Hi all! Thank you all for your wonderful comments so far! Just as a reminder, while I read all your comments, unfortunately, I’m unable to respond to them. To assist you better, I have created an FAQ page that contains the answers to some common questions here: www.maigomika.com/about-me/faq/ Thank you! -Mika

I'm sure the gejigeji centipede is very helpful to have around, but it sure looks like it crawled out of hell 😨

I live in Australia. This is exactly how you adapt to critters! You just learn to co-exist and suddenly they are not frightening anymore. Great job!

I reside in a tropical country so the we live with critters all year long, i'm so used to them and i appreciate their importance, gecko help the home to be insect free, the bigger spider preys on cockroach, i once saw a big spider carrying a cockroach and even gave the spider the thumbs up for a job well done haha.

I was all in until the centipedes and the bath prep lol. Thank you for sharing a glimpse into this very fascinating way of life. The landscape is lovely.

The spiders in your video just destroyed my dreams of moving to the Japanese countryside 😂

I love that you connect with your neighbours. The main mistake of people who move to countryside is to live like a recluse. On one hand, yes, it is appealing, as you will be left alone and you can do what you want, but on the other hand - you won't get any help when you need it. Plus, socialisation is key to living in general. Most countrysides in Japan have older population and those people are really lonely. New blood makes their life a little bit brighter, so in most cases they are welcoming to foreigners even though in the big cities you will have a lot of problems trying to find an apartment as a foreigner. And it's so refreshing when a person, no matter in which country they live, tries to socialize with people in the village.

Wow!! It would be really cool if you show us one whole tour of the town, like showing post office, library, public bath. Or maybe another video of just a day in life (showing what you do on any random day)

You’re my new favorite Japanese countryside vlogger. I’m living vicariously through your videos. My personal favorites are your meal prep shorts. I love how you paired them with your eclectic musical choices.

"It's not work. It's a way of life" Thank you for the quote of the day.

This was fascinating!!! I love how the critters are just part of your house now and you coexist. Thank you for sharing your life like this!

I crave this kind of lifestyle so badly. My father actually grew up in a valley in the hot deserts of Arizona, about 30 minutes from the nearest towns as well! He tells me stories of all of his neighbors and their get togethers. He explained that every other weekend, most of the neighbors would get together and have dinner with one another, and share. He’s talked about friends he made as a child with these people during his remote & rural life. It seems so peaceful, and relaxing. I can’t say I live the same way because I live 15 minutes away from town, but even then it is really a nice way to live. During the summer you can hear the bullfrogs sing, and all the wildlife comes out of hiding. I’ve adapted to the creepy sun spiders and wolf spiders, because I know they’re helpful :) It was very nice to see a glimpse of your country side life ❤️

I lived in Shimanto City for three years pre-Covid and it was amazing. There is a love in my heart for Kochi, it's scenery, it's food and it's people.

Your storytelling is so good, always leaves me wanting more. So glad you started a channel! The lake scene was so cinematic and made me smile😊

I love that you just ended up becoming friendly with the creepy crawlies! I could maybe get used to even the spiders, but the centipedes are a no-no!!!!!

I dislike spiders and other creepy crawlies, but they are part of nature and often help to keep the destructive pests in balance. I'm in the UK so we don't have anything that can kill you, but I do try to have a "we'll just ignore each other" policy for anything that is around😄

As a fellow Vancouverite now in rural Hokkaido, your videos really reflect our own experience living in rural Japan. We also miss our hometown foods. We make it out to the big city, Sapporo, once every few months to stock up on some goodies like North American potato chips, and Costco multigrain bread and roasted chicken never tasted so good, haha. We've been baking, gardening, building, renovating (despite the attempt at peaceful coexistence we had to get rid of the carpenter ants) ... It's often been challenging for us but been wonderful for our two small kids. There's so much kindness and community around them, surrounded by pristine nature. We're swimming at the local lake many times a week over the summer. They do all the wholesome stuff we would used to do as kids growing up in the 1980s, things we couldn't even find anymore in the west.

