Your story about Kiki was so lovely and heartwarming. Also that after that earthquake your first thought was is your hamster is just the sweetest thing. Btw love the socks very cute 😊.

John, I don't know if you will ever see this comment but I've been in your situation before. There's a bittersweet feeling when you leave a long term apartment. I'm excited for what comes next for you and the channel and the additional content opportunities you have by being married and living in a new location. Cheers buddy! - Dan (Albany, NY)

How do you make looking at an empty apartment an interesting topic? Lol! I can’t wait to meet your wife! I also can’t wait to see new videos on this channel. A new chapter in your life will be full of fun things to share!

You made my wife cry when you talked about Kiki. And it really takes a sincere person to make her cry 😿. Thanks for sharing.

This video was so detailed and informative!! It has behind the scene anecdotes about your life, explanations of Japanese apartment characteristics, and a really thorough look at your old place. I greatly enjoyed it 😊👍

John, SO touching thanks for sharing your love and respect for the home you cherished for. so many years. Even tho' you're moving on to a new chapter in your life, the memories you have will always be with you and I'm sure dear to your heart. Can't wait for the next adventures and insight in all you do.

Bless you with the mould. Not the perfect landlord I guess. Onward and upward you are now enjoying married life. ✌️ 💖 🙏 😊

Dang.. the hamster story.. tugging at my heartstrings, John! Very sweet story. And also love seeing your office and hearing a tiny bit about your process as I'm a shooter/editor as well. Gotta charge batts and dump footage right away, always. Good stuff!

Nice apartment tour, but it were the John stories that made it very interesting. I've been watching since 2013 and I just want to say Thank You for all the videos and midnight snack runs!! End of an era, beginning of a new one!

You are a very nice guy. Glad to see a sincere vloger like you.

Goodbyes are important. When I was about to get married, I said goodbye to my former life in the only way I knew how. Because of my father's work, I'd lived in many places between birth and age 26. I felt I had no...roots. The one constant was my grandmother's house and property where we spent many holidays and summers. Her home and particularly the pond behind it (because my grandmother loved it so and shared it with us) symbolized my past and in a sense, I had to let it go so I could embrace my future - and move forward. I went alone to the special places, touched trees and rocks, remembered, and breathed aloud to the frogs, turtles and birds, "Goodbye". I didn't want to let all that go. The Portuguese have a word for it: Saudades - with fond remembrance, a longing for mingled with the poignancy of not being able return there. I knew I wouldn't! And that made me happy-sad. You had a good life - you have a bright future. If it doesn't make you happy-sad, nothing will.

John,this episode is really interesting

Best Go video in my book. Enjoyed all the personal stories and thanks for being so open and genuine.

Have you been single for the past 13 years? Man...

John nothing cheezy about a pet that you miss sir. Keep the great vidoes coming. I know this is over a year old. Some day I will catch up on all the videos! Loved the Rinnai products!

Thanks for the tour. Just started watching your videos 2 months ago, and looking forward to many more. Congratulations too from all of us in my house here in California who watch you.

what a nice way to send yourself off from the place you’ve lived for so long. i wish i had thought to do videos of the various places i have lived, but i’ll do it from now on.

Hi John, watching today's video made me think about last October when I left Beijing (China) after living there for almost 13 years. I can totally relate to how you're feeling. On one side it feels kind of sad to leave the place where you've had all those great moments, but on the other side you're also excited about the challenges and adventures that life will bring at the new place. I'm pretty sure that this change in your life will make your channel and videos even better!!!!

I liked seeing your 13 year Tokyo Apt your landlord got away with a lot .... mold ? glad you moved out of there ... It s strange how we get attached to our dwellings no matter the square footage large or small a view or no view... it s home ... and it s difficult moving right... so we stay too long sometimes for lots of different reasons . It s funny, earlier today UTube sent me a video of John in a room filled with Amazon boxes and that s what got me started watching you again... now it s March 2021 and you just became a father of a baby boy and you beautiful wife Kanae is looking well. I m glad... so glad you got married to Kanae and settled down. I was thinking about the earthquake from March 11,2011 because it was 10 years . I will revisit many vlogs I missed Take Care John

Except for the mold, this is a nice apartment. It's very good that it has windows on two cardinal directions. It's also nicely spacious. I knew nothing about tatami, i learned something. Thanks John.

