I Experienced Japan’s CRAZY Football Culture!

[@よっしーー-j2r]

Tokyo Verdy fan here. Can’t believe my team made it on to this channel. I was also at the game at the ultras end and wish I could’ve met you guys! Just wanted to explain one super important context to this game. Tokyo verdy haven’t made it to J1 in over 15 years. This game meant everything to the team and fans. For the first time in 15 years we’re back in J1. You guys actually went to one of the best games in J2 history. Thanks for coming and hope y’all enjoyed!

[@10xcellent]

Must've been amazing to even experience something like that. I support Leeds as well as Ellis so when he likened it to us winning at Wembley he really wasn't wrong. All the best for the new season for you and Verdy :)

[@MiSide_fan4580]

Dude my team Yokohama fc went to j2

[@MiSide_fan4580]

But congrats on j1

[@どっかのY君初音ミクを崇めよ]

@@MiSide_fan4580 goodbye💚️🩵

[@Reichssophist]

(同じように長く苦しみ、同様に昇格できなかった千葉サポーターの図)

[@bronx0672]

I'm a big fan of Verdy,and also was in there. I'm happied to share with you our promotion in the day in the place. Please come again for our game this season 2024!

[@spennyfanchris]

As a Verdy fan from the UK, this was a brilliant day for me!

[@awaydaysfootball]

🫡🤝

[@SGMiner21]

Ben Gibbs in top form once again always great to see him on the channel, Japanese footy culture looks class as well

[@awaydaysfootball]

He was!

[@tmttvf]

My cousin ex Norwich City defender Mark Bowen played for Shimizu S-Pulse in 1997. Great video again 👍🏻

[@kalutd8786]

I'm from Australia but have lived in Nagoya for a year now and I have to say the Football culture over here is amazing.

[@NotSoMLG_OCE]

I live in aus but I have family in Nagoya. Went to their game at toyota stadium vs sanfreece last year. Can absolutely agree. I was in the upper stand near the active area and absolutely loved it. I am now a proud owner of 3 nagoya grampus jerseys (2 of which were bought at 2nd hand shops (05/06 home cant tell which one because both kits were basically the same and 2020 away).

[@dtm2333]

The vibes are always better when Ben is the guest

[@htblproductions8612]

justice for Alfie #indrians #indramiddleparty

[@babygravey]

I reckon alfie would be raving about the Japanese toilets

[@brunoguy2317]

True

[@pietropes1322]

I only watch if Ben is in it. He's a chill guy.

[@ProfessorDarkAcademia]

He’s an absolute wild card. Complete curveball thrower. An unknown item in the bagging area.

[@glswenson]

Japan is my favorite country as well. An amazing and beautiful place. I never caught a football match while I was there, but I was able to watch some NPB baseball. This is top of my list for the next time I go. I really don't understand how these videos don't all crack a million views. Part football, part travel vlog. I love them all.

[@haruna4177]

I'm a Tokyo Verdy fan. I was also at the national stadium for that playoff and your video reminded me of the excitement we had that day. We are going up!! woohooooo!!! And I'm happy you guys enjoyed your trip to Japan. Thank you and I hope you'll get to come back and watch many more Japanese football games!

[@Sam-mi9wi]

Japan is the most amazing country in the world, especially for Westerns considering how different it is to what we consider normal. Been there twice and never wanted to leave. Footballs brilliant but you really have to experience the country simply as a tourist. You are also a lucky bastard. Getting to see a perfect view of Mt Fuji while on the Shiskanen is so incredibly rare as it's usually covered by clouds.

[@rosiedollface]

Your videos are so cleanly edited ! Loving these proper away game videos.. Love to see if you can a game in Norway or Sweden.. Perhaps Denmark too..

[@awaydaysfootball]

Love to hear that!

