JAPAN Shuts its Doors Once Again...🥲 | ALSO: Journey Across Japan: CHRISTMAS Special (REVEALED!)
Added 2021-11-30 11:47:14 +0000 UTCSo there's been one thing keeping me going these last few months, fired up and motivated every day. And that's been the prospect of returning the UK for the first time to see friends and family for the first time in two years.
Beyond that, Christmas is my favourite time of year, and I love being home in the UK during the festive season.
But of course, COVID has one more cruel trick up its sleeve to screw us all over and with the arrival of the new and improved variant "Omicron", it looks like Christmas is postponed once again as Japan slams its doors shut and makes travel a quarantine-filled nightmare.
I'm not here to point fingers or get angry at anyone. I can understand the decision and while it an inconvenience and a bit distressing for myself, I feel sorry for the students and workers who'd hoped to FINALLY be able to come to Japan after what must have felt like a truly endless wait.
We can only hope this phase will be over soon, but for the time being Japan isn't accessible to anyone who's not currently a resident or a Japanese national.
More details here:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/11/29/national/japan-omicron-entry-restrictions/
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The 12 Days of CHRISmas | Series
Amidst all this shit news, I've tried to turn it around.
I figured, if I can't go home, I might as well take advantage of being here throughout December and to that end, I'm launching a 12 part video series this week, the 12 DAYS OF CHRISMAS (see what I did there), over on the Chris Abroad channel, where every other day in the run up to Christmas Day, I'll be posting a personal story time video, an experimental video or hosting a live show.
I want to have a bit of fun in the new Abroad in Japan studio and what better way than with this 12 part series! (And don't worry, I've got some help on the editing front, so I'm not going to destroy myself producing it....in theory).
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JOURNEY ACROSS JAPAN: Winter Special
And finally, in what might be the worst kept secret in Abroad in Japan history, we've got an amazing Journey Across Japan Winter Special, that I've just returned from filming with Natsuki and Joey up in snowy Hokkaido.
I figured given one of the highlights of this year was Journey Across Japan: The Lost Islands and the hit "Too Much Volcano", we'd celebrate that success with one last food-filled Christmas outing!
It's going to be a 30-40 minute one-off Christmas special and we had a lot of fun filming it, from the neon lit streets of Sapporo, to a snowy log cabin and a smouldering caldera.
EXPECT a sneak peek of the trailer here on Patreon in the next few days!
We've also still got the Patreon Behind the Scenes episode of the recent 24 Hours in Akita video with Ryotaro to come later this week, as well as the first episode of 12 Days of Christmas and a mega 47 things to do in Japan video, where I reveal my favourite things to do in each of Japan's 47 prefectures!
SO whilst December might seem a bit bleak on the news-front, hopefully we'll be able to keep you entertained over the coming weeks here on Abroad in Japan guys. (We've still got the Ken Watanabe video to come too!)
🍿 And in the meantime, in case you missed Ryotaro's return to Abroad in Japan this week, here's our 24 Hours in Akita road trip: https://youtu.be/NOzd7vFfP0k
Let's try to make the best of December given the crappy circumstances eh!
Hope you all have a great start to the week guys,
Chris
Comments
I'm still waiting for that sneak peek trailer! So excited for this video
Cullen Watkins
2021-12-30 08:24:53 +0000 UTCThanks for turning a negative situation into a really positive one that will bring happiness to your fans and hopefully to you as well, Chris - I hope you have a wonderful December. Happy holidays and I hope you get to visit home soon!!
Pam P
2021-12-07 23:40:16 +0000 UTCI’m sorry you don’t get to go home to UK over the holidays :/ hopefully you soon can! Btw holy hell the intro on the last Chris Abroad vid, mad cool editing! I want tot try something like that as well
Arevya
2021-12-03 14:43:13 +0000 UTCI was really hoping 2022 would be my year that I’d finally get to Japan. Damn it. Guess I’ll keep working on learning the language.
