Eat the Yaki Imo Man

[happyisland111]

Every time I hear the yaki imo song, I fall asleep. It's like a lullaby!

It brings back memories of the childhood.

[camswitzer]

@happyisland111 Ahhhh childhood!



[mrsfinchie]

when i lived in japan and heard the yaki imo man for the first time i thought it was a man calling to his loved one who ran off on him and he was trying to find her. I thought it was romantic. Then I found out what he really was doing and bought one and yes they are very very good.

[camswitzer]

@mrsfinchie I agree. They ARE good. Different from do it yourself. Thanks for writing.

[llamaslyr]

You had to tease us by eating it :P

[camswitzer]

@llamaslyr Of course I did!

[blkninja12]

I live in Kansas. So could I make Yakiimo at my house by putting down a layer of small rocks, like in the video, at the bottom of a pot, then put the sweet potato in the pot and putting a lid on?

[camswitzer]

@blkninja12 Actually yes. My friend Max and his dad do that in the winter all the time. They have a small woodstove in their workshop that they keep burning. They have an old black kettle. They put stones in the fire, heat them up, then put them in the kettle, put the sweet potatoes in, the lid on, and let them heat very slowly for hours. It's a lot of fun, and they smell and taste great. Give it a try, but don't try to keep the pot shiny.

[ieatgluexxx]

WOW! Where did you live in this video? The mountains are incredible! Also, that Yaki Imo man seemed to know more English than anyone I met when i was living in Tokyo (except...tourists...)

[camswitzer]

Fukui Prefecture, in the mountains near Eiheiji. If you googlemap Eiheiji, Fukui, Japan you will get pretty close.

[pschroeter1]

I was watching this interesting video, then the camera turned up the street to follow the truck and I saw the snow capped mountains and literally said "wow" out loud. Listening to you I now feel silly that I am so proud of the five words of Japanese I learned reading Shogun a few times years ago.

[camswitzer]

Thanks. Unfortunately I don't live there anymore! I had to move to Tokyo so now it's a new adventure... The Concrete Jungle.

[KaileneDanae]

あぁぁ！食べたい！なんかね、アメリカにはそういう伝統的な冬の­食べ物がないでしょ？ww

それから、そのいもやきの歌（笑）めっちゃ笑ったw

[camswitzer]

とても悲しい音でしょう？でもさおの歌も悲しいし。なぜそういう­歌はいつも同じような感じかな？アメリカに。。。伝統あるの？

[KaileneDanae]

@camswitzer

そうだよね〜なぜ、やきいも売りのためにそなに悲しい歌だかなぁ­w

いやぁ、日本と比べて、あまり歴史がないから、伝統がなく見える­けど、あると思うよ。

[OtakuEmpire]

I'm sorry for cutting in.

そんなに悲しい歌に聞こえる？僕は日本人ですけど、別に悲しい歌­には聞こえないけどね。

やきいもの歌、わらびもちの歌、物干し竿の歌、などなど、なんか­変な歌が日本にはたくさんあるね。

[KaileneDanae]

@OtakuEmpire

なんかね、アメリカには短調のメロディーは悲しく聞こえるからね­w　でもやっぱ、日本人にはそういう感じじゃないよねw

[OtakuEmpire]

You just indicated something so important!

そうか、メジャーのメロディーにすれば、きっと子供たちが沢山集­まってきて、もっと、焼いもが売れるようになるかも。特許申請も­のだね。

でも、camswitzerさんも、KaileneDanaeさ­んも、日本語が達者ですね。「でもやっぱ」なんて、普通教わらな­いよね？

[KaileneDanae]

そうかもね！もっとメジャーのメロディーはハッピーな感じだから­ねw

「やっぱ」っていうのはね・・・まぁ、よくスカイプなんてして、­日本のドラマをたくさん見るから、スラングを習うw。ありがとー­ー！

[Vinniebearinpa]

Great vid! Thanks for sharing! 5 Stars!

[camswitzer]

Thank you!

