NOTIFICATION SQUAD: Would you let the Namahage demons in to scare the hell out of your kids? Back on the road with Ryotaro in search of Japan's rarest chicken and it didn't disappoint. God bless Yakitori, my favourite dish.
Our family thinks we’re nuts because we taught our kids about t he Namahage 😂 we don’t have the costumes or anything obviously, but when they’re really naughty my husband hides and makes the noise lol it scares them but they love it too, they ask to see pictures and videos of them
ryotaro, i have a question: were you actually saying the dogs were inevitable? i thought it seemed like you said they were inimitable and chris misunderstood but you just decided to let him keep going because it was funny. i know it’s been a few months but i’m curious if you remember what you were saying?
Considering Akita were bred for hunting bears and other large animals, I'm not surprised they're so massive! You need an absolute unit for that >:D Another cool bear-hunting specialized breed in Japan is the Hokkaido, which is actually smaller but also very brave and well adapted to Hokkaido's cold temperatures.
@Maku Kawakami Chihuahuas, due to their size and long history of inbreeding, can be psycho little buggers. They have what many people refer to as "short man syndrome," as in they act super aggressive to make up for their size. I guarantee you could find a chihuahua that would go after a bear, even if it ended up becoming a snack. 😂
@88stdkillers Came here to say this. You are spot on. Ain't no dog wrestling a bear down. Closest you get to that are Kaerelian Bear Dogs but at best they just antagonize.
@Abriel Robertsson I think they get them confused with Shiba Inus who kinda look the same, but have more like Akita Pup size. Though even shiba inus are still bigger then people think.
I like how Chris's friends are so different to him in every way, shape or form but they all have chemistry nevertheless and bring something cool, interesting or wacky. I believe they all befriended Chris because of the snarky sarcasm he brings to their lives (and the ability to do ads and songs almost instantly).
Only close-minded people think they can only be friends with people they're exactly like. You don't have to have a lot in common to vibe well together. Me, I have always felt and been treated like I'm vastly different and an outsider. I am not a people person because of this. But on the rare occasions I meet someone I vibe well with, I couldn't care less how much common ground we have. As long as someone is cool to me and doesn't give me bad vibes, I'll be friends with them.
Those namahage and the surrounding traditions are astoundingly similar to my homeland's Krampus and Perchten traditions (yes, I'm from Austria). Scaring little children into behaving seems to be more of a universal thing than I thought. 😅
yeah same in slovenian its called Kurentovanje here its people dressed in simmilar ways and they scare people on the street and enter houses to scare or take children
In southern Germany we also have the Krampus! At 6th of December Nikolaus and Krampus visit your home and read of a list what nice or naughty things you have done. We always had to play a song on the flute for Nikolaus as well. Then if you were nice you got a big bag with presents in it (mostly sweets and fruit). When you were naughty it's said that Krampus will put you in his bag and carry you away. Krampus was reeaally horrifying to us haha. I remember there were rumors around the neighbor kids that Krampus actually took someone with him and beat him up. Talk about childhood trauma haha
I don't think there is something like that near were I live. We didn't really had Christmas as it is before, it was only a religious holiday and may be burned who celebrated in other ways. I imagine those traditions are more northen
Some things never change: Chris roasting Ryotaro, Ryotaro trying to kill Chris and the fact that even though they know Chris is left handed, Ryotaro keeps siting on the left during the filming of the food takes and gets elbowed to death everytime Chris reaches for food
While Hachiko may be the most famous Akita inu, there's another fictional one that's surprisingly popular here in Northern Europe/Finland. The early-mid 80's manga and anime Ginga nagareboshi Gin tells the story of a Akita puppy that's trained to hunt bears in the northern wilderness and eventually he joins a group of other dogs to take down the tyrant of the mountains, the massive bear Akakabuto. The Ginga series by Yoshihiro Takahashi has multiple spinoffs and continuations but the original is still my favourite.
While Chris might not particularly love this, taking a bike around Tazawako, or visiting the nearby soy sauce brewery (with actually very tasty soy sauce ice cream), and then of course checking out Kakunodate (which is also nearby), is amazing, especially in Hanami season. In August, the Omagari fireworks festival is a nice trip because it's really huge and the shinkansen station is literally walking distance from the venue, so easy to get there and back from Sendai.
Omagari fireworks really was an amazing show, shame its been cancelled for two years now but hopefully next year it starts again. Thou I dont know about sendai, the last train for yotugoya station was very early for us making us miss the end of the show sadly. A car feels needed for that show.
