Hey everyone!! A HUGE Thank you for joining this super special stream as this one was a bit of a personal location for me and I am glad I could share it!! For those who want to hang out a little more, I will be doing a stream for the Tokyo Lens Patreon squad on our secret instagram account following many of these streams! Hope your day is beautiful and see you in the next stream!!
The contrast of old and new buildings is one of the aspects why I love Rotterdam so much :-) Very interesting video as always. Thank you, Captain Norm!
Hey Norm, thank you so much for doing this stream. I lived in Kokura for 4 years (2014-18) and watching this brought back so many amazing memories. Amazing content as always. Keep up the great work!
LOVE this! I love your streams especially when I'm feeling stressed or anxious. You do an amazing job of showing the beauty of parts of Japan that I wasn't aware of before watching you, Chris Broad, and Sharla. And I love your warmth with your audience. Thanks for this Norm.
Thanks again Norm, first stream I’ve managed to catch and it was great! Totally changes the watching experience by being able to be part of the comments!
I worked in Kitakyushu and now have family there. Can't wait to be back for New Year's!とても懐かしい！ I lived there and never saw the castle until we went to meet his mom. Kokura is my 3rd favourite, Nanba/Dottonbori in Osaka is my favourite, where I'm living now it's now, and Kokura is no3. Didn't realize it was so close in early 2012 when we finally saw the castle in 2019. One of his parents is from Nagasaki.
Hi Norm, I crossed Kitakyushu in 2019 by bicycle, but I was heading to the coast of Munakata. I wish I had known that this place was there, it looks beautiful; I remember seeing that juxtaposition of the castle and shopping center before, in some video or photo of yours. That's one of the things I love about Japan: the stunning blend of old and modern. I just hope I can go there again soon!
@@brooksnorthcutt It was amazing! The timing was very lucky for me because they just finished the new* building shortly after I moved there. I felt pretty spoiled to work in there. *as in 'new' 20 or so years ago, but when I visited a couple years back it still looked new...cause...well...Japan. 😄
Since I live in this town, I don't think about anything, but I'm surprised that foreigners say this city is beautiful. Thank you for making the video🙏 Please come here again!!
Thank you so much for your gentle, respectful approach to sharing Japan. At 50, I had a mild heart attack last week and am stuck, resting and recovering from an angiogram, at home alone with my boy. My young son can be with me, watching and learning without any embarrassment. I really appreciate your tone and skill so very much. Thank you again from South Africa.
I'm a Japan addict. Your streams are wonderful, thank you. I'm too old now to go to Japan, I'd never want to come back to the UK. Vicariously is the only way now. Thank you.
Just found the channel and am loving exploring a different side of Japan. I find the historical knowledge fascinating! I was in Japan in 2005 visiting friends and, like so many, am waiting for the world to open up again. In the meantime, this helps! Many thanks and best wishes for new year from Kentucky!
We are watching this right now in 2023. You are right about bomb that’s why I am still alive and somehow live in America. Thank you for featuring my hometown.
2005 was my first time in Japan too, spent a lot of time outside Matsumoto in Nagano, went to Sapporo and Toyako, Toyama (with a visit to Kanazawa via Shirakawa) and of course Kyoto/Tokyo for the full package (clearly made full use of my rail pass). Really different being there in 2005 vs recent years when you just had a Docomo flip phone and paper maps. Glad you're taking time to revisit your early spots!
My wife is from Kokura and it's been so long since we have been back there. We are in Canada and itching to get back for a visit! It's too bad I missed the live stream but appreciate you making a visit. Watching this reminded me of how much I miss being in Kokura and Japan in general. Thanks Norm for visiting Kokura!
I really enjoy accompanying you on your walks, not only does it get me through a boring shift at work but it makes me hungry for my eventual trip to Japan (as promised by my husband) once we can travel there again. Thanks Norm ❣️
I'm really not sure how I missed this stream! I always watch the playbacks the next day during work, and I somehow missed this one! Well, better late than never!
