1 YEAR LATER: This Man STILL Lives in an Abandoned Japanese School 

YESSSS!!!!

@slowerisbetter I would still love monthly updates from him, watching him work at his coffee stand and just enjoy life at the school. It could be such a powerful youtube series.

Yo, you right

Agree

big yes even sharing a more personal side on his instagram but i understand the business aspect

Yep! Local governments actually allow you to move in and rent older, unused properties at a discounted rate too, with some restrictions.

They also reduce your taxes for driving a small displacement car

@@joeh858 Kei cars are very cool. Too bad most places can't pick up on using smaller cars for transportation. Especially here in the US where half of the vehicles you see are massive trucks or SUV's that people just have because they look cool, not because they need to tow or haul stuff.

@@Frodo_Shaggins I mean looking cool is the most important thing.

@@Frodo_Shaggins I will never understand the US infatuation with SUVs and trucks. honestly, just _WHY_

Your dream is living a life that involves a 2 hour commute almost everyday to operate a coffee stand, but that isn't a rat-race job? And have you consider what he is going to do once he enters his elder years and his health starts to fail him with no hospital much less doctors nearby? And when the onset of arthritis affects his joints and his eyesight develops cataract which will rob him of his night vision, what then?

@@JS-ob4oh Dreams change. Doesn't mean he will spend his whole life there. He might move away to receive more support when he is in his more senior years. But, for now, he is young and healthy, so why not make memories? You can't live your life fearing what's going to happen 35+ years away, but you can plan for it, if that's your goal.

@@JS-ob4oh if you are not a fat american you can maintain this life into your 80s so I dont know what you argument is? you feel like you have to defend your "rat-race" lifestyle and it is really sad how obvious you are coping.

😂😂😂👍

The important thing: he has created a life for himself with meaning. In Japan you’re going to work hard. You can work hard in an organization that basically crushes you, or, like this guy, you can work hard and do what you wanna do, in the mountain. I agree with @Christopher Wallace. This guy is a legend. When he gets old he will figure out what he wants to do; anyone who thinks they have their future figured out now, is lying to themselves anyway because life always does whatever it will do regardless of your plans. Most importantly, he lives on his own terms, he lives passionately. He’s not old now, and he is living his best life. ✨👏✨

It's so nice to see, and reminds me of my japanese grandmother who played gateball as well. I haven't though of that in a long time.

i imagining they are the same kids who studied and played 60 years ago in that same school

Sadly the dude already seems far too busy to pull off shooting and editing for a channel.

he wants a clear mind in nature not social media bs

go back and make a music video with him with a drone and cool mountain slow moving shots!!!

Totally true! Work culture of Japan is quite stressful compared to other first world countries especially with some of those traditional Japanese companies. It's nice that he already find something he loved doing. 😊

Living the life!

If i had a big place like that and government will allow it, I'd prolly set a mini farm, my grandpa rarely buys stuff from the market coz he got lots of plants and animals like Chicken, Cow, Goat etc, and rivers has fresh water shrimp etc..

@@yomikoreadman128 It's not just japan but most Asian countries have work cultures just like them.

@Yeah Okey Mostly yes ,but not all. There are asians in SEA who do think that they have to do a lot of work (and they do) , personally im coming from Thailand (our family is a Thai-southernChinese ethnic mix, still we are not the same as full chinese ethnics from china ofcourse, mentality wise etc were still more SEA despite of the mixed with east asian '*chinese* backround) and its partly as you already mentioned ,but many also arent as chill at all, especially when it comes to many people who live in the big cities. Villagers are mainly more chill here, while city people are less. I only know that also many ppl vietnam isnt as chill either (i grew up with a lot of thai-viets from bangkok ,according to them its similar there) especially ,like in thailand ,often more the people from cities. So ...it depends. Btw ,about east asia, youre only right about especially korea/japan , but with china its only the east/northern/west parts of china, south china isnt as work driven as the rest of china ,its more similar to southeast asia in that region (at least when it comes to the most people in the very south, theyre not too strong about the work topic, especially not the villagers who do regular field etc work ,the same as many ppl in SEA do too)....although it IS (in my opinion) hard work to spend on fields all day (ricefields etc) especially bcs SEA is mainly quite hot throughout the whole year except for certain small regions (like north thailand, the closest part to south china, it can be very cold there in winter time from ending of nov. until mid february. Same with the very south of china ,the climate there is still colder than SEA but its also the warmest place in china the whole year (theres also no snow in south china except on the mountains ,but mainly not on the ground) climate-wise south china is the closest to SEA. But thats just what i know from family members who are either full southern chinese or are thai-southChinese mixed and have been to south china before (even though none of them were born & raised in china) so im saying anything from southern china based on theyre knowledge, which i guess is mainly correct.