I am deeply fascinated by the sense of community and presence that can be discovered in the countryside of Japan. It's those creepy critters that get me every single time! I couldn't keep my eyes on the screen when the centipede showed up..I have a long way to go before I can survive out there. : /

Hello Jesse and Mika, as a retired Marine I spent many six-month deployments in Japan during my 23 years of service. I had aways enjoyed my time spent there and tried seeing what I could of the country. Language was always a problem, but I managed to get always around it. People were always kind and helpful were ever I went and I always tried to returned that kindness. You always hear a lot of bad things about service members and there are always some bad one in each and every unit. I had always looked that it this way, I was a visitor in their country, and would never do anything to dishonor their country, my country or myself. It had aways amazed me how they kept theirs so clean. You never saw trash laying around, our people in the US could learn from this, but at last I know that can never happen. It is so wonderful to see you have a connection with your neighbor’s and everyone looks out for each other, that is something that has gone away from people in our country. Once people use to sit outside and talk with each other as they would walk by or make friends with to their next-door neighbors. If someone was sick there way always a neighbor wheeling to give a helping hand. Our social has gotten to a point to were they hide behind closed doors and windows with the shades and curtains pulled. Oh, you still see a little kindness with people in the countryside but not many. Sorry for running off like that, but I do want you to know that I have not watched many of your videos and those that I have I enjoy and looking forward to the next one.

i don't care how much time I spent in a place, having to *check the bed for centipedes* is not a thing I would ever get used to. XD

I just started watching your videos and really enjoyed them, the countryside is absolutely beautiful but I could not get used to the bugs especially the spiders!!!!!!!! But I’m jealous how determined you guys are to make this place yours and how nice it would be if all neighbors would be so helpful and kind to help out this is rare. Can’t wait until the next video and I like all content from you guys, oh hello from Oklahoma in the USA 🇺🇸

Brilliant! I live in north Osaka and the wildlife here scared the crap out of me at first! Monkeys, snakes, centipedes ( I got bitten and my elbow swelled up like a balloon so be careful! ) , wild boar ( very dangerous), deer, spiders , snakes , cicadas and my favorite… fireflies! We we’ll be able to see them in all their glory in about two weeks. You guys too?

I agree with everything you have said about living with nature. Having all those creatures around is a sign of a healthy environment too. I think just showing us your daily life experiences is fine. Your drive to town, a walk down your local street or any natural lovely views in your area would all be nice to see. I have always been fascinated by Japan but have had enough of the big city and tourist videos. The natural beauty and countryside of Japan and how you live there is what I would most appreciate to see. Thank you.

I am sure that the Sunrises and the Sunsets must be amazing. And your comment on turning off the outdoor lights just to gaze at the night sky must be so beautiful. I'm in the Pacific Northwest about 15 minutes from town. Lots of trees and local animals, which adds a character to the landscape. So I understand how some of the "Locals" might try your patience, but I like to think they are there for a reason. So Best of Luck to you two and Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your daily life. It is inspiring to me and I too love the simpler way of life with nature. Can you tell us what made you decide to come to live in the countryside of Japan and how long do you plan to remain there? How do you earn an income to support your expenses? Are you working remotely? Thank you and please continue to share more of your daily country life so full of nature.

Oh, dear me....As much as i love the countryside, was raised in it, my phobia of spiders would be my downfall. There's no way i could do what you do. I would not sleep at night, and the screams would scare the neighbors and make them hate me, like it was the case in the past. But it's lovely to see you doing it, and succeeding so harmoniously.

Hey! I think people would love it if you decide to do a video on ambient sounds of the night life there at your house - kind of like an asmr video almost, when I was watching this video I repeated the parts of the cicadas, frogs and other creatures dwelling there against the backdrop of the night sky and the mountains. It was very calming to hear it as well as seeing it.

