12 Reasons NOT to Move to Japan

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  • čas přidán 28. 04. 2024
  • Moving to Japan to live and work is a life changing event. But is it worth it? From tiny apartments and outdated thinking, to complicated dating and being an outsider, these are stories and experiences of the difficulties you might face along the way.
    🍿 BEHIND the scenes Patreon: goo.gl/NWEoQm
    🎧 WEEKLY Podcast: hyperurl.co/nhgr30
    00:00 Why NOT to Move to Japan
    01:45 Tiny Apartments
    05:22 Discrimination
    07:24 Work Life Balance
    10:20 Cultural Barriers
    11:26 Standing Out
    13:37 Gender Inequality
    18:25 Medical Issues
    21:12 Lack of Jobs in Japan
    23:00 Making Friends in Japan
    24:48 Endless Rules
    27:00 Being an Outsider
    *FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE*
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Komentáře • 22K

  • @AbroadinJapan
    @AbroadinJapan  Před 2 lety +4435

    NOTIFICATION SQUAD: Get ready for "Brett Maverick" - the name you wish you had.
    🍿🍿🍿Keep an eye out for Journey Across Japan: The Lost Islands which starts later this week! czcams.com/video/SEN6v1ZFlJ0/video.html
    AS FOR THIS VIDEO, I've made over 200 videos in Japan over the years that've been rather positive about the country and I'd like to think my love for this country, the people and the culture are beyond question. But of course, the country isn't perfect (nowhere is). I've always held off of this video as I know it'll open a pandoras box of people telling me to "go home", but I think all of the criticism I've levelled at Japan in this video is pretty fair. Time will tell! But keep an eye out for angry racist comments. Hopefully we can bundle them into a future hate mail video...

  • @CHEFPKR
    @CHEFPKR Před 2 lety +18427

    All issues you have mentioned are meaningless in the face of convenience store friend chicken.

    • @kencowzyay
      @kencowzyay Před 2 lety +621

      The fastest commenter in the trash taste expanded universe

    • @JC-of2nm
      @JC-of2nm Před 2 lety +72

      Come to the PNW, Thriftway fried chicken slaps

    • @fabiocetrulo4462
      @fabiocetrulo4462 Před 2 lety +504

      Friend chicken

    • @underhillat
      @underhillat Před 2 lety +348

      Indeed befriending a chicken is an amazing experience

    • @kflemonice
      @kflemonice Před 2 lety +148

      I would love a convenience store friend chicken right about now.

  • @im_sorry_i_forgot_my_username
    @im_sorry_i_forgot_my_username Před 2 lety +8146

    It's hilarious to see someone use the words "overly positive" when referring to Chris.

  • @tokyosteve1223
    @tokyosteve1223 Před rokem +393

    I lived in Japan for 25 years before recently returning to Canada.. while some of his comments may seem humorous or quirky, he's pretty much spot on. This is quality commentary if you're looking for it. Japan is an incredible place, but it certainly comes with some baggage for foreigners. How you deal with that, is the trick.

    • @TheBillaro
      @TheBillaro Před rokem +4

      well said. or not. i left. too much pressure. and stupid stupid stupid rules. grilled over with a fine toothed comb at work...... et al.

    • @conor7154
      @conor7154 Před 7 měsíci +5

      Incredible place to visit maybe. Living here is hell.

    • @arc5015
      @arc5015 Před 29 dny

      @@TheBillaro Can you share some of the ott rules stuff?

    • @keninaba9777
      @keninaba9777 Před 20 dny +2

      I agree with you and the comment about how it's better to visit Japan than live there. I'm Japanese Canadian and understand a lot of both sides. It comes down to if you prefer Freedom or Order, Understanding or Tolerance.
      Japan is also changing. The aging population and the high influx of tourists and Asian foreign workers is changing the labour market. The last trip I came back from recently highlighted the higher amount of foreigners in the country from what I remembered 4 years ago. Things may change as years roll by. An updated video on this topic will most likely be necessary in 10 years.

    • @lor4415
      @lor4415 Před 5 dny

      ​@@conor7154exactly, for me the best place to visit cause It has everything a turist search, a paradise.

  • @bunrock
    @bunrock Před 2 lety +3469

    Started learning japanese to study in japan.
    Chris Broad: “Fuck off, don't move here”
    Well that's just great

    • @OLGMC
      @OLGMC Před 2 lety +244

      "Understandable, Have a nice day!"

    • @milkshaketuga1902
      @milkshaketuga1902 Před 2 lety +124

      Why would you want to study in Japan the work/study culture is so strict and awful.
      I can see the point in moving there as long as you don't have a traditional job, but now I'm curious why would you go study there?

    • @arjix8738
      @arjix8738 Před 2 lety +59

      @@milkshaketuga1902 could be a student exchange program

    • @Bakut990
      @Bakut990 Před 2 lety +8

      Indian's going to study in Japan, that astounding.

    • @anorakb536
      @anorakb536 Před 2 lety +4

      What a great start

  • @NireFuster
    @NireFuster Před 2 lety +2166

    "The world's smallest beer"
    "No no no no no, I'm so big"
    I love this man already and it's the first time I've seen him

  • @thehikingrealtor6812
    @thehikingrealtor6812 Před rokem +542

    I lived in Japan in 1986 for a year as an exchange student (high school) and for 3 months in 1992 as a college student. It was one of the best experiences of my life without question. There were times of immense loneliness - like Christmas day as I sat in class and knew my family was back home in New York celebrating together. There was incredible kindness toward me and hatred as well. I had a huge guy try to assault me as I walked with a Japanese girl (not my girlfriend). Luckily I knew enough karate to escape the situation. However, most of the time I was treated with respect and curiosity. In my "town", Fukui ken, Ono shi there were only a handful of non Japanese. Wherever I went I felt like the Japanese flag - a red dot in a field of white. The language was tough to learn but the culture was harder. Riding my bike to school in 10" of snow with no delay, no snow days, was brutal. Going to school 6 days a week was unpleasant too. None of the kids I went to school with had ever dated, drank or done really anything. I was way, way more mature and they were way better at math. You didn't mention weather in your video which is interesting as the rainy season was depressing. Otherwise your video nailed it. I love Japan and have returned 5 times briefly and can't wait to go back. Living there long term though......not so much.

    • @hedera1332
      @hedera1332 Před rokem +41

      That's interesting that you find the rain the depressing. I grew up in a very drought-stricken area of Australia and have grown up with a real love for rain because of this. Even when I then lived in a place in Australia that experiences a lot of rain I still love it.

    • @thehikingrealtor6812
      @thehikingrealtor6812 Před rokem +27

      @@hedera1332 I like your perspective....it's not a normal once in awhile rain I find depressing...it was the week after week of daily rain and having to trek miles to school on a bike I found depressing. I arrived soaked and no one cares. You are supposed to arrive and clean the floors, bathrooms, chalk boards, etc before class - no matter how much snow, rain or anything else you dealt with on the the way to school. They just have a very different mentality which was both god and bad. The 24/7 rain for 5 weeks was a bit much.

    • @FirstnameLastname-bx4zk
      @FirstnameLastname-bx4zk Před rokem +5

      How did u become an exchange student?

    • @thehikingrealtor6812
      @thehikingrealtor6812 Před rokem +5

      @@FirstnameLastname-bx4zk I was accepted as a Rotary Club International exchange student. I all these years later have become a Rotarian myself. Amazing program. Life changing.

    • @hedera1332
      @hedera1332 Před rokem +2

      @@FirstnameLastname-bx4zk You usually do it through your university/college.

  • @himajin11
    @himajin11 Před 7 měsíci +80

    After 15 years in Japan, I’m also getting ready to leave, partially for the same reasons as listed in this video. I ticked all the boxes: I learned the language, found a good job, got married, had kids, built a house.
    But in the end, I just can’t take it anymore. There are some truly heartbreaking stories in the comments and my heart goes out to each one of you. I could add my own but it’s too painful to spell out here.

    • @toplespecah666
      @toplespecah666 Před 6 měsíci +1

      Heyy do you have email or something for communication? I’d like to send u chat to knowing more about japan, thanks

    • @himajin11
      @himajin11 Před 6 měsíci +2

      @@toplespecah666 Hey, happy to chat here. How can I help?

    • @himajin11
      @himajin11 Před 3 měsíci +3

      @@Kappa_MappaHey, of course there are gardening jobs here. But unless you start your own company, it’s likely going to be paid just around the poverty line. Expect really slim pickings and super hard work. Also, it might be hard getting a visa for jobs that are mostly manual labor.
      As for being a therapist, if you’re okay to limit yourself to other foreigners an American degree will do - if you want to see Japanese patients you’re likely going to need a degree from a Japanese school and a near perfect command of Japanese.

    • @razi_haron
      @razi_haron Před 2 měsíci

      @himajin11, the things you said are too painful to say, does it relate to the harsh working conditions?
      I got offers constantly from headhunters to come work in Japan (because I graduated from Japanese University long ago). Sometimes I feel like returning to Japan but when I think about the working culture, always makes me rethink.
      Is it still that bad now in the Japanese companies?

