For the 100th video, I look back on ways Japanese culture may have changed my personality. ►REMARKABLE NEW CHANNEL: goo.gl/ghkx48 ►PATREON (join the crew): / abroadinjapan
Hope you'll read this Chris but you convinced me to study my ass off in Uni, get my Avionics Engineering degree, travel to Japan, learn the Japanese language fluently and now here I am working at Tokyo Intl Airport on commercial jets. Thank you Chris Broad; my wife and I are expecting our first child and we agreed on Christopher in honor of you (she is Japanese and has no idea who you are ha) You're my friend and have helped me even though we have never met and I want you to know that I am your biggest fan. Cheers mate
I've asked Jun before if he ever pretended to be a ninja or samurai when he was a kid and he was so confused, like the thought of play-acting as a ninja had never occurred to him. He may have just had a terribly sad childhood, but he's also probably the reason they didn't understand why you wanted to be a pirate.
Depending on age mind you...When I was born and lived there until I was 4, my Kaasan told me I pretended to be Kamen Rider (the original), Tiger Mask, Ultraman, Ultra 7...whenever the mood hit. (We lived in Sasebo and Yokosuka at the time.) I imagine, Jun, probably pretended to be an Ultraman, Kamen Rider, or a Super Sentai Ranger of the time period...or maybe a Gundam Pilot? (Not sure how old Jun is...)...what kind of Manga did he read growing up? Does his parents still have some of his childhood toys?
Dear Chris, As a fellow Brit also living in Japan since 2011, I just want to say thank you! There's some really jaded, spiteful content covering Japan out there, but your videos are a breath of fresh air. It's nice to see someone embracing and sharing the culture in a respectful and accessible way, all the while being genuine and funny to boot! Very few people have the courage and commitment to do what you do, let alone the integrity to do it well - so thank you for representing both Japan and the UK in a way that we can be proud of. It really is inspiring. Take care!
Chris I have been watching your videos for over a year now. I found your videos when I had a difficult time in life. I failed 3 majors, I couldn't find a good job and was wasting away my time (and life) in a callcenter and I lived with a deadbeat drug addict boyfriend. I was 25 years old and achieved nothing. Watching your videos (also Sharla) inspired me to follow my dreams, because I had forgotten all about my dreams in life. I aways wanted to travel, visit japan but most importantly get a degree. So I quit my shitty job and went back to school to study Japanese in college. I am in my second semester now and I am going to Japan in summer. I have a lot of debts (student loans), but at least I am doing something with my live again. I broke up with my boyfriend after 6 years and moved to the city of my college to start a new life. My whole family and friends support me. I still have 3 years to go untill I get my bachelor degree, I will be 29 by the time I leave college but I'm having the best time in my life, I am studying my number one passion which is Japanese and I have a chance to make something of my future. I really want to thank you Chris, because I watched so many of your videos, they helped me and inspired me. I spent hours and hours watching your videos because it made me feel like I wasn't in my house with drugs scattered everywhere and a boyfriend who smokes weed every moment he has free time.... but I was there with you in Japan (not to sound creepy) in my mind haha. And I knew that my first love was always Japan since I was 8 so I went back to my first love :) (studying Japanese),
Besje G 頑張ってください！Its awesome the impact that some great youtubers can have. Chris especially is one of those youtubers who not only puts out great content, but he genuinely cares about his viewers too. :^)
Chris, every video you put out seriously makes me think. I'm 28. Living a life of mediocrity in Surrey. I love Japan. I travel when I can and now I am seriously considering a future where I live there. For the first time in years, I have a goal. And it's thanks to you.
Matt Day I'm lucky enough to know, at 20, that I'm Japan bound. Still even if it dawned on me 8 years from now there'd be no stopping me. Good luck friendo.
I live in Barnsley but I'm from Newcastle, alot of the things Chris explains are what I like about Japan. But other than that I hate the people we keep electing so I feel I need to escape lol.
Thanks mate, I'm glad the videos have helped. And Surrey isn't bad! Great access to Heathrow and Gatwick, and Thorpe Park and Chessington are nearby. When I was a kid, I could only dream to live in such a magical place as Surrey.
