Japan’s Worst Pizza Explained |

[@lateshabee992]

Chris saying 'our cats' shows the growth of his love for animals 👏🏽👏🏽 bravo!

[@eh4947]

Wow. True 😂

[@acenoir9923]

The kind of character development I'm here for

[@aambsss]

The earliest I’ve ever been in my 6+ years of listening! You’ve kept me company through walks to uni and now as a qualified nurse thanks guys

[@XSpImmaLion]

About African Americans in Japan, and more generally non-whites and non-Japanese, the general gist I heard over the years for tourists is this: you are either Japanese, or you're a foreigner. xD The rest doesn't matter much. That is, again, for tourists. If you are living there, then things can get very different. If you don't look Japanese, like say you were born and lived your entire life in Japan but you have dark skin, one of your parents is an immigrant, etc - then people can get treated as foreigners forever just because of looks. And there can be prejudicial treatment in several parts of society. And there is definitely a lot of general prejudice involved, but it's less like an aggressive or hateful kinda prejudice, and more like micro aggression, fear, otherness based one. But this is also getting better over the years... insane tourism influx tends to change societal perspectives. Historical based racism, as far as I heard, was more on top of other Asian nationalities - particularly ones with lots of migrant workers. Some pretty bad stories coming from migrants from say, South Korea, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and so on.

[@TheClintonio]

Anti mainland Asian racism is VERY much normal here still. I was flat hunting a while back and me being a foreigner always came up but the result was "you're not Asian so it's fine". Basically S.E Asians in particular are disliked here as are S.Asians and to a large extent the E.Easians too. They don't care about W.Asians though.

[@Chozo55]

As a Hispanic black guy who has been to Japan once, I will say there weren't any issues other than two businessmen looked at me and went "blacku" and I'm not gonna lie, I had a laugh at it. Like I was some cryptid or something.

[@diningwithderek]

The frequency of these podcasts are "like a magic"!

[@KirbyPhelpsPK]

I'm a black man, and I've been to Japan twice, both over two week periods. So far, I've had no issues. People treated me very kindly as with anyone else. Even on the trains, Japanese people would sit right next to me. I kept hearing stories about Japanese people avoiding sitting next to foreigners, but in my experience, men, women, and children were all perfectly okay sitting next to me if a spot was available. So yeah, that's my experience. Granted, I was mostly in Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara, and other touristy areas. I imagine the people are just used to foreigners. It might be a different story if I went out to the countryside, but who knows.

[@darthlaurel]

I bet it depends on what you emanate, if you know what I mean. If you are cheerful and accepting of yourself, other people will see that.

[@Crossingt]

With my old cat whenever I was cooking I used to have to pay the puss tax. She would demand a piece of chicken, beef or some mince. After she died of age related illnesses our current pusses leave me alone. I kind of miss the paying of the toll.

[@WillWilsonthesafetyguy]

I do that with my dog but I call it 'giving the devil his due'.

[@RyzawaCh]

Being sponsored by an entire prefecture is still something to be proud of. Imagine if London sponsored one of these episodes.

[@myamericandream8152]

Lived in Ibaraki for a year. Plenty to do, especially the beaches and hiking. All depends on your hobbies

[@DaDudeb]

I bought quite good takeout pizza in Kyoto, and i regretted this the whole day. Buying takeout pizza in a country with virtually no trashcans.

[@DarnLarn7]

That ending 🤣 Pete should give us more random words of wisdom as a closer

[@japanlover21]

Is early to Mid May ok for Okinawa? I cant wait to visit there looks so beautiful

[@emmakatenotcake]

May sounds perfect. I would say it's tolerable June onwards but when I went there in June it rained 80% of the time. Only thing it messed up was a scuba trip- it didn't stop us enjoying the beach, exploring, and trying the great local food.

[@thomasedwards6641]

My family has a Samoyed and when I was at Yoyogi Park I randomly found the dog park and there was a samoyed ther which was cool.

