Use Code “RNJ” to get $5 off for your first Sakuraco box here: team.sakura.co/racheljunadventuresSC2212 and get a chance to win FREE tickets to Japan if you subscribe before January 31st, 2023. Thank you to Sakuraco for sponsoring our video! We made it a whole year!! Planning the whole thing out has been like the primary focus of the last few years of my life so I could probably talk for days about our house but I didn't want to make the video too long. After the house tour maybe we should do a live stream for questions and all the tiny boring facts most people might not care about?? haha A hour tour is still coming--it just turns out it takes a long time to set up a brand new house. We want to get most of it and up and going so we aren't just showing a bunch of empty rooms with boxes and whatnot. And thank you all so much! We wouldn't be here without you all watching and supporting us.
I was in a German psychiatric hospital for a week. I did not know German customs nor language. Miraculously my roommate spoke English so they placed me with her. Even after she introduced me to her friends I felt really anxious. I kept refusing their offerings. I'm not good at receiving things from strangers. But then I got meat at meal time despite my no red meat policy and I offered it to this old lady who had offered me fruit before. I had turned it down not realizing it was a faux pa. So she started cutting up fruit for me in response and I accepted them. Then I understood there was this trade culture. She was beaming and I started to get friendly with the rest of them... despite the language barrier we kinda communicated. I miss those guys. 💕
I got a trading partner this year, me german, he a turkish grandpa. My crops didn't were as great as his this year so I gave him a jar of self-made kimchi instead. I hope I didn't kill him
She’s always been beautiful but you’re right that she’s especially glowing now! I think the both of them (and all the cats) seem a lot happier and therefore they look better
I have been watching Rachel and Jun for years, and I love how playful Jun has become in the past year. He's really come out of his shell, and Rachel is SOOOOOOOO much happier now. I'm so glad that you're both doing so well.
I live in Georgia in the US and run into the same issue as you do with the closets getting humid/moldy in the summer. We've swapped out our closet doors for wood slat doors that allow for more ventilation. There are some really beautiful options that have come out recently. You may want to consider swapping your storage room door out for one with slats, that way you can still shut off that room to the cats and don't have to look at the contents of your closet all summer but the air can still flow through the shut door.
@@Chris.tastrophe Not Huntsmen no. Theyre mostly just really big. If they bite you it hurts a lot, but its rare for them to bite. Most of the time they just run away and hide.
they're a big part of why i dislike spiders (or some that look similar) as much as i do now - one summer i had one in my room every single night and it was ALWAYS above my bed or on the wall next to me when i was on my computer or something like that. always scared the living hell out of me seeing them there suddenly in the middle of the night
I have arachnophobia and just seeing Jun handle that crazy ass spider made me do a whole body shiver. My cats would love all those creepy crawlies. The oldest is around 12 years old and mostly just watches TV with my mom but if she sees a bug she goes full tiger on it.
I have a mixed relationship with the large spiders. The primal part of me wants to freak out, but the logic part of me knows these are friend spiders. I say hello to them, and thank you, and leave them alone, but my skin does still get a little crawly when they are around.
@@lynh.1214 Rachel named him, it means wandering survivor. Initially she thought he was female and he would have been named Kiki. Colloquially Poki means trash goblin.
I love listening to Jun and Rachel switching back and forth between English and Japanese just in their conversations with each other. There's something really sweet and darling about it. ❤️
Straight up, I'm real nerdy about fermentation and if Jun could expand his fermentation ventures on his channel... we'd have a whole virtual pantry of canned veggies and Japanese pickles 😭😭
@@muck4227 As far as I know the primary method of preserving in Japan and many other Asian countries is salt pickling, combining the food with a percentage of salt which facilitates lactobacilli fermentation. No vinegar is involved unless it's for a quick, salad-like veggie mix that usually isn't meant to be fermented and preserved. Unless you freeze it I guess, like fukujinzuke. Outside of Asia people tend to utilize salt and/or oil to preserve. But I'm curious if there are more ways of pickling too!
I've been watching y'all since Rachel and Jun were living apart because of her military service. In one of those videos you both were so excited for the day where Rachel could finally return to Japan to live there. And now I'm seeing y'all in your beautiful new house with your kitties and it's just so wholesome.
As an Australian I can tell you now your so lucky that the Japanese huntsman’s are so polite to not stick around in your house 😂 the Australian ones love to become an unwanted house guest who’s overstayed their welcome!
I never resented their presence! They're awesome spiders! Never had to worry about flies with one of those in your house. Red backs though..... I NEVER evicted them, those never survived my discovering them. Entering my home was death sentence for them
@@silkvelvet2616 We don't get huntsman here but I definitely am ok with a few web spiders in the corners. They are part of the earth and keep my house free of flying insects. Plus people and pets are not their food. Sounds like win-win to me. I do move spiders outside if I find a spider not sticking to the corners and edges. I have a garden that can use all the spiders.
@@yeevita I have to warn people sometimes when I get a kitchen spider to not kill it. They like to post up in the corners of windows, which is perfect for me. They'll eat any flying insects that get in like fruit or houseflies and even come down and munch on any beetles that make their way in.
I'm in LA and we had a garden spider which was Gigantic. It would make a titanic web on the balcony at night. It and the web would be gone in the morning. Looked like a large crab perched in the middle of the web. I thought it was pretty amazing, my wife not so much. We also had black widows, which you don't want.
Suggestion for your storage room. Change the door to one with slats so there is still ventilation while the door is shut. (I looked it up they are called louvered doors) Heck, make a video of Jun making and installing one. Content plus a new door. Win-win.
How about trying bamboo/ rattan doors and boxes to improve ventilation? I think you can find cheaper ones rather than the artisan ones. The style is also Japanese. Besides using electric dehumidifiers, using charcoal (many types including bamboo) and coffee grounds as dehumidifiers might help.
Aww, I remember watching the videos when you were just starting with the house! I can't wait to see what you come up with next! ♡ Edit: I love your wholesome relationship with animals!! From cats to smart, hungry crows to bugs! It’s so sweet!!!
We moved in 2018 and still feel like that; so extremely happy with the peace and quiet, the true silence in the night. Not even the distant sound of a freeway or train. The house is big enough for us to both have space to breath, a garden for the cats and much more things we didn’t have before. I hope your honeymoon feeling will last a lifetime.