Great video thanks. I was impressed you were able to bake good bread in the small oven ! Also I would be pleased to see your efforts with cheese making so far. Blessings ~ Linda

Props to you for getting used to the critters! Frogs and geckos and snails are fine… spiders and centipedes would be another story. Even the tiny little Canadian house centipedes fill me with terror.

something i'd love to see in a future video is a walking tour of the surrounding area, both natural and built. I think that'd be really nice :) Love your videos!

It's wonderful to see you living with the creatures and be a part of your neighbors lives. What a blessing to recognize we are all family and to share in charity. Thank you for sharing this.

Refreshing to see people that don’t want to exterminate every creature around them, I did not realize Japan was still so wild, definitely will check that out!

Perhaps you could look into a solar hot water heater? There are many passive and active designs that might help reduce the amount of firewood you use.

I love watching your videos! When I first saw the footage of spiders and centipedes in one of your older videos, my first thought was “alright how are they gonna kill all of them”. But seeing you adapt to and coexist with the wildlife, instead of trying to find a way to keep them out, is something I never EVER would have expected. And I think it’s beautiful! Seeing you get over your fear of the critters gives me hope that I could do that, were I to live on the countryside ❤ much love from Texas!

I was born, live, go to school and work in the city, all this hustle and bustle makes me explode. I hope one day I can be like you, live in the countryside and do what humans should do which is to go back and be one with nature.

I've started realizing this dream in a much smaller scale in one of the burbs outside Chicago. I've got about an acre of land that I still need to work 50 hours a week to pay for, but have started gardening extensively in my off time - should have plenty of peppers, tomatoes and herbs this year. The satisfaction of enjoying a beer while examining the fruits of your labor (and the playful noises of rescue pups) can't be beat. Makes all the BS of the modern urban dystopia disappear, even if only momentarily. If you're watching this video and wishing for a similar life, just know that it IS within reach and can do so much for your mental health.

Thank you so much for this. A country kid, stranded in a big city by a perfect storm, I miss the sounds of nature, gekkos, frogs, the wind, the rain. Thank you.💕💕💕😥

This has quickly become one of my favourite channels on youtube. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to the next video!

If you’re comfortable with it, I would love to hear more from both of you about what the transition was like both emotionally and physically. My girlfriend and I are both born & raised in Canada. She’s Okinawan Japanese, and we’ve often daydreamed about moving to Japan for at least a year or two so she/ we can experience an adventure that is so close to her heart. We love to travel, but haven’t left the country together yet. Did you and your partner travel much in preparation for this big change, what was it like?

I would love to see what other hobbies you have taken up since moving here. I know you have taken up gardening but have you picked up anything else like playing any games with your neighbors, playing an instrument, anything else that the locals like to get together and do. And are there any social events that the island has that you have done or been to that you have enjoyed. I also am curious about what you both do for work, I don't think you should go into specifics but it would be neat to know if you work on the island or something where you have a remote job or travel for your jobs. I also think it would be cool to go into what it roughly costs weekly to live the way you do and compare it to the US/canadian dollar and how different it is from Canada's prices that you experienced before previously. I'm also curious what your cleaning routine is and would love to see you showcase what and how you use it to clean different parts if your home.

Thank you for not hurting the little creatures. I plant flowers and vegetables in my garden to feed the little insects cause so many of the poor things are killed by people using pesticides

Without going too much into details it would be nice if you could discuss the economics of living such a lifestyle. How do you afford daily necessities? Did you save some money from when you used to live in Canada? Stuff like that.

What a beautiful life you both have. Thank you for sharing it. 🌻

Living close to nature is so rewarding. I did it for a long time in VA and had so many animals around. I had skunks and all sorts I would feed. Even bears would show up on my land. You have such nice views near you I bet you feel so blessed to be there. Thanks for uploading a vid showing this.

