And we’re off!
As you guys saw in the last episode, Natsuki and I managed to squeeze ourselves into the Moco, traversing the best part of 100km to make it to Kinugawa Onsen. I’ve always wanted to come to Kinugawa as it looks like some sort of apocalyptic wasteland with its dilapidated buildings and rusted bridges clinging onto the valley. However, set against the backdrop of Autumnal reds and golds the town is pretty damn impressive.
2023-12-02 11:43:51 +0000 UTC
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Hi Guys!
So today we unleash Journey Across Japan: Non-Stop North! Shooting kicked off a couple of days ago and we can't wait to share the ridiculous first episode with you all.
We've truly compiled the 'A-Team' to make this ludicrous project possible - Chris (that’s me!), Ian, Yasu, Paul, Ellen, Marcus, Dave, Mario, Eiji, Ross, Lucas, Eugene. Before we left Tokyo, we took a quick team photo in the Abroad in Japan studio - let's see how ...
2023-12-01 12:14:45 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys!
Hope you've had a great weekend so far.
Before setting off for Journey Across Japan this week (for 21 long days on the road), I'm in the studio one last time today for a live show on the Chris Abroad channel.
Come along and discover what's going on and send me your questions!
Starts in 2 hours at 11pm JST
🍿 Live show: https...
2023-11-26 11:42:48 +0000 UTC
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5 years I made a promise I couldn’t keep.
A journey 2,000km across Japan shared through daily videos.
The whole aim of doing daily videos at the time wan’t so much an obnoxious challenge, as a way of taking viewers along the for the ride. Tune in everyday, join the journey and discover Japan.
And in many ways the series delivered.
We discovere...
2023-11-19 04:31:50 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Hope you've had a fantastic week so far! It's TIME for the Patreon Q&A, answering the questions you guys sent in. I've packed in as many as I can (around 25) and to those I wasn't able to answer, don't you worry, we'll be having another one very soon.
Abroad in Japan PATREON Exclusive Q&A ⛩️ 21+ Questions ANSWERED!
🍿 Watch: https:...
2023-11-01 15:27:05 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Delighted to say that not only have we got a Patreon LIVE show tonight, but the time has come for a big, awesome announcement.
I won't say anything more for now, but I hope to see you there at 22:00 Japan time (Sunday 29th).
PATREON LIVE SHOW
🍿 Join:https://youtube.com/live/PiCUj1RLibA?feature=share
And as always, in case you miss it, you...
2023-10-29 09:26:11 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys!
Hope you've had a great week.
Every year we hold an exclusive Q&A just for the folks here on Patreon, and the time has finally come!
Send me your questions about anything; travel, Japanese, chicken, sausages, etc, and I’ll head to the Konbini, grab a large coffee and answer from the brand new studio in Tokyo.
Drop your questions on the comments bellow with #askabroad so I can find them and I'll be back next week in video form, with all the...
2023-10-20 13:20:03 +0000 UTC
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Hi Guys!
As someone who struggles to read and hold a physical book out of sheer laziness, audiobooks have been a godsend over the last few years.
Whether I’m at the gym on a treadmill, sitting on a bullet train, or falling asleep on a plane, the odds are I have an audiobook in my ears, or a city pop album, or Duran Duran, or just anything from the ‘80s. It’s great being able to learn while on the go.
And what better way to lear...
2023-10-10 15:57:24 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys!
Recently I've been thinking about sharing my thoughts more often here on the Abroad in Japan Patreon about contemporary issues within Japan. With that in mind, here’s my first ‘fun’ post about about a steamer who’s been terrorising Japan over the last half year and finally got arrested last week.
————————
One of the most frustrating aspects of living in Japan is when a foreigner behaves poor...
2023-10-03 03:12:34 +0000 UTC
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Wahey - it's the weekend!
And at last I'm back in the Tokyo studio and ready for a much needed and long awaited catch up with you guys!
Grab a drink and join me tonight as we discuss the month's events and what lies in store for the coming weeks and months, as well as news and gossip from around Japan.
Abroad in Japan PATREON Live 🍿
Join: 2023-09-30 02:50:47 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys!
Hope you’re all having a great week so far.
