Yakuza vs. Japan’s Rolex Watches: Thefts on the Rise |

[@StereoMonkey0]

Literally had the Kamakura experience last week. Kids we're all good and just asked us some standard questions (Where are you from, why did you come here) which we explained we were from NZ and here to watch the rugby. One of the kids started naming all the NZ rugby players who were playing in the Japan league and was really excited to speak about it with us. Was a lot of fun. Last question which they asked was what budget do we have for Japan which we got confused because we had no limit so said that. All three exclaimed loudly "Sugoi" and when we left said "Brave Blossoms No1!". Was really cool

[@scubaad64]

I lived in Singapore and, at least in the early 2000s (and I presume still), a watch was also a status symbol. People could barely afford a place to live, and shell out tens of thousands for a nice watch. I stopped wearing a watch years before, working around high voltages, robotics and tight spaces, I would take off my watch when I worked. Eventually, I just didn't like the feel of a watch on my wrist, and adopted a nice pocket watch. The Singaporeans I worked with were flabbergasted by my watch wearing choices. I loved the confusion it caused them. XD And they could spot a fake Rolex from across the room, and you would be ridiculed to no end for wearing one. To them, it's the equivalent of lying about your wealth and prestige.

[@dd-dd2co]

It still is. However, you wouldn't be able to tell a fake from real nowadays.

[@searlecom1]

Grand Seiko, the japanese Rolex is the way to go. A Sprig Drive movement will do you proud.

[@aidangallagher8703]

Can agree, seiko make great watches and are much more affordable

[@fhjunior6183]

Thanks for the episode

[@wendyon4517]

Wow... that stick tapping question brings back memories. I haven't seen it in a while because where I live fire trucks drive around making announcements. It's a fire prevention announcement. It reminds people to be careful with heaters and whatever form of heating they use.

[@johnbecker1996]

Chris, it's time to buy a Grand Seiko. Get down to Ginza and check out the flagship store.

[@rbaxter286]

Casio probably keeps better time, and you can continue buying new batteries for centuries! And, the only people 'impressed' by Seikos and Rolexs are pretty much Bidnessman Class scum.

[@gewglesux]

@@rbaxter286 Wow.

[@AtelierAmy]

I’m so glad that Pete is taking Chris to a wrestling match! I used to feel the same way as Chris but I’ve been watching it for years with my husband now and it’s something we bond over, and the reason I’ve gotten my husband to listen to this podcast! Keep up the good work guys - safe travels to Japan Pete! #DoninNippon

[@tdolan500]

22:13 I might have the answer, they aren’t police they are local volunteers on a fire walk. It’s a reminder to clean anything flammable from around your house or work area. They seem to start doing it coming into the winter.

[@RadenWA]

I know about this, however they usually clap around a wooden stick instead of a “glowing stick” that the guy describes which I guess is why they are confused.

[@tdolan500]

@@RadenWA I think he mentions them having glow sticks but one of them is banging sticks together. That does sound like what I’ve seen. They wear flashing lights like people tend to do if walking around at night and one will be banging two bits of wood together while leading a chant.

[@philmitchell8109]

Yikes early and Chris reads out my story!!!

[@technosworld2]

Gojira!

[@arthurg7894]

GODZILLLLLLLLA 😂

[@bilditup1]

(“Britain’s top Japan enthusiast” is how it goes but keep mixing it up like this, it’s good)

[@hound903]

That apology video from that gymnast woman felt so disingenuous. It was more like ‘I’m sorry I did the thing now leave me alone okay?’

[@calikai3667]

Being called by Godzilla by an old Japanese lady because you're jacked is peak body building goals

[@-a6833]

One of my friends used to have a coke problem (not the soda), and he exuded the same energy as Pete does today

[@accdpolina]

I love the jet lag when i get there. I get to see all the lovely sunrises and walk the city while it's still empty :)

[@fattiger6957]

I am quite excited to see Pete taking Chris to a wrestling show. You have to either make it a super bloody show or a super goofy show.

[@LittleHippocampus]

"Under the Midnight Sun" by Higashino Keigo is a great thriller playing in Japan. It's actually very good.

[@Mysterioux]

The people walking and clapping wood with glowsticks are just local volunteers. t's to remind people (especially elderly) to turn off or be careful with their stoves, the old fashioned heaters. It's kind of one of those silly calendar things because it's too hot here still for the heater haha.

