think.) Also…this is not a sign of some kind of growing social or political instability in Japan, as some people have been suggesting. From my perspective, there are really two factors at play here. One is simply a lack of security, based on people here not having a ‘sense of danger’. Since Japan is seen to be a “safe“ society, most people don’t take any precautions to protect themselves. (Or, apparently politicians.) also there is a long-term cultural trend of angry, isolated men who just mentally snap and do crazy stuff. (like the guy who burned down the Kyoto animation studio, and the guy who attacked a bunch of people in Akihabara.) The guy who killed Shinzo Abe is one of them. Not an “assassin“. All this said, I’m sure the event will have an effect on Japanese people’s psyche, at least in the short term. And yes, it is very upsetting.
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  43.  @OmarLivesUnderSpace  I think it’s just that, even after coming up with a lot of new ideas, the inevitable decision is just to just do the same thing as before with a slight variation. It’s really a joke about Japanese society as a whole (at least when conservative old men are in charge)… not just about politics!
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  44. The second couple reminds me of my wife and I, I mean how our situation was when we were first dating. I’m Canadian, and she was there studying and yes, looking for a guy as well. 😆 And also like that couple, we came back to Japan expecting to only stay here for a couple of years before moving back to settle in Canada again. But… still in Japan 20 years later!
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  45. This video was of particular interest to me, since both of my daughters are 'half Japanese'. It's really interesting to see different people's experiences with this. In my daughters' case, they mostly like the extra attention they get, but sometimes get irritated as well.
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  46.  @Ashi20-q4s  Can’t complain. 😆 Nation-level cultural differences aside, our ‘family cultures’ are actually pretty similar, so I think that’s made it easier.
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  47. Interesting video. It helped me remember the kind of things that used to give me culture shock so many years ago when I first came here. The last woman who you interviewed mentioned about alcohol…and I remembered how shocked I was to see how my (usually quite serious) co-workers acted when they got drunk at work parties. I was pretty shocked the first time one of my (male) co-workers took his clothes off and danced around the ‘izakaya’ in front of everyone. And THEN almost equally shocked when everyone acted like nothing unusual has happened the next day at work! 😂 (And it wasn’t the only time…)
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  48. In rural areas in Japan, almost everyone who can drive, drives. I live in ‘semi-rural’ small town Japan, and it’s a bit of a mix. Cars are still popular, but a decent number of people (including myself) use a bike to get around town. It often ends up being quicker than driving, and with gas prices the way they are it just makes sense. For long distance trips, like between cities, trains are generally the popular choice.
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  49. Chris: “In rural Japan, you never know what you’re going to find around the next corner.” Me (true story): Last night, I’m driving home from a local event which happens to take place in the mountains in a rural area. (I live in Mie Prefecture in central Japan.) Anyway, I’m driving on a road I haven’t used before, and it’s dark and I’m getting a little bit nervous whether my ‘navi’ is sending me astray, and I come around a corner and there... looming up out of the darkness just ahead WAS A MASSIVE, HEADLESS WINGED FIGURE (Nike of Samothrace in fact). Like, 100m tall or something. So naturally (after my initial feeling of terror subsided) I thought of Chris’ recent ‘horror film’ with the creepy statutes in the dark. (And then I think, I wonder when his new video’s coming out. And here it is!) But yeah, rural Japan is quirky and awesome.
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  50. I’ve lived in Japan and taught English here for more than 20 years, so I just wanted to share some of my experience. First of all, not all the English teachers here are happy with the situation. Japan isn’t an easy place to live for everyone. Your personality and of course the specific situation you end up in make a big difference. Generally speaking the pay is decent, especially if it’s your first job and you don’t have any dependents. I should mention though that English teacher salaries DON’T really increase with experience or time. (And transitioning to another line of work in Japan isn’t easy either.) The work situation is also really different depending whether you work at a private conversation school, as a dispatch company ALT, or JET ALT. The latter is definitely the cushiest option, but hard to get into. Well I could go on forever but I think I’ll wrap this up now. If anyone has any specific questions, I’d be happy to answer.
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  51. Wow. I never thought I’d say this this, but I think Canada could actually learn from Japan about dealing with snow. That “White Impulse” team was impressive and so Japanese. A perfect example of why Japanese society ‘works’, and is so resistant to disaster, etc.
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  52. Chris, I’m really glad to see you’re sticking with your plan of introducing lesser-travelled regions of Japan. I mean, I’ve lived in this country even longer than you (20 years!) and I still haven’t made it up to the Tohoku area. That said, I live in one of those ‘lesser-travelled’ areas myself (Mie Prefecture) and I certainly have explored THIS area quite a bit. (I’ve been working on a ‘lesser-travelled’ video of my own, but that’s another story.) Anyway, keep up the inspirational work and I’m looking forward to that video series! 🍻
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  53. Fun video. It made me a bit nostalgic for the carefree time when it was okay to hang out in crowded places like that and socialize. (without wearing a mask!) On the positive side, though, the craft beer scene in Japan has progressed significantly since this video was made. Tokyo is still leading, but Osaka, Nagoya and even Shizuoka are pretty good too. Even in rural areas, you can find some fantastic breweries these days...you just have to do a little research before you head out. If anyone wants a recommendation or info on the scene in central or western Japan, feel free to ask me. Kp! 🍻
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  54. Thanks for reminding me of the ways Japan has changed ME. (I’ve been here so long I can’t remember what I was like before.) I think “still can’t read the air” was one of my favorite lines, although I suspect that it might actually just be an excuse to “play the gaijin card” and be selfish without seeming to be selfish, since you have an irrefutable cultural excuse. (I admit I catch myself doing that from time to time…)
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  55. That was fantastic, Greg. Really interesting content-wise, and visually gorgeous as well. Actually, I’m watching this video now from a town in the mountains of Mie Prefecture that looks quite a bit like Wazuka. And this region shares a similar situation as well, dealing with an aging population and trying to reinvent themselves for economic survival. (Well, here it’s the forest industry and small-scale farming at the center of this transformation instead of tea.) And the deer and boar situation, too! I think that Wazuka should definitely look into hunting and serving wild game at a local restaurant. It’s actually become a regional tourism draw here. And… I think they probably will need a brewery as well. 😆 As it’s a long-term dream of mine, it’s actually temping to head down there and try opening one myself…it certainly looks like a beautiful area to live!🍻
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  56. I’ve been an English teacher in Japan for over 20 years, and taught at various levels of the public (and private) education system. While there certainly are points about the system that are less than ideal, I think the main reason most Japanese people never become fluent in English is cultural. (I’m actually working on a video on this topic now!) Basically, people are taught implicitly from a young age not to express their opinions and feelings (especially if they are negative) in front of others. As well, they really don’t like making mistakes, and have a tendency to not say anything in class unless they are completely sure it’s correct. Add that to a cultural myth that there is something biologically different about Japanese people that prevents them from learning foreign languages (a lot of people here actually seem to believe this) and your have a huge barrier against gaining fluency in any foreign language, not just English. Some people manage to break the barrier, but not many.
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  57.  @paperwingedowl  I know, right!? 😂 It’s like this: Each household with a fifth grader in the school district has to meet and determine who the reps are for the various PTA roles. We usually decide by “amida-kuji” (traditional Japanese lottery for deciding roles). And… I won the big prize. Yay. Not exactly HARD work… But I had to attend a lot of (mostly) pointless meetings and make speeches at various school and community events. All in Japanese of course! 😅
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  58. When I hear English teachers over here complain about food being ‘expensive’ in Japan, I always laugh. Their problem is…not enough soy products! If you try to recreate the fridge that you remember from your home country, then expect to pay for that luxury. But if you just buy what the locals buy at the supermarket, then food is really reasonable here. (Especially if you live in a rural area like me. I get have of my veggies free or cheap from the local farmers.) Great content, as usual Greg! 🍻
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  59. I thought that part about the internet making it possible for anyone to look up ramen recipes and open up a shop was interesting. I heard that how to make the broth used to be a closely-guarded secret, so you would have to apprentice with a master to learn it. Not necessary today, I guess. There’s actually a ‘ramen espionage’ scene in the old movie, Tanpopo… a movie which I definitely recommend to anyone who’s interested in ramen by the way… especially if you’re also interested in old samurai movies and Westerns. (From the director Itami Juso.)
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  60. That’s not a toilet. It’s a どこでもドア. You just have to press that little button that says, 「呼び出す」to activate it.
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  61. “Aren’t you ever bothered by all the exceptions and contradictions?” 😂 Brilliant. (But yeah, I think I’m with Richaado on this one…)
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  62. That was painful to watch. 😂 For those of you who are or will be in Japan and are looking for an ‘eating challenge that can be done anywhere, check out the Coco Ichiban curry chain. If you can finish the super big size of their spiciest curry, it’s free. (I tried, years ago, and failed. Miserably.)
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  63. “We should buy one of these abandoned buildings and start a brewery.” I don’t know how many times I’ve said that traveling through small towns in my area. Doing just that has been something of a dream for me over the last 10 years or so. Good for Mr. Mukai for making it happen. I’ll have to head down there and check that place out one of these days. 🍻
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  64. I’m a Canadian in Japan who’s been married to a Japanese woman for more than 20 years. When she first announced to her parents we were dating (which is basically the same as announcing engagement here) her parents were admittedly pretty surprised. But not against! And it didn’t take them long to come around, and I’ve enjoyed a great relationship with them since. (This is a good thing, considering we ended up building a house in a plot of land next to theirs!)
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  65. I’ve been there! (its about 2 hours from where I live) and it really was a cool place. As for why this local tradition has managed to survive, I think Greg put it well when he said that they’ve managed to market their area ‘as a brand’. This approach has been very successful at helping rural areas around Japan survive economically and keep their traditions alive. It’s also one of the things I love about traveling around rural Japan.
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  66. Just to put things in perspective, Japan’s planning isn’t really all that… planned. I mean some planning obviously does happen, regarding transportation lines etc, but I think that’s out of necessity rather than vision on the part of municipal governments or anything like that. Actually, making ANY changes to the layout of cities or towns here is really challenging for historical reasons. A lot places, for example, still have everything oriented around historical castles, resulting in road systems that are a tangled maze of one-way streets. My city. (The only truly “planned” urban areas are those that got bombed to nothing during WW2.) Oh, and that green space you see scattered throughout towns and cities here? Sacred groves surrounding Shinto shrines. Can’t be developed, ever. (Because God’s there.) Japan may have healthier and more ‘livable’ communities than a lot of other places, but the reasons are historical and cultural. We shouldn’t get too much credit on the planning side. 🍻
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  67. Very interesting video. In Mie prefecture, where I live, the deer population is a real problem, especially for the people living in mountain villages (who also tend to be farmers). A family friend of ours is a hunter, and the makes decent money just culling deer (and boar) in local villages. Interestingly, he told me a good portion of the meat actually does get eaten — given away to visitors at a campsite he runs, and also sold to local restaurants that serve “gibier”, or local wild meats. (I think the rules about this may be a LITTLE more relaxed where I live. 😆)
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  68. That was really interesting, Greg. In my area (central Mie prefecture) it seems like if you drill down deep enough, you can often find an onsen, be you have to pump it up to the surface. (I guess many areas in Japan are like this.?) But nothing like in Beppu, with steam rising up everywhere. How appealing to live somewhere like that…it the winter anyway!
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  69. Fantastic work, Greg, I liked how you just ‘showed’ what was happening in these people‘s lives, without narrating or trying to lead the story. No music or anything to cover up the sounds and feeling of being there. But I’m a bit jealous…how do you convince people to let you into their private world like this? In my experience, older Japanese people generally don’t want outsiders to see inside. (I get rejected every time I ask someone to let me take video of their life.) Anyway, I’m glad they let you do this!
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  70. Whenever this situation comes up, I want so badly to answer like this. I often do, initially (mostly unintentionally). But then I never have the guts to follow through when the follow-up inquiry comes. 😅 “Oh…of course, sorry! I’m from Canada.” (Many many years ago…)
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  71. “This is a pen.” 😂 (English teacher joke.) But seriously, I think if my family ever decides to live outside of Japan (it would be Canada in my case too) we would probably want most of those items as well. Also, one of those fish-grill-oven things that every Japanese kitchen has. (How would I grill eggplant without it??)
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  72. Oh, and one more common Shinto ritual that I have recently, personally experienced: 地鎮祭, — ground breaking and purification ceremony for a new home construction. Follows by a later ceremony where we poured sake over the beams of a house to finalize the 棟上げ or frame construction. Both felt very... familiar, as well as new.