It's crazy that it's been a whole year already! Y'all never did a house tour, but I don't think you ever really needed to! It felt very natural being introduced to different pieces of your home in each new video over the year, and it allowed everyone to appreciate one part of the home at a time! It's been nice getting to see, and I'm so happy for you guys and the kitties!!
I didn't realize that you get so nervous making the videos. I also extremely stress over things. This makes me even more appreciative that you post videos of your life for us to see. Thank you for all of your hard work.
Woah, I had no idea huntsmen had set up in Japan! What a cool thing, kind of like having an Aussie pop by uninvited, eating all your unwanted food items, and moving on xD
I love the pro-insect/arachnid talk at the end! Scary at first, but getting to see so many different kinds of big bugs would be interesting, and then getting lizards and frogs/toads on top of that is a bonus!
I'm so stunned by how calm the reptiles and amphibians are in Japan. I live in East TN which has the same climate as them and I only usually see the huge bugs and spiders usually. The reptiles and amphibians exist but are far more elusive. I did see a salamander on our porch one wet summer night, though, and we get the occasional visiting box turtle. And we've seen a young black snake in our apartment twice. Probably a king snake or rat snake. Seems to be living in our wall.
Growing up, even though in a residential area, our lives were integrated with an abundance of wildlife. All manner of large insects (praying mantises, bees, butterflies, flying grasshoppers, etc.) and animals (rabbits, lizards, chipmunks, deer, etc.). It was nice. Sadly, when I revisited the area, most of them now seem gone.
i really liked hearing Jun speaking Japanese during the sponsor bit! I hope the air-con pays off in the future, it might if you're hosting a bigger event with more people who give off body heat. thank you for saving Sargent spider.
Cracked me up when he started insisting that the strawberry crepe was an omurice. Also, I can't believe that I managed to use a word I learnt by watching Maid Dragon, lol
Here are 2 cheap ways to fix the problems you noted..... You could put grout / cocking on any gaps you may have to keep bugs from getting through. This is common from flooring to moldings and can be nearly any color and is pretty cheap. If you have white moldings you can make it invisible to the naked eye. That may help you push the only way in for bugs .... to certain spots and then put something they dont like such as lavender for mosquitoes. This can easily be done by hand with a cocking gun and stops bugs from getting in from any place accept the actual doors if you leave them open. For the mold..... portable AC unit. for that size of a room it would be 200 USD. 5min to install. Just gota put a insert in the window for the vent hoze. This type of unit is on wheels and can AC, heat and dehumidifie. In colder seasons you can use it to heat a specific area instead of dehumidifieing the storage room. This is nice if one of you runs colder then the other .
I was stationed in Okinawa in late 70's for 18 months. I do not miss the giant spiders, giant cockroaches or giant centipedes. I do miss the delicious fruit, scrumptious meals and friendly locals. A trip back to Okinawa and mainland Japan is in the works. Love your house.
Solar is so amazing. I love all these new forms of sustainable tech like air-rust, wood, or sodium ion batteries, windmills shaped like a tree and each leaf is a tiny windblade, and now an exciting breakthrough with nuclear fusion. What a time to be alive. 💚💙💜
I am so damn glad to see more people talking positively about nuclear. In America there's FINALLY some work being done on field testing smaller safer fast reactors. I heard the research has existed since the cold war but people were so freaked out by Chernobyl that the project got shelved even though the new tech would be completely meltdown-proof. The new reactors can even run on the spent fuel from the older existing reactors that are less efficient, reducing nuclear waste to a miniscule level.
you guys are literally goals. You balances each other personality out and you both are really smart and diligent. I wish you all the happiness and more.
This is so random but I remember a vlog type video when Rachel was far away from Jun and was so stressed that she got pericarditis and now they are together in a beautiful home. I love seeing how their life has grown together.
god I wish one day to build a house with my partner like this, I'm so happy you two are thriving and happy with your home and community, bugs and all haha. I can't believe even the huntsman spiders are polite, it sounds like such a dream
This is an amazing accomplishment. Building a house anywhere on this planet is already major, but in Japan, kudos to the two of you and the teamwork. Jun´s quality in the cooking videos demonstrates how serious he is about everything he does, and the same goes for Rachel - overachiever, perfectionist, and hard worker. Congrats to both of you and all the felines...
Mint essential oil, diluted with water, in a spray bottle. You spray around baseboards and entrances--it deters both bugs, including cockroaches, spiders, and mice, and is perfectly safe for pets (and any small children you might have over). Hope this helps =) It's great to hear you're loving the house!
For those who own motorcycles, placing a steel scrubbing pad sphere that has several drops of (real) peppermint oil on it in the exhaust will deter mice and their friends from making nests in your airbox... this is especially nice to do when storing your bike(s) if your locale has snowy periods.
@@WyrdHag - It is true. Research. You have to use the appropriate plants and solutions, apply the solution properly and know that only select insects don't care for it.
Congratulations on everything. Nice neighbours, dream home, free home grown veggies (yum), safe and happy cats. The Huntsman service is a real bonus. Being an Australian I'm extremely find of my Huntsman housemates too. Wishing you all a great 2023.
Hi Rachel, for your moldy storage room problem, you should plug in a dehumidifier and just leave it running in there all the time or at least for a few hours everyday. It will probably fix the problem!
Coupled with ventilation, the easiest form of which may be altering or replacing the door. The only issue with (commercial grade) dehumidifiers (which is what I recommend, although that may be overkill for their needs) is that they're loud.
My daughter (14) is obsessed with Japan and everything Japanese. I'm pretty sure it's her dream to either visit or live in Japan when she's all grown up. But I'm betting she hasn't heard of the spiders and cockroaches yet lol... I love your home, the bright and open interior is everything. I'm glad that you guys and the kitties are happy there 🥰
@@EyeGlassTrainofMind South African living in Ireland, so at least we're familiar with the huntsman spiders. But yikes, I heard the murder hornets are terrible!
I love Rachel's understanding of the ecosystem! I tried to explain to my mother that spiders coming and going is not a bad thing when there are insects around, the spiders hunt them! And otherwise they leave you alone, it's literally free service! Haha
That's so cool about the spider facts! I didn't know about the cute nickname for the huntsman spiders. Glad to see the house is working out so well for you all! :D
Not genuinely the way y'all live and the house y'all have is my DREAMMMMM!! it's so peaceful and there's so much nature. You have so much privacy yet there's still some community. It sounds amazing!!
