Living in Japanese Countryside as a Foreigner

[@takashiifromjapan]

TOKYO GUIDEBOOK takashifromjapan.com/tokyocompleteguide

[@6Heather6Hazard6]

Her courage is indeed something to be admired. Very inspiring.

[@HarryNicNicholas]

well not to detract from her taking risks or your admiration, japan is probably one of the safest places to live in. SOME people can be difficult, there is prejudice and crime, but if i was told i had to leave my home country, i'd pick japan without hesitation. it's not gut wrenching to decide to live there, it's actually logical.

[@Zabiru-]

@@HarryNicNicholas Well I mean to counter you a little bit there then, I think one of the main reasons why she should be admired is that she, very young, chose to go alone to a foreign place to live. Without very much experience (I assume - granted) of other places beside where she came from, and without other people coming along to be there as well. And going by what she said where she is originally from is apparently pretty small too which in my mind often makes people less likely to want to travel around a bunch. Never mind live abroad. As for Japan being safe, well that's just smart then in my opinion hehe. If I were to study abroad I certainly wouldn't choose to do so in a dangerous country. I don't know, to each their own, but she seems really cool and a chill person all around to me.

[@tjauw]

@@Zabiru-🥱

[@weepingcamel1]

It's country side Japan, not Yemen, i think only moderate amount of courage required XD

[@nenadnedovic9246]

Lol brave ffs. She's not going to war-torn Syria. The country is safer than where she comes from. Leaving home is a normal thing.

[@AyubuKK]

Being in the countryside or small towns is a really good way of immersing yourself in another country. Big cities are usually tailored to be recognizable and filled with tourist attractions for foreigners. So they don’t always represent the country as a whole and what living there is like.

[@eduardomaldonado1647]

Well in countryside everything is also smaller and slower so if get lost easier to get your bearings. People in country also more friendly and willing to help you out. Easier to make closer friends that very useful in learning.

[@Gadottinho]

Yeah, either that or cities that are more focused on industries and less touristy

[@Staysimple9]

I agree. I've been living in 3 countries and have lived in the outskirts. Definitely cheaper rent, produce and the people are kinder.

[@Hari-kx2er]

Yes, but you have to be very proficient in the language and culture of the nation you are staying in. You can get by with just English in Tokyo or Osaka or even Kyoto I believe. However, in Japanese countryside don't expect people to be fluent in English or any other language than Japanese. You should also be well aware of Japanese customs to avoid sticking out especially in a very traditional and rule bound society like Japan.

[@HereDiianas]

@Hari-kx2er You are not supposed to learn everything when you go live to another country and as a foreigner people already know that. But the fastest way to learn is to be immersed in the culture and the language. Nobody is able to learn without making mistakes. The more mistakes you make the more you learn.

[@JaziX5]

Wow she seems so poised and confident like she had experience around, I was surprised she's still a teen and the fact she's only been there for one month. Bright future ahead of her.

[@HarryNicNicholas]

i think she'd fit with the japanese mindset, it's odd how many people takashi has interviewed (foreigners) who seem to fit perfectly with the japanese way of thinking. i think the people who fit best already have a japanese way of thinking, having regard for others and a respect for nature.

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

@@HarryNicNicholasI personally feel that I would fit in very well in Japan, as I'm naturally more reserved, introverted and polite than the vast majority of people in my own country (Australia). So many things I love and prefer about Japan but sadly I don't see myself living there because 1) language difference and 2) my work is not transferable.

[@prozor3113]

@@EndOfSmallSanctuary97 who?

[@Thincastle]

@@prozor3113 What?

[@Pixelnightmares]

Bro are you japanese

[@azabujuban-hito8085]

I came from Switzerland and living in Tokyo. A few years ago my Japanese friend invited me to her parents house in a countryside..I ended up loving it so much that I decided to buy a house in countryside, up in a mountain area of Yamagata. Living there every summer ( and during pandemic ) is very meditative as the air is clean and crisp, the water is unbelievably pure, and the pace of living is slow and relaxing. It's a perfect antidote for a hectic life here in Tokyo ! Having said that, I still love living here in Tokyo due to its convenience and cosmopolitan vibe.