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  73. First of all Greg, I’ve never seen you drink that much! I hope you were OK afterwards. 😆 But seriously, I find it really interesting how the sake industry is adapting to keep up with the evolving tastes of consumers. For example, with sparkling sake, and other more wine-like varieties. But my personal area of interest is those traditional sake breweries that have branched off into beer production as well. Shiga-Kogen beer, for example, produced by the historic sake brewery Tamura Honten, makes some of the best craft beer in Japan. And now I’m getting thirsty. 😅
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  74. Greg, seeing glimpses of your family life like this is so interesting for me since we have a lot in common (Canadian-Japanese culturally blended families) but of course differences as well. For one thing, your mother-in-law’s tempura looks a lot like mine’s. (Love those crunchy lotus root slices!) But in my family, I do the cooking because my wife works late, so we don’t usually eat proper Japanese food at home. (Wait…is ‘taco rice’ Japanese?)
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  75. After listening to Mr. Chart’s explanation of why he chose to naturalize (basically that he strongly felt that Japan was his home) I realized that I actually feel the same way. I’m originally from Canada, and as much as I think it’s a great country, I don’t feel like it’s my home anymore. I’ve somehow, over the past 20+ years I’ve lived here, become culturally Japanese and just feel like this is where I fit. Sure, I know I’ll “never be accepted as Japanese”, but that fact is kind of irrelevant to my self identity. Basically, the reason I don’t formally naturalize is because my two daughters (who are half Japanese and half Canadian) want to try living in Canada in the future, and it has been suggested that my maintaining Canadian citizenship will make that easier for them. Anyway, fantastic work Greg. I will be watching this again with my daughters soon. 🍻
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  76.  @shiromochi-kun  The house itself it’s mostly modern, but we had it built by a local carpenter who uses a traditional approach to building. It was a fascinating process. (Which I video blogged, if you’re interested.) 🍻
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  77. Thanks to Greg, the list of places I want to visit just got longer. (I could technically do it in day trip from Mie, where I live. But I think I’d have to spend the night, so I could take time to appreciate those onsens. ♨️
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  78. I’ve never worked for corporate Japan, but from my experience with city PTA and education board meetings, this is spot on. Always that one guy sleeping… 😂
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  79. Loved that. And when Dogen said he couldn’t just use Japanese all the time since he’s trying to create a bilingual environment at home for his kid I was like, “dude, that’s the excuse I always use!” (Of course in my case, my Japanese is actually bad enough to warrant the excuse. At least according to my kids.😅)
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  80.  @PerryKobalt  ah, I didn’t mean “culture” like that of a specific country or ethnic group or anything like that. Just that my wife’s parents have a lot in common with mine, as far as values, interests, etc. So even though my own cultural background is Euro-Canadian, it wasn’t all that hard to integrate myself into a Japanese family… since that particular family just kind of ‘made sense’ and felt familiar to me. (I hope I’M making sense...😆)
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  81.  @earlysda  It’s the cost of being accepted as true member of the community you live in. I guess I could have just refused…but then I would be ‘one of those foreigners who doesn’t follow the rules properly’. But I’d rather be a community-member…even if it’s a bit of a pain sometimes.
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  82. 15:18: “I feel like such an annoying vlogger”. LOL. (I know I know. Feel your pain, bro.)
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  83. So, takeout ramen is actually good!? There’s one place in my area that has a sign up, but I was skeptical. I’ll have to give them a try. Well, I enjoyed the impromptu video... unfortunately so did my daughters and now they’re like, “hey, why can’t we be in one of your videos? Greg’s kids are allows to be is his...”
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  84.  @Tonixxy  😂 I did not expect to get this question here. But fair enough… This is an over-generalization, but it’s based on an element of truth. The old joke is that ‘if you want a sex life after having kids, you just have to have an affair. (Or pay for it.) Sexual attraction / romantic feelings are seen as natural for young people and newly-weds. But 10 years later it would have been seen as kind of embarrassing and over-indulgent. “If you have that much energy left after work, then you aren’t working hard enough.” There isn’t really any positive (traditional) cultural image of a romantically engaged ‘married with children’ couple. I mean, they would be portrayed as eccentric weirdos in a movie. BUT guess what, younger Japanese people watch Netflix. And guess what, they want to enjoy their lives too. So yeah, people’s expectations of what a marriage is have been shifting for a while. (Lucky for me. 😆)
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  85. OK, that guy clearly had a rough ride. But as someone who has English in Japan for more than 20 years, I just thought I’d share some of my own experience now, for the benefit of anyone who may actually be considering moving here… First of all, a lot of it obviously comes down to the situation you find yourself in. You might have bad luck of course. Generally speaking the pay is decent, especially if it’s your first job and you don’t have any dependents. I should mention though that English teacher salaries DON’T really increase with experience or time. (And transitioning to another line of work in Japan isn’t easy either.) The work situation is also really different depending whether you work at a private conversation school, as a dispatch company ALT, or JET ALT. The latter is definitely the cushiest option, but hard to get into. Anyway, I’ve done all of those, so If anyone has any specific questions, I’d be happy to answer. 🍻
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  86. Bronson Wally If you’re in a popular tourist area in Tokyo (etc), then most restaurants will have at least some English on the menus. (Maybe not those smaller places, though.) If you’re in a small town or more rural area, it gets a bit harder to find English translations. But the big, 100¥ sushi chain restaurants are always a safe bet.
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  87.  @lewisnorden3744  I guess it can be. But here in Japan we generally try to avoid ‘conflict’ in any form. (It’s possible I’ve been here too long... 😆)
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  88. I really could relate to something the second interviewee said — the woman who had been here 7 years…that she initially had some experience of people not sitting next to her, etc, but that it didn’t seem to be an issue anymore. Like, when you’re new in Japan, you have this exotic ‘foreign energy’ field around you, that can be a force of attraction or repulsion depending on the situation. But then when you get used to being here, and feel comfortable with the culture, that foreign vibe gets replaced by a Japanese one and people don’t really react much either way. Absolutely the case for me. After 20 years in this country, feeling negative (or positive!) discrimination is a distant and kind of nostalgic memory.
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  89. Great video on a topic I’m very much interested in. For one thing, there are Shito shrines everywhere around where I live (not far from Ise Jingu), but none of my Japanese friends seem to know much about it. And I guess this is part of what really interests me... the way Shinto as a way of thought/life is just woven into Japanese culture so tightly that it can become almost invisible to those inside that culture.
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  90. I love places like this. There’s a bar that’s pretty similar to this one on the way to my local train station, which is always tempting after work. It’s a really great way to get to know the locals, especially since people tend to be more open and talkative when they been drinking a bit. (I should mention that it really helps to have a decent level of Japanese places like this, since it’s unlikely anyone will be able to speak English… at least in a small town like where I live!)
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  91. Amazing work as usual, Greg. That part about Okinawa being a rare place in Japan that isn’t ‘ruled by the clock’ really rang true. I especially noticed that feeling of a different relationship with time in the Yaeyama Islands. On Ishigaki Island (my family’s favorite vacation spot) I remember being initially amused-annoyed by just how slow everyone drove — consistently under the speed limit. But then when I was back in my hometown in central Japan I felt myself lamenting the increase in speed of traffic…and life.
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  92. To call Chris a “YouTuber” at this point is like calling Doraemon a cat... I mean, accurate in a sense but kind of missing the point. (Natsuki is... Nobuta?) Seriously though, this is filmmaking, not YouTubing.
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  93.  @Ashi20-q4s  Thank you so much. All the best to you too!
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  94. Aeneas Yeah, I tried to remember students’ names for the first couple of years...and then realized the futility of that and just basically gave up. Where were you teaching, btw?
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  95. “The amount of foreigners I know who live in Tokyo and don’t have any Japanese friends is astonishing.” Maybe because they live in Tokyo?? 😆 There definitely is some variation around different areas of Japan in how much people actually ‘keep their thoughts to themselves’. And in my experience (20 years!) living in a rural community, people definitely will accept you as a full-fledged community member and even friend if you’re willing to play by the rules and put in the time. (Quite a LOT of time, I admit.) That said, this is excellent and surprisingly accurately cultural information from Chris. Nice work. 🍻
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  96. This is by far the best video on Christmas and New Years in Japan I’ve seen so far. As a fellow Canadian who’s lived in Japan for over 20 years now, I can vouch that everything in here fits my own experience. (Coincidentally, I recently uploaded a video with the SAME title, but then thought, “wait, that’s what Greg would name it”, and so I changed the title, knowing my own shallow content couldn’t compete with whatever masterpiece Greg was eventually going to come up with on the topic. And here it is…) Thanks for what you do, man. 🍻
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  97. Greg, your self-effacing Canadian sense of humor is so refreshing. Thanks for another great video!! 🍻
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  98. Absolutely fascinating. I will definitely be watching this with my 2 daughters (both half Japanese) later. Well, I’m not finished watching the whole documentary yet, but I can already say, “excellent work, Greg!” (And will undoubtedly comment in more detail once I’ve had time to watch the whole thing and digest everything.)
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  99. Wow, so much amazing scenery in this I don’t even know where to start commenting. Shikoku is just gorgeous. (And Greg’s camera lenses keep getting better!)
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  100. 20-years-English-teaching-in-Japan veteran here! 😆 First, I just want to say that Takashi did a great job at selecting interviewees for this one. Interesting people and good information! I’ll just add my bit about one type of English teacher that didn’t come up here — the ALT. Assistant Language Teachers basically come in three types: those working for a national or regional program like JET; those working through a dispatch company; or those hired directly by a municipal Board of Education. I’m not gonna get into details about the different types right now, but since the JET gig is the most sought-after, I will list some pros and cons of that one here. PROS: comparatively easy work load for reasonable pay. Opportunities to immerse oneself in Japanese culture by becoming a member of the school and surrounding community. Ample paid-vacation days. CONS: every situation is different. You may end up working six classes in a row with hyperactive elementary school students; or, you may end up sidelined as a “human tape recorder“ in the classroom and spend a lot of time sitting in the staff room with nothing to do. And finally, no matter how many years you do this job there is (in most cases) no chance for promotion or pay-raise. And FINALLY, I’d like to say that I’m pretty sure Takashi has a crush on the second interviewee. (But I could be wrong. 😆)
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  101. Very cool. Unfortunately, living in a rural, conservative area of Japan, we don’t have many characters like that around. Kei-trucks on the other hand, lllllots of ‘em. 😆 🍻
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  102. Info for beer people! Nagano Prefecture is also home to one of Japan’s best breweries: Yo-Ho brewing. These guys make absolutely delicious beer, including an IPA (Indo no Ao Oni) that rivals anything else out there. So if I’ m in Nagano, that’s where I’m headed! (let’s just say that I won’t be drinking ‘Asahi Superdry’ if I can help it. :-) KP 🍻
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  103. Beautiful work, as usual Greg. I’ve lived in a Japanese small town for the past 15 years. But I guess that “small“ is relative. My own town is centred around a hub station, so it’s quite convenient to live in since we can get to a city easily when necessary. But it’s surrounded by about five other “real“ small towns, that look a bit more like the one in this video. And likewise, they have been steadily emptying out over the past 30 years…which is probably the reason why my own town has been getting bigger. Anyway, experience living here has been wonderful.
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  104. MacArena 1. Take a step towards the student in question while gesturing and maintaining eye contact. 2. If that still doesn’t work, I ask, “what’s you’re name?” Because hey, it’s an English class...maybe I’m just quizzing them. ;-)(this is my strategy for Middleschool kids, anyway.)
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  105. "Filming for YouTube has it's privileges." Well, it helps if you have a million or so subscribers. (I've tried to play that card, and failed.) :-D
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  106. 4:31 “…there’ll be huge pressure to conform to the neighborhood standards.” I think that applies to most neighborhoods in Japan. Just the standards are different…
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  107.  @monicapetitebonita218  socializing doesn’t have to be a constant, full-on thing. Just be polite, and join scheduled local activities when you can. You can step up when you’re ready to.
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  108.  @trigi3678  yeah, at first I assumed they were ‘returnees’, but based on their explanation I’m pretty sure it’s just that they have really cool parents.
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  109. Even in Tokyo, “a couple of toilets were Graffitied and vandalized”….probably by some Canadian! 😓 😆 But seriously, the high standards for public restrooms here (not to mention Japanese people’s respect for public spaces) is something I really appreciate about living here.
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  110. Agreed!
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  111.  @Greenforrest7342  hey, cut me some slack! 😅 I said it was ‘tempting’ to make that comparison. I didn’t say I judged Japan negatively for it. My intended implication was that Japan, not in fact being a multicultural country, should not be compared to a country like Canada. Sorry if that was unclear. I’ve lived in Japan for more than 20 years, and have in fact chosen to live here OVER Canada in spite of the ‘stifling culture of conformity’. 😉 (intended to show sarcasm). Of course, have to accept Japan for what it is. And you know what? It’s a great place to live. For me at least. 🍻
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  112. I think it comes down to this: it’s slightly more expensive to make a lighter, but still-well-insulated thermos. American companies (or those in most other countries) just see the bottom line and think it’s better to make a little more profit or else make the product a little cheaper for consumers. Japanese companies, on the other hand, are focused on making the BEST product possible. They just trust that consumers are willing to pay a little more for something new and slightly better.