Oh god, I didn't realize huntsman spiders migrated outside of Australia 😬 I'm so phobic of spiders I definitely would not be able to live in the rural parts of Japan like you lol
Hey Rachel and Jun and whoever new homeowner this Amy concern: I have not watched the entire video yet, I have just gotten around your "mold" section and would like to offer a little advice. Your house, as you said, is unusual for Japanese building in beinh made out of concrete and highly insulating glass plus steel beams. In olden days people used to build a property with either wood, stone and mortar, clay and Hay ects. All rather open to diffusion from groundlevel water and since windowpanes weren't occlusive the draft also carried warm air filled with water outside. Pros of your way of building are obviously good insulation so that water droplets won't form on windows for instance because they don't get too cold as to condensate, the con is: you have removed almost all things that remove excess water from the rooms themselves. Coated shelving, coated furniture ect won't take up excess water like raw or oiled woods would, whereas areas of concrete walls will have (if there are colder spots-doesn't matte if it isn't really 'cold' in the room, cold-er is enough) no way to take up water at all. Old mortar used to be made of material that would also have some 'give' as to waterretention, concrete does not, comparatively. So I would suggest one of the simplest ways of at least getting the room climate into balance again without having to rebuild anything : lime. Limestone is naturally white and makes for great plaster but also great paints. Limestone is both very absorband and also very much anti - mold since mold doesn't like the PH of it. Try it out in risky rooms. It's usually very cheap. It won't help the humidity problem, but it will prevent spores from spawning and accumulating. Its also safe for animals. Recommend this to anyone out there looking for an eco option. Credit: years of limeputty, lime plaster and lime paint building on my own house. Rainiest spot around, no mold anywhere. There are many articles online you can find on lime being used in building, Google it. Humans have been using it for and extensive amount of time.
Omg, this is the first I've seen of you in YEARS. LOVE the house, and Jun's english is nearing perfection! I love that you guys are still together. I idolized you guys so much when I was a teenager 🥺
3:50 as someone who learned this type of glasswork i feel SO MUCH JOY when people get double windows with gas filling. the insulation is so much better and i get the feeling not many people know about it
This makes me so happy! I've been struggling a little bit lately but hearing all your stories about the lovely neighbors and all the kind things they do, how they welcomed you and you fit in right away, it's really good "faith in humanity" material! Thanks for sharing guys, and I'm so happy life (and people :P) has been treating you so well :) Edit: made a typo
It feels like it was just yesterday when I was watching you guys only dream about having your own blouse… It’s so great to see that you guys made your dream come true, we couldn’t be any prouder!
You could add a vent grill to the hall in the door or the wall to the storage room to increase circulation and help with the mildew problem. You could also put charcoal brickets ( not the ones with lighter fluids) in your storage cupboards or shelves in store room. Helps to absorb moisture. Put them in loose weave cotton bags to keep cats from getting at brickets.
I can’t believe it’s been a year! It seems like just yesterday!!! Time sure does fly!! I’m so happy you guys are happy!! Your home is beautiful and you guys are absolutely living the dream. I’m really excited for you guys and to see the future because I know it’s going to be amazing. I’m sending all of my love and best wishes!!! Thanks for taking the time to show us and explain to us. It’s really interesting as well. Have a great one!
When we moved to Hawaii, Mom chased all the geckos out of the house, not realizing they were the ones keeping the bugs out. After a few giant cockroaches, she finally accepted the geckos back in happily.
@@WyrdHag You get used to the lizards although I did have to get a new toaster after one got comfortable in our toaster and I didn't know so...crispy lizard essentially. I wasn't trying to clean the toaster after that.
The amount of light you get in your place is the dreeeaammm. Maybe someday! Sidenote: I saw a momma huntsman outside my apt once with all her babies on her back. I'm not scared of spiders, but that was NIGHTMARE FUEL.
I'd love to see springtime in your garden, especially after all the gardening videos you did. It's so good to know that your house is so cat friendly, bug friendly and Rachel and Jun friendly lol
I don’t know why, but I haven’t seen you for a while. I’m so delighted to hear that your lovely home is everything that you could ask for. May you continue to live a blessed life together with your wonderful furry family.
As an arachnophobe I could never live somewhere where those giant monsters just casually show up in your house. I found a big spider in my room once and didn't set foot in it for over a week so kudos to you two for being so casual about it. My phobia and anxiety could never.
When I think of spiders, garden spiders come to mind. You know the ones with neon yellow backs? Those gave me the chills so bad... I once rented a place where they have an unkept garden, and it was full of those. Like, there were so many it was impossible to count. Creeped me out so bad whenever I saw that there was a lot of them. I love gardens and shade, but the thought of having a bunch of them nest there is nearly enough to make me not want to have a garden really.
I am so happy for you. Planning a forever home is stressful because you know you're going to spend many years there and you don't want to make mistakes. The fact that, after the first year, you are still satisfied with your project is important and I am really glad you managed. The sharing culture is also a big plus. But you said right from the start that you had had luck with your neighbours, which is also a blessing as far as quality of life is concerned.
Some people look at big celebrities and think that's the dream life, but for me, this is really the dream lifestyle I strive for. What a beautiful home!
Honestly been following for years and seeing how hard y’all worked to get here is amazing I’m so happy for you guys!! ❤ Edit- yeHhh no bugs is a big no no for me spiders I’m like ehhh but roaches are like big nope for me lmao
The big roaches aren't actually that bad, though. They don't tend to turn into a severe infestation as easily as the smaller ones. We get the flying ones in Tennessee like they do in Japan. Actually had one that kept landing on me and I stopped being afraid of it. It actually seemed to want help getting back outside and flew away when I took it to the door. They are so intelligent that it's actually kind of cool.
Have you guys considered putting "damp traps" in the room for storage. I get mine in the dollar store but you can find them online too. They have hanging ones or containers that sit on flat surfaces. I use them all over my house to avoid dampness/mold etc
Rachel and Jun’s Sakura Co and Boksu ads because their reactions are so genuine! Your house is beautiful and thank you for sharing your journey with building your home!
I've been watching your videos for about 4 years I think. I'm so happy for you guys!!. Your house totally matches both of you guys. Both of you have done beautifully. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
My daughter just came home for the weekend from university and we had great fun opening our Sakura box here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Rachel, We pointed and laughed at the bum cheek too. Very fun tasting and sharing everything together. Love it!
