Stuff I can't do in Japan

[chocolatehippocool]

I don't live in Japan (yet) so idk exactly what's hard to find. I will miss...

Netflix

My rambunctious friends

Hot cheetos

Mexican candy and chips

That's about it actually, I really want to go to a themed resteraunt like Alcatraz if you've ever heard of it it's really cool.

[JeremyScottThompson]

I'm from england and now live in japan - i miss going to the cinema regular where its cheap...i miss watching my regular english tv shows...i miss english food like fish and chips...i miss not being able to understand everything... when i first came to japan i knew no japanese and it felt like i had lost my voice because i lived in a village where no one spoke english :S... but japan does have a lot i like

[karechan14]

I live in San Diego too! I hope to go to Japan soon

[myargonauts]

@karechan14 wonderful weather we're having right now - great time to be back in SD, since it's about 1.C in my Japanese town today :)

[RochelleSendai28]

5 years in Japan now and I miss the organic food culture in the US (more specifically the west coast). There is a small movement here, but I can't go into a huge store with almost all organic food inside like food Co-Ops in CA. I also miss the art culture. AND MEXICAN FOOD!!! I can't recreate a good Mexican burrito here. I miss living in a country where being two faced is frowned upon and not encouraged. I'd miss Japanese festivals, hot springs, JR, and general random Japan craziness.

[RochelleSendai28]

I had a dream that I got Mr. Pibb at a shop I like here in Japan and when I woke up I was realizing that you can't get Mr. Pibb in Japan, but it never bothered me so much. They have Dr. Pepper here you can it at Lawson 100 yen here in Sendai. Also I heard that you can get DVDs sent to you by mail now from Tsutaya, but I guess you would have to navigate the website in Japanese

[myargonauts]

@RochelleSendai28 good to know about the Japanese Netflix like service. Thanks. Luckily my local DVD rental shop is pretty good - I've been using it this winter!

[kirby28645]

I would miss pretzels and peanut butter, both of which are almost non-existent in Japan. Thankfully, they have onigiri and candied sweet potatoes, so I should live. Plus, I live off of ramen at home here in the States -- I could do it again in Japan! Haha!

I might end up missing the ability to drive everywhere, but to be honest, I hate driving. Might also miss people that like to get into debates... those are supposed to be nearly non-existent in Japan also. But, hey, I'll have the internet!

[neuromasser]

That cloud on 5:41 looks exactly like Britain :D

[YokosukaPatrick]

I'm here, but I really miss taking a day off to watch some movies while ordering some pizza (delivery) and playing some tabletop RPGs. Yeah, I'm a nerd. Comic books are easily replaced with ordering online, but still... it's not the same when you can't browse. The food in Japan is wonderful, but sometimes I need some extra calories just to make it taste fulfilling.  Yes, Japan has a shortage of public trash cans, but for good reasons, yet precautionary.

[joeafrolovesblow]

If you don't mind me asking, how old were you when you first started teaching in Japan? The only reason I ask is because I am pushing 30 and just accepted an offer to teach for the first time. I was thinking that I might be a bit old in terms of the other teachers and I also heard that JET only likes to hire recent grads.

[myargonauts]

search my playlists and you'll find a vlog about being an older ALT...

I was 35 when I first went - 40 when I finished my 5 years.

JET does tend to hire ALTs in their 20s, but there are a fair amt of us who are over 30. 40 is the cutoff age.

You will be older than most of the other ALTs, but I found the cultural differences btwn me and other ALTs from Europe and Aus/NZ etc to be greater than age issues.

[109mytiger]

If you like western food ,You may consider living near US military base in Japan. Inside bases have like a wal-mart, tax free! and American chain restaurants.

[YokosukaPatrick]

@109mytiger Lol! Yes, that's true, but the NEX is limited where I'm at. Most of the stuff is inventory that other stores couldn't sell, but the fast food is decent to say the least. Still no big pizza chains where I'm at, but we have Sbarro, Anthonys and this italian joint called Italian Gardens in the Club Alliance complex by the main gate. You have the right idea though :) That's as close to America as you can get when you're nearby a military base.

[rebekhasmith]

I miss drinking/eating while walking... I often forget and buy a coffee only to realize that I actually have to sit and drink it. *sigh*

Thanks for the videos! So fun. :)

[fightingirishaholic]

....you look better with a goatee lol just my thoughts

[vagabond142]

I'm hoping to make it to Japan someday, be it through JET or Interac or something.... but the thing I think I would miss most would be my pepsi. As you've stated before, you really have to dig to find pepsi in Japan.

