Abroad in Japan Patreon Exclusive Q&A: SUBMIT Your Questions! | *FILM FRIDAY* "Fireworks" (1999)

Watched the film last night, great recommendation. Appreciate it.

Ryori

Hi Chris, Would there be a possibility any more videos of Natsuki visiting the UK at some point in the future I'm not sure if he has a view of other parts of the UK but I loved seeing his reactions for the time he was in London. The UK and Ireland could always use more of a "life is balloons" way of life that we can all learn from Natsuki. I always find myself coming back to Natsuki the movie and rewatching it, the documentary is so funny and always cheers me up when I need it. The quality of your videos are incredible and never fail to entertain! Also, did you ever find wanting to move abroad to a rural part of Japan for placement hard to explain to family and mates why you wanted to, as its a very hard and complicated decision to make for anyone. Cheers

Fun fact: The rather crude drawings and painting seen through out this film, were Takeshi's own - mostly done around the time of his recovery from a major motorcycle crash. He had something of a creative spree around this time and created what I think are his best 3 films (Kid's Return, Hana-Bi, Kikujiro)

Also, why hasn't Zunda been exported around the world yet? It's delicious, Sendai's best kept secret!

Mayank Dadheech

What will it take you to film a music video to Monkey Majik's Umarvelous, possibly the greatest song of all time, starring yourself, Pete and Natsuki and copious amounts of Zunda?

Mayank Dadheech

If I want to find a job in Japan, what level of Japanese should I have?

Is it more benificial for you if we listen all the way to the end of your podcasts with Pete? I often like the tune so play it right out after your sign off, then there is normally a couple of ads. I'm happy to listen the whole way through if it means you get more 🤑

What are Japanese people like on the road? I know here in America people can be oblivious jerks who cut people off and yell at each other, but what about Japan?

What are some of the most expensive purchases in Japan that were not worth the money or the hype? (item, food, experience, etc) And what are some that were definitely worth the money/ hype?

Okay Chris, here’s a funny and kind of joking question but also, a somewhat serious one. (Although I don’t expect you to have some magical answer, but maybe a unique take on the situation lol) How do I convince my South Korean girlfriend to move to Japan with me? I’m Canadian, and we met here in Canada while she was on a working holiday visa. At that time I was in the process of interviewing with a few Japanese schools to teach English. I put my dream of moving to Japan on hold for her but I still long to move to Japan. Like you know, some Koreans hold a certain grudge against Japan for their years of war and invasions into Korea in the past. My girlfriend is one of those people 😂 HELP, the dream of living in Japan still burns inside of me.

What do you think of the overabundance of people named Chris? It's almost not funny at this point, there's literally 3 Chris' in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Chris Evans is my favorite). Surely we'll stop naming people Chris at some point. I guess as a second question, if you could rename yourself, so you can finally be unique, what would you call yourself?

Liberty Anne Yanaga

Can we expect any epic documentaries any time soon? All of them so far were bloody amazing. Cheers

If you were to ever move to another country, which country do you think it would be? (Excluding the U.K.) #ASKABROAD

Joel Mitchell

I'm (hopefully) traveling to Japan in November for 2 weeks. For obvious reasons it could be delayed so I have not been booking hotels or other paid plans. If I go to Japan without booking like this will I be utterly screwed or is it pretty easy to get places to stay as I go?

Hey Chris, thanks for all the work you put in to your videos. When you watch movies / videos that are in Japanese, do you turn on the English subtitles or can you understand everything without them? Thanks!

Before anything else; a discovery🤩! You know you are a fan when you realise that you miss Chris voice showing us Japan. My question would be: aside from the JET program do you know of other ways to get to work in Japan for us foreigners? Is Japan still a closed country in someway or another to people from other countries?

Luciano Arrieta Martins

I just re-watched the Studio Ghibli film "Only Yesterday," which prompted me to look up Mt. Zao, a location that is featured in the movie. I was particularly struck by the volcanic crater lake that looks like something from another planet. I couldn't remember if you had ever done a video there, so I looked it up and was reminded that it was the location of Ryotaro's most nearly successful attempt to murder you (by taking you skiing in a blizzard). But of course the visibility was near zero, so there was no scenery to speak of. Have you considered doing another Mt. Zao video, this time in warmer weather, when there would be less danger of assassination and a better opportunity to see the view? It looks like an amazing place.

Do you feel you have a responsibility to stay in Japan due to the success of your channel or is Japan a place you wish to stay long term anyway? Is abroadinjapan slowing morphing into abroadathome? :) love the channel, podcast and content Chris, keep up the great work, kanpai!

Heath

すごい

Ryori

Have you ever thought about doing a documentary or a video or something on the murder of Junko Furuta? #ASKABROAD

Is it really that important for you to have your twitter verified? How would you celebrate it when twitter does verify them? #ASKABROAD

Niken Larasati

With the lockdown limiting travel have you found anywhere fun/interesting in Sendai that you won’t have probably explored otherwise.

Hi Chris. I love the luggage forwarding system in Japan but I know some hotels don’t offer this so I was wondering which if any of the top 5 hotel chains you mentioned offer this?

Nick M

Are there any Japanese mascots you really find to be annoying?