    • @SMGJohn
      @SMGJohn Před měsícem +1

      What makes you think life is different elsewhere?
      I see people saying all this stuff but honestly even in Norway people experience the same stuff, Norwegian people that is, native people lived and born here all their life.
      Isolation is down to Capitalism and is a growing problematic issue everywhere in the world, you are isolated at work, you are isolated in the public, why? Because jobs are moving into more and more independent tasks, less cooperating with others, the rise of social media did no one any favour either, people have this weird expectation that social media is the only place they can find people to talk to which is frankly hilarious.
      Because of this, people in the public are much rarer to say hello to you, its harder to form relationship in the public because events and gatherings just are not a thing anymore and its even harder to make relations at work because of the individualistic setup they have at jobs, you are required to do job of what maybe 2 - 4 people did in the past.
      Frankly, people who lived a long time in Japan and then complain about stuff, seem unfathomably ignorant about life elsewhere, even in their home country they would most likely experience similar issues, after Covid its gotten a lot worse even.
      I know a lot of people in Britain and they all share the same stories, after Covid even the pubs are emptier now, people just do not want to gather anymore, they discovered social media and are building their little echo chambers online.

  • @bokchoiman
    @bokchoiman Před 11 měsíci +50

    Makes perfect sense why the Isekai genre is so strong in Japan. They all dream of a fantasy world they would rather be in than having to do all of the things in this video.

    • @SMGJohn
      @SMGJohn Před měsícem +4

      Aint that true for the entire world? People seem to inflate the country being bad, when in reality its just Capitalism being bad, hyper individualism, isolation at work, in social life, rise of social media and even Covid has had impact on society.
      Japan is the most advanced Capitalist country, by that I mean not by technology, but by the economical system, its experienced all the issues we face today in the western world, like 20 years earlier, Hikikomori began in Japan during the late 70s, thats a huge issue today in the west, funny how it all works out.

    • @bokchoiman
      @bokchoiman Před měsícem

      @@SMGJohn I wonder what western "Isekai" will look like.

    • @SMGJohn
      @SMGJohn Před měsícem

      @@bokchoiman
      Super Hero genre is literally escapism

  • @ChristopherCricketWallace
    @ChristopherCricketWallace Před 2 lety +578

    One minute you're accused of being too negative. And now you're being accused of being too positive. You can't win sometimes, man.

    • @GTti72
      @GTti72 Před 2 lety +25

      Next video: 12 reasons NOT to become a CZcamsr...

    • @marocat4749
      @marocat4749 Před 2 lety +3

      @@GTti72 😂

    • @vilena5308
      @vilena5308 Před 2 lety

      You can never win....

  • @needbettername8583
    @needbettername8583 Před 2 lety +2176

    I met an awesome Japanese dude called Sho when I was living in Australia. He was a Pro surfer, we went to watch him at some competitions and he was awesome, getting sponsorships and everything. He was looking at moving to Australia permenatly and I asked him if he ever wanted to go home. He laughed and said "man, no-one in Japan thinks surfing is a job".

    • @arrianah5080
      @arrianah5080 Před 2 lety +101

      quite irrelevant but i've watched an anime about surfing and one of the characters there was named sho

    • @iamwhatyouseeinyournightma708
      @iamwhatyouseeinyournightma708 Před 2 lety +22

      @@arrianah5080 what anmie

    • @arrianah5080
      @arrianah5080 Před 2 lety +39

      @@iamwhatyouseeinyournightma708 wave surfing yappe or smth

    • @alexanderhgardiner6731
      @alexanderhgardiner6731 Před 2 lety +48

      Bro was this on the Gold Coast? I met a guy called Sho who was pretty wild working at Donto Sapporo in Surfers, what a small world.

    • @needbettername8583
      @needbettername8583 Před 2 lety +37

      @@alexanderhgardiner6731 I met him in the sunshine Coast, not sure where he went afterwards. Hope he's doing good.

  • @MultiSciGeek
    @MultiSciGeek Před 8 měsíci +49

    I like it. I'm usually very cautious when something is sold to me as overly positive, and especially about Japan it's like people just CANNOT criticize it for some reason, despite it having numerous problems - from sexual harassment, to severe depression and xenophobia. So I'm glad this isn't one of those clickbait titles where they say "12 reasons not to" and then just proceed to list positives in a sarcastic manner.

  • @romesrepublic
    @romesrepublic Před rokem +43

    Japan seems like a cool place to have a vacation home that you visit once a year for about a month or so. Then rent out for the rest of the year. However, i could never imagine actually living there. It seems to be simply too different and strict.

  • @joost0133
    @joost0133 Před 2 lety +710

    Getting called overly positive as a British person must be considered a grave insult

    • @Kiki-7
      @Kiki-7 Před 2 lety +33

      I recoiled in British

    • @tSp289
      @tSp289 Před 2 lety +20

      I do feel like I'm letting the side down if I make more than two unambiguously nice comments in a row.

    • @carolusrex5213
      @carolusrex5213 Před 12 hodinami

      They could not handle people from the midwest bro lmao

  • @TheIronArmenianakaGIHaigs
    @TheIronArmenianakaGIHaigs Před 2 lety +13676

    Incoming "Chris hates Japan" comments 😀

    • @AbuChanOfficial
      @AbuChanOfficial Před 2 lety +298

      Lot of reaction vids coming

    • @Micro-Lander
      @Micro-Lander Před 2 lety +95

      Bro what is a war thunder youtuber doing here ......

    • @nicjansen230
      @nicjansen230 Před 2 lety +28

      And as a result another reply to haters video is coming as well :P

    • @Ole_Rasmussen
      @Ole_Rasmussen Před 2 lety +32

      Wait, Chris doesn't hate Japan? I thought he and I were two peas in a pod!

    • @danae5578
      @danae5578 Před 2 lety +5

      The flood gates have opened

  • @tavo.needa_sip
    @tavo.needa_sip Před rokem +41

    I’m a native american or “american indian” and i plan on moving to japan. Low key, some of these culture expectations in japan are similar in my culture, which is kinda surprising. But even so I’m not going to expect to just blend in, im 18 in college planning to become a teacher overseas. I’m still young so let’s see if any of my plans change, but i can’t wait to move to japan and have the whole experience.

    • @andymurray5045
      @andymurray5045 Před rokem +4

      Good luck man, rooting for you!

    • @chaiam
      @chaiam Před 6 měsíci

      Well, it’s generally the orthodox theory that the original Americans, north and south came from Siberia so likely share a common ancestors with the Eat Asians…

    • @Bradgilliswhammyman
      @Bradgilliswhammyman Před 4 měsíci +5

      No matter where you are from...if you were not born in Japan and not a native Japanese you will be considered a foreigner. Just be at peace with it.

    • @meggrotte4760
      @meggrotte4760 Před měsícem +1

      Yes they will never see with japanese but it doesn't mean you can live well there.
      I lived in korea japan taiwan
      I had lots of great friends.I just wasn't from those countries.

  • @jorgeaugustoamorimdesousa1120

    It’s all part of your journey, including producing this informative , eye opening video, with a good sense of humour. Thank you.

  • @ALSmith-zz4yy
    @ALSmith-zz4yy Před 2 lety +2284

    Japanese boss: "It's come to our attention you have a life outside the office."

    • @dillon9
      @dillon9 Před 2 lety +199

      Sir, I'm sorry, it won't happen again.

    • @mdjohnson1
      @mdjohnson1 Před 2 lety +50

      So true ... I've worked for a Huge Japanese company for 5 years ... and damn ... it is different!

    • @tsdobbi
      @tsdobbi Před 2 lety +91

      @@mdjohnson1 I'm a consultant and my company wanted to staff me at this Japanese company, which would have required me spending a year in Japan. I would love to visit don't get me wrong, but I wasn't even that apprehensive about joining the fucking Army. I'd seen a lot of "a day in the life" in a Japanese corporate office and it seems fucking horrible. I stewed over it for about 2 weeks and said no. On the one hand it could be an unforgettable life experience on the otherhand I could want to kill myself a month in.

    • @AnotherAvaibleName
      @AnotherAvaibleName Před 2 lety +18

      @@tsdobbi congrats on dodging a bullet

    • @sinless4088
      @sinless4088 Před 2 lety +1

      @@mdjohnson1 what's it like?

  • @kyleyoung7878
    @kyleyoung7878 Před 2 lety +3571

    Serious Question: if you didn't have this CZcams channel with the ability to connect with people (and make some income) do you still think you would have lived in Japan as long?

  • @Kintaku
    @Kintaku Před rokem +100

    I remember staying in Japan for a month twice, once when I was in high school as a foreign exchange student and again as I was going into my undergrad.
    I LOVED my time in Japan and am going back. But I've always said I love traveling to Japan but don't think I'd ever want to live there. I didn't mind standing out or being treated different so much because I expected it, but the rules are the biggest issue for me.
    There was one time my friends and I were having a conversation in the hall since girls and guys couldn't be in the same room, and we were told the hotel manager that even though we weren't actually in the way, Japanese people wouldn't go through because they'd feel they were interrupting, so we couldn't talk out there.
    At that point I realized, no matter how polite I thought I was, the societal rules of Japan would probably be too much for me to not rebel against.

    • @davidlee8406
      @davidlee8406 Před 3 měsíci

      I don't think you should feel that way. Japanese ppl get yelled at in hallways too. Do you see other Japanese blocking the hallway, talking? There you go.

