Has Japan Gotten Worse in the Last 10 Years?

Summary

In this entertaining script, the speaker humorously discusses their experiences and observations living in Japan. They share quirky finds from a 100-yen store, address the impact of negative stereotypes on foreign streamers, and reflect on the absurdity of a YouTuber becoming a political figure. Engaging in a Q&A session, they tackle questions about Japan's safety, the challenges of rural living, and the difficulties of filming in Japan. The script offers a blend of cultural insights, personal anecdotes, and a satirical take on life as a foreign content creator in Japan.

Takeaways

• 😄 The speaker has a humorous take on life in Japan, often using satire to comment on various aspects of Japanese culture and society.
• 🛍️ The speaker discusses their experience shopping at Daiso, a 100-yen store, and collecting Japanese-English marketing items, highlighting the fascination with English in Japan.
• 📦 The script mentions the trend of using English on products for marketing purposes in Japan, which is seen as a symbol of prestige and quality.
• 📚 The speaker humorously describes some of the English phrases found on products, such as a kitchen mat with a mistranslated phrase that sounds like a biblical verse.
• 🧴 The speaker shares their skepticism about certain skincare products, like one that sounds like a 'bio weapon' with a 'cocktail of needles and five vitamins'.
• 🗣️ The Q&A session addresses various topics, including the impact of bad streamers on the community, the influence of English on Japanese products, and the speaker's personal experiences and opinions.
• 🏙️ The speaker talks about the changes in Japan over the last decade, noting improvements in cities like Tokyo and Sendai, but also acknowledging the challenges faced by the countryside.
• 🌐 The script touches on the use of VPNs for internet security and accessing geo-restricted content, with a promotional mention of ExpressVPN.
• 🏠 The discussion includes the topic of cheap rural houses in Japan, cautioning against the romanticized idea of buying and living in them due to practical challenges.
• 🌋 The speaker comments on the safety of Japan, noting the low crime rates but acknowledging the risks and preparedness for natural disasters like earthquakes.
• 🎥 The script ends with the speaker's dream of creating a feature film in Japan, expressing the difficulties of filming in the country due to strict permissions and regulations.

Q & A

What is the significance of English on Japanese products according to the script?

In Japan, English on products is associated with prestige and quality, which helps in marketing them, even though the reasons behind this association are not fully understood by the speaker.

What is the humorous translation on the kitchen mat found in the script?

The kitchen mat has a humorous and nonsensical translation that reads 'cute rabbit and the universe is born from egg and it'll be heaven for the upper part of the body of a shell, and it shows that a lower part was a place', which the speaker likens to a twisted verse from the Bible.

What is the product that the speaker humorously describes as a 'bio weapon'?

The speaker humorously refers to a skin cream as a 'bio weapon' due to its description as a 'fractional CC, targeting the areas of concern a cocktail of needles and five vitamins'.

What is the name of the skincare brand that the speaker mentions and what is the joke about it?

The skincare brand mentioned is 'beg skin science', and the joke is that 'your skin will be begging you to avoid it', implying a play on words that suggests the brand might not be good for the skin.

What is the context of the Q&A session in the script?

The Q&A session is the first and last of 2024 where the speaker answers questions from the audience about various topics including Japan, travel, YouTube, and personal experiences.

What incident involving a YouTuber and a rickshaw was mentioned in the script?

The incident mentioned involved a YouTuber named 'Fus' who was caught, or rather, broadcasting himself riding a rickshaw without paying in his YouTube video.

How did the YouTuber 'Fus' transition from being a content creator to a political figure?

Surprisingly, 'Fus' became a Member of the European Parliament for Cyprus just six months after the incident with the rickshaw, turning his influence as a content creator into tangible political power.

What is the speaker's morning routine for staying in shape?

The speaker humorously describes a non-existent morning routine that starts at 4:00 a.m., involving a protein shake, 600 press-ups, meditation, and listening to a self-help podcast, but then admits to doing nothing and not being able to keep a routine.

What is the speaker's opinion on the idea of being a YouTuber?

