Abroad in Japan Ramen Shop & 1980's STUDIO is FINALLY Open! (*Watch Now*)

I had no idea what to expect when you announced the set.. I think this is beyond everyone's wildest expectations. Absolutely killer work. Can't wait to see this set used to its potential!

AM

#AskAbroad If you were to make a new set, what theme would it have?

Miwa

Erm... Can we pause for a moment to admire Chris's beastly arms? He's Cap'n Jack Harkness... Prove me wrong. You simply cannot. I'm certainly pausing and admiring! Thanks for being an outlet during some sad times. Your circle of friends is quite AMAZING. Cherish them, Sir!

#AskAbroad What are your thoughts on youtube removing the public dislike counter? How do you think it will affect the Abroad in Japan channel?

#askabroad How much did you specify and how much did they decide themselves? For example: the "like a magic", did you mention that or did they do their own research on your channel and decided to add it themselves? Also, honestly i don't expect you to answer, but asking won't hurt and i'm curious: How much did it cost?

Naryoril

#askabroad How much of a nightmare is it to clean your new stage? Looks amazing btw, totally not jealous!

Thomas M

Journey Across Japan is my favorite series on Youtube. I even have the JAJ theme song as my ringtone (still don't even know the name of the song). My question is when are you going to sell some updated merch? That graffiti logo on the set would be an epic design! #ASKABROAD

Stephanie R.

That looks absolutely amazing! I heard you mention a bit in the podcast and thought 'how is he going to pull off alleyways in a studio?!' but never did I expect something like this! congratulations on the awesome set, I'm looking forward to all the content coming from in there!

Awesome set! Love the street art and neon signs.

This is so rad, I’m super jealous. But it’s well deserved for all the hard work you’ve put in.

Looks awesome!!!

#askabroad Not a question just get Norm in there with his 360 camera!

What an inspiration, honestly. It's so awesome to see someone able to pursue their creative dreams like this - and well-earned too. I love the Bladerunner aesthetic so much... I'm sure you have enough on your plate as it is, but if you'd ever consider doing a monthly tour of the studio, I'd happily pay to spend an hour there taking the best photos of my life. Day by day you've made progress towards this... and now you have the studio of your dreams, something truly amazing... Sorry to sound like a Hallmark card, I'm just so thrilled seeing an intelligent, creative person get to do things like this without getting crushed as a cog in a corporate wheel. I only hope that the internet continues to enable more people this kind of creative freedom, despite the Demonetisation Events and so on over the years. Had to subscribe to your Patreon just because of this... I want to support the things you are gonna do next, beyond my YouTube and podcast ad revenue contributions.

Sassamifrass

You’ve outdone yourself…the set is beyond amazing! You’ve really captured both the eras in Japan. #askabroad How involved were you in the process of building the set? Did you get the chance to get in the thick of it to have your dream set realized?

Jolie

When you talk about teaching English in Japan you often say that you should have another job opportunity in mind if you want to stay in Japan. What type of degree/jobs do you think would be good to work towards in order to live and work in Japan? #askabroad

Twitter Verified, Photo with Fuji-san, met Ken Watanabe and now your own studio... Happy for you, congrats! #askabroad what's the next big milestone? Your very own mascot design and costume?! I do have a few questions regarding the set itself. how many "backdrops" did you consider for this design? How many guests would it support for interviews/segments? How many of those "dirt" things are just greasy chicken grease stains? I know mega-chris would not have been able to resist and already made a mess with chicken. #askabroad

Gus Elizondo

That is spectacular! Nicely done, Chris.

Kent C. Strait

Really great, Chris. Your dream realized. Looking forward to your Blade Runner parodies...

Patti Schneider

Congrats on the new studio. It is absolutely stunning and you and the team that made it went all the way in! Can't wait to see what you'll do with it in the future!

Audric Schiltknecht

#Askabroad Not a studio question, but have you heard that plastic Love finally got an official music video after all these years!?? https://youtu.be/T_lC2O1oIew

Alvin

So you said you're planning on shooting a video showing off 12 hidden things that weren't shown off in the main video...that's great but I still want to see a more in depth video or pictures showing off like...everything. Every detail. #askabroad I guess my question is would you consider taking pictures of all the little details so we can pour over them and enjoy how much effort went into the set? Or making a very detailed video? Probably want to do the pictures TBH (less effort!).