[@claredonachie5013]

Pete - I hope you’ll do a review of Lost for us!

[@disky01]

The glowing sticks may have just been light pens from an idol show. People usually wave them in time with the music, kind of like lighters or cell phone lights.

[@richardsoane6192]

Also aircraft marshallers have these (Red, Green & Yellow) . Just a bit of trivia.

[@mosmarb]

I had a couple of school groups come up to me in Senso-ji. They were really sweet though and gave me a little hand-made token as thanks - I did help them out a bit in Japanese when they struggled.

[@THAW12]

It's a shame getting a Rolex at such a young age, when Japan has such a nice set of really high quality watches. Especially when Seiko obliterated the Swiss watch "olympics" and had to stop from doing them because Seiko was getting so accurate.

[@bitfreakazoid]

I remember on one of the times I visited Fushimi Inari seeing school kids doing this.

[@MrMBinder]

Just get a Seiko 5 automatic and be done with it. Or a Presage if you're feeling fancy.

[@Crossingt]

Seen plenty of safety sabers in Japan. The best use was by the traffic wardens at a busy intersection in Osaka. It was great theatre as the officers waved their lighted sticks and yelled at each other. Hope Pete enjoys his flight. Just flew back and experienced a delay at Haneda which meant I missed the connection. Even though it was a cheap economy seat SiA put as all up in a hotel at Changi for a few hours overnight till the first available flight on the next morning .

[@ClefairyFairySnowflake]

Happy Halloween!!! 🎃👻🕸️🕷️🦇🎈🍬🤡🥸

[@alisabailey872]

Economy plus is very nice.... Upgrade time! 🤗

[@auroraflash]

Chris, angle your microphone 45 degrees and stop blowing directly into it , then you wont need two pop filters stackee anymore 😂😂

[@karinaw977]

Seriously, Japan has just as many deadly animals as Australia plus bears. Look up the Mamushi venomous death viper of Japan. It’s not all Pikachu and Hello Kitty.

[@Gnarloo]

Never seen any deadly animals in japan, but those giant asian hornets are terrifying

[@UnimportantAcc]

​@@Gnarloo had one in my fckin dining room in the UK last summer. Thought there was a helicopter bashing against the window 🤢🤢

[@fischmanno]

I can recommend The Tokyo-Montana Express by Richard Brautigan. He was part of the Beat scene in California in the 1960's.

[@Thekowaikaiju]

Oh, would you look at my wrist? Pete time and his antsy friend Broad-san!

[@jcruz2255]

I had some coins jingling in my pocket the night before I had to leave (not enough to get something yummy at the konbini) so I found a donation box and put it all in. Figured some positive karma while traveling is good. :)

[@gewglesux]

It could also be that some elderly japanese people clinging on to tradition still walk around banging wood blocks together to warn others to be careful with fire. I think that some elderly do it just to give them something to do.

[@Charliegirl8645]

Loving the hair Chris .....put 50's clothes on and your a rockabilly rebel from head to toe.......😊😊

[@sanay13]

Had to come here from spotify because I've never heard someone disliking Tokyo Express hahaha. It's such a fun crime novella😭 The whole premise is him figuring out how the suspect could've done the murder despite his alibi. Obviously there's gonna be some train times mentioned😂

[@SirJebusHRM]

I want Pete to bring ME to a NJPW show, Chris will not appreciate it enough.

[@DovidM]

Five yen coins are supposedly the preferred denomination of coin to leave at temples as five yen sounds like go-en or fate or chance. I was told that one yen coins are considered not suitable for donations.

[@NiJIcolaGirardI]

that book probably was written to appeal at the train otaku's mind👍

[@ColtFortyFour]

You’ve got to watch Tokyo Vice Season 2! Even better than the first season, with a phenomenal final arc.

[@amlannanda1581]

Episode 9 is a masterpiece

[@koseidubzgamez]

I listened on my way home from work, but hearing Pete is taking Chris to wrestling SURELY there needs to be Natsuki involved too? That would just be oodles of laugher I think.

[@bitfreakazoid]

It would be pretty sad to see the go-karts shut down.

[@catherinebutler4819]

I enjoyed Tokyo Express! Maybe it was less irritating as an audio book.

[@analoguestills]

You should definitely get a Rolex. A watch to celebrate the success of your book!