The speaker finds the idea of being a YouTuber to be somewhat narcissistic and self-important, and initially did not consider it as a viable career but rather as a stepping stone into the film industry.

What is the speaker's view on the current situation of the Japanese countryside?

The speaker believes that the Japanese countryside is facing a decline with a significant drop in population and closure of shops, but maintains a high standard of living and a strong, stoic mindset to adapt to these challenges.

What is the 'nakasendo trail' and why is it recommended for a visit?

The 'nakasendo trail' is a historical route in Gifu and Nagano, Japan, that the speaker recommends for its picturesque rural villages, traditional inns, and local fresh food, offering a rejuvenating and beautiful experience of the Japanese countryside.

Outlines

00:00

🛍️ Japanese Marketing and Product Curiosities

The speaker discusses their experience shopping at Daiso, a 100-yen store, and acquiring new items for their Japanese-English marketing collection. They highlight the Japanese tendency to use English on products for prestige and describe peculiar product names and descriptions, such as a skin cream that sounds like a bio weapon and a kitchen mat with a cryptic message. They also touch on the topic of bad streamers in Japan and share an anecdote about a YouTuber who became a member of the European Parliament, illustrating the unpredictable nature of influence and power.

05:01

🗼 Hidden Gems and Temples in Tokyo

The speaker shares their favorite hidden place in Tokyo, a shrine surrounded by skyscrapers and likened to a mini Kyoto Fushimi Inari Shrine. They describe the temple's unique location and the experience of visiting early in the morning for tranquility. They also mention the challenges of adopting a child in Japan and humorously deflect a request to adopt someone as their son.

10:09

🚴‍♂️ Cycle Across Japan and Unusual Encounters

The speaker recounts their journey across Japan via the Shimanami Kaido cycle route and an unusual encounter with a knowledgeable local fisherman in Onomichi. They describe the experience as potentially being filmed for a Japanese game show due to the fisherman's extensive listing of British cultural references. The story highlights the cultural curiosity and friendly interactions that can occur during travels in Japan.

15:09

🏠 The Reality of Buying a Rural Japanese Home

The speaker addresses the trend of buying cheap rural homes in Japan, cautioning against the romanticized idea of such a purchase. They discuss the challenges of paperwork, remote locations, potential disrepair, and the declining population in rural areas. While acknowledging the appeal of owning a home in Japan, they advise considering the practical aspects and the reality of living in a shrinking countryside.

20:12

📉 Decline and Adaptation in Modern Japan

The speaker reflects on the changes in Japan over the past decade, noting a decline in population and the impact on rural areas. They contrast this with improvements in cities like Tokyo and Sendai, which have seen significant development and modernization. Despite the challenges, they express optimism about Japan's ability to adapt and find solutions, drawing on the country's history of resilience.

🎬 The Challenges of Filming in Japan

The speaker expresses a desire to create a feature film set in a rural Japanese village but acknowledges the difficulties of obtaining filming permissions in Japan. They discuss the strict regulations and the need for community support, citing examples of productions that have faced hurdles or broken rules to achieve their vision. The speaker also hints at a potential project set in 1980s Japan, combining elements of love, loss, and mystery.

⛰️ Journey Across Japan and Future Travel Series

The speaker concludes by reflecting on their 'Journey Across Japan' series, which started in 2018 and recently concluded in 2024. They express pride in the series' ability to provide an escape for viewers during lockdown and its exploration of diverse Japanese locales. While suggesting that the 'Journey Across Japan' has reached its end, they hint at the possibility of a new travel series, playfully titled 'Chris Anet's Jolly Jaunt Around Japan,' indicating a desire to continue sharing unique Japanese experiences.

Keywords

💡Daiso

Daiso is a Japanese variety store known for selling a wide range of household and consumer products at a fixed price point, typically 100 yen. In the video, the creator mentions visiting Daiso and purchasing items for their Japanese-English marketing collection, highlighting the store's appeal to consumers looking for affordable and diverse products.