Astor Reinhardt

The set looks amazing. I don't know what I was expecting when you said you were building a set, but my imagination definitely didn't manage to come up with this. Congratulations, well deserved!

claudia

The set looks absolutely INSANE!! 🤩 I can't wait to see what you do with it.~ But here's my question. Despite all the neon and few other lights, it looks rather dark in the set. Do you think proper lighting for filming certain things will be an issue? #askabroad

#askabroad Are you considering opening up the new studio set for others in Japan to rent or use for filming?

Andrew Roque

#ASKABROAD First, congrats on completing your studio, meeting Ken Watanabe, and becoming Twitter certified. Second, are you allergic to all animals or just cats? I know you've mentioned you had asthma. Does Japan have medicine to treat allergies?

Michelle Mundling

Absolutely amazing! Very happy for you! You've earned it. Can't wait to see what you do with the new space. Congrats!

Incredible set Chris, looking forward to the content coming out from it in the future. Well worth the cost!! The set idea has been in the works for years and it really shows. #askabroad But now that you have finally got the space and design you have wanted for some time, do you feel like you need another long term goal? E.g. Aside from video ideas, are there any more similar projects you are thinking of taking on in the future?

Calum Moffat

#askabroad Now you have reached this point in being able to have your own studio and an amazing set to film in what has been your biggest regret over the last nine years in getting to this point? Anything that you would have done differently? Anyhow Chris, absolutely amazing set. Genuinely looking forward to what else the future holds, the guests that you have visiting and the amazing videos that will appear

Chris san, congratulations for the wonderful studio! You are very thoughtful that you spent profit/savings for the better recording environment for the viewers. My reactions are totally same with your friends in the video. Wow! More power to you! おめでとうございます！これからもがんばってください！

wonderful set! great job!!

Peter Varga

Just close down your youtube channel for a bit, sell tickets to your studio instead :D If even a few of my Patreon bucks went into this awesomeness, that makes me very happy!

Geir Skjeret

The new set is awesome. It really felt like it was one of the alleyways of Tokyo where you can find hidden gems of restaurants or from Blade Runner! #Askabroad: You mentioned you had to sketch it out first, did you hire someone to do that, or handle that yourself and how detailed did it end up being?

H J

Hey Chris, I love the new set! My question is, was there any major difficulties with being allowed to build this ramen shop inside of your studio? Also, what was the set building companies first reaction to hearing your idea for this? Thank you so much! #askabroad

Max Schalo

Question - will you do a video with Emma (Tokidoki traveler) on your channel anytime this year or the next?

Ilyas

Hi Chris, I would assume that creating this amazing set has cemented you into Japan for many more years to come! Did you have to consider how long you plan on living in Japan during the process, or are you set on staying for the long term? #askAbroad

Alex Bennett

Two questions: 1. Does the 9 in the shop's name hold any specific significance? A blade runner reference maybe? 2. Do you have the option to alter the "view" out the window? Both technically and artistically, i guess. Could be useful for different scenes that are not nighttime, for example. #askabroad

Theo Da Kaffei

I think this may sound familiar to you at this point, but holy hell this set is incredible. Much more elaborate than I was ever expecting, I'm hyped for whatever new content ideas you can come up with! Here's a question: when working with the set design crew, how much back and forth was there? Did you suggest something and did they immediately get to work? Did they show you a concept and you instantly said yes? Or was it more of a collaborative process, slowly developing the ideas into what we see now? #AskAbroad

Bulldozer

I love how truly three-dimensional the set is. I had been picturing the outside of a ramen shop on the wall, but my imagination came nowhere close to the real thing! Amazing. The only thing that doesn't look 100% real is the skyline projected on the back wall; any plans to change the image to something that would fit with the streetscape? And for my real #askabroad question: what does the yellow neon kanji at the back of the ramen shop read?

Nynke de Haas

The studio looks jaw dropping!It was long overdue seeing how much effort you put in each and single video! My question: What tourist hotspots in Japan are, in your opinion, underwhelming? #AskAbroad

Kurisu-chan, your new studio exceeds the sky of time. 🙏🏼 Incredible job, man. Can't wait to see all the awesome content and memories you'll make here. 💪🏼🔥💯

Was that the silhouette of the life sized Ken Watanabe cut out behind that window you showed in your studio video? #askabroad Also, thank you so much for the incredible content.

Looks great, congratulations!