I should be drawing for some uni projects, but I can't stop watching your videos! Also I never heard of Kokura, it's beautiful! Well, the borders are open now, and I have been waiting for this sooo long, but still not shur if I can travel to Japan. But hopes are up :) Watching from Germany :)
the pickles made me happy for some reason, i'm gonna make some nasu no tsukemono for the holidays since japanese eggplant seems to be in season, or at least hitting the shops here in finland. can't wait for the snow stream(s), mine has all melted away and it's just dark and damp here. i'd love to see some kind of local winter celebration or unusual snow sport or something like that. i love winter.
replay squad!!! awesome video, Norm! MY wife and i went to japan once a year, three years in a row, 2017-2019. End of 2019 trip we decided to have a baby as you know, and now waiting till she is old enough to take baby on her first trip in the near future. Australia is a mixed bag right now, i live on the west coast, we have been locked out of the rest of the country for over a year, giving us zero covid, but the east coast keeps going from high to low, back to high cases :(
Thanks for the Kokura tip (and especially the Fukuoka vid)! Next trip we're focusing around Fukuoka and Kochi, so knowing another city near Fukuoka is great and will help me with planning :) Japan does have a lot of pickled food items, and from Canada of course when we hear pickle we probably think pickled cucumber and less about other vegetables. Do you happen to notice a lack of more Canada style pickles (maybe dill/garlic dill specifically) in Japan?
Shame I didn't catch this live back in the day, but I really appreciate being able to still enjoy the videos even if we're not doing it at the same time hahah
Great as usual man, glad the pickle hunt worked out for ya :P All that talk of "Wa" got me thinking.. I've been listening to Wagakki Band for a while now and wondered if you've had any dealings with them or heard any of their songs? Ninagawa Beni plays the Tsugaru Shamisen in the group and I know some of them have performed with the Yoshida Brothers (part of the band that also performs as the trio Hanafugetsu). Kinda fallen in love with their music but its hard to find anyone in the UK that knows who I'm talking about..
damn, you were having fun while we are working and studying. thanks for sharing your favorite walk and memories. Hey I don't watch every video you make, but I really love you putting up these walking videos when my RUclips recommendations are being filled with horrible international news and politics. it's just refreshing... life saver which reminds me I need to get out and breathe. Kokura, it's too far away from here but I'm definitely putting it on my list to go :)
Thank you Norm! I could finally watch a whole livestream🤩🤩 Now we can go to get some lunch😃 I’m just glad that I’m on a day off and watch the livestream🙌🏻 We were just talking to visit Kyushu(mostly Nagasaki and Fukuoka this spring(or summer)but This made me wanna visit Kokura for a bit😊) And Please come to Sapporo if you can! The winter is the best time of the year!(and the summer and fall as well) I’ll go to Hokkaido next month (finally) and I can’t wait!
Late to the party but we are in the final stages of buying a house in Kitakyushu (Moji Ward). Can't wait to walk around everywhere! Any suggestions for a good eel place?
You are correct mate. Kokura was spared by cloud cover on August 9th. The bomb was actually “Fat Man”. “Little Boy” was the August 6th bomb that hit Hiroshima.
Amazing, thank you bring us with you. Watched it from Singapore I just want to add that The term "Mogul/ Mughal" comes from a mispronunciation of the word "Mongol," but the Mughals of India were mostly ethnic Turks not Mongolians. Mughals invaded India and ruled it for 300yrs . The Muslims of Central Asia had good reason to hate the Mongols because they destroyed the Abbasid Caliphate when they sacked Baghdad in 1258.
Thanks for showing us this beautiful places. In Germany there are even more corvid rules, then in Japan, I guess. Home Office, limited people to meet, limited every day life. So much looking forward, to Japan opens again, planning on visiting next year or year after (depends on situation). Stay healthy :-)
You know what. Before I watch this video, I watched your video 3 yrs ago about why & when u moved to Japan, and then u said this Kokura City is your fav city/place.. 😂
I ended up with a habit of travelling to Japan every two years after my first trip, and have been there 3 times now. Alas, the pandemic broke my streak :(
I have distant relatives in Kokura. I am trying to reconnect with them. Sadly, long ago I lost my ability to speak Nihongo after moving away as a child.
I got in when you found what you were looking for (2nd edit), watching the replay now. Got hungry watching you eat, might have early lunch. 😀 Edited: wait, doesn't that make it sound suspicious? 😅
norm had a tickle for a pickle and put some pep in his step and at last finally found the fruit of his search or labor and got to enjoy some pickles lol
Thank you for the relaxing walkalong. I noticed that there wasn't an overt amount of Christmas decoration, is it really that much less of a thing over there?
I love hiw one can watch your livestreams for the cities with all their alleyways an all and in addition one can watch Currently Hannahs mountain hiking to see the nature ❤
Hey everyone!! A HUGE Thank you for joining this super special stream as this one was a bit of a personal location for me and I am glad I could share it!!
For those who want to hang out a little more, I will be doing a stream for the Tokyo Lens Patreon squad on our secret instagram account following many of these streams!
Hope your day is beautiful and see you in the next stream!!
I was asleep when the stream started, so watching the replay, much support from the UK 🇬🇧👍🏻☺️ Also very much loved the streams yesterday. 🥰
Beautiful walk. Thank you Norm. I'll never get to see Japan, but your channel has been the next best thing. It's brought me joy.
thank you so much for watching!!