One thing I would NOT miss would be the vicious snowstorms we get here in Canada :D Look up Calgary Blizzard December 2009 if you want to see what I'm currently sitting smack dab in the middle of :)

Cheerio!

[YokosukaPatrick]

@vagabond142 Pepsi is a little easier to find in the Kanagawa/Tokyo prefecture. Very selective machines though. It tastes better over here in my opinion since they use sugar as opposed to that high fructose corn syrup you find in the American soft drinks. It's more expensive, but if you find yourself near my location (doubtful since nobody gets located in Tokyo though JET: quote Jason), I'll get you some 12 packs on base. Good luck!

[AutomHatter]

There are no comic book stores in Japan Jason?

[myargonauts]

There are tons of manga shops all over, but you can't find English-language comics out in the rural prefecture I lived in. I'm sure Tokyo has one or two comic shops that sell Marvel and DC, but I'm not sure. Even in a big city like Hiroshima, you'd be hard pressed to find English-language magazines, let alone American comics (not graphic novels).

[liebemin]

Maruzen (in Nagoya and Tokyo, anyway) sells popular manga and other literature in English, but the mark up in price is absolutely ridiculous.

[42317]

"This is Jason, reminding just in case you forgot." :-)

Wanna drive freely?

Visit Germany, drive as fast as you want on the highways. (Except for a few route sections near or in towns.)

Radio in Japan is certainly not only Japanese but also utterly boring. But I wish I could have heard "Heartful Station" only once...

[yoruninoru]

i think about the things i can't do in japan all the time. simply because i am not in japan doing them. take my dog for a walk, can't do that in japan.

[voodoo078]

hey Jason, i love the videos you made about the JET program and i have a couple questions, i'm thinking about applying next year for the program but was wondering what's the max number of years you can stay with the program? and what options are available to you (work wise) in japan after the program is over? also did you choose to come back to the U.S. or could you have stayed?

[myargonauts]

by applying next year do you mean applying in 2010 to go to Japan in 2011? cuz if you want to go to Japan in 2010, you have to apply now.

quick answers - max number of years is 5.

Other work after you finish JET would depend on how good you can speak Japanese unless you want to simply teach somewhere else.

I stayed the maximum of 5 years, but I hope to go back in 2010.

[spekion]

what about drinking Dr. Pepper for breakfast, lunch and dinner and in between each of them?

[myargonauts]

I finally picked up some Cherry DP today - gonna crack open a can later - will it become my new favorite soda?? :)

[Gokol]

I love the big bang theory :)

[DeeDoubleYou81]

The trashcan comment was awesome! I totally agree!

Have you had any moments while driving when you started to turn or drive on the left? After you got back, was it strange at first to be on the opposite side?

I like this series, nice and fun!!

[brentwithani]

Hey Jason -

Came back to the US after living in J for about 7 years myself. Here are some pointers b/c the reverse culture shock is tough, so I feel ya

Get out and enjoy all the stuff you didn't have. America is awesome, you just need people and things to experience it with. I am sure you will make new friends, just don't obsess about J too much..lots of people don't really care. If you feel lonely or miss it, the occassional sushi bar will help. You will miss hearing Japanese. It get's better

[myargonauts]

Thanks for the tips.

[jenifaui]

I actually missed Walmart when I was in Japan (even though I'm not much of a Walmart fan normally). One-stop shopping! Wahoo.

I just went to the Grand Canyon and went on a mule ride for my birthday. I can't even imagine setting something like that up in Japan. I love not having to worry about the language barrier at times like that.

And I'll have to agree about the Jamba Juice and Mexican food. I've had a lot of that since I got back.

I miss Japan, but it's nice to find things you like here.

[WhiteMatrix2006]

I always read all your text in the sidebar. Nice video by the way Jason. Interesting to see some little things that you do here that you can't do in Japan. Things as little as having a Jamba Juice can be missed when you go there.

-Billy-

[Madmatt2600]

NO Mr. Pibb! That's it I'm not going. jjk. It's funny, the things we miss when they are no longer around.