[@localmilfchaser6938]

I want to live like that someday 😮‍💨😮‍💨

[@shanto1710]

you are living my dream life! 😭

[@shenglongisback4688]

Be cool if you could be on the show with takashii

[@Mwoods2272]

I feel it's also preference. Some people need and thrive in a big city and some people like the laid back countryside.

[@azabujuban-hito8085]

@@shanto1710 i only stay in Nagano during summer tho. The rest of the year I live in Tokyo.

[@brendamarcus4405]

She is so mature and intelligent just to be 19. Very pretty too. Wish I could have experienced what she is, when I was 19. I would prefer also to live in countryside over living in big city. Mainly because I’m outdoors person, and love to hike ,fish , and camp.

[@CaribouOrange]

I was blown away by her good vibes. She just seems so authentic, it's compelling!

[@herewego1067]

Who asked ?

[@NefariousStyx666]

@@herewego1067 you're so edgy and cool bro

[@MetaverseYes]

@Mandalorian Grow up!

[@MetaverseYes]

@@herewego1067 178 people that liked the comment. Byeee felicia

[@bradgavel9991]

This girl will achieve great success in life. It's young people like her that give us hope for the future, especially in this day and age. 👏 Thank you for another great video!

[@HarryNicNicholas]

you have great insight, maybe you can help me fix climate change?

[@Darklovesto]

I love your energy takashi , you seem so easy to talk to from the perspective of the people you are interviewing. Another great video as well!!

[@blackknight597]

Country side people in Japan are my favorite! I am JPLT L2 grade. So my Japanese is decent but not perfect. When I was living in countryside for a few weeks in Gifu during the summer and the people were so nice to me! They used to think I was Brazilian-Japanese actually! It was fun to talk to the locals about baseball and history (like Sekigahara). They used to tell me I have Japanese spirit which was very kind! I have a good image of rural Japanese people! ❤

[@collaborativelearning1]

thanks for the personal story!

[@ChotaDoctor1122]

Japanese are polite Germans are polite But don't forget what their leaders did,in WW2. It says " leaders are just representation of what society thinks "

[@sophiaisabelle027]

The Japanese countryside looks peaceful. Seems like everything is up to everyone’s standards in terms of the quality of life living there.

[@JM-vi6is]

That young lady is very smart … she has a great future ahead of her. Good interview Takashi.

[@TS-xb8qg]

That was an amazing interview.. bless this brave young lady for pursuing her dream .. nice work Takashii san..

[@julierawlins5984]

She was amazing. So proud that she is an American representing us in such a positive way.

[@poshko41]

Outside of Phoenix metro, Tucson, and Flagstaff, Arizona is EXTREMELY rural. And not rural in the east coast sense with farms and the like. I mean middle of nowhere rural! This town in Japan probably seems much more urban by comparison.

[@abbyg6887]

This is correct 😂

[@Amins88]

I drove through Arizona on my way moving to California, and you are not kidding. Miles and miles of empty roads and nothing else. It's actually pretty serene.

[@poshko41]

@@Amins88 Yep I loved the serenity of the desolation too haha. I lived there for four years up until a few years ago. Was so cool escaping the heat of the valley in the summer to the peaceful, cooler forests of the north in just a couple hours’ drive.

[@SolomonSunder]

I found it interesting though that she mentioned that Tokyo gets lonely for her. I grew up in Mumbai, India and I feel small towns lonely. Each time I went to my native town, which hardly had 50 people in a large village, I felt super lonely. Even when I went to the UK, Austria etc., outside the larger cities, I felt lonely. I told my wife, I do not need to talk to people, but I must see people. I have gotten used to smaller towns now over time though.