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  113. Another reason why people don’t stop wearing masks here in Japan has to do with the reason for wearing them in the first place. It was never “because the government said so”. Or not primarily anyway. In my opinion, wearing a mask (whether it’s during Flu season or because of the Covid-19 pandemic) is about showing respect to the people around you, by protecting them (actually or only in gesture) from yourself. This illustrates a central part of Japanese culture: limiting your own comfort and freedom a little bit for the good of society.
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  114. Yeah, the cult thing is real…I’ve been approached by sparkling-eyed individuals more than a few time over my 20+ years in this country. That said, I don’t want anyone to lose out on any potential great cultural experiences because of a fear of cults. Most Buddhist sects are actually quite secular here in Japan, and are not interested in ‘converting’ you. I once joined a zazen meditation session once that was really interesting and not ‘culty’ at all. (I didn’t go back though, mostly because it hurt my legs too much. 😂) Closing words: use your sense. If something feels weird or scammy, it probably is.
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  115. Before the video: I don’t think I have time to watch the whole thing. One hour later… (still watching.) Epic work, Greg!
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  116. If anyone wants to try... uh, ‘wild, local meat’ when you’re visiting Japan, look for the word ジビエ (Gibier) on restaurant signs. Pretty much any mountain village in here hunts and eats whatever large animals wander into there farms. (We draw the line at monkeys, though.)
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  117. @ yeah I’ve heard all of this, but it hasn’t been my personal experience. Sure, in-group-out-group bias is a thing (it is everywhere). But it’s really just a matter of continuing a shared activity until you become part of the group. It will happen eventually. And it doesn’t have to be limited to community weeding or the local fire brigade. Join a taiko drum group, hiking club, or classes at a local community center like cooking or karate or something. (Or if you have kids, join PTA, etc.). I know, we don’t all have unlimited free time… But if it’s important to you, this is what works. From my experience. 頑張って！
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  118. Beautiful work, Chris. And I appreciated the ‘majime’ vibe on this one. AND a note for BEER people: look up Spring Valley Brewing. They’ve turned one of these gorgeous old places into a brew pub, and it’s definitely worth checking out next time you’re in town. 🍻
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  119.  @aw2031zap  Thanks!! (Agreed… 😆 🍻 )
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  120. Also should be mentioned: convenience store coffee in Japan is great too. 7-11 and FamilyMart tired for first. The flavor is pretty much as good as major coffee chains but it only costs and only 100¥. (Stopped going to Starbucks years ago.)
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  121. Excellent list Chris. In the 20 years I’ve lived here in Japan, I have made good use of most of these on multiple occasions. One more to add, for those in the Nagoya sphere of influence, is Komeda Coffee. Well-loved by older Japanese, this Nagoya based establishment kind of a ‘coffee house’ themed family restaurant, serving not-that-tasty coffee BUT reasonably priced and tasty sandwiches and desserts. (I live in Mie-prefecture, and they’re everywhere.) Oh and the “Morning Set” is super cheap, and a good introduction to Nagoya breakfast culture. 🍞 🥚 ☕️
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  122. Great video, on an important topic. Like you Greg, I’m cautiously optimistic about the direction things are taking here in Japan. We’ve definitely seen progress over the last 10 years, but is it enough? In my city in central Japan, we are only allowed to put clean, dry, clearly-marked high grade plastics in “pla-gomi”. Anything messy goes into to “combustible garbage”, where it is burned for energy. Oh, and something I thought was funny: プラ(PLA) gets auto-transcribed as “Buddha” by YouTube. 😆
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  123. So how many people have now added Kyushu to your list of places to visit after the pandemic winds down? And a note for BEER people (because I can’t help it): if you ever do make it to Kumamoto City, be sure to check out Brewery KAEN. I haven’t made the journey myself yet (5 hours by train), but their beer is good, and a local friend has assured me it’s well worth a visit. (Okay, you might want to visit Kumamoto Castle too, it’s also pretty awesome.) 🍻
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  124. Well, my wife is Japanese but she doesn’t really fit any of those stereotypes... 😂
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  125. Just a clarification of terms. “JI-beer” (地ビール) generally means beer that is produced at resort areas, to sell alongside local sweets and rice crackers, etc. “Craft beer” (クラフトビール) is well, what it sounds like. That said, older people, or those in rural areas where craft beer culture hasn’t developed yet probably only know the former term.
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  126.  @GustafUNL  You’re right. The problem isn’t actually the older generation. But the ‘don’t rock the boat’ culture (in business as well as politics) does happen to be beneficial to those currently entrenched in positions of power…who are mostly all old men. (And they DO tend to resist change, as it doesn’t benefit them.) My wife works at Honda, and it says that there’s often serious discussion of progressive change or innovation in the company, but the guys at the top just veto everything at the last minute, presumably because it sounds like too much work…or just change makes them nervous.
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  127. This is a really important topic in Japan now, and I thought peoples answers were really interesting and revealing. A bit surprising maybe, but among people I know, my foreign friends are more reluctant to the idea of opening up immigration than my Japanese ones. 😆 Could be just a coincidence though!
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  128. I want to see this interview done in my area. (Mie Prefecture. Rural) Every gay friend I’ve had here was in such a hurry to leave for Tokyo or Osaka. 😆
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  129. I was thinking the same thing. The scene has already moved way past this point!
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  130. Oh yeah, Chris has serious skills. I catch myself taking mental notes every time I watch one of his (recent) videos.
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  131.  @southcoastinventors6583  I don’t allow myself to play that card with friends or people who know me well. But I do catch myself, occasionally, taking advantage of the ‘unintentional kindness’ of causal acquaintances or coworkers. 😆
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  132. Haven’t you guys discovered any better Japanese beers yet?? Well, at least Natsuki’s got his pants back. That’s something. 🍻
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  133. Christmas for Japanese people is really just a light, colorful distraction in the lead up to the main event of the season — Oshogatsu (New Years). There is no interest in getting it ‘right’... it makes a good excuse to spend some money and maybe have a ‘cake & chicken’ party with family or head out to a restaurant with someone special... and then we get back to the important work of prepping for the festivities and rituals that take place over the first week of the new year. And interestingly, New Years’ here feels a lot like Christmas does (did) back in Canada, where I’m originally from.
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  134.  @justjoshininjapan700  That’s mostly what I’ve found as well. Well, one other possibility, for those with advanced Japanese skills, is doing translation work. I know a guy who does it freelance, full time, and makes more than I do (working full time in public schools).
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  135.  @maegalroammis6020  re-directed through a positivity filter…sure, something like that.
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  136. I guess if you have a normal, full time job, you probably have a pretty solid morning routine. If not, you probably don’t.
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  137. And so the journey comes to an end. お疲れさまでした！So much fun, and visually beautiful... but for some reason, it didn’t really FEEL like the same Japan I live in... like Japan was just kind of a backdrop for Chris and his friends’ antics? Not that I’m complaining, this series was one of the most entertaining things I’ve seen on YouTube this year. Thanks for the laughs, Chris. I think we all needed them! Also, as a fellow Japan YouTuber, you have seriously inspired me to step up my game. (If only I could decide which direction to take my channel... suggestions or advice welcome.) 🍻
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  138. Once, in my first year in Japan, I was invited to a ‘zazan meditation session.’ (Not by a random stranger, but a friend of one of my students). It ended up being a really interesting and valuable cultural experience, and not ‘culty’ at all. I just wanted to mention this experience so people don’t thing this kind of thing is always a scam or trap. Japan has a lot to offer in the way of perspectives on spirituality, and it would be a waste to close our minds to this out of fear. Basically, use your sense. If something feels weird or scammy, it probably is.
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  139. Well, now I’ll have to watch it... if only to see what happened to Natsuki’s pants.
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  140.  @mindstalk  agree totally. We don’t have many bike lanes, etc. where I live, so to compensate for that, drivers give priority (and lots of space) to cyclists. In the morning there are school kids weaving all over the roads, but I’ve never heard of a serious accident.
    16
  141.  @KP-go4rp  I have a feeling that what’s being talked about here applies more to urban Japan…maybe Tokyo.? At least, I’ve lived in Japan for 20 years now, and the only time I’ve ever been denied entry anywhere was a sleazy night club I shouldn’t have been trying to get into in the first place. And the ‘no-one-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train’ thing? If only I was so lucky. Seriously, if I’ve ever been ‘treated badly’ based on not being Japanese, I haven’t noticed it. I know that a lot of people do have bad experiences…and Japan does have its share of jerks and racists…but it’s just never really materialized in my life here in rural, central Japan. Back to my original comment, but what’s more of an issue for me is that all the extra attention my daughters get for their lighter hair, etc, will cause them to attribute too importance to the way they look and allow that to become a central part of their self-identity. (That said, if I every catch anyone treating them badly, I’ll have something to say about it.)
    16
  142.  @shahrukhkhan8307  very cool. But I think this method only works if the child is personally motivated and really interested in the content. (Not because their parents tell them to watch it.)
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  143. Look, they’re not REALLY that terrible. I’ve tried them once, and while I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat them again, ‘hornet children’ are not as bad as everyone is making them out to be. (Old people here actually seem to like them!) 😆
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  144.  @Nuvendil  Well, also remember that Japan is a society that values the good of the group/community over that of the individual. So even without strict government rules or guidelines, individuals are expected to make decisions along these lines, and not behave in a selfish or socially reckless manner. Hence we tend to just naturally end up with tightly-knit livable and functional communities. (Most of the time.) Oh, one more point I just thought of is that a lot of that organic growth that shaped modern Japanese cities and towns actually took place in the pre-automobile age. So yeah, a lot of places are easier to get around on food or by bike. Again no planning required!
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  145.  @danielfisher417  Well, thanks for clearing that up. 🍻
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  146. I could only find two things in common between Chris’ day in Japan and my own: Jizo statues and camembert cheese. (same brand!) Maybe it’s because I live in a rural area…but more likely its because I have kids and a job besides ‘YouTubing’. 😆 Anyway, entertaining as usual!
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  147. A topic of some importance to me, as a resident of a city called 津. (つ in Hiragana. In Romaji it’s T.. 😅)
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  148. Maya DK well actually... I’m a Japan YouTuber too, and “abandoned-school-turned-wrestling-gym” WAS on my list of projects that I wanted to make. But after watching THIS video I don’t know...Greg is a tough act to follow.
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  149. Ah! You guys must be in British Village in Shuzenji Nature Park. I’ve been there — years ago (I assumed it had gone bankrupt!). Right next to it, is Canadian village, which, while not quite as ‘impressive’, is possibly more stereotyped and hilarious than its British counterpart. Think: Grizzly bears and totem poles. It was amazing.
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  150.  @etherdog  Thanks for the encouragement! I suppose that’s one of the perks of NOT having a higher-paying, corporate job here — more free time to do creative projects like making videos. 🍻
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  151. Gorgeous video, Greg. You really captured the tranquil Japanese ‘onsen experience’ well. I’ve been to some great onsens too...but nothing like the one you guys went to in this video. Wow. Anyway, I highly recommend this natural and cultural experience to any travellers to Japan. (just watch those hydrogen sulphide fumes. 😆)
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  152. Hidden City? The perfect spot for travel during a pandemic! Social distancing is easy.
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  153. People go to a place like that for the experience. There’s a certain look and feeling that those places have. In my family’s case it’s like, “what are we gonna do this weekend? Hey, why don’t we head out to that old pottery village?” Get there in the late morning, wander around a bit, get lunch at some cool little cafe or soba shop, wander some more, take pictures, do a little shopping, buy some souvenirs... a nice way to spend a Saturday.
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  154. Well, I’m admittedly not as entertaining as Chris, but I do make videos on a range of topics that you don’t see much in the ‘Japan vlogsphere’. Check some out if you’re interested. 🍻
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  155. Me before watching this video: Stop whining Chris, you have 2 million subs. Me after watching this video: Thank you, Chris. Thank you. 😂
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  156. “I’m split on this one.” 😂 (My band actually has a song called “Jukujo Disco”, on this very theme. More or less.)
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  157. Good interview question idea!
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  158. I’ve been waiting for this one!! A fascinating but controversial topic…and a perfect one for a sensitive ‘inside-outsider’ like Greg to tackle. Here we go..!
