life in tokyo | anime + book shopping & haul, why i moved to japan 

hi everyone!!! thank you so much for 4k subscribers 😭🥺 I'm glad to share my life with you all~ truthfully, I've been feeling a bit lazy these days with the rain and heat 💀so I'd like to ask you guys....do you have any video requests? I have finals at the end of july but after that I'd like to work really hard on this channel during my summer break!!!! 頑張るぞ!

Some people like Pokémon, others anime, music, traditional culture, food, trains etc etc. When I lived in Japan years ago, I loved the challenge and learning something new each day in terms of language. I’m a Japanese teacher in elementary school now and my students can’t believe I don’t know more than 3 Pokémon and don’t watch anime. I try to convince them that Japan has something for everyone and it’s okay to like what you want!

Congratulations on 4k subscribers! 🙂I learned Japanese and went to Japan because I love Japanese music, so I can't really say anything bad about moving to Japan because of anime. The great thing about Japan is that everything just works. It's easy to get around and super convenient. But it's not for everyone, so it's a good idea to do as you say, and visit for a while first before committing to a longer stay.

Congrats on 4K!! Also that clip of neopets brought me way back 🥺 And totally agree about branching out to different genres of books! Lovely vlog as always ~

So glad you mentioned enjoying anime and feeling a little shame about it in the beginning. So many people in the JET RU-vid world throw shade about it but most of us wouldn’t have discovered and grown a love for all the other great parts of Japanese culture/the country without an interest in anime/video games. I would love to see a video about some struggles you have/how you stay in touch with friends and family in America. I’m working on my bachelors (a bit late) and planning to jump in jet straight after but I want to make sure I do my best to stay in touch with a few people :)

Congrats! 4,000 subscribers is something to be proud of! I love your new notebooks 😍

congrats on 4k subs!! it was so fun to see your anime trip :) i really liked your pokemon goods they're sooo freaking cute. can't wait the next videos. my video request maybe if you can tell us dating app stories! xD kisses from Brazil.

yaaa I'm the same with your "why japan" reasons and thinking, like obviously for many people it was the beginning spark, and then it was a snowball after that. after I studied abroad in tokyo it was just really amazing and I knew I wasn't done. covid has been a hindrance in my move, but I'll be there as soon as they open up again

“Free” lmaooo I felt that in my soul as a returning college student (thank you genlib!)

The chef emoji 😂😂 great video as always! 🤍

What a great video to wake up to!😥🤩😍💙

I would love to find out more about where to buy the very best selection of English language books in Tokyo. I gasped in excitement to see the vast quantity of books available at the sale you filmed here. Wow!!!

Congrats on the 4k subscribers Allison! Very happy that youtube recommended your channel a few weeks ago. Now I always look forward to a new video :) I am currently reading the 'Shadow and Bone' trilogy (yes I am guilty of jumping on the 'Shadow and Bone- hype train after the Netflix adaptation) and I really like it. Also, minimal brainpower is needed ( I also do not like when books require me to think a lot and leaving my brain fried instead of relaxed after reading) Maybe you already covered this in one of your vlogs, but I would like to see a video about make-up and skincare products that are only available in Japan, or at least products that are not so common elsewhere :)

Hey, been a while since I dropped a comment but as always it's a pleasure watching your videos! Congrats on hitting 4k! As somebody that focused somewhat on IR in my last year of uni those two books (Guns, Steel and Germs and Imagined Communities) are also on my to-read list haha, so got a bit excited seeing them. Also reminded myself I'm wasting my summer currently lol. Need to get back into reading properly! Hope you enjoy them. Also man salivating over that Genshin merch! (pulling for Kazuha today on my re-run, pls wish me luck lol). Btw I totally understand you on the anime front, I am both a bit into that and kpop and it was one of the reasons I did my BA degree (Kstudies with Japanese). Spent a year in Korea and actually got a bit away from kpop, realised I just enjoy the country and the lifestyle (not 100% ofc haha, every country has its bad sides). But I just completely stand by what you said- pop culture can be a legit reason, as long as it's not the only one. This turned out being too long but anyways hope you have a great summer!