Spiraling69 For some reason I'm under the impression Japan is already swarmed with westies teaching English. Are you implying there's actually some kind of demand?
I'm an Australian too and strongly considering doing what Chris did. Becoming an English teacher in Japan and when he brought up the people being loud I thought to myself that'll annoy the shit out of me coming back from Japan for Christmas to see the family. Like it already annoys the shit out of me.
I moved from a non-loud part of the Netherlands (i.e. not the west of the country) to Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean. I used to need a bit of a lie-down after a family get-together, until I got used to the volume. In other countries, police in riot gear would have been dispatched.
So Angry as an American I... can't argue with that statement. I mean hell I regularly hear people who are talking on the phone in the bathroom (toilet) while using it. Or playing music loudly in public, or even arguing while using the urinal. I don't have a commercial train where I live but I would imagine that it would be similar
HAVE YOU lived outside of your home country? Has it changed you in some way? Share YOUR experiences and wisdom below! Also, a huge thanks again for watching the videos - whether you're a mysterious viewer who always watches but never comments, or someone who's only been watching a few weeks or months, I'm very grateful indeed that all the time that goes into producing these videos and all the nice sunny days spent indoors hunched over the computer editing for hours on end, nonetheless feels absolutely worth it. Many thanks folks!
I live in Berlin with my wife (come and visit us Chris) and it does change your whole perspective on how things work and how people 'should' act. It's great and I would too recommend to anyone that can do it.
Live in Essex, but when i finish Uni i want to go to Japan and be a teacher :D Also i am originally Portuguese and i lived in France for a year before i came to England, tbh the biggest difference i saw was the food.
I went to a restaurant in Akhihabara, Tokyo(no idea how it's spelt) and my food had a slug in it. I showed the waiter, oh boy. What happened next was just embarrassing, after the waiters jaw dropped at the sight of this creeping mollusk, he quickly whisked the plate away and what looked like the entire kitchen staff come out bowing and saying things one after another in a queue in front of me (I don't speak a word of Japanese) a local next to me asked what was wrong with my food in broken English, I searched for a photo of a slug on my phone and showed him, the local then told others in the restaurant what happened and even the customers apologized to me? Such a bizarre experience. I was offered free food and drinks but politely declined and got the fuck outta there, even walking away the manager followed me to the exit head down apologizing still. I wasn't even that bothered by this slug myself but it seems as though all the staff and customers were so sad and ashamed at what had happened. I was thinking about this encounter for a few days after it had happened and was actually concerned my little complaint could have caused a lot of harm to such nice People, I honestly regretted mentioning that slug. I would be interested in knowing just how much effect that would have had on that poor manager, looked liked he was about to cry or suicide himself. Made me feel so bad.
That’s exactly why I look up to their culture, they’re so educated and genuine, it’s impressive how politeness and kindness can be the norm in a whole country.
I think you should of taken the food after the incident, not to take advantage but to make the man feel more relieved. I think you May of caused more mental damage by just leaving.
That's really bizarre an amazing. I though about what I would have done in your place. I might have written a note, adding in it that I'm not angry and just informing, and left it before leaving under my bowl or plate.
Every single man in the history of single men with rare exception lol. I think the root of this is like 200k years old when ancient males knew how to kill something but no idea how to cook it into something they could eat.
I was in Tokyo last year and it did change me even though i was there for only two weeks, people there are super friendly and kind ... felt kinda weird because i got used to being around arrogant, egoistic kinds of people my whole life that i couldn't help but feel embarrassed of how difficult it was for me to behave like these Japanese folk do. Two experiences blew my mind, the first is when i first arrived from the airport to the train to find all the seats were taken except one, an old lady and her husband saw me and my friend sweating like crazy and offered us their seats and insisted saying "You sit here or we leave the train", after that i found out that everybody were like that! giving you space where ever you go and cars stop completely so you walk the streets if there is no traffic lights. Second experience is basically ... A YAKUZA DUDE INVITED ME AND MY FRIEND FOR DINNER IN A BBQ RESTAURANT!!!