I love that you guys installed solar panels. That is a dream of mine to get. Hopefully we're able to do that in Canada. It's awesome to see the cats having fun. Congrats on one year and many more to come!
they make vents that are meant to be installed in doors to aid in airflow between rooms. i've most frequently seen them done with one near the bottom of the door and one near the top of the door so that air will cycle "around" flowing in from the bottom and venting out at the top. another type meant to be installed in walls can have an electrical fan included in them to help force air into the space.
So great to hear that you guys are loving your house! Really cool to see that the solar panels are working out well and that you’re able to monitor your monthly usage :) Best wishes for the new year!
Our family did not use ac much until really bad (and distant!) fires turned the sky red for weeks... when the air cleared went back to little use until my mom started having really bad allergy reactions...might want to make any screens out of metal mesh for any windows you want to leave open if you are not letting the cats roam outside (and want to limit entry of bugs!)
You two are living the dream! I'm so glad all the research and obsessing paid off. It's very time consuming, but in my experience it tends to really pay off to weigh your options and choose things you enjoy not only for function, but aesthetics as well. I dunno if you guys are still planning a house tour, but I would love to see it. I love getting ideas for decorating and configuring spaces by seeing what other people did and especially since so many things were customized or unique to typical Japanese homes.
It’s funny cuz I had just re-binged a bunch of your videos and was wondering how long you’ve been in your new house, so happy for you guys, it looks amazing!
Your home is amazing and so well thought out. It’s so easy to see how comfortable your whole troop is there, and having such friendly neighbors is so cool. There’s something special about being patient and waiting/working on getting just the right house for you. Not everyone can do it, but it’s a blessing when you can. I’m from California/USA and my husband and I spent four years after marriage just focused on saving on a down payment, and touring tons of houses in different cities and neighborhoods to get ideas for what works for us/our budget. We lived with my parents for 2 years in our late-20’s/early 30’s to save as well. Because of that patience and preparation we were able to snag our perfect home after finding it by chance. The wait was definitely worth it, but the journey was tough.
I bought my uncle a Sakuraco box for Christmas since he’s always been interested in Japan, so I’m excited to see how he likes it once it arrives to him! It’s so fun watching your guys’ journey!
Huntsmen are a common occurrence in Australia, and some breeds live outside, but then if certain types gets inside (especially the garage) it lives there. Generally you go after them here with a broom or large tupawear while also screaming.
Use Code “RNJ” to get $5 off for your first Sakuraco box here: team.sakura.co/racheljunadventuresSC2212 and get a chance to win FREE tickets to Japan if you subscribe before January 31st, 2023. Thank you to Sakuraco for sponsoring our video!
We made it a whole year!! Planning the whole thing out has been like the primary focus of the last few years of my life so I could probably talk for days about our house but I didn't want to make the video too long. After the house tour maybe we should do a live stream for questions and all the tiny boring facts most people might not care about?? haha
A hour tour is still coming--it just turns out it takes a long time to set up a brand new house. We want to get most of it and up and going so we aren't just showing a bunch of empty rooms with boxes and whatnot. And thank you all so much! We wouldn't be here without you all watching and supporting us.
Looking forward to the house tour!
a live stream would be great!!! looking forward to it
hi
My dad used to shear his veg with neighbours to 💖
We couldn't keep up with the Sakuraco boxes: each box has so much snacks, we have to give more and more away.😂
Your neighbors are so generous to share what they planted across the whole neighborhood!
I was in a German psychiatric hospital for a week. I did not know German customs nor language. Miraculously my roommate spoke English so they placed me with her. Even after she introduced me to her friends I felt really anxious. I kept refusing their offerings. I'm not good at receiving things from strangers. But then I got meat at meal time despite my no red meat policy and I offered it to this old lady who had offered me fruit before. I had turned it down not realizing it was a faux pa. So she started cutting up fruit for me in response and I accepted them. Then I understood there was this trade culture. She was beaming and I started to get friendly with the rest of them... despite the language barrier we kinda communicated. I miss those guys. 💕
In my small town if you don't lock your car door during harvest season, it WILL be full of random veggies from all the people in town. 🤣
I wonder what is customarily given as a thank you gift in this situation.
@@Turtletoots3 You just return the kindness with whatever you have in excess. Anything but money.
I got a trading partner this year, me german, he a turkish grandpa. My crops didn't were as great as his this year so I gave him a jar of self-made kimchi instead. I hope I didn't kill him
I love Jun saying he likes the carpet because it’s soft and warm but most of all, the cats can SPRINT
Heartmelt Jun on your carpet comment/cats to sprint. You're so incredibly kind.
I know the video is meant to be about the beautiful house, but I can't stop admiring Rachel's DROP DEAD GORGEOUS hair, makeup, and outfit here
I was going to comment the same thing! Rachel looks absolutely stunning, and I can't believe how long her hair has grown.
Same, very inspiring
Lmao I JUST commented that before reading the comments
rachel is always SOOOO pretty!! i love the warm gentle colors on her outfit, it fits her so well!!
RIGHT her whole look is amazing but her hair is MAJESTIC!
Rachel looks happier, healthier, and more vibrant than I've seen in years.
she's looking gorgeous in this update 😍
Jun's also looking really hot too.
This is literally what I thought!!!!
She’s always been beautiful but you’re right that she’s especially glowing now! I think the both of them (and all the cats) seem a lot happier and therefore they look better
@@vampyrekyng_lex what was wrong? Was somebody sick? I haven’t been on RUclips for a couple years!
Vibrant? 😅 she looks the same
And a year of Jun not having to duck to get through doors and spaces not built for his height! Congratulations on your 1st anniversary in your home.
First time I saw them standing together. Height difference blew me away.
How tall is he?
@@bigoprods 6ft
@@andriettebergakker6604 Oh wow, that's super tall for Japanese!
I have been watching Rachel and Jun for years, and I love how playful Jun has become in the past year. He's really come out of his shell, and Rachel is SOOOOOOOO much happier now. I'm so glad that you're both doing so well.
Yes! They are the cutest :)
American..... XD Lol
I live in Georgia in the US and run into the same issue as you do with the closets getting humid/moldy in the summer. We've swapped out our closet doors for wood slat doors that allow for more ventilation. There are some really beautiful options that have come out recently. You may want to consider swapping your storage room door out for one with slats, that way you can still shut off that room to the cats and don't have to look at the contents of your closet all summer but the air can still flow through the shut door.
