Hello! I'm a Canadian man born and raised in Alberta. I am currently living in Japan in Kochi prefecture and working as an ALT for the JET Programme. This channel is a collection of vlogs and documentaries of what I've found interesting during my time in Japan. My hope is that I can forge a path for future JETs and travelers to Japan, and inspire you to travel and go into the unknown. :)
If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I'll answer the best I can.
You are really experiencing it all! You go Tanner! What fun stuff and cultural experiences. Always fun to see. I can’t believe you have been there for 34 months already
Thank you!!! I appreciate your support always!😎 So much fun, so little time here to do everything 😅 I can’t believe it’s been 34 months either, time really flies!
Few truly know the horrors of a cute little kid imprinting on you for some god forsaken reason when you just want to chill. you have my condolences lol
Seriously wonderfully done video Tanner! I really enjoyed seeing all these choices. I have a question and please know I am curious and kind at the same time. The masks…is it out of concern for sickness or for pollution? I ask because I have seen similar in China and have been told it is for pollution purposes. Again asking with a kind heart to learn. I didn’t think Japan struggled with air quality like China did.
Thank you! :) Good question! Japan has interesting mask culture. The air quality in Japan is very good, so people here wear masks mostly in an attempt to stop spread of contagion. Before the Covid outbreak, it was common for Japanese people to come into work and school if they were sick or had a cold, and wear a mask. Mask culture in Japan boomed during Covid, where everyone in public was required to wear one. Since Covid has become less of a threat, mask culture in Japan has lessened significantly, but you still see students, teachers, and community members sometimes wearing masks. So in short, it's not because of air pollution, but it's to try and stop the spread of contagious disease. Since Japan is such a collectivist society, the country didn't experience anti-mask anti-vaccine movement during covid, unlike America and Canada. It was interesting to be abroad during that time period and observe how the different societies and governments behaved.
This is the main thing that makes me hesitant to apply for the JET program. I was dead-set on finally applying for it this year until just a week ago when they have issued an even bigger warning about the Nankai after a 7 magnitude earthquake occured at Miyazaki prefecture.
The nankai earthquake is scary, but there’s plenty of JET placements in Japan far away from the eastern coastline. Also, I think the tsunami following the earthquake is the most destructive part, and a seaside placement for you is unlikely considering so many places are inland. When applying to the program, you could specify you’d like to be placed somewhere less prone to earthquakes and far away from the nankai trough. You do have plenty of options like that. Even if you were to live in a more dangerous area, there are plenty of preparations and disaster prevention resources, drills, and systems to help support you. Obviously be smart about keeping yourself safe, but don’t let your fear stop you from giving it a shot.
@@theboldbasan3802 Thanks for the clarification. I've heard that your requests for placements don't matter as much because in the end you'll have to work at whatever area they pick anyway. Having said that, I am also well aware of the Japanese people's efficiency in taking precautions and preparedness. I live in an active seismic zone myself and even though the earthquakes are nowhere intense like in Japan, there's still predictions in the near future for a mega destructive one. I am also at awe of Japanese engineering after seeing how the modern buildings stood their ground in the great Tohoku earthquake of 2011. Looks like I'll be a lot safer in Japan during a 7 magnitude than in my home country during a 5 magnitude. lol
@@theboldbasan3802 Thanks for the clarification. You do make really good points. Actually I live in an active siesmic zone myself even though the earthquakes are nowhere near as intense as in Japan. But there are predictions of a mega-destructive one in the near future. Our infrastructure and preparedness isn't even a quarter of what Japan's is. I'll be safer in a 7.5 mag in Japan than a 5.1 in my country, lol. So, I guess I'm still inclined to giving it a shot.
As a current JET living in Shikoku (started this summer) it was terrifying to get the notification of an incoming 7.1 magnitude quake. I don’t live TOO close to the shoreline but I do live in an area that will be hit hardest along the trough. I’ve decided to prioritize my safety above all else by staying a bit in-land if I can avoid it. In terms of placement, it is very important to mention that where you request has like a 5% chance of being considered throughout the process. I have met maybe like 2 people through this who got where they wanted so if you are scared or there are areas you absolutely do not want to live, when/if you are accepted look at exactly what your placement is so that you don’t get blindsided. “ESID” is very much the cop out answer since JET isn’t actually your employer and doesn’t really know anything about what your job or living situation will be like and you are largely kept in the dark until you arrive so do as much research as you can before you say you’ll accept the offer.
