Japan’s Bear Problem |

Beware the bears (and boars)
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Feat. @AbroadinJapan
00:00 Why Pete Hates Magic
8:24 Awkward Encounters on a Japanese Train
13:01 Japan’s Bear Problem
21:05 Allergies in Japan Restaurants
23:01 Why are Chris’s Current Videos Longer?
24:59 Japan’s Harsh Rating System
[e-mail] for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts - shows.acast.com/abroadinjapan

[@IcicleFerret]

Regarding the woman who was "confused" for Naomi Osaka: my assumption is, the gentleman found her attractive and wanted to get to know her, but didn't know how to break the ice, and came off as awkward as humanly possible.

[@NadiaAli277]

Hahaha - Nadia here. I did think about this as a scenario but nonetheless a wild way to approach me! Funny regardless

[@TulilaSalome]

"Are you Shinzo Abe before he died?" Woukd be an epic opening line for any cocktail party.

[@tyranitararmaldo]

"Are you Shinzo Abe after he died?" meanwhile is an insult.

[@NadiaAli277]

Thanks for reading my story Chris and Pete! Happy it made you both laugh as much as me. Love the podcast!! P.S At my interview for TV Asahi, they asked me where my favourite place in Japan is, and I said Yamagata as I had been there through watching your videos and loved it. Turns out this made me look well travelled and was one of the things that got me my job. So, thank you for helping me out! 2 years at TV Asahi in London! Good luck with Journey Across Japan! Best, Nadia Osaka

[@fireroum]

This MUST be THE BEST episode of the Abroad In Japan Podcast I've watched/listened to, even if only for the best advice ever given, "Be a 7 out of 10!" 😂 But seriously, that is a really really good piece of advice, especially for perfectionists like me.

[@OrbitalWings]

God I love Pete for calliing out the bizarre hate for 7/10 scores in video games. If you're operating on an out of 10 scale, 5/10 should mean perfectly average and 'okay' - anything above that is *good*.

[@Indrejue]

C is average and that starts at 70% d starts at 60% and anything below is an F. people still go by this grade School grading

[@limelyx]

Don't shop from Temu. They're being investigated for selling user data and identities & the company owning Temu has been charged for doing so before.

[@janusmcgee8909]

Typed from KZbin

[@drirene57]

Didn’t see that one coming! 🤣

[@DJBassBoomBottom]

Chris, you should definitely make a video on the matagi. It is less like a profession and more like a culture, viewing the hunt as a spiritual practice with its own rituals and incorperate ainu terms and religious beliefs into it.

[@danhigg]

Finally! A culture that treats the 5 star rating system like the bell curve distribution it should be. Amazing.

[@TulilaSalome]

I stopped rating anything because of this, went to a nice curry house, thought I'd give it 4 as I liked it, but nothing out of the ordinary, and realised I'd bring the average down with my 4. Also, goodreads is useless now.

[@Repenter0]

This is the best podcast ever, 7.3 out of 10, amazing, wonderful, I'll never eat there again.

[@Methalec1985]

Relating to the "what if" @15:20 Here in Norway we have some funny stories like that. Not sure if this one is true, but knowing Americans, it wouldn't surprise me one bit ;). Many years ago in Trondheim, the police received reports of an American soldier on a NATO exercise was walking around town with an M-16 slung over his shoulder. They responded, stopped him and asked him why he was walking around with that rifle. "In case of Polar Bear attack" was his response. Kinda stumped, the police informed the soldier that Polar Bears live up north on Svalbard and the North Pole, not on the mainland, to which the soldier responds "Oh, it isn't LOADED!" In fact, he had no ammunition on him.

[@Blex_040]

Wtf, why would someone carry a gun without having ammo with them? In a country like america I might understand it just to look like you could defend yourself to deter robbers, but Norway is like the polar opposite in that regard.

[@JackFN_VR64]

@@Blex_040 perhaps he no longer had ammunition on his person when he noticed the police approach....

[@monart5713]

Loving these podcasts!

[@user-gu8gn9nz4p]

This was the naomi osaka podcast! Video is a whole another experience. Visuals really add to it.

[@brittm1960]

The suction cup on Natsuki's back is a method called cupping. It helps relieve inflammation! Its good stuff.

[@Dude902]

The allergy question is highly relevant to me as I want to visit some day but I have several concerns about navigating food menus, allergies being one of them.