[EWilsonLife]

Well it's certainly healthier then ice cream I suppose

[camswitzer]

I guess. Tastes better, too and you will never have a brain freeze with a yaki imo.

[EWilsonLife]

@camswitzer Do you really think it tastes better? I want to make one myself now.

[camswitzer]

E - Although I rarely eat carbs anymore, I like to buy and support the yaki-imo man, and also, they are enjoyable to open, break apart, smell the sweet, hot steam, and then taste the melting sweet potato in your mouth.

[EWilsonLife]

@camswitzer Hmm, I see. You need to just live a little bit if you are cutting potatos out of your diet. they're a vegetable and they're packed with vitamins/minerals. You should just eat them if you want too, lol. :]

[camswitzer]

That's exactly right: if I want them, I have them. But the cool thing about having been sustainably low carb for 10 years, and chock full of the EFAs that our body needs, is that my body doesn't want the stuff that is actually harmful to it anymore. And that includes all carbs in all forms. It is fantastic because it is not a diet, there is no mind struggle with social upbringing involved. If I think, "I want a bite of pasta" I do!

[EWilsonLife]

@camswitzer That is really interesting. So basically, wait.. Ahh I'm confused, do you have a video on this?

[camswitzer]

E - Just call me Cam, will you, please? And no, no video. But that's because I've been blogging about it for 5 years now.

[EWilsonLife]

It automatically goes, @camswitzer when I post this. lol we're turning this video into a forum, aren't we? You seem really cool though. I look forward to watching your adventure videos around Japan. Are you living there? Why? I have many questions. Please do a vending machine video if you haven't already!

[camswitzer]

I'm glad its turning into a forum! That's the way it SHOULD be! Glad you enjoy the video adventures as well. Yes, I've been living here for 20 years, E. Long story, but maybe one day you'll find the video I did talking about that as well. Keep up the great work! You only have over 450 to watch! heee

[EWilsonLife]

Errrm... 450? That's a ton. I notice you speak really good Japanese. I have been trying to learn.

[augpeh]

Then try backspacing the 'switzer' to make it '@cam'

[Tekka]

I've developed a sweet potato addiction. So this is making me very hungry. lol

[NeoWind]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

[NicosNicosNicosNicos]

I wanted to hear the Yaki imo "cry", after listening to Simone White's song of the same name. So domo arigato! Itadakimasu!

[NicosNicosNicosNicos]

"It breaks my heart to hear him sing

It's like the end of everything"

she sings! :)

[camswitzer]

It really does sound like a sad lament, doesn't it? Thanks for visiting!

[XSkiatookX]

dude. your japanese is amazing. I'm at the very basics of learning japanese and when someone like you speaks it so fluently i'm blown away.

Btw, wouldn't 400 yen be around 5$?

[camswitzer]

Thanks. I've been here for 20 years and I have "gone native" so most days its all I speak.

[camswitzer]

yes, that's right. At JPY 90 now it's about $4.50 so you are pretty close. I just knock off two zeroes --> $ for ease of explaining to people.

[marocconit]

is it chockolate arounde and potato inside?

[camswitzer]

No. It's potato. Did it look like chocolate?

[himapan]

This is traditional sweet potato cooked by heated stone... Yaki imo. There is also yaki guri , chestnut. You can try tai-yaki in Japan, bream fish. But, it's not actual fish.

So guess what ?

[camswitzer]

Hot mashed adzuki?

[fujiminoNEET]

400円はちょっと高いかな^^、でもおいしそうだなぁ。

400 yen is a little expensive,but it looks so nice!

僕はラーメンが売ってるのを見た事がありますよ。

In Hyogo prefecture , I saw noodle man!

[camswitzer]

I love that you said this because I KNEW some Japanese person would find this and think it was a little expensive. I have NEVER met a Japanese person yet who doesn't complain that yaki imo are expensive. But you know what? It can't be done by ourselves, so why not enjoy it for what it is, and pay the guys their due? It's like tipping a great taxi driver! ENJOY!! THANKS FOR THE COMMENT.