That police station looks kind of cute.

With friends, in the 1st week of June, I was fortunate enough to go to Tokyo and Kyoto. I have been Japan obsessed since, lol. I now spend my free time watching video's of Japan and I enjoy your video's the most. Thank-you for all your hard work you have put in to create your video's, they are pure pleasure to watch. I hope someday when I can get back to Japan I bump into you and your beautiful wife, best wishes to the both of you, love from Canada to you and to Japan. If I could take a 100 vacations I would take them all in Japan, I completely fell in love with Japan when I was there.

Respect to you that you stayed after the earthquake. ✌️ 💖 🙏 😊

I really enjoyed the gritty details about what it's like to live in a Japanese apartment for so long! Not many people will talk about them! I also liked the story about how you experienced the 2011 earthquake. Now, about the toilet... Sometimes I think "meh, maybe if the apartment doesn't have a fancy toilet it's not such a deal breaker" but then I imagine sitting on a cold toilet seat during Winter and change my mind. :D

Just love your personality and positive engery

your Kiki story was just too cute

A new chapter in your life has started with your marriage, and a new dwelling symbolicly belongs to that. I hope that you both will be very happy together, preferrably the rest of your lives. You have had plenty of time getting to understand Japanese psyche to comply with Japanese life at least! 😊 I trust your work will be of the same quality and enthousiasm as always!

Thank you for sharing this video. I can tell it really means alot to you and it holds so many good memories for you! Best of luck to you as you begin a new part of your life! I really enjoy watching your videos and look forward to seeing much more! Keep up the good work!

I'm so excited for videos this summer cuz I will be able to stay up later to watch your lives!

I’m so glad that you love Japanese tatami and I believe also that you can relax more and feels so home too. I’m so sorry about your precious hamster “Kiki” May her Memory be Eternal 🙏❤️ God bless you for taking the time to post many videos of living in japan .....I really miss home and this way I can be there. 👍❤️🇯🇵😊

Did it for four years in Shibuya, one of the best times of my life, but could have only hopeded it was for 13 years + !?! Very happy for you and I can't wait to see where you're goning!!

An awesome way to describe a tatami room. I used to have sandals that were made with tatami. I think I am going to order some more for this summer. I did love the way it smells. I wish I had a tatami room in my house in the USA. :) Congratulations again on your wedding and your new home together.

Coming here after your current revisit after 2 years and it‘s nice to see the parking lot you mentioned! Also your repetition to being able to scream for help from the nearby police station. 😂

Kiki 😭 good luck in the new place... thanks for sharing the old apartment! On to new and exciting adventures! Wish you all the best on your new marriage and new apartment !

Haven;t watched this one in a while, but I have always liked the way the apartment looked.

you're 44 years old? you look way younger, maybe mid-30s. ^.^ Nice Stream and good luck in your new apartment, John.

Hi John, Darn, missed the live streaming AGAIN. Well, its the start of a new life and I am sure your new home, which I am assuming is a house, will soon be filled with the FIVE children you will be having :). Q: was your apartment warm or quite cold in the winter months? My younger son and I visited my eldest son and his family last Christmas (2017) and it was SOOO cold in their apartment and this was his first winter there, so it was very hard. He and I went shopping for home insulation "stuff" and it was quite fun as you get to discover so much more about the culture and how they deal with lack of central heating in the older homes. The gas turn-off switch is great, I wish they had them here in Vancouver BC and the idea of it automatically turning off when there is a major earthquake is truly amazing. All the best and I look forward to your new videos as you start the next chapter in your life's journey.

You're sounding a bit choked up going down memory lane. Oh well movin on on....

Just missed it! Lol. Was at work. This chapter in your life has ended however your life story still has many more chapters to go. Excited to see your next chapter with your new wife and new apartment. 😊😁

I love tatami rooms, the smell is so nice. I bit more pain to clean but worth the hustle. I used a tatami steamer to clean them, refuse to use chemicals to clean them. This video makes me miss my apartment I had in Setagaya-ku (west tokyo), loved that small apartment and area so much.

