That old guy was probably lonely. You definitely made his week by taking the time to talk to him and spend time with him, he seemed like a genuinely good person
He was delighted to have a convo in english hes probably watched saving private Ryan a milliont times he's obviously obsessed with Tom Hanks role as the sergeant...lol
I love how genuine and humble you are. Unlike other polyglot channels, you keep the focus on actual interaction, rather than editing in a way that's focused around everyone thinking you're some genius. People can truly feel they are exploring with you, rather than watching a dog and pony show.
Hugs from Japanese are rare. However, people in Osaka are friendly, so I am not surprised. In Tokyo, where I live, few people give hugs. 日本人からのハグを珍しいです。しかし大阪の人はフレンドリーなので、私は驚きません。私の住んでいる東京では、ハグをする人は殆どいません。
My family and I are Japanese and we always hug friendly people. Stop trying to make us seem and though we are mean, rough, and emotionless people! Us Japanese are good and loving, we always hug!
@@morenitomoreno1282 That's ridiculous. He said he's from Okinawa and went to college in the US so he probably studied English from the time he was kid and went to college before they made it so easy anyone could get in. Of course his English is natural sounding.
@@Harry_Stylus The fact he has a perfect Westcoast accent and the other guy said in Japanese "he’s a Native American" or something like that tells me he’s probably not telling the exact story about how he got this perfect American accent. obviously I don’t know and I wouldn’t judge him if this was the case but it’s just my observation
@@morenitomoreno1282 Some people in Okinawa speak very good english from talking to all the Americans there (that's why he specifically said "I'm from Okinawa" as to explain why he has good english) + the man went to a college in the US, the "he’s a Native American" is clearly just a joke. And him also saying that neighborhood looks like "downtown LA" clearly tells you he probably only knows of LA since he said he went to UCLA
The old man wanted you to have a gift to remember him. His way of appreciating you for spending a moment in time with him. That is truly priceless. The US is loosing that form of connection more and more. It really sucks.
The USA is starting to become more of a stopping point instead of a place to live in...been here all my life and you can see that our culture, traditions and everything else getting eroded away and capitalism being put into place everywhere. People are unhealthy, crime is rising, everyone is miserable and the streets are void of children playing...its a civilization of decay .
@Big Chungus The irony is that laughing is a feeling and society in the US has done a great job of ripping that out of many of us. I apologize...but it does not change that fact.
That old guy made my day. He was def lonely out there, and I think he really just wanted to make an American friend and try out some English. When he gave you that fan, even though it’s very cheap, you could tell it came from a place of love.
I knew a Japanese girl that was the same way years ago. She grew up knowing a lot of US military people and watching a lot of American media. Her English was flawless and almost accentless.
That's a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. When he said "I studied in the US". He wanted to learn the language so well that he lost his accent. I can relate because my first language is Spanish and lost my accent because I wanted to learn English fluently. Wonder why he came back to his native land?
When I went to Osaka, we stayed in a hostel right outside of Shinsekai. The people were the friendliest out of any I had encountered in the country so far. The people at the hostel took us to a bar and everyone there was awesome. Despite language barriers, people wanted to play darts, chat, learn about each other, etc. I met people from Russia, Germany, Poland, Vietnam. A drunk salary man at the bar put his arm around arm around me and used his best English to ask me "WHERE ARE YOU FROM!" We shared a drink and a hearty kampai. We went to a local bathhouse that was tattoo friendly because people in our group had them and this blonde haired blue eyed American shared a nice relaxing time with some of the gnarliest looking yakuza you could imagine. The guy who ran the locker shop outside of the hostel would greet me with a smile every morning as I went to the konbini for my oh so healthy breakfast of ume onigiri and pocari sweat. Some late night guests at a 24 hour kushi katsu restaurant shared their giant karaage with me as we laughed at my poor Japanese. All of that made me like Shinsekai the most out of all of the places I've been so far, but the thing that made me truly love Shinsekai was on the last night we stayed, we went to the same bar on a slow Sunday night and chatted with the bartender. He asked us what we were up to the next day, and we had nothing planned. "do you want to be in a parade?" I was floored. Of course I want to be in a parade, are you kidding me? "be here tomorrow at 10am." I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. He gave me a happi, and we suited up to push a parade float around town with little kids playing taiko on it. I smiled non stop the whole time and couldn't stop thanking him for letting us participate in something so fun. As if that wasn't enough, he took us out for sushi and gave us 10 dollars for helping push the float. That was 4 years ago, and I still can't believe it happened. Japan is an exceedingly polite country, where people will bend over backwards to help you find a shop, catch a train. But Shinsekai was the first place that felt friendly, a place where I felt like people enjoyed people, not just tolerated them. I will never forget Shinsekai and the people there. And if that means I love the hood, then put me back in the hood any day baby. Next time I'm in Osaka, I know where I'm staying.
thanks for sharing! do you by any chance know the building he stands under at 22:20 ? such awesome architecture, I want to find more pictures/info about it
@@wutzgedudel so that is Tsutenkaku Tower. Shinsekai (literally "New World") was built as a "modern" city in the early 1900s. From what I've read, once half was modeled after Coney Island, and the other half after Paris. Tsutenkaku Tower sits in the Paris half obviously. I didn't go up when I was there, but you can go in and look at Osaka from a decently high vantage point from there.
I thought Tom Hank was going to sell you the fan, but that was really sweet. It really shows the culture of Japan and how kind people are there. Looking forward to visit Japan in the future!
When I lived in Japan as a boy it was 365 yen to the dollar. I would save my money until I had a dollar, change it to yen and hit the candy stores. I could buy an arm load of candy, most of them were candies I had never heard of before but still pretty good. That was just 15 years or so after WWII. The Japanese were always very kind to us which even to my young mind astonished me since we were an occupying force.
@Soviet Snow Base White supremacy? No, it’s called the country THEY attacked defeated them and occupied their country as often occurs after wars. But don’t let me get in the way of you making a fool of yourself….
Wow, 1960's Japan. That is an experience. I'm sure you have many amazing stories from that time. I'm someone who was born in 2003 and I hope to one day travel the world and have amazing stories like this. Even if they are just as simple as buying armfulls of candy. I'm currently working towards a degree in Anthropology. I am also American, so there is a of close-mindedness that I hope to escape. Having lots of foreign friends has really proven to me that a bad reputation on a country doesn't mean the people are bad. Hell, we know the tension between America and China and yet I have so many native Chinese friends of whom I love a lot. I even started learning Mandarin because of it. Sometimes we have to stop and remember that most people strive to be good people, regardless of where they are from.
Old man just wanted someone to speak English with and practice a bit while you practice Japanese. What a cool guy. Would talk to a lot of people like that when I lived in Korea. Such nice people
Osaka is so different compare to other Japanese cities. The vibe is easy, people are friendly, and smiley faces everywhere. It's the only place I've been inside Japan where small talks are welcome. Love that place. Tom Hanks was sweet. Seemed like a nice guy.
The hood in japan looks like some of the nicest places in the US! It’s true, Osaka and surrounding areas Mie-Ken, etc have some of the kindest and warm hearted people you’ll meet in japan. I’m dying at the guy sitting on the corner speaking Japanese and soon as you tell him American…starts speaking English with barley a trace of accent “I was in LA” 😂 for a guy raised in Okinawa and studied abroad at UCLA and back to japan, he should be extremely proud of his English. It’s obvious he worked very hard to become that skilled! Lastly, I could tell for sure you really made Tom Hanks day. He was so outgoing and so happy to make an American friend, maybe it was his chance to really just let himself be ‘free’ without any face or cover that he might have with a fellow Japanese. Very cool of you to spend some time with him. The fan as a gift and a hug at the end was very meaningful for sure.