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  159.  @carkod  Rotating duties. Each household takes turns being in charge of varies things (cleaning, but also recycle station, fire brigade, area representative, etc.) according to a pre-decided order. It’s a bit of a pain when it’s your turn, but the overall result is good. (Some foreign resident manage to get out of their responsibilities…but then they’re not really accepted as full ‘community members’. )
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  160. Interesting interview. The experience of living short-term in rural Japan as a student is (obviously) quite different than my own experience of settling down, raising a family, and becoming a part of the local community. But I think what both situations have in common are their benefits over urban life. As a student, you save money and have less distractions if you live in the countryside. And as a long-term resident, you really have the chance to integrate yourself and become a member of the community. This doesn’t usually happen for city-dwelling foreign residents, because you tend to find members of your own language or cultural community and don’t bother making the effort to truly integrate. And as a result most remain an outsider to Japanese society. Where I live, you kind of get ‘pulled in’ whether you like it or not. 😅
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  161. Why did I watch this? Ishigaki Island was probably my favorite place in the world. It has this unique, peaceful energy that always made me feel calm and whole. It was actually something close to sacred ground for me. And now… I’ll always associate it with this… 😂
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  162.  @LifeWhereImFrom  Yeah, it looked like a lot of fun!
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  163. Interesting as usual, Takeshi. But my question is… how about you?? Where do you want to go?
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  164.  @shiromochi-kun  確かに。でも、僕の場合は新しい家建てた。はずれ？😆 (一応チャンネルあるけど。)
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  165.  @Oversurge_  Fair question. Well, the main reason is just that it suits my family’s situation. My wife (who is Japanese) works for a typical Japanese company, including long hours, overseas trips etc, and so I’m the one who mostly takes care of the kids and domestic work, at home. My ALT job means I work in the area, have regular hours, and get home every day early enough to make dinner, etc. (It also means that I often have free time at work to study and work on videos or other creative projects.) And going back to the “every situation is different” point I made in my comment… my situation at work is pretty decent. I actually like my job! Most of the time. 😆
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  166.  @ganndalf202  you don’t have to be a good public speaker. Being in front of a group of students is quite a different thing than addressing an audience. I have a few friends (currently JET ALTs) who are very shy people and they have both gotten quite comfortable teaching public school kids, even though they looked really nervous at first. Their speaking voices have gotten much louder as well. And the non-native-speaker thing. The truth is, it’s much easier to get hired if you are a native speaker from a country that people associate with English. (This is especially true in the private sector.) It doesn’t mean you won’t get hired, it just means you have to prove yourself first, and your first job could be lower-paying than it would otherwise. That said, it’s all about timing. When a school/company really needs a teacher, they won’t be so picky. (As long as you can speak well, of course.) I recommend checking if the JET Program has a connection in your country, and try applying there first. If that doesn’t work out, research your other options. Finally, as for the money, not all teaching jobs pay well…but most pay enough that you can support yourself and save a little. (You can actually live quite cheaply in Japan, if you’re careful.) I hope that helps. Good luck!
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  167. Ah, I know exactly what you mean. I think it relates to an interesting point of Japanese culture regarding social interaction. When you have an established relationship with someone (coworkers, family, friends, shopkeeper-customer etc) there are a lot of really complex rules as for how to interact. But when you DON’T have an established relationship (ie two strangers on a train platform) people often just pretend others around don’t exist. It’s seen as a bit of a ‘flaw’ in Japanese culture — a lack of clear rules for interaction between strangers in public places.
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  168. Great video. I like how you draw together both the cultural and administrative reasons for ‘cleanliness’ in Japan. And the unexpected appearance by Mr. Chart at the end there. 😆
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  169.  @norasyikinali6283  And if you have a dog that needs to be walked and kids who need to be fed and sent to school etc, then you probably have a REALLY solid morning routine… but then you’re probably too busy to be video-blogging it! 😆
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  170.  @verreal I guess it’s one situation where I’m okay with playing that card. Most of the time I follow the rules. 😅
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  171.  @musicmonkey602  Yeah, I should have known. Well, you can look it up online. A search in Japanese works best: “美杉リゾート ビール風呂”. I’ve also video blogged the area a bit, if you’re interested. 🍻
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  172.  @roripantsu  You just kind of develop a sense of it after a while… or you don’t. (In that case, you get labeled “KY” if you’re Japanese, or “foreign” if you’re…foreign. 😆)
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  173. This exact situation has happened to me. More than once. 😆
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  174.  @megand6233  Exactly.
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  175. Long-term foreign resident in Japan here. I basically agree with Chris’ ‘hate’ items, but I just wanted to say something in defense of rural living (which Chris lamely used as an excuse for his Hostess club and gambling habits). Most of my 20 years in this country has been in rural or ‘semi-rural’ areas and I never run out of things to do. In that first ‘lonely’ year, for example, with limited language skills and without English-speaking friends nearby, I joined a local Taiko drumming group. This has the effect of pulling me into Japanese culture in a way that I probably couldn’t have experienced in a big city. Also, having extra time for activities like reading and cycling isn’t a bad thing. (Or creative projects like music or… even video making. 🍻)
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  176. Hey, you’re in my backyard! I see Shimakaze pass by my place nearly every day… but unfortunately I still haven’t ridden it. As for Ise Jingu and “Okageyoko-cho”, I’m a regular visitor. Anyone who is planning on visiting there, they have a really excellent local brewery called Ise Kadoya. You can sit on a patio overlooking the river while you enjoy a beer!
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  177. An interesting note from history/mythology... Saga prefecture is one of the two possible locations for the original “Yamatai Empire”, the domain of Sorceress-Empress Himiko — look it up if you don’t know, it’s fascinating stuff! (The other probable location is in or near Nara, the area where I live. Of course, we think our claim is stronger. 😆)
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  178. #7 Check out a brewpub. (Japan has a lot of great craft beer. Just saying.)
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  179. OK, yes that was hysterical. But dude, you have 2 MILLION subscribers. I think it comes with the territory.
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  180. How to get from Tokyo to Tottori… Chris: first class sleeper train, please. Me: what’s the cheapest way? OK, well how much would I save if I jog down the line a bit and catch the train from the next station?
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  181. Nice work. It sounds like a close call! 😅 But I just want to share my own experience as well… Once, in my first year in Japan, I was invited to a ‘zazan meditation session.’ (Not by a random stranger, but a friend of one of my students). It ended up being a really interesting and valuable cultural experience, and not ‘culty’ at all. I just wanted to mention this experience so people don’t thing this kind of thing is always a scam or trap. Japan has a lot to offer in the way of perspectives on spirituality, and it would be a waste to close our minds to this out of fear. Basically, use your sense. If something feels weird or scammy, it probably is. 🍻
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  182. Maybe Natsuki is an “outsider” in his own way. 🤔
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  183. Looks like a nice area for light hiking & camping. It seems to me that "lost and forgotten" MAY be a bit of an over-dramatization, though. (A trail that's not on Google Maps? Must be LOST AND FORGOTTEN! lol) Well, I guess the point is that there is a region like this so close the Tokyo metropolis that isn't over-developed. That is pretty surprising and cool. But just for contrast, almost none of the trails in my area are on Google maps...
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  184. It does seem unfair. But to be honest, I don’t have a single friend who has left the country in the past 3 years. (And I have a pretty wide circle.) People do make plans, hoping that the pandemic will ‘calm down’, and then end up cancelling them, when it doesn’t. (That said, I do feel that Japan’s border restrictions are a bit tighter than they need to be right now.)
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  185.  @adventuresofanathan  Yeah, it’s pretty cool. That place isn’t really a ‘bath house’, but a hot spring resort. But like the bath houses the place has tried to reinvent itself to survive a tough tourist market. (I’m not sure if I’m allowed to post links here, but here goes…)
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  186. A few more… *Don’t try to scam the train system, buying the wrong ticket and thinking that “I don’t speak Japanese” will help you. You’ll eventually get caught. *Don’t try to speak like characters in anime. You might think you’ll sound cool, but more likely rude or ridiculous. But you REALLY want to speak like anime characters, then at least choose something by Ghibli, because then at least you have a decent chance at not sounding rude. And while we’re on topic…did you know about Studio Ghibli’s theme park? It will be open in November! (And I went to the site and took some video, if anyone is interested…)
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  187.  @LifeWhereImFrom  Yeah, actually I’ve always thought that your kids’ appearance in your videos seemed natural, Greg. Not scripted or strategical to get more views or anything like that. They’re just there because, hey, that’s your life. Well done. 👍
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  188. That looked tasty. But if I was going to drop 2000¥ at a market in Sendai it would probably be “Craft Beer Market.” (Look it up if you’re in the area.) OK, fine. maybe one then the other...
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  189. Ah ‘Konbini’ snacks, the bane of my existence. But Chris, I think you need to report back about that ‘sleep chocolate’. I’ve always assumed it’s kind of a scam but I’m still really curious. Let us know if it works!
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  190.  @cosmobane6995  It was dark. It was a winding mountain road. And...it might not have been QUITE 100 meters tall. 😆 I’d seen those giant statues (there are several) lots of times from the train as I passed through...but it was my first time to encounter them up close. If you’re interested, check it out online. The place is called: “Japon Louvre Sculpture Museum.”
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  191.  @parkchimmin7913  The ones I tried were marinated in soy sauce or something (I think they usually are), so I’m not sure what they taste like fresh out of the hive, but... I guess, slightly fishy.? Not in a bad way, just fish is the closest flavor I can think of. Oh, but the TEXTURE is quite memorable. They kind of pop when you chew them. Hehe. (A bit disturbing if you’re not used to it, maybe... 😆)
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  192. Cool video! If anyone is interested, there’s an abandoned school listed in my local ‘akiya bank’. A bit older (Meiji era?), but it’s a nice location…and cheap! 😆
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  193.  @shiromochi-kun  Yes! When I have time, I often extend my commute home from work to pass through a local mountain village. And exploring the local area by bike is one of my favorite day-off activities. 🚴
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  194.  @koffiegast  that’s really interesting… I wonder if Japanese people actually do the same thing. (I’m guessing yes.)
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  195. Agreed on all all accounts! Unagi… a bit higher-end so the situation could be quite different. (But something I’d be interested in as well.)
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  196.  @strife2746  This is probably too complicated of a topic to get into in a video comment page. Well, I really know what you mean, but I believe that the reasons for the strong social cohesion here don’t only come from the traditional culture, shared ethnicity etc, from a variety of reasons. One is a strong and mostly-uniform public education system up to grade 9 (15 years old.) Basically every child in this country had shares this experience, which not only includes a common academic curriculum but also ethical and cultural-values indoctrination, club activities, and several school trips that take then to different areas of the country, together with their classmates. In this way everyone adult individual in Japan has a shared experience they can relate to. And it really goes a long way towards making this a true ‘nation’, rather than a collection of selfish individual, like in Canada & America. There are other points, but I’ll stop now. 😅
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  197.  @Automedon2  I’ve never seen anything like that where I live, but it sounds really cool.
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  198. Looks like Chris managed to plan a production project around ‘what he felt like doing anyway’. Envious. As for the the setting… either Anami Islands or Okinawa? Anyone have a guess?
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  199. Well, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Japanese home that doesn’t have kimchi in the fridge. (We certainly do!)
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  200. Ronald Tan Yes, it is. But there are some places that offer it as a way of making themselves stand out from competitors. (I seem to remember a soba restaurant in Narita airport...maybe that’s where I first had it??)
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  201.  @albertsmith99  that’s a good point. Things have been getting better in recent years. (Especially in the run-up to the Olympics, a lot of wheelchair-friendly infrastructure was put in). But still behind most other (‘developed’) countries. Actually, I’m involved in a music project at a center for challenged artists, so I have some personal interest in this issue as well! One of the things we do is set up public events and performances to be as visible as possible, like, “hey, we’re here in your community, and some us have disabilities, but guess what, create art too!” And the lack of access thing does come up pretty often — like we’re constantly having to carry our two band members who are in wheelchairs up and down stairs. But that also serves the goal of drawing attention to the situation. So… long response, but yeah, I think that one’s level of ability has more impact that nationality in this country when it comes to discrimination!
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  202.  @tbv979  Yeah, I guess it’s not just in Japan. (But incidentally, cashiers are discouraged from striking up conversations with customer here. At least until they know you REALLY well.)