    • @Kintaku
      @Kintaku Před 3 měsíci +2

      @@davidlee8406 I don’t see how what you’re saying conflicts with my original point. Japanese people don’t do it because they know better. From our foreign perspective we weren’t blocking the hall because we left plenty of space. We couldn’t know that our very presence was blocking the way.
      My feeling (at the time of writing) was that these unspoken rules that natives know by growing up there would be too much for me to always fall in line with.
      Over the past year though, I spent another few months in different parts of Japan as an adult, and my perspective has changed.
      For one, this time I was more aware of the culture and better at communicating, so I didn’t run into these situations.
      And two, I learned that different regions of Japan are much more varied in how rigidly they adhere to social norms. I found Hiroshima in particular to be a very comfortable place to be myself.

  • @bjb0808
    @bjb0808 Před rokem +9

    I didn't watch the video yet, but when I heard your first reason and then looked at the list, I would say you have hit all of them on the head! Nice. I'm impressed.

  • @lagnok
    @lagnok Před 2 lety +1654

    "hey Natsuki how are you?"
    "Fucking hell"
    thank you so much for reminding me of this absolute GEM.

    • @Eidolon5150
      @Eidolon5150 Před 2 lety +25

      Natsuki is just Japanese Johnny rotten

    • @Ballin4Vengeance
      @Ballin4Vengeance Před 2 lety +9

      “Natsuki what are you doing?”
      “Fucking hell.”
      “*in depressed cynical voice:*sounds painfull…”

    • @mode3763
      @mode3763 Před 2 lety +9

      Natsuki deserves his own anime.

    • @kon2175
      @kon2175 Před 2 lety +9

      For anyone wondering, it’s at 23:16

    • @doubtingthomas9612
      @doubtingthomas9612 Před 2 lety +5

      Truth is Japanese are 'humble', 'polite', 'disciplined' and 'hard working'.
      Some foreigners are quite the opposite.
      Although I'm not Japanese, I can relate to Japanese point of views about foreigners 🤔

  • @arc2444
    @arc2444 Před 2 lety +945

    I can imagine Chris' child who grew up in Japan starting a channel "Abroad in Britain"

    • @InvisibleJiuJitsu
      @InvisibleJiuJitsu Před 2 lety +88

      he's got to have sex first! (sorry chris)

    • @demef758
      @demef758 Před 2 lety +112

      "20 fucking reasons why not to move to fucking Britain"

    • @DrunknAzn
      @DrunknAzn Před 2 lety +17

      @@InvisibleJiuJitsu Goddamn

    • @physiwiz
      @physiwiz Před 2 lety +9

      He'd go to bare ends innit West End Mastif ma g ya wagwan on ma blood bruv chicken penger creps fam. :)

    • @cosmobane6995
      @cosmobane6995 Před 2 lety +12

      *Another Broad in Britain

  • @relicgamer2137
    @relicgamer2137 Před rokem +35

    When you mentioned the neighbor leaving and coming back shutting the door I felt bad because I have family that suffers from OCD and this is a typical compulsion/ritual to push away a thought that's extremely terrifying. And can get worse. Makes me wonder if this is common in Japan but people don't get proper treatment. Either way I love your insight on this because my family has been thinking about moving there or buying a home there to spend part of the year there. And I tend to want the negative aspects of life to be presented 1st. I don't seem bothered by your list thanks again

  • @Noneya_07
    @Noneya_07 Před rokem +34

    Someone once told me, especially when I went to Japan for a semester study abroad program in collage, it’s all about your perspective and you decide to go about your situation. No matter where you are you can either take things in stride and try to have a good time if that’s what you want to do. Idk it really helped open me up a bit and make me realize even when I’m traditionally boring or difficult situations I can either mope about it or try and make the best of it that I can. So I guess that’s what I try to do is make the best of my situation. I recently had a work opportunity that took me to New Jersey and I’ve honestly heard nothing but terrible things about the state (I’m from Texas); just there’s nothing to do there. But I made the best of it that I could and actually had a nice time.

    • @Rave.-
      @Rave.- Před 6 měsíci +1

      As a PA resident, NJ is jokingly the punching bag of the northeast. There's nothing actually wrong with it.
      Texas, on the other hand...

  • @TokyoLens
    @TokyoLens Před 2 lety +4276

    Who else is waiting on the Japan VS Narnia video now? 🤔

    • @Mainstr3am
      @Mainstr3am Před 2 lety +34

      how about when would chris do the skate board challenge across japan i bet he would get really fit if that happens

    • @tordlindgren2123
      @tordlindgren2123 Před 2 lety +4

      Let's goooooo!

    • @kookurikapooh
      @kookurikapooh Před 2 lety +27

      I'm all about that My Neighbor Ryotaro to be honest.

    • @alphamike87
      @alphamike87 Před 2 lety +3

      I’d watch it lol

    • @peternouwen
      @peternouwen Před 2 lety +12

      Oh yes! 🤩🤩🤩 🏰🐉🧝‍♂️🧚🏻‍♀️🦁...
      First question: Are Japanese apartments big enough for a wardrobe big enough to fit a lion and a witch in it?... 🤔

  • @miutokunaga2824
    @miutokunaga2824 Před 2 lety +3403

    As a Japanese, living in Japan is also difficult. A lot of the same things apply to many Japanese. This mind culture like hard work, being patient, and peer pressure makes us suicidal or depression. I always wanted to be free, playful, so I couldn't stand so much restriction for my most of life 18 years, that's why I decided to study abroad and live in the UK now. It's very interesting, that a foreign country more fits you than living in your original country. Despite totally different cultures, facing a lot of issues that you've never experienced, but you could live a greater life.

    • @matiasfpm
      @matiasfpm Před 2 lety +89

      Interesting view. Greetings from Argentina 😎

    • @HalendleofLoc
      @HalendleofLoc Před 2 lety +160

      Hope life here in the UK treats you well buddy!

    • @maegalroammis6020
      @maegalroammis6020 Před 2 lety +44

      life of living robots. i am proud to being elsewhere

    • @xelkim9666
      @xelkim9666 Před 2 lety +63

      @@HalendleofLoc UK has its up and down. In a small town like Rugby, Northampton and Leicester, I love the sundays where everyone just chill and be unproductive while chucking beer and watching football. However, weather is terrible which is why I travel to Spain or Portugal in the winter. Also traveling within the country is overpriced due to outdated infrastructure and I am being polite here using outdated. Not to mention the safety is compromised when you walk alone after sunset(of course I should not have compared that to Japan)One thing I do look forward to is carboot on the weekends, so many antiques its gorgeous and I could style my home and feel like a king in the castle lol

    • @HalendleofLoc
      @HalendleofLoc Před 2 lety +58

      @@xelkim9666 Yep, sounds about right. British weather is so bad it defeated the Romans. Japanese storms kill Mongols, English storms kill Romans. We are not so different. Glad you've found things to enjoy too though. I didn't actually know they still do car boot sales though, I thought they died off years ago, that's awesome to hear.

  • @drphibesrises
    @drphibesrises Před rokem +3

    Thanks for sharing your experiences and your objective as a foreigner. Very helpful information.

  • @CrispyComics
    @CrispyComics Před rokem +1

    Chris, I love your video how many of them just stand and get views forever, in march I started your first uploaded video and have been nickel and diming my way through, always surprises me when I go to the comments and see comments from 2-3 weeks ago from a year+ old video! great topics and content! just wanted to say keep up the good work!

  • @sharlainjapan
    @sharlainjapan Před 2 lety +5062

    ResPecT tHe CuLtURe

  • @tomclements9311
    @tomclements9311 Před 2 lety +588

    I genuinely expected one of the reasons to be, "Ryotaro lives here!"

  • @NunyaBusiness...
    @NunyaBusiness... Před 5 měsíci +3

    The honesty is much appreciated!

  • @airgaborpara3824
    @airgaborpara3824 Před rokem +3

    Your sense of humor is as great like the Queen's in Black Adder comedy series. You reserve totaly the massive amount subscribers. Entertainment 100%

  • @yakushimaexperience9308
    @yakushimaexperience9308 Před 2 lety +3170

    Oh, and if you have a full sleeve tattoo as I do, get ready for some bizarre responses in public. I nearly gave an old lady a heart attack in the vegetable department of a rural mountain supermarket while buying onions... I felt terrible as I did not get a tattoo to wreak havoc on the elderly...

    • @horseboi984
      @horseboi984 Před 2 lety +288

      With all that yakuza over there most tats will freak people out lol

    • @satrickptar6265
      @satrickptar6265 Před 2 lety +85

      That lady story killed me 😂

    • @sukunaryoumen2834
      @sukunaryoumen2834 Před 2 lety +33

      Luckily I'm afraid of Needles i want tattoos but it involves needles heck nah

    • @burtbacarach5034
      @burtbacarach5034 Před 2 lety +22

      Then why DID you get a tattoo?jk

    • @Atrigraphy
      @Atrigraphy Před 2 lety +7

      But didn't you... ? 😂😂😂

  • @dididiihas
    @dididiihas Před 2 lety +791

    The guy who would close his door 25 times definitely had OCD.

    • @Ag.mar.
      @Ag.mar. Před 2 lety +43

      Was searching for this comment

    • @arka5557
      @arka5557 Před 2 lety +20

      I thought the same too.

    • @Loseirdo
      @Loseirdo Před 2 lety +112

      I was going to say the same thing. I would bet anything that, given how polite and conscientious Japanese people tend to be, he probably hated himself for how much commotion he felt compelled to cause every morning. I feel bad for him.