[@rosiedollface]

@@awaydaysfootball You're welcome Ellis - watched most of the older videos last night + your confidence has gotten stronger :3

[@tonypritchard1345]

Domo arigato a great vlog didnt realise just how passionate japans fans are cheers

[@TheCulturalBomb]

Damn that's an amazing journey. Some of the talent Japan has could see them get far over the next 10-20 years.

[@brendanhunter389]

2026 world cup finalists

[@ひひ-q4g]

@@brendanhunter389預言者

[@EvanBerofsky]

no surprise to see seattle mariners clothing in japan. ichiro suzuki is one of japan's most revered baseball players and spent most of his north american career with the mariners where he won a number of awards - including rookie of the year and MVP in 2001. (seattle also have had a couple other japanese players over the years.)

[@valpix7007]

Yup. Kenji Johjima, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Hisashi Iwakuma, Yusei Kikuchi, just to name a few.

[@sdot5389]

Also, the Mariners were owned by Nintendo from 1992-2016.

[@Fo44667]

I am Japanese, but I do not know Ichiro Suzuki. He is not famous in Japan.

[@LRaf1n]

​@@Fo44667いや有名だろ。イチロー知らない人のほうが珍しいよ

[@ポリ袋-b3d]

​@@Fo44667悪いけどそれはあなたが無知なだけ

[@sakutaro9300]

I am really happy that you came to Japan again. It was a great pleasure for me, who was born and raised in Nagoya, to come to see the final game of the Nagoya Grampus. It's just a pity that our original home stadium, Paloma Mizuho Stadium, couldn't be used because it was being renovated for the Asian Games and the Toyota Stadium was used as part of the WRC course and the turf was removed.

[@pedroflores4935]

Just seeing your 2nd trip makes me want to go and make sure to add a football game in my to do list when I get the chance to visit Japan. Baseball was already on my list, but now I have to make sure I go to see a football and baseball!

[@タバ-y3u]

日本各地のサッカースタジアム巡り、楽しそう。 前園さんとも会ってるしすごい！笑 来年のJリーグは東京に1部のチームが3つに増えるし、日本のサッカーを楽しんでください

[@nick_mills]

Ben getting emotional makes this video more real! Amazing opportunity for the both of you!

[@cragsniff81]

Always love these videos. The chemistry between yourself and Ben always makes me laugh. Best football channel on KZbin

[@timgb7882]

Great to see you back in Japan! My local team, Zweigen Kanazawa just got relegated to the third tier, but I'm still looking forward to going to their games!

[@Ebag981]

I have really enjoyed seeing you go to different parts of the world and experience their football culture, I haven't seen you come to Australia and i recommend you come to the Melbourne Derby as this game has the best atmosphere of the season by far and it would be the game to go to for the A League season.

[@scottduke2809]

it's a football match AND a competition to see what fans can cheer more beautifully

[@user-st8mb1sh5r]

Please come to japan again next year and watch the Urawa reds game.

[@danbradley2072]

Can’t believe I’ve just found your channel! Been binge watching your videos. Absolutely Brilliant!

[@ハリーウィルソン-l2e]

I'm glad you enjoyed Japan 🇯🇵 and the conversation with "japanese Figo" maezono was also great

[@RyoheiEnomotoGK-ru7jl]

Interesting that out of the five games you have been to in Japan, there were four games where the home teams could not play at their usual home stadium for one reason or another. Come back to Japan again soon! You should also visit J2/J3 leagues and smaller stadiums in this country.

[@Murtini2023]

Nagoya's actual stadium is being redeveloped for the Asian games I believe so they played this game in Gifu as that was closer to Nagoya than Nagoya's big stadium in Toyota. They wanted as many fans as possible to be able to cheer them on. Gifu are in J3, pretty good stadium for a third tier side. Shame about the running tracks - I'm glad clubs are recognising nobody likes them. Check out Kyoto Sanga's new stadium, proper English feel with the fans close to the pitch.

[@Exocraze]

Oh man I absolutely lost it at Ben's train segment. The comedy and banter on this channel is unmatched.