💡English on products

The script discusses the trend in Japan of using English on products as a marketing strategy to convey prestige and quality. This concept is integral to understanding cultural perceptions of language and branding in Japan, as illustrated by the creator's commentary on a kitchen mat with an English phrase that seems out of context.

💡Influencer

An influencer is an individual who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of their authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience. The video's creator identifies as an influencer and humorously describes their morning routine, which is a nod to the lifestyle and work ethic often associated with influencers.

💡10,000 steps

The concept of taking 10,000 steps a day is a common health and fitness goal, aiming to promote physical activity and maintain a healthy weight. The creator mentions this as part of their routine, emphasizing the importance of daily movement even if it doesn't necessarily lead to weight loss.

💡Shimanami Kaido

The Shimanami Kaido is a 60-mile long cycling route in Japan that passes through several islands in the Seto Inland Sea. The video script recounts an experience during a trip on the Shimanami Kaido, illustrating the cultural immersion and unique interactions that can occur while traveling in Japan.

💡Content creation

Content creation refers to the process of generating various forms of content, such as videos, articles, or social media posts, for online distribution. The video's creator reflects on their career as a YouTuber, which is a form of content creation, and how it has evolved over time.

💡Golden Week

Golden Week is a string of national holidays in Japan that usually takes place in late April and early May. The creator warns against traveling in Japan during this period due to the high volume of domestic travel, which can make transportation and accommodations challenging.

💡Rural houses

The script touches on the phenomenon of extremely cheap houses in rural Japan that have piqued the interest of foreigners. This concept is tied to the broader themes of real estate, cultural attraction, and the romanticization of living in a rural setting.

💡Nakasendo Trail

The Nakasendo Trail is a historical route that was part of the Edo Period's transportation network in Japan. The creator recommends this trail for a genuine experience of Japanese villages, emphasizing the cultural and scenic beauty that can be found in less urbanized areas.

💡ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a virtual private network service mentioned in the video as a sponsor. It is used to secure internet connections and access geo-restricted content. The creator discusses using ExpressVPN to bypass regional restrictions on streaming services, which is relevant to the theme of navigating digital content in a globalized world.

💡Journey Across Japan

Journey Across Japan is a series mentioned by the creator that documents their travels through various parts of Japan. It represents the culmination of their experiences and insights gathered over multiple series, providing a comprehensive view of different regions and cultures within Japan.

Highlights

The influence of English language on product marketing in Japan and its perceived prestige and quality.

Amusing mistranslations on Japanese products, such as a kitchen mat with a peculiar rabbit-related message.

The concept of 'fractional CC' in skincare products, which sounds like a bio weapon with a mix of needles and vitamins.

The humorous critique of the 'Beg Skin Science' brand, suggesting the name implies poor quality.

The introduction of the first and last Q&A session of 2024, covering a range of topics from personal experiences to YouTube culture.

Reflections on the negative impact of certain YouTubers' behavior in Japan and the challenges faced by content creators.

Anecdote about a YouTuber turned MEP, illustrating the unpredictable career paths in the digital age.

Discussion on the work culture in Japan and the improbability of living there without being a content creator.

A quirky morning routine for influencers that involves protein shakes, press-ups, meditation, and self-help podcasts.

The confession of not following a routine and the simple approach of taking 10,000 steps a day for maintaining weight.

Enthusiasm for the possibility of becoming an official Ambassador for the UK, bringing humor and determination to the role.

An account of losing a wallet and passport, followed by a humorous suggestion to prioritize cup noodles over the passport issue.

A personal favorite hidden place in Tokyo, a shrine surrounded by skyscrapers with a mini Kyoto-like atmosphere.

The humorous and relatable discussion on the unrealistic expectations of buying a rural Japanese house.

A personal story of an awkward encounter with a knowledgeable local in Onomichi, reminiscent of a game show scenario.

The safety of Japan in terms of crime and natural disasters, providing a balanced view on living in the country.

The endorsement of ExpressVPN for secure internet use and accessing geo-restricted content.

A warning against traveling in Japan during Golden Week due to overcrowded conditions.