[@adaldi_]

I don't know if they has actually happened before or often, but them being on youtube now opens up more opportunities of Chris being asked Abroad In Japan questions other than the usual "I'm going on a holiday to a prefecture you've done a video on, do you have any other recommendation?". I think it's nice, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though. 👍🏼🎉

[@thany3]

My brain: Japan has a problem with beer? My eyes: BEARS not BEERS. Maybe I'm just thirsty.

[@bilditup1]

Minor correction for pistolating pete here, “30-50 feral hogs/wild boars” thing wasn’t actually from a Senator, though you’re forgiven for thinking so, it was some random anon on FB or Twitter, don’t remember after which shooting it was but I’d say at least 8-9 years ago

[@ashenninja4296]

I have a food allergy, and never found any problems over in Japan the times i have been, though i cant have ramen because of my allergy. Occasionally you'll be asked to sign a waiver as well, which i found amusing

[@665Iron]

I remember watching one reel by Freddie Wong that talks about how he in the US, prefers to visits asian food restaurants that are 3.5 stars rather than 5. Simply because service can be shitty, but those 3.5 are granted by how delicious food is, even more than those 5 stars that were earned because it looks fancy. So yeah, 3.5 stars in america, I think it applies in Latam countries too

[@kusari898]

#FaxMachine Hello Chris, I wanna ask, is taking photo and video in japan not prohibited? or do you need to ask/have permission from local officer?, and is it the same for IRL livestreaming in japan? Hope you have fun on the journey across japan.

[@one-rv2bx]

Furious bum pee is a condition you can get after eating fast food

[@blakereneehope]

??

[@elvisg7]

Can someone explain the Darren Brown outing thing? I didn’t get it.

[@XxMazziexX]

Revealed he was homosexual without his consent, like "out of the closet"

[@elvisg7]

Thank you. @@XxMazziexX

[@BlueCrashFigurineHoldingWumpa]

Could Pete be a secret guest of Journey across Japan? 🤞

[@pit19931]

He traveled to Japan a couple of months ago so unfortunately he wont be a guest.

[@BlueCrashFigurineHoldingWumpa]

True true, but he used to go very frequently, so... it's not out of the question? I wanna see him vibe with Premier Pete@@pit19931

[@kimflycht2258]

Making an English steak with onions brown sauce made of horse is just delicious!! It have a slight sweet taste and goes well with onions!! Kind regards the Danish Viking

[@TheOrmondDemon]

o7 goodluck on the journey across japan! :)

[@rhyzhyn]

9:54 that's wholesome

[@badhollywoodscience]

Why don't you play the podcast music opening? It seems like something is missing. Make some titles and put that music over it.

[@homoflexual886]

I wonder if japan will start a national bear aware program or even a hunting cull like in Canada here

[@Blex_040]

0:23 "I'm good Chris, I have an issue, I have problems" Pete that sounds like having an issue and problems is something good for you 😄

[@frost4554]

Second Goodluck on Journey across Japan!

[@zachsouth314]

Man really went onto temu and thought it'd be a reliable purchase 😂 brilliant

[@dougsinthailand7176]

People, like pilgrims, used to hike with jo staves to ward off bear attacks.

[@signalshift6676]

I really like longer videos

[@Flodhesten]

I love how cane becomes khaine with the right accent

[@Bismo]

First! Goodluck on Journey across japan!

[@Blex_040]

2:04 "It's very small, then you flick a button, and then it get's incredibly big" Pete, many man have shown this magic trick to their partners for ages :D

[@VirtualReality-zv5oh]

22:40 Sounds like the german pronunciation: Allergie ( Allergy ). 🙂

[@billhendricks3143]

Quick question, are there Cities/ states there that would be sort of Japan’s version of Texas, Los Angeles and New York?

[@shadow_gren1nja]

Woo! Can't wait 'till Pete finally gets his car

[@crackedtac868]

man you really should have done the bear hunters

[@shanidar]

For the bear stew... see if you can get a butcher to thin slice the meat, and then you soak it overnight, in milk. That can remove a lot of gaminess in meat. Then use the milk for your Corn Flakes(ha, do not)

[@cameronfowler7361]

“Wild arugula “ is also brutal for Japanese- at least it is for my friend.

[@h4fifi]

this podcast is a 7/10 x

[@stephenhunt_author]

I can hardly bear it 🐻

[@asifazam4512]

Talking point. Keep up the Tennis, He he.