It's very interesting to see this interaction outside of Japanese viewpoint. In Japan we have fees at restraunts. You sit at a table and the business charges a table fee and give you a small amount of food (not an appetizer, usually ust a cup of steamed veggies) and you know even if you leave you'll be charged a table fee, it's so you can sit at a table for a set time with out feeling rushed or if busy know when to leave for next customers. In some restaurants they use these fees to scam tourist. They send someone out like this older man to get tourist. They say "hey hey I know a cheap restraunt, follow me!" You go to the restaurant and the food cheap priced but there's a bunch of hidden fees like the table fee, npn-smoking area fee (which most places are non-smoking it's just they still charge for it), drink fee to pay for use of cup, etc. You think you pay $15 for 2 ppl but than go to pay and it's like $35. Most foreigners think it's an embarrassing situation and just pay not knowing they were scammed.
Could also be foreigners. A company that I used to work for sent people for training, they decided to do like they do in the US and shit all over the place and graffiti it up.
@@elnet1 foreigners mean all cultures and race's, therefore not JUST Americans, although America IS a place of welllll ALL cultures LITERALLY so. eh idk but I refuse to believe they smeared their own feces all over the place sooo....correct me if I am wrong....i have seen and experienced worse in America anyways so. What's more "graffiti" is NOT a thing anymore at all. none just paints on walls no more for ANY reason kiddo...gangs or not, there's guns and violence for that instead of tagging your gang sign 🙄 I mean a shooting is more impactful rather that a painting on a wall...
This was the most Precious interaction Ever! I am near tears here and I don’t cry ever! What a Wonderful, sweet and generous old man. Thank you so much for sharing this experience. Japan has always been a Bucket list item for me. It has moved up. This truly touched my heart!🥰❤️🥰❤️🥹🥹🥹
That guy you met who studied at UCLA could have been a great interview. If you offered to take him out for a drink, he could have shown you a fantastic time. The old guy was right about Osaka being #1, the capital of comedy, okonomiyaki, and takoyaki. Can't believe you didn't go to a tachinomiya. Glad you had kushikatsu in Tennoji. No dipping in sauce now, I guess.
this is the kind of video i like . no annoying music . no fancy edits . just simple , shoot as it is and it seems more real .. awesome video ! . heading to Japan at the end of june 2023 . this will be my 3rd trip to the country . i am so glad Japan is open again . greetings from Canada
I agree with you bro. It reminds me of my days travelling the world and getting a real feel for the place. I'm not interested in seeing the 'beautiful' places with fancy editing and a soundtrack over the top. Have a good time in Japan, and hi from Australia
Begging is extremely frowned upon in Japan, the homeless know they will get into serious trouble. Thank you for showing us the other side of Japan that is very rarely shown!
Conservative countries tend to be prety bad for drug addicts/homeless, its why you don't see them around often, or they may be dead.. Its basically natural selection nature at that point. While countries that are more liberal, easier for them to get handouts and beg more easily and survive easier.
Almost shed a tear. That old dude was the real one. Exchanging gifts was cool. Awesome vid thank you for showing us. I look forward to more. Well done.
I adored that old man 😭❤️ never watched your videos before but that probably made his year not just his day. My favorite part of the whole video lol I used to be a caregiver so this touched my heart.
The vast majority of humanity is kind, decent people. The powers that be want us divided no matter where we live and only show us the evil in society. Scared people are easily controlled people and if the last 3 years aren't living proof I don't know what is. Great content on this channel and I envy your experiences.
Proof of the fearmongering and proof of the effectiveness of the fear and division... I absolutely agree. I have never been afraid of people, lived many places while growing up, saw how people are the same in many ways, and had good parents. Really freaky how well the fear and division has worked in the last few years... I feel people have been coming out of it some this past year, but it is still very hard to even come close to certain subjects when talking to some people, even with some friends and family. Good luck!
I have heard that Japanese people really appreciate opportunities to speak English in real life conversation. The look in his eyes when he thanked you was so sincere 🥺 you gave him such an amazing time speaking English and making a friend. You’re officially in his heart FOREVER 💕💕💕
I work with this Japanese guy at work who loves learning Spanish it’s really nice :D I speak Spanish fluently and every day he ask me how do I say…? And I tell him I think it’s sweet cause now it rubbed off on our other coworker who ask me the same thing (he’s Japanese as well) honestly tho their pronunciation is pretty good while I can’t even say 7時 hardiest thing for me to pronounce 🗿
Next time, when someone speaks English fluently and they know the area well, stick around and get more information. UCLA man was a goldmine. That could have been one outstanding interview but I guess the 69 year old guy was waiting. Sure he may have been a little tipsy but sometimes that means you hear more up front truth which can be mighty hard to get sometimes in Japanese society. He struck me as being very frank. That's a great person to meet. Those people get right to the point. Exactly what people need when traveling! Your style, being so laid back, is a pleasant change from so many others trying to shock the viewer or draw them in with cheesy, wide eyes thumbnails like they were 10 years old. Your style is calm and peaceful; much better. Its a very good way of presenting an area to your viewers.
My last visit to Osaka was back in 2005, I have yet to see the Hood in any neighborhood of Osaka, it seems so clean and the people are way friendly, I spoke a little bit of Japanese, and felt comfortable talking to people. I had lived in a neighborhood not too far from shopping back in 1998 to 2003 and return in 2005 . It was in a very poor neighborhood but the streets were spotless, I couldn't afford a nice apartment then, but I lived in a Studio apartment above a grocery store, paid a out 300 dollars a month, way cheaper compared to NYC or LA prices. Now I wished that I stayed, but I may return and catch up with old friends that I made when I was there. I didn't get mugged, saw no gangs but there were a group of young guys dressed like they were out of South Central LA, and there were homeless people wandering around, But felt very safe and was not the least bit nervous. I called my friend, "hiroshi" as often as I can, and he told me that the old neighborhood has changed but still "hood". Now there are new apartments, stores, etc. And that I should return. I could go on but I will say this, go out and explore the city, yes ,...stay safe and enjoy your trip to Japan. Note: Osaka is way better than Tokyo and less expensive.
You made that old man very happy and he will probably remember you for the rest of his life. Essentially, all us humans are very similar in one regard: We all long for companionship and love, yet, deep inside, we are alone.
Tom Hanks is a treasure, what a beautiful, open, friendly and kind individual. Genuinely teared up when he went to hug you, imagine if we were all this kind to one another. The world is, but would be a much more beautiful place. Here's to hoping such a beautiful soul lives many more years like many Japanese apparently do!
I found myself smiling throughout your entire encounter with "Mr. Tom Hanks", what a sweet man! Thank you for taking the time to chat with him, I'm sure it was one of the most memorable times of his life and he will never forget your kindness!
Osaka is def a LA feel. When I went in 2015 I felt so much like it might as well be LA but with less homeless, less trash and less graffiti. Some strange beings after dark, like an old man hanging out with bunnies and asking cute girls if they'd like to hold/pet the bunnies. Never had anything asked of me from the homeless of Japan, nor felt scared or threatened, but just a good times and respectful. It's more of if you just genuinely try to speak it goes a long way.
@@GPharaod9 I'm born and raised in LA. Definitely not paradise, it's a shit show. Ain't nothing paradise about it, gotta roll around strapped because you never know when someone is about to run up on you
Dude, Honestly "Tom" was inadvertently the absolute highlight of this entire video because he was just such a cool, interesting, down to earth & hospitable guy! Would have been cool to see you grab a meal with him, still love this video! Awesome
15:50 interesting conversation to hear a Japanese say Chinese move into area and made it better. I’m curious to know more about the area now and when the changes took place. Great video thanks for sharing.