    • @f.m7494
      @f.m7494 Před 2 lety +4

      I don't understand what's the thought process behind this? Like just curious

    • @putrijoyceirawati2638
      @putrijoyceirawati2638 Před 2 lety +70

      Or...or...hear me out. Ryotarou paid the guy a ridiculous sum to torture Chris mentally in a bid to break Chris' sanity. Hell I'd go so far as to say that that guy was Ryotarou himself, moving in unbeknownst to Chris! We all know Ryotarou's mission in life is to ruin and/or assassinate ruin Chris and take over his channel! Mwahahahaha...!

  • @marydoob
    @marydoob Před rokem +4

    I’m an expat living in Spain, ( US), there are many subtle similarities, I’ve been here since 1994, but never going back. Anyway, great channel, been watching you for years with my son, you always put me in a good mood. Big hugs from Spain.

  • @bigjimmy4382
    @bigjimmy4382 Před rokem +2

    Very enlightening video, not just on moving to Japan but really moving to any country where the culture and language is different.

  • @ScipioCornelius
    @ScipioCornelius Před 2 lety +384

    Ryotaro: He's gonna die.
    The pinnacle of true friendship there.

    • @BrSgtJordan
      @BrSgtJordan Před 2 lety +14

      a friend will help you out in a time of need.
      A true friend will stand there and laugh, and *then* help you out

    • @LoliMaster69227
      @LoliMaster69227 Před 2 lety +5

      Nothing says friendship better than pointing your buddy in the face and laughingly yelling into a camera hes going to die XD

    • @ScipioCornelius
      @ScipioCornelius Před 2 lety

      @@BrSgtJordan Indeed

    • @ScipioCornelius
      @ScipioCornelius Před 2 lety

      @@LoliMaster69227 XD

    • @marocat4749
      @marocat4749 Před 2 lety

      @@BrSgtJordan True

  • @BarokaiRein
    @BarokaiRein Před 2 lety +445

    ''People won't sit next to you even if it's crowded.''
    Me,a finn: '' I see this as an absolute win!''

    • @R3dH4z3
      @R3dH4z3 Před 2 lety +32

      Me as a NYer: I see this as an absolute win.

    • @joeledison2966
      @joeledison2966 Před 2 lety +10

      i have to agree to that as well. more space for me lol

    • @Kitti_B
      @Kitti_B Před 2 lety +22

      I was sad when people sat next to me on the metro in Tokyo. 😅I thought I would be just a foreigner people try to avoid. I love Nordic countries. They know what personal space really means 😄

    • @MelancholyMoondancer
      @MelancholyMoondancer Před 2 lety +5

      Me as a New Englander: Sounds perfect!

    • @noafisch5560
      @noafisch5560 Před 2 lety +19

      Me, a swede: "Isn't this normal?"

  • @gedhill544
    @gedhill544 Před 3 měsíci +1

    Cracking video. Looking like I'll be moving out there in two months, and this is the kind of stuff I need to hear. Great job, Chris 👏👏👏

  • @sunset9360
    @sunset9360 Před měsícem +1

    An excellent informative video whilst at the same time being extremely entertaining.

  • @huntermorgan6177
    @huntermorgan6177 Před 2 lety +389

    You know you have a great friend group when you introduce them like a bank heist team.

  • @SuitcaseMonkey
    @SuitcaseMonkey Před 2 lety +7304

    Absolutely loved watching this. Really interesting. As much as I love Japan as a destination I definitely couldn’t live there.

    • @HiHatsAndBeatClaps
      @HiHatsAndBeatClaps Před 2 lety +372

      Same here. It's such a fascinating country to me, but I would NEVER want to spend my life there.

    • @rhianna4281
      @rhianna4281 Před 2 lety +225

      I Really want to go to Japan for a holiday one day, but living there for me won't make it as amazing.

    • @StatchanaReborn
      @StatchanaReborn Před 2 lety +289

      Saaame! The work culture is just too much for me, everything else is fine and can deal.. :D

    • @HiHatsAndBeatClaps
      @HiHatsAndBeatClaps Před 2 lety +205

      @@Fabio-ql5yf For pretty much all the reasons discussed in the video, among others.

    • @Living_Target
      @Living_Target Před 2 lety +106

      I would love to live there but man, I couldn't stand the work culture

  • @kiwimusume
    @kiwimusume Před 7 měsíci +6

    As someone with mental health stuff, the fact that more therapists in our own countries do online sessions is helpful. The time difference creates issues but it could be possible to make it work. The isolation does make it worse, though, and it’s why I ultimately left.

  • @deannagarrison6562
    @deannagarrison6562 Před rokem +2

    This is a great video. Thank you for your honesty!

  • @pinkiemiku7700
    @pinkiemiku7700 Před 2 lety +546

    "You should be more happy"
    *The number of depressed people drops to zero*

    • @starlace6570
      @starlace6570 Před 2 lety +14

      Honestly this was one the toughest subjects in the video. Mental health is an important part of living a fulfilling life. It was disappointing (but not surprising) to hear that it's not taken very seriously.

  • @WeI1994
    @WeI1994 Před 2 lety +348

    Working as a recruiter, meeting endless of people who wish to work in japan while not considering the reality of actually living here, this video makes my job 1000time easier.. thank you lol

    • @natsukijones1759
      @natsukijones1759 Před 2 lety +4

      I lived in japan previously and have been looking for work To move there again, but all the recruiters I've come across are for inter Japan job moves, not international. This might just be due to coronavirus at the moment but if you could have recommend any agencies I'd really really appreciate it please 🙏🙏

    • @criminon_
      @criminon_ Před 2 lety

      I'd definitely love the opportunity. What exactly do you recruit for?

  • @GrenNoshi
    @GrenNoshi Před rokem +87

    I just moved to Japan and I LOVE IT. Every second of it. The only real complaint is that I can't just go to a Home Depot and look for housing supplies. I have to actually look around stores I never even heard of and they do not have their own websites so you cannot view before going in. My favorite store so far has been Nitori or Don Quijote

    • @ryunocent6318
      @ryunocent6318 Před rokem +5

      Go to コーナン

    • @Scarpez_
      @Scarpez_ Před rokem +5

      do you think that even in the long run it will still remain amazing? i’d like to know your opinion

    • @GrenNoshi
      @GrenNoshi Před rokem +17

      @@Scarpez_ I been here for a year now since that comment. I've gotten pretty used to the culture already and it feels normal. I am still thankful everyday I am here in Japan. Sure it maybe depressing with the language barrier and I feel alone, but at the same time this is the most happiness I have felt rather then being over in the states. I'd say though I have been feeling a crave for American BBQ. One of the few things I miss from US is the food.

    • @GrenNoshi
      @GrenNoshi Před rokem +2

      @@ryunocent6318 Totally meant to reply to this. Another favorite store added to my list.

    • @Scarpez_
      @Scarpez_ Před rokem +2

      @@GrenNoshi oh really? food? i thought it was one of the very good stuff about japan all it’s unique food it has, btw thank you for your feedback i really appreciate it

  • @RumMonkeyable
    @RumMonkeyable Před 22 dny +1

    Thank you for your honest, unbiased review!👍👏

  • @jamesashby4334
    @jamesashby4334 Před 2 lety +643

    I lived in Japan twice, three years as a high school student and later 6 years as an executive at a subsidiary of a company headquartered in silicon valley. The points made in the video are quite accurate and anyone considering a move to Japan would benefit from taking them to heart.

    • @pollen04
      @pollen04 Před 2 lety +1

      Did you still find the pros to outweigh the cons?

    • @jamesashby4334
      @jamesashby4334 Před 2 lety +55

      @@pollen04 Very much so. But I was there as an expatriate executive so I had much more support than someone who goes to Japan with no job and no connections and has to figure it all out on their own.

    • @mitchell6679
      @mitchell6679 Před 2 lety +4

      @@Jake-sb9bs hire a Japanese lawyer if you want to know

    • @jamesashby4334
      @jamesashby4334 Před 2 lety +4

      @@Jake-sb9bs Sorry, I am not knowledgeable regarding requirements for permanent residency. During my stay I had a work permit and temporary residency statis which required that I leave the country periodically which was not a problem since my job required that I travel regularly.

    • @jamesashby4334
      @jamesashby4334 Před 2 lety +4

      Also, my job required that I travel regularly outside of Japan. While I enjoyed my life in Japan, if I went more that three months "in country" I felt a physical sense of expansive relief when I got off the plane in the U.S.. But in a few days I was happy to return.

  • @EmpressMermaid
    @EmpressMermaid Před 2 lety +673

    A cousin worked over there for 2 years as a medical translator and he's a 6'4" redhead. You can just imagine how much he stood out and got stared at. Children would often ask if he was a viking 🤣🤣 Apearantly there was some cartoon about Vikings that was popular at the time.

    • @chiaraj1003
      @chiaraj1003 Před 2 lety +36

      Could it be "Vickie the viking"? That was an anime that was very popular here in Germany, too

    • @EmpressMermaid
      @EmpressMermaid Před 2 lety +10

      @@chiaraj1003 Could be. It was about 6 years ago.

    • @pearltefl8589
      @pearltefl8589 Před 2 lety +2

      😂 😂 😂 😂

    • @iiiivvvv9986
      @iiiivvvv9986 Před 2 lety +5

      @@chiaraj1003 inspired one piece too of I remember correctly

    • @chiaraj1003
      @chiaraj1003 Před 2 lety +2

      @@iiiivvvv9986 Oh, really? That's cool!