Dreams of banning short-form content and a humorous fantasy of a chase scene with a mountain lion.

The reality of buying cheap rural houses in Japan, discussing the challenges and the romanticized view of such a purchase.

Reflections on the changes in Japan over the last decade, highlighting both improvements and declines.

A recommendation for the Nakasendo trail as an ideal hiking destination for experiencing traditional Japanese villages.

Challenges of filming in Japan due to strict permissions and the impact on local crew when rules are broken.

The conclusion of the 'Journey Across Japan' series and the idea for a new travel series with a fresh concept.

Transcripts

what you have had nothing today I could

eat a horse

now so just got back from Daiso the 100

yen store where I've got 700 Yen's worth

of new Treasures to add to my Japanese

English marketing collection as you

probably know in Japan they slap English

on products to help Market it because

English language equals Prestige and

quality for reasons I don't quite

comprehend case in point there's kitchen

mat with a cute rabbit on which reads

like a twisted verse from the Bible it

says cute rabbit and the universe is

born from egg and it'll be heaven for

the upper part of the body of a shell

and it shows that a lower part was a

place wow powerful words there from the

Lost chapter of the Book of Genesis

meanwhile I found this skin cream which

sounds like a bio weapon fractional CC

targeting the areas of concern a

cocktail of needles and five vitamins

love the sound of the five vitamins not

so sure about the cocktail of needles

think I'll pass on that one also got my

new favorite skincare brand beg skin

science beg skin your skin will be

begging you to avoid it anyway beg skin

science aside it's time for the first

and last Q&A of 2024 where I sit down to

answer questions you guys have sent in

about anything Japan Travel Youtube

gossip I won't hold back we'll also

feature comment of the week and hate

mail of the week because not everyone is

nice so guys let's dive into your

far-reaching profound questions together

one more time if if you were an oniri

rice ball what flavor would you be oh

for

[ __ ] with all the trouble of a few bad

streamers causing craziest in Japan with

their behavior are you finding it more

difficult being labeled with these

groups bad streamers I think it's an

absolute disgrace I'm thinking all the

big ones like CG VA Premier 2 Rob CD

filth nothing but filth I don't want to

be associated with any of them look it

hasn't affected me at all but I did hear

from Pete the other day that he was

doing a IRL stream out on the street and

he went to a bar and the bartender just

went no [ __ ] off go away in English and

Pete just sort of ran out the bar which

is a shame because Pete is rather nice

and usually people Embrace him and like

him when he's out doing his IRL streams

but then I also understand the concern

from these places given last year's

lineup of dickery what's insane is you

might recall last year uh there was a

YouTuber called Fus uh who got caught

riding a shinan s without paying orbe it

not so much being caught but actually

broadcasting it in his youi video if

somebody had told me shortly after that

this guy is going to be a member of

parliament in the European Union I would

have

gone get out of my ravage shop and yet

just 6 months later that is exactly what

he has done he is now an MEP for Cyprus

turning his power as an influencer into

actual real tangible political power

what could possibly go wrong oh and I

actually feel like anything's possible

now I'm practically banking on Peete

Premier 2 becoming the senator for

Kansas in 2026 let's make it happen

let's make Kansas even better again

given the work culture of Japan How

likely would it be that you would still

be living in Japan if you weren't a

content

creator extremely low spurton says what

was the strangest thing you saw during

your cycle across Japan probably

whatever the [ __ ] this was how do you

stay in such great shape what is your

routine how do I stay in shape I'm an

influencer of course I have a killer

morning routine starts every day at 4:00