[@done.6191]

Super expensive watches are peak waste. At a certain point, quality-based diminishing returns reaches 0, and more money doesn’t become better working nor looking.

[@AllanAdamson]

I'm glad they found such a good penguin because I never thought anyone could replace Danny

[@verulavickova3398]

Affter my very recent experience flying economy from London to Haneda with BA… you dodged a bullet

[@IdahoFatTireBikeFun]

Please research if the Captain (front seat) on a tandem 🚲 has to follow the new Japanese phone 📱 rules but the Stoker (back seat) could live stream and use electronics because the Stoker doesn't have the use of the steering or brakes. Can cyclothons happen with tandem 🚲?

[@kristymunro9032]

Have you ever visited the world's oldest hotel, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamanashi, Japan

[@flanthief]

Something that really bothers me about that Chilean woman is how insincere her apology was. Her tone was clearly more concerned about her own image and not who she insulted, and she deleted it from all her pages. Her whole channel is about working out and traveling the world but what's the point of travel if you are not learning anything about the wonderful places you are visiting

[@thepiratecove2770]

Perfect Pete and Cherishable Chris, please stop using the term calorific! I'm very perturbed by your use of the term calorific to mean a heavy meal that is filling and almost insurmountable in fat or calories! It is the incorrect term to describe food which has a high CALORIC content, because it has a negative connotation. I support my argument in that calorific implies that that the meal is insurmountable, as in a situation where you're eating food which will not end well ala Mr. Creosote in Monty Python. Much love and respect for the podcast. Mind your words loves. - Jacob from New Orleans

[@kocokan]

The best batman show doesn't have batman in it

[@KORTOKtheSTRONG]

crimewave music genre when

[@greenmoss9079]

I am going to where my sunglasses no matter where I am at , my eyes don't do well with bright light

[@millennialchicken]

Seiko > Rolex - fight me Rolex bros

[@the_ali_a]

That Rolex theft sounds like an inside job

[@Plusmonkey]

Japan is full of Rolex watches.

[@cinnamonoa]

Maybe don't call the anti sunglasses movement that 😂

[@Dustylunchbox]

Huntsmen spiders are from Aussie are they not? Invasive species?

[@wendyon4517]

Love the channel but where in floody bell are you seeing Coming of Age celebrants receiving Rolex watches??? You make it sound common when it just plain isn't in most of the country.

[@alanchow5465]

Flying BA vs ANA…I think most of the travelling world would avoid the former!!! They are bleedin arse!!

[@AxelSpencer65]

sumo or wwe style wrestling?

[@rbaxter286]

If Duh-Nald can sell a cheap-o watch for $100,000, imagine what a real Rolex will sell for! It's import/export trading. Oh yeah, they'd be trying to sell those superior watches to MAGAts and other campaign finance crooks who are just looking to pass $$$$$$ to Duh-Nald without having to meet campaign finance rules.

[@bitfreakazoid]

The TDS is off the charts with you.

[@mosmarb]

Rolex is huge in Japan. They're also into Omega Speedmaster moonwatches, which I can get behind more.

[@geoffscott5066]

need to work on your Aussie accents guys 🙂 cheers from sunny Brisbane Qld

[@Tiax776]

I got a Rolex for 50 euros near a beach in Bulgaria.

[@Ghostmaxi1337]

With 2 replacement batteries?

[@Tiax776]

@@Ghostmaxi1337 Even better. It's a collector's item since they had a misprint at the factory and they labeled it as Rollex.

[@Stephen-up3sd]

$30 US in Singapore!

[@Stephen-up3sd]

They also had some Tommy Hilfinger aftershave!

[@SheWhoWalksSilently]

😂

[@drewd776]

So the conversation is about buying a watch when a kid turns 20, and Pete goes on a little rant about the "subjugation of women" in Japan. What a bellend!

[@JAF30]

You should do a video with the Korean Englishman, a Japanese versus Korean chicken faceoff. Or better yet, just let me try both varieties of chicken and i will help decide. LOL.

[@supertopdom]

first?

[@M.G.Artanaro]

The glowsticks were maybe just some fans going to/return from an Idol concert…? 🫣

[@Alkaris]

I don't care for Rolex Watches. I wouldn't care if it's a real or fake one either, so long as it tells the time that's all that matters, they all have the same functionality and only serves one purpose of telling the time, not that I need a watch anyway since I can just look at my phone and see the time right there when I need it.