  • @erictay36
    @erictay36 Před rokem +8

    i am from singapore which is hot and humid year round. I found my paradise in japan because except for summer, the rest of the year are very comfortable plus the four seasons scenery and landscape are fantastic. thus i don't mind the negative part of living in japan. ten years living in japan now and I can live forever here.

  • @smileynorie
    @smileynorie Před rokem +2

    I am a Japanese living in countryside in UK. I learn a lot about Japan from your video. Your video summarise up about Japan really well and hilarious 🤣

  • @p08kuni130
    @p08kuni130 Před 2 lety +830

    I’m Japanese.
    Do not work in Japan. I woke up 4 in the morning, then came back 9pm usually.
    This video has a lot of sense for me at least. Sometimes traditional is pain in my ass.

    • @FSaidArslan
      @FSaidArslan Před 2 lety +28

      How come one of the most advanced country in world could allow this kinda thing? What is government doing about this or is it just a culture thing?

    • @SilverQuartz13
      @SilverQuartz13 Před 2 lety +81

      @@FSaidArslan As far as I know its a cultural thing. Being devoted to the whole team so to speak.

    • @ElsaKyle
      @ElsaKyle Před 2 lety +65

      @@FSaidArslan this is definitely cultural. Japan is very strict to staying in their traditional ways. (or so i've seen and heard)
      that "Stuck in the past" reason is a perfect example of how Japan is strict in their culture.

    • @mrelitists7751
      @mrelitists7751 Před 2 lety +8

      @@FSaidArslan beacause japan is just like america the media shows u the good side leaves the bad

    • @habialtx3
      @habialtx3 Před 2 lety +33

      @@mrelitists7751 lol, every country do that.

  • @yakushimaexperience9308
    @yakushimaexperience9308 Před 2 lety +3684

    My dear man, wonderful summary of the life of an alien in Japan. I live on a small island, been here 15 years total, and everything mentioned applies... Boom! Job well done. Keep up the good work...

    • @chrishansen5784
      @chrishansen5784 Před 2 lety +11

      There's no way you actually live there...

    • @dadtaro9202
      @dadtaro9202 Před 2 lety +99

      @@chrishansen5784 literally check his channel out

    • @satoyama.rupert
      @satoyama.rupert Před 2 lety +50

      @@chrishansen5784 8 years here. I live in a sprawling kominka property in Fukuoka that cost just 8k (880,000 yen), including over an acre of farmland we do natural farming on. Not quite the cramped apartment he describes!!. My lifestyle has been featured on national TV. This channel is preposterous with it's mis-representation of Japan.

    • @carlosa7598
      @carlosa7598 Před 2 lety +29

      Ive lived in Sasebo for 9 yrs, now live in Ureshino, Saga Prefecture since 2005. Love every minute of it 😄😊🍵

    • @hazleygod
      @hazleygod Před 2 lety +30

      @@satoyama.rupert Lmfaoo

  • @bulletkin5542
    @bulletkin5542 Před rokem +8

    #12 reminds me of how we got warned that US military personnel had been judged as at fault in a traffic accident in court on the basis that "if the foreigner wasn't here, the accident wouldn't have happened". Kinda important to me at the time since I had a license to drive humvee's and did so regularly. Side note, Japanese streets are tiny and humvee's are pretty big even by US street standards.

  • @chefrowlet
    @chefrowlet Před 4 měsíci

    rewatching these why NOT to x videos... My application to JET was declined back in 2019 and I was really torn up about it. I still dream about what could've been, but I find these videos weirdly comforting. Like your other one where you chatted with Pete about teaching, and how it finally broke down my unrealistic daydreams. I'll still visit Japan someday, but as a tourist, where my whole life and mindset won't have to turn on a dime just to not-quite-fit-in.

  • @textmachine09
    @textmachine09 Před 2 lety +500

    Not gonna lie, A FRAUD in Japan is a channel that I would subscribe to.

    • @TheObsidianX
      @TheObsidianX Před 2 lety +26

      Tips on how to scam your way through the country.

    • @maniacone4499
      @maniacone4499 Před 2 lety +5

      what about afraid in japan? ...like a horror version of this channel lol
      Maybe a Maid in japan => Chris in a maid costume
      yeeah maybe the last ones a bit much haha

  • @Leon_der_Luftige
    @Leon_der_Luftige Před 2 lety +748

    "You should be more happy"
    Is this the same guy suggesting to homeless people they should "just buy a house"?

    • @Ja.floppa
      @Ja.floppa Před 2 lety +4

      yes

    • @Svoorhout85
      @Svoorhout85 Před 2 lety +21

      Just stop being depressed, bro.

    • @ThreadBomb
      @ThreadBomb Před 2 lety +20

      If you are unemployed you should just get a job. Because there are infinite job vacancies, right?

    • @giornogiovanna8572
      @giornogiovanna8572 Před 2 lety +16

      If you are starving just eat food... Duh

    • @Phunk_me
      @Phunk_me Před 2 lety

      Happiness is a choice

  • @stephaniegrady8
    @stephaniegrady8 Před rokem +2

    I lived in Osaka for two years...I never expected to be an insider, but it was a fantastic experience.

  • @BigHeadClan
    @BigHeadClan Před 9 měsíci +6

    Recently just came back from Japan after a 3 week trip and it was a pretty easy adjustment, being Canadian I feel like a lot of our cultural behaviours are pretty similar .
    Don’t be overly loud in public places like trains, we enjoy drinking after work and are very polite and accommodating as a whole.
    That said it was just a tourist experience and living there is likely a very different experience.

  • @sf5477
    @sf5477 Před 2 lety +2096

    Doc: "You should be more happy"
    Chris: "I'm Britsh"
    Doc" Ahh, alright then. Carry on"

    • @chukyuniqul
      @chukyuniqul Před 2 lety +87

      Doc:"awrite yew go' a loicence fo be-een sad?"

    • @khinzaw77
      @khinzaw77 Před 2 lety +58

      Doc: "You should stop being British"

    • @jlyrojer
      @jlyrojer Před 2 lety +33

      Doc: "You should be more happy."
      Chirs: "I'm British."
      Doc: "Oh. Right. Here take these." *hands Chris pills*
      Chris: "Wait. These are strychnine!"
      Doc: "Yes. You will no longer be British or sad."

    • @XxLeoKantizxX
      @XxLeoKantizxX Před 2 lety +4

      Me: "Sorry doc I was born with severe depression."

    • @rasalghul8195
      @rasalghul8195 Před 2 lety +1

      Doc, Have you seen UK politics!!

  • @eric1800es
    @eric1800es Před 2 lety +363

    “This is a pen” is still wreaking havoc. Wow.

    • @HolyMith
      @HolyMith Před 2 lety +6

      kore wa pen desu

    • @babynyxe4784
      @babynyxe4784 Před 2 lety +3

      kore wa pen desu

    • @Blu-ray
      @Blu-ray Před 2 lety +3

      kore wa pen desu

    • @_MRK87
      @_MRK87 Před 2 lety +9

      The shockwave of that "P" went around the whole world

    • @64_jhex
      @64_jhex Před 2 lety +1

      Damn, it's almost a half decade since that... Lol

  • @DCLayclerk
    @DCLayclerk Před rokem

    I think you’re hilarious and I love your videos. My wife told me about you and showed me some, and now I’m hooked. 😊 Keep up the good work.

  • @KaLjMeMe
    @KaLjMeMe Před rokem

    Just found your channel. I think you’re brilliant! Keep up the good work. Thank you for all the insight .

  • @marin6690
    @marin6690 Před 2 lety +745

    I’m 100% Japanese and grew up there, but because of those reasons I left Japan. What he says here are all right 😂 Especially the endless rules! My friend recommended this channel and I enjoy your vids!

    • @bunni9843
      @bunni9843 Před 2 lety +4

      @Razor Lover I’m pretty sure she just means she was born and raised there.......

    • @bunni9843
      @bunni9843 Před 2 lety +4

      @Razor Lover so if u knew why give a long winded unnecessary comment :/

    • @bunni9843
      @bunni9843 Před 2 lety +4

      @Razor Lover I understood what you were trying to say but it had no relevance to what the original person was commenting thats why I thought you misunderstood sorry if that upset you.

    • @petereast1447
      @petereast1447 Před 2 lety +3

      @@bunni9843 I agree with you. Razor Lover's comment makes zero sense. Trying to get all technical saying that there is no 100% genetically pure Japanese.

    • @petereast1447
      @petereast1447 Před 2 lety +4

      @Razor Lover Yeah we get it Einstein, so spare us your technicalities. Your comment was pure stupid. There is no 100% of anything. There. Are you happy now?

  • @CoffeehouseCrime
    @CoffeehouseCrime Před 2 lety +4970

    Hi Chris! Long-time subscriber here. One thing to expand on is it's very widely viewed in the western world that Japan is extraordinarily safe to visit, BUT there is a tendency to push crimes in Japan under the rug and make them un-noticed. In a lot of the Japanese crime cases I cover I'm corrected on Japan's *actual* crime rates versus reported crime rates. This actually perpetuates the problem for foreigners. Anyway wanted to comment under your invite, I love your channel and can't wait for your new Journey Across Japan!