+
that is actually a good idea.
Ill leave a comment here just because I think its a good idea
Or potentially adding some vents into the existing doors? Could paint the vents to match the color of the doors?
Same here! mold its always an issue where i live specially in a badly ventilated bathroom, on boxes and ofc the closets.
Rachel's face lighting up when Jun compliments her on the bathroom is so wholesome
I'm an aussie, it warms my heart a bit to hear that the Huntsman is treated like the good boi it is even in another country.
Next video: Meet our huntsman, Maki!
*Rachel is sitting on the couch petting a spider the size of a dinner plate*
Are they dangerous to humans? I'm terribly arachnophobic
@@Chris.tastrophe Not Huntsmen no. Theyre mostly just really big. If they bite you it hurts a lot, but its rare for them to bite. Most of the time they just run away and hide.
@@coldnova awww poor misunderstood creatures
they're a big part of why i dislike spiders (or some that look similar) as much as i do now - one summer i had one in my room every single night and it was ALWAYS above my bed or on the wall next to me when i was on my computer or something like that. always scared the living hell out of me seeing them there suddenly in the middle of the night
I have arachnophobia and just seeing Jun handle that crazy ass spider made me do a whole body shiver. My cats would love all those creepy crawlies. The oldest is around 12 years old and mostly just watches TV with my mom but if she sees a bug she goes full tiger on it.
Full tiger 😂😂😂
I have a mixed relationship with the large spiders. The primal part of me wants to freak out, but the logic part of me knows these are friend spiders. I say hello to them, and thank you, and leave them alone, but my skin does still get a little crawly when they are around.
I do too, and I made sure to avert my gaze the second they mentioned spiders until they were done talking about insects 😅
🙋♀️ me three
My girl was playing with an assassin bug yesterday!!!! She’s fearless
It is such a Poki thing to do to start a workout in the middle of your filming!
Beautiful house, guys. Very well thought out.
Hehe. 🤍🖤
The best time to work out, during filming, the audience loves it and disrupted video audio
Forgive me, I’m new, but what does Poki mean?
@@Alleellaa it means "round" or "rotund" in japanese, if I remember correctly.
@@lynh.1214 Rachel named him, it means wandering survivor. Initially she thought he was female and he would have been named Kiki.
Colloquially Poki means trash goblin.
I love listening to Jun and Rachel switching back and forth between English and Japanese just in their conversations with each other. There's something really sweet and darling about it. ❤️
Rachel, you should totally get Jun into canning! Especially if he starts his own garden!
I second this!
Straight up, I'm real nerdy about fermentation and if Jun could expand his fermentation ventures on his channel... we'd have a whole virtual pantry of canned veggies and Japanese pickles 😭😭
💯 this! I wish I had more space in my apartment to can, but they’ve definitely got the veg and fruit, and the space!
what ways do they preserve in Japan? I know they do all kinds of pickling.
@@muck4227 As far as I know the primary method of preserving in Japan and many other Asian countries is salt pickling, combining the food with a percentage of salt which facilitates lactobacilli fermentation. No vinegar is involved unless it's for a quick, salad-like veggie mix that usually isn't meant to be fermented and preserved. Unless you freeze it I guess, like fukujinzuke. Outside of Asia people tend to utilize salt and/or oil to preserve. But I'm curious if there are more ways of pickling too!
It's so rare to have Jun insist on something, so him INSISTING on the crepe being omurice to the point of breaking out the fry pan 😆
He was right. That's totally omurice, just look at it.
That had me cry laughing 😭😂
time stamp please?
@@pondju 9:49
I can't believe it's already been 1 year! It felt like yesterday we were checking plots with you. I'm so happy for you!
I've been watching y'all since Rachel and Jun were living apart because of her military service. In one of those videos you both were so excited for the day where Rachel could finally return to Japan to live there. And now I'm seeing y'all in your beautiful new house with your kitties and it's just so wholesome.
Same here. Heartwarming!
Same!! 😭
As an Australian I can tell you now your so lucky that the Japanese huntsman’s are so polite to not stick around in your house 😂 the Australian ones love to become an unwanted house guest who’s overstayed their welcome!
I never resented their presence! They're awesome spiders! Never had to worry about flies with one of those in your house. Red backs though..... I NEVER evicted them, those never survived my discovering them. Entering my home was death sentence for them
@@silkvelvet2616 We don't get huntsman here but I definitely am ok with a few web spiders in the corners. They are part of the earth and keep my house free of flying insects. Plus people and pets are not their food. Sounds like win-win to me.
I do move spiders outside if I find a spider not sticking to the corners and edges. I have a garden that can use all the spiders.
@@yeevita I have to warn people sometimes when I get a kitchen spider to not kill it. They like to post up in the corners of windows, which is perfect for me. They'll eat any flying insects that get in like fruit or houseflies and even come down and munch on any beetles that make their way in.
they like to hang out over my bed............which no thanks i'm afraid you have to go
I'm in LA and we had a garden spider which was Gigantic. It would make a titanic web on the balcony at night. It and the web would be gone in the morning. Looked like a large crab perched in the middle of the web. I thought it was pretty amazing, my wife not so much. We also had black widows, which you don't want.
Suggestion for your storage room. Change the door to one with slats so there is still ventilation while the door is shut. (I looked it up they are called louvered doors) Heck, make a video of Jun making and installing one. Content plus a new door. Win-win.
genius. they should hire you lol
How about trying bamboo/ rattan doors and boxes to improve ventilation? I think you can find cheaper ones rather than the artisan ones. The style is also Japanese.
Besides using electric dehumidifiers, using charcoal (many types including bamboo) and coffee grounds as dehumidifiers might help.
Living with a community... people sharing with people... taking care of each other... so nice... 🥰
Oh my godddddd when Jun complimented Rachel at 5:25... her face!!! Sooooo adorable. I squealed haha, such a cute moment!!
Aww, I remember watching the videos when you were just starting with the house! I can't wait to see what you come up with next! ♡
Edit: I love your wholesome relationship with animals!! From cats to smart, hungry crows to bugs! It’s so sweet!!!
And giant spiders!!!(?)!!