Carol T. Let's be honest though, none of us would treat visitors the way they treat theirs, I do know that most of them are rude inside or at least swear all the time but then again ... we are all human and we all do that (Ignore my name). I like it when people don't show weakness and disrespect to others no matter how painful it is, those who swallow their pain and suffering then give you a handshake and smile to you are mini heroes in my eyes. I remember that most of the restaurants didn't speak English but their menus had pictures EXCEPT for one specific restaurant, my friend tried to force them to understand him in English even though they can't ... the facial expressions of the timid waiter made me laugh because i feel for her (I worked in a non English speaking place before) she did not raise her voice and did not panic but instead she used her phone to download a translation app to type for us the main ingredients of the dishes... we started having breakfast there ever since and that lady laughs everytime we show up there with a confused "oh shit" face xD If i was in her I'd just kick my customers out with "Can you fucking not?".
Awesome post Arnn. I had a quick question for you. I'm going to Tokyo in a few weeks and i'll be landing in Narita Airport. What's the easiest way to get to Tokyo from there? I've heard a lot of people talk about the Limousine bus and some others said to take the Narita express. What was best for you?
I am not sure how much the limousine bus costs, but the Narita Express bus is ￥1,000, you don't need to book in advance, just go straight to the stop, stop 2 and buy the ticket when you board. It takes an hour and a half, but usually arrives 10 - 15 minutes early and stops at Tokyo and Ginza Station.
Thanks a bunch for the reply Josh. Are there any issues with luggage when riding the Narita Express? I don't plan on bringing a ridiculous amount, but I do have a decent sized suitcase and a backpack.
I just found this channel today and am already 5 videos in. My husband and I area looking to travel to Japan for 3 - 4 months next fall and I really believe these videos will play a crucial roll in helping us prepare and make the best out of our trip. Thank you sir so much for taking the time to share your experience with all of us!
I always appreciate and enjoy for your British joke and presentation of Japan. Perhaps, you have known but I would like to explain the reason why the name of Pokky was changed to "Sukky" is that it is meant for "Suki"＝>好き=>I like/love you, which is the typical phrase for the day on the 14 of Feb. Have a nice evening,
I love your channel! I have just returned to working with Americans after two years of teaching in a Japanese school and the culture shock IS REAL. The way I speak completely changed. I have grown used to the Japanese manners and work ethic. Both have its pros and cons, but I'm happy that I had the opportunity to work in Okinawa, Japan. I don't know if I can go back to Cali... we will see.
Bernadette Teaches Music I'm just a young adult but would you think a person who has no idea about Japan and what to expect there and doesn't speak the language be a good place to travel to or maybe even stay for a long period of time?
YES! BUT, it totally depends on your personality/outlook on life. I couldn't even say "good morning" when I first moved out here, but I knew that it was only a matter of time before I would start learning words and communicating with people. I really like the Bruce Lee quote, “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.” When I moved to Japan I wanted to learn how to be like the Japanese people. How to bow, show respect, eat, and dress like them. I wanted to adopt the work ethic and the manners. At the same time, it was nice to be involved in an English-speaking community so that I could relax :)
@@LCx829 Have you ever been to Russia? If it's broken it gets broken down ever more to the point where it starts working again. Like smashing your PC for lagging too much.
I think it's so funny that you compare Japan with the UK as if the UK was a messy and loud place. I'm from Italy and out of all the countries I've visited in my life, the UK is definitely the most "Japan-like". It would be funny for me to go to Japan, since I really know what it's like to live in a messy and loud country. And when you said "things don't work sometimes in the UK" I was like "Dude nothing ever works here" hahaha. Anyway nice video.
64 I didn't say it was like Japan, I'm saying that compared to other countries I've visited it's much more organised and precise, and people are very polite, very different from where I'm from haha
That bit in the video made me wonder if Chris has travelled much in Europe because here in Norway (or 'the last Soviet state', as it is often called as a half-joke) nothing ever works either. But we pay for services at a price that would make you think they are 10 times better than in Japan. But nothing ever works. It's all down to economics, I think. High taxes and labor costs mean there aren't enough people employed to make something work properly, just enough to make it 'good enough'. I have never thought of us Brits as being loud either, possibly more assertive than Japanese people, but then I've never been to Japan so idk.