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  203.  @ValentinaMitchell1  This area is not as ‘flashy’ as the big cities are, but it has a special connection with old-Japan and the roots of modern Japanese culture. Actually, made a video about my own castle town a couple of years back. It’s a bit embarrassing to post after Greg’s masterpiece, but it gives some insight into the culture of cherry-blossom appreciation that you might not see elsewhere. Check it out if you’re interested! https://youtu.be/vnJm1wr0FzA
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  204. And you thought it wouldn’t be controversial. 😂 But seriously, I’m really glad you made this, Greg. Honestly I think it’s a question that an ‘outsider’ such as yourself can answer BETTER than a Japanese person — especially someone who has never left the country and hasn’t gained an outside perspective. Anyway I’m looking forward to watching it! (But waiting for the Vimeo on demand release…)
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  205. I’d like to give another perspective. This incident is not an assassination. Not in a political sense, anyway. Sure, there will be political repercussions, but the guy who did this didn’t have any political motive. He was just angry. This is not a sign of some kind of social or political instability in Japan. From my perspective, there are really two factors at play here. One is simply a lack of security, based on not having a sense of danger. Since Japan is seen to be a “safe“ society, Most people don’t take any precautions to protect themselves. (Or, apparently politicians.) also there is a long-term cultural trend of angry, isolated men who just mentally snap and do crazy stuff. (like the guy who burned down the Kyoto animation studio, and the guy who attacked a bunch of people in Akihabara.) The guy who killed Shinzo Abe is one of them. Not an “assassin“. All this said, I’m sure the event will have an effect on Japanese people’s psyche, at least in the short term.
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  206. Kay Varg Agreed. That’s one of the things I love about Japan!
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  207.  @OfficiallyErling  Well, since I make it regularly, I guess I can say that I cook ‘Japanese food’ at home.?
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  208.  @JHaven-lg7lj  Yeah, making it fit with the local character would be really important. Doing something like that has actually been one of my dreams for the last few years. I’ve been honing my home-brew skills, trying to make connections with brewers, etc, but it does involve a sizable financial investment, so I’m taking it slow and carefully. Current plan: 1. build up a YouTube channel/community of beer + Japan interested people. 2. Start a crowdfunding campaign… wish me luck! 😆
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  209.  @sandy_sd10  Cool, any stories??
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  210.  @ganndalf202  generally speaking, it’s not a requirement. But as someone from a country not typically associated with English language, it might be helpful for you to have in some situations.
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  211.  @ganndalf202  No problem. And thank you for checking out my channel, btw. Maybe I should create some content about teaching English here. Could be useful for people?
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  212.  @wholeNwon  YES, you nailed it. 🍻
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  213. I like your idea. The situation for musicians is definitely a bit different here than in most other countries.
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  214.  @LifeWhereImFrom  Yeah, maybe it’s a Canadian thing, but I almost always just default to cereal for breakfast. I usually serve the leftovers to my kids, over rice, topped with cheese to hide the ‘leftoveryness’. (I TRIED introducing the cereal thing to them as well, but it just doesn’t seem to work over here. Mom’s influence..?)
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  215. I figure the story will come out eventually.
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  216.  @nonamemcnobody2119  haha, that was me initially. I came over here with a work visa provided by Aeon conversation school. Hard work, but an amazing experience at the same time. (And yes, I did get a glimpse of the ‘dark side’ of the industry. Then went back to my home country (Canada) for just long enough to do the JET interview, and I was a JET ALT a year later. So. Much. Easier. But I still value the experience I had as a conversation teacher. If only for the stories I gained.
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  217.  @dgill441  ha, we say the same thing here. 😆
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  218. @kikuchi S well, I’m still here after 20 years, enjoying my life and not isolated in the least. (Which is why I’m still here.) I think the area you live has a big influence. (I live in a rural area near a medium-sized city in central Japan.) Also, getting married to a Japanese person, having kids, doing PTA and all that stuff does help with the integration thing. Anyway, I agree that it’s not easy to be accepted as an insider, but you can eventually by making deep connections and earning the respect of the people in your communities. (All this said, a lot of my closest friends ARE, like Chris suggested, “outsiders”, both Japanese and foreign.) Anyway, cheers. 🍻
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  219.  @killinglonliness88  That ‘nasty-ass’ black plain stuff is what I call coffee. What you’re talking about I call “desert”. That said, for 150¥ you can get cafe late, which is quite delicious. (High-fat milk, because Japan.)
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  220. Ouch. But, yeah that’s just how things are. My mother’s side of the family: Scottish and British. My dads’ side: Ukrainian and German. (In both cases one country’s military did horrific things to the other.) And somehow I’m here in the world, and without hate. (And living in Japan, some reason.) We just move forward.
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  221.  @marw9541  I think people tend to behave worse in cities due to the sense of anonymity. Also, foreign residents in small towns usually feel more accepted as part of the local community, and so behave in line with community expectations. (At least that’s my experience.)
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  222.  @feiryfella  Stop by anytime! 🍻 (The playlist is: Home Construction Adventure in Japan)
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  223. Nice idea! There are so many local, seasonal festivals here. And farmers’ markets too! (Well, I live in a rural area, so maybe more here than Tokyo.) Anyway, those festivals are a lot of fun and get everyone in the community together. In fact they are one of the things I enjoy most about living here…COVID-19 has taken a bit of a toll on the scene, but things are slowly staring to normalize again. (I actually made a little video on that topic, if anyone is interested I’ll post a link.)
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  224.  @ChristianDogLover  Ah, I was wondering if this would come up. (It’s one of those uncomfortable topics that doesn’t usually get talked about.) But unfortunately, yeah…There is absolutely differential treatment depending of where you’re from, with certain ‘types of foreigners’ having a much easier time than others. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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  225. I was thinking about what it is, exactly, that feels different about shopping in a market in Japan (especially as a tourist) vs in many other countries. It’s not just the chocolate bananas or absence of haggling. In most countries I’ve traveled in (specifically in Latin America or SE Asia) I really felt a sense of economic disparity while shopping. Like the value of money is different for the shoppers/tourists and the market vendors. Tourists are assumed to be rich and therefore inflating prices etc is ethical. But in Japan there is a sense (real or imagined) of equality. No one is scheming to rip you off of relying on your purchase for their subsistence. Things can be a little expensive. But it’s a good vibe.
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  226. Interesting observation! One interesting thing about ‘social hierarchy’ here though is that it’s still very strong within organizations (ie schools or big companies) but mostly invisible in society-as-a-whole. I mean, you can be tempted to see Japan as a classless society when youre in public, or passing through as an outsider, since there are few observable signs of any social hierarchy. And interestingly, this is one of the reasons why Japanese people traditionally tend not to interact with people they don’t know in public…without a designed relationship, we don’t really know HOW to interact, how to refer to the other person, whether to use Keigo, etc. Probably another reason why Japanese people often come off as being ‘unfriendly’.
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  227.  @DushyantShrikhande  Well, I’ve actually been making some videos on that topic. Nothing that goes too deep yet, but you can get a feel for what’s here. Why don’t you check out... https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoaHpzEK4ZUTsAx4-53YSkyaB-ghjp9vX
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  228. Ayesha Nasir That’s why I can’t leave. :-)
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  229.  @ganndalf202  This sounds familiar. But yes, it just takes a little extra effort (initially) to make it work. 🍻
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  230.  @daysl33per  You need a 4-year post secondary degree. The subject is pretty much irrelevant. It is generally easy to get a first job, if you don’t mind working for one of the big conversation schools like Aeon, Nova, etc, or dispatch company like Interac. They usually sponsor your visa and help get you here. The cushiest option is the JET Program, but it’s harder to get in. Look around online, you’ll find more. (One job-specific website I can remember offhand is “Gaijinpot”.) That’s all for now. I’m actually planning on making a video on this topic in the near future. It seems like a lot of people have the same question as you!
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  231.  @laflaca80  Learning basic Japanese will definitely make things go more smoothly. Nearly everyone knows some English though, so by mixing the two languages, with a heavy dose of gestures, you should be fine. (If you ever have communication issues, one tip is to write words down to show people. Many people here have troubles understanding spoken English, but can generally read it .) And Okinawa. One of my favorite places in the world. (Especially “Ishigaki Island”. My family spent a week there one time and it was absolutely wonderful.) I wouldn’t worry too much about the dialectic difference. There are a couple of special words or expressions, but nothing caused any problems.
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  232.  @ganndalf202  The 3 biggest ones are: Gaijin Pot Jobs in Japan Ohayosensei These primarily list job openings in conversation schools and dispatch companies. (The easiest jobs to get, especially if you don’t have much experience yet.)
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  233.  @aGGeRReS  Good question! In fact, there have been essays written about this, and not everyone agrees on the answer. But I think it comes down to a few things. First, English and Japanese are just really different languages. Like, for most people it takes an immersive situation to force your brain to adjust and really be able to understand/speak fluently. Second, Japanese culture itself is a barrier to learning foreign languages. People here don’t want to answer a question unless they’re really confident about their answer. So in English class, many people would rather say nothing than risk a grammar mistake. (You can’t learn a language this way.) To make matters worse, there seems to be a common belief among Japanese people that they just aren’t (genetically??) able to master foreign languages. “Well what do you expect? I’m Japanese!” Finally, until recently at least, there just hasn’t been a real NEED to learn English here. I mean, it didn’t have any real effect on most people’s career or financial status. Most Japanese Prime Ministers and business leaders couldn’t speak it. For the average person, mastering English has been more of a party trick than anything. Sure, students hear again and again, “English is important for your future.” But for most people that just hasn’t been true. So people just focused on passing some important tests, and then forget it afterwards. All that said, I get the sense that things are changing now, and there are not real financial imperatives to learning the language. So it makes sense to me that people’s English level will start to go up soon. Hopefully…🤞
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  234.  @pengajianrutin540  😂
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  235.  @jalanampang6338  well, I’d say ‘moderately rural’ could describe parts of it. Kind of like where I live. It’s really just a rural pocket between a bunch of cities, but all the locals are convinced we live in ‘inaka’.
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  236.  @commentarytalk1446  yeah, I guess if we’re surrounded by amazing nature every day, it’s hard to worry too much about things. You just go outside, breath in the floral-scented; slightly salty air, and everything seems okay. (A closely-knit, warm community doesn’t hurt either I guess.)
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  237.  @LittleLulubee  It’s not something that gets mentioned too much in public, but quite a few people have said that to me when we were taking about the topic in private.
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  238.  @afcgeo882  Capital, mainly. It does require a substantial investment! But also, a sense of loyalty, at least in some cases. There’s a very old tradition here defining the relationship between master and apprentice — not specifically for ramen but any skilled trade or art. You don’t just walk away when you’ve obtained the desired skills. There’s a typical dramatic scene where the apprentice very emotionally asks for permission to break away and set up on his/her own. The master may ask the apprentice to ‘wait’, and he/she is expected to oblige. (I admit though, I’m getting this from old ‘TV dramas’ and it may not apply to the real world here anymore. 😆)
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  239.  @user-no2mz9hl4f  Agreed. 😅
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  240.  @albertsmith99  Thanks! I was actually planning on make a documentary series on our band, but the pandemic has made everything complicated. Maybe next year.
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  241.  @Nuvendil  So the result is that Tokyo grew freely to become the amazing city it was destined to be. My cities (I live on the border between two of them) on the other hand are forever frozen in time as castle towns where change isn’t really considered an option. But I’m not complaining!
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  242.  @Handles_are_garbage  Good point. If you’re in Tokyo, that’s probably true. ( I guess part of my problem is that I don’t live in a big city.)
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  243. I think it peaks at around 10 years. (any longer and you start to forget what was “normal“ before. 😆)
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  244.  @menpee  Well, I was trying not to be negative. But yes.
    4
  245. Doctor Ebot Well, for Osaka, Minoh brewery — or one of the several establishments that serve their delicious beer. Kyoto also has some great brew pubs: Kyoto brewing, Spring Valley, Kyoto Beer Lab...(More info upon request) OR watch my Epic Kansai Day Trip videos for inspiration! 🍻 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoaHpzEK4ZUTsAx4-53YSkyaB-ghjp9vX
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  246.  @cluster027  Well, since I live in central Japan (Mie prefecture) I know my local cities best — Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. So a personal top 10 for Tokyo would be tricky at this point (I hope to rectify that once this pandemic thing clears up!) But from personal experience I can recommend: -Far Yeast Tokyo Brewery & Grill & -Ise Kadoya Craft Beer. The latter is actually brewed in Ise city (my neighborhood, so I might be biased) but it really is excellent beer. But there are LOTS of options in Tokyo, so it might be a good idea to do your own research before heading there. Check out https://craftbeer-tokyo.info/
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  247.  @LybertyZ  I should be holding out for a better deal..?