I love how in depth this video is!! 💗

Thx for your Kiki story. My zebra finch is on his last legs, and its helping me get through it. With a tear in my eye, hontoni, arigato. I'll listen to Sarai by Tanimura Shinji for you on this, your final day in your apartment.

Thx for the stream as always buddy! Sure thing i love them tatami mats Best of wishes for the new Flat!!!!

That's a cute story about Kiki. Aww!

In 2013 I moved into an apartment then moved out in 2014 to a house, then in 2016 I moved to a house on the same street (weeks before giving birth to my Daughter), then in January this year I moved again to a bigger home ((that I love so hope not to move any time soon)). Point is, my nieces and nephews have been telling their teachers about 'Their Aunty that moves house almost every year' lol , they keep asking me if I'm gonna move house again 😄

Love your live streams and Only in Japan series! I recently came across your channels while browsing videos on Japanese Bluegrass and Oldtime music. ( there are a lot of Japanese playing Bluegrass and American Oldtime music! They do a better job than many of Americans too!) Now I am hooked on your channels. Who would have thought that American Bluegrass music would get me subbed to a Japanese tour channel!

Missed it live, but watched later. Nice place you had, it's larger than a typical Tokyo apt. Good luck at your new place.

So great John, wish I watched back then.

Cool that you can heat the water once the tub fills. My wife would never get out lol!

So they don't have dehumidifiers in Japan? We got both electrical units and passive ones (for smaller rooms) that used these salt(?) stones here in Europe. Knowing about the ridiculous summers, it seems like a no brainer to get one if you live in Japan. They're not that expensive.

Thankyou, enjoyed the tour x

Great video John good luck on your new apartment

Hello from Singapore. All the best in your new home with your wife! Cheers!

When I first moved to Tokyo in 1999 I wanted to find a studio apartment. After several attempts to explain to a realtor what I was looking for, she finally realized what I wanted. "Ah", she said "you want one room mansion". I then found that multi-floor apartment buildings are called "mansions". My friends back home found this very funny.

Have you done any video about tatami ? Tatami factory? The interior walls/partitions are plywood? What is the floor finish in your work room? Why do lots of buildings in Japan use tiles for external wall finish ? There is a partition at the balcony to the neighbour's about 1.5 m high? Where is the w.c?

Kiki isn't in the apartment. Kiki is with you, in your heart, forever. Rest in peace Kiki.

The rinnai gas was interesting about a bad quake John!!!! Also so love that tatami smell!!!!! Also bet that the landlord is upset your moving after all these years John!!!!

Congratulations once again on your marriage, John, and good luck with your new apartment. :)

Bye, thx for sharing with us your true feelings and kund of life, your wonderful friends, our best wishes for your new apartment, will it be also so conveniently located! All our best wishes for your wonderful wife , baby Rio and for yourself; see you very soon, excuse me what’s the name of your new programs?

We now have the Rinnai heaters on new homes in the US also.

The police station building looks kinda cute. Congrats to a new start and home with your wife!

I hate to see black moulds accumulating on borders of kitchen and bathroom. It's exactly what I notice in John's video. My simple suggestion to John is to keep a bottle of diluted bleach and spray it at the borders after each bath and cooking. It prevents fungi from growing. Easy and effective.

I hope you got the 💡 light down!

Good evening sir, I'm new to your channel and witnessed this video, you have endeared yourself to this follower, keep up the good work and LLAP the most human KZfaqr, I've have yet to sub to!!!

oh no, quite sad story such a lot story behind this apartment (the unit itself, Kiki, and the earthquake) i am so in love with Japan, everything is fascinating really love their attitude, the kindness nihon ichiban

Love the police station building!

i cried when you talked about kiki. when i was a kid, i buried my pet rat underneath my backyard crabapple tree. unfortunately we moved out of that house about 10 years ago and its in a city 6 hours away... but whenever i see a crabapple tree i always remember my rat.

Thanks John, I really appreciate it

Tatami mats r never cheap enough.... Shiki buton are hard flat mattresses but if u get more than 1 and stack them...can use for sofa

Your Story about Kiki was adorable!!

Hey that apato is palatial compared to my old 3k in Shibuya. Yes, 3 tatami mats + SMALL kitchen. Toilet? Outside and down the hall. Bath? Down the block at the public bath house. Do a load of laundry at the coin laundry place next to the bath house. No heat, no air con. Just sayin'.