[@SILOPshuvambanerjee]

@@SolomonSunder Love from Darjeeling, India

[@mrheng562]

She’s brave to go to another country at such a young age!!! I hope she succeeds in her endeavors. Respect! 👏👏👏

[@travel9two557]

Wow man you’ve been doing some VERY different interesting content in Japan lately. I’m so impressed by the both your questions and their responses are so intriguing.

[@bullheaded85]

Abby rocks! So bright, humble, fearless and mature. I hope my daughter will turn out the same

[@bb_lz9790]

I truly admire anyone who has the courage to move to a different country with a different culture and language and thrive! I would never have what it takes to do that...

[@abelgreen5046]

Me either. It blows my mind! I feel like I’d get homesick so bad lol

[@extremelucky1]

You and Paolo from Tokyo inspired me to visit Japan. I was in Tokyo last week. The trip of a lifetime will definitely be back. Go Takashi!!!

[@highplainsdrifter2775]

Did you try and learn Japanese before going?

[@extremelucky1]

@@highplainsdrifter2775 no, and I paid the price. This time i am learning it before going back

[@mayabewsher6987]

3 months ago I moved to a rural part of Yamaguchi prefecture. Prior to that I was living in a medium-sized city in England and had also spent a year studying in Tokyo in 2018-2019. I find it great living here as people have been so welcoming and friendly. The nature is spectacular. Plus, living rurally definitely forces you to speak Japanese a bit more. I would say the main downside here is feeling isolated or bored but having a car makes it very liveable.

[@hansfredrikpetersen4255]

I reckon you'll learn to speak Japanese pretty fast! 😎

[@tednguyen7258]

find a japanese bf

[@mayabewsher6987]

@@tednguyen7258 Would be a good idea if I wasn't already engaged to a British guy XD

[@tednguyen7258]

dump him...lol...

[@seeyditti]

Do you know Chris? lol

[@ryuukakhadijah7766]

She looks peaceful and happy! I feel happy for her! ❤️

[@justavideodiary]

Wow this young woman is amazing! 18 and moving across the world to another country! Good on her!

[@francy80]

Interesting video! This girl really had a lot of courage to go through it all by herself! 😉

[@hinanokia6607]

💞💞💞

[@followthewhiterabbit8561]

probably the safest country in the world. why wouldnt she?

[@francy80]

@@followthewhiterabbit8561 Maybe you misunderstood my comment. I wasn't talking about Japan but about the fact that she went through everything alone. If that's what she wanted to do she was right to go her way!

[@sali-ali]

@@francy80 I'm same, I'm traveling to poorest regions of poorest countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia etc all alone, because I like to see traditional way of life and I don't see it as achieving something. Maybe she is saying it because she is a woman.

[@Bak-kun6]

@@followthewhiterabbit8561 no bro, japan is not fully safe for females. see the other videos about them. :( some pervs and stalkers ruins the vibe. :((

[@GOLDZZK]

Learning a language in a countryside is the best! When I was her age, went to a small town in America and quickly adopted the culture and became comfortable speaking English within 6 months. At first it was very hard though. I think Abby made a good choice and if she stays there, will be speaking Japanese fluently within a few years for sure.

[@lukebarnum]

where are you originally from?

[@averageguy1261]

Wow, what an amazing adventure. Her story is inspiring. Another great interview Takashii.

[@DMPXedo]

as someone who's always loved rural Tochigi, im glad you did a video on any kind of Japanese countryside, it never gets enough love!

[@LindaMitchell]

I love hearing the perspective of someone staying in the countryside of Japan. I think that would be my favorite location to learn about the culture because I enjoy a more relaxed and quieter environment on the day to day. She's very brave to get over her fear and move to another country to study so young. I wish her all the luck.

[@nominbyambaa479]

completely agree with her. I lived in a small city of Minamiuonuma in Niigata prefecture. Our school campus was situated literally among rice fields. It was a beautiful experience; used to rush back to home whenever I went to Tokyo :P. the only con for me as a student was lack of transportation, had to rely 100 percent on school bus service, which did not often meet needs.