[cyclone258]

I know that part of I-5 :) Its what i take to get back to my home

away-from-home in Escondido from SD

No trash cans in Japan? How.. different. Should've opted for

the In n Out instead of the Taco Bell (you called it Mexican food and I lol'd :P )

[myargonauts]

in this video? I'm at a Del Taco, cuz it's across the street from the comic book store. I don't go to TB. :)

[cyclone258]

Del Taco, Taco Bell.. all the same stuff :P

[phoenixsaerie]

Watching that just made Eli and I really want to go out for a late night taco bell run.

Very cruel.... ;P

[myargonauts]

run for the border!

[jessman1999]

Outside of family, my dog, and friends, I'd miss Taco Bell.

[shinmei2006]

4:56...Porsche cayman yay!

[mmshoneybee]

Where do they throw trash away in Japan? It sounds like you have to carry it back home with you. Is that it?

[myargonauts]

yep - that's pretty much it, or you can stop by a conbini, which all have trash cans.

[IBelieveInFae]

Ack, you evil man. Taunting us with In N Out and Jamba Juice. We can't get those here in the rural Midwest.

I have a friend that lived in London for a year. She said she missed two things 1) salsa and 2) American accents.

I'd miss Mexican food, clothing inmy size, being able to be picky about the church I went to, and possibly home schooling. It's illegal in some countries.

[crocodile200]

1.Family, friends, girlfriend, pets.

2.Cold weather. 3.Being able to communicate with people at a 100% level. 4. Going for a running without seeing another person (personal space).

3.Buying the new CD I want

4.Going to see the film that isn't special effects blockbuster. 7.  Not having to navigate around a complex social system of politeness. (I'm naturally rude.)

8. riding a bike without having to stop every second for a turning.

Still Japan is great, but it 's what you make of it.

[helpmefindparents]

I miss onsen and kawasemi.

[myargonauts]

Ken - it seems you visit Japan at least once a year now, so you're very lucky.

I loved your recent onsen video. :)

Let me know if you have another art show - now that I'm in San Diego, I'd love to come up to LA and see your art.

-Jason

[ivan351]

cool vid Jason, I enjoyed it.

A+!

[akualt]

Jason you rock, what will you do now that you are home? I hope someday to go teach in Japan too. You inspire me to help and teach.

[myargonauts]

the next few weeks I'll be at college campuses recruiting for JET

[Regalia31]

I would miss peanut butter and iced coffee.

[freeinjapan]

they have both of those things...

american style too skippy&starbucks

[benighted2]

Like the video! What's the music at the end? Really digging it.

[myargonauts]

the very end? It's a clip from the iMovie stock of ready made clips

[sonicphotonic]

Just noticed Noah's Ark is covered up! I think the one thing I'd miss if I left the US would have to be Taco Bell. I love eating it every once in a blue moon.

And White Castle. They sell the burgers in the frozen food aisle now!

[MrEbm14]

Hi Jason,

I drive a VW too! If I ever go to Japan, I'll have to sell old "Hedi". If you want to watch Japanese TV, you can do so on your Mac/PC by googling  Keyhole TV.

Enjoy!

E

[silentk1987]

hey thanks for dropping that keyhole tv thing into your comment, I just downloaded it, it's pretty dam cool.

[MrEbm14]

No problem, I like pitching in and helping others as Jason does so nicely. : )

[stormko]

hahahahaha @ the trashcan comment.

That's for sure.

[jenifaui]

Whenever I go shopping, I keep thinking, "Don't get tin cans or glass jars. They're a pain to recycle." And then I remember I'm in America. Or else I have some trash in public and reach to put it in my purse before realizing that there are trash cans everywhere.

[myargonauts]

haha me too

[harimyoo]

I MISS CHEAP PIZZA!!!! here in Japan you pay damn near 30$ for a tiny tiny little thing that tastes "OK"

I also agree with the trash can thing! Kind of annoying!

[JFpooh9589]

OMG!!! HOW NOSTALGIC!!!

Believe me people! There are NO trash cans in public in Japan! I remember hoarding my trash in my backpack or purse when I went 4 my study abroad trip! I remember moaning about there not being any trashcans! LOL! However, there are some @ the train stations. I think ONLY @ the train stations. Sometimes I would get sooo frustrated that I would illegally dump my trash in the recycled can bin next to the soda machines. Of course there are PLENTY of soda machines.

[EverlastingDream328]

I don't know what I would miss most about where I am now (my mom probably), but I think I'm most surprised that you said that they don't have many trash cans in Japan...how does that work?

