*JOURNEY ACROSS JAPAN CONTINUES!* - BUT who made the best commercial?! Joey or myself. Let us know below. We begin our journey through Akita, an incredible place with a big problem. In just a few decades, half of its entire population will have gone. Dogs, chickens and demons, our lengthy drive takes us across the whole region to discover what makes Akita such a legendary place to explore.

Do not fear the man that climbed Mt. Fuji once, fear the man that climbed Fuji Ogata one thousand times.

Can’t believe you went to Godzilla rock without me

Joey: Gets puppy time Connor: Freezing on an Island

It's oddly comforting to know that mentally scarring your children into behaving, is something that all cultures seem to have in common.

"Japan's Most Prefecture" is genuine art as a tagline for Akita. I love it.

But FR shout out to the editors for slapping out TV quality edited episodes in such a short time frame!

We've seen Mount Fuji, and now we get to witness the glory that it is Mound Fuji. Well done, Mr. Broad

4:48 I love how Chris says 1996 was "almost 20 years ago" when really it's almost 30 at this point. We're getting old, Chris!

those commercials convinced me. Im going to Akita.

Not gonna lie, the final cut of that commercial for Akita makes me think that Chris and the editing team could absolutely pull off making an analog horror series. Some parts of the commercial were uncanny in capturing that sort of off-kilter, VHS-era style you see in those sorts of series.

Thank you for visiting my hometown Odate City. Akita Prefecture has always been an introverted prefecture, not very good at doing business or advertising and unable to fully convey its charms to people, but it is well worth a visit for its delicious food (Kiritanpo, Hinai Jidori chicken, butter rice cakes, etc.) and inspiring scenery. Akita people are shy, but if you treat them in a friendly manner, they will do their best to accommodate you. Please come to Akita, especially to the northern part of the prefecture, for sightseeing.

The old-man-filter glitching was hilarious! So glad you left that in the final cut. What an adventure! So many things to see in just one day! Very exciting video!

Joey's ad is probably the best one I've seen so far, meanwhile, Chris's is pure nightmare fuel 😰

Honestly Joey his commercial is so funny actually and I can’t stop laughing right now 😂👍

The 2 commercials you made were hilarious, but I have to say that Chris's made me cry with laughter! Totally nailed the ads of that era and the aging filter was hysterical! Stellar work all around - great editing and choice of footage!

hahaha the transforming hair during the commercial. but personally joey knocked it out of the park with the early 90's vibes

Hey Chris! I thought you’d like to know that in my Japanese culture class in college your book is our first reading assignment! I plan to schill the podcast for anyone who’s interested since I don’t think my professor knew about it before lol

I've never seen Chris laugh so much. I'm sure it was annoying while trying to complete the commercial, but it was nice to see him so relaxed. I actually love how Chris' commercial turned out. I'm now a firm believer in the power of editing.

Best part of the series. There’s so much content and I learned a few things. It’s sad that Chris has to push food related videos for the algorithm when it’s episodes like these that shine the greatest (imo!). Love it.

Words genuinely can not describe how hard I laughed at the commercials you guys made. I need more!

man, the editors did some magic with Joey's commercial. All the bloopers were so funny. Great video.

The lake that they reclaimed was done with help of Dutch engineers which is how my hometown in the Netherlands (which is also on reclaimed land) has sister relations/is a friendship city with oogata mura, Akita!

My wife lived in Akita and we have visited a couple of times because she adored it. She introduced me to the Hinai Chicken, and the cute samurai chicken mascot. :) She also recommends Nyuto Onsen (they are amazing), Lake Tazawako, hiking Mt. Chokai, the Kanto Festival in Akita City, Kakunodate, and Yokote during the snow festival.

Also: The mineral industry museum in Akita (Akita University) might be worth a visit if you're interested in the geological landscape of the area

I laughed so hard at those commercials, but I loved Chris’s tag line “Japan’s most prefecture “ 😂

As a lifelong resident of Michigan who has traveled all over the state, I had to look up what structure here was bigger than the dome in Akita, and apparently it’s a college sports stadium way up in Northern Michigan. Honestly, very similar climate and landscape to Northern Japan up there so I guess it tracks.

Both ads had me crying, but Chris takes the gong for sure. Well done lads

2 things lol: 1. The last two episodes DEFINITELY shows that Joey gets the best treatment in ALL of these trips 😂😂😂. And- 2. This, imo, is probably one of the top 3 funniest videos and content-richest videos you and your team have done. Despite struggling to find your 6 things in Akita to show off, I feel like you all really did a great job showing its character and its beauty. Then at the end, i kid you not, the ads you all made were BRILLIANT. They were so funny but also feels like guys did your homework perfectly. This was an amazing episode imo. Also I feel like you and Joey bounce off each other superbly and really ignite each others' creativity. You guys really produce great stuff, along with connor. The Trash Taste special with the drifting is an excellent example of joey and connor vibing superbly with your comedy and I tbh wish I could see the three of you together more on your (Chris's) channels more often.