[@MKManselton]

So good to see you heading back there. With Ben too. Those fans are wild.

[@sudasu23]

Glad to see you've visited Verdy Kawasaki! Fans are amazing in Japan honestly

[@noideawhattomakethishandlename]

I am SO glad you came back to Japan and witnessed a J2 game!! I hope you come again next year too!! I hope that one day you can come to a Japanese football game and be part of the flag bearing team - there's real technique in it!!

[@GiantHaystack]

Almost wish you had saved this video until Christmas! What a fantastic video, adventure and travel blog. Thanks for all the content this year.

[@ollieduracell]

You're absolutely smashing it mate. Sponsored by FM too, made it!

[@BerserkerGlen]

We had Gamba Osaka here in Australia for the Champions league final never seen a supporter base like it. Been following them ever since

[@coolrottie2565]

Went to an Urawa Reds game and was in with the home fans behind the goal. Amazing atmosphere and amazing fans that made me feel so welcomed.

[@user-cl3sg5cw7c]

Thank you for coming😊 Please come again😆

[@あtigers222]

The support from Japan is amazing!

[@SilverfoxJB]

Great vlog. Ellis and Ben are such a good double act

[@deliciousstick]

Nagoya is usually home to Toyota Stadium and Mizuho Stadium, but both are unavailable, so we are holding the game at Gifu's stadium. Toyota Stadium is the best, so we wanted them to come.

[@janariviik2634]

I absolutely love Japan. Been to one football match there and loved it as well.

[@KAI-de2sh]

Maezono is the legend of my home town. I’m so happy to see him in this channel.

[@grancucran]

Thanks for coming to Japan! Hope you enjoy your next trip too!

[@源さん-f5e]

welcome! Crazy KZbinr!

[@surfer1690]

After that away day in Budapest, Ben really deserved a good proper away day. Content has been fire this year Ellis! Roll on 2024!

[@Jemuzu80]

Been enjoying all the content and never once have been jealous. Until I see you invited to Sega's headquarters. Mega Sega fan boy. As a child my dream was to work for Sega.

[@ziran80]

Its also amazing to see how well Japanese fans travel to Australia for any Asian Champions League games. They blow us Aussies out of the water with their constant support all game.

[@betterworldtobe]

Why did this come out on my list? Oh, you saw my hometown team lose😂😊 Maybe great thing in Japan is that you can drink beer in your seat.hope yu enjoyed Japan

[@overthewebb]

I'm more in shock and laughter with the Breakdance 2 Electric Boogaloo comment. You can't be that old. I am old enough to remember that one 😂I'm also planning a 6 month trip to Japan next year, so good video as ever kid 😉👍

[@jamessteel9016]

So lucky Ellis, love to go to Japan to watch a game their fans are awesome 👏👏

[@PapaClarkeTheGoat]

can't be far of getting residency in Japan now mate 🔥

[@WithU_KANKAN]

I'm a Tokyo Verdy supporter! Thank you for watching the Verdy match! Please come and see us again when you come to Japan!

[@もとのゆき-d7n]

日本🇯🇵にっぽんニッポンNIPPON 来てくれてありがとうございます⚽ 楽しんでもらえたようで良かったです。 来年には広島と長崎に日本にとっては待望の街中の中心部に最新のスタジアムがオープンします。 広島と長崎は風光明媚な観光地です。

[@prodneo777]

my family is from gifu and the fact you even stopped there is mental considering it's basically in the middle of nowhere and nobody has ever heard of it lol

[@oldbittercraig3513]

Took one more season, but S-Pulse won J2 and will be in the big show this coming campaign. Congrats. Saw more S-Pulse Orange while visiting Shizuoka than I did all the other clubs combined. 30 days bouncing Osaka->Nara->Kyoto->(Shizuoka)->Yokohama->Sendai->Morioka->Tokyo. Also only kit I could find (not Gringo sized)... couldn't even find a JAPAN kit at adidas official stores. They had Germany, Argentina, Italy... but nothing Samurai Blue. Absolutely shocking.