I had a homestay with a music teacher in Sakai in 2019 and she took me to a local okonomiyaki restaurant (small and popular so reservations essential). Soooo good! Highlight of my trip!
Love that you’re immersing yourself in culture and learning. I think I will pass on the spider stuff but admiring those that do it. You’re learning to make leadership decisions…which is hard but imperative!
Thank you!!! Haha I think I’ll pass on the spider stuff too! 😂 Yup, that’s part of the responsibility of leadership. It’s not all fun, and you can’t make everyone happy.
Someone I think would be one of your students was clapping and so happy to see you complete the race. I think you are a favourite among them and respected for your willingness to join in.
That’s right! I love seeing the students when I’m running in town marathon events! They’re always happy to see me, waving and smiling! It’s a great feeling! 😎 Kids here are so kind!
Loved seeing the turtles on the spillway! Thats cool. Sounds like you are having an amazing time still over there. Great job on pushing through the swimming…and running. Lots of fun stuff Tanner! Happy for you!
Those turtles were so cool! I was so surprised to catch that moment! It's a busy but fun time of year in Japan right now! Lot's of festivals, summer events, and workshops to do! Thank you, life is great in Japan I can't complain!
Love those turtles. They make me laugh to see them going so fast. Congratulations on the aquathon. What a trial by fire or maybe ocean for you but you DID it. You are very disciplined and BOLD. So proud of you.
I love those turtles too! I was so surprised to see turtles going for a slide! It was a very magical moment! Thank you! The aquathon was a tough challenge, I'm glad to say I DID it! :) Thanks for your support and encouragement!
Bamboo can be surprisingly wide! The forests have a distinct sound too, they don’t sound like leaves rustling so much! It’s a very cool plant! I love seeing it in Japan.
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I've watched your videos for awhile now when the idea of working in Japan seemed like a real fantasy to me. You always helped to make things seem so much more doable than I'd thought. I've been accepted and I'm leaving for Aomori starting this month, so I wanted to say thanks for helping inspire me to do so.
Hello! Wow! What an honor, thank you! 😊 I’m glad I could encourage you to take that leap and come to Japan! You’re right, it’s definitely doable. You got this! 😎 Have a great adventure in Aomori!
Ah yes, the third year feelings! Very relatable. "The E in JET" is very much what JET is all about, innit! Respect to local ba-chan. Love it, as always.
Yea, third-year feelings are hard man. I love the people, culture, and country, but I understand how so many JETs end up jaded by the job. Trying not to get jaded! I think the "E" in JET should apply to English teaching programs in Japan that aren't even JET. Exchange is such an important thing! Japanese grandmothers are great XD She's a superhero. Thanks Dani!!!!
I had a similar incident with vehicle remote at 10pm when my brother loaned me his SUV. I was in Pymble (Sydney suburb) and I lived at Lake Munmorah about 2 hours drive away. Thank goodness for NRMA (road service company), I eventually got home in the wee hours of the morning.
Oh man what a pain! The worst is when car trouble happens at an inconvenient time and location! Glad you could get it sorted out! Road side service guys are the unsung heroes for sure! 👍
Oh… *Licking* *Man* is my #1 Japanese fan, and I wish he wasn’t. He’s featured in this video: Eighteen Months in Japan | JET Programme ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xMT0vpP9oRI.html
No problem! Thank you for watching! It’s been long enough since that embarrassing car incident I don’t feel too bad 😅 Thank you! I’ve been a poster machine!
Too early in the morning perhaps! Beach is quiet in the early morning! Also it’s a huge beach, so I think the surfers and beach goers could be way off on a different part!
Thank you! 🙏 It’s amazing to me how many people don’t know how to cook, or even boil water! It’s a very satisfying skill for me, and I want to encourage it as much as possible!
I've never seen a barefoot marathon but that seems pretty fun. also your shirt looks awesome and congrats on the picture contest! i love to see that you held an ajet event too. it seems so fun to bring everyone together and try new things. i also have heard that many ajet chapters are not active so seeing someone make an effort to revitalize them is pretty neat. also, i made it into jet this year, and my placement is tokyo! i asked for this, but i can't help but wonder what it would be like to be placed somewhere like kuroshio with the beautiful nature and all. i enjoy all your updates and i'm glad to have made it into the program since i started watching your inspiring videos many months ago. i hope you have a nice 31st month!