a.m. it's definitely real I down a

protein shake and then I do 600 press

UPS meditate for 69 minutes while

listening to my favorite self-help

podcast count to three three

exhale now believe in yourself believe

in yourself or you're an [ __ ] I do I

do I believe yeah I do nothing I'm

utterly hopeless at like keeping a

routine I just cannot do it I know I'm

not alone on this I suppose the one

thing I do is try and do 10,000 steps

every single day I find doing 10,000

steps a day uh you don't really lose

weight you don't get your heart rate up

enough but you do kind of maintain your

current weight unfortunately the

downside to doing 10,000 steps in Tokyo

is the moment you walk past a family

Mark convenience store the benefits of

the Walk are somewhat quickly undermined

with the attendance of the state banquet

behind you would you ever consider being

an official Ambassador if the UK asked

definitely I'd be a bloody great

Ambassador get me down the embassy now

and let's make this [ __ ] happen

I lost me wallet and passport on the yot

line oh oh that sucks man well look

here's a here's 1,000 yen yeah you take

that get yourself some cup noodles right

next but what about my passport get

yourself some cup noodles and we'll

worry about that [ __ ] later all right

yeah okay next lot what a lot of effort

this is buy H # ask abroad favorite

hidden place in Tokyo I don't know if

it's hidden anymore I've seen it come up

more and more but here Shrine in Tokyo

is really cool it's slap bang in the

middle of the city and I like it for two

reasons number one the temple is

surrounded by these towering skyscrapers

it's kind of like raised on a hill and

it's sort of boxed in almost like a

castle with these towering buildings and

the second thing is it also has like a

100 Tory Gates kind of like a mini Kyoto

Fushimi andari Shrine but in the middle

of Tokyo so if you can't get to Kyoto

for whatever reason get to here Shrine

and try and get the early cuz it's quite

quiet in the morning I find bit of a

climb there be advised if you do come to

here Shrine unga says could you and

charot adopt me as your son so I can

come to live in Japan yes sorry I mean

nerd I've already got two cats so one of

them is an absolute bloody nightmare the

last thing I need is one more thing

waking me up every morning asking for

food jumping all over my face definitely

no Chris profet says did you ever think

you would live off being a YouTuber I

mean for almost half my life I wanted to

be a member of the European Parliament

for Cypress but that job has been taken

now so that's that out the window but

look the concept of being a a YouTuber

didn't really exist when I was a kid

growing up you know when I was 18

YouTube was only 3 years old at that

point and it was mostly just videos of

cats and people crying in a room there

was little indication it was going to be

anything good you know if you asked me

what I wanted to do back then I probably

would have said I want to be a

screenwriter or film director I want to

be Martin scorey not oh I want to sit in

my room alone talking to a bit of

plastic about myself you know the idea

of being a vlogger a YouTuber just seems

lame still kind of does you know when

you watch watching your favorite

YouTuber it might look like this but

don't forget it actually just looks like

this I mean look at it think of the

sheer narcissism the sheer

self-importance it requires to sit in a

room alone doing this over and over

again you know bloody embarrassing but

even when we had like 100,000

subscribers here on AB Japan I never

thought I'd make a living out of it I

never thought it would be like a job I

honestly thought doing this would be

more like a springboard into the film

industry you know that Christopher Nolan

Steven Spielberg would sit down watch

nasy the movie and be like yes yes this

is it call him up get him over here to

La the call hasn't come yet it never

will but I sit by the phone every single

day waiting waiting for that dream to

come

true uh MH hello if you were an oi R

ball what flavor would

you

[ __ ] bastard what has been the

most outrageous interaction you've ever