I almost CHOKED when Natchy Ruinard introduced himself 😂 Thanks for always brightening up the week with such great videos!!

My cousin's adopted an Akita from Japan. She was such a lovely dog, and was such a nanny to us little kids, who would hold on to her when we were learning to walk. she was trained not to take food from kids too. One day a guy broke into my cousin's house to rob it when only us kids were home, and Sumi chased him up a tree. She bit his leg clean off.

I lived in Akita for 4 months. I was studying abroad at AIU. I must say it gives me a weird feeling to see you guys in places I was at a lot. For example the school did an event at the nippon hachiko dome and it was only a few minutes walk away from my university. Anyways I loved my time in Akita and I’m happy to see it getting a little more representation

I am glad you came our town! 😂

Really enjoying reading your book Chris. Have got as far as your first road trip away for a long weekend and staying in someone's flat you thought was a hostel.

You guys have outdone yourselves - both ads are absolutely fantastic and brought me back to the 80s and/or 90s!! keep the fun coming

always a lot of fun with these two hosting journey across japan

I absolutely love these series you do great work chris and the team

Oh my Chris’s ad was hilarious and perhaps seeing into the future of what Abroad in Japan will be when we’re all old and grey and still, of course, watching Chris live out our dreams in Japan. Joeys was also great but Chris, you certainly won this one in my eyes. 😅🙌

I got back from Japan over the weekend and plenty of what I’ve learnt from your videos was a great help culturally. I had an absolute blast and finally got to do the trip I’ve wanted to for about 20 years now. Boy am I missing it.

Far out those ads are some of the funniest things I've seen on this channel, Chris' ad had my stomach hurting

I was trying not to roll myself into a laughing fit at work while watching/listening to the intense VHS quality of those commercial skits. Way too good! Definitely one of the most laugh-inducing episodes I've seen thus far, and others had me busting a gut, but this... I must give a /bow for the quality, the accuracy, and the audacity that was those masterpieces. Well bloody done! :D

I'm not complaining about the previous episodes, because I always love watching your adventures, Chris. But this is the first video that felt like an actual adventure. Great stuff!

Honestly I loved both commercials 💖 I love the high energy with fast non stop talking to a mellowed out vibe.

Your editors done an amazing job! Great commercials!

I love this combo! Chris' nihilism with Joey's bubbliness is just *chef's kiss*

I really love this journey across Japan season. It has been really laid back. The docu / vlog style content and the somewhat improv nature of it is quite relaxing... Keep up the great work Chris. Love your content.

I love that you basically made a CM advert out of the dome info breakdown anyway haha. Fab programme as always arigato

Great job editing team! The commercials were a tough challenge, but it looked great!

4:42 "Almost twenty years" Bad news, Chris...! I _still_ do this too and I'm not even that old. I'm not ready for the 90s to be 30 years ago! I loved how you managed to squeeze two ads out of that trip, I'd have a hard enough time just doing one

Natchy Ruinard chap seems like an affable chap. Would love to see him do a travel series across Japan

I think this has been my favourite episode of this series! The quantity of the "attractions" has been great, and I feel like you really explored and showcased the area, with yours and Joey's creativity really shining through. I know the weather hasn't been great at the start of the journey, but it's nice to have more challenges "in the field" rather than in Daiso.. even though the pig Connor got is the best thing that happened on the journey or just the best thing period!

I was NOT expecting 2 commercials ,I dont even know what i expected but it was never what i witnessed tonight, they both had me wheezing! I needed definitely it today, thanks Chris and Joey

I went to Akita for my first ever trip to Japan last year and I loved it! I went around the springtime, which was a bit nicer than in the wintertime but it was still a little bit chilly. We ended up seeing the Kakunodate Samurai Village as well as visiting the Seitai Hoshikai where the apparitions of Our Lady of Akita happened. I even had kiritanpo for the first time (and I'm still kicking myself over not buying any of the premade rice rolls I saw before I left, I want to make hotpot with some). In one of the travel guides I picked up from my hotel, I saw that there's even a place that sells Akita dog sable cookies that looked so cute, but I'm not sure where they're made (I want some though!). Anyway, I wanna go back so bad! It was super pretty during the spring despite the chill and I'd love to go and explore the city of Akita more... I got some old school 80s vibes while I was there but it also felt kind of empty (not sure if that was just because I was walking around the city during the super early morning and way way late at night to go to the konbini, but there was like no one out on the streets). Absolutely would go back in a heartbeat and, thanks to you guys, I have some new places to scope out... and I especially need to try that chicken, ugh, that looks so incredibly tasty.