    • @turinmormegil7715
      @turinmormegil7715 Před 2 lety +426

      A japanese professor of mine, that was raised here in my country, gave me the following advice as to crimes and being foreigner there:
      Don't do drugs
      Don't do prostitution
      Don't do grand theft autos and resseling of parts to the overseas
      Don't do Pachinko and Cassinos
      Don't do Guns and Organs traffic
      Don't do frauds
      Don't get indebted
      You don't do any of those, you won't get into their (Yakuza) radar. It's generally very safe, unless you became a troublesome foreigner seen as something that needs to be purged.....
      I mentioned Yakuza specifically cuz that's what I'm told as most worrysome for foreigners, I know there are other crimes, but I think the most serious risk to your integrity as foreigner is getting notice by them as someone that deserves their attention

    • @rolerroleris533
      @rolerroleris533 Před 2 lety +393

      Im definitely no expert on japan, but all ive heard on the internets is that yes, it is very safe, but if something happens it's gets really difficult in a way. Japanese have the "saving face" mentality for real, and also making mistakes is judged way more harshly than in most other countries, that's why japan has 99% or something ridiculous like that conviction rate. That may seem great, but it only comes from the fact that cases only go to court if they are pretty much 100% sure they can win, and if they lack evidence or just confidence to make it work, the case never reaches court. This kind of ignorance combined with rampant xenophobia can make it really hard for foreigners who get in any way involved wit a crime.
      All of this info is from random youtube channels dealing with japan and some articles ive read, so take it with a pinch of salt, but i bet it's not far from the truth, it's just way more complicated.

    • @Masterlink01
      @Masterlink01 Před 2 lety +119

      So nothing new for people living in third world shitholes like me then lol.

    • @ZehVancho
      @ZehVancho Před 2 lety +20

      I didn't expect you to be here

    • @aaclovern9804
      @aaclovern9804 Před 2 lety +113

      Japan is like that: if crime happens it's straight out of horror book

  • @user-tr2jt9he3e
    @user-tr2jt9he3e Před rokem +4

    Choosing a right doctor is pretty hard for me as Japanese. I always lookup google reviews and some other sources to see how reliable the doctors is, which will be much harder for foreigners.

  • @misteryonmusic
    @misteryonmusic Před rokem +1

    Thank you so much for your channel and this video.

  • @Daracus
    @Daracus Před 2 lety +151

    "My Neighbour Ryotaro" is my favorite film.

  • @keanhsu-official
    @keanhsu-official Před 2 lety +1142

    Mental health is a massive issue in Japan. It's not that they don't understand it, it's that they DON'T WANT to understand it. Even the doctors are mostly unwilling to try. There is a lot of depression in Japan which is VERY treatable, but because it's so taboo and no one is willing to acknowledge it, people don't have anyone to turn to for help, and many times it will lead to suicide. It's very sad to see such an advanced society to have such a treatable and preventable problem.

    • @ivanedemdogbegah8891
      @ivanedemdogbegah8891 Před 2 lety +192

      The 25 door slams in the morning that Chris mentioned in the beginning is HARD proof of this. HARD. That sounds right like OCD. And, truly, doesn't necessarily sound treated either.

    • @DoritosBurger
      @DoritosBurger Před 2 lety +34

      You can argue that it's even worse in America, school shootings happen on a regular basis because people with mental health issues are not getting the help they need. The Joker movie was trying to make that point.

    • @xSh4dowXSnip3rx
      @xSh4dowXSnip3rx Před 2 lety +107

      @@DoritosBurger USA much larger country(26x); much more population(2.6x). People in the US avoid the help they need due to a lack of finances to cover that medical care rather than a lack of acknowledgment of there being a problem at all. Social/Cultural issues be a tough cookie. Also, here's a list: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States
      As far as I can tell the majority - if not practically all(joking) - of these "shootings" appear to involve very different circumstances - at least in the last 10yrs or so - from a few key ones you're likely to have in mind such as the Columbine High School massacre. But; regardless of that, of all the ones I read through the locations of these incidences would appear to be happenstance and more than likely would've occurred whether they were at or nearby a school in the first place.

    • @TheScratchingKiwi
      @TheScratchingKiwi Před 2 lety +10

      Given that many of the common medicines used to treat mental illnesses such as depression are still not available in Japan, I'm not at all surprised. Some people have to change their medication (with all the problems that brings} before emigrating because of lack of availability.
      Their treatment options are very limited.

    • @LoneWolfZakuro14
      @LoneWolfZakuro14 Před 2 lety +29

      I get my depression meds here, and they give them to me in 15 seconds without any questions about my medical history or anything LOL
      They don’t care about talking about mental health AT ALL.

  • @gcm4312
    @gcm4312 Před 3 měsíci

    I just returned from my first visit to Japan and I could to relate to many of these points as a tourist there. Very candid video😊

  • @kencarroll1821
    @kencarroll1821 Před 7 měsíci

    Thanks! Great vlog! Keep it up👍

  • @Waterskull579
    @Waterskull579 Před 2 lety +662

    The Japanese CZcams reactors are going have a field day with this one Chris have fun with those videos

    • @paulszki
      @paulszki Před 2 lety +76

      I don't like "react" videos in general but there is a special place of hate in my heart for people reacting to Chris' videos.

    • @Azusai
      @Azusai Před 2 lety +95

      @@paulszki I don't particularly mind it, as long as the person reacting will give his own insight or perspective about Chris's opinions.
      If the person reacting is just gonna make "oohs" and "ah" sound, then it's just a pointless video. It's just someone using the video to get views on their video.

    • @Ineedgames
      @Ineedgames Před 2 lety +14

      tbh, it is interesting to see it from a native's pov

    • @Ole_Rasmussen
      @Ole_Rasmussen Před 2 lety +7

      The Japanese nuclear reactors already had Chris on a field day.

    • @gntyh
      @gntyh Před 2 lety +1

      @Audan Baan nah theres some good reactors out there for sure

  • @XxxXxx-yh5gz
    @XxxXxx-yh5gz Před 2 lety +614

    Thats why for me, Japan is a wonderful place to travel to as a visitor, but not so much as a place to live.

    • @sunny_sunshine0411
      @sunny_sunshine0411 Před 2 lety +50

      Same. I love Japan so much that I have traveled back and forth at least 3 times/year for the past few years until Covid. But, like you said, Japan is only to visit and explore, not to live!!!

    • @marcello3888
      @marcello3888 Před 2 lety +5

      Just like the usa

    • @sword3349
      @sword3349 Před 2 lety +10

      You've just described literally anywhere on Earth.

    • @lifeinjapan1592
      @lifeinjapan1592 Před 2 lety +26

      @@sword3349 Every other country is not as introvert as Japanese people, the problem with Japan is the society they have evolved into. Yeah, there’s much respect and stuff, but you will literally die of anxiety and depression here. There’s not a single foreigner who enjoys living in Japan but are here because of work/money. Some places tend to be friendlier towards foreigners such as Kansai, but Tokyo and above, not so much. Japan is clean, perfect streets, everything is on time, almost no noise pollution as compared to other countries. Yeah other countries have major problems, but atleast you will not die there because of boredom and anxiety/depression. Even Japanese people know are moving to foreign countries because of the very same reason.

    • @Pepe-dq2ib
      @Pepe-dq2ib Před 2 lety +4

      @@lifeinjapan1592 come live in Chicago or DC.

  • @swiftdeparture
    @swiftdeparture Před 8 měsíci

    I love that natsuki plays a reverse firebird, that guitar is so him its unreal

  • @IwannatrywithKat
    @IwannatrywithKat Před rokem +19

    I had the same issue when I lived in Germany, the land of bureaucracy (so many useless documents I had to fill out to find out I was obviously not eligible for certain services), I felt like Asterix going into the place that sends you mad. And even if the workers there speak a good enough English, they are not allowed to translate anything, so complicated bureaucratic terms are sure to elude you unless you are fully fluent, which I was not. So you have to bring along an interpreter at your own cost.
    They also gave me an ultimatum. Since my employer went bankrupt and finding work was pretty hard during the recession, they said I had to either be fluent and pass the permanent residency test or hook up with a German and put a ring on it. ...So I married my interpreter.
    I can't imagine Japan would go this far in terms of bureaucracy. Would they?

    • @lewistherin4096
      @lewistherin4096 Před rokem +1

      Good that it worked out for you but I'm woundering which country wouldn't kick you out when your working visa expires?

    • @IwannatrywithKat
      @IwannatrywithKat Před rokem +1

      @@lewistherin4096 Fair enough but the point was about the paperwork. Days wasted at their offices not able to communicate in another language even if they were fluent in it. Paperwork for the company going bankrupt, making sure they made sure to own us nothing and the following paperwork for everything else were weeks of pain. Frankly, Canada has 2 official languages but will find someone who speaks your language to deal with you, no matter what it is. It's not like English is hard to come by, after all, it's my second language. My spouse who lived there all his life even agrees paperwork in Germany is tedious and a royal pain.
      I still had some time with my Visa, I had well over 4 months left, they were pretty pushy.

    • @lewistherin4096
      @lewistherin4096 Před rokem +1

      @@IwannatrywithKat yes the paper work is ridiculous over there.
      Regarding support for your native language, I don't think any country would go out of the way to support a language which is not the official one. Since there are 2 in Canada they must support both. Going to France I'd expect french, in Belgium dutch and french, in Spain spanish.
      These documents are normally hard to understand in any language, and by not translating them there are no legal actions possible, when they make a translation error

    • @IwannatrywithKat
      @IwannatrywithKat Před rokem

      @@lewistherin4096 That's what they told me, but I would rather trust an official in a language we both understand than a hired translator who might not be familiar with these documents.
      English is a commonly used language everywhere (considered the business language), people who travel usually learn it. Even if Canada is supposed to be bilingual, most people still only speak either French or English (and any other language their family might speak) but not both, even so, on the French side, we expect that if we want to travel, we must learn English, which I did. I expect customer service in the tourism industry to offer it and officials to have people who speak it. Canada goes above and beyond, but frankly, I wouldn't expect that much elsewhere.