I love the green beauty and quietness of the countryside but I could not come to terms with the centipedes and spiders I think 😀 I even run from craneflies....brrrrrrrrr. It's nice to see such a simple and natural way of living although it can be hard. What makes something like this impossible for me is the dependence of the car. I can't drive and I also get nauseous in cars. I would need a place I can reach by train. I'd love to see more of your surroundings, maybe take a few walks and take us with you? The river looks wonderful and perfect for a quick wake-up dip before morning coffee! How is Tom the cat?

damnn what a peaceful life, i wish i had a courage to do something like that and escape from my 9-5 job. i know its a hard ride and wont be easy. hats off to both of u

Word of advice when dealing with creepy crawlers mint and/or lavender keeps them at bay quite well. Moresover, for japan id go with either peppermint or catnip (yes, catnip is part of the mint family).

Oh my Shikoku is really far and truly the countryside. It’s certainly beautiful and has that untouched nature feel.

Hubby and I had the pleasure of living in Japan for close to 6 years (until 2019). We miss it although love our forever property down in the SW of Western Australia. Yes, many folks cannot work out how we can live with all the critters, but as you know - you adapt! I laughed when I saw your visiting huntsman spiders - loads here. I just name them as I see them. Enjoy your new life!

You guys are doing such an amazing job :)) keep up your work! I'm really excited to follow you on your journey

Spider's yes, Centipede still NO. 😂Can't wait to see more guys! The stars must be amazing there!

The frogs and geckos are the best part! Incredible, it's so alive where you live! You're really putting yourselves out there and becoming a part of your community too! Thanks for sharing these moments with us, I look forward to more.

We're in the process of moving into a mountain house with farmland. Our welcome "party" with our neighbors took place last week, and I already feel a bit overwhelmed by the expectations of socializing and helping the community. I tend to be a bit reclusive, but thankfully my wife is extremely outgoing. I do look forward to doing a lot of baking to share with our neighbors, until our gardening starts to produce something to share. And yes, I've had to quickly come to terms with the fact that huntsman spiders are a benefit to the house. So far, only one mamushi and two mukade have been spotted inside house, but every visit to the toilet involves checking the walls, ceiling and under the seat. I envy you your youth. We're much younger than our neighbors, but old enough that learning to farm seems incredibly daunting, and I'm hoping my body can adapt. I'm curious about the state of the house? My wife and I have both been suffering bad allergies and fatigue since we started living in this house full time just over a month ago. I'm guessing there's a ton of dust and rodent droppings that have collected in the attic area over the century the house has been around. I'm bracing myself for a crawl up there with a shop vacuum to remove as much as possible.

Topics that I'd like explored are maybe something that is generally taken for granted. Topic 1: Showing us the different types of shrines and local culture around the area could be super cool. Shrine highlights, and some background on their history, and how they inform the local culture of Shikoku. Do any of the farmers have specific shrines they pray at to ensure good harvests, etc. Topic 2: Showcasing Shikoku as an area to visit, and giving a foreign audience who's on the fence about visiting, the good the bad and the ugly for what navigating through Shikoku might require. E.g. - how's train accessibility? Is a car rental mandatory. Can you get by without Japanese? Etc. Just my 2 cents, please reach out if you'd like any other ideas :)

Watching you guys combine the Canadian pleasure of cracking open a beer and sitting by a rice paddy was great. I just started watching your channel and love to see you cook the traditional Japanese meals.

We live in Northern California, the Sierra mountains and your life in Japan is very similar to ours. Learning to live with the land instead of against can be tiring but it is also mentally freeing. The peace you have when you sleep at night is worth all the hard work during the day.

One day I want to go to a place like this and live a life like this 😊 but without the spiders 😖

May i ask what the WIFI situation is like? Are you able to get internet at your home? Much appreciated! Keep up the awesome content. :)

Thank you for sharing these updates! I love seeing how you are adapting

This was great! You've really upped your game so to speak as I only imagine the work needed for editing the various scenes of your daily life plus the light-hearted background music. I laughed aloud when you mention making bread and cheese. After 7 weeks living in Hokkaido, I'm missing cheddar and whole wheat bread from Canada as well.