Stumbled across your channel and I’m totally hooked. You’re just real with people. And no matter the culture, people feel that. The gift exchange was so moving because of the appreciation behind it, for sharing your time and listening and for how open you are engaging with locals in their language. It’s so easy to fear embarrassment when practicing a new language. How do you get past that? And other than immersion, what would you say is the best thing you can do to learn a language?
Love hotels are used by couples, including married couples, because the walls in Japanese apartments are so thin. It’s difficult to have some “private adult time” when kids are right there, and the neighbours can hear what you’re doing. Love hotels give couples (not just affairs) a discreet specified place to engage in “activities” without “disrupting social harmony”.
Kushikatsu Daruma! Fun-fact: The mascot of the restaurant chain is actually the president of the company, Ueyama Katsuya. His store is featured in several of the Like a Dragon (Yakuza) games, wherever Osaka is featured, and he's even a guest character in LAD5! It's really cool being able to see the real-life places I've virtually experienced through a video game! Osaka really is full of friendly people!
Nice video.. An ammendment to your Love Hotel comment. They were originally created for the 1st sons of a Japanese families. In Japan it was considered that the elder son would take care of the parents and family. Because of all of this and due to the thin walls of the Japanese home, Love Hotels came about to give the younger couple a place to relax and enjoy some alone time together. Of course over time they are used more for what you mentioned, but they do have an original purpose and history.
I recently discovered your channel and liked it very much from the start. As a language lover, I particularly appreciate how you manage to speak every language of the country you go to quite well, even japanese, and you can obviously read it too, which is quite something... Wow, is the only thing that comes to mind now, thanks for what you're offering us.
I did a double take when I saw the thumbnail randomly. I walked right past that girl at her shooting booth a week or two ago. Her hairstyle really stood out to me which is why I remembered her. Funny coincidence to then see her on RUclips. Oh wtf! I met that same old guy too! He came up to me on a bridge in Dotonbori and talked to me about Osaka for a couple of minutes. We had almost the same conversation, him telling me about Okonomiyaki and how people in Osaka are more chill than in Tokyo. My girlfriend is from Mexico and when he heard that he broke out some Spanish like hola, como estas, salud, and vaya con dios.
@@schmoonkie you might hate a person regardless of whatever reason be it race,religion, or whatever other reason but that doesnt mean you act rude towards them, if they are polite towards you you deal with them accordingly.
Ive never been to japan or even asia but for some reason the first minute after u got off the underground it felt incredibly nostalgic and calming, like home. What a weird feeling...
mate, you are literally have the right amount of reservedness and friendliness for this gig.... admire your work. and enjoy listening and watching immensly.
great video, I will be moving to Japan either this year or next year of the end of March 😅, awesome RUclips channel, am an American from the frozen tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin, I will be taking pictures and doing some video recording of my move to Japan, in the Osaka area 😀, thanks for reading my comment...
Your language skills never seize to amaze me, you are literally always improving it seems. Great content as always man, have a happy thanksgiving (if you celebrate). Can’t wait to see the videos you got coming in the future. Safe travels man.
I'm a black woman and I plan on going to Japan alone after seeing videos showing how safe it is. Of course, there will be freaks anywhere you go. Especially if you hit beauty standards (for both men and women), but it seems that it's not as much of an issue in parts of Japan compared to, say, LA or NYC.
Can't believe you've learned Japanese so quickly. BTW you might wanna throw a little "gozaimasu" on the end of your arigatos, just sounds nicer when talking to strangers or especially folks a bit older than you. Damn good though!
@@UntangledKnots Yeah the good news is, most of the locals are really tolerant on this stuff-they know we're trying! But since Sabbaticaru-san is out looking to meet ya-san type folk, it's probably good to err on the side of courtesy!
I miss living in Japan SO much. The way all the buildings are, how it feels like it's a maze. All the secret hallways, rooms, etc. Sushi restaurants with only 3 seats in the bak of an alleyway you can only get to by asking someone to literally SHOW YOU. The sounds of all the electronics everywhere makes me feel like I'm in a video game. I can't wait to go back one day. I lived in Yokosuka for 4 years. BEST time of my young life.
I myself wish I could visit japan. I have never been there. I like to think I would enjoy it. Only problem is not knowing if it would be difficult to meet people there
I know exactly what your saying, I was working in Bizen for 3 months would go to Okayama on the weekends. Went to a underground club/lounge took different stairs down to get there, when leaving took stairs up and secret hallways as you say. Ended exiting through a door that was in the middle of the city.
@Steve Garvey It's NEVER difficult to meet ppl there. They literally come to *you.* I can't begin to count all the different ppl I met. Especially when I'd go to downtown Tokyo, Roppongi. Some of the best clubs and restaurants I've ever been to. Ppl from every corner of the world go there to have fun. Me and my buddies would get off from work on a Fri, take a 3.5-hour train/bus ride to Tokyo, and not be back to the ship (I was stationed in Yokosuka)until 6:30 on Monday morning. I was 17 years old and had the time of my life. Did this almost every weekend for 4 years. No parents to tell me when to come home or look over my shoulder. Now that I'm 40, I realize how lucky I was to get to experience that. On top of living in Japan, I got to visit so many other countries when pulling out to sea. My favorite port being Singapore. Australia, my 2nd favorite, followed by Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, then Guam. I can honestly say I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything as I get older, but I DO miss the feeling exploring Japan would give me.
@Romero Yep! That's exactly what I mean. There are secret doors and hallways everywhere. One building that intersects with another without you even realizing it. Their architecture really keeps you walking around the cities without ever getting bored of it.
Masa definitely didn’t just pick up English like that by going to ucla and living in Okinawa. He lived in the states for a whileeeeee there’s definitely a reason he’s in Japan.
Bro god bless Tom hanks such fun happy guy you can tell he was probably going through something and needed that little hang out and convo. So sir bless you for taking the time to talk and hang out with Japanese Tom hanks!!
I was rooting for you during that gun game with all the snacks! The lady running it was really nice too. Loving these Japan videos. I've always wanted to go there. Thanks for sharing!!
The second the video started, I knew you were going to Shinsekai! Some Japanese guy from Osaka said it's a dangerous neighborhood, but he also said I should go there if I want to see the real Osaka. I was not disappointed. It was not dangerous at all, and it was real fun going around talking to people there and eating some great food.
Just like Tom Hanks a lot of Japanese people really enjoy the opportunity to speak English with a western person. I was lucky enough to experience it when I visited, but didn't get all the hugs Tommy gets lol. Great video!
OK! So, your "Tom Hanks" interaction was the essence of what makes up great travel, taking what could be a momentary random moment and turning it into an actually meaningful Human exchange. You will likely never forget him, or he, you and that is so cool. The fact that you gave him the time and attention he needed, makes you Aces in my book!
@@johnglow7845 they were drunk.but what exactly were they refering to.were they refering to rich chinese people investing in real estate in japan because i think i have heard that before.
You’ve experienced Japan like a long-term foreign resident has experienced Japan. And you Japanese is not bad at all for someone who has never lived there! Nice channel!
Awesome episode. Japan feels so special.. Like futuristic, kinda lonely but also crowded, and very safe i think. That old dude was awesome. Give us more of Japan
I had a very similar experience on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. An elderly gentleman rode up on a bicycle and started a conversation out of the blue. I have to say it really made my day to have a person approach me in such a friendly and completely not wanting anything from me other than to say hello.