[myargonauts]

see answers below for trash cans... they are scarce in public in Japan

[Hachiban08]

I think there is a typhoon going on in Tokyo right now. My friend is studying abroad this year.

[myargonauts]

yep - lots of J-vloggers are making vlogs about the typhoon

[DJBear]

94.9? Why Jason, why?

[myargonauts]

My Dad's car - for explanation purposes - altho I don't mind listening to K-Earth with him, altho they have so many ads compared to the amount of music. Whenever I'm in the car, I always play CDs.

[KiwiLordVIII]

Another thing you can't do in Japan, Jason, is see movies as soon as they come out. Which leads me into this; Go see "Zombieland." It's a slightly better version of "Shaun of the Dead" (in my opinion, don't kill me for it!).

[myargonauts]

agreed - lots more movie choices, cheaper tickets - will have to be part of Part 2.

Saw Zombieland - enjoyed it, but not as much as S of D.

[drhikarisan]

"24 hours a day i can eat a taco and a burrito.....and read about a darth vader toaster"

i bet you could read about the toaster at least

is there a reason why there would be no trash cans?

as for what i would miss.....hmm i really cant think of much. i'd miss my family and pets and friends ive left behind.....but thats about it.

[TiramisuHappy]

Nobody seems to be asking you about your new "ride", so I will. Did you finally buy or lease one? Or is it your parents' car? What are you/they driving? You might want to blast 'Rock Lobster' in your car again imagining those koinobori along the freeway! Therapeutic for ya!

I absolutely LOVE cruising! It's my only escape from reality. Since the gas prices are finally coming down the past few weeks, I can afford to actually top off the tank now! How much is a gallon of regular unleaded there?

[myargonauts]

My Dad's car - it's a VW Passat.

I think we pay about $3.10 for midgrade here.

[mastervisaaa]

i like the garbage can one ~o~

couldn't agree more ...

[hyzhenhok]

Taco Bell isn't Mexican!

Then again, there's no such thing as good Mexican food north of San Antonio, so I guess you've been fooled by the limits of your surroundings.

[Tylatz]

Don't tell me that. I'm still hopeful after finding an amazing Japanese place in Clayton, Georgia.

[myargonauts]

the ironic thing about all the sushi and Japanese restaurants I've been in so far in SD is that all the staff is either Latino or Korean - I haven't been able to speak Japanese to anyone yet. :P

[myargonauts]

haha - I agree. San Diego is full of great, authentic Mexican food - so I don't eat Taco Bell while in SD, but I would have given my left arm for some TB while I was living in Japan.

[iFukuyama]

you dont need to pay a toll to drive on freeways in america?:O what about entering big cities?

[myargonauts]

nope - any State highway is free, paid for by State taxes. The only toll highways they have in my area is if you want access to a less crowded commuter lane and there is one shortcut highway near LA that charges a toll, but it only about 10 minutes faster than the free route.

[LEXAcide]

2 things...

1) I live in El Cajon and its WEIGH too cold at night now =(

2) If there is no trash cans in Japan usually, are you expected to carry around your trash? Is it OK to liter? I would doubt it.

[myargonauts]

yep - cooling off quite a bit in San Diego recently...

You're expected to take care of your own trash, yet littering is not a problem.

[AndySan]

Really? Cuz I heard from Unrested that peanut butter's hard to come by, but I guess that's an Osaka thing lol.

I've been wondering how popular a Mexican restaurant in Japan would be. Would the large gaijin clientele be enough to open one?

[kisshulover14]

lol i'd rather have manga then comics

[Vreugdian]

I had the same feeling as you. Sucks but you will get over it. Hope you can go back sometime!

[Smashingblue]

I feel your pain on finding a new job, as I'm finding it incredibly hard myself and will most likely end up having to leave the state I got educated in. I'm in MI currently and am considering California and New York, as both have jobs available. (more so in CA) When do you think your next BlogTV will be, preferably one that you start at 8PM, as it's doable being in the Eastern time zone? Good luck in your continued efforts in finding a job.

[AndySan]

Oh goodness, you're in the worst state to look for a job! Michigan has like a 15% unemployment rating because of the GM collapse among other things.

In your case, California would be a better place to look for a job, not to mention that you wouldn't have to deal with all that snow.

[AndySan]

I'll miss peanut butter, because I heard that it's quite rare in Japan.

Also, Mexican food like Taco Bell and Chipotle!!