We moved in 2018 and still feel like that; so extremely happy with the peace and quiet, the true silence in the night. Not even the distant sound of a freeway or train. The house is big enough for us to both have space to breath, a garden for the cats and much more things we didn’t have before. I hope your honeymoon feeling will last a lifetime.
I loved reading this.🌱🍀
It's crazy that it's been a whole year already! Y'all never did a house tour, but I don't think you ever really needed to! It felt very natural being introduced to different pieces of your home in each new video over the year, and it allowed everyone to appreciate one part of the home at a time! It's been nice getting to see, and I'm so happy for you guys and the kitties!!
I think they’re waiting to do it when it’s done? Hopefully soon but understandable if they don’t
I didn't realize that you get so nervous making the videos. I also extremely stress over things. This makes me even more appreciative that you post videos of your life for us to see. Thank you for all of your hard work.
This is literally so relatable! I also start generating enough heat to warm a whole house when I get nervous like that 😂
Woah, I had no idea huntsmen had set up in Japan! What a cool thing, kind of like having an Aussie pop by uninvited, eating all your unwanted food items, and moving on xD
what are huntsmen?
@@hallehuckleberryspider. They are typically not aggressive, so people don’t need to worry
@@hallehuckleberry Eight legged house cats.
@@ANPC-pi9vu ahhhh so cool! i’d love one
@@OracleTruth24 spiders are great
I love the pro-insect/arachnid talk at the end! Scary at first, but getting to see so many different kinds of big bugs would be interesting, and then getting lizards and frogs/toads on top of that is a bonus!
I'm so stunned by how calm the reptiles and amphibians are in Japan. I live in East TN which has the same climate as them and I only usually see the huge bugs and spiders usually. The reptiles and amphibians exist but are far more elusive. I did see a salamander on our porch one wet summer night, though, and we get the occasional visiting box turtle. And we've seen a young black snake in our apartment twice. Probably a king snake or rat snake. Seems to be living in our wall.
Growing up, even though in a residential area, our lives were integrated with an abundance of wildlife. All manner of large insects (praying mantises, bees, butterflies, flying grasshoppers, etc.) and animals (rabbits, lizards, chipmunks, deer, etc.). It was nice. Sadly, when I revisited the area, most of them now seem gone.
i really liked hearing Jun speaking Japanese during the sponsor bit! I hope the air-con pays off in the future, it might if you're hosting a bigger event with more people who give off body heat. thank you for saving Sargent spider.
Cracked me up when he started insisting that the strawberry crepe was an omurice.
Also, I can't believe that I managed to use a word I learnt by watching Maid Dragon, lol
Here are 2 cheap ways to fix the problems you noted.....
You could put grout / cocking on any gaps you may have to keep bugs from getting through. This is common from flooring to moldings and can be nearly any color and is pretty cheap. If you have white moldings you can make it invisible to the naked eye. That may help you push the only way in for bugs .... to certain spots and then put something they dont like such as lavender for mosquitoes. This can easily be done by hand with a cocking gun and stops bugs from getting in from any place accept the actual doors if you leave them open.
For the mold..... portable AC unit. for that size of a room it would be 200 USD. 5min to install. Just gota put a insert in the window for the vent hoze. This type of unit is on wheels and can AC, heat and dehumidifie. In colder seasons you can use it to heat a specific area instead of dehumidifieing the storage room. This is nice if one of you runs colder then the other .
Time flies by so fast ,congratulations you two
15:16, it's very easy and gentle to catch bugs with a big plastic yogurt tub and a junkmail flier.
One whole year? Wow, I still remember it like it was yesterday when you first posted about Pichi! Congratulations! 🎉
I was stationed in Okinawa in late 70's for 18 months. I do not miss the giant spiders, giant cockroaches or giant centipedes. I do miss the delicious fruit, scrumptious meals and friendly locals. A trip back to Okinawa and mainland Japan is in the works. Love your house.
old😊
Solar is so amazing. I love all these new forms of sustainable tech like air-rust, wood, or sodium ion batteries, windmills shaped like a tree and each leaf is a tiny windblade, and now an exciting breakthrough with nuclear fusion. What a time to be alive. 💚💙💜
I am so damn glad to see more people talking positively about nuclear. In America there's FINALLY some work being done on field testing smaller safer fast reactors. I heard the research has existed since the cold war but people were so freaked out by Chernobyl that the project got shelved even though the new tech would be completely meltdown-proof. The new reactors can even run on the spent fuel from the older existing reactors that are less efficient, reducing nuclear waste to a miniscule level.
you guys are literally goals. You balances each other personality out and you both are really smart and diligent. I wish you all the happiness and more.
I love hearing Jun complimenting and encouraging Rachel on her DIY projects ♥
ahhh the way yall describe how peaceful and quiet it is with nice neighbors giving veggies sounds like paradiseeee
17:31 I love how Rachel is explaining stuff while Poki sits there like 'no thoughts, head empty'
This is so random but I remember a vlog type video when Rachel was far away from Jun and was so stressed that she got pericarditis and now they are together in a beautiful home. I love seeing how their life has grown together.
god I wish one day to build a house with my partner like this, I'm so happy you two are thriving and happy with your home and community, bugs and all haha. I can't believe even the huntsman spiders are polite, it sounds like such a dream
This is an amazing accomplishment. Building a house anywhere on this planet is already major, but in Japan, kudos to the two of you and the teamwork. Jun´s quality in the cooking videos demonstrates how serious he is about everything he does, and the same goes for Rachel - overachiever, perfectionist, and hard worker. Congrats to both of you and all the felines...
Mint essential oil, diluted with water, in a spray bottle. You spray around baseboards and entrances--it deters both bugs, including cockroaches, spiders, and mice, and is perfectly safe for pets (and any small children you might have over). Hope this helps =)
It's great to hear you're loving the house!
For those who own motorcycles, placing a steel scrubbing pad sphere that has several drops of (real) peppermint oil on it in the exhaust will deter mice and their friends from making nests in your airbox... this is especially nice to do when storing your bike(s) if your locale has snowy periods.
@@WyrdHag - It is true. Research. You have to use the appropriate plants and solutions, apply the solution properly and know that only select insects don't care for it.
5:27 Rachel's smile was so cute I had to stop typing up my grocery list to comment about it
Poki exercising in the background🐾isn’t that cutest thing ever😂😂🫶
Compact dehumidifier, bamboo charcoal bags, and large silica gel packs...should help with mold or old school mothballs but IDK if that's cat safe.