Same, it happened while I went to a museum exhibit in Tokyo, friendly middle aged man went out of his way to show me and tell me about awesome attractions in Odiaba :)
Hi met an old man just like that in Osaka, I was rushing to an appointment but we hung out a little and talked just like that. In the end he gave me his card and parted ways. I still have his card, maybe one day I’ll say hi if I got to Osaka again.. nice people over there
Double Palm is a good love hotel, there are love hotels in the Caribbean but we call them "guest houses". Basically, anywhere there's a culture where it's normal for people to live with their parents into adulthood, there will be some version of love hotels.
i feel like he was trying to embrace what he felt might be normal for Tommy as an American the same way Tommy was doing so for a japanese, speaking the language and all. Makes it even more endearing
I am very impressed with your grasp of languages . To be able to travel far and wide and be understood must be very nice. Love the videos and your humble approach. Enjoy
Very similar to my own experiences in Saitama a few years ago. You will find those people who are more than happy to talk about their neighborhood and favorite stores, who will then go out of their way to make your experience amazing. You will also run into those who don't speak English or aren't confident in it enough that they will appear to snub you or ignore you. So long as you realize it is usually more out of embarrassment than anything else, it won't bother you. "Tom" was representative of quite a few older Japanese folks I ran into who were excited just to have an excuse to practice their English. Good on you for learning as much of the language as you did and I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay!
wow you are truly living your life's purpose. Walking in your Dharma. It's no coincidence that you are meeting such amazing people wherever you go. You are meant to meet them
I generally hate vlogs, but this video was heart-warming. Because if I ever visit Japan, I might have a similar experience or even better. But as a general rule, you just have to meet the right people no matter where you go. It will brighten up your heart.
There’s a bubbly friendly Mexican dude that lives in Japan. He’s close to Ikoma, he knows all the good bars to go for cheap prices lol he loves beer like you. Maybe you’ll see him vloging one day he goes around different places and usually takes public transport.
Tom Hanks will always be big in Japan
Safe flight and remember we are happy for all the adventures just waiting as we watch this piece watching from Nairobi #afrosam
Safe flight mate will visit Japan one day seems an interesting country
Can't wait for this Asia series. Hope you explore Vietnam. Japan has been amazing
Water in the matako 😂😂. I love japanese toilets
safe flight! japan looks super cool id love to visit
That old guy was probably lonely. You definitely made his week by taking the time to talk to him and spend time with him, he seemed like a genuinely good person
Seems like he wanted to practice English + some loneliness 😄
@@herroherrarlee6769 I think he said he got into an argument and he was kicked out and you can still be lonely even if u have people in your life
@@herroherrarlee6769 ahh still too young to understand
@@clazzo6231 true he wanted to tell Tommy about it but Tommy had other ideas
Old, young.... it doesn't matter the age because there's alot more people in the world w live in that are lonlier than expected.
That hug the old man gave you was so genuine.
Indeed, there are so many awesome people out there...
Probably feeling lonely just needed someone to talk to. It made him feel good he found Tomy.
wholesome guy
He was delighted to have a convo in english hes probably watched saving private Ryan a milliont times he's obviously obsessed with Tom Hanks role as the sergeant...lol
Agreed like that father I never had 😂
I love how genuine and humble you are. Unlike other polyglot channels, you keep the focus on actual interaction, rather than editing in a way that's focused around everyone thinking you're some genius. People can truly feel they are exploring with you, rather than watching a dog and pony show.
You mean like Harald Baldr and Bald and Bankrupt.? Tommy is more real.
@@swinderby I enjoy all three. Everyone has a different style and personality
@@MrMakoto2 only problem is Bald is a pedo, apart from that pretty good channel
@FINNISAWESOMEHA I've seen people say that before. What did Bald do? I'm genuinely curious.
Suggest to see Dave Legenda channel too
In Russia
A hug from a Japanese person is rare. You made a good friend in a short time.
I was SHOCKED to see that
Hugs from Japanese are rare. However, people in Osaka are friendly, so I am not surprised. In Tokyo, where I live, few people give hugs.
日本人からのハグを珍しいです。しかし大阪の人はフレンドリーなので、私は驚きません。私の住んでいる東京では、ハグをする人は殆どいません。
@@user-DrhjiyvyvbiNo it isn't rare, it's just that people outside only get shown how Japanese are from Tokyoites.
Seriously. That was very surprising, very very sweet of him
My family and I are Japanese and we always hug friendly people. Stop trying to make us seem and though we are mean, rough, and emotionless people! Us Japanese are good and loving, we always hug!
Bro, dude sitting on the stones sounded so damn American. Spoke better English than a lot of Americans that I meet at work, that's so impressive.
I would be tripping out if I was high and he popped up with his perfect English 😂
I think he grew up in the US but was deported after getting into some troubles
@@morenitomoreno1282 That's ridiculous. He said he's from Okinawa and went to college in the US so he probably studied English from the time he was kid and went to college before they made it so easy anyone could get in. Of course his English is natural sounding.
@@Harry_Stylus The fact he has a perfect Westcoast accent and the other guy said in Japanese "he’s a Native American" or something like that tells me he’s probably not telling the exact story about how he got this perfect American accent. obviously I don’t know and I wouldn’t judge him if this was the case but it’s just my observation
@@morenitomoreno1282 Some people in Okinawa speak very good english from talking to all the Americans there (that's why he specifically said "I'm from Okinawa" as to explain why he has good english) + the man went to a college in the US, the "he’s a Native American" is clearly just a joke. And him also saying that neighborhood looks like "downtown LA" clearly tells you he probably only knows of LA since he said he went to UCLA
The old man wanted you to have a gift to remember him. His way of appreciating you for spending a moment in time with him. That is truly priceless. The US is loosing that form of connection more and more. It really sucks.
The USA is starting to become more of a stopping point instead of a place to live in...been here all my life and you can see that our culture, traditions and everything else getting eroded away and capitalism being put into place everywhere. People are unhealthy, crime is rising, everyone is miserable and the streets are void of children playing...its a civilization of decay .
@@sew_gal7340 I agree 💯
@Big Chungus The irony is that laughing is a feeling and society in the US has done a great job of ripping that out of many of us. I apologize...but it does not change that fact.
roses will wilt, money gets spent, but memories will last a lifetime!
Totally agree with you 💯
That old guy made my day. He was def lonely out there, and I think he really just wanted to make an American friend and try out some English. When he gave you that fan, even though it’s very cheap, you could tell it came from a place of love.
Tom Hanks*
His wife’s strong enough to kick him out the house with force and he still made himself a great day even tho he’s not fully there I admire him
I would cherish it for the rest of my days
he said he had a wife at home
Masa’s American accent is so perfect! I thought there was no way this guy wasn’t American.
That dude spoke better natural english than some people in downtown LA 😂
Imagine thinking you have to be American in order to speak english smh💀 dumb
I knew a Japanese girl that was the same way years ago. She grew up knowing a lot of US military people and watching a lot of American media. Her English was flawless and almost accentless.
@@unethicallyvoid2888 i think you may have misunderstood me, I was speaking only about his accent and nothing else.
That's a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. When he said "I studied in the US". He wanted to learn the language so well that he lost his accent. I can relate because my first language is Spanish and lost my accent because I wanted to learn English fluently. Wonder why he came back to his native land?