[myargonauts]

Yeah - Scott just doesn't know where to look for PB... :P

I found Skippy Super-Chunk no problem even in the inaka

[AndySan]

Apparently he doesn't, haha ;)

Well, that's good to hear that I'll be able to get my PB fix even in Japan!

[drhikarisan]

lol didnt think about the peanut butter, yeah i might miss that some what too.

[AndySan]

I'll definitely notice the little things when I go to Japan.

I'm planning on going to Japan in the fall next year to attend the KCP International language school. I've heard that it's an intense school that'll really help me learn Japanese. I only have enough to go for a semester though, unless I manage to get grants to allow me to stay longer (I can stay up to 2 years). At least this way, I'll be able to see if KCP as well as Japan itself is right for me without making a 2-year commitment.

[drhikarisan]

i really cant think of too many things i'll miss. sure if I haven't improved my japanese abilities as much as I hope to I might miss watching tv at some times but I imagine I can just watch it on the internet if I really want to.

I'm sure there are things I'll miss when I get there but thats the whole point of it in my opinion. A completely different lifestyle and a huge change to what your used to. It sounds more exciting then anything to me.

[AndySan]

Yeah, if there's something that I wanna watch, I'll just go on the internet for it, but I'll definitely be watching a lot of Japanese TV too.

As long as I can get Dr. Pepper and peanut butter, I'm good to go! Mr. Pibb and Red Vines may be crazy-delicious, but Dr.P and PB is where it's at! Chicks dig it too, pyo!

[drhikarisan]

i try and avoid sodas anymore, just not a healthy habit for me. I think i will miss having milk as much as i do here. I need to really start cutting back on how much milk i drink so it wont be such a big deal when i get there.

[AndySan]

I try to avoid soda too, but mostly to cut back on expenses (although cutting back has its health benefits too).

When I moved out, I noticed that I rarely drank milk. I originally bought it for my cereal, but because I normally woke up around noon-ish, I didn't eat much cereal so I ended up throwing away a lot of sour milk. I tried buying smaller containers, but they still went sour so I just said hell with it and stopped buying milk and cereal altogether.

[myargonauts]

I had milk with cereal for breakfast about 28 out of every 30 days while living in Japan

[drhikarisan]

yeah i was referring to the fact that you have to pay more for milk. Cheese i can do without for the most part as i dont use a lot of it on a daily basis.

[michal1337]

Wow. A new background

[sakuraga0ka]

Carrying your own trash until you a. miraculously find a trash can or b. get home. That's Japan for you. This holds true in many rural (Inaka) areas too...

[DerReisendeGaijin]

That was the most annoying thing for me in Japan. The complete lack of public trash cans. It was ridiculous. I had to keep trash in my backpack until I got back to where I was staying a lot of the time.

Nice video! Tacos, Burritos, and Darth Vader Toasters made me laugh.

[mostawesomestjes]

Oh man how I miss driving! I don't drive. I walk and bus. I miss driving (although it tends to brings out my bad side and I tend to scream at people.) Oh yes the simplicities of American trash. I miss that. I think right now I miss the supremeness of Halloween. I know that Japan is starting to celebrate halloween (and I bought tiny pumpkins today), but I definitely am feeling the longing for a good old American Halloween (it is my favorite holiday ever!) Always good to remember the plusses!

[drhikarisan]

i remember someone told me something odd but true about halloween. Halloween is the only day of the year you can truly be yourself because you can be whatever you want to be.

[DopeSpace9]

damn no tacos. japan sure is one backwards country. XD

[KingSaint]

there is no shabu shabu in America, which is more backwards?

[DopeSpace9]

life without tacos is death in disguise.

[reynoldsair]

I miss Chinese food, driving, and big houses. I miss sleeping on a bed, everybody speaking English, and watching TV. I miss going camping with my family in Julian, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and barbecues.

I know I'll miss a lot of Japan, though, when we get home. The grass is always greener...

[myargonauts]

couldn't you buy a bed? Does your wife not want one or would it just be impractical for the room?

[reynoldsair]

well...

a) it's quite a bit more expensive compared to futons,

and

b) it would be way too big for the room.

[Prepoceros]

Haha, great video idea. I don't get the trash can thing, though. What do Japanese people do with their trash? I can't imagine they just litter everywhere...

[myargonauts]

they hold on to it and throw it away at home

[Japanfan09874]

well i feel much better. if that's all i have to miss when i go to japan then i don't suppose i'll miss much of anything anything. cool. :)

[hirokivary]

We do have trashcans in japan!