had in Japan I don't if it's outrageous

but there was one time I genuinely

thought I was being filmed for a

Japanese game show because the situation

was so unnatural and awkward a few years

ago I was doing the shimanami kaido

cycle for the first time the 100 km

cycle across the many islands of the

Inland Sea of Japan which starts in the

port town of onomichi and ends over in

chikaku and the night before we did the

cycle we stayed overnight in onomichi

beautiful Port Town the plan was to stay

overnight wake up at 6:00 a.m. and then

sort of begin the cycle but that evening

my friend and I went down to the port we

had a few cans of beer and we sat there

had a drink while looking over the docks

at Sunset the cool Summer Breeze the

anticipation of the journey ahead you

know and all of a sudden this guy came

out of nowhere I don't know if he was

like a weekend fisherman just chilling

out at the port or if he actually worked

there but he must have been in his 50s I

think he was a little bit surprised to

see two random white guys just sitting

there drinking beer and you know he was

pretty friendly started up a

conversation the usual questions what's

see this your this there see this

there now it's not uncommon in Japan

that when you kind of tell people where

you're from they will list off knowledge

about that country right kind of seen as

playful friendly polite so he was like

oh

chips fish chips

David Beckham kick you may this your and

then it it began and it it didn't stop

it just didn't

stop good

band oh y yeah she's uh yeah lording

ston this guy mined the depths of his

British cultural knowledge for no less

than 25 minutes it went on 25 minutes of

this Ling off

names yeah the Prime Minister

before prime minister

now being Orly British I didn't want to

be like well lovely meeting you we got a

choto [ __ ] off to bed now got 100 km

cycle tomorrow now I just sat there

thinking ah with every utterance of

every name we take one step closer to

this being the end I know

I thought this can't be right like this

are we being filmed are we being pranked

here there something going on eventually

in the end my friend who's Irish and

therefore braver than I am just saw I

stood up and he pulled me away so be

careful if you ever end up in onom mitry

on a hot humid summers's night sipping a

beer at the PK because Japan's most

knowledgeable fisherman might be there

lurking around the corner waiting to

tell you lots and lots of things about

your country I want to move to Japan but

I'm anxious about taking the leap how

safe is the country when it comes to

crime and natural disasters so there's

no doubt on the natural disaster front

the country is a bit rattled at the

moment after the recent earthquake in

Miyazaki and scientists taking the

unusual step of talking about a mega

earthquake and certainly I started

taking earthquakes a lot more seriously

having experienced a magnitude 7

earthquake myself when I lived in Senai

back in 2022 before then whenever there

was an earthquake I was like oh this is

interesting the room is shaking oh but

after that experience of being in a

building that felt like it was going to

come down and seeing the studio

completely destroyed that really put

things in perspective for me but that is

a risk you have to accept when coming to

Japan the odds of something happening to

you in an earthquake are pretty low the

country is very well adapted for it and

you could argue Japan makes up for it on

the crime front you know Japan

statistically is not even comparable to

most other countries like the UK or the

US even something like traffic incidents

right you're six more likely to lose

your life in a traffic instant in the US

than you are in Japan and while things

like cyber crime are on the rise here

for the most part Japan remains

incredibly safe when it comes to Crime I

think the greatest theft you see in

everyday life are umbrellas certain

umbrellas are stolen but when losing

umbrellas is your primary concern uh I

think it's a pretty good indicator of

how safe Japan really is now Japan might

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again Tokyo during golden week have we