When I went to Osaka, we stayed in a hostel right outside of Shinsekai. The people were the friendliest out of any I had encountered in the country so far. The people at the hostel took us to a bar and everyone there was awesome. Despite language barriers, people wanted to play darts, chat, learn about each other, etc. I met people from Russia, Germany, Poland, Vietnam. A drunk salary man at the bar put his arm around arm around me and used his best English to ask me "WHERE ARE YOU FROM!" We shared a drink and a hearty kampai. We went to a local bathhouse that was tattoo friendly because people in our group had them and this blonde haired blue eyed American shared a nice relaxing time with some of the gnarliest looking yakuza you could imagine. The guy who ran the locker shop outside of the hostel would greet me with a smile every morning as I went to the konbini for my oh so healthy breakfast of ume onigiri and pocari sweat. Some late night guests at a 24 hour kushi katsu restaurant shared their giant karaage with me as we laughed at my poor Japanese. All of that made me like Shinsekai the most out of all of the places I've been so far, but the thing that made me truly love Shinsekai was on the last night we stayed, we went to the same bar on a slow Sunday night and chatted with the bartender. He asked us what we were up to the next day, and we had nothing planned. "do you want to be in a parade?" I was floored. Of course I want to be in a parade, are you kidding me? "be here tomorrow at 10am." I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. He gave me a happi, and we suited up to push a parade float around town with little kids playing taiko on it. I smiled non stop the whole time and couldn't stop thanking him for letting us participate in something so fun. As if that wasn't enough, he took us out for sushi and gave us 10 dollars for helping push the float. That was 4 years ago, and I still can't believe it happened. Japan is an exceedingly polite country, where people will bend over backwards to help you find a shop, catch a train. But Shinsekai was the first place that felt friendly, a place where I felt like people enjoyed people, not just tolerated them. I will never forget Shinsekai and the people there. And if that means I love the hood, then put me back in the hood any day baby. Next time I'm in Osaka, I know where I'm staying.
Thanks for this Story, awesome to read.
Sounds like it was a wonderful experience.
thanks for sharing! do you by any chance know the building he stands under at 22:20 ? such awesome architecture, I want to find more pictures/info about it
@@wutzgedudel so that is Tsutenkaku Tower. Shinsekai (literally "New World") was built as a "modern" city in the early 1900s. From what I've read, once half was modeled after Coney Island, and the other half after Paris. Tsutenkaku Tower sits in the Paris half obviously. I didn't go up when I was there, but you can go in and look at Osaka from a decently high vantage point from there.
@@heerocon thanks yes I found it! the mix of imposing clean forms and the lit up traditional artwork makes for a really cool cyberpunk-esk aesthic
the way kazuaki hugged you was so adorable, the way he was comfortable enough to do that
I thought Tom Hank was going to sell you the fan, but that was really sweet. It really shows the culture of Japan and how kind people are there. Looking forward to visit Japan in the future!
That interaction with that man...makes me want to pack my bags now.
I visited once in 2018 to Tokyo. I loved it there. Such a great place and culture.
Pssssychh!!!!! I love your channels much luv from Tokyo! ^_^!
quite frankly hes the minority.
Oh heyy!
When I lived in Japan as a boy it was 365 yen to the dollar. I would save my money until I had a dollar, change it to yen and hit the candy stores. I could buy an arm load of candy, most of them were candies I had never heard of before but still pretty good. That was just 15 years or so after WWII. The Japanese were always very kind to us which even to my young mind astonished me since we were an occupying force.
@Soviet Snow Base White supremacy? No, it’s called the country THEY attacked defeated them and occupied their country as often occurs after wars. But don’t let me get in the way of you making a fool of yourself….
Sometimes the people in the country aren’t always the enemy..
WWII???
@@nocturne3220 Yea, World War 2. That better?
Wow, 1960's Japan. That is an experience. I'm sure you have many amazing stories from that time. I'm someone who was born in 2003 and I hope to one day travel the world and have amazing stories like this. Even if they are just as simple as buying armfulls of candy. I'm currently working towards a degree in Anthropology. I am also American, so there is a of close-mindedness that I hope to escape. Having lots of foreign friends has really proven to me that a bad reputation on a country doesn't mean the people are bad. Hell, we know the tension between America and China and yet I have so many native Chinese friends of whom I love a lot. I even started learning Mandarin because of it. Sometimes we have to stop and remember that most people strive to be good people, regardless of where they are from.
Old man just wanted someone to speak English with and practice a bit while you practice Japanese. What a cool guy. Would talk to a lot of people like that when I lived in Korea. Such nice people
It's those small moments that make the largest impressions : D
bro i miss korea was stationed there 2020-2021 most of the civilians had very good english fr
Osaka is so different compare to other Japanese cities. The vibe is easy, people are friendly, and smiley faces everywhere. It's the only place I've been inside Japan where small talks are welcome. Love that place. Tom Hanks was sweet. Seemed like a nice guy.
The word 'genki' comes to mind when Osaka is mentioned.
The hood in japan looks like some of the nicest places in the US! It’s true, Osaka and surrounding areas Mie-Ken, etc have some of the kindest and warm hearted people you’ll meet in japan. I’m dying at the guy sitting on the corner speaking Japanese and soon as you tell him American…starts speaking English with barley a trace of accent “I was in LA” 😂 for a guy raised in Okinawa and studied abroad at UCLA and back to japan, he should be extremely proud of his English. It’s obvious he worked very hard to become that skilled! Lastly, I could tell for sure you really made Tom Hanks day. He was so outgoing and so happy to make an American friend, maybe it was his chance to really just let himself be ‘free’ without any face or cover that he might have with a fellow Japanese. Very cool of you to spend some time with him. The fan as a gift and a hug at the end was very meaningful for sure.
"Tom Hanks"was genuinely an amazing human being. Thanks for sharing your travel experiences.
Apsalutley haha it's amazing how happy they are over there it would take you years to find a man that happy over here in Aus hahaha
70 years old.. look 50
I went to the same high school as Tom Hanks Skyline High School Oakland, California but I’m c/o 2000 😂 but we loved him always
It's very interesting to see this interaction outside of Japanese viewpoint.
In Japan we have fees at restraunts. You sit at a table and the business charges a table fee and give you a small amount of food (not an appetizer, usually ust a cup of steamed veggies) and you know even if you leave you'll be charged a table fee, it's so you can sit at a table for a set time with out feeling rushed or if busy know when to leave for next customers.
In some restaurants they use these fees to scam tourist. They send someone out like this older man to get tourist. They say "hey hey I know a cheap restraunt, follow me!" You go to the restaurant and the food cheap priced but there's a bunch of hidden fees like the table fee, npn-smoking area fee (which most places are non-smoking it's just they still charge for it), drink fee to pay for use of cup, etc. You think you pay $15 for 2 ppl but than go to pay and it's like $35. Most foreigners think it's an embarrassing situation and just pay not knowing they were scammed.
@@marcogelsomini7655 What?! Wow!
"Graffiti doesn't mean there's gangs though... could also just means there's hipsters."
I laughed way too hard at that
Could also be foreigners. A company that I used to work for sent people for training, they decided to do like they do in the US and shit all over the place and graffiti it up.
from the intro i thought he was having an illegal arms deal with handmade rifles
Lol it’s the Asian lady with the braids for me 😂😂😂it’s actually cute on her
@@elnet1 thats true, especially young ppl living over there or like Navy dudes and shit, do some dumb stuff
@@elnet1 foreigners mean all cultures and race's, therefore not JUST Americans, although America IS a place of welllll ALL cultures LITERALLY so. eh idk but I refuse to believe they smeared their own feces all over the place sooo....correct me if I am wrong....i have seen and experienced worse in America anyways so. What's more "graffiti" is NOT a thing anymore at all. none just paints on walls no more for ANY reason kiddo...gangs or not, there's guns and violence for that instead of tagging your gang sign 🙄 I mean a shooting is more impactful rather that a painting on a wall...
The old man was star-truck to see you, It was really adorable. You’re a real one for being so calm and engaging with everyone that approaches you.
