Making of Nakagin Capsule Tower Documentary | Patreon Exclusive | Filming with CDawgVa Nightmare!
Added 2021-08-13 14:56:37 +0000 UTC
So I've got a sneaky hit list of videos I've been wanting to make in Japan for years now. And this week it felt pretty damn good to finally tick the Nakagin capsule tower off that list.
I remember the first time I laid eyes upon it in 2014 on a weekend trip to Tokyo, in a quiet, forgotten corner of Toyko's affluent Ginza district. Ever since then, whenever I'm passing nearby I've aways gone out of my way to take a peek and grab a photo.
As I discuss in the video, I've tried a few times to get in the building to no avail, so it was amazing to finally get in and shoot the documentary that aired on Abroad in Japan this week.
ALSO check out the end of the Patreon behind the scenes video, to see how the editor (David), was able to create the 3D Nakagin towers for the alternate reality of Tokyo. Fascinating to see how he pulled it off!
Making of the Nakagin Capsule Tower Documentary | Patreon Exclusive
🍿 Watch: https://youtu.be/4ZxwbQkOOKA
I'm currently filming with Connor (aka. CDawgVa of Trash Taste) in a remote corner of Shikoku. It's been an absolute nightmare of a shoot, including a near death experience we had today over a bridge during a horrendous typhoon.
You can expect to see what we got up to during our road trip later this month in an upcoming edition of our Wacky Weekend series!


As soon as I get back from this nightmare, I look forward to showing you guys the new Abroad in Japan studio, but for now, enjoy the Patreon behind the scenes video, and have a great weekend!
Chris
Chris, thank you for making the Nakagin Video! Back when I was a student my dissertation was on Japanese architecture, and I was hampered by the lack of recent photos or footage of this building, especially of the inside so couldn't do it justice and had to only give it the token mention everyone else has. Your video provides such a well-rounded insight of this building both as it is now, and as it was before. It is no doubt a godsend to architecture students! Thank you for doing this monument to metabolism justice and preserving the building in video form which will linger long after the building itself is gone. Here's hoping for even more documentaries and insight on more Japanese architecture - perhaps Kengo Kuma's M2 or the Sendai Mediateque by Toyo Ito or Taro Okamoto's Tower of the sun?!
Thistlevixen
2021-08-20 09:15:38 +0000 UTC
That "making of" section at the end was incredible! I'm always amazed by what Photoshop wizards and 3D modelers are capable of.
Argus9 (Jonathan)
2021-08-18 13:52:48 +0000 UTC
First thing I see is "get fucked" and my spirits immediately get lifted haha!
2021-08-15 21:38:58 +0000 UTC
It's Cinema4D :)
David Parish
2021-08-15 17:24:43 +0000 UTC
Can you please let me know what software you used to make the 3D rendering of the building ?
2021-08-15 16:08:58 +0000 UTC
Japan: Unable to hold onto historical architecture. Also Japan: Unable to get rid of age old fax machine and Hanco.
Priority matters!
2021-08-15 04:30:26 +0000 UTC
Can’t wait to see the studio tour!
Zhiana
2021-08-14 23:50:57 +0000 UTC
Brilliant video, always fun to see the trials and tribulations of a shoot. Looking forward to the next instalment of Wacky Weekends with you and Connor 🤩
Suzanne Tolley
2021-08-14 19:39:28 +0000 UTC
I really liked that vine bringe. I wasn't there in a typhoon though. The friend i went with got a free ticket for it because a japanese woman in front of it gave us her ticket because she was too afraid of crossing the bridge.
Naryoril
2021-08-14 19:28:11 +0000 UTC
Thanks for the video! I love the outtakes and the making of the futuristic Skyline—us old folks don’t know how to do that stuff.
Teree Campbell
2021-08-14 14:12:55 +0000 UTC
I saw that place in James May our man in Japan, but it'll be interesting to see how you get experiences.