[@flarius5461]

Great interview. The place looks really quiet and a great view to see the mountains far away.

[@saryarohit2925]

Takashii, hi! I am from Trinidad and Tobago and I live here. It is a twin island country in the Caribbean. I appreciate your videos. I feel like my Diabetes limits my travel options so I appreciate channels like yours. Thank you!

[@mtaylor2232]

what i discovered is the bigger the city, the more lonely it may be. everyone is on the move and has no time for anyone. in villages or smaller towns people tend to be friendlier and get to know each other since life is simple

[@cryptonicja1141]

I love her. She speak slow and clear and it’s ezy to understand her. I know it’s her motherlanguage. But that doesn’t matter. Sometimes people speak tooo fast and weird haha

[@evancourtney7746]

She'll speak Spanish at home too. I'll bet her grandparents still use Spanish exclusively.

[@davianoinglesias5030]

18 yr old girl : self-learns a foreign language, applies for a scholarship and qualifies, moves to a foreign country by herself, reads books when bored and can communicate clearly. Me at 18 : " Vibes Cartel will release a song while still in jail, by the way guys do you know the Bermuda triangle is an alien base?" 😅

[@abz9850]

I'm 25 and I relate to this comment way too much 😂

[@krishnagajurel2523]

😂

[@Hentaikenja]

29 here playing new call of duty.. smh 😔

[@UncleIndiaTV]

69 Highly Experienced and Still Plays Save Secured Environment.. travel abroad too.

[@cantiflas777]

Just letting you know guys that, you have the power to change in a split second. Just do it!!

[@commentarytalk1446]

When I was younger I would have wanted to be in Tokyo thinking it was more exciting and fun. However, if going to Japan to learn Japanese, maybe being in the countryside is a good idea as there is more "total immersion" and then with the locals, need for "associative learning" for example when she at the train station, learning the "train lingo" becomes associative vocabularly she NEEDS to learn and that helps learning a lot. 4 years imho at a young age it may FEEL like a long time, however at such a young age, you have so many opportunities again in the future to direct more life opportunities, that gaining this ability in language will be such a powerful reward for the future, so early on it is so worth it. I hope this advice gives a lot of determination to be successful and do your best in taking on this excellent challenge to live, study and learn aboard - especially at such a young age demonstrating so much maturity for such a young age. Gambate!

[@ericashima8152]

I live in Yamanashi too, I’m from Brasil, it’s funny the place where the video were recorded, there is some things to do in Yamanashi but in Kofu there is more things! She is very brave to come to Japan all by herself, I still insecure to go out alone, my mom who leaves where helps me a lot

[@no_more_spamplease5121]

Hello, sister. I'm Brazilian too, living in Brazil. Glad to see our nationals everywhere in the planet - this provides a sense of familiarity. I wish you all the best on the other side of the world. Sucesso aê, senhorita! 🤗

[@davidluke2502]

​@@no_more_spamplease5121o

[@buddikavithanage3923]

What is the name of her school,can I join for it?

[@whitmorliss]

My favorite video yet. This is something I’ve always wondered about, but I didn’t think to ask. It was also cool to hear the perspectives in Okinawa

[@kenkenken61]

Thanks so much for this episode Takashi! Love from CA❤

[@danielwhyatt3278]

This was a good interview. It’s a relief to know that these options are still available to people even outside of Tokyo. I mean, I’m not sure if I would be able to go to Japan as a student now that I have just graduated this year from university, and I might have to think more about my finances unfortunately versus just going along for education to learn the language, but still want to give it a try. Want to see if I can do some sort of hybrid for it. Definitely want to learn how many options there are in Japan for getting a job and learning Japanese at the same time.

[@alanhirayama4592]

Props to Abby! Takes commitment to go to the countryside in a foreign country and be totally immersed. Best wishes to her success!