I lived in Tokyo in the 1990's. Lived there for 6 years. What a great experience. It changed me. Japanese perspective on certain things is very different from the way things are done in Canada. I learned there was no correct answer as usually, after listening both sides of the argument, you can see the upsides and downsides of each argument and of each method. When you realize this, your mind is greatly opened up. I became a more open minded person.
I've wanted to live in Japan since I was a teenager but somehow I forgot that desire when growing up. One of the reasons that made me remember again was your channel and finally I'm going to move to Tokyo at the end of this month. So thank you for sharing the weird and nice sides of Japan with us.
How do you people just move to the other side o the world like that? I love Japan and I wish I could live there for a bit but still I would be scared shitless, worried about my job, future relationships, friends, money, the language and everything else. Wish I could just say fuck it like you people
They could have just been messing with him. Or it could have been one of those things, like an old teacher that doesn't like otaku culture, and has to insist, every time someone brings up pirates, that they were horrible, specifically BECAUSE they think One Piece is glorifying it.
@@10tailedbijuu Kinda weird for me, the stylization of pirates isn't that modern - for example, anime Space Pirate Captain Harlock, that was famous in '70s heavily portrayed the protagonist's life as seek for freedom and justice, and there were no rapes, if I remember correctly.
I had to recheck to see if I was subscribed to this guy because he's so damn funny. You sir pretty much got two subscriptions from me, except just one!
Lol I just checked after reading this and clicked subscribe. Because I didn't paid attention to subscribe but still I always had his videos recommended to me
I have for the longest time wanted to live in Japan. However the prospect of people not understanding sarcasm scares me as I live and breath sarcasm.... D: Love your videos! Keep up the great work :)
Kaiaj People would understand sarcasm if you make it obvious enough, when i first arrived in Tokyo i made the "Where are the subtitles!?" joke and not a single person there didn't laugh, they know xD Also when i went to the nerd heaven (Akihabara) i found that the adult (Hentai) action figure stores are literally next door to the family friendly ones and while i was pointing at the doors for my friend to notice that then ... a lady with her bf (maybe there were on a date) showed up behind us asking "Did you like our modern art museums?" i love these folks XD
Yeah. Sarcasm, totally a reason to not visit a nation you've never been to (or live there) and experience a culture completely different from your own.
In case the comment was directed at me, then I would question why you take such a comment seriously on a channel filled with sarcasm. Also, you seem to assume quite a lot of things you have no knowledge about.
I’ve started watching these vids with my girlfriend over the last month and they just get funnier each time! We went to Japan for a month in 2019 and it was an incredible experience. We stayed in an APA hotel in Asakusa on our first night (typical ikr), and the next day when my gf was getting dressed, a member of housekeeping opened the door before seeing her and looked horrified. He bowed excessively and was what I can presume was apologising in an animated fashion. I opened the door expecting him to be walking to the next room to tell him ‘don’t worry mate, it’s fine’. At this point he was just outside, he knelt on the floor and apologised even more aggressively and bowed on his knees. I couldn’t help but laugh and waved my hands to try and communicate “no biggie, don’t worry”. The next day we were sat on the bed watching tv and heard something being posted under the door. It was a letter from the manager apologising for ‘mistakenly entering the room’. The letter then ended “we apologise for this sudden message”. We couldn’t stop laughing, and there began our amazing trip that just got better and better. I thought I’d share this story, and thanks again chris for bringing the weirdness of Japan to my normal British life!
"I want to watch Top Gear..." I had to pause the video, I was laughing so uncontrollably! Just discovered your channel, and I am thoroughly enthralled, entertained, and feel much more enlightened by your sharing of adventure. Keep up the awesome work!
I LOVE YOURE CHANNEL! Because lol you are so original and you don't try to be someone else, you just do ur thing and act normal and it's real. I think that's what's most important when making RU-vid videos cause it helps your viewers connect better! Keep up the awesome work 😄😄
About six months ago I packed up my whole life into two suitcases and moved out to Hawai'i, and have been brushing up my Japanese as well (girl I'm dating is studying it -- catalytic effect). Meanwhile I recently discovered your channel and have just been devouring it. It's fascinating and makes me want to dive even farther off the deep end, honestly. You're a cool guy. If I ever do it, let's have coffee!