[@seebastian5834]

Therer's a travel agency im Germany that does Tohoku (Morioka, Nagano, Yudanaka) and the Sapporo Snow Festival and then flies off to Okinawa, in February. Was a great trip, and I feel like that's a good time and route. However, I've been looking into revisiting Hokkaido and I believe you really want to go in Summer when the parks are open and tourist transport routes like ferries and buses are running - until like Sept 30th. But I don't think you really want to go to Okinawa in summer unless you like hot weather.

[@TheClintonio]

Hokkaido is far too cold for me even in summer. I moved to Kyushu to get away from the winters in Tokyo. It's like 21C today in October. As a Brit it's heavenly. I also enjoy the summer but my main thing is avoiding the cold.

[@andrewdowling6321]

麺家 丸翔 if you go to okinawa. Sokki soba. Plus the fatty pork. Double it up. About 1000 yen. Awase soba. There is a green soba restaurant up north.

[@rafaugm]

The answer about what to do near Motegi may come a bit late, as the Japanese MotoGP race was held October 5-6.

[@ChineseKiwi]

4:07 - Yeah, my late dog was the opposite with different dog food flavours and brands LOL. Dog ***smells the food*** 'I've had this before. NOPE' - Me: 'But you liked it last time!' - Dog: 'NOPE'. - LOL. That said, it never minded the human food though!!! LOL. Doggo was far too smart for its own good.

[@TulilaSalome]

I do think there's a series in KZbin called 'black in Japan ', if not, there are at least individual videos , some big citym of that - I have seen a couple, African guy with a steak house in Tokyo I think, and some American who settled in okinawa.

[@Segafishy]

My current Dog loves Pizza to the point he has devoured an entire family sized frozen Pizza in mere minutes after stealing it from a Shopping bag, probably wouldn't be a common breed there as while not heavy hes a Lurcher thats Greyhound and Saluki based so quite tall and lanky with a lot of speed and a jump of atleast 6ft straight up.

[@pinklu64]

The pizza I had on my last visit to Japan was absolutely horrible. I asked for a doggie bag to take away cause it was "too much to finish", and chucked it in the nearest bin. Not the best, and never again! Please spare the poor dogs 😆

[@formerCA]

A minor miracle you were able to find a bin.

[@Dbarabar]

As a black american that has been to Japan several times and studied there, if the guy that asked about experience is reading... basically there are some stereotypes, but you won't have a problem. the most I ever been told.. quite a few times is "I'm scared of black people because there big and strong" but it was told in like a awkward, not rude way... even though it's annoying that's the most you'll usually get along with like rap references if you go out. but like The boys said, It's wayyyy less than what we get in our own country. like on a scale from 1-100 america vs Japan. Japan is like a 10 if america is a 100.

[@ancaiimura]

I’ve been living in Ibaraki for 3 years now and there are cool places like Daigo, Ryuujinkyo, Ajigaura and Oarai. I don’t know why people get blocked at Ushiku and Kasama. There’s much more.

[@DavidKAnderson]

Pizza is one of the few dishes where Japan really strikes out in the food game. Fortunately, I live pretty close to one of the few exceptions: Pizza Joint Pike near Susukino in Sapporo. Proper New York style slice...

[@tatoborn6990]

Thanks for the info i'm staying near Susukino now, might try that place 👍

[@-a6833]

There once was a man from far Aberdeen Who went to Hokkaido to eat what he's never seen Wankostyle pizza, on a wabi-sabi plate Wankostyle pizza, it's what makes Japan great I think that would make for a pretty good ad on tv

[@ItsBAndBees]

He’s right about the cats lol one of ours turned his nose up at some fresh salmon we had, but is obsessed with friskies lil grillers and will accept nothing else. Our other ones favorite snack is when I make him “kitty soup” which is just a bit of bonito flakes in water lol Our dog on the other hand… I made homemade dogfood for him a couple times out of deer and sweet potato, now he’s too good for ole Roy

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

That movie "Island of The Dog's" beautifully illustrated the War Generation's Attitude towards Dogs in the "Post War" Showa Period.

[@jonbaxter2254]

Great animation, love that sushi making scene.

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

@@jonbaxter2254 Hee, Hee, Hee !

[@Tornroot]

I swear you could make anything, say it's for dogs and pets, and charge 100% extra.