[@CaribouOrange]

She has such a good vibe 💕

[@dial001]

I remember living in Gunma and Saitama, before moving to Tokyo. I enjoyed living in all three places. 11 of the best years of my life. I look forward to returning to Japan.

[@loft4me]

Every single answer of hers is concise, level-headed, to the point, and logical, giving the impression that she is wise and sensible which belies her age. It appears that she has a strong family background, and with clear goals and proper motivation, she is focused. When I was her age, I would have been a babbling fool if interviewed. I'm pretty impressed with this subject, thank you for the video.

[@shawngungames130]

When she said cost of living was around $200 American dollars a month, i was like... 👁️👄👁️

[@Pepe-dq2ib]

@NepSansar no

[@japz9879]

😂😂😂

[@cuttingman007]

It's rent only...

[@AndreabelievesinJesusChrist]

That’s so cheap compared to the states wtf we are being robbed

[@kap849]

Happens in the countryside. In university I lived in a big three bedrooms apt with two other girls and paid 18,000 JPY/ Mo's. Before that I had a two bedrooms and a kitchen/living room area and paid 25,000 JPY/month.

[@TheSkjoldborg]

Her clarity and organization of thoughts was incredibly clear.

[@fatmanslim4592]

This girl is 19? man....holy fuck how did i get so old. 19 was basically first year university....im 36 now and got jack shit done with my life. Lost my mom to cancer in highschool. Struggled with depression and a broken home in university. Spent years just making enough to get back into university, and then tried so hard to make friends and to just have a normal happy life. Happy and success was just never in the cards for me. My insecurity drove me away from pursuing any girl i was interested in, thinking they deserved better. But i've accepted life for what it is, you cant live in regret forever, else it will eat you alive. I'm trying to find peace with what i have and to meet a nice girl. I'm still relatively young....so maybe i can still turn it around. I hope

[@phyxiuss]

You absolutely can brother. Win.

[@hman0121]

Stay strong, and prosper. Mr Fatman slim

[@blah8151]

I'm 33 and my life is exactly the same

[@Uchutanjyo]

I lived in Japan for 7 months until the beginning of COVID. Most of the friends I hung around with were in their mid 30s to early 40s. Not too late if you want to do this kind of thing! Sorry for your difficult life.

[@julioalberto2794]

Boo hoo you’re breaking our hearts😢

[@livefree4431]

Great interview, very open and honest. Keep up the good work Takashii big thanks from halfway across the world 🇹🇹 I want to travel to your country and this is a source of encouragement for me thanks again.

[@carlk8308]

I lived 10 years in the mountains of Hyogo. I love rural Japan. The people there seem so much more "real". (But cities are great for shopping & eating!)

[@bessobessboss]

I feel you for real

[@alexb8926]

What made u move?

[@carlk8308]

@@alexb8926 I lost my father so I came back to the states to support my mother.

[@ABOUT32NIXONS]

I intend to finish my working career and then retire in rural Japan. She is a big inspiration! Thanks for the video

[@TraditionalJapaneseHouse]

We live in Okayama, and our friend helps us to buy an akiya house. our house on the house hunter international ( tv show in the USA )We went there every year, and we loved the people, the culture, the neighbor, and the food and we have a lot of friends there. these towns have a lot of foreign, Contact me if you are interested to buy a house in Japan.

[@megapangolin1093]

What a delightful, calm, gentle girl. So charming and looks like she has good Zen. Beautiful too. Great to embark on such a great adventure. Good luck in your future, Abby.

[@verreal]

Hello, Takashii. When you interview foreigners who have studied Japanese in their country, and been in Japan a short time (e.g. this lady in Yamanashi), would you please ask them what textbook they used and whether it was in high school (secondary school) or university? It would be helpful to compare which textbooks were most successful, as far as the person feeling comfortable speaking and reading after they arrive in Japan. Thank you very much. (Your interview was excellent as usual! 😻)

[@ciello___8307]

Honestly regardless of textbook, using the language and talking in japanese is the fastest way to learn

[@WardHouse]

Abby's really cute. Best wishes for that brave girl!