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  248. Agreed. I should mention though that in my circle of acquaintances in Japan, it’s about 50-50 as for who does most of the food prep. It’s interesting, because we imagine rural areas to be more traditional & conservative, but where I live in Mie prefecture men are generally more involved domestic life (especially cooking and raising children) than in metropolitan areas like Tokyo and Osaka. (There are various reasons for this which I won’t get into now.) In my family, I do most of the domestic work, since my wife works late every day. C’mon Greg, I know you’re busy with YouTubing, but maybe it’s time to step up a bit? 😆
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  249.  @sarahwatts7152  interesting idea. Although I suspect the responses would be totally different in different areas of the country. People where I live (small-town, central Japan) tend to have a decent balance, and I often hear people say they feel sorry for Tokyoites.
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  250.  @browniebear9282  I recommend it too. That channel has great videos in general, offering an un-sensationalized and non-judgmental view of Japan.
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  251. You did what!?? 😂 Good luck…and have a great time!
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  252.  @bsrhoad  Agreed. (Even though I sometimes complain about it. 😆)
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  253.  @DoctorEbot  hey, thanks for the encouragement! 🍻
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  254.  @makaylarochelle  That makes sense. I guess, though, that expectations (by organizations) for ‘behavioral conformity’ are higher here. Well, I’m also a public employee in a small city, which may have an impact on my opinion. (We’re expected to represent the ‘pro-social values’ of the organization at all times. It can get tiring...) 😆
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  255.  @maegalroammis6020  so don’t live here, problem solved! 🍻
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  256. Haha, I know. Back where we’re originally from (western Canada), we don’t really have ‘fashion’... (or was it just me?) 😆
    4
  257.  @missplainjane3905  Internet speeds are basically fast anywhere in Japan, unless you’re somewhere REALLY isolated. The only time I’ve had issues was when I was camping in the mountains.
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  258.  @LifeWhereImFrom  I know, it really SHOULDN'T be controversial. But then you and I are from a multicultural country where a having complex identity is pretty normal. Story: About 15 years ago, I was at a local sake festival, drinking with a jovial group of guys who just happened to be right-wing nationalists. (This kind of situation happens frequently for some reason.) Anyway, I made the mistake of making light of Japanese ethnic purity, and was set straight very quickly. "We are ONE race. Period. You are an outsider, so you don't need to understand. Have another drink!" Then I mentioned this incident to a Japanese friend and co-worker at school and he told me that "those types" are the reason they have to keep the location of major educational conferences secret -- the implication being that educators may face violence for promoting "anti-national" views of society and history. Anyway, I got the feeling that most Japanese people avoid going too deep into this particular question. Which is why I'm glad you are! Looking forward to watching the full documentary!!
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  259. Agreed.
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  260.  @iamthinking2252_  It just means a rural area, “countryside” etc. Sorry. English speakers who’ve lived in Japan for a long time start to use these kind of words like they’re English. 😆
    4
  261.  @hypothalapotamus5293  good observations and description of rural Japan! (You basically described the area I live in.)
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  262. That sums it up well. As a Canadian who’s spent the last 20 years in Japan, I honestly can’t say which is better. I do kind miss that ‘free feeling’ that I had in Canada. But after living in a society where people know how to suppress their own immediate desires (opinions, etc) for the greater good, it’s kind of hard to go back.
    4
  263.  @bugrist  but good riding trails?
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  264.  @Maya-vw6uf  Uh, no. (Well, probably yes. But it was dark...)
    3
  265.  @dillon8818  if you have a university degree, you’re qualified most jobs here. (Good communication skills and native-like fluency are also pretty important.)
    3
  266.  @aceofspartons5779  There are many foreign international students doing graduate or post-grad studies here. (In fact, I’ve heard that Japanese universities depend on it, since there aren’t enough native Japanese students doing advanced degrees.) So I assume it isn’t particularly hard to be accepted into such a program. As for the language question… Japanese is not an easy language to learn, especially if you’re native language is something like English where the structure is completely opposite. So if you’re expecting to be out on the street doing Takashi-style interviews after a few months of study you’re going to be disappointed. It generally takes a couple of YEARS of exposure before your brain starts to be able to smoothly process Japanese. (I was hopeless for the first few years.) My advice is, study as much as you can before coming here. Both with formal materials like textbooks, etc, and also using free resources like videos on YouTube. There a lot of channels offering high-quality Japanese lessons, if you just look around a bit. (My channel is Japan-focused, but not so useful on the language side. Sorry.) Anyway, good luck!
    3
  267.  @aceent5145  Yeah, private lessons are a good option to supplement a mediocre income. Until recently, ALTs (and other employees) working directly for city governments were not allowed to do outside work. Many did, but we had to keep it hidden to avoid trouble. But since last year, the rules have changed and it’s officially allowed (nearly) nationwide, which makes things simpler. To be honest though, the reason I’m able to own a house and raise a family on an ALT salary is because I’m not doing it on an ALT salary alone. My wife is Japanese and works for a major company that pays a decent salary. Since she has to do overtime work/ extended business trips etc, I’m the main domestic person in our family, cooking, taking care of kids, etc. So, my ALT job’s easy schedule makes it possible for me to support her career. So the REAL secret to making it in Japan is… 😆
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  268.  @Riri-bc6vx  No, I’ve never heard of any overt discrimination against Muslims here. One of the ALTs I work with in my city, a woman from Bangladesh, wears a hijab at work and no one has ever questioned it. Japanese just think people from foreign countries are kind of exotic, and any differences are usually just seen as interesting. The only issue I can foresee would be about food. Some people get irritated about those with dietary restrictions/special choices, since a part of Japanese culture is that everyone eats the same thing, together. But don’t worry, they’ll get used to it. 😀
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  269. Sour Puss 北斗の拳, is that you!??
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  270.  @AeneasMTG  Haha I can relate. I know the good kids AND the really bad ones.
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  271.  @onlyinjapan  John, off topic but I’ve been meaning to ask you for ages, you weren’t living in Numazu in 2000-2001 were you?
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  272.  @DavidChart  ah, it seems my last reply got caught in Greg’s spam filter. (I should know better than to post links.) Anyway, I agree that it would be a good video topic. And since I’m currently building a new house, I decided to try it. (Parts 1 through 4 at this point). So, uh, feel free to browse if you’re interested, via my icon. <—
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  273.  @chech5774  wait…tinfoil?? I’ve been using saran-wrap all these years. NOW I finally understand my social ostracization. Thanks for the tip. 🍻
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  274.  @goodgame3374  well…at least I don’t have to deal with those types directly, since they tend not to live here in Japan (not for long, anyway). 😅
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  275.  @5chevin5  Sounds good to me! 👍
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  276.  @AmodeusR  ahhh that would make more sense. (He’s not THAT old…)
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  277.  @erickmiranda3600  Yeah, I do think it’s one of the more challenging languages to master…especially if your native language is something with a totally different structure like Japanese. But I think as long as they put the time in, most people can eventually achieve ‘communicative competence’. (Being a perfectionist doesn’t help in this case.)
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  278. Interesting idea!
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  279. My thoughts exactly. 🍻
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  280.  @alizanster  sad…but true.
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  281.  @user-no2mz9hl4f  Agreed!!
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  282. Hahah I know, right? But I think it comes down to this: companies in other countries just see the bottom line and think that if a product is selling well enough, there’s no reason to waste money to change/improve it. Japanese companies, on the other hand, are focused on making the BEST product possible. They just trust that consumers are willing to pay a little more for something new and slightly better.
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  283.  @cdscissor  🍻
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  284. Agreed! 😆 And since we’re on the topic, a couple of months back I explored an old abandoned Meiji era school (I live in central Japan) that looks a lot like Satsuki’s school in Totoro. (I took video if anyone wants to check it out!)
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  285.  @OatmealTheCrazy  I know I know.😂
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  286.  @lukelim5094  Nope, just normal “hard” mode. 😆
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  287.  @xueyang5967  Not trying to be disrespectful… 😂
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  288.  @davidarundel6187  They’re not considered “food grade”, so they’re almost never eaten in Japan. (Well, the crows love them. But as for humans, it’s basically just kids catching them for fun.)
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  289.  @sophritoh  Well, I don’t know if it’s any consolation, but the kids here generally catch them (crayfish, and also several kinds of large insects) to keep at ‘pets’. You can buy these portable aquarium-boxes and a favorite summer activity is going out hunting for something to put in it. They do their best to make a suitable habitat and keep their captives fed and ‘happy’. From the kids’ point of view at least, it is ‘nurturing’. And I guess they learn a lot in the process.
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  290.  @xBINARYGODx  Creepily vague? I meant like, join the neighborhood committees, fire bridge/garbage station upkeep when it’s your turn,, clean and weed the park with neighbors on the designated days etc. That stuff is a really a pain, but THATs how you become a real member of a Japanese community. (Outside of the big cities anyway.)
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  291. I was wondering the same thing.
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  292.  @FlowerEmblem  Absolutely true! I’ve recently been re-watching Star Trek (TNG, Voyager, etc) and man, the way a lot of those ‘aliens’ act/think seems so NorthAmerican to me…now that I’m not.
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  293.  @v1c4r10u5  My thoughts exactly. (Right down to the tortillas.) 🍻
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  294.  @KJane  ah, the gift thing. Good example. (Also applies to paying for lunch, etc)
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  295.  @zenwisdom4259  I certainly understand the appeal of Hokkaido. Especially in the summer. As for the job, are you talking about ‘farm stay’? Or would you actually be working for proper wages?
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  296.  @zenwisdom4259  understandable. I think you’d be able to support yourself, especially if room and board are included, as I’ve heard, but you probably won’t be able to save much. (I’m not really sure about farm work, so of course do your own research.) English teaching can get boring, but it’s always a safe option.
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  297.  @gordonbgraham  damn, so you took the ‘big step up.’ Nice work. Some years back I started to receive encouragement from my Japanese co-teachers and Principal to do that. (Up to that point I hadn’t even known it was an option.) I seriously considered it. In the end, it was witnessing their insane work schedules (and occasional burnouts) that made me decide against. I’m guessing you really work for that raise in salary. Do you supervise club activities as well?
    2
  298.  @mohsen6302  The majority of teaching jobs in Japan aren’t intended to lead to a career, so your salary won’t change even with experience or a master’s degree. One notable exception to this is if you work at a private high school and manage to get a teaching license from a Japanese university. I recommend that you read the reply (or separate post) by ‘Gordon Graham’. He gives good advice on how to make this work. IF you have a non-Japanese teaching license, you may be able to use it at an ‘international school’, but I don’t have any personal experience with this. Finally, there’s always starting your own school. Not without risk of course, but I have several friends who have been quite successful at this. All the best!
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  299.  @Riri-bc6vx  You’re welcome! 😊
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  300. You get used to it. 😆
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  301.  @corvus2735  Right. Well, the functionality was probably closer to Facebook. But yeah.
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  302.  @takashiifromjapan  great! I’m looking forward to it!!
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  303.  @southcoastinventors6583  yyyyyess sometimes. But in face-face-situations they’re more likely to say “nihongo jozu!” (Your Japanese is very good!)… but in a way that means the opposite. 😅
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  304. My thoughts exactly. 🍻
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  305. “…just like in Vancouver and Toronto now.” 😂 Greg, I was thinking exactly the same thing as you said it.
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  306. What I serve my kids almost every morning for breakfast: last night’s leftovers on rice (microwaved) with cheese on top. Then what do I eat? Cereal.
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  307. Good suggestions! All three of them. But as for Attack on Titan, I agree with that one guy that the original manga has a more unique feeling due to the art style. (The anime version is almost too real…)
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  308.  @southcoastinventors6583  I haven’t actually…which is strange because they’re made of the same thing and even at the same location sometimes! Boozy chocolate, on the other hand, is quite popular here. (You can get pretty decent rum or brandy tainted chocolate bars at the local コンビニ). I guess people tend to experiment less with traditional Japanese things than with more recent cultural traditions.
    2
  309.  @albertsmith99  well…check back in 6 months or so. (Or you could sub now and get the alert!) 🍻
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  310.  @katrineuche9183  exactly. Do you live in a city, or more rural area, btw? My family lives in a small town, so my kids are (unfortunately) kind of local celebrities.
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  311. My favorite was definitely the Japan-TV-icized simulation of AIJ. Now THAT is quality programming. :-D (starts at 9:31)
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  312. Wow, that was absolutely beautiful. How have I lived in Japan for 20 years and not known about this place?? And it’s only a couple hours drive from where I live! (Mie prefecture) Thank you for introducing this place, I will check it out soon!
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  313. Markius Fox yes, IF you’re just meeting someone for the first time. But it could also, be “I’m really relying on you” or even just a very strong, “PLEASE!”, etc., depending on the situation. It’s a very useful little phrase, once you get used to it! :-)
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  314.  @musicmonkey602  haha yeah it’s been interesting. At the moment it’s not too bad, but there are a lot of rules and special precautions we have to take. When we were under a State of Emergency, things were even more challenging…but also interesting! I made a video on that topic if you’re interested. https://youtu.be/VH8MmyzFxOc
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  315. No, they probably should have been checking — Japan’s got snakes too!