  • @markbarbieri4243
    @markbarbieri4243 Před 2 lety +253

    I'm very impressed by how Chris handled this topic. He had to walk a narrow path and he did a great job with it. It was funny but serious. It was frank but respectful. It clearly stated the problems but in a way that showed why they existed rather than just demonizing them. Excellent.

  • @PettankoXO
    @PettankoXO Před 2 lety +476

    I... I can’t believe they PRINTED off picture results and it wasn’t on a computer 💀

    • @Broockle
      @Broockle Před 2 lety +15

      like one of those instant print cameras from the 70s ;D

    • @TimothySSwan
      @TimothySSwan Před 2 lety +24

      Seriously, they don't have a print queue???

    • @khoirulanam9141
      @khoirulanam9141 Před 2 lety +8

      Many Japanese offices still use 90s/2000s procedures, I don't know why, maybe it has something to do with Japanese companies being less competitive than Korean or Chinese companies

    • @Naokarma
      @Naokarma Před 2 lety +17

      @@TimothySSwan That's what got me. It's one thing to insist on printing. It's another to use tech so outdated that it can't remember what it was going to do if it runs out of paper, and to NOT refill it beforehand.

    • @yohannessulistyo4025
      @yohannessulistyo4025 Před 2 lety +18

      A lot of Japanese companies like JR (The rail company) and Tokyo Disney (a local company using Disney franchise) requires paper tickets, strictly printed paper tickets, not even the pdf copy that you store in your phone, which QR code is perfectly scannable. It makes you wonder about whether this is the country that really invented the QR Code (invented by Nippondenso, an auto parts company).
      Some of the companies still has TELEX machine. But some companies like those I have worked with, already do everything via e-mail. A simple "approve" message already counts as signature. Universal Studios of Osaka is American-run business, we can just scan the QR code from our phones to get through the gates.
      The problem is very often with the government services. Their "Cyber Security Minister" can't even use computers, he was confused when asked to copy the files from a USB stick.

  • @crystalhealing847
    @crystalhealing847 Před rokem

    Loved your video and your british sense of humour...love from Italy 🙏💖❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎

  • @BoloH.
    @BoloH. Před rokem

    Having gone through three endoscopies, one without any kind of medication or anaesthesia, I share the same exact sentiment with Chris.

  • @frankiefundora8112
    @frankiefundora8112 Před 2 lety +867

    “People will recoil and scream at the sight of you”
    That’s just a result of being British, not foreign.

    • @kid14346
      @kid14346 Před 2 lety +88

      It is truly insidious when Brits come to America. They look like us but then they open their mouth and the horrifying truth is revealed.
      This is a joke I don't hate British people. Irish, Welsh, and Scottish people are all cool.... no i didn't forget anyone.

    • @frankiefundora8112
      @frankiefundora8112 Před 2 lety +11

      @@kid14346 I know you’re joking, buddy. It’s all good.

    • @kid14346
      @kid14346 Před 2 lety +23

      @@frankiefundora8112 This is youtube... you can never be too sure.

    • @frankiefundora8112
      @frankiefundora8112 Před 2 lety +7

      @@kid14346 lol fair enough

    • @Prince1of1Rainbow
      @Prince1of1Rainbow Před 2 lety +1

      Rofled from ur comment. BTW, have tons of friends from GB.

  • @guigoroable
    @guigoroable Před 2 lety +782

    Having lived here for over 16 years now, married to a Japanese wife, having kids, working in Tokyo, even built a house here, I can only say I agree with all points you bring up. Especially the last one your friend mentioned about never expecting to become Japanese. I know quite some people who struggled with that and never felt they fit in.
    Love the channel by the way, even though I live here and watch it from my house in Tokyo, it always gives me some new ideas, a new set of eyes sometimes, and even some cool travel ideas.
    I also love driving, haven't been to Sendai by car yet, but certainly plan to in the near future. Keep up the great work & cheers!

    • @tSp289
      @tSp289 Před 2 lety +22

      What's it like for your kids, out of curiosity? I have a friend in your situation but oddly enough even though she's British she almost looks mixed-race Japanese herself (she has the 'white' version of an Asian eyelid, like Bjork etc.), so her kids do still look fully Japanese. I've often wondered if it'd be harder for her if one of her kids looked more European than they do.

    • @SH4D02
      @SH4D02 Před 2 lety +6

      Cant help but notice your username, have you perhaps changed your name? Or do you go by an alias with your legal name staying the same as before?

    • @guigoroable
      @guigoroable Před 2 lety +30

      @@SH4D02 yes, sort of. I was born in Amsterdam so this is obviously not my real name. It comes from my wife's family name, Nakamura, plus the Japanese pronunciation of my Dutch first name when written in Kanji. I kept my Dutch passport though, and made no legal changes so it's an alias

    • @guigoroable
      @guigoroable Před 2 lety +67

      @@tSp289 my daughter is definitely recognizable as mixed race, and I like to think she got the good parts of my Dutch and my wife's Japanese features. She goes to regular Japanese schools, so initially it was tough for her to fit in, especially in kinder garden and early years of elementary. I don't live in the center of the city, more on the outskirts where foreigners are a bit rare, so the kids around here had to get used to her as well. She is now junior high, going on to high school, and that problem has completely disappeared.

    • @tSp289
      @tSp289 Před 2 lety +21

      @@guigoroable Glad to hear it! A family friend visited Japan in the 1970s, and he had a load of kids chasing after him shouting 'Gaijin!' Glad to hear they're a little more accepting now.

  • @eastender74
    @eastender74 Před rokem +2

    Watching this video has made me realize that it would be more of a benefit to visit than to live in Japan. Going to places that cater to foreigners would make it more pleasant and yet still wouldn’t take away from being in a foreign land. I spent a month at Mt Fuji as a US military member and every weekend was a let’s go party in Tokyo. Of course Monday thru Friday was back at the base void of any Japanese cultures to have to think about. So without a doubt going now would not be the same. This video gave me another perspective and for that I thank you.

  • @BoneBag07
    @BoneBag07 Před rokem

    Thank You Chris! You created this Vlog platform.. I mean.. You made it Enjoyable to watch English/Japan videos! You made it less intimidating! Thank You again..now that I said that... You better put a ring on it..

  • @PuckishAngeI
    @PuckishAngeI Před 2 lety +361

    Seems rough, but being the protagonist should make it all easy.

    • @ironicname2
      @ironicname2 Před 2 lety +8

      Based

    • @justaguy6613
      @justaguy6613 Před 2 lety +1

      I know right...

    • @charlesrense5199
      @charlesrense5199 Před 2 lety +32

      Nah, protagonists have to do all the work. Background characters just have to walk around doing nothing in particular. Now that's the life!

    • @ffls2706
      @ffls2706 Před 2 lety

      Where I can find your profile picture

    • @sivvinod3187
      @sivvinod3187 Před 2 lety +1

      Nah be the comedic side character who constantly get extremely lucky
      Ex: speeeedwagoOoOon

  • @hidoisensei
    @hidoisensei Před 2 lety +400

    I enjoyed my 12 years in Japan. Something I found is that foreigners aren't held to the same standards as Japanese so there wasn't the pressure to work late, observe all the rules, etc. One thing that got to me a bit was point #12. I could live in Japan for 30 years and I would still be referred to as "the foreigner". Also the inevitable "_________ jouzu desune!" comments. That killed me a little inside every time.

    • @penttikoivuniemi2146
      @penttikoivuniemi2146 Před 2 lety +127

      Yeah, strangely it's getting "jouzu'd" that does the most mental damage over time. I never had trouble with feeling like people are staring, I figured it's normal to look at someone who looks so different from most people, so I never got paranoid about it. I also realized pretty soon that (most) Japanese people aren't avoiding you because they hate foreigners, they are just terrified of the possibility of having to attempt to speak English, up to the point that they don't even realize it if you are speaking Japanese instead. But constantly getting praised for the most mundane things makes you feel like some sort of lab rat that has managed to pick up a trick that makes the humans happy. It's strange, it shouldn't feel bad and they definitely aren't doing it to make you feel bad, but it gets grating really quickly.

    • @RS-fy9hb
      @RS-fy9hb Před 2 lety +30

      @@penttikoivuniemi2146 It seems you're describing feeling patronized 😊.

    • @opiniotworczyblog5090
      @opiniotworczyblog5090 Před 2 lety +12

      @@RS-fy9hb Man, you’ve just described my last 6 years in the UK. I won’t tell which part (not England) since people are absolutely lovely there but you do get overly caring personalities who buy you food from the local Polish shop because you MUST be missing home. And as I say, it’s absolutely lovely of them to buy me food, it is, really really kind gesture. And I almost felt bad for getting annoyed and now I think you hit the nail on the head - it does feel patronising and #12 on the list, boy Oh boy, do I need to even say anything about it for a Pole living in the UK? And as I say, lovely people where I am, but always being asked: ‘do to go HOME for Christmas?’, ‘do you go home for holidays?’. Bro, my home is in downtown, pretty happy there. and in fact, I home no other home. So, the buying food part, probably not patronising at lot but a little bit silly; the ‘when do you’ questions - yeah, these can feel - as you’ve helped me realise @R S , thanks - pretty patronising. But hey, that’s life, I enjoy being a foreigner, I enjoy being where I am but at the same time, you can’t beat having a good life in a place where you’re from and that’s why I’m back now, back in Poland. I’d never trade my time in the UK, absolutely loved it, every minute of it (again, I was not in England), and yeah, that’s it.