It’s a difficult job doing AJET, since it’s a volunteer position finding the leadership and JETs willing to participate is hard, both things have to happen! Congratulations!!!😁 I’m so happy you made it in! I bet you’re a little nervous now, but I bet you’ll have a great time in Tokyo! My only advice is say yes to as many experiences as you can! Enjoy exploring the big city! 😎 Thank you, glad to have you on board! Please enjoy your own first day, week, and month in Japan. 😎 Ichigo-Ichie! 🍓
Subbed, will be watching more of your channel as someone who is planning on applying for the JET program after I finish my degree. This vid was nice a short but also very informative for a person like me. Thanks a lot man!
Another great video Tanner. Can you explain to me what they are doing at the very beginning and tell me about the photo that won the contest. Love the colours of your T shirt. BOLD!!
Thank you 😊 At the very beginning that lady is making shaved ice, and is using a machine to spin and shave ice off an ice block. They add soda flavours to the ice, it’s very soft and fluffy in texture. The last photo is of wooden kappa. Kappa are Japanese river monsters, they look like a turtle and a duck. On a local hike you can see these wooden carved river monsters.
Neat to see an experience from JET in the current day. It sort of feels like the hayday for TEFL in Japan is past, but that doesn't mean it's not perfectly viable in the way it's always been
@@borneoorangutan Thank you! Yea, if Japan is good at anything it's tradition and consistency, the general JET experience hasn't changed much. If you're open to new experiences and invest yourself you can learn lots and have a good time. I don't have the data to know if TEFL is doing better or worse in Japan, but it certainly took a hard hit during the covid pandemic. It's still recovering I think.
@@theboldbasan3802I want to go for study in Tokushima University this summer, can you please tell me is it safe next 2 years from Nakai through earthquake, it would be veryfull information to me.Thank you
@@tufaanooze2706 Great question! It depends where you are living, but the eastern coastline of Japan is always in danger of earthquakes and tsunamis from the nankai earthquake, and other earthquakes. Earthquakes don’t happen often, maybe twice a year, but the danger is always there. I can’t tell you if it will be safe, because nobody knows, earthquakes are entirely unpredictable. If you live further inland far from the ocean, you probably only have to worry about earthquakes and landslides, but not tsunamis. You would be much safer inland Tokushima. You will never be entirely safe in Japan along the ocean, but you can take precautions to make it more safe (have an evacuation bag, know an tsunami evacuation point etc). Hope that helps!
@@theboldbasan3802 @theboldbasan3802 Thank you for prompt reply and very useful information. I will be stay in Dormitory in Tokushima University, I have checked in Map, that University is located nearby coastline and I don't even know that there is any Tsunami prevented height building inside campus. I am just worried about if I didn't join Uni this year, I will lose my one year because of fear of earthquakes.
@@tufaanooze2706 if you’re worried you can email the university and ask what emergency disaster prevention and preparedness they offer, and what evacuation routes are in the area. It’s good to be careful and practical, and not take unnecessary risks, but don’t let your fear stop you from accomplishing your dreams!
Sea sickness is rough. You caught some great footage though! Oh no! Thankful no tsunami! Scary and disappointing no all clear for you. Gosh you are really getting the real experience there. Immersion is good. Oh geez thankful you got a bike repair! Omg I love oysters fresh! I know younger folks may not like to hear they are like their parents but you are seriously resilient like yours! Great video Tanner!
Haha yes, I caught some great footage for sure! 😂 Fingers crossed for a fish next time. Oh man the fresh oysters were the best! Japan does seafood very well! Ah thank you, that’s a huge compliment, I appreciate that a lot! I’m pretty durable for sure, I keep surprising myself how much I’m capable of doing! 😄 People are a lot tougher than we give ourselves credit for.
This is just another reason for me to book a trip to stay in the shimanami kaido area. Not speed-running it in one day, I want to stay for a week and really explore the area by bike.
For sure! There is so much to see and do, so many different things to experience and enjoy, I can’t keep up with everything unfortunately. Thank you 😊 I’ll keep the adventures rolling! 💪😎
Oh my god why didn’t I put together that this is you when we met last week!? I watched all your videos in preparation for coming to Kochi. I just saw you uploaded and thought… wait… wasn’t his name Tanner!? So funny. You are a celebrity to me and I didn’t even know I met you.
Haha 😂 Wow! That’s a huge compliment, thank you 🙏 I’m flattered. it makes me so happy to hear that my adventures are getting shared with new JETs! 😎 I hope you’re enjoying your time time in Japan, it looks like you have a good group of friends down in Muroto! Please take care, I’m sure our paths will cross again sometime.