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  316.  @LifeWhereImFrom  Ah, THAT’s how you do it. 😆
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  317.  @commentarytalk1446  Thanks for the kind words! 😀
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  318.  @missplainjane3905  I assume you mean where I live now, in Japan. Mie prefecture has fairly mild winters…it usually doesn’t snow and the temperature doesn’t drop much below 0C. But since most houses here aren’t properly insulated, it can be almost the same temp inside and out! (This is why my family built a new home this year. Maybe you’ve already seen my videos about that..?)
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  319.  @davidhill850  Well it seems our worlds overlap a bit. I live in Mie, and actually work for Tsu City. And I have been up to Gero a couple of times (onsen trips), and remember those cool little windy roads. Love that area. Oh, and we have a Nagoya connection too. I lived in Moriyama-ku for 2 years, between the baseball stadium and the Asahi Brewery.🍻
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  320.  @davidhill850  wow, quite the adventure! If you make it back to Nagoya, look me up.
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  321.  @Moiez101  😆 Really? I haven’t been back in years, so I have no idea. (Well, I’ve already weaned myself off them completely, so I won’t even bother trying next time im back.) 🍻
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  322.  @Arkhangemon  I think that (at least outside of Tokyo and Kyoto) people might actually be more comfortable talking to a stranger who is clearly a tourist. Since that person isn’t a part of Japanese society, the usual social rules don’t apply. As much.
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  323.  @_w_w_  yeah, fruit is really the only thing that’s an issue. We can get whatever’s in season locally cheap (or free) but everything else is way too expensive.
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  324.  @_w_w_  yeah, exactly!
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  325.  @LifeWhereImFrom  Ah, what you just said really rings true — I mean, regarding what constitutes a ‘proper’ meal. My wife also had the idea that it was necessary to have a visually-pleasing, multi-dish meal, every time. But after years of not being around during meal preparation (and putting up with my infamous “one-dish meals”) she seems to have adjusted her expectations on the matter. Lucky for me. 😅
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  326.  @clothar23  ah, I guess I’ve become Japanese then. 😆
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  327. This exact situation has happened to me. More than once. 😆
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  328.  @Aeybiseediy  true. I guess a major difference is that I already had a personal connection with the person doing the inviting (via my student). And the temple was like a proper neighborhood temple…in my town…not some random person’s living room.
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  329.  @archaingel  You did the right thing. In my case, it was just in the neighborhood temple, and no one was pressure-selling it. Anyway, it was pretty cool. The worst part was that my legs hurt afterwards. 😅
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  330. Agreed! I actually started off as a ‘city kid’, but now I’m happily living in a mostly-rural area and love it. Especially with kids, I can’t imagine living in a big city here… way too stressful!
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  331. 懐かしい！I used to work at Aeon, and had a similar experience. ALT work is definitely easier, but I still kind of miss those days.
    2
  332.  @marshallmhamad  I checked online and unfortunately Iraq is not one of the participating countries in the JET program. (This is always a good first option to try.) So I guess you’re stuck with searching around online for companies that hire internationally. Good luck! And good luck with that research too!
    2
  333.  @EhThisIsAGoodName  😂
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  334.  @OfTheGaps  lucky you. 😆
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  335.  @rubyrose7858  Thanks! Well, my wife is actually Japanese, but 自治会 duties became my responsibility since she works long hours. I manage somehow. 😅 So you have 組長 duty coming up? It’s actually not as demanding as it used to be (in my town at least) since a lot of activities have been cut due to the pandemic. Anyway, good luck!
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  336.  @j.ericsandoval566  Wow, lucky you. Maybe you live in a ‘progressive’ area that has moved past that system already. Mie is pretty conservative, I guess.
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  337.  @OmarLivesUnderSpace  I don’t know… any Toyota employees among us?
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  338.  @qwmx  Congratulations! (But how this post got 1000 likes I’m not quite sure. 😂 )
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  339. Yeah, I know how you feel. I LIVE in Japan, but because of the pandemic, these videos are the closest I can get to Tokyo. (People who live in rural areas like me are under social pressure not to leave their areas.)
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  340. No one knows the answer to that. But this week the national government relaxed a bunch of rules around gatherings, alcohol consumption, etc, due to falling infection cases. So I'm GUESSING that they'll open things up to international travelers soon.
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  341. Nice, where will you be living?
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  342.  @Miko0219  Ah, right. There definitely is some truth to what Chris said. It takes tremendous effort to cross that boundary and be excepted as an ‘insider’ by Japanese people. (It is possible, and sometimes even necessarily, if you live in a rural area.) But yeah, as Chris suggested, most of us just give up and form ‘outsider’ communities. It’s certainly easier!
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  343.  @Maya-vw6uf  Well, kind on both of those topics. It was earlier in the pandemic when people were kind of in shock over important cultural events being cancelled. https://youtu.be/EGCia8flwQs
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  344. Haha, one scam I’d forgotten about. 😂 But definitely. (they don’t harass me anymore, because I just gave in and started paying them. My family does watch NHK, so…)
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  345. Not much, based on the younger Japanese I know. Partly, it may be due to lack of interest. But also, as the video suggests, it seems like Shinto has become so tightly interwoven into Japanese culture that people don’t even notice it.
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  346.  @Iammenakpuji  understandable. Cheers!
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  347.  @killinglonliness88  ah, you got me. (But in my defence I was PLANNING to watch until the end. But then my kids woke up and wanted breakfast…)
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  348.  @ytrbsa  Much more interesting than I had expected. 😂 But I learned something new! And by the way, are you a Ghibli animation fan? I just uploaded a video about their new theme park, if anyone here is interested.
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  349.  @KrishnenduMukherjee  I guess it depends what country.
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  350.  @Surdeigt  You would fit in well in Japan then.
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  351. @Unknown ah. I was thinking of several south-east Asian countries I’ve been to. Anyway, it always kind of stressed me out. (So I’m glad if it’s less widespread than I thought!)
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  352. Seeing a similar video about food in Malaysia would be amazing! (I don’t now Malaysian food so we’ll, but everything I’ve tried has been great.) Anyway, take care over there! I hope the rain takes a little break to let people recover.
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  353.  @southcoastinventors6583  Agreed. Yeah, that’s a huge one. And given the amount of effort involved in mastering Japanese language (and culture), I guess it’s easier for foreign residents in Tokyo to just hang with other English speaking foreign residents. (OR find quirky culturally nonconforming Japanese friends… although most of them speak English too.) I’ve never had the option since I’ve always lived in real areas or small cities.
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  354.  @KyokujiFGC  fair enough. It wasn’t my original plan either…but here I am. 😅
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  355.  @Karagoth444  Someone I would love to have a beer with. 🍻
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  356. Agreed! That would be hilarious I’m sure.
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  357. Yeah. Most bars in Japan purposely pour to give the beer more head...which the average Japanese customer appreciates as being kind of ‘luxurious’. The other extreme is with ‘real Ales’, which are still pretty rare here but gaining in popularity. (One of the best beers I’ve had in my life was the W-IPA real ale from Minoh Brewing in Osaka. No foam at all. But sublime.)
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  358. Right. This year, YouTube is the closest thing most people can get to international travel. (I’m in Japan too, but I haven’t left the countryside where I live in almost a year now!)
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  359.  @LifeWhereImFrom  sensible move. (I don’t THINK they’d do anything, but why take the chance…)
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  360. Actually, that would be amazing. (He would need to bring Natsuki of course.)
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  361. OK, just to be clear... this has nothing to do with the job that the vast majority of non-Japanese people reading this are likely to get here — teaching English. English conversion schools usually don’t have the best pay, but foreign teachers are treated relatively well because the manager knows that if they aren’t, they can just walk away and easily get another job. For ALTs working in public schools (like me), hours are consistent (typically 8:30 to 4:00) and I don’t know anyone who works beyond that unless they’re voluntarily joining club activities with kids or trying to pick up one of the Japanese teachers at their school. Full time, licensed (usually Japanese) teachers in public schools are a different story. They often work crazy hours. (Their pay is pretty decent though.) That’s all. Kp. 🍻
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  362. Vancouver, I'm guessing? (That's where I'm originally from.)
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  363.  @MJ-zx3ct  ah, that was my second guess. Well, sorry for your loss. (That said, I guess the yellow bin thing is a good idea.)
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  364. That’s been on my ‘must do’ list for ages. I hear Shikoku is paradise for cyclists, btw.
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  365.  @xxShadowKickxx  I’m not sure about truck driving, but I meet a lot of foreign residents who work in factories. I think it’s a special kind of visa but I don’t know the details, sorry.
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  366.  @daysl33per  I don’t have that particular video up on my channel yet (I need a few months to get that one done). But there is some content about Japanese schools. Anyway, good luck!
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  367.  @STOPSYPHER  You can find English teaching work anywhere in Japan. More people in cities means more opportunities, of course. But also more other foreign teachers, so you don’t get the ‘exotic factor’ working for you like you do in a small town. Just do some research BEFORE you move in to gauge your options.
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  368.  daenackdranils5624  The language barrier is a big thing, I know. It took me quite a few years to be ‘functionally fluent’ in Japan. But from my experience, one’s attitude (towards the culture, learning the language, and just day-to-day interactions with people around us) is the largest factor determining whether we have a positive social experience, in Japan or any country.
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  369.  @fatdoi003  Yes, exactly!
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  370. Ah, was it, アース, like “earth”? (Side story: I remember an English worksheet in a junior high school where I worked that had the example sentence, “It’s important for me to love the EARTH.” Only that’s not how the homeroom teacher pronounced it...)
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  371.  @zenwisdom4259  from what I’ve seen, most young women in the countryside can’t wait to leave and head for the big city. Probably not what you want to hear. 😆
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  372.  @aceent5145  First of all, thanks for checking out my channel. I’m glad you like the craft beer content. I’ll have to make more. 🍻 As for my job, I work as an ALT, directly hired by my city’s Board of Education. My main duties are teaching in elementary and junior high schools, but I also make videos and other online content for schools in my cities. The pay is not great, but it’s stable. I work from 8:30 to 4:15 on weekdays, and get 23 paid vacation days a year. (Check my ‘Japanese Schools during the Pandemic’ video to get a feel for what it’s like inside a public school here.) And your other question. So you want to live in Japan long-term and make a good salary teaching English? It’s not easy to do, but certainly possible. There are three ways that I know of: 1.Get a University job; 2.Start your own English conversation school; or 3. Upgrade your language skills, get a teaching license from a Japanese university and become a REAL teacher, probably at a high school. As for the third option, refer to the earlier advice from Gordon Graham. I know people who have succeeded at all three of these options. But I know many more who have given up and left the country, frustrated, or just decided to keep working at a low-responsibility job with a low salary. (Kind of like me. The salary part, anyway. 😅)
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  373.  @Mansplainer452  As far as I know, JET doesn’t hire ALTs more than once. (It MIGHT be possible to apply again for a CIR position, but it would be a long shot.). I’d say your best bet would be to apply to a dispatch company or English conversation school that recruits from overseas. The salary might not be the best, but they take care of your visa and accommodations etc. Then start looking for a direct-hire ALT job, which is basically JET without training wheels. It might take a couple of years, but in that time you can build up your Japanese language as well as teaching skills, and if your timing is good… doors may open. Good luck!!
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  374.  @Riri-bc6vx  OK, I see
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  375.  @RonaldoSanchez-g1y  A lot of English conversion schools are happy to have someone come in part time to pick up a few classes here and there. There’s also teaching privately, either individually or running small, casual classes from your home or local community center. Totally doable.
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  376. Dave Evad Ah, yes. Come to think of it, that’s exactly what I do! ;-)
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  377. That was...one of the best things on YouTube. Chris, you’ve come a long way!
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  378.  @lainiwakura1776  Yes, I’ve been binge-watching Tokyo Llama since I discovered it a while back. Fascinating stuff... it kind of made me wish I’d bought one of the old abandoned houses in my area instead of building a new place. (Well, there were reasons.) Anyway, my own project can’t complete with the awesomeness of what Jaya is doing. But hopefully it’s still interesting to people... Feel free to check it out if you have time!🍻
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  379.  @thomasedwards6641  Mystery solved. 😆
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  380.  @shonix123  good choices. Izu-Hakone is a really nice area. (Izu is where the city of Atami is). I lived in Numazu city (west side of the Izu peninsula) when I first came to Japan, and I really fell in love with the whole region.
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  381.  @etherdog  hey, long time no ‘see’! Thanks for the reply (and thanks for you continued support and advice regarding my own channel.) これからもよろしくお願いします。
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  382.  @xander_k_  ah. Yeah, I know what you mean. There definitely are a lot less ambiguous/awkward social situations here in Japan than back where I’m original from. (Canada.)