How did you climb that mountain with a belly full of chicken and not be sick! Truly one of the men of all time.

I really loved both as. Both had some nostalgic memories of tv ads from the 90s. Great job Chris and Joey. Plus I'd really love to see the abandoned theme park and wooden baseball arena.

HAHAHA, I thoroughly enjoyed those commercials, and the outtakes. 😂 They were both so good! Great job!

Okay, Akita really makes me think of growing up in Wisconsin. We had all these little goofy local landmarks that made no sense to anyone who wasn't living there, but goddamn if we weren't proud of them.

seeing joey and Chris in their 90's is very unsettling but also somehow hilarious at the same time.

Great videos, as always, Chris! I am looking forward to seeing more beautiful scenery of Japan.😊

I have lived in Michigan my whole life and never knew we had the world's largest wooden dome. I had to look it up. The Superior Dome located in Marquette, Michigan was built in 1991.

When I think of tourist places in Akita, I think of Kakunodate. It's gorgeous (and super crowded) during sakura. There is also Tazawako. And insane amounts of onsen. It won't be appealing in Winter but in Season Sashimaki Moor is really nice to walk around. I've been to Osarizawa Mine in Kazuno as well. But honestly, while I love Tohoku, there are a lot of places I wouldn't visit outside of April to October, because they are just cold and dead in the Winter.

NO!! When we lived in Japan (Amori Prefecture), we used to go skiing at Owani all the time and go to the spa that you visited in this video. This is heartbreaking.

Such good work with the commercials! I love the videos with Joey, he has such good energy and just goes along wherever xD

Well done Lads!!! i enjoyed this!!

I love when you and Joey work together.

Im a simple man struggling to learn Japanese. I see a new Abroad in Japan video, i give it a like before i even start watching it.

the edits for the ads were actually so good! it wasnt as cringe i thought xd

Ha! Those commercials turned out way better than expected! Good job!

I recently got my glasses and when I now see Japanese food so clearly, I’m blown away. Before it was just blurry, now I can appreciate things better

Closed in 1996, it's 2024. Chris' math: "closed for almost 20 years now" :D 28 is almost 20 :D

I loved both commercials, and I think you both did amazing with what you had to work with! Joey's won my vote, though~

The VHS ads were brilliant, literally laughed the whole way through lol

god damn editing team did it again! jolly good job lads!

Abroad in Japan singlehandedly getting me through January. Loving these videos. Well done team.

the commercials are so trippy hahaha! i love the stadium :o so cool!

Love watching JAJ, the older ones, but that one too. Hope you and the team all had a great time!

Chris I just finished watching every single video you have posted on this channel from very first to this video right now! It’s been super inspiring to see your journey and watch your ambitions come to fruition! Keep it up! And congrats on the engagement!

Chris video is the best, love Old Chris😂

Loved both ads!!!!

Seeing the Old Chris commercial made me laugh the hardest so far in the year, thank you

I loved both of the commercials! Thanks for sharing your creativity with us.

I'm still rewatching the commercials, they are both amazing!

That ad was absolutely brilliant! XD

The shot of the lone Kei work truck on the highway when the camera turned around 🤣🤣

Hahahahaha the commercials section killed me of 😂😂 good work, boys! You’re both winners in my eyes 💜

These were great! Both commercials were hilarious! Props to the editing team 😂🎉👏

Watching abroadinjapan whilst abroad in Japan :)

26:02 joey at the end... "or dont, I'm not your dad"🤣🤣🤣

Loving this series have looked forward to every episode! 👍👍

Juji-New-Editor-Sama! Thank you for your work!

I absolutely loved both commercials, but I have to say yours Chris Broad was just a little better. That old man app was the bomb. And you really did capture the VHS feel

I want Natchy Ruinard to be a reoccurring thing. I laughed so hard at that segment.😂

I'm happy that you covered Aomori! It's been a prefecture I've been interested in for a long time!

Someone mentioned michigan... Must look this up! The worlds largest wooden stadium is the Superior dome at NMU in marquettte. Really quite neat looking.

Chris's video had me in tears, it's like looking at his final form in 50 years time.

Another absolute banger of a video as always

OMFG!!! Chris's commercial made me fucking cry laugh! 😂😂😂 That filter man.... Gold. Pure gold.

Yay I love your videos I've been waiting for a video as I've been in hospital since last Monday and came out yesterday was praying for you to release one when i was there but happy i can enjoy your video from the confort of my own home ❤😊

Chris was right about the power of editing, those ads were on point 😂

Thank you for all the laughs, love following your journeys and been enjoying for years, god bless from Southampton UK hopefully one day I get to enjoy Japans beauty for myself.