2021-12-03 02:09:48 +0000 UTCSorry to hear you're not able to go home to see your family for Christmas! Fingers crossed all this shit blows over in 2022 :D Looking forward to the winter special ^.^
Alex C
2021-12-02 12:47:16 +0000 UTCI'm so sorry, what a blow 😔. Here's to you having a fantastic Ramen Shop Christmas in Japan 🍷Love the 12 days of Christmas idea...lucky us! Natsuki really is a philosopher, and you really do have a way of turning things around 'like a magic'. Much love from the UK xx
The Vernes
2021-12-02 07:49:41 +0000 UTCI think he can go back to UK but once he goes there, he wont be able to go back to Japan due to the ban. I dunno if Christ has JP nationality but since he doesnt look like a japanese, they probly will tell him to fk off even if he has JP nationality until JP is opened again
2021-12-01 18:02:42 +0000 UTCThat sucks that you can’t visit your family. I hope you are able to enjoy the season regardless with the friends you’ve made there!
Sara Perrott
2021-12-01 15:36:02 +0000 UTCI've been thinkning about how this was going to effect you and another YouTuber that I follow who was also talking about going home to visit family as well. It's best to play it safe and see how all this plays out. I know that there are others out there that want to get home to see their loved ones as well, but this is the world we live in right now. But you took a negative and turned it into a positive. Maybe we'll have another KFC Christmas video this year in your brand new studio. Stay safe and take care of yourseld, Chris.
2021-12-01 05:39:25 +0000 UTCNice to see you transform crisis into opportunity! Excited to see what's coming this December, especially considering that it's summer over here. Some cold videos will be refreshing :D
Esteban Gaete Flores
2021-12-01 03:10:31 +0000 UTCI hope we can make it by then!
Esteban Gaete Flores
2021-12-01 03:09:11 +0000 UTCPart of my family is also abroad and we can't travel because of the restrictions, so I understand. And actually, even the family we have here with us, we might not be able to see for a second Christmas in a row, if they declare another lockdown because of the variant. So in a way, you might be amongst the luckier people, if all goes well in Japan and you get to be surrounded by friends during the Holidays. On the bright side though, there have been news that omicron might be much milder than the previous ones. So there's that haha
2021-11-30 23:20:39 +0000 UTCI got my offer to teach English on March 2020. Just when things started to seem to get moving it's been put back again. Nevermind, I've waited this long... what's a few more months going to hurt? Sorry to hear you won't be able to get back for Christmas but I am looking forward to the 12 days of CHRISmas, the Christmas special and the 47 things to do in Japan!
Michael Taylor
2021-11-30 20:13:06 +0000 UTCDespite the unplanned stay-cation, I like your positive take on it and am looking forward to the extra specials you’re producing . Keep up the great work.
2021-11-30 19:45:47 +0000 UTCI'm really sorry to hear that you won't be able to go back to the UK this Christmas. I hope you'll be able to see your family soon. I am really excited to see the Winter Special and the the 12 Days of CHRISmas. Should be epic! In the meantime, take care of yourself :)
Laura
2021-11-30 19:18:09 +0000 UTCAww Chris, I'm so sorry that the new restrictions mean it's not worth it to go to the UK! But spending 10 days quarantining at a government-designated facility does sound grim :S. The projects you have lined up do sound great and I hope you have lots of fun working on them!
Nynke de Haas
2021-11-30 18:55:02 +0000 UTCDoes Omicron mean you'll be delaying your planned return to see your family to the UK? Or does Japan's travel ban not apply to Japan residents like you?
Rynnik Elddi
2021-11-30 18:47:06 +0000 UTCin 8 months i am going there whether they like it or not
Foivos Anargyros
2021-11-30 18:08:03 +0000 UTCI love how the new name of Chris Abroad is getting use :) I hope your Christmas is still enjoyable, despite not being able to travel! Hang in there!, and hopefully soon!