Try rice or cat litter the clumping type?
Congratulations on everything. Nice neighbours, dream home, free home grown veggies (yum), safe and happy cats.
The Huntsman service is a real bonus.
Being an Australian I'm extremely find of my Huntsman housemates too.
Wishing you all a great 2023.
Hi Rachel, for your moldy storage room problem, you should plug in a dehumidifier and just leave it running in there all the time or at least for a few hours everyday. It will probably fix the problem!
Or door standard gate
Coupled with ventilation, the easiest form of which may be altering or replacing the door. The only issue with (commercial grade) dehumidifiers (which is what I recommend, although that may be overkill for their needs) is that they're loud.
My daughter (14) is obsessed with Japan and everything Japanese. I'm pretty sure it's her dream to either visit or live in Japan when she's all grown up. But I'm betting she hasn't heard of the spiders and cockroaches yet lol... I love your home, the bright and open interior is everything. I'm glad that you guys and the kitties are happy there 🥰
tell her about the giant wasps too...
@@idraote if they're American or Canadian, the murder Hornets have been spotted now on that continent (shipping).
There’s an insect museum in Sendagi Tokyo I’m planning on visiting. I’ll let you know how it goes :3
@@idraote Yikes, I will do.
@@EyeGlassTrainofMind South African living in Ireland, so at least we're familiar with the huntsman spiders. But yikes, I heard the murder hornets are terrible!
Honestly I'm obsessed with the bathroom. Rachel did such a great job!! It's got a natural yet modern feel to it
I love Rachel's understanding of the ecosystem! I tried to explain to my mother that spiders coming and going is not a bad thing when there are insects around, the spiders hunt them! And otherwise they leave you alone, it's literally free service! Haha
i need an updated hair care routine!! i’ve been taking care of my natural waves so i’d love to see how Rachel’s been doing with her hair ^^
That's so cool about the spider facts! I didn't know about the cute nickname for the huntsman spiders. Glad to see the house is working out so well for you all! :D
Not genuinely the way y'all live and the house y'all have is my DREAMMMMM!! it's so peaceful and there's so much nature. You have so much privacy yet there's still some community. It sounds amazing!!
So excited for another sit down and chat video! They're some of my favorites.
17:57 18:15 - Poki's meow is really adorable!
Oh god, I didn't realize huntsman spiders migrated outside of Australia 😬 I'm so phobic of spiders I definitely would not be able to live in the rural parts of Japan like you lol
I have been watching you guys since I was a teenager! So happy you guys are still making content!
Hey Rachel and Jun and whoever new homeowner this Amy concern: I have not watched the entire video yet, I have just gotten around your "mold" section and would like to offer a little advice. Your house, as you said, is unusual for Japanese building in beinh made out of concrete and highly insulating glass plus steel beams. In olden days people used to build a property with either wood, stone and mortar, clay and Hay ects. All rather open to diffusion from groundlevel water and since windowpanes weren't occlusive the draft also carried warm air filled with water outside.
Pros of your way of building are obviously good insulation so that water droplets won't form on windows for instance because they don't get too cold as to condensate, the con is: you have removed almost all things that remove excess water from the rooms themselves.
Coated shelving, coated furniture ect won't take up excess water like raw or oiled woods would, whereas areas of concrete walls will have (if there are colder spots-doesn't matte if it isn't really 'cold' in the room, cold-er is enough) no way to take up water at all. Old mortar used to be made of material that would also have some 'give' as to waterretention, concrete does not, comparatively. So I would suggest one of the simplest ways of at least getting the room climate into balance again without having to rebuild anything : lime. Limestone is naturally white and makes for great plaster but also great paints. Limestone is both very absorband and also very much anti - mold since mold doesn't like the PH of it. Try it out in risky rooms.
It's usually very cheap. It won't help the humidity problem, but it will prevent spores from spawning and accumulating. Its also safe for animals.
Recommend this to anyone out there looking for an eco option.
Credit: years of limeputty, lime plaster and lime paint building on my own house. Rainiest spot around, no mold anywhere. There are many articles online you can find on lime being used in building, Google it. Humans have been using it for and extensive amount of time.
Omg, this is the first I've seen of you in YEARS. LOVE the house, and Jun's english is nearing perfection! I love that you guys are still together. I idolized you guys so much when I was a teenager 🥺
3:50
as someone who learned this type of glasswork
i feel SO MUCH JOY when people get double windows with gas filling. the insulation is so much better and i get the feeling not many people know about it
This makes me so happy! I've been struggling a little bit lately but hearing all your stories about the lovely neighbors and all the kind things they do, how they welcomed you and you fit in right away, it's really good "faith in humanity" material! Thanks for sharing guys, and I'm so happy life (and people :P) has been treating you so well :)
Edit: made a typo
I love this so much!! You guys are finally living your best lives :)
It feels like it was just yesterday when I was watching you guys only dream about having your own blouse… It’s so great to see that you guys made your dream come true, we couldn’t be any prouder!
You could add a vent grill to the hall in the door or the wall to the storage room to increase circulation and help with the mildew problem. You could also put charcoal brickets ( not the ones with lighter fluids) in your storage cupboards or shelves in store room. Helps to absorb moisture. Put them in loose weave cotton bags to keep cats from getting at brickets.
Can I just say Rachel looks so beautiful in here my heart litterally skipped a beat when the video loaded lol
I can’t believe it’s been a year! It seems like just yesterday!!! Time sure does fly!! I’m so happy you guys are happy!! Your home is beautiful and you guys are absolutely living the dream. I’m really excited for you guys and to see the future because I know it’s going to be amazing. I’m sending all of my love and best wishes!!! Thanks for taking the time to show us and explain to us. It’s really interesting as well. Have a great one!
It's always so nice to have neighbors that share the fruits of their harvest. Probably one of the things I really appreciate about Japan.
When we moved to Hawaii, Mom chased all the geckos out of the house, not realizing they were the ones keeping the bugs out. After a few giant cockroaches, she finally accepted the geckos back in happily.
geckos are the best... but only if you don't have any cat... cats like to hunt them 😭
@@idraote Or dogs.
@@WyrdHag You get used to the lizards although I did have to get a new toaster after one got comfortable in our toaster and I didn't know so...crispy lizard essentially. I wasn't trying to clean the toaster after that.