[@rodrigobolan202X]

Come to a game here in Mexico to feel what the atmosphere is like. Greets from México

[@LeeMoore-tu4gr]

These two just need to have a fulltime football travel channel. Its just good content 👍

[@avelamabetshe7207]

You should check out the Soweto derby in South Africa. 95000 fans👏👌

[@ワルツ-x3m]

Thank you for coming to Playoff finals!! As a Tokyo Verdy fan, I thank you for taking this up !!

[@NathanEide]

Ellis, my lad, what another amazing adventure you and Ben had. Thanks for bringing us along!

[@konosaki]

There is more to this story now. Tokyo Verdy was once a prestigious club, but now lacks financial resources and is expected to be relegated in the 2024 season. However, contrary to most expectations, the team has made great strides to 6th place out of 20. Also, Shimizu S-Pulse was promoted to J1 in the 2024 season.

[@dukewhisky]

What a ride, what a journey and I love that we get the travel sections as well.

[@10xcellent]

Absolutely smashed it out the park again Ellis! Bloody love your videos. MOT

[@jtaro2006]

前園さんと会って、国立も体感して最高の日本フットボール体験でしたね。またすぐいらして下さい😊

[@gdparry2727]

Went to the 2008 Cup Final with Cardiff v Portsmouth - gotta say this place is jumping more than Wembley.

[@amnyu1077]

Since the J-League began in 1993, Tokyo Verdy has been the most popular club in Japan, boasting one of the most star-studded rosters of Japanese national team members. However, due to a combination of circumstances, the club has recently failed to return to the J1 League for more than 15 years. This victory not only means that a one of the team from the second division of the J-League has been promoted to the first division, it also means that a prestigious team that had been in the doldrums for a long time is back on the top stage in Japan.

[@tylercasson6057]

Japan is a baseball loving country. Their most famous player is Ichiro Suzuki, who played on the Seattle Mariners.

[@joshandrews5408]

So much better when ben’s in the videos 😂

[@carloskauaxavier7867]

My both two teams in Japan, Tokyo Verdy and Kashiwa Reysol. Kashiwa, after this game, lost the Emperor's cup on penalties to Kawasaki Frontale. And Tokyo Verdy, when Someno scored, i shouted(i was narrating the game in live)

[@thegreyhounds9413]

I enjoy attending japan football match because the supporters are more self-disciplined and polite but still passionate. Other than FC Tokyo, Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos, I recommend you to visit Urawa Red Diamonds in Saitama city as they should be the biggest fansbase team in J league.

[@joshteweles221]

Not so surprising to see some wearing Seattle Mariners gear: Ichiro Suzuki was one of Japan’s best players and he played for the Mariners.

[@yusuffulat6954]

the vids in Japan are always awesome!

[@chuck8772]

Japan is a wonderful place to get current and vintage kits cheap. The exchange rate is great for everything now especially. I go there all the time to watch URAWA reds and fill my bag with kits. One of my favorites has to be Nagoya with the fat GR86 badge on the front. Kinda dumb but I made the 14 hour flight 6 times in 2023 to watch matches and get my kit fix haha

[@LuisHernandez-ln2cd]

gotta go to mexico man, a chivas/america game would be great

[@nistral]

thank you for the video! japan looks brilliant, would love to go sometime

[@ilmameo]

Wow you came across the legend Maezono🤯 How damn lucky👾 Thank you for spotlighting J League even the second division! You gotta come back for Machida Zelvia! They’ll be a shooting star like Leicester! Coach Kuroda used to work for Aomori Yamada high school which is an unbeatable high school team. Cheers mate!⚽️

[@jacobhartman2327]

Seeing Ben as Francis had me rolling…just two boys doing what they love 😂

[@nikaynwa]