Kiki story made my eyes watery, so sweet!

Wonderful life ✌really interesting utilities and stories there in Japan good luck in ur new life!

Thanks for showing us an inside look

I might not live in Japan, but I remember where I was and what I was doing when the earthquake hit back in 2011. I couldn't imagine living through it.

It was nice of you to share your apartment with us. Thank you. You should have asked Simon to get the light fixture down. ;) Will you show us your new place once you and your wife are settled in? It would be neat to see the comparison of them. - Sarah/Spizzlebop

John,don’t forget not to leave the ghost . Haha :)

U get rid of the bugs In the rugs by putting salt down, it kills them.

Your place was a lot nicer than mine was. Although when I landed in Tokyo I was in Edogawa. Specifically Minamikasai. Moved to Shinagawa later into a 2LDK. Was nice. Actually miss that place sometimes.

Great videos, John. My mom who is 86-year old, first generation but has lived in US for over 60 years loves your videos, too. It's given her interest to go back to Japan which makes me happy. However, I can't believe you told people they can use Japanese appliances in US and vice versa. From 100 to 120 volts, that's a potential 20% more voltage than the device is expecting. For certain motors, they can get burned out. It can increase the expected heat output of the device by 20%. Fire hazard, anyone? Of course, many devices are able to accept 100-120V. And in many cases, there is no significant impact increasing the voltage 20%. But depending on the device, I personally would not take the risk. That's why there are step down converters from 120 to 100 so that you can safely use Japanese-only devices in the US. Similarly, if you take a US appliance to Japan, it will be approximately 20% underpowered. Possibly no impact, but in theory, hair dryers for example would not be as powerful.

I must say again. You're living my dreams. But I hope that you live a happy life in Japan. 😀

This video made me a bit sad too. I can see how bittersweet for you to leave that place, John. As someone who has lived in the same apartment for 18 years, I understand the feeling, as I know it will be hard when I move on. That being said, will we get to see a tour of your new home.. if your wife says it's ok? :-)

@16:05 What's that small gate/door down on the left in your balcony's wall ? @17:50 Tatami smell is a combination of "dry grass+baby goat's urine+flower's smell" all mixed up.

My daughter came to live in Japan in 2012. She's still there living in Yamanashi.

I know I am replying t an old stream, but I wanted to let you know I used to live in a small town- Enzan-cho- in Yamasashi. Old samarai house with century old funishings including an ofuro of as hollowed out volcanic rock. I loved it

Very nice and informative livestream john! And next livestream the new apartment? ;p

The after the earthquake stories seems interesting. Want to hear more about it.

New home new life fr you john!🌸🌸🌸 dubai with love

Thanks for your video John

Can't wait to see your wife on the vlog John!

Thanks John

Seems a good place for living without a car and Thank you for the tour through the apartment. Through the stream viewing, two question came in my mind.. The first is: how did you organize and handle with the trash, just from cooking or the packaging and so on? and the second question was, if that area was the outer tokyo area ? ( because if I mind it right during reading the wikipedia-pages, there are a inner-area of Tokyo, also main/central of Tokyo and a outer-area of Tokyo, because there exist 2 numbers of population in Tokyo. ) Greetings from Germany and have fun in the new apartment.

I painted the whole house for the landlord for free, including any water pipes into white color to look clean. And been living in the house for 9 years. The landlord never up the price of my rent since then. I am really appreciated.

Very tight, like all Japanese apartments. And full of technology

It looks to me that they don't have the right insulation in the walls and the walls can't breathe. That's why there's so much mold on the darker side of the building.

You will see Kiki again John! Nice video.

Hi John Will you be giving us a tour of your new apartment before living in it?? Many Congratulations for your wedding and the new life :)))

Oh !! Im happy to hear that your goin to phil ...for your honeymoon..try boracay..or amanpulo ...im very sure you wont regrets..

Pretty good size space, especially for THIRTEEN YEARS

Please give us a house tour on your new home...😉. Why did you moved? I don't understand how you can shower first before going to the bathtub. You either shower which is standing or you bathe which is sitting in the tub