[@u235u235u235]

that's why the interview went so long. she's a cutie.

[@johnjoyce]

Next idea… interview some fudosan and property owners about foreigner tenants. I am sure many would like to know why foreigners get turned down even if they have money. Real estate agents and owners might also have interesting insights and questions!

[@Mwoods2272]

Rejection is due to the language and cultural barriers. Foreigners don't adhere to the rules like being loud in the apartments, and not sorting their trash. Communication is a problem especially if they don't know Japanese.

[@Mwoods2272]

@@AJ-fo2pl racism is discrimination against a specific race. Japanese discriminate against all races.

[@ClayyTV]

Wow so I just submitted my application to teach English in Japan last night and put yamanashi as one of the desired locations and this morning this video popped up in my recommendations lol I was actually curious on the daily life in this prefecture and couldn’t really find anything other than tourists perspectives so this actually helps me a lot. Thanks for the interview!

[@jayhayes8234]

How did it go

[@mithritades]

I liked when she mentioned Grammar, that's what gets lost in most languages but especially in Japanese, it's always better to be immersed in it to catch on to the little things that'll make your experience better and the locals will be shocked too lol

[@Limastudent]

An American expression "calm, cool and collected" describes you in this interview. Perhaps you have gained more confidence since traveling abroad.

[@collaborativelearning1]

agreed that seems to be the case.

[@moominsean]

Everytime I've been in Japan I hopped on a train to visit some rural area of Japan, and it is definitley helpful to know at least basic Japanese. A lot of the small towns don't even use Romaji on street signs, and English-speaking Japanese are few and far between. Google maps is a lifesaver, but the first coupel times I was using printed out maps and had to keep track of where the train station I arrived on was.

[@avalerie4467]

Your videos are very nice. Japan has been a dream for me for a very long time. It is so nice to visit, even if its a only few minutes through your lens. Thank you so much.

[@Stonewielder]

Very smart, brave, impressive girl. I wish I had had her determination when I was her age. She's actually living one of my dreams. I'm sure she will be very successful in life.

[@grantshishido3517]

Thank you for making these videos. My wife and I have appreciated them because we would like to try living abroad, and your channel gives deep insight into the realities of being foreigners in Japan.

[@SinfulSorcerer]

An excellent interview with very important questions and insightful answers! Abby must be very brave to move to Japan alone at 18, it takes a lot of courage and self-discipline to commit to a live-choice like that. I hope she's doing well. Thank you for doing a country-side interview, it's very helpful to get more diverse perspectives. Please do more of these!

[@nepalidude]

I stayed in Tokaidai for a week and I loved it. This interview would have gone much better if you were interviewing her while walking around the village. That way people would have got a glimpse of your village.

[@Jordan-inJapan]

Interesting interview. The experience of living short-term in rural Japan as a student is (obviously) quite different than my own experience of settling down, raising a family, and becoming a part of the local community. But I think what both situations have in common are their benefits over urban life. As a student, you save money and have less distractions if you live in the countryside. And as a long-term resident, you really have the chance to integrate yourself and become a member of the community. This doesn’t usually happen for city-dwelling foreign residents, because you tend to find members of your own language or cultural community and don’t bother making the effort to truly integrate. And as a result most remain an outsider to Japanese society. Where I live, you kind of get ‘pulled in’ whether you like it or not. 😅

[@DoctorEbot]

I think people would be interested in hearing about your experiences as long-term foreign resident (‘inside outsider’!) in rural Japan.

[@siraco4278]

Your videos are relaxing to watch after long day of work or during my break

[@marialange6916]

Hey, thank you! ✨ I am a German living in Osaka, but my goal is to live in rural Japan. I am looking forward to more videos like this 🙂 keep on going!

[@CMCustom112]

Great Interview. I love small towns. Probably the kind of place I would like to stay in when I visit Japan.