I recommend Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series!

congratulations on your 4k subscribers! I like Japanese gardens and parks, different flowers and trees. maybe take us on tours to those kind of places. shrines and temples are good too. Maybe when you are eating Japanese foods, tell us about them. I think we will enjoy anywhere you take us and things you show us.

If it’s not too much trouble could you maybe add a few bits of what it’s like having the Olympics going on there while all the craziness is still going on in one of your next videos? I’m so curious what it’ll be like for someone living there!

I'm planning on applying to the JET programme this year as I'll graduate next June. I agree with what you say about those who come only for love of anime. Personally, I am a massive (itabag toting) fan of the series Touken Ranbu. When I studied abroad at a language school in Tokyo I discovered the series, but it was the historical side that drew me in. Also, as a fan of musicals and traditional Japanese culture, the series kept my interest. What initially drew me to Japan was the language, respect system, and the simplicity of somewhat-inaka life (visited relatives on the outskirts of Okayama prefecture). It's really just about finding your motivation and where you fit.

I miss Sunshine City so much. 😭

Studio ghibli ❤❤❤❤

Congratulations on 4k!!!! 🥳🥳 Why not plan an adventure? Take us on a picnic or hike somewhere away from the crowds in nature or a garden. I have been wanting to do that for so long but it is just impossible right now in my country. 🌻

Haven't finished the video yet, but i thought I'd pop in here with some YA book recommendations! My personal favourites are ANYTHING by Cassandra Clare (Clockwork Angel series is my fave), the Alice series by Christina Henry (pretty dark but a really cool take on Alice in Wonderland with lots of plot twists), and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (gotta love a good heist haha) Hope those are some new ones for you!

We used Anderson's "Imagined Communities" as one of our main texts in a nationalism course I took in grad school. It's a really great start to discussions on how constructs shape reality. I know that a big reason it made such an impact is that compared to previous scholars, he was quick to point out that "nations" can't actually be traced to certain traits (like language, ethnicity, etc...). My professor could quote his definition of a nation from memory. I'm pretty sure that Brubaker has taken Anderson's concepts and refined them in his works as well. I need to re-read them though. I LOVE Brandon Sanderson's books, but it's definitely "heavy" on the brain. For a lighter read, I enjoyed "Six of Crows"/"Crooked Kingdom" (really anything by Leigh Bardugo) and "Spinning Silver" from Naomi Novik. Definitely can relate on the anime background. I'm 一級 in Japanese, am a second year CIR on JET, and will be moving to Tokyo soon, and it's all thanks to Detective Conan. That show was the first TV show I got obsessed with that I had to watch with subtitles and it began my love for studying languages. Anime isn't the "only" thing that brought me to Japan, but I'm pretty confident I wouldn't be living here right now if I didn't have that background. As for future videos... this might sound boring, but Japanese house-care products? (or ways of staying cool during the Japanese summer.)

Congrats for 4k :) I also like anime and game ! Can't wait for the genshin impact new patch !! My favorite character is Zhongli but can't wait to pull Ayaka :) Which characters do you want ? I like your sakura card captor poster. I would like to see all your goodies !! I recommend the quest of Ewilan, I really like those books and all of Pierre Bottero books

Omg please read the Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher! It’s become my new favorite adventure fantasy book ever and I read so much it’s insane it took the top spot so quickly but I love how uniquely written it is!

Guns Germs and Steel is an amazing book. Pulitzer prize for non fiction.

I think we need to talk about more positives than the negatives. Even though reasons not to move to * country is important, I think there are many videos and articles surrounding this topic and they usually all come down to the same reasons. I think more people should encourage others in an informative way. Every time i saw a comment in RU-vid or tiktok about someone expressing interest in Japan or wanting to move there the responses are always 'weeaboo' 'japan is not like anime' 'dont move there its not good'. Liking anime is not a bad reason to like Japan and have it as your motivation to study. 'weeaboos' are usually younger people who grow out of the phase. But I dont think others should dismiss them as 'weeaboo' for their real reasons for wanting to move. I think I'm not alone in my fear of opening up about liking Asian culture. I'm happy to see this video that can encourage others to also commit to their goals.