I visited my Japanese friend in Akita in 2010 and it was incredible. We went to a ski resort in the mountains and got to bathe in the onsen and look down on a beautiful valley while it rained. Not the only amazing experience I had in Japan but it stands out
Aww, I had heard of Hachiko before but not until I saw the statue in this video did I realise how similar the story is to Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh, Scotland. Fascinating as always Chris 👍🏻
Ryotaro -- 5 star hotels and inns, rare exquisite cuisine, chill and comfy hot springs Natsuki - abandoned and haunted love hotels, cemeteries and hornet larvae
@Rutt Roe Yeah Chris, why haven't you solved this Visa issue and cured the world of disease and hunger? You should be ashamed of yourself making videos like this.
YAY the video I've been looking forward too is finally here. Thank you Chris for finally going to Akita after all the times I bugged you to do so. And I believe Sharla was the camera man wasn't she? not sure, but I know she went with you when you filmed this Akita venture. :)
7:40 I wonder if someone else notices this, but the transiton here is actual gold. Before, Chris talks about inevitable and Thanos, here he brings the word up again and adds this snap sound as a hard cut transition. Absolutely master level. Bloody epic, mate.
I love seeing each region's distinct culture and unique selling points ... in my 3 decades before finding this channel I just thought Japan was all overdeveloped and crowded like Tokyo, but there's so much variety and experiences behind that surface appearance - thank you Chris!
んだんだ, great video Chris! I've lived in Akita for 6 months and can confirm that's one of the best place to experience the "real" Japan. Like most of Tohoku is one of the less touristy regions of Japan, but Akita prefecture is perhaps the least known by foreigners. Its rice, the Komachi rival that of Niigata, and the Kiritampo nabe is such a treat when the temperature drops and outside start snowing. Tohoku's and Akita's people are some of the friendliest and warmest, despite their infamous cold reputation. In winter is beautiful to snow there and to visit the Kamakuras and drink nihon-shu inside with locals! The Akita bijin is true, but unfortunately most of the real Bijin goes to Tokyo or the big cities!
"Not only is there a horrible creature next to us, there is also a namahage." Chris never missing the chance to clown on Ryotaro, even if he basically made the same joke a minute ago. lol
@J.E.Wattes They egg on each other for fun and people enjoy the dynamic... he's listed him as one of his good friends multiple times and on streams or behind the scenes videos they're like normal people.
The Namahage traditions remind me of the St. Nicolas traditions common here in central Europe. Instead of weird oni, we have devils from Hell that give bad children coal or attempt to take them back to Hell with them. Also seen are the large processions of devils during what is known as Krampusnacht (I believe?). People in Austria especially like this one from what I've heard (Austria is one country over, I am not sure on details). It's so interesting seeing traditions on the other side of the globe that seem so familiar!
I remember seeing Krampus on the street, I ran into the house, hid under the bed, and he still found me ! I was terrified, he pulled me from under the bed, I thought I was going to die, while my parents were laughing their ass off.
My Grandfather was German and he told me stories of Krampus coming into the school with St.Nicholas. The naughty children were bundled up in a sack and carried off while the other children got chocolates.
Always enjoy your vlogs that involve food and I appreciate that you give some background to what you are eating. You and Ryotoro are perfect foils for each other. 👍🏻 And yes the Akita is so cute. I’ve only seen one in my neighborhood of West Hollywood where the dog of choice is the French bulldog.
You always make me absolutely jealous with your foods! It's so expensive to eat out in USA unless you like fast food burgers and fries, especially if you go out here for anything Japanese. Last time my friends and I went out for "authentic" Japanese food, it cost us $50 a person x_x I need to get to Japan... I need to remind myself to always have food at hand when I watch your stuff.
This was a great video! I live and work in Akita prefecture. MY wife's family were Hinaijidori farmers for a very long time near Oodate. It is a royal pain in the ass to farm those chickens!
Chris is literally scared of everything. So just imagine the effect of the Namahage on him 😱 I am sure that hitman Ryotaro is there for Chris' protection 😎
So Happy to see That your having another adventure with Ryotoro again, havnt seen this guy in ages in your videos Chris. I think my favourite is your adventures with Ryotoro and Natsuki! It would be really awesome if you both could try on a Namahage costume on 🙌🏾🤙🤙 That face that Ryotoro makes when he says: Ryotoro bazooka and his old Greek Batman voice haha 😂
Just what I needed when stuck in coughing covid hell, a good old-fashioned Chris and Risottoro overnight trip(with chicken)! Makes the sleep deprivation and isolation a little easier to bear. Cheers!