[@DaDudeb]

That's also how stuff for weddings work. But those upcharge by 200 or 300%

[@judeffr]

$5 pizza is cheap as in Australia a chicken Parma is $25

[@ZeroXSEED]

Used to be like that in Indonesia, not anymore though. Pet foods become cheaper than human foods which means more people started to feed their pet properly.

[@patsouthwood1397]

I had a wood fired pizza in Tokoname in 2009. They were very proud of it. It was a 4 cheese pizza. The base was divided into 4 and a mild sprinkling of fake cheddar was carefully placed in each quarter. Nothing else. My Japanese friend couldn't understand why I was in hysterics.

[@thelastone5457]

What people are not told when they travel to Japan is that they don't need to charge you with anything to hold you in jail. You can be held up for weeks or months before you find out anything, and that is not a guarantee to a lawyer, or medical treatment (access to current medications). So literally being in the wrong area at the wrong time if a local says a Yankee mugged them or what not you can have your life messed up. Meaning that one of the ways they keep such a high conviction rate is when you are on vacation, and this happens you will be offered a plea deal where you plead guilty to make your flight home. Otherwise, you are stuck for months with no resources and minimal help.

[@jakoblarok]

Stetson makes fedoras, too. The actual, wider brimmed classic style, not the short-brimmed thing with the upturned back-brim (I can't remember what that's actually called, because ppl nowadays just call it a fedora). I brought one with me to Japan because I thought they still had a hat culture. Now I just wear it to-and-from my car when I'm doing formal stuff, like attending a graduation ceremony. It's kind of a pain, but it gives my bald-spot some sun protection without ruining the suit-vibe with a baseball cap.

[@steviesmiler]

Fun fact: Japan celebrates Dog day on 1st Nov. Reason being is the date Is 1/11 (Or 11/1). One One One. Playing on the simular sounding Wan Wan Wan 🐶😊

[@kevinezra2115]

Ethan from Florida sounds like he's planning to do some mischief in Japan

[@ffwast]

He is Florida Man after all.

[@jonbaxter2254]

@@ffwast A real rascal.

[@zie2662]

what was that ending?? How am I supposed to know where to put my questions and comments now??

[@aohige]

The conviction rate myth is important to note. MOST people understand this problem completely in the wrong way. It's not 99% because every criminal gets convicted, it's 99% because they would only take it to court if they are 99% sure to win. In fact, more criminals are let go because the prosecution *will not proceed* if they only have, say, 80% conviction that they can win. They would rather not take the risk of losing than see through justice system. Career criminals also know to keep their mouth completely shut and only talk when their defense lawyer instruct them to. This is what leads to police coercion to attempt to guarantee a 99% win, further exacerbating the problem. So the problem is actually often the opposite of what people in the West think.

[@jack7250]

You had me worried with the thumbnail. I thought they started to put dogs ON the pizza LMAO

[@ffwast]

You're thinking of china not japan

[@jack7250]

@@ffwast HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

[@DerpyDerpums]

I appreciate your content Chris. I don't think I'd ever get to go visit Japan myself with my anxiety so severe. Cheers

[@jonbaxter2254]

Wanko pizza, marvellous.

[@Fluera]

Earlier than Chris’ upload schedule

[@DovidM]

A wanko is the pole that you tie your dog’s leash to before entering a konbini.

[@zachblack7080]

Tell Connor about the wanko pizza! He'll be very happy to know that there's an official meat-instead-of-dough pizza. This professional pizza backs an argument he was making on Trash Taste not too long ago

[@OllamhDrab]

Hee. Actually, to elaborate on 'when to visit Okinawa,' when's maybe a good time for say street life and maybe maritime activities if you aren't actually a beach person? Just, a time when people might be out and about .

[@YagamiLight47]

Man, Chris sure has a limited understanding of how justice systems work. If someone does the thing Johnny Somali did and they keep him detained for MONTHS that is cruel and unsual punishment. The punishment needs to fit the crime and that man did not in reality do that much actual harm. Here in Finland he would have most likely just been fined and let go. Keeping him for months as you said seems like breaking some human rights to me.

[@rlh8423]

Initially, I wanted to argue with you but thinking deeper about it... yes, you are right. What J. S. did was irritating and of misdemeanor level criminality.