2021-11-30 17:20:37 +0000 UTCJapan is still open to residents, so you could go to the UK and return without issue.
Bober2020
2021-11-30 17:08:47 +0000 UTCHang in there Chris! You’re doing the right thing with making content and being around friends during this winter season!
Heytony
2021-11-30 16:56:56 +0000 UTCGenuinely sorry that you can't go home for the holidays. I used to be in the military, and I've been stuck in some godawful places during the holidays. It can be really depressing. Hoping someone sends you a care package of UK Christmas treats!
Leah Webber
2021-11-30 16:45:49 +0000 UTCThese content news are giving me life. Something to look forward to while Chris(t)mas is slowly approaching. Chris is really out here saving us from bleak days..
Angi
2021-11-30 16:08:07 +0000 UTCthe first picture with "coming this christmas" is now my desktop background :D
Justin Larsen
2021-11-30 15:25:05 +0000 UTCI appreciate you taking this craptastic situation and making the best of it for yourself, those around you, and this community. Looking forward to the 12 Day series!
2021-11-30 15:11:43 +0000 UTCGreat... now i have 'Sap. Po. Ro. Too much caldera.' in my head.
2021-11-30 15:10:46 +0000 UTCImagine Christmas celebrated with cup noodle in the studio
scott kennedy
2021-11-30 15:09:46 +0000 UTCIt's not a conspiracy, but if it was, I'd hope the lizard men focussed thier attention on disrupting Pete's Japanese diet😂
scott kennedy
2021-11-30 15:08:08 +0000 UTCIt's all a conspiracy to stop Pete Donaldson from being brought any coolish or fancy kit kats🤣
scott kennedy
2021-11-30 15:06:37 +0000 UTCHappy CHRISmas everyone!
Baumkuchen
2021-11-30 15:02:03 +0000 UTCThanks for fueling my Japan void. I've been trying to go to Japan as a student since before covid was a thing. So I appreciate you showing things that I can do when I finally head on over. Merry Christmas
2021-11-30 14:15:06 +0000 UTCAs someone who just got back to Europe for work alone as we're entering lockdown.. your videos always brighten the day. Hope you're doing well and looking forward to the videos!
2021-11-30 14:12:59 +0000 UTCI'm sorry for you, but we are going to have a very happy Christmas thanks to you. I really appreciate it.
Satomi Arihara
2021-11-30 13:43:12 +0000 UTCBig sad about the closure but thanks for lifting our spirits bro
smeeth
2021-11-30 13:36:36 +0000 UTCYeah it should be. Chris has been grinding Japanese so hard that he's forgotten English grammar 😋
smeeth
2021-11-30 13:35:21 +0000 UTCChris, you really deserve that PS5 with Cyberpunk this Christmas, after such dreary news. At least that means we get more Abroad in Japan (and maybe also A Pan?!) this holiday season. 👀🙌🏼
2021-11-30 12:46:28 +0000 UTCSorry you can’t get back to the UK for the holidays. Thank you for keeping us entertained - this is such a stressful time of year for some of us and your videos help me relax. I realised how much happiness your videos have been giving me lately and increased my patronage amount a bit as a thank you!
Perri
2021-11-30 12:27:35 +0000 UTCSigh. At this rate I’ll never be able to enter Japan if it keeps putting up its “Sorry We Are Closed” sign. Thats ok. I’ll wait. In the meantime I will watch your videos!
2021-11-30 12:25:20 +0000 UTCAll the best Chris and looking forward to the number of videos that are to come. I only hope this shit show called Covid does one so that I can visit Japan next year.
2021-11-30 12:09:42 +0000 UTCMy first thought when I saw Japan closed their borders was that I hope your trip wasn't ruined. Really sorry to hear the news Chris but this is all very exciting!!