made a fatal error flights were booked

before we

realized oh yes don't don't do it

honestly golden week isn't the most

important national holiday in Japan but

it is usually the longest the next

Golden week is April 29th to May 5th and

it typically means during that time

people travel back home to rural Japan

or they're just on vacation and so

domestic travel is nothing short of an

absolute nightmare trains are booked

hotels are full it's really not fun

during golden week for me standard

procedure is to hide beneath the nearest

table and just sort of wait there until

the whole thing blows over what is your

dream my dream is to live in a world

where short form content is banned Tik

Tok shorts reals all gone filthy fast

food content for a faltering attention

span of

civilization is it just me or does any

one want to see Chris in Mortal Terror

what I don't want him to die or anything

just want to see his funny Englishman

Persona disappear while being chased

down by a mountain lion or something

tell me you don't want to see that no I

do not want to see something like that

chased by a mountain lion what that

your Simon Ziggy Zep says what are your

thoughts on these incredibly cheap rural

houses that are getting the interest of

foreigners it seems tempting but I

suspect not worth the effort

so Japan has 9 million empty houses

around the country now mostly in the

countryside right and it's not an

uncommon sight to see these outrageous

deals popping up on social media the

promise of buying a decent sized

Japanese home for tens of thousands of

dollars sometimes even less I remember

when I lived in Yamagata an Australian

friend of mine uh who was just working

as a teacher one of his neighbors

Japanese woman in her 70s I think just

came over one day and was like do you

want my house and it was like a big

decent sized country house and he said

yeah sure and and he snapped it up and

off he went with a house and it seems

like completely odds to what we expect

in the western world where there just

isn't enough houses right now like we

have the complete opposite problem where

people can't afford a house at all but I

do think the idea of buying a Japanese

country house has definitely become

romanticized a little bit like oh I'll

just buy this house move in and it'll be

like a high Al miazaki fantasy film yes

let's go no it's not going to be quite

like that first there's going to be

endless amounts of paperwork especially

if you don't live in Japan or have a

Visa and then you'll discover that many

of these country houses that are

advertised are actually quite remote and

isolated difficult to get to often

poorly connected and often there is a

reason that they're empty in the first

place right then God forbid if they're

in disrepair because you need to find

people to renovate it that's often

expensive and costly the houses are

poorly insulated and then as's an

investment opportunity it's really not

ideal because the land prices are going

down a lot of these areas because the

population is falling in fact you might

end up moving to a village and in a

matter of a decade the whole Village is

gone because the countryside is

Vanishing in both people population

services and amenities now I don't want

to paint this all as Doom and Gloom I do

think you can buy a nice house renovate

it if you're retired if you can come to

Japan for a few months of the year with

your family I think it's kind of cool

but no it's just not as easy or as

romantic as it sort of appears on social

media these

days go [ __ ]

yourself you'd think living in Japan

would make you start putting a bit of

effort into yourself this guy is the

epitome of the bum look messy hair

unkempt facial hair sweatpants I just

can't stand the low effort laziness that

Western has put into

themselves bloody unbelievable messy

unkempt facial hair what a load of sh

yeah well I don't I don't wear

sweatpants when have I worn sweatpants

when have I anyway how about you go [ __ ]