Your videos are amazing, I feel like you should have your own show on the travel channel. When I first started watching your videos, I didn't know any Japanese at all, now I know about 700 and I'm learning more every day :) My husband and I love your videos so much that we've decided to move there if I can (eventually) pass the N5. You make Japan sound like the best place in the world!
I know about 700 Japanese words lol I bought a few text books, and reached out to the Japanese community in my town and found a tutor. I met with her every Friday, and she has helps me practice the words that I've learned.
Konichiwa! I happened to randomly find myself watching one of your videos due to my interest in Japan, and now I'm hooked to your videos, personality, creativity and sense of humor! I'm really considering visiting Japan for some time now and your videos are helpful. Arigato for your hard work and consider me a new sub :)
majide - i had to stop your video when you talked about how load uk people are - as an american that studied in england for a semester - i remember getting embarressed about half way through the semester - because i was aware that you could hear americans coming LONG before you actually saw them (us) - and when i got back to america - i was aware how loud even our clothes are -
I was about to post the same comment. British culture is halfway to Japanese compared to the US. Same thing with any customer service, like Tube vs NYC subway or anything else.
yeah just goes to show how relative these things are. It's definitely also a class thing as well--lower/working class British people might as well be an entirely separate culture from middle/upper class Brits. Completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of behaviour.
My mother recently found out she has cancer. Her prognosis is very good but the news has really effected my usually very positive energy. Serendipitously I happened to find your videos. I am genuinely laughing out loud. Of COURSE I subscribed and showing some of your videos to my mom when I visit her in the hospital. Thank you so very much. FYI Not all pirates were bad 😉
Such a great video. I am so fascinated by Japan, the mix of cutting edge technology and long established traditional society is really interesting. Your videos are a slight window into this world. One day I will save up enough to visit, but until then I truly enjoy your videos and thank you for all the hard work you put into making them.
Abroad in Japan They were absolutely brain dead when they thought they could successfully have TOP GEAR without Hammond, May and Clarkson. ESPECIALLY Clarkson.
This season is a LOT better. Having Chris Harris and Rory hosting makes it quite enjoyable. Real car enthusiasts and a slightly different feel. No Eddie Jordan either!
So, we are going through Covid... Binge watching all Chris' videos (finished Sharla's already) whenever my head is clear... And seriously, I'm a subscriber from long time, but never had time to watch all videos. It's not only addictive but really helps us in this time- taking us somewhere else and have a laugh in between, endure the illness easier! So much so, that my kid started making chop sticks for her Barbies! 😀 (lot of food on this channel) Thank you Chris!
Well, I am a Singaporean and I'd like to voice some of my thoughts on Singapore... First off, Family life can be pretty stressful here too. Both or either parent is usually out of the house at work from around 7/8am - 7/8pm (But this is just a rough estimate). I must say that I am indeed thankful for my family having able to have time together despite my Father's work. As for my other friends, they sometimes do not usually see their parents around all that much. To top that off, school is pretty stressful too. Many parents stress the fact that studying is key to a successful future and put a lot of emphasis on that. Secondly, I've lived in the USA while my Father had the chance to study overseas, thus the whole family being able to follow suit. And from my experience, people in the USA tend to be more relaxed than an average Singaporean. I personally feel that Americans are much more easily approachable than the locals here in Singapore. Another good thing that occurred to me while I was there was that, I barely experienced any racism or prejudice from the people around. And that, I am really thankful for. Despite being a full-fledge Chinese born in Singapore with complete exposure to the Chinese Language, I am barely able to speak any of it. From young I spoke only English and very little Chinese and now I am only able to communicate in English with the ability to comprehend a tad bit of Chinese. Although most locals are fine with communicating via English, there are some who are just unable to speak it. There were many instances where I attempted to order food and was met with a condescending or annoyed attitude for I was only able to speak English. And on some occasions I am called names which I consider rude and insulting. Although I've mentioned before that most locals are fine with English being used in a conversation, apparently my accent seems to be in the way. It seems that some people believe that it is weird for a Chinese to be speaking in an American accent and because of that, they would want to avoid me. Well, it is what it is. Although I am a Singaporean, I personally do not enjoy where I live but I must say that I am thankful that Singapore is sheltered from natural disasters, less prone to terrorism, low-crime rates and a government isn't corrupted. If I had a choice, I would pick to stay either in Japan or America. I feel more at home over at those places rather than my home country. Well that was quite a comment and I apologize that there is no TL;DR Thank you for taking your time to read this! If you have any thoughts or anything, I'd love to hear them out :)
Hexa Promos Singaporean here sharing how I feel about SG. People here lack refinement, their sense of aesthetics are mainly guided by practicality, that’s Singapore, go beyond the glittering surface there’s not much underneath.