If you listen to his English words throughout it is clear he has good English... wonder where he learned it. I imagine there is more to his story!

@@MightyCrazy so to you speaking english properly jsut like someone making the effort to speak his language or anothers right has somethign to do with race? the hell wrong with you. Most english speakers and varients dont expect people who dont live in a mostly english speaking area or english country to speak the language properly. liek with japanese slang theres dif english slang.

@@MightyCrazy There is such a thing as bad English and it's not relegated to non whites. Plenty of white people speak terrible English.

@@yourmumschancla3953 I lived in Japan for several years and have been told that my Japanese is terrible. So yes, you can poorly speak in another language and it is not just limited to English. Also, I knew Japanese who could learn to sing and say phrases in English but not speak the language fluently enough to converse. That could be the case for this man here.

@@undyingvoice exactly, like i appreciate his voice and what hes trying to do with his shop and the school but some people man. always some isse. much love mate keep up the awesome videos!

truly amazing coffee~ worth the drive

@@TokyoLens Does he ship?

I wonder if he plans on hiring people to help roast the coffee to keep up with demand.

Yess his voice is so lovely it took me by surprise! So he's an expert coffee brewer *and* singer damnn

I was thinking same thing, but I live so far away from Japan, so maybe I try that coffee in another lifetime

More to come!

@@TokyoLens Looking forward to it!!

just got it up on itunes and apple music!! music.apple.com/jp/album/1589797061

444

​@@TokyoLens if his worry about thieves Japan is not America

He sounds like a totally different person. I thought that was Norm at first.

I think that environment and lifestyle is extremely fertile to creativity.

Thanks so much man!!

My thoughts exaclty. Wile it seems he does like the occasional visitors every once in a while, I dont think he would enjoy being a large tourist visitor center every year. He is living the dream.

Now he just needs a Corgi, or a few cats. Maybe an Akita for security.

He lives in heaven right now

Fellow Oregonian here myself

@@PondScummer It's mostly due to financial pressures and population decline.

I feel the same. It's actually sad how we have to work and live in a fast paced world and be so caught up in it. We have to plan our day, have time management. He's so chill and doesn't seem to have any worries or regrets. He's at peace. I'd love to spend a week there and just listen to his stories and music while being far away from the city and the hustle and bustle.

love that!

Would love to know where to send my tape to try to get a slot in this epic gig!

Unless you’re like me and yo-chan and coffee just does nothing to you lol~ A nice cup of coffee is usually my wind down before bed~

@@TokyoLens I agree with that…. Nice way to unwind .

in 🇨🇦 grandparents also hiked both ways in the snow but barefoot and it was further one way than the other 😂🤣

@@ej3016 Lol they hiked 15 miles barefoot through a rainstorm and made it to school on time 😂 why barefoot? Because the only time they wear shoes was for church

honestly thank you so much for watching~

really glad he gets to live that life!

Haha thank youuuuu

I want to know too!!!!

Yes, please.

ya his voice was surprising

His instagram is in the description! :)

Read my mind, I knew he was a musician but damn he has a good voice to boot!

Please share with us, the internet strangers. the name of this Estonian place.