Audio Dragon
2021-08-14 12:26:21 +0000 UTC
I remember that place with the scarecrows from Norm's video, can't wait to see your guys' take on the town.
LordLiquidBaconII
2021-08-14 02:01:55 +0000 UTC
I kind of love the moment where Alex's real estate persona momentarily drops and he just tells you to shut up, lol.
2021-08-13 21:57:01 +0000 UTC
Amazing video!
Also, props to Dave, that was some really amazing work with the modeling and texturing.
Luis Pais
2021-08-13 21:49:10 +0000 UTC
The effort you put into that one potential future Tokio picture is amazing and I completely didn't appreciate it enough in the original video.
2021-08-13 20:23:34 +0000 UTC
Loved this, regret not checking it out when we were in Tokyo.
Elaine Sparklemonkey Campbell
2021-08-13 19:42:16 +0000 UTC
And he knows it! Must be just terrible for him. Just imagine all of the sleepless nights planning it!
WT
2021-08-13 18:47:08 +0000 UTC
Agreed. Yes thank you Alex but can we get some JoJo’s style menacing symbols shaking around him.
WT
2021-08-13 18:43:47 +0000 UTC
If the two Alexes got married they could both be called Alex Shapiro or Alex Lee 😅
Eels
2021-08-13 18:39:51 +0000 UTC
Thank you, Alex Shapiro, for giving Chris and us the opportunity to see the inside of the Nakagin Tower!
Phoebe Dolim
2021-08-13 17:11:27 +0000 UTC
Would have been amazing to visit this building when it became a HAIKYO - wouldn't that be awesome? A HAIKYO not in the Japanese countryside but in the middle of Tokyo! Sad that they are demolishing this fascinating place down....btw the LEGO REPLICA was super cool.....as was the 3D Alternate Tokyo model - impressive!
2021-08-13 16:42:50 +0000 UTC
Near death experience is intriguing, but horrifying at the same time. Please be safe both of you.
Mercedes Mezzasalma
2021-08-13 16:15:52 +0000 UTC
Love the bts view. Thank you. Idk why I giggle so much when you flub up a line or name, I guess because the the show is so perfect. I love the shots of the tower that show it encased in the odd netting, I assume for bird control. I had never noticed it before. All the net and wires make it so much more gritty looking up close. I’d say the nautical theme is full circle, it indeed looks much like a rusty bucket fishing boat. Must have been difficult to film inside such a minuscule place, you, of course, managed it beautifully along with Alex Lee on camera duty. Two Alex’s that day, lol
Thanks for updates on filming with Connor, always enjoyable videos! Can we have bts vids on those too? Pretty please🙏🏻
WT
2021-08-13 15:59:05 +0000 UTC
Thank you for posting this BTS video despite the near death experience. Congrats to Editor David for the 3D model, it was impressive! Take care and don’t let Connor take over the role of Assassin from Roytaro.
Eszter Nagy
2021-08-13 15:44:28 +0000 UTC
Garnt a.k.a Grant a.k.a Gigguk was right about you Chris, for someone who is afraid of danger, you seem to end up in a lot of dangerous situations Chris. What on earth happened to you this time? oh and cool that you are in Shikoku, you haven't made many videos there much, except that time you went to Matsuyama.
Xenin
2021-08-13 15:34:20 +0000 UTC
If you are with Connor right now you should do another Instagram live stream, that one you did in Kyoto was hilarious 😅 looking forward to the wacky weekend
Caz T
2021-08-13 15:28:10 +0000 UTC
Thanks Chris for this Making Of video! I am loving the upward trend of this Patreon <3
Andrew Roque
2021-08-13 15:01:03 +0000 UTC
Did you spot 'James May' in that doll village?
Alyx Evans
2021-08-13 14:59:12 +0000 UTC
Chris and near death experiences seem to make the best videos.
Joshua Mannix
2021-08-13 14:58:15 +0000 UTC