The contrast of old and new buildings is one of the aspects why I love Rotterdam so much :-)
Very interesting video as always. Thank you, Captain Norm!
Shame I missed most of it live. Looking forward to the rewatch/map.
glad you caught the end!!
Hey Norm, thank you so much for doing this stream. I lived in Kokura for 4 years (2014-18) and watching this brought back so many amazing memories. Amazing content as always. Keep up the great work!
happy happy I feel happy watching your stream, thanks!
LOVE this! I love your streams especially when I'm feeling stressed or anxious. You do an amazing job of showing the beauty of parts of Japan that I wasn't aware of before watching you, Chris Broad, and Sharla. And I love your warmth with your audience. Thanks for this Norm.
I can 100% see why you love Kokura. The dichotomy of new and old architecture is absolutely incredible. Beautiful. Also I like Sassy Norm.
Norm I am thoroughly enjoying these streams. Looking forward to exploring more!
Thanks again Norm, first stream I’ve managed to catch and it was great! Totally changes the watching experience by being able to be part of the comments!
I worked in Kitakyushu and now have family there. Can't wait to be back for New Year's!とても懐かしい！
I lived there and never saw the castle until we went to meet his mom. Kokura is my 3rd favourite, Nanba/Dottonbori in Osaka is my favourite, where I'm living now it's now, and Kokura is no3.
Didn't realize it was so close in early 2012 when we finally saw the castle in 2019. One of his parents is from Nagasaki.
Hi Norm, I crossed Kitakyushu in 2019 by bicycle, but I was heading to the coast of Munakata. I wish I had known that this place was there, it looks beautiful; I remember seeing that juxtaposition of the castle and shopping center before, in some video or photo of yours. That's one of the things I love about Japan: the stunning blend of old and modern. I just hope I can go there again soon!
This was so exciting to watch...I worked in Kokura Station in my old Japan days; thank you for bringing back such wonderful memories!
What was it like working there? That's so cool!
@@brooksnorthcutt It was amazing! The timing was very lucky for me because they just finished the new* building shortly after I moved there. I felt pretty spoiled to work in there.
*as in 'new' 20 or so years ago, but when I visited a couple years back it still looked new...cause...well...Japan. 😄
Also the castle area looks amazing at night with the Christmas lights. I have pictures from 2019 Christmas there and new years there
Since I live in this town, I don't think about anything, but I'm surprised that foreigners say this city is beautiful.
Thank you for making the video🙏
Please come here again!!
33:33 i feel the forest deserves to be respected 🙏🏽
Kokura is the first city I lived in. 懐かしい
18:00 such a beautiful city ❤️
100% agree!
Thank you so much for your gentle, respectful approach to sharing Japan. At 50, I had a mild heart attack last week and am stuck, resting and recovering from an angiogram, at home alone with my boy. My young son can be with me, watching and learning without any embarrassment. I really appreciate your tone and skill so very much. Thank you again from South Africa.
Here for a concert in the first week of November this year! Love this walk
I'm a Japan addict. Your streams are wonderful, thank you. I'm too old now to go to Japan, I'd never want to come back to the UK. Vicariously is the only way now. Thank you.
33:06 bicycle stream, sounds fun.
This is my home town! I'm so happy it's your favorite city!
Just found the channel and am loving exploring a different side of Japan. I find the historical knowledge fascinating!
I was in Japan in 2005 visiting friends and, like so many, am waiting for the world to open up again. In the meantime, this helps!
Many thanks and best wishes for new year from Kentucky!
I am in Sanford, FL. I love Japan and their beautiful culture. Thank you for this wonderful channel.
We are watching this right now in 2023. You are right about bomb that’s why I am still alive and somehow live in America. Thank you for featuring my hometown.
2005 was my first time in Japan too, spent a lot of time outside Matsumoto in Nagano, went to Sapporo and Toyako, Toyama (with a visit to Kanazawa via Shirakawa) and of course Kyoto/Tokyo for the full package (clearly made full use of my rail pass). Really different being there in 2005 vs recent years when you just had a Docomo flip phone and paper maps. Glad you're taking time to revisit your early spots!
Love Kokura. Musashi stayed there for a while and his Hibun is on a nearby hill (Temukeyama).
I was there is 2018. Just stopped over in Kokura for a few hours in my way north. Castle was under restoration at the time.
Always love seeing new places
My wife is from Kokura and it's been so long since we have been back there. We are in Canada and itching to get back for a visit! It's too bad I missed the live stream but appreciate you making a visit. Watching this reminded me of how much I miss being in Kokura and Japan in general. Thanks Norm for visiting Kokura!
