I thought it was time to finally tell this story... Let me know what you guys think below!! Or if you want more, feel free to check out the podcast! (But you would be putting a smile on my face if you watched another vid or two first!)

In one of your videos with Sharla you said that the hardest part of making YT videos was telling a story in an interesting way. Well... Let me tell you that you are a pro on that. Loved the way you presented the story, loved knowing more about KiKi... 👏👏

Thank you for telling us this story. It's amazing how a random incident can become life-changing. As Robert Frost wrote: "...way leads onto way". You never know where your path may take you. I'm so glad your path has come to enrich all of our lives. We owe you a great debt.

So blown away! I don't have words to express my love for your channel and content. You have opened my eyes to Japan and all of its hidden treasures it holds. Thank you.

Wonderful story. Hope you and the girls continue your success.

As said before Norm, hard work pays off, living the dream fella. Always great vlogs....did I mention, 43 days, 19hrs and 7 mins to go.

It so nice to see you all enjoy and being so proud of what you are doing!!! Keep going that there will be more great things ahead! And congrats to KiKi for their album release!!!

I didn't know all the hard work you do for the job you have chosen and KIKI and you going around the world is great Norm. I do love your videos you take me places were i feel like i am there with you all...thanks Norm for a job well done

You're a great story teller. Enjoyed every minute of this!

Just love this video! You are a natural story teller. Reaching out to the video world is challenging. You have really worked the best into these videos. Keep sending these gems to us. 👏🏻🤩🎥

I‘m happy the bell-button exists hehe Great video! I didnt know the story of how you met Kiki and became friends with them, so thank you for sharing the story, it’s really awesome how things developed after meeting them. Also they both looked really beautiful in the Kimono and with the red lipstick :) I‘m really thankful that you met them, I think I would really miss something in my KZfaq/Twitter interactions if you had never started the TokyoLens channel, thank you for making these videos! Hopefully you‘ll share some stuff about the samurai battlefield after going there, it sounds interesting :o (Also i hope you see this, not sure if you saw my comment on your last video)

So nice that you got to visit Vancouver. That was a freak hail storm, not snow. haha

Watching this video and seeing the cityscape of Vancouver, I wondered if I would see anything distinctly Canadian, such as a Tim Horton's. So I laughed out loud when you pointedly made a stop at Tim Horton's on the last morning. 😄

Keep sharing your passion for the music and it is awesome that Kiki have a album out :)

My wife and I have been watching your videos all weekednd and the message of patience and going out of your confort zone really rang true. Thank you for sharing your experiences we are loving every monent and really missing our trips to Japan.

I have to thank KiKi for those wonderful performances which also introduced me to Norm, who'd go on to make my favorite KZfaq channel. When I get paid I'll try using a Japanese forwarding service to buy KiKi's record--would love to support them and hear more beautiful shamisen.

Kimono and shamisen, my absolute favorite things combined 😍

Thank you for being such an inspiration @tokyolens and Ki&Ki💕

I hope one day you and KiKi can come to the UK one day, I would be at the front seat so fast!! Seriously, watching you and the girls is really convincing me more and more to take up shamisen lessons, I hope you guys keep on growing 🌟

It was shamisen in Tokyo that brought me to Tokyo Lens over a year ago. Thanks for the video Norm and its awesome how well things have turned out for you and Ki&Ki.

Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻

It's lovely to see how great you guys are doing! Can't wait to see what you are up to next 😁

I found your channel about 3 or so weeks ago and I just wanted to say that you are already one of my favorite channels! It’s my dream to move to Japan one day and your channel is helping me to stay motivated to do what it takes to get there. Keep up the great work!

I was in that run in Vancouver! Yes there was a brief hailstorm that morning. You are a great story teller. Keep sharing such inspirational tales!

Norm, thank you for telling your inspiring story, which deepens our understanding of your and Ki&Ki's inspiring journey. I watch Ki&Ki's and your videos daily, and I hope that I'll someday be able to hear Ki&Ki live. Wishing Hikari, Kanami, and you a great new year and all blessings, worldly and divine . . . .

Thrilled to see that comments and views, are still rolling in for you years later. I'm glad you found your happy! Keep on keeping on

I know I’ve watched this one before, but I love hearing the story of you meeting Kiki. It’s such a wild and random occurrence that lead to something so great; I love it so much.

It's really great that you managed to do all this and follow your visions and dreams. 'm also very happy that all of these things lead you to this youtube channel for us to watch and enjoy. I wish you all the great success you deserve and will hopefully be along for the ride.

Another great video Norm. I had the pleasure of seeing, and hearing, KiKi perform this past Sunday at Sakura Days Japan Fair at Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver. Fantastic as always! Meeting you and the girls was an unexpected and added bonus! Sugoi! Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the next video 💕👍🙂🌸

Nice video and a great message about perseverance and stepping outside your comfort zone! It's something to keep in mind as I slowly work on my own creative projects. Hope our Tokyo trip next month helps in this, too! It's the first overseas trip my husband and I have taken on our own. It's a big, exciting step! Thanks for the great videos on both channels!