[@otakuperofresa]

this girl was soo nice and sweet! I love her! thank you once again Takashii! Next year i will be visiting Japan ! Maybe we´ll cross on the street!

[@mysterymantravels]

Great video as usual. You inspire me to take my channel to the next level. I hope that my content can Take off just like yours and I wish you the best with your future videos.

[@JericBrual]

The timing of the cut from the video preview to Takashii’s intro was funny. It sounded like she responded to Takashii’s question by saying living in the countryside is “bleep” 😂

[@thesplintering1237]

Nice video. It was nice to see the perspective from the countryside, as the big cities are usually the default. Thanks!

[@lowabstractionlevel3910]

Wow, at 19 she is so mature and well-spoken!

[@bouncingball101]

Indeed! 🆙 💯 🙂

[@gospelli-zando3880]

What a brave girl to go live in such a different country on her own! All the best to her and thank you for this interesting interview!

[@nitinshukla3752]

Spent a couple of days in Yamanashi prefecture away from Tokyo and Osaka….feels like a completely different side of Japan! Any tourist not visiting is missing out! ❤ Japan!

[@jennawhitecloud5680]

Great interview. I enjoyed hearing her experiences! …and lots of blushing Takashii 😊

[@heavymetarismyway9741]

One day when I visit Japan, my plan is to visit primarily rural areas. I also want to visit Hokkaido. I'm not a big city kind of guy, and just judging from pictures I've seen of Japanese countryside it seems like it's breath-taking.

[@XSemperIdem5]

Look into visiting prefectures in Northern Japan because they're often overlooked by the majority of tourists but there are some very beautiful areas.

[@matthollandsf]

i'm impressed. good luck with everything abby. inaka is the best!

[@マイケル-v8t]

I would love to live in the more rural areas because I feel those communities have a lot of tradition and culturally relevant customs/information to share. I hope one day I get the chance to go and experience these beautiful places and their people (I love meeting and hearing everyone's stories and about their individual journeys!).

[@Don-ev5ov]

I watch you frequently. Your interviews are excellent. I grew up in New Mexico, next to Arizona.

[@HumbleBasse]

live in the countryside to "just be yourself" is a great argument, love it

[@gomifunelives6085]

Wow, she's really mature for her age and has a positive attitude She will go far. I wish her the best!

[@therealSais]

For somebody who is fully American she has a very Japanese-ISH personality

[@jame254]

This!

[@carloscamacho6133]

Likely she is half Japanese

[@saveEarth69]

i always enjoy watching your videos. its nice to get another perspective from a fellow American citizen about what its like to live there. i will make it to Japan someday!

[@BelloBudo007]

Thank you for making this video of gain in the rural areas. I'm a huge fan of the Japanese countryside (actually other country's countryside too), and I really do like the slower more relaxed pace outside of the cities. Her point about interacting with the locals is a good one. In my experience, limited as it has been, countryside Japanese are happy to say hello and share a laugh. I'm guessing the reluctance of city folk might just come down to that faster pace of life found in cities. And of course overheads being more expensive means the workers are always under the pump to bring in the dollars.

[@TraditionalJapaneseHouse]

We live in Okayama, and our friend helps us to buy an akiya house. our house on the house hunter international ( tv show in the USA )We went there every year, and we loved the people, the culture, the neighbor, and the food and we have a lot of friends there. these towns have a lot of foreign, Contact me if you are interested to buy a house in Japan.

[@samimxx8296]

Good job, Takashi. At last you did an interview with someone in the countryside. I always wanted to know more about foreigners in the rural areas and what they think about it. Great interview, man. Big Thanks.