I really enjoy accompanying you on your walks, not only does it get me through a boring shift at work but it makes me hungry for my eventual trip to Japan (as promised by my husband) once we can travel there again. Thanks Norm ❣️
Woohoo! A beautiful castle and beautiful pickles!! 💜
I'm really not sure how I missed this stream! I always watch the playbacks the next day during work, and I somehow missed this one! Well, better late than never!
I went on Exchange to Kitakyushu in 2016 and used to go to Kokura every weekend! This stream literally brought back so many memories.
Still can't get over how clean Japanese cities/towns are. Keep up the good work Norm!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed~
My day was uplifted by the successful wild pickle hunt!
100% mine too lol
Well, now I need to pull out my recipe for tsukemono 😊 Thanks for sharing your favorite city with us, Norm!
Suggestions: Yamaguchi (city), for nature, Akiyoshido and/or Akiyoshidai
I should be drawing for some uni projects, but I can't stop watching your videos! Also I never heard of Kokura, it's beautiful! Well, the borders are open now, and I have been waiting for this sooo long, but still not shur if I can travel to Japan. But hopes are up :)
Watching from Germany :)
thank you for sharing so personal with us!! really amazing place 🙏 🙇♂️ ❤️
just love the uniqueness of japan an your ability to keep finding it. :)
Kokura City was merged into Kitakyushu in 1963. Kokura Prefectue was merged at the time into Fukuoka Prefecture.
the pickles made me happy for some reason, i'm gonna make some nasu no tsukemono for the holidays since japanese eggplant seems to be in season, or at least hitting the shops here in finland.
can't wait for the snow stream(s), mine has all melted away and it's just dark and damp here. i'd love to see some kind of local winter celebration or unusual snow sport or something like that. i love winter.
A much prettier city than I expected. I’ve never been to Japan, but REALLY want too.
Watching from Lithuania Europe Union 🇱🇹 i've always admired of seeing places with your eyes every time i turn your explore channel or Tokyo Lens
Ok. The roof over the intersection at the shotengai was cool.
Would love to visit this area and especially Kyushu if I'm ever able to visit again! Thanks for the great content :)
This is awesome norm Kokura is on my to do list so this is amazing sorry I missed it live
I love how this was streamed on a Wednesday, I’m watching on a Wednesday, AND it’s my birthday 🤣🤣
replay squad!!! awesome video, Norm! MY wife and i went to japan once a year, three years in a row, 2017-2019. End of 2019 trip we decided to have a baby as you know, and now waiting till she is old enough to take baby on her first trip in the near future. Australia is a mixed bag right now, i live on the west coast, we have been locked out of the rest of the country for over a year, giving us zero covid, but the east coast keeps going from high to low, back to high cases :(
I'm not sure Norm sleeps. Good to see a cool place I didn't know about.
I visit Kokura every couple of months. I haven’t explored all that much other than LUSH and Costco, so this was an interesting watch. Thanks Norm!
Thanks for the Kokura tip (and especially the Fukuoka vid)! Next trip we're focusing around Fukuoka and Kochi, so knowing another city near Fukuoka is great and will help me with planning :)
Japan does have a lot of pickled food items, and from Canada of course when we hear pickle we probably think pickled cucumber and less about other vegetables. Do you happen to notice a lack of more Canada style pickles (maybe dill/garlic dill specifically) in Japan?
Shame I didn't catch this live back in the day, but I really appreciate being able to still enjoy the videos even if we're not doing it at the same time hahah
Great as usual man, glad the pickle hunt worked out for ya :P
All that talk of "Wa" got me thinking.. I've been listening to Wagakki Band for a while now and wondered if you've had any dealings with them or heard any of their songs? Ninagawa Beni plays the Tsugaru Shamisen in the group and I know some of them have performed with the Yoshida Brothers (part of the band that also performs as the trio Hanafugetsu).
Kinda fallen in love with their music but its hard to find anyone in the UK that knows who I'm talking about..
damn, you were having fun while we are working and studying.
thanks for sharing your favorite walk and memories. Hey I don't watch every video you make, but I really love you putting up these walking videos when my RUclips recommendations are being filled with horrible international news and politics. it's just refreshing... life saver which reminds me I need to get out and breathe. Kokura, it's too far away from here but I'm definitely putting it on my list to go :)
So loved the castle😸
Thank you Norm! I could finally watch a whole livestream🤩🤩
Now we can go to get some lunch😃 I’m just glad that I’m on a day off and watch the livestream🙌🏻
We were just talking to visit Kyushu(mostly Nagasaki and Fukuoka this spring(or summer)but This made me wanna visit Kokura for a bit😊)
And Please come to Sapporo if you can! The winter is the best time of the year!(and the summer and fall as well) I’ll go to Hokkaido next month (finally) and I can’t wait!