As you know, a few weeks ago we had the big, long-teased Mount Fuji climb and against the odds we somehow bloody well pulled it off! It was a gruelling and lengthy endeavour but we managed it and I’m immensely proud of Natsuki.
Somehow we didn't have much behind the scenes footage after the edit. It was physically and mentally very demanding filming and climbing at the same time, and a heroic effort from P...
2023-09-27 14:30:16 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys!
If working like a madman has taught me anything over the years, it’s that the greatest, most original ideas come from the moments in between when you’re doing nothing.
Surprise, surprise, when you’re not consumed with mental overload and your mind is clear, wonderful things happen.
With that in mind, I tried my god damn hardest to take a couple of weeks off in September, hence why I’ve been quiet on social media and Patreon this ...
2023-09-24 07:42:49 +0000 UTC
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✨⭐️ *UPDATE: the liveshow has been moved back ONE hour to 9pm!*✨⭐️
That's right guys, it's time for this month's Patreon liveshow catch up.
I'm back in the UK! But WHY? How? When? And where?
IN this month's Patreon live show it's time to fill you in on what I've been up to, back here in the land of fish and chips 🍻
It'll be tonight in the UK at 9pm time and you can join at the link below:
2023-08-28 10:07:02 +0000 UTC
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IT'S OFFICIAL!
🎉🎉🎉 The Abroad in Japan Book has somehow become the biggest selling book in the UK this week! 🎉🎉🎉
I'm not really sure what else to say other than "Bloody hell innit mate". I'm just delighted to think thousands of folks around the world are reading and learning about an obscure, quiet, rural corner of north Japan a...
2023-08-20 13:28:13 +0000 UTC
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Oh boy, am I going to spoil you with content today.
Not only do we have an exclusive preview of the brand-new Abroad in Japan Studio, but we also have a video shot in a convenience store (allegedly used for adult films).
ALSO after five years and 400 episodes, the Abroad in Japan podcast is finally on YouTube!
This week has been something of a whirlwind. With the release of the book, the completion of the studio,...
2023-08-12 10:00:53 +0000 UTC
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So after many months of dread, wondering how the Abroad in Japan studio could possibly be moved between Sendai and Tokyo, we now have our answer.
Not only did it survive the journey, but it's been hugely upgraded - at least TWICE the size.
Yesterday, the team finished wiring up the several dozen neon lights, signs and TV's scattered throughout, and the end result is a stunning, immersive set of streets that feel like a natural extension of the p...
2023-08-01 03:58:38 +0000 UTC
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That's right guys, the day has finally arrived!
IN this month's Patreon live show ,it's time for an exclusive first look tour of the glorious, brand new Tokyo studio, which will be completed later today!
We'll also discuss Mount Fuji (and how it went) and what lies ahead for August, with four new videos and the hotly anticipated - and somewhat nerve-racking - book launch.
Abroad in Japan PATREON Live
🍿 Watch: 2023-07-31 01:53:24 +0000 UTC
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He bloody did it! 🥳🥳🥳🥳
Natsuki blew us all away and made it to the summit of Mount Fuji over a long, torturous 18 hour round trip.
I won’t lie, it looked like he wasn’t going to make it several times. Frequently out of breath, with his legs practically broken, there were a few times h...
2023-07-27 03:27:06 +0000 UTC
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And so it begins.
TOMORROW Natsuki and I will climb Mount Fuji! It’s the first time Natsuki has climbed a mountain ever or essentially done any form of exercise.
The good news is he’s been working out on his exercise bike the last few weeks (allegedly), so there may be hope yet.
But we’re off to celebrate Natsuki’s 50th birthday and the release of the Abroad in Japan book next week (Aug 3rd) 🥳
If any of you guys are climbing in the next couple of ...
2023-07-24 13:29:47 +0000 UTC
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At long last, the hotly anticipated 14 Days in Japan Travel Plan is here!
Now as much as I'd love to film this right now, it's barely possible to step outside for longer than 10 minutes without being roasted to a flaming crisp. But we will absolutely be shooting it beyond the summer so fear not.
In the meantime guys, I know many of you are planning on coming to Japan in the coming months and I really hope you'll find this useful for ideas on where to...
2023-07-18 13:55:19 +0000 UTC
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The end of an era!