yourself having lived in Japan over 10

years now has the country gotten better

or worse in the last decade the truth is

I think for many people in Japan you

could make the argument that the country

has gotten worse in the last 10 years

and rather than me talk about why I

think it's important we hear from a real

life Japanese person which we'll get to

in just a minute but first it's

important as well to point out Japan has

so many good things going for it it

really is at times like a full-blown

utopian society no matter where you go

in Japan the country is safe clean

reliable everything works that is not a

stereotype politically and socially it's

a really stable country you know there's

never any riots or protests but having

lived in three places in my 10 years

here for two of them I'd say life has

got better the first two are Tokyo and

Sendai and both cities have undergone

huge facelifts uh Tokyo's Skyline has

grown massively in the last decade

practically doubled in size meanwhile

places that were a bit gritty in CD like

Kabuki cha are completely unrecognizable

albe it's still a little bit gritty

around the edges admittedly downtown

Sendai as well has had a brand new

station new towers shops amenities the

city is under ibly better for tourists

coming to Japan it is a completely

different country so much more

accessible than it was a decade ago and

if we strip away the dodgy headlines

that have been going around about

tourists for the most part it has been

an overwhelming success 25 million

tourists last year helping the

hospitality industry immensely so taking

all this into consideration how can we

say that Japan has gotten worse and I

think for that we need to look to the

Third location that I used to live uh to

sakata to Yamagata and to the

countryside as a whole this year of

Japan's 4 prefectures 46 of them saw a

drop in their populations Japan's

population peaked in 2010 with 128

million people today that number is 123

million and by 2056 that is forecast to

drop below 100 million when you go out

into the countryside you see what that

looks like but rather than me sit here

and tell you about it we do know a guy

who lives in the countryside who can

explain this dire situation far better

than I ever could so how has Japan

changed VI in the last 10 years out in

the countryside good or bad I think

maybe bad

because uh people

down shop

Closs one weeks two holiday shop

first

3% after 10 years after 5% now 10% okay

yeah amazing 10%

don't

escape but is there a good point good

point I

think oh yeah

forever

drinking it is a bleak assessment but I

will say that the standard of living in

Japan is still very high and Japan isn't

alone in having kind of a sense of

decline look at the UK where by nearly

every measurable metric the country has

gotten worse and unlike Japan it really

shows you see it in Civic unrest you see

it in riots you see it in crime there's

a really powerful stoic mindset in Japan

that has been shaped by the natural

disaster as the country faces and so

despite the huge existential challenges

I am somehow optimistic I do think the

country will adapt to the situation and

find a way through as it always has done

Annie Madden says simplest place to get

to from Tokyo that gives them more real

world Vibe than the big cities i' would

love to travel to a small village but I

don't know where to start looking why

have one picturesque rural Japanese

Village when you can have four a few

weeks ago a good friend of mine came

over to Japan and he asked the exact

same thing he wanted to go for a hike

out through a Japanese village and we

basically spent 3 or 4 days hiking the

nakasendo trail in gifu and Nagano I

made a video there a few years ago with

riotoro but we didn't really have much

time and we had to speedrun it all in a

car which is something you should never

do it sort of ruined the magic of

experiencing these Villages you know

though the magic was already ruined by

Riot's presence admittedly but I knew I

had to go back and do things properly so

we went through the Villages of magome

tsumago nagiso and aruku staying at

traditional winds eating local fresh

food with daily hikes through Fields

forests and mountains and it was

genuinely like incredible I came back

feeling completely rejuvenated after the

2 we cycle I needed it it is honestly

one of the most beautiful places in

Japan it's kind of what you think the

Japanese Countryside is going to look

like but better and so if you do one

hike while you're in Japan don't make it

a mountain make it several small

mountains and make it the nakasendo

trail I promise you you won't regret it

unless you take rotate that is do you

have a dream video you like to do in

Japan they haven't been able to because

of logistics and laws so I actually want

to do a feature film but Japan is

notoriously difficult for getting

permission to film it's actually

considered one of the hardest countries

in the world and that's why you don't

see that many films shot here for

example even Shogun was all shot on a

Backlot in Vancouver and it almost broke

the battle Harden director Ridley Scott

back in 1989 during the shoot for black

Ray he vowed never to come here again

really good example of this uh recent TV

show Tokyo Vice was shot here in Tokyo

they wanted like a nighttime scene in a

relatively popular area they went to the

police to get permission and the police

said you have to get approval from over

300 bars and restaurants that operate on

that street to be able to film and the

team had to assemble nothing short of a

small army to go and try and win over

each of those 300 shops which incredibly

they were able to do and they were able

to shoot their dream sequence but most

people don't have the financial backing

or support of HBO so it just doesn't

happen but you can break rules as Sophia

Capo did when doing Lost in Translation

and in many of those places they just

shot without permission which allegedly

got a lot of the Japanese crew in

trouble unfortunately obviously I don't

want to do that um but I do have an idea

set in a Japanese sort of rural Village

and to do that I would need to get

permission and get the whole kind of

village on board to make that happen but

it's still early days still scripting it

still planning it between everything and

uh it'll most likely be a thriller set

in 1980s Japan a powerful film of Love

loss and Design it's called nasy the

movie 2 coming soon pum says are you

planning a New Journey Across Japan

series or never

again never again now seriously we

started journey across Japan in 2018 in

Yamagata and it ended just this year six

series later in 2024 and the Very place

it started actually in the apartment

where I started my whole career my whole

life in Japan and that is a nice full

circle it's the perfect ending neatly

wrapped up tied together I'm really

proud of joury cross Japan all the

amazing people places things we got to

see over six series and also you know

during lockdown a lot of people told me

that journey across Japan helped keep

them same kind of gave them an escape

through the TV screen so I'm really

proud of it but I think journey across

Japan is dead we need a new original

Japan travel Series right and I think

it's time for Chris anet's Jolly jaunt

around

japany yeah we'll work on that sounds

pretty bad but need to work on the brand

and then that is the end of the Q&A

thank you so much guys for your many

questions it's been a lot of fun this

Q&A as always I'm sure we'll do another

one soon but for now I'm off to uh well

rub some B skin into my face I'll see

you all soon and look I've thought about

it and the honest answer is China

mayonnaise c p see you later