I don't know if they have those in countryside though :P

[myargonauts]

I might be an inaka boy, but when I walked around Tokyo last February, I didn't see any trashcans there either... :)

[konY913]

Hey Jason, do you have a international driver's license? remember the vids from you cruising the countryside of Japan

and damn, driving on those freeways must be great...such a stress driving in KL...

[myargonauts]

I got an Intl DL before leaving for Japan, but while living in Japan, I got an honest-to-goodness Japanese DL, which I still have. I just renewed my California license - I missed three on the written test - if I had missed four I would have failed. :)

[Tobbytheking]

Trashcan! The Japanese must be jealous

[BusanKevin]

what is Jamba Juice? Is that a smoothie?

[myargonauts]

yeah - it's a chain shop that does fruit smoothies and other organic, healthy type foods. Acc to their website, they have locations in about 20 States - very common here in California, and the one in this video is on my old college campus, so it was part of my weekly routine when I was a student. Very delicious.

[BusanKevin]

I miss back deck bbq's, Tim Hortons (a Canadian thing), affordable Starbucks, and at times I miss hearing everyone around me speaking English!

[myargonauts]

really? Is Starbucks that much more expensive in Japan, cuz it seems pretty expensive here too. But I don't drink coffee, so this is just based on the few times my Dad has gotten one, and they didn't have a Starbucks in Shimane so maybe I'm talking out of my ass... :)

[hoosierhana]

i love jamba juice! we don't have any here in indiana, at least none that i know of... any luck finding a job in japan yet?

[myargonauts]

It'll be much easier for me to find a new job in Japan for March/April next year than it has been for me to get a job here in California

[drhikarisan]

good to know, i wasn't sure if you were worried about not being able to stay after all.

keep it up, great videos as always.

[stufflikethat]

Oh man...Mexican food! I'm so jealous! :-P other things I miss: -friends -American TV -cheap dvd's -Renaissance festival -affordable movie tickets -Barnes & Noble -people not commenting on my weight and much more... Question for you: was it difficult to drive on the other side of the road again?

[myargonauts]

Not too hard to get back to driving on the other side, altho I didn't have to do it right away so I had time to adjust. I had people with me the first few times to say "get over to the other side" if I was going out an exit on the wrong side, etc.

[misctube]

Oh gosh the list would be like 5 billion pages long!!! You know that my friend. I mean, you did just a few simple everyday things and that was already five things. I really miss meat, like 100% beef, pizza, taco bell/mexican food, driving (because traffic is usually so bad its more like parking or school zone speed here ne), going to the movies, being able to read food labels, my bed....lol Hope youre well ya lucky dog. ~misctube

[myargonauts]

yeah - a simple hamburger, on a bun, can be a difficult find at times, other than at fastfood. So many Japanese restaurants have a "hamburg" which is just not the same thing - they even opened a chain restaurant in Izumo called Big Boy, and they don't sell a hamburger there!

[misctube]

EW, the dreaded hamburg...I don't understand its appeal at all, the taste and texture/consistency is just so wrong....such is life in Japan. ~misctube

[InuAva]

Nice vid really enjoyed watching it!

[milootis10]

so where do they throw stuff away in japan?

[ensortion]

Yeah seriously, I have heard alot of people who live in Japan say that there are no rubbish bins.....where DO they put it all?

[myargonauts]

you seriously just have to take it with you... the very surprising corollary to no trashcans fact is that there was very little to no litter in my prefecture.

[ericsurf6]

The longer I stay in Japan, the less and less I miss sunny So Cal. Although I always miss the Mexican food.

Interesting observations Jason. You should do a part 2 on this!

[myargonauts]

from your vids, you've been pretty successful at finding many similar activities to do in Japan, like outdoors recreation and surfing, etc.

Had a huge Chipolte burrito the other day - damn it was tasty! :D

[Snifit]

California Dreaming and Del Taco. Gotta love it, Great video!

[myargonauts]

i know! How cool was it that that song was randomly playing when I changed the radio channel... :D

[maliora]

I miss the Carnegie Library! Free books in English!

[watsursnbaby]

DEL TACO! OMG I MISS YOU SO MUCH!

[rodgerswan]

things i miss:

1. my girlfriend.

2. my friends.

3. my family.

4. taco bell.

5. american malls.

6. mexican food.