Allison in Tokyo is my favorite anime

You should wear a red headband with like a huge bow (like Kiki!), I think it’d look rly good on you!

Actually, I don't have any specific video request, just to please continue the quality content that you have. I really enjoy the snippets of life I get from each of your videos. Thank you. Right now, let me congratulate you for the 5k subs!

Naurrr I want that togepi

Congrats on 4k!!!! "self sabotage ... oh well!" - this is me hahaha I keep finding more and more things in common with you!!! Which is great because now I have another source to finding good finds! A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas is a great! I quite liked Green Rider by Kristian Britain and Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck! btw, who is the character on the right at 15:58???

What is a Kendo book? and how is the daily life in Japan? It is too difficult to study there? Love you and the videos.

Thank you for another great video

I recommend Skyward by Brandon Sanderson, its YA I am pretty sure and definitely an easier read! I also recommend anything by Victoria Schwab or Leigh Bardugo!

Crisp salad 😍😍 what salad did you order? Also I’d be interested to hear what you do when you feel homesick/miss the US? Or maybe general difficulties of living in Japan and how you deal with them. I’m from the US and living in Tokyo too, and you seem to be handling it so well haha ❤️

New subscriber here!

いつも通り素敵なヴログだったアリー🌻 東京の本屋にすんごく行きたくなちゃったわ 💖📚 おすすめのファンタジーやつはKate ElliottのCold Magicというシリーズだ 恋愛も魔法も社会的の事もよく書いてるので私にとって完璧だが、あんまり有名な作品じゃないと思う もうちょっと有名なやつの中では、Robin HobbのAssassin's Apprentice というシリーズもすすめる。どっちシリーズも3冊があっても Cold Magicより後者のテーマの方が暗くて、わかりにくいで、最初に読んだ時私はあんまり好きじゃなかった。だけど! Assassin's Apprentice の2冊目を読んでいてもっと興味になった。それより3冊目を読むとやっっっと1冊の話しがわかちゃったのでその本が大好きだ ファンタジーのジャンルにはたくさん女性作家があんま大きくなってない感じがするんけどね、二人ともとっても素晴らしい作者と思う 是非読んでみてください! 😊👌 来週のヴログを待っているよ! 今回の緊急時代中体気をつけてね

Nice video

You asked for requests. I'd love to see you do more focused videos. You got a lot of really cool places in your vlogs and I'd love to know more about them, especially the restaurants and cafes and things like that because I'm super into food culture lol. Maybe see if you can get permission to film and work with the staff/cooks/owner/whoever to show off some of your favorite places more in depth. I love that kind of video. But of course I'll keep watching regardless because I love your channel and how relaxing your vlogs always are! Sometimes I'm super grateful to live in the states. As an "essential worker," I got vaccinated months ago. I still wear my mask, of course, but it's a huge relief all the same. Omg, that bookstore looks so nice. Definitely want to hang out there. YA is still so much fun as an adult. I didn't read The Hunger Games until I was like 24, and honestly I love them. The books are so much better than the movies tbh. Umbrella in a bag is the smartest thing I've ever seen. No one ever puts the slip covers back on because it's not possible lmao, so that's such a great idea to have a zip bag for it instead. Those notebooks are adorable. I also struggle with actually using notebooks unless I like the way they look lol. I just got a new one with like a super pretty faux old leather style cover that says "Strange Ideas & Impure Thoughts" in fancy gold script, and I'm so in love with it. Thanks for another relaxing video to start my day with!

Hey Allison, ii love your channel found it because I am going to Japan in September as a grad student, do you think living in japan is difficult in general from an American perspective and how are you treated as a foreigner?

I am doing intermittent fasting. I didnt intend to eat dinner when i watched this, but then i saw your konbini haul and hurried to my nearby konbini to get chips and chocolate 😭 Your headband looks so good on you! :)

5:11 Genshin music lmao

Allison, I have noticed in some of your videos that you thyroid gland looks enlarged... do you have Hashimotos Thyroiditis? If not, have you done any testing?

Guns germs and steel has been discredited