What Meeting the Governor of Tokyo was Like (and other encounters with powerful people)

Like all great interviews, I walked into Tokyo's imposing Metropolitan Government building on two hours sleep.

It happened with Ken Watanabe and it happened with Tokyo's all powerful Governor Koike, albeit, under different circumstances. The night before meeting Ken Watanabe I was genuinely bloody nervous, as it all seemed too good to be true.

Fearing I was somehow going to blow the whole thing, my body didn't let me sleep the night before and I remember feeling numb during our first encounter; numb from the lack of energy essentially under-powering my nerves.

Still I made it through.

With Governor Koike, while I was a touch nervous, it was instead a brutal work schedule that led me to climb into bed at 2pm and awaken at 5am to shoot a scene at Shibuya Crossing in the morning, when the place is unnervingly quiet.

From 5am till 2pm I found myself filming the final scenes of the epic earthquake documentary from the roof of Tokyo's second tallest skyscraper, to the busiest crossing at dawn and then inside the twin towered megastructure that is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku. (It's got a solid observation deck worth checking out!)

Governor Koike is one of Japan's most powerful politicians, having overseen the running of the world's largest city since 2016 and prior to that in various cabinet positions, which is probably why her appearance was preceded by a literal army of PR staff.

I shit you not, there were at least seven members of staff working for her PR team who came in, during the hour setting up the equipment and carefully watched the whole endeavour.

Apparently, it's the first time she's appeared on a Youtube channel so they weren't taking any chances. Thankfully, the PR army were very kind and dare I say, a few were actual viewers of Abroad in Japan, delighted at our presence.

It made me wish I too had an army of public relations experts to keep my Family mart fried chicken comments in check.

The set up was undeniably spectacular.

By the end of preparations, the backdrop looked like a conference room on the fucking Death Star.

Koike walked in with crutches, given a recent highly publicised incident where she tripped while playing baseball on national television, spraining her leg and I was surprised how she seemed a lot less imposing in person, compared to her public persona.

After all, this is a woman that I vividly recall one of my Japanese teacher colleagues referred to as "very scary".

Far from it though, we had a good long 30 minute interview and though I felt completely out of it throughout, it turned out rather well and will no doubt be a solid 1-2 minutes in the actual documentary itself. (I can't wait for the PR team to realise we've massacred the interview right down to about 5% of the total shoot).

The earthquake documentary that's secretly dominated my schedule for the last two months or so has finally wrapped filming and the painstaking post production work is now under way! I pray to god it does well, as the whole team has done a top job on this one and above all, it's a serious topic that demands highlighting.

Still, we all know Youtube is where documentaries go to die unfortunately.

And who knows, now Koike and I have been acquainted, maybe I can pull off a "Day in the Life of Tokyo Governor" video sometime in the not so distant future - or at the very least, get her a complimentary cheeseboard down at Lost Bar.

It's been a funny old year meeting people in high places; Kings, Emperors, Prime Ministers and Governors.

Through honestly it's rammed home one thing.

- They're all just people.

Strip away the pomp and the pedestals and they're just other people wearing rather fetching clothing. It's all pretty humbling stuff.

And perhaps even disappointing, given how humans seem to wish there’s something greater than ourselves - that rockstars, film stars, writers and politicians operate on another level so we have something to aspire to. Something to believe in. (Although to be fair, David Bowie ticked that box).

The first time I met the rockstar Hyde, I was in awe.

After all, I met him at a venue where 2,000 people were literally queueing up to buy credit card, t-shirts and posters emblazoned with his face. It was the full rock star experience.

Fast forward to this year and I was in a bar in Tokyo with a friend and Hyde appeared out of nowhere, disguised in a gritty hoody and perched himself down at my table where we (drunkenly) chatted for the first time in half a decade like two old friends catching up.

It was only half way through I reminded myself, wait a minute - this man is one of Japan's biggest rock stars beloved by millions. And he's just sitting here showing me his tattoos in the corner of a bar.

I'll admit it was rather cool.

- Should've vlogged it.

People often ask which famous person I want to interview next and honestly I'm not that fussed. Give me a regular person with a compelling story any day - another Natsuki.

(Although to be fair, I wouldn't say no to hanging out with Hiroyuki Sanada).

And speaking of Natsuki we've just spent a whole week shooting exotic locations in west Japan for another massive upcoming video (guess the location).

In the meantime, he appears in today's brand new video with some groundbreaking acting.

We've got another episode out in the next few days so keep an eye out, but for now, check out today's 12 Unspoken Rules video on Abroad in Japan, if you missed it guys and above all have yourself a fantastic weekend!

12 Unspoken Rules NOT to Break in Japan | Abroad in Japan

🍿Watch: https://youtu.be/i_kYN7f8qUg?si=6SAqKXbqG49tOnxA

Chris