[@Chad_Thundernuts]

Crisp Rod is a pretty cool guy 👍

[@seanw4148]

We need more of Chris's boar impression

[@MorganaDAlmeida]

Now I am worried about the Chris and the team in north japan 😮 bears..

[@Singularity-vp9xo]

Interesting, honestly to me the 7 out of 10 is a bit too high for the average. My rating would go 5 is acceptable but not great (it's okay) 6 is good, 7 is really good, 8 is great, 9 is masterclass and 10 is godlike. That's how I rate things.

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

"Heather The Vegetarian" Needs To Immediately Reference Chris & Ryotoro's Exploration of "Buddhist Cuisine". Which Is What Vegetaianism Is Uniformly Called In Japan !

[@tyranitararmaldo]

28:08 I didn't think it deserved a 7 out of 10 tbh. Couldn't finish it.

[@reishiki6192]

Joe will visit Japan to see some bears

[@NOC-H]

When it comes to eating different foods, don’t be so “high and mighty.” Every culture has something that another can’t comprehend why you eat that. You don’t like the idea, fine, you’re just as entitled to your feelings as they are. Let’s keep it friendly and understanding of others

[@lynetteray2146]

The mark is in the middle of his hand! He's a stigmata!

[@hydrakn]

There are bears on the news literally every day nowadays

[@itpaul9263]

He's Pete and he's Keneough.

[@mrkonrady22]

Chris, the Century is not a TAXI car, it's the bigger one for the CEOs and whoever has money 😂 Maybe you say this as a joke, but can you even imagine a regular taxi driver having a V12 gasguzzler limousine? 🤣🙈

[@jamesohara4295]

Have you ever been halfway through eating a Horse when you realized your not as hungry as you thought you were? :)

[@cheriestolze]

Oh, Pete! You’re awesome.

[@human498]

18:58 Right?! People eating foods that my culture doesn't eat... what monsters! It's not like ancient humans ate what was available in their area, & traditions developed from that. Nope: everything anybody eats is based on moral considerations, and how cute the food is.🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ I hope you didn't take any of their ignorance to heart, Chris.

[@tomhoots]

"Beargers."

[@Chris-ut6eq]

There must be a song in the 7 out of 10 man/show/meal. The funny thing is no one is ever average, a 5.5 in a 1-10 scale. Even 7 out of 10 is above average. Speaking as an average person, I'm a 5.5/10 on a good day. :)

[@Axterix13]

That gets skewed by culture, though. In the US, for school, usually a failing grade is something below a 60, while the lowest possible grade for the "average" value, a C, is 70. And this impacts an out of 10 scale so that 7/10 is viewed as the equivalent of a C... average. But ask the same person to use a 5 star system and a 2.5 or 3 out of 5 will result. Makes me wonder if other countries "out of 10" scales also get skewed for similar reasons. Like Japan's lowest possible passing grade is 30 (based on the anime I've watched), so does that impact "out of 10" ratings?

[@WELC0MET0N0VEMBERWWWWWWWWWWWW]

#FAXMACHINE How do they get food up mount fuji?

[@phade4522]

This video crashed my internet several times, so may contain a bug? Never had This problem with a youtube video before.

[@lewishallam9924]

beware the bears or you'll be stripped bare

[@NeverYieldField]

They're illusions Pete

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

See my concern for Japanese Merchant Mariner's Wellbeing & suggesting Britain, Japan, U.S., & South Korea build & employ some Escort Destroyer's & Heavy PT Boats to deal strongly with Houthi Pirates got removed. I hope such was just the damn AI.

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

Not like I'm a blood thirsty Henry Kissinger type as, I strongly dislike the Military Industrial Complex.

[@blaaaaaaaaaaaaargh]

please don't support sites like Temu

[@HenritheHorse]

Or amazon

[@Spiritwonder420]

They are cheap so I will

[@blaaaaaaaaaaaaargh]

@@Spiritwonder420 😔

[@PokemanzMasturAithen]

​@@Spiritwonder420Have fun having your banking info stolen lmao

[@CaiyaSanchez]

@@PokemanzMasturAithenprepaid card 😂

[@RenegadesRift]

20:20 Catch a bear? They come to you, don't they?

[@keramanbub8799]

Hi Chris, you won't need to be worried about bears, because they will be in hibernation while you are doing Journey across Japan.