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  383.  @AffyisAffy  yeah, I agree. Maybe I should I should interview some people in my area. 🤔
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  384.  @almaltiempobuenacara1783  well… I know your feeling (from personal experience) but for Japanese students, they seem to be equally shy about speaking in front of each other. Or even writing, like when they have a short composition assignment.
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  385.  @almaltiempobuenacara1783  I’m sorry to hear that. People are jerks sometimes. 😔
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  386. You had me at, “Narnia”. lol
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  387.  @mayaparamita2254  yes, well my info is from old tv dramas, so it COULD be a bit out of date. 😅
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  388. Point. lol
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  389.  @luigivincenz3843  No, you’d just blend in to the background and no one would be able to find you.
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  390. Blue Agreed. But I don’t think the YouTube algorithm is hurting him TOO much. (2 million subs) 😆
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  391. Lots of woods in my area. And, surprise! some people do dump their garbage. (Not that it’s an excuse or anything, but it does cost like 20000¥ to do it legally.)
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  392.  @MananaMan  I’m pretty sure it’s the opposite.
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  393. I’d like to see (ask) that too.
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  394.  @maegalroammis6020  that’s true in a way, for ‘shokunin’, or skilled craftspeople at least. But my Japanese friends who work as teachers and office workers are always complaining about working too much and needing more family/personal time. I’m pretty sure they would love to have an extra day off a week.
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  395.  @maegalroammis6020  😆 Well, I’ve been here for the last 20 years, so the way people think/act here just seems normal now. (It doesn’t mean I agree with ALL Japanese social norms/expectations. But they make sense in this cultural context.)
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  396.  @etherdog  Could be a good topic for a future video. 🤔
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  397.  @urouroniwa  Glad you think so! 🍻 And the cool thing is that some of the people who only know them for beer also end up getting interested in their sake too, so it goes full circle.
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  398.  @katrineuche9183  ah! I was thinking you were in Japan too. 😆 Lagos! Deinitely a big city then.
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  399.  @katrineuche9183  wow, sounds like a tough place to live. Any good points??
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  400.  @harryg9976  Yes, private students can be a good source of income. It’s hard, though not impossible, to get by on income from privates alone. I have one friend who does, and he actually makes a slightly-above-average income (for an English teacher). But it takes effort and persistence to build up a reputation and then a workable schedule that pays that much. It’s safest to take a standard, full-time teaching gig first and just teach some private lessons on the side as supplemental income. (You MIGHT even get lucky and find some rich kids to tutor. I’m still looking, though...)
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  401.  @Handles_are_garbage  Really? I always got the feeling that Tokyo was ‘where it’s at’ for internationally-minded companies and subsequent employment opportunities. But actually, I love Osaka, and it’s only a 2-hour train ride away from my home in Mie-pref. Something to consider. 🍻
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  402. I know. 😆 I think that line will still be with me after the rest of the video has faded from memory.
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  403. Agreed! 🍻
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  404.  @DoctorEbot  YES! You can actually get it in supermarkets and convenience stores in Japan. In Mie Prefecture, where I live, Lawson usually stocks a few of their brews. (OUTSIDE of Japan is trickier of course, but not impossible. Check online!)
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  405.  @greghelton4668  Nice! (Jealous.) Where are you based in Japan, btw?
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  406.  @greghelton4668  Baird’s...is that the one by the Numazu fish market? If so, it was the first place I had craft beer in Japan. (20 years ago when I lived near there.) Anyway, same brewer! I’ve been meaning to make it back there for years now.
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  407. Yessss. Anyway, the lack of mask-wearing dates it.
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  408. Good idea!
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  409.  @jodettehattori4177  Nice choices! (Not Mie? No one ever says Mie. 😆)
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  410. それな。Yeah, most of Japan agrees with you on that one. (Sigh...)
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  411.  @Croissant69_  hey! First, I just want to clarify something… you’re working on a teaching license for the Philippines, I’m assuming. (Not Japan.) Also, how’s your Japanese language ability at this point?
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  412.  @saharkeydar9091  OK, I see your point. There’s no doubt that Chris earned his status through brilliance and hard work. But a lot of small YouTubers are (understandably) desperate to get attention any way they can. And I guess taking a swipe at ‘the king’ is an easy way to achieve that. (And to be honest, I’m kind of glad they did. Chris’s response was probably the funniest thing I’ll see this week.)
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  413.  @gazorpazorp9798  So can I. Although it’s quite possible that I’d have better luck using English for negotiations, since it throws people off guard. 😆
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  414.  @urouroniwa  on my list! (Next winter?)
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  415. Yeah, I noticed that too. Well, they ARE outside in the open air. (That said, all the Japanese people I know would still be wearing masks in this situation.)
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  416. Me too. (Pulling hair out.)
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  417. Hahah I was just thinking the same thing.
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  418.  @snakabuz  good point. When I think back to my first year in Japan, my best attempt at preparing authentic Japanese food was instant ramen with a block of tofu on the side.
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  419.  @missplainjane3905  yes! Cheap and healthy… but many foreign residents don’t buy them enough. (They should!)
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  420. Cool idea! Your timing is good, (assuming Japan actually opens up the border properly for tourists) people should be able to use this trick to save money when they come here to visit the new Ghibli theme park. (Opening this November!)
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  421.  @DrJustininJapan  確かに, that ‘double espresso latte’ thing is pretty awesome. But for the 100¥ option, I’ll stick with my initial statement. 😆 (BTW if the the topic was beer selection, Lawson would definitely get my vote.)
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  422.  @eeveeeleven9766  (Me or the main comment? If it’s me, it’s because YouTube glitched when I posted (I thought) so I did it again. ごめんなさいました。)
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  423. Ah, the monkey park! I’ve been there too. Fun for the whole family! 😆
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  424.  @Benisbucker  I suspect that rather than being harassed, you’d just be politely tolerated as ‘that reclusive outsider down the lane’.
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  425.  @rachelcookie321  Yes, I get around a bit. 😆 I guess I since I’ve lived in Japan a long time and feel that I understand the culture on a deep level, I feel this weird sense of obligation to jump into conversations about Japan share my point of view. It’s also, I admit, a way to get people to notice my own channel and check out my content…but I generally try to avoid stating that directly… 😅
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  426. How about bee larva on pizza? 😆 But seriously, there are some pretty *amazing things in those little local-specialty souvenir shops. I tried soysauce-and-sugar-flavored grasshoppers once. (Not terrible. But...)
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  427. Yes, the Japanese countryside is beautiful. As a tourist, you have limited time so you tend to stick to the big cities where you can cram in as much as possible into your itinerary. But the it’s in rural areas where you find ‘real’ Japan. (And those mountain villages often hide amazing sake breweries and other goodies.) 🍻
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  428. This appeals to me at least as much as pottery. Sounds really cool!
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  429.  @o_o825  Damn. But yeah, that’s how it goes I guess. Eventually those wounds heal, but it can take generations.
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  430. Agreed. (And Natsuki’s appearance at the end sealed it for me too. 😆)
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  431.  @southcoastinventors6583  🍻!
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  432.  @ultracapitalistutopia3550  hmmm, I still think that the shooter falls into this category…from a psychological profiling perspective at least. (I still could be wrong, of course.) But as you suggested, we still have to treat it differently because of who the victim was.
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  433.  @marw9541  ah, I live in a small town. Not so much loud yelling…
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  434.  @specialk9999  I haven’t lived in a city in ages, but according to the impression I get when I occasionally hang out in Osaka or Nagoya, after-work drinking culture is a lot more subdued than it used to be. (Maybe because of the pandemic.?)
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  435. Well said. 😆 It’s been such a weird vibe here with no tourists for the last few years. Hoping that things open up soon! 🤞
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  436.  @Pay-No-Mind  Dangerously so. 😅
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  437. I know, but it just doesn’t have the same ‘ring’. (I thought the same thing when I first realized Greg was originally from Canada, like me.)
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  438. Amazing. That’s the exact alternative title I came up with. 😆
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  439. Ah, good point.
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  440.  @Bunnybananabunny  Thank you so much! 🍻
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  441.  @samiuseliina  😆
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  442.  @aellalee4767  Fashion rules can be pretty ridiculous, wherever you’re from I guess. (What country, by the way??)
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  443.  @aellalee4767  Sounds like a rough place to be a middle school student.
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  444.  @Iammenakpuji  Where was that? (if you don’t mind me asking.)
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  445.  @Iammenakpuji  Interesting! It seems that there are some cultural similarities between Indonesia and Japan — at least for school and work culture! (Also... we have Catholic schools here in Japan too, and most students here aren’t Christian here either. 😆 )
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  446.  @kauswekazilimani3736  Really?? It always kind of stressed me out. (I guess I’m just not aggressive enough. 😆)
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  447.  @azahel542  Yeah, that was pretty spectacular.
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  448.  @MrSkeltal268  Japan has so many beautiful and fascinating places outside of the major urban centers. (My area, near Ise Grand Shrine in central Japan, is similar in some ways. But without the volcanos!)
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  449.  @southcoastinventors6583  cool, all the best!! 🍻
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  450. Anton Grigoriev Interesting idea...you could be right!
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  451.  @lucky889s9  yeah, there are crazies anywhere, even “safe” places like Japan. And to have a high-profile figure like Abe unprotected like that… pretty hard to believe.
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  452.  @squallleonheart8494  I suppose it’s possible. (But then, you’d think the ‘lone wolf’ would also be taken out to hide the evidence. We’ll see…)
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  453. That’s one of the only anime series that really gripped me. As you said, kind of hard to put into words. (I haven’t watched the newer stuff, btw. Seems totally different…is it worth getting into??)
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  454.  @Jack-iu1ne  Exactly. And that ever-present darkness was also so appealing to me somehow.
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  455. Definitely something to watch out for. But I just want to share my own experience, so people don’t write off all experiences with Japanese spirituality as suspect. Once, in my first year in Japan, I was invited to a ‘zazan meditation session.’ (Not by a random stranger, but a friend of one of my students). It ended up being a really interesting and valuable cultural experience, and not ‘culty’ at all. I just wanted to mention this experience so people don’t thing this kind of thing is always a scam or trap. Japan has a lot to offer in the way of perspectives on spirituality, and it would be a waste to close our minds to this out of fear. Basically, use your sense. If something feels weird or scammy, it probably is. 🍻
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  456. Just to clarify, I’m not suggesting that Japanese people don’t want to state their feelings or ideas directly to close/intimate friends. But AS such a friend, the expectation is that you pay close enough attention (or know them well enough) to figure it out BEFORE they need to tell you.
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  457.  @gandhibhagat285  me, a troll?? 😂 I’m merely suggesting that people should understand the underlying social situation before they jump to conclusions of a politically motivated incident. Conspiracies are intriguing, but really don’t think there’s one happening here. Well, time will tell…
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  458.  @katelady1370  Maybe. But personally I think it’s just that sensationalism sells. I don’t think that media empire owners really care about the effect of their news programming on viewers as long as people are watching (or reading) and the advertisers are happy. Things aren’t really much better here (in Japan), btw. The government actually has more direct influence over the content. (They can revoke media licenses very easily for anyone who touches on taboo topics, for example.) But enough politics for one day!
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  459.  @Alex-fv2qs  😆
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  460.  @ThreadBomb  Yeah, there used to be a ton of quirky little attractions like this during the ‘bubble era’ when the economy was going crazy. Then a lot of them had to shut down in the late 90s/early 00s. But apparently not this one! 😆
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  461. Colorado is on my list of travel destinations for just that reason. Japan has definitely been developing, brewery-wise, but it’s slow going. Outside of the major urban areas, there just aren’t many people who have much awareness or interest in craft beer. But things here are definitely moving in a good direction.
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  462.  @RussellCambell  absolutely. 👍
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  463.  @heron6462  lol
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  464.  @yuu_miran  No, only traveled there. It’s a beautiful place though, and the people seemed relatively friendly, I guess. I’ve heard it’s a pretty good place to live.
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  465.  @Stealste  😂
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  466. Kyla Well then. Lol
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  467. Well, it would depend if any ‘Kami’ were angered by the original construction of the school... like if they didn’t do a proper Shinto ritual when before the ground-breaking, or moved a sacred stone in the process or something. THEN you might get bad stuff happening, haunting, etc. (There’s a house in my neighborhood like that.) I don’t get that vibe here though. In my opinion, schools built in that era aren’t particularly creepy, even when they’re abandoned. A Meiji era school, on the other hand, would be a bit creepier. (I actually just explored one of those a couple of months back. (Anyone wanna see the video??)
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