[watermelonlara]

ahhh i really enjoyed your video ^_^

Now i am craving some yaki imo :)

Thanks!!

[dagocleo]

thanks, really enjoyed that one !

[HolyShitImGerman]

Wow, that's some good Japanese there!! I am studying Japanese also now, but living in Germany at the moment I guess I will never become as good as you are... :(

[camswitzer]

Well, I can't take all the credit because I have LIVED Japanese for 20 years now. I did NOT speak anything like this while I was studying it. If you ever get the chance, even for a short period of time, try immersing yourself. You won't regret it! And thank you for visiting and for your kind words.

[NeoWind]

wow cool video!! XD wow hows it living in japan ? XD

[camswitzer]

Thanks! I've been here for 20 years so to me... it's just like living anywhere else, I guess. ... Normal?

[kyubiteaser]

I soooooo want one now! Sent the Yaki Imo man my way please!!

[camswitzer]

Will do! Thanks for viewing. I appreciate you!

[oshiochan]

this is the first to watch one of your videos , i enjoy watching videos of english speakers who live in japan. do not mind me asking where do you live?

looked like hokkaido but i might be wrong.

anywayz sweet potatoes are very common in my culture but its nice to see you enjoy it ^__^

[camswitzer]

Thanks!

in Fukui. 20 years.

[acatinny]

Actually, Japanese sweet potatoes are slow carb, does not raise blood sugar lever very fast, because they have tons of fibers, which means they are much healthier than regular potatoes. So enjoy them without guilty feeling!

[camswitzer]

heee hee heee.... if only you understood the science of carbohydrates and fibers..... oh, what the world is not aware of! Thanks for watching. Much appreciated.

[BoltMitch]

Cam! This video inspired me to go and bake a yam however, I didn't not enjoy mine as much as you ejoyed yours!

Maybe I'll be lucky enough to try the yaki imo when I (someday) go to Japan. :D

[camswitzer]

I love to inspire, Mitch! How is the futon set? The guy in Maine who took my other one says he absolutely LOVES his... says it's the most comfortable bedding he has EVER slept in, bar none! And he especially loves the instant warmth of the kakebuton. He's trying to make a video but having some technical difficulties. It'll get there. Maybe you two can become "futon buddies"!

[BoltMitch]

The futon set is amazing. It's the only bed I have. I have to DRAG myself out of it for work every morning!! I haven't had such a comfortable bed in many many years. I absolutely, 100% LOVE it! THANKS CAM! :D <3

[stefnee11]

That song has such a haunting melody.... I can't get it out of my head. Beautuful... I'd like to learn it. Personally, I don't care for sweet potatoes.. but that doesn't stop me from growing them like mad every year in my garden. I make a mean sweet potato pie... mmmmm

[camswitzer]

You make a mean everything! Queen Midas, you be! heeeee!

[camswitzer]

Maybe one day I'll teach you. But you might have to try the yaki imo in return. It won't kill you... it'll just wipe you out.

But seriously, I don't like sweet potatoes either, but they are different done this way. Honest! Crispy, buttery, and unfortunately starchy (but hot!)

[Grone4ever89]

good video man. this brings back memories when I grew up in Japan. I would get yaki imo on winter days with friends...

excellent video, mate. keep it up

[camswitzer]

Exactly! You know what I mean then about the "hot & cold" sweet loneliness combination! Excellent! Thanks for finding this.

[disposablebook4]

Yummy!

[norsehawk]

When I was in Japan in 2006 I heard them driving around, and I finally found one near where I was staying in Arakawa-ku Tokyo. that was so good tasting on that cold winter day.

[camswitzer]

Yes, that is EXACTLY what I wanted to convey. The buttery softness of the sweet potato... you just have to experience it to understand. No cooking of sweet potato in the house can do what those stones do.

Thank you!

[Medracin]

Now I'm cravinig Yaki Imo!

[camswitzer]

Good! Because they are awesome! What did you think of that forlorn song they play?