Norm, Congrats on finding and getting the tsukemono.
Came for the castle, stayed for the pickles!
I have so much love for Japan and can't wait to visit maybe even move there one day. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for taking my hometown! ❤
Notifications on! Lesson learned!!! I’ll be sure to catch the next one! 😅 Your streams are amazing! ♥️
Late to the party but we are in the final stages of buying a house in Kitakyushu (Moji Ward). Can't wait to walk around everywhere! Any suggestions for a good eel place?
First time joining the livestream, it was awesome! Glad I caught the pickle quest 😄
Wow, beautiful! Whaddya mean, less impressive up close?! I love it!😃
I’d love to see Aomori during apple season cuz that’s the time I plan on visiting Japan some year 💜
Been in both streams today! I had a great time 😊
Thanks Norman . Loved this town. Now I need to get some pickles 😆
You are correct mate. Kokura was spared by cloud cover on August 9th. The bomb was actually “Fat Man”. “Little Boy” was the August 6th bomb that hit Hiroshima.
I knew I was here before too! If I’m ever lucky enough to return to Japan, im going to Kokura.
My wife is actually from kokura minami. We had our wedding at yasaka jinjya even.
The whole “wa” history is interesting. Wa was in fact a very old name for Japan. Nihon only rolled around c. 703.
My fav is definetly mojiko in kitakyushu
What a cliffhanger! Was the hot lemon still hot?!?! I need to know!!
Amazing, thank you bring us with you. Watched it from Singapore
I just want to add that The term "Mogul/ Mughal" comes from a mispronunciation of the word "Mongol," but the Mughals of India were mostly ethnic Turks not Mongolians. Mughals invaded India and ruled it for 300yrs . The Muslims of Central Asia had good reason to hate the Mongols because they destroyed the Abbasid Caliphate when they sacked Baghdad in 1258.
Next time you're in Kokura go to the Toto museum!
Thanks for showing us this beautiful places. In Germany there are even more corvid rules, then in Japan, I guess. Home Office, limited people to meet, limited every day life. So much looking forward, to Japan opens again, planning on visiting next year or year after (depends on situation). Stay healthy :-)
You know what. Before I watch this video, I watched your video 3 yrs ago about why & when u moved to Japan, and then u said this Kokura City is your fav city/place.. 😂
12* C that’s like our summer temp
Achievement Unlocked: Pickles Acquired
I ended up with a habit of travelling to Japan every two years after my first trip, and have been there 3 times now. Alas, the pandemic broke my streak :(
✨It's epic and ancient ✨
I have distant relatives in Kokura. I am trying to reconnect with them. Sadly, long ago I lost my ability to speak Nihongo after moving away as a child.
Hello Norm. I was wondering if you ever feel tempted to go to the northern most point of Japan and do something there?
I got in when you found what you were looking for (2nd edit), watching the replay now. Got hungry watching you eat, might have early lunch. 😀
Edited: wait, doesn't that make it sound suspicious? 😅
nooooo
spoilers!
hahaha the surprise is ruined for you lol
@@TokyoLensExplore waaah "scrambles to edit*
norm had a tickle for a pickle and put some pep in his step and at last finally found the fruit of his search or labor and got to enjoy some pickles lol
this made my day lol
@@TokyoLensExplore lol well u handed all the bits to me to formulate the phrase lol
Thank you for the relaxing walkalong. I noticed that there wasn't an overt amount of Christmas decoration, is it really that much less of a thing over there?
I’m very curious about the pickles.
Yo norm, i'm going through the backlog
Dang! I missed it
I love hiw one can watch your livestreams for the cities with all their alleyways an all and in addition one can watch Currently Hannahs mountain hiking to see the nature ❤
Sorry Mario, the pickles are in another castle.
Why are there pickles? I love pickles, but it seems random.
I think A duck ate the pickles.
Only in Japan do we go hunting for sewer lids
Hey, can you stream Fukuoka please?!?!?! :)
Just did.... twice lol
those streams were last night! Go check em out!
@@TokyoLensExplore Thank you!! :)
@@TokyoLensExplore Can I throw out Shibuya? :)
No, maybe which season is the best season to visit ??
Kokura is the place with the sizzling curry that RUclips had love affair with isn’t it?
Vid 6.
Mogols did invade Japan, I played ghost of Tsushima, and Steve Aoki look likes he got Mongol genetics.