Loved this! I watched this with my son (he’s 7) and he was fascinated with all the critters. I’m wondering, what do you do for work? Are you able to work from home and have internet? Also, do you both speak the language? Are you able to talk with your neighbours?

We've also recently moved to the countryside and I was wondering what you do to deal with all the insect bites? That's one of the things driving me almost insane! We too have a hot water issue and barely bathed this past winter. The lack of showering and bathing is also something very hard to get used to. Our grocery run is more than an hour away, so we keep putting it off. The village we live in is very close-knit (as are most villages, I suppose). In fact all the villagers are related to each other, so we are really like outsiders. There's some cultural and regional language differences too, not to mention intellectual disparity, so I guess we've a long way to go before we feel integrated. It's no doubt beautiful, but I wonder at times if it's worth the social isolation and lack of conveniences. Would love honest your opinion on these things. Thanks!

Thank you for sharing this!

You are living the absolute dream. So much land and so much freedom to explore. Thank you for treating the creatures that were there before us so kindly. They deserve this level of respect 🫶🏽 I wish to experience a lifestyle similar to y’all’s one day 🥹

Thank you for sharing a piece of your life with us.

You guys are so brave! I could NEVER with those hell coming centipedes crawling around. I went to visit once my parents-in-law farm and almost died of a heart attack there. The bug spray hanged out with me on my jeans back pocket all the time and was my BF!

Thank you for coming and living in my hometown Kochi Prefecture !

love this series of videos, thanks for sharing 🌿

Awesome videos!! You do a great job of making the viewers feel like we’re right there in the countryside with you.

Keep the videos coming gang, love everything you've been building

Just appreciative of this perspective! Cannot wait for the next one!

That’s great that you recognize a lot of the scary insects actually help keep the house free of worse buggies. That’s something I had to come to understand during my gardening journey- which insects are good or bad.

Thanks for documenting this experience and bringing us into your home. This is a truly unique situation and fascinating to watch.

I can not wait for your next video. Anything and everything about your life there is simply fascinating to me! Thank you and keep sharing.

I love this so much! Thank you for giving us a small glimpse into your world

very nice edited videos thanks, looking forward to the next.

the cinematography is sooooo goood i love your videos!

Thank you for this artpiece. more please!

I love following your journey! You guys actually look notably happier in this video from the previous few!

Your video series is a treasure and I am so grateful that you are sharing such a candid point of view. Please keep the material going

Japan is a fairy tale for me. Too beautiful and magic to be true!!!

Thank you for sharing with the world your stories❤

Thank you for your channel. Such a beautiful place!

Your videos are so inspiring please keep them coming!

seeing the neighbors houses and yards would be nice. always great to see different types of buildings. but i'll watch anything your adding, and enjoy it

Thank you for sharing your lifestyle, it’s so interesting

More videos to come.. thank you for sharing

Enjoyed this window into your country life in rural Japan very much. I hope to see more.

love your videos. I like learning about new perspectives.

Nice video! Thanks for sharing the little critters!

Wow what a lovely looking town with lovely scenery. The creepy creatures are a bit scary. A tour of the township would be great.

I love seeing collages and timelapse’s of your everyday life, cooking and working in nature. It’s so soothing. The home renovations was also very interesting. :)

Thanks for sharing this with us, simple pleasures are the best.

Thank you for sharing your countryside experience with us. Watching your vlogs/video's is like distilling Japanese "slice of life" into a very relaxing and consumable form. The small pleasures you experience and share with your narrating makes it so comforting and homely. I look forward to seeing what you have in store next for us. ☺

This video put a big smile on my face. Please keep making them!

I love how you make your videos so interesting to watch.

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed having a peek at your life.

I've been waiting for more videos. Please make more.

Ahh, so nice! Thank you so much for sharing these videos. Someday ...

Excellent vid. You have me genuinely interested in what comes next for you two, so ill be around from now on and I look forward to watching your next vids!