[@CaiyaSanchez]

They don’t just sleep the whole time…

[@keramanbub8799]

@@CaiyaSanchez I guess so but, wouldn't it make it less likely to run into one?

[@ken_cumulus]

7 out of 10.

[@_Ekaros]

USA is just weird, they really think that 10 on 1 to 10 or 5 on 1 to 5 is average. Other places use the scale more properly...

[@Axterix13]

I think it is a negative result of so many places going with just a thumbs up, thumbs down system. That's what people get used to, and so they use 1 and 10 as thumbs down and thumbs up. But yeah, it is dumb, and I think overall harmful, hindering both people's ability to critically judge, and to both accept that what they like has flaws, and that it is perfectly fine to like stuff with flaws.

[@thedishonorableparasite]

Some weeks ago, I was quite surprised to find a warning sign with a bear silhouette and quite a lot of Japanese text on it when I visited Mitaki-dera, which is only about 4 km away from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. I had planned to hike to the tops of some of the hills surrounding the city but that sign, and my first encounter with an Asian giant hornet at the same place, convinced me that it was a better idea to stay away from nature.

[@cameronfowler7361]

6.9/10

[@-a6833]

Tax deductible wastes of time are the best wastes of time

[@disky01]

Abroad in Japan Podcast Episode #31: In Praise of the Seven Out Of Ten Men

[@TheNate371]

Temu is sketchy, but I tricked them into giving me something for free while never paying for anything, so I win technically😂

[@felixdaass]

What would Bourdain do? Wimp!

[@Level_Up_Nation]

America has sent a warship group to say hi to the Yemen.

[@XSpImmaLion]

7 out of 10 is life bro. How else are you gonna improve? xD Really though, it has all to do with standards, what you are measuring against. Sure, you'll give a 10 for a decent quality food if like me you live somewhere where horrible food, food poisoning, people using frozen crap and serving it as if it was fresh, restaurants that either put too much salt/sugar or none at all, restaurants that serve food cold, plus have some terrible service, and stuff like that, any restaurant you get ok food gets a 10. :P In Japan, a great restaurant gets a 7 because... it's competing with insane life changing eating experiences. :P Plus you get good to reasonable food everywhere you go. The examples I gave would all shut doors in Japan. :P Honestly though, I know it's not all places in Japan that are insanely good... story from my trip back in 2018, we ate in a couple of places that were more for the passing salaryman rather than tourists. There's this udon/ramen shop near the bus portion of Narita station (metro station, not the airport) that always seemed a bit empty, I guess because we were always passing there at random times, not right at lunchtime... but it was cheap and convenient, so we went there several times. Lots of tables to seat, pretty modest setting. I noticed the oji-san who was the sole person working there (probably has someone that helps in busy hours) just used pre-packaged noodles, the same ones you can get in import shops. He didn't have a whole lot of fresh stuff to go with meals too. I think the stock was from the shop, and I think he had a stash of tempura prepared early in the day there. That's probably a... 3, perhaps 4 out of 10 in comparison to the standard Japanese restaurant, but it was great for us. Same thing for a kinda dingy ramen shop we went near the place we stayed in Kyoto. We just wanted to go somewhere near, and we stayed kinda right outside Gion in an area that there are not that many restaurants around... first thing we found was this ramen place that served only one thing, and that thing alone. It wasn't the best ramen I ate not even in Kyoto itself, but it was ok. The stuff served at Kyoto Station was better, but not like it was horrible or anything like that.

[@FJGenso]

Idk why you pronounce "allergy" in japanese like "arurugi" (アルルギー). It's actually just arerugi (アレルギー), no?

[@sketcharmslong6289]

Never trust a magician.

[@nuckingfutsguy]

bear meat aside I'd strugle to eat horse meat

[@areasevenpro]

Japan should just grin and bear it. 🐻

[@DDayDark]

The title makes it seem unbearable.

[@CalebHSumo]

The eating one animal but hating the eating of another is cognitive dissonance. Pigs are more intelligent than dogs. Horses are intelligent and playful, cows are loving and curious animals. None of then want to die. All of them suffer). Some of us dont eat any animals. It's very doable. Meat is also an unsustainable food source and objectively terrible for the planet.

[@halcyonandon]

I don’t see the difference between eating a cow or a horse or a pig or a bear or a dog or a chicken. I wouldn’t eat any of them because animals don’t deserve to be treated this way. Especially if you have the resources and options available to you, why pick the cruel option.