Dusty B

Now that you're planning this Journey Across Japan Car Spin-off, do you plan to revisit some of the JAJ cities/extended area that stood out to you in greater depth?

H J

Have you considered buying a property in Japan? What would your dream home be like?

Mz. Ultraviolence

On a scale from thrilled to euphoric how happy are you that the Japanese government has officially declared hanko stamps to be unnecessary?

Eels

I was wondering if there will be firework festivals this summer as well, and are you planning to make any videos on it? Admittedly I've visited Japan about twice as many times as donaldson himself and those drunken, fried food-eating yukata festivals with Japanese buddies are definitely my favorite memories. Greetings, Erik from Norway.

Oh man Hanabi is great. And the soundtrack from Joe Hisaishi is spectacular.

M

Hello Chris, I was just wondering, in your first driving video back in 2012, you mentioned that you would get a Kei car. So how come you didn't get a Kei car and instead got a Honda Fit?

Xenin

Because you are moving towards making documentaries and short films, have you ever considered closing the circle and going back to school for filmmaking?

Are there places you would recommend people should visit, but don't due to wanting to keep tourists out of your favorite places?

Hey Chris! I’ve sent a package to your PO. Hopefully it doesn’t get lost in the mail! I’m not rich, so I couldn’t give it priority status. Therefore, not sure when it will arrive. I’ve never sent anything to Japan before. Anyway, hope you enjoy! As for my question for the Q&A, what’s your favourite ramen shop in all of Japan? Cheers!

Chantal Ward

What do you think is the best way of enduring the immense humidity of Honshu?

Akira Satoh

Chris, how much of your success do you/would you contribute to Natsuki?

Elaine Sparklemonkey Campbell

You mentioned you'd like to do a series exploring parts of Japan that you haven't been to yet. Have you got a list of the places that you would visit in that series?

Is Naoki (Japan: Story of Love and Hate) and the first guy in TEACHING SWEAR WORDS TO JAPANESE PEOPLE the same person? I've been meaning to ask this as they really looked and sounded alike, also, since you've confirmed that you've been able to get in touch with him personally.

Hey Chris! It's a magic! Do you have any recommendations for apps and websites for a Japanese language beginner? I only know a few words, and phrases and currently started with human Japanese app. Have a good one!

Was there that one kid you absolutely dreaded teaching while being an English teacher? I think we all have that one kid from hell

What's your go to hangover food? I don't have any because I don't get hungover and love mocking my friends the morning after by being overly cheerful and loud.

Look at you being old, making references to old videos, how old of you. ;P

Eels

If you could live in any previous era of history what era, and what country?

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like? Sorry, all my creativity was spent on a brutal work week. 😋

Argus9 (Jonathan)

This film is one of my favorites. I think 'a two hour poem' is a good way to describe it. The beach in the last scene is my hometown!

Satomi Arihara

Have you ever looked back at one of your previous videos and wished you did it differently? If so which one

For someone that’s trying to go to Kobe how accessible is it because I’m in a wheelchair & im going for the go go nihon program for just wondering.

TheCripTaku

I really love movies from Takeshi Kitano!He visited the International Movie Festival in Rotterdam, February 2000, with the movie Kikujiro. Afterward there was a Q&A with Takeshi, at least, that was the plan. But 10 minutes into the Q&A he excused himself, with a rain check for the next morning, because he was to drunk. He explained that he had just arrived a couple off hours before, didn’t sleep, met some fellow filmmakers, started talking and soon bottles of wine were on the table. There was a bottle of wine on the table with him during the Q&A and by the looks of it Takeshi had a great time!😄 He was taking pictures of us, the audience applauding for his movie. I went back the next day and even Takeshi was a bit more quiet than the day before, obviously, he did a full hour and it was a lot of fun. Takeshi is a funny guy!😄 It’s one off my favorite movie memory’s.😊

Judith Goudzwaard

Not to start a panic, but out of curiosity, if YouTube disappeared tomorrow, what would you do? Would you seek an alternate video platform? Or do you have a career in mind you would be interested in exploring. Keep up the great work!

What is Japan like currently with the pandemic, are many shops/restaurants open now that restrictions are being lifted? And impossible to tell of course but do you think there will be a second wave in Japan? We have had a trip booked for November since last year and just praying it won't be cancelled :)

Hey Chriss I was wondering how hard is it to live in japan without a 4 year degree of university?

Seeing as we all mainly love a cheeky full English breakfast, can you get heinz baked beans? If not dare I ask about the alternatives. 🇬🇧

Music! 🎶😊 What is a go to band and or song(s) that strike your fancy, help you unwind, or set the day/night in motion with work or just plain relaxing and lounging about? (I personally have a retro sax weakness when I'm working. LOL 🎷) And i have jotted this film down for a watch! 📺

Jewel - (Freyja's Konjures)

What’s the oddest pairing of flavours you’ve found in Japanese food?

Hay! Finally being allowed to travel out of my prefecture and it has just been so long that I can’t seem to remember any plans I had before good ol’ Rona. So, any recommendations in the prefectures surrounding Fukui? But to be honest, no plans have been set so anything goes. Maybe something you’d highly recommend :) thanks!

Have you ever involved yourself in the political scene in Japan? Or is that something that isn’t really as prominent as other countries like the US?

What are your top 3 N64 games?

Matthew Cirilli