[@acolyte1951]

Her body language is so respectful

[@z-hz1yw]

i enjoy the fact you dive into multiple different topics of question about japan and living

[@louish5068]

I plan to move to Japan to teach english (and study Japanese) once i graduate from uni next year. I would love to live somewhere more rural like there. I live in a town (in the uk) that isnt super busy but it definitely has busier areas and some unsavoury type of people. People litter outside my own home even. Living somewhere in the japanese countryside would be so relaxing compared to here (and i dont even live in a city)

[@TraditionalJapaneseHouse]

We live in Okayama, and our friend helps us to buy an akiya house. our house on the house hunter international ( tv show in the USA )We went there every year, and we loved the people, the culture, the neighbor, and the food and we have a lot of friends there. these towns have a lot of foreign, Contact me if you are interested to buy a house in Japan.

[@retrohipster1060]

She has this quiet strength about her that is really impressive. She really seems like a lovely person

[@RayMak]

Japanese country side is extremely beautiful!!!!

[@gokugon3753]

Hey bro you are doing really great job. All your interviews are so informative and helpfull. Just imagine i'am not living in Japan or I'am not planning to live or study in Japan but i generally whatch your videos becouse your videos so informative for everyone not only Japanese related ones. By the way i am journalist and i can say that you are such a great reporter, in every interview all your questions are important and significant.

[@albasalazar5734]

Mi comentario puede sonar un poco extraño y fuera de lugar, pero sinceramente ustedes dos Takashii y Abby hacen una bellísima pareja! hay una energía muy bonita entre ustedes dos. Se ven muy bien juntos. Quien sabe, y esta entrevista sea el comienzo de algo bello entre ustedes...

[@zodivamp]

watching your videos makes me wanna go visit japan so much. it is on a bucket list to vist some of my people i have met over the years.

[@poplix2704]

Thanks for all the amazing interviews! My dream has been to move/live in japan for 3 years already, but I feel like I would be leaving so many people behind that it's really holding me back. Do you think you could interview people foreigners on that topic? (How they dealt with family that stayed behind?)

[@abbyg6887]

I thought the same thing, and there's been a few times where I felt homesick. Honestly, there's so much to see and do that I haven't had the time to contemplate leaving my family behind even at the age of 19 😅

[@azabujuban-hito8085]

I left my family behind when I moved to Tokyo and I felt OK. Nowadays it's very easy to stay in touch with everyone around the world with the help of a good internet connection.

[@BG-tr2oh]

@@abbyg6887 what is your background and other languages spoken?

[@Claudeblackburn]

I'm really enjoying watching your videos. I think you do a very good job of interviewing on camera... Thank you.

[@LAAM619]

takashi, when she said "over there its $1200 a month" she was referring to tokyo? that's soo cheap! and the $200 a month for the countryside apartment is amazing! Now i want to go live in Japan for like a year or two.

[@jame254]

Arizona has cheaper rent than say the bigger states. Heck, there are areas in Arizona cheaper than indiana

[@donaldbell6555]

Your videos are really fascinating and truly interesting. This young lady from rural Arizona is particularly interesting.

[@patriley9449]

When you move to a country where a different language is spoken, I believe that you should do your best to learn that language. Abby has taken that to heart. When I heard her speaking Japanese, she sounded like a native as far as I could discern.

[@bessobessboss]

I live in japan and the most I hate is to learn languages by going classes… I like learning by conversation but Japanese people seem to be busy not to convo…. 😢

[@RodrigoSan5]

She is really mature, kudos to her!!!

[@hasaniennis442]

As an introvert in America, the countryside lifestyle would definitely suit me. I guess I’d be called Hikikomori in Japan. I just like quiet and minimal to no drama if possible.

[@Hinami2000]

thats not a hikikomori

[@clay2889]

This was a great interview, I actually thought about living in the countryside myself. Thank you Takashii San

[@nemuritori]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I want to go so much to Countryside japan, living surround by nature, nice people, quietly place, attend to a school and... maybe in the future, even be a Teacher. I couldn't enjoy so much school, and when I did was in the last few months of school, it was the best days of my life, I was doing my best... I want to enjoy more of this ambience. 日本語を勉強います、僕の全力を尽くしますね。 待っててください！

[@JM-vi6is]

I share your sentiment Tori! That young lady made that town, or any country spot in Japan, sound so appealing!