You should defs try my hometown club recently promoted to J1 League called Machida Zelvia. We actually located in tokyo but literally not what you imagine of tokyo, so you can probably enjoy(?) something you'd never expect

[@brvadent4957]

The train edit was tooo funny. Shoutout Francis Bourgeois. And so glad you went to see nagoya grampus. I got their 96-98 away shirt from cfs and was hoping to see them when I went to Japan. But when I was in tokyo, they played in nagoya, and when I was in nagoya, they played in tokyo 😑

[@gingermaris4723]

Love the vids! Would love you to come to Latvia when the season starts, of course not as good as Japan, however still good atmosphere and would love to meet you and show you around! However if you fancy a change then the futsal league is going on right now in Latvia and the atmosphere there is good too (as long as you go to a good game that is) But yeah thank you for the content!

[@emtso]

you should come to a levski - cska derby in bulgaria... youre for sure not gonna be seeing good football but the atmosphere is insane

[@jackmehoff5541]

Boring league Ludogorets wins every year with no problem

[@IKEMENOsakaman]

Working class boys from the UK visits JAPAAAAAAN ICHIBAAAAAAN!

[@SamOGr]

Shocked and appalled you didnt mention the former Leeds player who plays for Kashiwa, was even in the Premier League 20/21 squad, wasnt playing in that match but still there

[@lmg6831]

🤓🤓🤓

[@donj1]

who was it?

[@akb40hate]

Love this! There is a channel with some english guys called 'J.League Journeys' that covers j league teams and match days like this all the time. Do you know it??

[@fujirunner100]

I made a youtube account to follow these guys haha

[@jancyprych4131]

this content is really interesting

[@stephenrowe4113]

I love Japan, it's my favourite country. I went to a match, I watched FC Tokyo, the came out to 'you'll never walk alone' so I immediately hated them.

[@ハリーウィルソン-l2e]

I agree with you. Tokyo has so much culture and original songs so I don't understand why they choiced YNWA.

[@RyanBromhead503]

You're a lucky guy, Ellis You've been to Japan more times than I've been to Notts County games

[@Masonsharman]

These boys are the only thing Yarmouth can be proud of

[@preachingtomyself]

One universal truth is that Sandstorm is played in every stadium on planet earth.

[@kentgrady9226]

The J-League is criminally underrated. They suffer from distance bias and are victims of European football bigotry. Point of clarification: the bigotry in question is not based in race or ethnicity. Rather, it is the pervasive European sentiment that no football outside of England, Spain, or Italy is worth watching. Of the nations without a WC on their CV, the Japanese are the likeliest to get there first, in my view. They are very, very good.

[@AxelG28]

1:17 almost spot on. 200.274 views right now

[@simonbrady5287]

Great to see some many Australian flags at the Nagoya Grampus game

[@bradleyjurd]

Langarek is a beast. Should be going to the Asian Cup.

[@jagutichsachma]

@@bradleyjurd Was the backup keeper in Dortmund during their two title runs as well. Didn't play much during his tenure (5 years) but I remember him being always solid when called upon.

[@dargoid]

1:15 October 2024, I can confirm over two hundred fifty-two thousand people has witnessed this 'random man' nomming a croissant on holiday.

[@jamesfoley4832]

The angry Smurf hitting Tokyo…..😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@timmi47]

Missed a trick not having a “Phenomenal”count on the screen in this video. Top vid as always

[@petecriddle3049]

can't beat a Caffe Nero almond croissant - seeing Ben eat that was the highlight of the video.

[@ProfessorDarkAcademia]

You should try to catch a game with Kazuyoshi Miura playing

[@scottallen8168]

2:13 excellent choice of podcast 🤝

[@jordanvali]

Loving it! Keep it up guys 🙏

[@chrismacdonald2838]

the francis.bourgeois call back is amazing lmfao

[@BurningJonas]

I would love to see Ben‘s FM save as a Let‘s Play! ❤😂

[@Plumbersmack]

Come to Sacramento and watch some second division US Soccer!