This was the most Precious interaction Ever! I am near tears here and I don’t cry ever! What a Wonderful, sweet and generous old man. Thank you so much for sharing this experience. Japan has always been a Bucket list item for me. It has moved up. This truly touched my heart!🥰❤️🥰❤️🥹🥹🥹
That guy you met who studied at UCLA could have been a great interview. If you offered to take him out for a drink, he could have shown you a fantastic time. The old guy was right about Osaka being #1, the capital of comedy, okonomiyaki, and takoyaki. Can't believe you didn't go to a tachinomiya. Glad you had kushikatsu in Tennoji. No dipping in sauce now, I guess.
You could have done a snack or hostess bar and really learned the ins-and-outs.
this is the kind of video i like . no annoying music . no fancy edits . just simple , shoot as it is and it seems more real .. awesome video ! . heading to Japan at the end of june 2023 . this will be my 3rd trip to the country . i am so glad Japan is open again . greetings from Canada
The "take it all in" experience, as it should be
I agree with you bro. It reminds me of my days travelling the world and getting a real feel for the place. I'm not interested in seeing the 'beautiful' places with fancy editing and a soundtrack over the top.
Have a good time in Japan, and hi from Australia
Yeah, I like other Japan content creators but it's nice to see some old skool raw vlog type content still that isn't "omg vending machinos!"
How was the trip?
Begging is extremely frowned upon in Japan, the homeless know they will get into serious trouble. Thank you for showing us the other side of Japan that is very rarely shown!
Conservative countries tend to be prety bad for drug addicts/homeless, its why you don't see them around often, or they may be dead.. Its basically natural selection nature at that point. While countries that are more liberal, easier for them to get handouts and beg more easily and survive easier.
Ohhh
Interesting
Almost shed a tear. That old dude was the real one. Exchanging gifts was cool. Awesome vid thank you for showing us. I look forward to more. Well done.
It's the Japanese gift-giving culture.
I adored that old man 😭❤️ never watched your videos before but that probably made his year not just his day. My favorite part of the whole video lol I used to be a caregiver so this touched my heart.
The vast majority of humanity is kind, decent people. The powers that be want us divided no matter where we live and only show us the evil in society. Scared people are easily controlled people and if the last 3 years aren't living proof I don't know what is. Great content on this channel and I envy your experiences.
Proof of the fearmongering and proof of the effectiveness of the fear and division... I absolutely agree. I have never been afraid of people, lived many places while growing up, saw how people are the same in many ways, and had good parents. Really freaky how well the fear and division has worked in the last few years... I feel people have been coming out of it some this past year, but it is still very hard to even come close to certain subjects when talking to some people, even with some friends and family. Good luck!
I have heard that Japanese people really appreciate opportunities to speak English in real life conversation. The look in his eyes when he thanked you was so sincere 🥺 you gave him such an amazing time speaking English and making a friend. You’re officially in his heart FOREVER 💕💕💕
I work with this Japanese guy at work who loves learning Spanish it’s really nice :D I speak Spanish fluently and every day he ask me how do I say…? And I tell him I think it’s sweet cause now it rubbed off on our other coworker who ask me the same thing (he’s Japanese as well) honestly tho their pronunciation is pretty good while I can’t even say 7時 hardiest thing for me to pronounce 🗿
Yes. They are somewhat self-conscious about their English proficiency though. If you know some Japanese, they are much more inclined to give it a go.
@@steinsenpai8042 Wow nice to have someone that knows this guy i hope hes doing well. Are you japanese ?
That old man was so sweet. What a kind person.
Next time, when someone speaks English fluently and they know the area well, stick around and get more information. UCLA man was a goldmine. That could have been one outstanding interview but I guess the 69 year old guy was waiting. Sure he may have been a little tipsy but sometimes that means you hear more up front truth which can be mighty hard to get sometimes in Japanese society. He struck me as being very frank. That's a great person to meet. Those people get right to the point. Exactly what people need when traveling!
Your style, being so laid back, is a pleasant change from so many others trying to shock the viewer or draw them in with cheesy, wide eyes thumbnails like they were 10 years old. Your style is calm and peaceful; much better. Its a very good way of presenting an area to your viewers.
Sadly the thumbnails work. Also my friend had me change my profile pic to one, I don't think it's helped me gain any subs lol!
@@lotoex Yeah I've heard they do work. So sad we live in such a dumb society that they WOULD work. That says so much. Anyway you did a great job.
My last visit to Osaka was back in 2005, I have yet to see the Hood in any neighborhood of Osaka, it seems so clean and the people are way friendly, I spoke a little bit of Japanese, and felt comfortable talking to people. I had lived in a neighborhood not too far from shopping back in 1998 to 2003 and return in 2005 . It was in a very poor neighborhood but the streets were spotless, I couldn't afford a nice apartment then, but I lived in a Studio apartment above a grocery store, paid a out 300 dollars a month, way cheaper compared to NYC or LA prices. Now I wished that I stayed, but I may return and catch up with old friends that I made when I was there. I didn't get mugged, saw no gangs but there were a group of young guys dressed like they were out of South Central LA, and there were homeless people wandering around, But felt very safe and was not the least bit nervous.
I called my friend, "hiroshi" as often as I can, and he told me that the old neighborhood has changed but still "hood". Now there are new apartments, stores, etc. And that I should return. I could go on but I will say this, go out and explore the city, yes ,...stay safe and enjoy your trip to Japan.
Note: Osaka is way better than Tokyo and less expensive.
I pray that the old man you sat with has a prosperous and happy life! What a kind soul! ❤️
"young man," remember?! He said he is "70 years old, very young man!" he was so cute!
You made that old man very happy and he will probably remember you for the rest of his life. Essentially, all us humans are very similar in one regard: We all long for companionship and love, yet, deep inside, we are alone.
nah, u reading too deep lol
@@mobtime6021I disagree. Everyone at the end of the day wants to connect to somebody else, and that happened here -- at least for the elderly fellow!
Tom Hanks is a treasure, what a beautiful, open, friendly and kind individual. Genuinely teared up when he went to hug you, imagine if we were all this kind to one another. The world is, but would be a much more beautiful place. Here's to hoping such a beautiful soul lives many more years like many Japanese apparently do!
Tom hanks actually took his wallet.
@@Leignheart well he obviously didn't...
That older man was so precious, that interaction was sooo heartwarming
I found myself smiling throughout your entire encounter with "Mr. Tom Hanks", what a sweet man! Thank you for taking the time to chat with him, I'm sure it was one of the most memorable times of his life and he will never forget your kindness!
Osaka is def a LA feel. When I went in 2015 I felt so much like it might as well be LA but with less homeless, less trash and less graffiti. Some strange beings after dark, like an old man hanging out with bunnies and asking cute girls if they'd like to hold/pet the bunnies. Never had anything asked of me from the homeless of Japan, nor felt scared or threatened, but just a good times and respectful. It's more of if you just genuinely try to speak it goes a long way.
It is so sad what has happened to LA, San Francisco, Chicago, etc. The bad now outweighs the good. Terrible cities for tourists.
@@norwegianblue2017 the bad does not outweigh the good. I moved to LA 5 years ago its been pretty much a paradise.
@@GPharaod9 my parents would laugh at you for saying that
@@aaroncoolsixty ok 👍🏾
@@GPharaod9 I'm born and raised in LA. Definitely not paradise, it's a shit show. Ain't nothing paradise about it, gotta roll around strapped because you never know when someone is about to run up on you
The older gentleman you were sitting with on the bench was so genuine and nice, I think he was just happy to meet someone 🤗
My thoughts also :)
Tom Hanks really wanted to speak English. A dictionary would be a great gift to him. Loved how open minded he was
The interaction with the old man, as many others have commented, is a supremely wholesome moment.
