A BIG Month Ahead! Wacky Weekend Returns + Major Documentary (5 videos)

Hey guys,
Hope you've had a great week!

Firstly, you might have noticed it's been quieter than a Tokyo train carriage on Abroad in Japan this month. Unfortunately, I spent the first half of November knocked out by a viral infection. I’m usually pretty lucky that I don’t get sick that often; Family Mart Chicken is very vitamin rich after all.

The very good news is, the rest of November was spent shooting and producing no less than 5 new videos and this December, we'll be ending 2024 in epic fashion.

So what's been going on?

Wacky Weekend (x2)
This month, Mr Dawg and I shot two Wacky Weekends back-to-back (which you should never do).

First, we headed to the tropical paradise of Okinawa (my god, I didn’t want to come back to Tokyo) where Connor traumatised me with some water sports in an erstwhile attempt to burst my eardrum—again.

Then we returned to Kyushu for a bit of a Bond themed trip.

I've always been afraid of hopping in a helicopter, but figured it was time to shut up and get over it. And I have to say, it certainly didn't fucking help that we arrived to find our pilot dressed in a Pikachu costume. 

Still once we were up there, I didn't want to come back down. It was genuinely an incredible experience - and now I demand an Abroad in Japan helicopter.



We also slept on Japan's cheapest overnight train, hiked up a volcano, and attempted to survive a camping trip gone wrong, when we were surrounded by an army of hungry feral cats (photos below).
Connor's Wacky Weekend in Okinawa will drop on his channel imminently, whereas the Abroad in Japan one will be up in mid-December! Stay tuned.
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21 Days in Japan
The title might sound like a 90's romcom, but don't be fooled. It's the best goddam Japan itinerary video out this year.

With the great Pete Donaldson and I reunited in Japan for the first time since 2020 this week, we promptly went on a road trip with Natsuki to Nikko! It was actually my first time somehow and I have to say, it was a stunning area. 

The national park felt like the Garden of Eden and the Toshogu Shrine itself, commemorating the all powerful ruler Tokugawa Ieyasu, was utterly jaw dropping in scale. It is without a doubt the most impressive shrine I've ever laid eyes upon.

But Nikko was the final piece of the puzzle in this year's '21 Days in Japan,' video the successor to last year's '14 Days in Japan' itinerary episode.

Despite everything we put out last year, 14 days in Japan was our biggest video of 2023 and by popular request, we’ve produced a sequel to be proud of.
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Earthquake Documentary
Meanwhile, I’ve been working with the team to put the finishing touches on the Earthquake Documentary, also dropping in December. I'm really proud of the story we told and the spotlight we shone on the victims of this year’s tragic Noto earthquake.

But the overall theme is preparing travellers for the spectre of the mega earthquake which still looms large in Japan in the coming years. It’s a Patreon backed production and one I hope you’ll be proud to have been a part of.

AND BECAUSE THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH, I also spent a day working at a Japanese hotel up in Yamagata for yet another video, sat down in the studio for a commentary episode on the quirks of Japanese culture and also started work shooting a new documentary for early 2025, involving a town that got destroyed by a volcano - a project I’ve been wanting to produce for a long time now. More on that early next year.

There's no doubt 2024 has been a pretty spectacular year so far - the above videos should be the perfect way to end the year on a high note.

And of course there'll be plenty of Patreon bonus content to follow! (Especially on the epic wacky weekend).

Thanks for your support as always guys, have a fantastic end to to the week and buckle up for an incredible Christmas season on Abroad in Japan.

Chris