Tom Barber
2021-11-30 12:05:47 +0000 UTCShouldn't it be "its" doors? Not native so not sure
Parrik
2021-11-30 12:03:41 +0000 UTCSorry to hear that Chris, really tough to go so long without seeing your family. I hope things improve. Looking forward to your awesome videos as always!
Mim Franklin
2021-11-30 12:03:34 +0000 UTCOh awesome, really looking forward to the new Special. Living in SA, I'm all to familiar with this Omicron variant, which the world seems to blame on SA, but more important are the families and friends who won't be able to spend Christmas together, or enjoy a beautiful sunny Christmas in South Africa over the holidays. At least we have your videos to cheer us up! Also can't wait for new content from you amazing new studio!
Lyon Blecher
2021-11-30 12:00:45 +0000 UTCSorry to hear the news Chris, i imagine you and everyone else wishing to travel -especially to see family- must feel gutted. I hope you still have a great Christmas time. I and I’m sure everyone else in AIJ land are super excited for Chrismas, JAJ special, Sir Ken and everything else to come! 🤩 thanks for keeping things epic. Wishing you and us all a safe, healthy and very merry Christmas.
2021-11-30 11:59:34 +0000 UTCAnd apparently shift+return doesn't work on mobile. Anyway, sorry you're stuck there. I'm desperate to leave my home country, you're desperate to return to yours. It sucks a lot, but this is a rare example of world leadership doing what they should right away, and will be better for all of us in the long run. Ganbatte, etc. You've got this, Chris.
2021-11-30 11:57:09 +0000 UTCCan't wait for all of these great videos! Sounds like a blast! 🤩 Especially the 12 days of CHRIStmas. I'm gonna need something to keep me going. Lol But I am curious if you'll be doing another video opening your Christmas presents from us again.
2021-11-30 11:56:55 +0000 UTCthank you Chris for making Covid times that much more bearable!
Peter Varga
2021-11-30 11:55:37 +0000 UTCChris, when I heard the news that Japan was closing again I thought of you and your upcoming trip home. My heart goes out to you, and I hope you’re able to see your family and friends sooner rather than later. Also, I was selfishly looking forward to the in-person podcast episode with you and Pete. Please be well, and don’t get too discouraged. This too shall pass.
MarcusAuralius
2021-11-30 11:55:11 +0000 UTCIf it makes you feel any better, I was supposed to move there this past September, but everything got shifted over a year. Luckily, Japan opened its borders again, so I was ready to go in August 2022! But now that everything has shifted again, it's almost certainly not possible. I think I may end up just having to drop everything and go immediately as soon as the country opens up again.
2021-11-30 11:54:57 +0000 UTCWoo lots of exciting things to look forward to watching! Sorry about you not being able to get back to the UK, as someone who caught covid recently, its sadly far from over 😥 Anyway cant for all this new content, exciting stuff! 🥰
Caz T
2021-11-30 11:54:23 +0000 UTCUgh. That sucks. But I am glad you are turning the garbage news into something fun and new, can’t wait to celebrate with you!
2021-11-30 11:53:51 +0000 UTCI’m sorry this particular virus is showing up humans’ failings and frailties and straining your resilience but I have deep respect for your capacity to pivot. I’m temp in Hawai’i for family - where the tourism industry might take this news harder than you - where the government takes almost the opposite approach. So “downward comparison” is valid for most reasonable people
2021-11-30 11:53:51 +0000 UTCSo sorry to know that you can’t go back home again… I guess more KFC Christmas for you then 🥲
Charlene Chor
2021-11-30 11:51:12 +0000 UTCI’m really sorry about your holiday plans but I appreciate the mini series you guys are doing! It’s giving me and a lot of other people something to look forward to so thank you!
2021-11-30 11:51:10 +0000 UTCSorry you can’t get back home, Chris. But it looks like you’re keeping busy. I’m tired just from reading this 😅
2021-11-30 11:49:58 +0000 UTCI am so looking forward to this!!
Vagabond Turtle
2021-11-30 11:49:18 +0000 UTC