I'm Greek and can attest to Ryotaro's accurate impression! Mind you the impression is of a chronic smoker in their 60s that has never heard of the word cholesterol and has not seen his genitals in 17 years because of the beer belly. But spot on! Kudos to Ryotaro. The guy's a legend!! 🙂😂
I love the videos with Ryotaro - he is always incredibly interesting. Would love to see more of him in your videos - I always learn something new when you two are together. Just throwing it out there, but with you, Sharla and Ryotaro all in Sendai together, why not do a monthly webcast together? I understand that Sendai is quite large, but others come from Tokyo to film....this could be another way to engage your audience. Also, since I am throwing caution to the wind, would love to see others included like Ryotaro, Sharla, Norm, etc. in your "Journey Across Japan" series. Those were some of my favorites when you trekked across Japan (no need to cycle). You could do it by bullet train, train, bus, etc...with the various individuals listed above added to the mix. Do what you will, but miss seeing all of the others on your series. Thanks!
I went to Akita International University for their summer intensive a few years back and miss it every day. Glad to see such an awesome place being shared with the world.
I love 秋田県! I thought you would have tried kiritampo nabe on camera, the speciality of Akita 😭 It's an amazing food, much more original that plain old (but good) oyakodon
All of your videos are great. But Ryotaro makes the videos even better. The two of you combined have such a great energy and a very entertaining sense of humour. Keep it up guys!
GAGAGAGAGA I just disliked my own face because I am unpretty. HOWEVER: I always like my GOOD videos however. No dislikes allowed where I come from. Don't be mean, dear ha
Akita is my favorite prefecture to visit. Thank you for highlighting some places I've not found in years of researching the area! I'll take the Nairku line north in the fall and then go to the Akita Dog Museum. Hopfully in 2022!
Just saw the travel ban in force for Japan now too....😞. Your channel has been a wonderful way to travel when I can’t go anywhere (abroad)! Was hoping to make it to Japan this year~ been fascinated with the country since I was a kid. Thanks for all the fun content and here’s to more adventures! Those namahage weirded me out too! ❤️from Portland OR
Gahhh I'm so envious, it's so cold here and there's no doggos and you get to play in hot springs and meet puppers and I don't care about the chicken part but the rest all looks fun 😣 .... I need to get out and travel and have a travel-y sorta drink kinda asap lol 🍹😅
I’ve just been able to sample the delights of yakitori from the comfort of my own home. Chicken breast, cut into pieces, heavily salted Chicken drumstick, cut into pieces, heavily salted And the skin (you guessed it, salted) from both, peeled off and all threaded onto skewers, under the grill for 10 minutes and then eaten straight away. Give chicken skin a go if you don’t like the sound of it! It’s crispy and almost buttery in taste, really rich it’s SO good
theres a yakatori restaurant in australia i go to a lot, and it is by far the best best ive ever eaten in my life. its like a small family that runs it, and they try to be as authenitically japanese as they can, i cant wait until i get the chance to go to japan and try more of this
Has it really been 7 months since the last time Ryotaro has showed up in a video? Feels like way longer. I'd love to see him again. He's such a goof head.
Been watching your channel for years and I have to say, each episode you upload is a masterpiece start to finish. You can clearly see the time and effort that goes into the production of each episode its simply amazing. I find myself captivated, the transitions, narration etc. Also, love the dynamic you have with Ryotaro, adds so much to each video. Keep it up, i love episodes like this
Another superb video! Why are all your best videos with Ryotaro? You always go to the most amazing locations when Ryotaro is on board. More prefecture videos around Japan, they're great!
My daughter and I have been watching your videos ahead of our trip to Japan, not til 2023 so still got some time. Would love to see a video of Must See Places If you Only Have a Week. There's so much to do I'm worried that we're going to spin our wheels for a week and not maximize the limited time we have.
This video inspired me to make my own version of oyakodon. As a Dutch guy without too much experience it is fun to make, seeing as I’ve made it thrive now!
I wouldn't mind hanging out with Ryotaro. He's got a great sense of humor (I mean, he puts up with Chris Broad) and knows a lot of good places to go vacationing in Japan.
I think this is the only youtube channel I've seen with production value comparable to TV travel shows. The main difference is the people on this channel are 1000X more interesting and likable.
I love all of your videos so much and I'm currently studying film in college and your videos truly inspire me and make me want to create documentaries like you do!
As a weird coincidence, I cooked myself oyakodon for the first time this evening before sitting down to watch this video. It would seem I need to reduce my sauce far more, based on what I see here!
Chris…mate of all the videos you’ve made about mouth watering food…this is by far the one that had me drooling most. Omg. This alone is a reason to visit Japan
How come Chris won't talk about the 370,000 people trying to enter Japan with a work visa or student visa right now? The same people that watch his videos are the same people that are currently struggling trying to get their visas approved to the Japanese government, without us he'd have no viewership