@@MyFirstHandle i think the best place to raise kids is in the country.

@@bjni For privacy reasons I cannot say the exact name, but it is located in the middle of Estonia.

A couple of years ago I took a detour to visit Viivikonna, which is probably one of the more famous Estonian ghost towns. Intriguing trip, and definitely will take up on any further opportunity to visit abandoned Estonia. My initial plan was to write a book about "the abandoned Baltics", also managed to visit Kreenholmi Manufaktuur in Narva on that trip.

@@Zennna ...you keep it quiet until you actually do something about it and you're ready to tell us.

😊

Hope I get an update on this some day 😊

@@TokyoLens definitely. I'm working towards making that (and more) a reality. Now if only Japan would open its borders especially for fully-vaccinated foreign workers

@@_Zane__ that's par for the course IMO (think the flu or other viral diseases that has become endemic and we've gotten a handle on); honestly as long as people don't die, the healthcare system isn't crushed, and we as a specie will work towards mitigating the effects of illness on other aspects of our lives (economy, etc) then we'd be fine.

via Eki Tokushima, change to bus at Eki Awa Ikeda. Possible ferry route From Kyushu to Shikoku is from Beppu Ferry terminal to Ehimei Awahatama? or get the value JR Railpass, Setouchi ? It covers a few Kansai prefectures, Kyushu Fukuoka prefecture and Shikoku Ehimei and Kagawa Prefectures.

Count me in, sounds like a pilgrimage on my end but it'd feel like a good reset for the hustle and bustle of the daily grind

writing this one down and putting it on my wall 💜

It's really cool Diane happy to see that there's still simple people around the world

I would most definitely live here. Being surrounded by nature would be a nice change of pace

...does he have fiber (or similar) internet? Because dang son, if I'd have my way I'd work either on a beach (Kochi? HMMMM) or here. The ready and steady supply of coffee and night skies devoid of light pollution checks a lot of boxes in my list.

Thank you once again for documenting this. Also the song at the end needs to be on spotify ;)

just this morning i rewatched that video with him lol

The place definitely looks so adventurous to live…! But maybe realistically, I wanna stay at the hostel first before thinking I would live or not🤗

Such a great way to live!

Maybe you can pick up a long stay at the school? Find a classroom and make it your own while you decide? I’m a nurse in the Pacific Northwest and not working. I’m finally letting someone take care of me, while I take care of him (He’s my fiancé) and I’ve never been happier. I’ve been gardening, farming, camping, hammocking, splicing rope, cooking, pickling and worm wrangling. My favorite part has been tending my worm bins. It’s so relaxing!

Yeah, in my opinion the "American Dream" has died.

well too bad i believe this program only for japanese and foreigner cant or wont have the properties. but you can rent it or you can find a japanese partner. thats their policy i guess.

What Michael here is saying is 100% incorrect A great number of non-Japanese people live solo here in Japan taking over properties like this. This program is 100% NOT for Japanese only Hope that helps clarify I’m not a huge fan of misinformation of this type so I wanted to jump in and clarify this one!

@@TokyoLens thank you for your insight and i apologize for the wrong information. i was reading some articles on internet and stuuf about japanese economic system and stuff. and maybe the rule already change or i didnt know about this system. once again thank you for correcting me.

Me too

He has a beautiful voice maraea and I like his self confidence too

@@davidgarrett0x yes agree he has a beautiful voice, and his self confidence is next level amazing. Have a great day, take care.

@@maraeacookson1573 thank you hope you're having a wonderful day, where are you commenting from?

@@davidgarrett0x I had a great day thank you, and I hope you are also. I'm from Aotearoa NZ.

@@maraeacookson1573 how's it going over there nice to meet you, I like NZ I'll like to visit someday, and it'll be a pleasure to know more about you, I hope you feel the same?

Yaaaay!! Definitely watch last years video first! Lol

Meiji era? Damn, what condition? Got any pictures?