Thank you for showing us your adventures, and being respectful with everyone ❤️❤️
Dude, Honestly "Tom" was inadvertently the absolute highlight of this entire video because he was just such a cool, interesting, down to earth & hospitable guy! Would have been cool to see you grab a meal with him, still love this video! Awesome
15:50 interesting conversation to hear a Japanese say Chinese move into area and made it better. I’m curious to know more about the area now and when the changes took place. Great video thanks for sharing.
and bro spoke english good asf. accent was really good
Stumbled across your channel and I’m totally hooked. You’re just real with people. And no matter the culture, people feel that. The gift exchange was so moving because of the appreciation behind it, for sharing your time and listening and for how open you are engaging with locals in their language. It’s so easy to fear embarrassment when practicing a new language. How do you get past that? And other than immersion, what would you say is the best thing you can do to learn a language?
Love hotels are used by couples, including married couples, because the walls in Japanese apartments are so thin. It’s difficult to have some “private adult time” when kids are right there, and the neighbours can hear what you’re doing. Love hotels give couples (not just affairs) a discreet specified place to engage in “activities” without “disrupting social harmony”.
Kushikatsu Daruma! Fun-fact: The mascot of the restaurant chain is actually the president of the company, Ueyama Katsuya. His store is featured in several of the Like a Dragon (Yakuza) games, wherever Osaka is featured, and he's even a guest character in LAD5!
It's really cool being able to see the real-life places I've virtually experienced through a video game! Osaka really is full of friendly people!
Nice video.. An ammendment to your Love Hotel comment. They were originally created for the 1st sons of a Japanese families. In Japan it was considered that the elder son would take care of the parents and family. Because of all of this and due to the thin walls of the Japanese home, Love Hotels came about to give the younger couple a place to relax and enjoy some alone time together. Of course over time they are used more for what you mentioned, but they do have an original purpose and history.
Interesting, thanks for the added history
I recently discovered your channel and liked it very much from the start. As a language lover, I particularly appreciate how you manage to speak every language of the country you go to quite well, even japanese, and you can obviously read it too, which is quite something... Wow, is the only thing that comes to mind now, thanks for what you're offering us.
Something a this video has a calming effect on me. Idk why
Tom Hanks will always be big in Japan. That hug the old man gave you was so genuine..
I did a double take when I saw the thumbnail randomly. I walked right past that girl at her shooting booth a week or two ago. Her hairstyle really stood out to me which is why I remembered her. Funny coincidence to then see her on RUclips.
Oh wtf! I met that same old guy too! He came up to me on a bridge in Dotonbori and talked to me about Osaka for a couple of minutes. We had almost the same conversation, him telling me about Okonomiyaki and how people in Osaka are more chill than in Tokyo. My girlfriend is from Mexico and when he heard that he broke out some Spanish like hola, como estas, salud, and vaya con dios.
Ofc her hairstyle would stand out to you bc only black women should be wearing that hairstyle ☠️
@@ninithatmultikpopstan2721 she looks fine af rocking that hairstyle 💯
@@ninithatmultikpopstan2721 nah
@@user-km1yv4xb9f no
@@ninithatmultikpopstan2721 boo fucking hoo
Anywhere Tommy goes, people are friendly to him. I think that has to do with his friendly and curious demeanor.
And the fact he goes out of his way to learn their language or at least try and they respect that
Because he's tall, has a warm personality,and tries to assimilate into local cultures as much as he can.
@Flower7 No matter where he goes in the World, people respond to him the same way. It's no accident. I think we can all learn from him.
@Flower7 Oh... I thought that whites were hated in some parts of the world ( e.g. due to colonialization, slavery, etc. )
@@schmoonkie you might hate a person regardless of whatever reason be it race,religion, or whatever other reason but that doesnt mean you act rude towards them, if they are polite towards you you deal with them accordingly.
Ive never been to japan or even asia but for some reason the first minute after u got off the underground it felt incredibly nostalgic and calming, like home. What a weird feeling...
frrr, i was thinking i want to be there tommorow and just walk around experience the feeling
reincarnation
Wtf me too, I had a feeling I’ve been there or had a dream of that place before but never been outside of the US
Lol, same. Nostalgia for a place you've never experienced before.
mate, you are literally have the right amount of reservedness and friendliness for this gig.... admire your work. and enjoy listening and watching immensly.
great video, I will be moving to Japan either this year or next year of the end of March 😅, awesome RUclips channel, am an American from the frozen tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin, I will be taking pictures and doing some video recording of my move to Japan, in the Osaka area 😀, thanks for reading my comment...
Your language skills never seize to amaze me, you are literally always improving it seems. Great content as always man, have a happy thanksgiving (if you celebrate). Can’t wait to see the videos you got coming in the future. Safe travels man.
arigato
cease
Amaze me as well, he seems to be able to pick up any language where ever he is , truly amazing
I actually cried when Tom Hanks gave you a hug Bro! You just chilling with dude changed his life!
You can tell Japanese people are friendly just need to start speaking to one another
Especially people from Osaka. They are so approachable and and warm.
What if you’re black?
I'm a black woman and I plan on going to Japan alone after seeing videos showing how safe it is. Of course, there will be freaks anywhere you go. Especially if you hit beauty standards (for both men and women), but it seems that it's not as much of an issue in parts of Japan compared to, say, LA or NYC.
A lesson for all humans.
@@tovahwulf beautiful a country I'd love to go to one day
That old man really made my eyes water, what a sweet man, so kind. Thank you for being so kind and patient with him.
too adorable! when yall gave each other a little gift. and he said he would hang your gift on his wall I thought that was soo sweet!!
Can't believe you've learned Japanese so quickly. BTW you might wanna throw a little "gozaimasu" on the end of your arigatos, just sounds nicer when talking to strangers or especially folks a bit older than you. Damn good though!
Arigato is more informal something you say with your friends. Arigatou gozaimasu is much more polite.
And maybe a “san” after names right? I always forget it though, regardless of how good my Japanese gets
@@UntangledKnots Yeah the good news is, most of the locals are really tolerant on this stuff-they know we're trying! But since Sabbaticaru-san is out looking to meet ya-san type folk, it's probably good to err on the side of courtesy!
@@nathanmerritt1581 Right right. So "arigato" can sound kind of abrasive if you don't really know them like that.
Let your Japanese play to the Japanese, we come to play and trade.
I miss living in Japan SO much. The way all the buildings are, how it feels like it's a maze. All the secret hallways, rooms, etc. Sushi restaurants with only 3 seats in the bak of an alleyway you can only get to by asking someone to literally SHOW YOU.
The sounds of all the electronics everywhere makes me feel like I'm in a video game. I can't wait to go back one day. I lived in Yokosuka for 4 years. BEST time of my young life.
I myself wish I could visit japan. I have never been there. I like to think I would enjoy it. Only problem is not knowing if it would be difficult to meet people there
I know exactly what your saying, I was working in Bizen for 3 months would go to Okayama on the weekends. Went to a underground club/lounge took different stairs down to get there, when leaving took stairs up and secret hallways as you say. Ended exiting through a door that was in the middle of the city.
@Steve Garvey It's NEVER difficult to meet ppl there. They literally come to *you.* I can't begin to count all the different ppl I met. Especially when I'd go to downtown Tokyo, Roppongi.
Some of the best clubs and restaurants I've ever been to. Ppl from every corner of the world go there to have fun. Me and my buddies would get off from work on a Fri, take a 3.5-hour train/bus ride to Tokyo, and not be back to the ship (I was stationed in Yokosuka)until 6:30 on Monday morning.