[@darthlaurel]

Doesn’t matter - each country gets to decide how to deal with malevolent foreigners. He got much less than he deserved, but he should have been deported after the second infraction.

[@bryonyamada2620]

15:38 Depending on your age. The younger females (High School to Collage) Love African American/Decents. Especially the KOGALS

[@jensebu78]

I ate PizzaLa (Not Pizza Los Angeles. that's not what it means 😅) I was not really good. I enjoy making Italian things made to japanese. But Pizza with mayonnaise? Come on...

[@baeber]

so if you want to bark for a japanese lady gotta say wan wan got it chris. very educational

[@think.culture]

I highly doubt it is more comfortable for a black person in Japan than in America. I’m sure it’s *fine* but black people are fully integrated into American society. I would wager that living life in Japan as a black person would be far, far more difficult than in America.

[@aohige]

While that is generally true, You are STILL much less likely to be beaten or killed by the police for being black in Japan than in America. To be fair, that is true for anyone. American cops are much more quick to violence in general.

[@auxbonnieux]

I heard recently of a 14yo boy (from the 90s, I think? ) that brutally murdered 2 kids (and attempted murder of 1 other) And he's walking free. That's nuts

[@XSpImmaLion]

I've discussed a bunch about Japanese justice and prison system over the years, kinda heavy subject, but just to share some stuff so that people don't get it wrong. The justice system is very very hard to understand, Chris is absolutely right about the 99% conviction rate not being comparable to western justice systems so it often gets very much misinterpreted, it's a weird mix of very old British based justice system with modern reforms. And most Japanese people won't be able to explain anything to you because it's kinda of a closed off system... you need to really study or be working inside to understand, so complex it is. I do follow a channel of a Japanese attorney that gave a comprehensive explanation on the subject in the past, but I can't recall the name of the channel right now... Anyways, I think the main thing people not from Japan need to understand on this topic is this: Japanese justice system has tons of issues, it's kind of a boys club in the same way politics is, it has an infamous idea of being a "hostage justice" system where people gets arrested and forced to confess in several cases, there is a huge lack of representation in the system, it is extremely opaque, it does indeed have human rights issues, it has had more than a few wrongful conviction cases showing up in the past decades. But also, do understand that if you are going to put it in context versus the justice and penal systems of several other nations - it's still not even close to being as bad in statistical terms. In fact, it's often multiple times better than several developed nations. This is the one thing I see most people getting wrong - it's bad from a Japanese perspective, and perhaps compared to some of the best justice systems in the world, but that doesn't mean you as a foreigner get the right to criticize it, particularly when put in context with justice systems of several other nations. Wrongful conviction cases are astronomical in the US in comparison to Japan, for instance. This has mainly to do with just how large the prison population is in the US, plus crime rates, but even proportionately speaking, there is still no comparison. And while stories like this poor guy who spent his entire life in prison unjustly is rare, it's certainly not unique to Japan. Perhaps it sets the record for longest time served unjustly, but if I'm not mistaken, there's more than one case in the US of wrongful conviction that lasted over 40 years. But the real worst thing is on how many people get wrongfully convicted every year... in the US it's close to a hundred proven with final verdict of exoneration every year. So, not counting probable wrongful convictions, but those that have been through courts and proven to be wrongful. This number is likely to be 10x or more higher when you consider those who still weren't exonerated, because in all countries reversing a conviction is always a losing battle. In Japan this number is more like 10 to 100x smaller. Every case basically makes international news, because they are not that common. Not saying this isn't wrong, but just keep this in mind. UK has similar numbers to the US. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscarriage_of_justice#By_country en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_exonerated_death_row_inmates www.law.ac.uk/about/press-releases/wrongful-convictions/

[@ffwast]

The moment you pretend criticism isn't allowed you forfeit all credibility.

[@NadiaAli277]

Johnny Somali is the bane of my life 😭 why did he put Somali in his name giving us a horrible rep

[@gagamba9198]

Didn't have it before?