    • @RadenWA
      @RadenWA Před 2 lety +23

      @@penttikoivuniemi2146 yeah, just like how I feel when people still compliment my English, despite the fact that I’ve lived in Australia for years, just because I’m Asian and has an accent 😊

    • @MrYumemata
      @MrYumemata Před 2 lety +30

      日本語で失礼します
      jouzu desune!
      これは確かに初めて会った人には言っちゃうかも
      日本人でさえ日本語は難しいものと思ってるからそれを海外から来た人が喋ってると素直に凄いって思っちゃうんだよな~
      確かに長いこと日本に住んでて日本語に自信もあるのに上手ですねを言われたら嫌な気持ちになる人もいますよね😥見極めが難しい…sorry…
      日本も外国の人が日本に定住してそういう人達の子供が多くなっていくと、ある種のステレオタイプは薄まってくるとは思う
      何年かかるかは分からないけど😂

  • @fuzzbawls6698
    @fuzzbawls6698 Před rokem +6

    @AbroadinJapan I've been hosting Japanese exchange students here in the US for about 12 years, and they're ALWAYS opening/closing doors 20-30 times in the span of like 10 minutes in the morning (while others in the house are still sleeping...or trying to), and they can never seem to do so quietly! I've always wondered if this is just a normal thing in Japan...apparently it is

  • @thespiritualist2842
    @thespiritualist2842 Před 4 měsíci +6

    I'm going to be honest. All this video is doing is solidifying my decision on moving to the countryside in Japan. I'm already an introvert, so loneliness isn't an issue... and a major plus is I can have a small farm of my own!

    • @23Lgirl
      @23Lgirl Před 3 měsíci +2

      The countryside in Japan is worse. You need people to talk to to do staff in Japan. Paperwork for example.

  • @captainkacke1651
    @captainkacke1651 Před 2 lety +373

    "I have never expected to be japanese." Yeah, exactly my opinion. Some people would ask me when I was going to give up my citizenship for japanese citizenship and it's just… the way I see it is that if I have japanese citizenship or not, I will always be treated as a foreigner. It doesn't matter. There might be a few instances where people ask beforehand what my nationality is, because "these days, you can never assume", but these people are rare. One time, a woman asked me when I was going back home (as in 帰国) and I answered that this was my home (帰る場所はここなんです). The look on her face was priceless - like a windows '95 computer trying to access AOL.

    • @nigelw.ruddock1424
      @nigelw.ruddock1424 Před 2 lety +78

      "I have never expected to be Japanese" I have lived in Germany for 30 years and am still treated as a foreigner, even though I am fluent in German. "Do you think you will go back home sometime?" is a common question. But I don't mind. I will never be German, just as you will never will be Japanese. Just be yourself and respect the country`s customs and traditions - however absurd they might be. After all, you chose to go and live there.

    • @Leon_der_Luftige
      @Leon_der_Luftige Před 2 lety +32

      @@nigelw.ruddock1424 But that's just because of how regional Germany is.
      You move from one federal state to another and you pretty much are treated as a foreigner even as a German.
      Statistically, Germans don't really travel, not even within our own borders. So again, there's strong regional tribalism happening and anything new will be treated with suspicion.
      And honestly, Germany is such a diverse place, who gives a damn about being "German" when the second you leave your home area you're immediately perceived as an alien?

    • @low-key5512
      @low-key5512 Před 2 lety +12

      @@Leon_der_Luftige Truth be told, as someone who has lived in Austria their life, although I love this place I actually felt a whole lot better in Germany (or at least in Berlin when I visited). People were just so... nice and welcoming. Or maybe I was just lucky hahaha

    • @Leon_der_Luftige
      @Leon_der_Luftige Před 2 lety +26

      @@nigelw.ruddock1424 btw the "Do you plan on going home sometime" is not meant out of spite or rejection, but an indirect question meaning more something like "do you like it here?"
      Because honestly, I'd go out on a limb and say that most Germans wouldn't expect anyone to come here when there's countries like Norway, Sweden or Switzerland around the bend which are simply nicer in a lot of ways.
      Germans are generally speaking pretty indifferent of foreigners if they speak the language good enough.

    • @Leon_der_Luftige
      @Leon_der_Luftige Před 2 lety +11

      @@low-key5512 Berlin is a whole different game.
      It's like saying "London = Britain" .
      Just a different world really.
      People visiting Germany tend to mistake "Germans minding their own business" with Germans "being rude".
      If you ask for help from a stranger or shop assistant, you will get it but if you don't ask, don't expect anyone to approach you offering it.
      Hope that clears some things up to anyone wondering.

  • @sampanchung1234
    @sampanchung1234 Před 2 lety +456

    When are we getting a "My Neighbour Ryotaro" that movie cover was just beautiful

  • @Kitana1599
    @Kitana1599 Před rokem

    Thank you for the informative video, so interesting and in some parts shocking.

  • @therealgaragegirls
    @therealgaragegirls Před rokem +18

    I lived in Aomori prefecture for four years in the late 80s. Loved it! Loved the Japanese people. Loved the culture. Loved the fact that people were more considerate of each other (the unwritten rules) than anywhere else in the world. Kanji is quite a bit of work. Rewarding to learn, but a lot of work. And all these years later, I've forgotten 99% of what I learned way back when.

  • @tetsuyauezato5536
    @tetsuyauezato5536 Před 2 lety +240

    This is the most honest straight down the middle view ive ever seen about japan. Kudos.

    • @mattjones8016
      @mattjones8016 Před 2 lety +2

      Just a random stranger giving you your first comment

    • @TheKaiTetley
      @TheKaiTetley Před 2 lety

      @@mattjones8016 You are so random.

    • @mattjones8016
      @mattjones8016 Před 2 lety

      @@TheKaiTetley I move along the flow of the algorithm

  • @shourov331
    @shourov331 Před 2 lety +254

    I love how he explained every "negative" aspect thoroughly without really shitting on Japan.

    • @BlownMacTruck
      @BlownMacTruck Před 2 lety +7

      Uh, what kind of life do you live / people you hang out with where you can’t criticize something without it being a shitfest?

    • @mreeeeeegf
      @mreeeeeegf Před 2 lety +11

      I thought he was too soft on some issues. Like the blatant racism, that was absolutely disgusting, and he simply went over it like it was just a minor inconvenience.

    • @cedge4536
      @cedge4536 Před 2 lety +22

      @@mreeeeeegf xenophobia and racism are different

    • @axelander03
      @axelander03 Před 2 lety +1

      @@mreeeeeegf I agree. I've heard people of colour talk about how they get denied service in stores and found it appalling. I really wish it was taken a little more seriously in the video

    • @diatomicfawn1141
      @diatomicfawn1141 Před 2 lety +3

      @@mreeeeeegf well, I heard that the big issue with the skin only applies for black people, and he probably didn’t had to deal with it

  • @aranjuezdavao
    @aranjuezdavao Před 4 měsíci

    Good video.Very informative. My French friend went to Kyoto, Japan during the Spring Festival in 2019 and was very offended by the sign in restaurants about not welcoming foreigners to dine.

  • @terjeygard7328
    @terjeygard7328 Před 7 měsíci

    Funny, balanced, informative - what more can you ask for? Probably some nice words about Norway? 11 out of 10 points from the Norwegians! You're great!

  • @PaperPatriot
    @PaperPatriot Před 2 lety +684

    I can't believe Chris nearly, genuinely put Risottero on that list without a bad word....almost

  • @RickRottman
    @RickRottman Před 2 lety +479

    I'm 6'6" and while visiting a botanical garden in Japan in 1987, a couple asked me to pose for a photo standing next to their children. When people saw what was going on, other people asked me to do it with their children.

    • @BorisNoiseChannel
      @BorisNoiseChannel Před 2 lety +34

      Well yeah; Duh! (I mean: who's 6'6" nowadays? 6'5" or 6'7", okay; But 6'6"? )

    • @PewLand
      @PewLand Před 2 lety +4

      @@BorisNoiseChannel I think the point that rick is trying to make is that japanese culture is very "hive mind" like. I could be wrong

    • @chrisbotos
      @chrisbotos Před 2 lety +12

      I have no idea what you Americans mean by 6'6 but I guess it is tall😂

    • @killillua3957
      @killillua3957 Před 2 lety +7

      @@chrisbotos we mean they were six feet and six inches tall.
      Also I think they took the picture because they thought they were an athlete.
      But probably because they were really tall

    • @BorisNoiseChannel
      @BorisNoiseChannel Před 2 lety

      @@chrisbotos depends on your shoe-size

  • @aeugnewtype
    @aeugnewtype Před 10 měsíci +18

    This is really the kind of realistic content and discussions that need to be happening about the realities of Japanese society, and dispelling some of the ridiculous myths that so many foreigners have cooked up for themselves by watching Japanese media and consuming their culture from afar. Good job on this one