7. american tv.

overall, my girlfriend takes the top spot easily. however, only 71 more days till i see her again :)

[KingSaint]

american malls? I would take the malls in Japan over the malls in America, taco bell, hell yeah, and i miss ability to wait for something in my size to go on sale so i can by it at a lower cost. I can listen to Radio I in Nagoya, that's in English, most of the time. But what i can't do in America is be caught dead at a doller store. Daiso Rules.

[myargonauts]

oh yeah - I could easily make one of these in Japan with all the cool stuff I miss about being there that you can't get here in America - and the 100yen store would definitely be on the list

[myargonauts]

well despite the chummy nature of my videos, I'm a bit of a misanthrope, so I never had a problem with numbers 1, 2 and 3. :P

I was able to watch a fair amount of USA TV after iTunes started offering a bunch of shows, and you can rent a bunch on Japanese DVD now too.

[Hikikomorisama]

lol, i knew right away what he was talking about when he mention he was able to throw his trash away.

[resite]

UCSD!!!!

[myargonauts]

haha - yep, the Price Center! :)

[rinchan089]

This is such a great idea for a video! :)

[myargonauts]

cool - thanks!

[Japantics]

I miss my family, friends, Tex-Mex, good pizza, my local basketball court, & good ol' American football. But of course its been worth it :)

[myargonauts]

I was able to watch a fair number of NFL games on NHK's BS1 and BS2, but you don't get to choose the teams you watch, and sometimes you have to stay up til 2am...

[ThePacificCrossing]

I miss my friends the most from America. If I could bring the important ones here, I would never leave.

[wickednellie]

Besides family/friends I'm going to miss: custard (ice cream, not the pudding stuff!), cheeseburger's from Kopp's, fish fry every Friday (if you're from Wisconsin you know what I mean), sarcasm, "that's what she said" jokes, books/movies I can understand *especially*.

[myargonauts]

yeah - the simple joy of picking up a newspaper or magazine was missed. The internet will become your news source

[Slapmeimhappy]

To be honest...I only miss a few things about New Zealand, now that im here in Japan. My Family, Friends, Sarcasm and yes trash cans!!!!

[smiley62]

you pretty much hit the nail on the head...i miss all of the above...but number one on my list is damn good BBQ..memphis...kansas city...texas...mang!

[myargonauts]

yeah - and for me another one would be chicken fried steak... I can see a part two will be needed... :)

[Radrey]

I still miss having big pizzas, mexican food, and yes netflix.

But supposedly they have something like netflix here. I can't remember what its called though.

[myargonauts]

I certainly rented a lot of DVDs from my local shop in Japan while I was there, but I gotta say Netflix is pretty damn cool - the breadth of selection and no late fees - I'm loving it.

[qiranger]

Want a job teaching in Korea?

I'm serious. I can hook you up.

[InsaneClown2]

The Jamba Juice struck a chord with me didnt think about that. Food would be one thing I miss and specific restaurant you wont find anywhere but the U.S.And even ones a lot California such as good old In N Out :)

[APOKALYPSE34]

cuz im leaving I have to say Taco Bell! and Jolt cola! how i will miss them!

[myargonauts]

if you're lucky, you'll be able to find the individual ingredients at import stores to make passable tacos at home, but it's not the same as cheap Mexican available in the drive thru 24/7

[nightspawn87]

lol, nice video. I would suppose, it would be the same foods I've been eatting for years on end. Suddenly dining on a new assortment of foods without the usual old food course thrown in every now and then would be a bit tough. I'm not sure how it is over there, but I would miss the double/triple family houses I am accustomed to here.

[AlexisMai87]

Lol, when I lived in Japan for a month I missed my hot chocolate, cup of noodles (american)(surprisingly..must be the college student in me) the ones in japan tasted VERY different..lol, burritos, pancakes, bacon and speaking english...Lol. I like how most of my stuff is food. =p

[Ido013]

I guess you like comics, I wouldn't miss that because I don't read comic books, but rather manga, so I'd be better off in Japan lol.

[JDavis1186]

Only if you can read Japanese =P

[JoeyinJapanVideos]

I was in japan for a year and i missed driving the most.

[VisionsofChaos]

I'd miss getting my comics every week. I dunno if I'd even be able to sacrifice that, even if it was for Japan. Great video, as always.

[myargonauts]

I got my weekly pull mailed to be about every other month for the 5 years I lived in Japan. Check out my TaishaJason channel for a vlog all about getting my comics in Japan