Marie-Laure Deprez

#askabroad is the scrolling sign in the ramen shop programmable? I keep expect it to say “like and subscribe” :). And after Connor’s comment I want to hear more about the stickers around the phone!

The set is truly unreal.....exceeding all expectations.

wendy weems

I woke this morning with a script for your studio in my head (yes over active brain!). Set in the not too distant future, when advertising has become truly individual and content changes for each passing viewer, someone hacks the system to engineer a husband/wife to kill the other half, by playing subliminal messages in their ads only. Could utilise the whole studio. Horror thriller type thing. Has that already been made? Anyway, the set is gob smackingly good, congratulations.

Niamh

It's so amazing, I can't believe it. Just wow!

Sand Raptor

Fantastic set! Can’t wait for you to lure Ryotaro into the Ramen shop and have him Red Wedding-ed. #ask abroad: Are some Japanese people moving back into the countryside because of the pandemic? Or is NHK World and VICE being misleading?

Alex Cheng

It looks so incredible! You could use the gacha to contain questions for your guests! My question is, how much steer were you able to give in the creative process of the build, and how much was a surprise for you until you saw the final product? P.S. additional question, how long before you setup the noodle maker and start charging guests for dinner 😂 #askabroad

Sarah Konst

The studio is absolutely amazing Chris, it turned out so much better than I thought!

DinoKōyō

Fantastic set, Chris. With the seating area, it's vaguely reminiscent (in a good way!!) of a British Saturday morning children's show. Only wildly more upmarket, way more adult, and infinitely less flimsy. Looking forwards to see what you do with it. :)

Annmarie Cadwallader

Does running a successful channel (yes, it is the best channel about Japan) makes you consider staying in Japan much longer than you initially expected? #askabroad

Valerij Romel

#AskAbroad When you decided on the set, why did you decide to use both a 60s and an 80s style of shops as opposed to the latter?

Blace

#askabroad Hey Chris, now that you have an official Ramen shop, what would the Abroad Special Ramen be?

#askabroad What is your all time favorite prop/decoration in the new studio? Love the new set, I’m so excited to see what new content is created in it! Congrats!

pinkisacolor

#askabroad Hey Chris! Loving the new set. If you’re comfortable with it, would you be okay to disclose the cost of the whole thing or maybe a range? Thanks a bunch for the amazing content and I can’t wait to see more!

#askabroad was there a piece that you wanted to have in the set but couldn't put in? In any case though, the studio looks absolutely AMAZING.

Sean Salvador

The candy store in your studio reminds me of my childhood. (I'm in my late 40's 😁) If you could go back to the '80s in Japan, is there anything you would like to do? #askabroad

Satomi Arihara

The studio looks absolutely amazing, the shutters and bar look so real! I do have a question tho, can you mount cameras in specific spots in the studio for fixed angles if needed?

2Phan

im so happy you were able to make this happen, its so beautiful to see<3 cant wait for the exclusive episode~ i loved the drawing of you on that wall the most i think hehe

Katrinchen Resident

#askabroad Now You have a stunning set it still seems to miss something sooo... when Abroad In Japan channel will get it's own pet (preferably a cat) and what will it be?

Malgosia

Studio looks great! Would you start uploading in HDR to appreciate that neon glow? #askabroad

Alexandros Simotis

I wrote it somewhere before i am a huge fan of 1980th cyberpunk, so im actually in love with that Set! All you need now is the typical Decard coat and some fancy flying cars to pass outside the "Window" :D Can't wait for Abroad in Neo Sendai xD

Seek83

Also my question: Do you miss crumpets? #askabroad

Karl

The set looks SO amazing. I can't wait to see it in the future videos! But dusting that place must take a week.

The youtube episode was amazing Chris! Super happy for you man. Absolutely can't wait to see what you do with this!

Karl

Looks incredible! My question: What's do you go from here with the channel? What's your next big goal? #askabroad

HighTide

How did Japan come to adopt the collectivist aspect to their culture ? As well as the addition of minimalism, how’d it all come about ?

FupaLawd

#AskAbroad Is there anything British on the set, and if not what British item would you most like to add?

Andrew Dickinson

Love the set! How imaginative and creative! Looking forward to seeing many videos and maybe some improvised comedy sketches here?! :D

Liam Miles

Very well designed well done ! You should decorated cdawg next and charge him for fortune!