Patience is probably the hardest virtue to master. I’m glad you took the long road and your hard work has definitely paid off. I wish Kiki and yourself good luck and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

I teared up a bit at Kiki intro video. You guys have gotten so far.

its been an absolute thrill to watch this journey and see how it has grown and developed and makes me excited for what is possible to do and achieve especially since one of my goals is to travel and possibly live in japan full time. thank you for the inspiration and the content Norm.

Loved this Norm. From early vlogs I knew you & Kiki had connected a while ago, but was a little vague on the deets of when, how & why. So glad you guys met - & took a chance on each other. We have all benefitted from it. Thanks for sharing :)

I'm working my way through your content & this story is typically well told & indicative of all the famous musicians in the world. Everything takes time & patience is the key, well done to all 3 of you.

Thanks for chatting with Susan and I at the Japanese festival In Vancouver. It was a pleasure meeting you and Kiki and hearing them perform. Best wishes for you, keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing your Sekigahara video. Stuart

This is the inspiration I need! It's so cool how you started off with one niche then transitioned into another and then you ended up finding yourself along the way! With consistency the best way to do something is to just get started and just keep going and you can do anything!

Good work and keep going mate! I came to Tokyo from Vancouver airport! Got a iced coffee at Starbucks before I hired for Manila and to Haneda. Hope you all had a great trip and hopefully I'll be sticking around in Japan. I'll take your advice you gave to me at the Shamisen performance! Thank you again for everything!

Yay, a whole video (almost) with the Kiki girls! ♥ Yeah I remember that ojisan that just had to walk past the girls while they where playing, it made me laugh so much ha ha Keep on doing what you are doing Norm, you just keep on improving all the time and I love to see what the future holds. Cheers beers :)

Absolutely loved this video and hearing the backstory of your friendship with KiKi and how you got where you are now!! I’ve always wondered! Great video Norm!

Totally agree with you regarding leaving comfort zones. Every time I did that something magical happened ✨

Another lovely video Norm, had me bowing back to Kiki instinctively when you were heading back to Tokyo. Keep it up!!

Quite an inspirational video. Reminds me of a saying, the harder you work the luckier you get. That and my favourite telemarketing one, persistence overcomes resistance! Having organised several trips to Japan for not only myself but also for friends, I can fully appreciate the difficulty of organising a group of individuals and their flights, accommodation and tours. It took several of my own trips to find my legs and learn little tips and tricks that smoothed out the processes of traveling and streamline it all. Elements do get easier and less stressful or at least when most of a trip is locked in and something unexpected comes up, you are in a better place to handle it without your head imploding. I continue to greatly enjoy your creative vlog style. Keep up the great work!

Consistent Hard Work. Happy for all of you. Hard Work pays. Great Video because I was always wondering how you three met.

I have followed KiKi online since they uploaded their small Koen performances playing Motsunabe, etc. Glad they have had the chance to perform overseas! Would love to see them in LA someday.

Love you. Love your work!

I'm inspired to continually step out further and further out of my temporal comfort zones. Thank you soo much for sharing your journey.

This has me really thinking about taking some big steps of my own outside my comfort zone. Thanks as always Norm!!

what a great story, glad that you guys could achieve what you wanted and more is to come!

It’s really special to be able to do work with something you really love. Kiki is amazing and I’m so happy for you guys.

Also Fish! 🐠🐟🦈🐡🤣 All the feels that are in this video and that's the bit that hooks me 🎣

It's always a good start to the day when I can watch a new Tokyo Lens video while getting ready for work. Just puts you in a positive mindset for the day. Can't wait for the samurai video, it sounds like so much fun. Also, that fish tank is one of my favorite things about the Vancouver airport. It's a nice spot to grab a snack before your flight and sit and watch the fish. As a matter of fact, I'll be doing exactly that when I fly over in just under a month for Sanja Matsuri.

Hard work & persistence, you reap what you sow, right? All three of you should be proud as ✌🏻

Love that channel! Awesome journey you have !

KiKi's new album... just awesome while traveling towards university!

What a pleasant surprise to watch you and Kiki in Vancouver, just a ferry ride away from my neck of the woods!! Loved hearing the background story to your working with them, and how your foray into creating for KZfaq first began. Also for some reason I've never seen those green apple suckers before and now I NEED to try!!🌸

It is amazing how some meetings can completely impact your future. From a video of taking a duo of shamisen to working with them and traveling the world. Bridges should never be burned cause you never know what is to come.

Cool to learn more about your story, Norm!

I always enjoy watching your videos especially this type of videos and I hope you and the girls reach all your dreams. thanks for making awesome videos.