I was 17 years old and had the time of my life. Did this almost every weekend for 4 years. No parents to tell me when to come home or look over my shoulder.
Now that I'm 40, I realize how lucky I was to get to experience that. On top of living in Japan, I got to visit so many other countries when pulling out to sea. My favorite port being Singapore. Australia, my 2nd favorite, followed by Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, then Guam.
I can honestly say I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything as I get older, but I DO miss the feeling exploring Japan would give me.
@Romero Yep! That's exactly what I mean. There are secret doors and hallways everywhere. One building that intersects with another without you even realizing it.
Their architecture really keeps you walking around the cities without ever getting bored of it.
It’s a lot like that in Hilo Hawaii too where I grew up
Kazuaki aka Tom Hanks is the kindest and friendliest person I have ever seen so far in your Japan's tour.
Masa definitely didn’t just pick up English like that by going to ucla and living in Okinawa. He lived in the states for a whileeeeee there’s definitely a reason he’s in Japan.
The way he was questioning him at first gave me that same thought
Probably human trafficking or some shit. I noticed how he asked him if he had a Japanese gf
@@babberdydabberdy3551what exactly do you mean by human trafficking? I didn’t catch that
@@babberdydabberdy3551 take your meds
@@kmann100500 It's not an unreasonable thought. However, he was most likely curating if he was a sex tourist or not.
Bro god bless Tom hanks such fun happy guy you can tell he was probably going through something and needed that little hang out and convo. So sir bless you for taking the time to talk and hang out with Japanese Tom hanks!!
The Japanese guy brought a smile to my face. What a great person! I wish him all the best and may he remain so positive.
My bucket list no 1 is to go to Japan , such beautiful people with such a beautiful culture , I really hope there’s more to come
I dont know how i got to your channel but, you're so casual its entertaining. Its really a big difference from other toobs
20:30 Tom Hanks was so cool. I'd glass frame that fan he gave you.
I was rooting for you during that gun game with all the snacks! The lady running it was really nice too.
Loving these Japan videos. I've always wanted to go there. Thanks for sharing!!
Yes she was. Very gorgeous Japanese woman.
The second the video started, I knew you were going to Shinsekai! Some Japanese guy from Osaka said it's a dangerous neighborhood, but he also said I should go there if I want to see the real Osaka. I was not disappointed. It was not dangerous at all, and it was real fun going around talking to people there and eating some great food.
Just like Tom Hanks a lot of Japanese people really enjoy the opportunity to speak English with a western person. I was lucky enough to experience it when I visited, but didn't get all the hugs Tommy gets lol. Great video!
thumbs up for the Tom Hanks guy. You were kind to him. He needed this interaction. Thank you.
19:24 Tomy even unlocked a bonus item by following the Tom Hanks sidequest
Now I've been in Tanzania 6 months, I'm really glad you're showing me Japan, a country I've never been. Thanks for the variety!!!
How's Tz? Karibu sana
Our friend lives in Tanzania, please tell me what you think of it , we would like to visit there!
@@dionnasworldwerock8684 definitely visit!!! I love it, but I've traveled lots in Africa too!
@Sabbatical = most underrated travel vlog. Should have millions of subs.
the moment tom hanks hugged you, actual tears welled up in my eyes. most wholesome moment of 2022
Wow excellent breakdown Masa summed up the reasons for the neighborhood getting better 👏 👍
That old guy was precious. So chill. Good exercise of practicing your Japanese and him his English.
OK! So, your "Tom Hanks" interaction was the essence of what makes up great travel, taking what could be a momentary random moment and turning it into an actually meaningful Human exchange. You will likely never forget him, or he, you and that is so cool. The fact that you gave him the time and attention he needed, makes you Aces in my book!
He Never Disappoint With His Choice Of Content. 🔥
Awesome! Truly enjoying your Japan videos amigo 😊
Bro you got a hug from a Japanese person, let alone a older japanese grandpa. That's freaking amazing.
He really reminds me of my grandfather. He looks a lot like him too. I miss him so much. Thank you so much for this video!
The ability to initiate and hold discussions with diff peoples of the world is an invaluable skill... that's why this channel is tops for me.
That old guy had so much energy for his age. He aged well.
I love the part where the Masa and his friend praised the immigrants for turning the area around, they even mention Filipinos lmao
Yea usually I get nervous when Japanese people talk about foreigners this may be the first time I've heard them praise them so highly 🙌
@@johnglow7845 they were drunk.but what exactly were they refering to.were they refering to rich chinese people investing in real estate in japan because i think i have heard that before.
@@shanjida8353 Not that. He was talking about Chinese immigrants that came to Japan after the war. Osaka was destroyed in bombing during the war.
You’ve experienced Japan like a long-term foreign resident has experienced Japan. And you Japanese is not bad at all for someone who has never lived there! Nice channel!
That old guy was such a gem, you made his day you can tell
Awesome episode. Japan feels so special.. Like futuristic, kinda lonely but also crowded, and very safe i think. That old dude was awesome. Give us more of Japan
u deserve over a million subscribers Tommy , i hope u get there soon.
Wow I actually thought he had over a mil didn't even realize till you mentioned this he def deserves it 😊
Do you live in Glyfada and play golf still?
@@EffyKai yes , but i don't play golf anymore ,we know each other? lol
I had a very similar experience on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. An elderly gentleman rode up on a bicycle and started a conversation out of the blue. I have to say it really made my day to have a person approach me in such a friendly and completely not wanting anything from me other than to say hello.
Same, it happened while I went to a museum exhibit in Tokyo, friendly middle aged man went out of his way to show me and tell me about awesome attractions in Odiaba :)
Hi met an old man just like that in Osaka, I was rushing to an appointment but we hung out a little and talked just like that. In the end he gave me his card and parted ways. I still have his card, maybe one day I’ll say hi if I got to Osaka again.. nice people over there
Tommy for president….he knows every language and is absolutely brilliant!
Double Palm is a good love hotel, there are love hotels in the Caribbean but we call them "guest houses".
Basically, anywhere there's a culture where it's normal for people to live with their parents into adulthood, there will be some version of love hotels.
The hug from “Tom Hanks” was so culturally unusual for a Japanese. Very cool.
Will you visit Fukuoka?
That's the next stop
@@SabbaticalTommy Yeah! You gotta try the Ramen there I heard that’s the place for it
IKR Japanese people never hug
i feel like he was trying to embrace what he felt might be normal for Tommy as an American the same way Tommy was doing so for a japanese, speaking the language and all. Makes it even more endearing
I am very impressed with your grasp of languages . To be able to travel far and wide and be understood must be very nice. Love the videos and your humble approach. Enjoy
Very similar to my own experiences in Saitama a few years ago. You will find those people who are more than happy to talk about their neighborhood and favorite stores, who will then go out of their way to make your experience amazing. You will also run into those who don't speak English or aren't confident in it enough that they will appear to snub you or ignore you. So long as you realize it is usually more out of embarrassment than anything else, it won't bother you.
"Tom" was representative of quite a few older Japanese folks I ran into who were excited just to have an excuse to practice their English. Good on you for learning as much of the language as you did and I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay!
wow you are truly living your life's purpose. Walking in your Dharma. It's no coincidence that you are meeting such amazing people wherever you go. You are meant to meet them
I generally hate vlogs, but this video was heart-warming. Because if I ever visit Japan, I might have a similar experience or even better. But as a general rule, you just have to meet the right people no matter where you go. It will brighten up your heart.
There’s a bubbly friendly Mexican dude that lives in Japan. He’s close to Ikoma, he knows all the good bars to go for cheap prices lol he loves beer like you. Maybe you’ll see him vloging one day he goes around different places and usually takes public transport.