The amount of light you get in your place is the dreeeaammm. Maybe someday!
Sidenote: I saw a momma huntsman outside my apt once with all her babies on her back. I'm not scared of spiders, but that was NIGHTMARE FUEL.
What I love about your house is how light and airy it looks,light coming in everywhere.
I'd love to see springtime in your garden, especially after all the gardening videos you did. It's so good to know that your house is so cat friendly, bug friendly and Rachel and Jun friendly lol
I don’t know why, but I haven’t seen you for a while. I’m so delighted to hear that your lovely home is everything that you could ask for. May you continue to live a blessed life together with your wonderful furry family.
As an arachnophobe I could never live somewhere where those giant monsters just casually show up in your house. I found a big spider in my room once and didn't set foot in it for over a week so kudos to you two for being so casual about it. My phobia and anxiety could never.
I feel that so hard
The spiders in Asia generally aren't that bad. Not as bad as American and Australian spiders.
@@lm-pw9ul any spider is bad !!
My cat eats all the spiders that come around
When I think of spiders, garden spiders come to mind. You know the ones with neon yellow backs? Those gave me the chills so bad... I once rented a place where they have an unkept garden, and it was full of those. Like, there were so many it was impossible to count. Creeped me out so bad whenever I saw that there was a lot of them. I love gardens and shade, but the thought of having a bunch of them nest there is nearly enough to make me not want to have a garden really.
7:30 I agree with her "that's" would be the first thing. Wishing you guys happiness for many decades in the new home.
I am so happy for you.
Planning a forever home is stressful because you know you're going to spend many years there and you don't want to make mistakes. The fact that, after the first year, you are still satisfied with your project is important and I am really glad you managed.
The sharing culture is also a big plus. But you said right from the start that you had had luck with your neighbours, which is also a blessing as far as quality of life is concerned.
Rachel and Jin’s wholesomeness boosts my serotonin levels
Rachel's cute aggression when she sees the cute bunny snacks is so relatable to me haha
Rachel when she sees a bunny: JUUUN 👹
The way you both are wearing your colors is eye-catching!
Some people look at big celebrities and think that's the dream life, but for me, this is really the dream lifestyle I strive for. What a beautiful home!
Honestly been following for years and seeing how hard y’all worked to get here is amazing I’m so happy for you guys!! ❤
Edit- yeHhh no bugs is a big no no for me spiders I’m like ehhh but roaches are like big nope for me lmao
The big roaches aren't actually that bad, though. They don't tend to turn into a severe infestation as easily as the smaller ones. We get the flying ones in Tennessee like they do in Japan. Actually had one that kept landing on me and I stopped being afraid of it. It actually seemed to want help getting back outside and flew away when I took it to the door. They are so intelligent that it's actually kind of cool.
Have you guys considered putting "damp traps" in the room for storage. I get mine in the dollar store but you can find them online too. They have hanging ones or containers that sit on flat surfaces. I use them all over my house to avoid dampness/mold etc
Rachel and Jun’s Sakura Co and Boksu ads because their reactions are so genuine! Your house is beautiful and thank you for sharing your journey with building your home!
I've been watching your videos for about 4 years I think. I'm so happy for you guys!!. Your house totally matches both of you guys. Both of you have done beautifully. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congrats!! I’m so happy for you guys, wishing you luck and more peace in 2023
Just feeling so happy for two!
You're looking very happy and in love with your life right now - and that's wonderful!
I liked how much Japanese Jun is speaking in this video.
My daughter just came home for the weekend from university and we had great fun opening our Sakura box here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Rachel, We pointed and laughed at the bum cheek too. Very fun tasting and sharing everything together. Love it!
It's really nice to see you guys so happy :)
11:36 actually you can buy a dehumidifier. I bought a small one and it worked perfect
I love that you guys installed solar panels. That is a dream of mine to get. Hopefully we're able to do that in Canada. It's awesome to see the cats having fun. Congrats on one year and many more to come!
they make vents that are meant to be installed in doors to aid in airflow between rooms. i've most frequently seen them done with one near the bottom of the door and one near the top of the door so that air will cycle "around" flowing in from the bottom and venting out at the top. another type meant to be installed in walls can have an electrical fan included in them to help force air into the space.
So great to hear that you guys are loving your house! Really cool to see that the solar panels are working out well and that you’re able to monitor your monthly usage :) Best wishes for the new year!
😍😍 I love how much Jun has been talking more and more in Japanese
Our family did not use ac much until really bad (and distant!) fires turned the sky red for weeks... when the air cleared went back to little use until my mom started having really bad allergy reactions...might want to make any screens out of metal mesh for any windows you want to leave open if you are not letting the cats roam outside (and want to limit entry of bugs!)
Thank you for the tour. Happy New Year! And may you have many more wonder filled years in your home.
You two are living the dream! I'm so glad all the research and obsessing paid off. It's very time consuming, but in my experience it tends to really pay off to weigh your options and choose things you enjoy not only for function, but aesthetics as well.
I dunno if you guys are still planning a house tour, but I would love to see it. I love getting ideas for decorating and configuring spaces by seeing what other people did and especially since so many things were customized or unique to typical Japanese homes.
It’s funny cuz I had just re-binged a bunch of your videos and was wondering how long you’ve been in your new house, so happy for you guys, it looks amazing!
Your home is amazing and so well thought out. It’s so easy to see how comfortable your whole troop is there, and having such friendly neighbors is so cool. There’s something special about being patient and waiting/working on getting just the right house for you. Not everyone can do it, but it’s a blessing when you can.
I’m from California/USA and my husband and I spent four years after marriage just focused on saving on a down payment, and touring tons of houses in different cities and neighborhoods to get ideas for what works for us/our budget. We lived with my parents for 2 years in our late-20’s/early 30’s to save as well. Because of that patience and preparation we were able to snag our perfect home after finding it by chance. The wait was definitely worth it, but the journey was tough.
I bought my uncle a Sakuraco box for Christmas since he’s always been interested in Japan, so I’m excited to see how he likes it once it arrives to him! It’s so fun watching your guys’ journey!
Huntsmen are a common occurrence in Australia, and some breeds live outside, but then if certain types gets inside (especially the garage) it lives there. Generally you go after them here with a broom or large tupawear while also screaming.