The Abroad in Japan Studio is gone.
Long live the Abroad in Japan Studio!
Alright, maybe I'm being a little bit dramatic but it's tough watching your second favourite thing in the world be dismantled, over the course of two intense days, and stuffed into the back of a truck to be sent off to Tokyo.
- You can witness it happen in the above Patreon exclusive video!
Truth be told though, it's an exciting t...
2023-07-16 11:05:28 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Hope you've had an amazing start to July so far!
But for the love of god, I hope none of you are coming to Japan this summer - this heat is an absolute joke. Every time I step outside I feel like I'm being bloody flame grilled 😅
Got a really fun new video up today though to kick off the summer!
You may recall a few years back I did a documentary on Kyoto's disappearing townhouses which are sadly dying out. I interviewed a friendly...
2023-07-04 17:24:20 +0000 UTC
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A big thank you to everyone who sent in their questions here for this month's Patreon exclusive Q&A!
The bumper 24 minute episode is now up! Including:
- How we're expanding the Abroad in Japan studio
- Where to hike on a 2 week trip to Japan
- The Imminent Return of Wacky Weekend explained
- How to stay motivated while studying Japanese
- A deleted scene from last week's Day in My Life video showcasing my favo...
2023-06-30 15:18:56 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Hope you've all had a cracking good week so far!
Delighted to announce this month's Patreon live hangout will be on Thursday 29th June (tonight Japan time)!
It's a bit shorter notice than I'd have liked, so apologies for that - though surprisingly I find turnout on the live shows is always higher when announced at short notice 😅
But we'll be discussing climbing Fuji, moving into the new st...
2023-06-29 05:04:45 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Hope you're having a great weekend so far!
So we have a fun new video out on Abroad in Japan today - Sharla and I got our hands on a prototype RV from Mitsubishi Fuso, which is supposed to be the ultimate living/workspace on wheels in the tiniest form factor possible.
It was a lot of fun testing it out, though it was the views of Mount Fuji that stole the show, 5 years after our previous ill-fated attempt!
I Spent 24Hours in Japan's T...
2023-06-24 16:23:57 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Hope you're all having a great weekend so far!
And so here it is, my first vlog from Tokyo as a resident. It still feels rather weird to live here in Tokyo but I've settled in at last. I don't even miss Sendai - though I miss not having the studio. Fortunately, we should be able to move it before August!
And we kick things off with the first Day in the Life video on Abroad in Japan in 5 years! Cats, rats, Shinjuku bad boys, a Swedish surfer and even Sharla. ...
2023-06-17 20:45:00 +0000 UTC
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I'm going to spoil you all today!
We have no less than three videos including two more Patreon exclusive episodes from Journey Across Japan: Frozen Frontier.
AND a brand new Abroad in Japan video, featuring three absolute horror stories of the worst things I've ever done in my time living in Japan.
JOURNEY ACROSS JAPAN: Frozen Frontier
Well after four ...
2023-06-05 14:21:15 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys, I hope you're all having a great week!
So two awesome announcements today 🥳
1) Firstly, the next Patreon Behind the scenes exclusive video is up featuring outtakes, bloopers and commentary from our ride on the Fuyu no Shitsugen snow train.
What Happened at Japan's Most Eastern Point | Patreon Exclusive Video
🍿 Watch: https://youtu.be/f...
2023-06-01 06:26:55 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
Hope you've all had a cracking good week so far.
Pleased to announce our Patreon live show hangout for this month will be May 31st!
Plenty to discuss including the move to Tokyo, the brand new studio we've just found and what lies ahead after Journey Across Japan: Frozen Frontiers. And of course, the book!
Abroad LIVE Show
Join: https://www.youtu...
2023-05-31 02:45:51 +0000 UTC
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Journey Across Japan: Frozen Frontier continues!
We've been dropping the episodes thick and fast and sadly our epic 1,000km adventure around Hokkaido is almost over, with one more episode dropping later this week.
ALAS, we've got plenty to look forward to in this week's episode including:
✅ Exploring an indigenous Ainu village (extremely rare to find in Japan)
✅ Staying at an inn overlooking a frozen lake
✅ Wandering arou...
2023-05-28 19:08:11 +0000 UTC
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