So cool! I love this backstory 💗 it’s great to finally know about all of this. Ps it’s pretty amazing that you told the story over a period of days and it all tied together. Thanks so much for sharing!

Love it all, have to get the CD by the weekend, driving music for work!! (I cross Chiba ken every day)

norm some of the most exciting adventures are unplanned, we go back to whom we actually are when suddenly tasked your love and passion for sharing with your viewers is inspiring.

Aaaaayyyy! I hope y’all loved Vancouver! One of my favorite places I’ve visited! ✌️

Super inspiring story Norm. Really good reminder as a creative to just keep going on your path.

This sounds like an absolute dream come true! I’ve always struggled with working towards the future and making long term plans so it was immensely intriguing to see how a small encounter turned into something this big. One thing i do know is that I’m always looking forwards to your new content and wishing you the best Norm!

Hey, thanks for another video :D

This was a great story... it’s amazing you are living your dreams, you and KIKI. But what’s really amazing is that you’re able to share shamisen all over the world to people who may have never heard it before! Also I recognized some Japanese in this video( recently started learning on my own) and it was a great feeling! ✌🏻💕

Terrific! Thanks for the great insight, Norm, and thanks also to Ki&Ki for letting us into your world. Glad that you were able to at least show a bit of you speaking Japanese in this vid, along with more shamisen content!

This was great perspective....hope you guys will be able to travel again in the near future!

I excited for y'all! Now... let's see a little more of your playing Mr. Norm!

Love your passion Norm. Top video. 😎

Interesting to find out the story behind you and Kiki .. you have way more patience than I do, well done :)

It's awesome to see all the hard work the 3 of you put in been rewarded and so well received

That was a really fab video Norm. I love the way you're really honest and you take people on a journey. I've been struggling with creating content for my photography business, keep dismissing my ideas but you highlighted two points which resonated with me, being consistent and being patient. I've lost my consistency by questioning my worth and wanting everything now. Thanks for the mental boost. You rock.

Good day/night, norm! I cant tell you how patient I've been for a new video xD Hope you and the girls are well!~♡

Well done. Youve done so well for yourself. I love yr presentation of yr vlogs and yr always so enthused that yr vlogs give my mood a positive boost. Always look fwd to seeing you again in each vlog

Gorgeous place and people. Love it!

I always wondered how you met Kiki but I hadn't found this video till now! Hard work and Patience should be your tag line 💯

Love Kiki they’re awesome they seem so sweet! I’m so happy for all the success you’re all having together, 1000% deserved for all of you - just the first of many albums I’m sure!

Your enthusiasm got me. More success to you.

YAY!!! I hope to be able to see Kiki and you, Norm, play shamisen in person one day! ☺️💕 Aloha!

luv listening and watching the ladies play and learning the history of your friendship. Having said that, Norm, you don't say much about yourself. So what your story? Luv the fact that you started the 'world tour' in Canada, and Vancouver couldn't have been a better place. great video...👍🍁🤠

I love your channel. You have a lovely tranquil air about you and your stories are captivating.

I'm so happy you got to visit Vancouver for a bit with Ki&ki. I'm also sad tho, you we're so close to where I live in Vancouver and I missed you. I'm a block down from the Orange structure XD. Hopefully you come back next year or I go back to Japan for another trip.

What a great story! and you're a great story teller Norm. You're so inspiring and a testament that small steps are best on a meaningful journey. All the best to you and Ki&Ki. Hopefully you'll all come back to Australia sometime.

So inspiring! All three of you are very talented.

In St. Louis, Missouri, USA, there is a Japanese Festival at our Missouri Botanical Garden every year. Maybe St. Louis?

Very fun seeing the glimpses of past Norm and past KiKi!

Wow, Ki&Ki are internationally known! Oh, and of course, you Norm. Congratulations to all of you!

Thank you for this video. Really inspiring!!!

So nice to see how the friendship with KiKi started, they are such good Shamisen player I love to hear them play I will check out the Shamisen in tokyo channel :)

I remember you telling me briefly at Haneda airport a couple of weeks ago. And I thought that was cool. But now, after seeing your video, about the story, on how it all came about. AMAZING!! Congratulations again and great job on your hard work. 👍👍 Thanks for sharing your great story and experience, that has brought you to where you are today. 👌🍻

Great video Norm, love KiKi

your story telling skills are just amazing.

Hi Norm, just getting caught up on some of your older content. You may never see this but just wanted to say you were really good even back then. Natural talent for videography and storytelling.

Glad you can share your story and also enjoy Vancouver. I hope I can hear KiKi live somewhere in the future :)

I love this channel. Amazing story sir!

Love your storys.

I first saw you in Sharla's youtube channel some years ago and i really enjoyed it. i regret that i haven't checked out your channel sooner, it's really amazing and makes me excited to move to Japan, once i can afford it. Thanks for sharing :) Love from Denmark

Wish I knew about this. I am a concert photographer in Vancouver and would have loved to attend!