To be fair I was flipping over at that slide of his It feels like he got Greece and Singapore completely wrong! Greece is one of the most chill countries I've ever been to; people are talkative for the better, buses are never on time for the worse lol Singapore, while culturally very different from Greece (or Japan for that matter), felt a whole lot more structured and efficient than Greece. So yeah I feel like he got those two wrong.
I finished reading the Abroad In Japan book and now I'm watching his old videos. I'm glad he made that leap of faith and moved to Sendai to pursue RU-vid. It's amazing how far he's come and it's really a testament to his hardwork and dedication.
Your TopGear reference totally cracked me up. I also moved on to the Grand Tour and reruns of Season 22 and before. And yes, I totally feel your impression on phoning on the train.
Watching this tonight and I laughed so hard someone almost called a kyukyusha. I have to say this: this vid is funny BECAUSE IT'S TRUE. Everything in this video is 100% spot on. After 20+ years living in Japan, I couldn't agree more because I've been changed in exactly the same ways.
God, I have been 3 times to Japan and just after 2 weeks being back to Spain the first time where everyone is shouting unsolicited life stories one to another was the worst. I was so depressed to come back, I knew I would hate the return while I was still there still. I miss that no one is looking at you in a strange way, they don't enter in your bubble. I felt also super safe there. I miss 7Eleven food and hot drinks in vending machines, this so clever. Taxi drivers with gloves. Food at train stations is so good, my God. Or just a simple, authentic exquisite soba. And Philadelphia cream-cheese-LESS sushis. I don't mind if they call their Pocky Sukky, I can manage. I think it reenforces the fact that being in Japan is like being on another planet where Sukky don't mean anything else. I learn so much about life in society and respect of others in just 16 days in total in Japan. I came back changed, and annoyed LOL - Enjoy while you are there :)
My wife and I are moving to Okinawa next week and she has been knackering me about what I'm going to do for her on Valentines Day. Thank you so much for sharing this! I have turned this franchise around! Well, for a couple of months anyhow.
Just wanted to say this was very insightful. Thanks for the videos and the thought you put into them. Just started watching this week and appreciate what I've seen so far. Much success to you.
I have been a subscriber of your channel for quite some time but when RU-vid changed the notifications, I no longer got any updates from you. so I lost your channel along the way. Thank goodness I found it again and I have been binge watching you all day. Keep up the good work I really enjoy your humor and I love following you
i lived in chiyoda for 3 years, the experience of living in a homogenous crime-free society with abundant, healthy and affordable food has completely destroyed my worldview.
The vending machine was a very good example. When I was visiting in Japan, a vending machine didn't work and it took my 100 yen coin. A passerby saw this, went into the building and got a manager, immediately gave me a larger size of the drink I wanted, apologizing all the while. I was accepting of the fact that it took my money and didn't give me my drink, because it happens all the time in the US, but they were mortified.
so i had decided to visit japan next spring. tonight i decided to start looking online and figure out what i wanted to do and how i was going to do it. i came across your videos. first, thank you for making these videos. i am now so excited to visit , and i wouldn't be surprised if i decided to eventually spend more and more time there.
I'm pretty sure that the "pirate story" was a big sarcasm coming from Chris, since as you said, many anime series had characters that are worst that the pirate lore. For instance many animated series had teenages in the highschool using hand guns, so Japanese teachers had nothing to complain about some one wanting to be a pirate (specially one like Jack Sparrow or Captain Capacitor from the Reboot TV series)