[@Thekowaikaiju]

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

[@yohannessulistyo4025]

It is very predictable for Pete to come up with that standard popular western take on Asian justice system. Regardless of our "clean perception index" or "corruption perception index" - our Law Enforcement are invariably corrupt, from Japan to China, from Korea to Indonesia, even Singapore, India, let alone Thailand. The reason is deeply cultural on how we see the police: how they play societal role, power, and how they carry out their duty. In western overbearing views, the world has to be moulded into their culture and society to be ideal. Everything has to be explained according to their understanding of the governance system. It is quite the colonial attitude. Chris tried to give it some explanation, "they are doing some serious homework before proceeding to action" - it is a barely acceptable defense in western logic, but doesn't answer completely. Why there are still a lot of wrong convictions if they really did their homework? Well... Police in Asia is easily "the boogeyman" - you scare people into compliance using words like "I'll let you deal with the police" or "I'll call the cops" to really scare people to follow the legal framework or not stepping too far from the legal red line. That kind of hassle, notoriously human rights-infringing method, and suspiciously high conviction rate are just part of that detterence - it is one of their role in society: to scare people into compliance, so you don't have that chaotic European / Californian petty theft problem without having to be present in every area. The police are just as feared as mafia boss - and people often liken them both across Asia. Otherwise, people will be like in some shithole part of this world: street justice. People in poorer parts of Jakarta set up a trap, and burned a violent motorcyle gang member alive - because the police didn't act. People beat up a theft to death in wet market, because they don't feel the presence of justice - a lot of honest hard working people have to deal with petty crimes themselves. People may not necessarily respect the law, but they still want to maintain order here and there. It is not like in the west where they seemingly view petty criminals as victims or "the underdog" and cheer them like Bonnie and Clyde since they can afford some bit of thrill and excitement in their seemingly privileged life. That's why it is "safe" here. Nobody defends criminals. But people will definitely get super violent if you step over the line. Mullah Omar got to rule Afghanistan because he beheaded a pedophile warlord. Pretty sure the likes of Epstein or P Diddy would love to try and get famous there.

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

"Iwao Hakanada", God Bless Him AT LEAST SURVIVED, despite basically having his Life Stolen from him ! Unlike his Black-American Brother from Missouri, "Marcellus Williams" . Who was ALSO INNOCENT BUT, PUT TO DEATH ANYWAY ! I hope that Hakanada-San will pay a visit to a Shinto or Buddhist Shrine and say a prayer & ring the Bell for Mr. Williams

[@audreywagnon5397]

Bro is Gina okay?

[@XYoukaiX]

Went to Ishigaki with my gf in the end of September and even though it was supposed to be slightly less hot than Tokyo it was unbearably hot for both of us because the heat was very different .... got sunburn on the first day while walking around tokyo in the Summer for month always walking about an hour to language school in the middle of the day (~12) for a whole hour withouth using any sun protection and not getting burned at all.

[@lncompetentGaming]

Black and other non white foreigner are treated terribly in Japan and worse in Korea. Not let into bars or restaurants or clubs, everyone rude or running away from you. You would have a much better time in London or the US, places where people are used to multiculturalism

[@gagamba9198]

Nairobi is great.

[@Bloodworia]

Japanese Police can hold a foreigner without a lawyer for a year.

[@noxnox7445]

You know, Carlos Ghosn of Nissan was convicted in France. He thought he'd be protected in France, but he ended up fleeing to Lebanon, a lying criminal. Japan wasn't wrong. And they weren't tough enough on him, so he called a musician to his house and ran away. He plays the victim, but he's a criminal who can do anything he wants as long as he has money.

[@NOAMB-h2p]

Westerners basically just don't like the Japanese justice system. Whether Carlos Ghosn actually committed a crime or not doesn't seem to be the point.

[@necrotenkiwongwat2359]

one would have a problem being black s.korea and china not japan

[@KORTOKtheSTRONG]

w

[@massivive]

unsubbed when Chris wasn't black

[@gamingchannalwithMJ]

Racist Comment, why unsubbed because he not black most Racist Comment I ever heard typical lefty, does he sound black no you do you Americans have to bring race into everything

[@geruto17760]

Chris-san, your pronunciation of Sapporo must just be the worst ever. I am horrified! 😅