Rule 1 of Travel that people keep forgetting....Respect the Country's culture and the Laws.

To that person who asked about games in Japan: while it's more of a mythological version of Japan, Okami is a fantastic game with a beautiful cel-shaded artstyle that still looks good to this day.

I don't know if an outright ban is the right decision, but terrible tourists are terrible. It is a shame that Japan is at the point where they are forced to deal with this. If every tourists actually behaved like mature adults, this wouldn't even be an issue. But the few rotten ones have ruined it for everyone.

What a shame that tourists can't respect the culture of Japan. I was in Gion recently and noted a number of tourists ignoring the 'No photography' signs and being generally loud and obnoxious. Not a surprise that Kyoto has taken this measure.

Im surprised you didn’t mention “The World Ends With You” for games set in Shibuya. I didn’t play it myself but I heard lots about how great the setting is in both versions.

I bet a Geisha rap battle would be surprisingly good. They're full of surprises. They've basically been doing heavy metal riffs on their Samisens for hundreds of years.

It occurs to me that Akihabara Maid Cafes are a kawaii 21st century anime version of a geisha experience, with the client being the pampered centre of attention, being entertained, the games, the food and drink (sans tea ceremony), it's just aimed at a clientele 40-50 years younger than the people that would seek out a geisha experience. 🤔

Sees title - good, the ladies should not be harassed like they have been, if you go to another country then you should have respect for the people there and not getting in their face taking pictures and touching their kimono - as well as trespassing. "Local officials in Japan’s popular Geisha district in Kyoto will shut off access to “paparazzi” tourists who harass and trouble the globally recognised Japanese women artists, starting April this year"

Kaho/Connor colab videos are hilarious.

It is sad and annoying. But I can understand their decision. My Japanese wife and I were having traditional prewedding photos in Kyoto and there was that one asian tourist who was always standing in the way and blocking our photographer. He took a lots of photos of my wife without any permission. I was totally annoyed and wondering what he is doing with all those photos. So yes. Definitely those tourists should be banned, if they behave that rude and just take pictures without permission. Respecting any culture not just the Japanese culture should be common ground amongst humans. But obviously there are always people who can't behave properly. I hope that such news do not manifest the image of a bad foreigner as Japanese media sometimes have the tendency to stigmatise foreigners.

I remember watching a video of someone who went to Gion and put his camera into a the face of a few geisha, who looked uncomfortable, before someone else saw and began yelling at him. Sadly the comments were saying the Japanese man was being rude, but he was pointing to the No Photography sign and upset they were breaking the law.

So the yakuza decided it's not worth comitting the crime of minor retail theft but will commit battery in the same interaction?

I wonder how Connor managed to fit filming for Shogun between his streaming and podcast schedule.

I was commenting on some other video about the Gion ban... last time we've been to Japan we went to Kyoto and stayed in an inn somewhat close to Gion, this is before the pandemic back in 2018. And at that time already I knew something like this was eventually going to happen. It was a bit surprising how it didn't already happen. :P I imagine the harassment is a big part of it, but even more at least from my personal experience, is that Gion wasn't made to support this many people, to the point that back in 2018 it was already plenty dangerous enough. We didn't even get to walk around much in Gion because of how packed it was. The most photogenic areas which I think are like the main entrances to the neighborhood perhaps, you had people spilling over into the streets creating a huge mess for transit, taxis and whatnot just couldn't get around, you had tourists almost being run over all the time, we just saw that and kinda turned back. We did eventually get to walk around a bit early mornings during weekdays and non-peak hours, but it was pretty obvious the negative effect that tourism was having in the area. Mind you, this was during sakura season, so peak tourism time... probably not that bad all year round, but I guess this is why this ban was timed the way it was. xD I remember seeing a few geishas and maikos here and there, but nope, no chasing around and no photos, we knew better than that. So the ban makes sense to me, and I think this will end up happening in several other venues eventually. See, I went to Japan as a tourist myself a couple of times. Thing is, there is always a small percentage of tourists who misbehave, people who are straight assholes, and completely clueless people who just cause problems. Problem is, the more tourists you have, the more chances of having these sort of crap people there. And there is only so much patience for that sorta crap. There are so many tourists visiting Japan nowadays that even if something like .01% of them are bad, it already starts becoming too much. And I really mean this. For instance, back in 2023 the total number of tourists visiting Japan was around ridiculous 25 million people. .01% of that is still 250 thousand bad tourists. It's too much. Well, you guys know this from the past several years before the pandemic... the problems that happened in Arashiyama, the sh*tty vloggers and influencers, and several more cases.

6:23 Condolences to Mrs Donaldson

As some1 from the netherlands, Heineken is the absolute worst beer out there from our country 😂😂

Geisha history is fascinating. People can really be stupid.

I actually won a ticket for a real geisha tea sitting while in school in Kyoto, and received a cute little dish the geisha personally made and painted. Still have it. You might question how I knew it was a real one. During my time there they actually had to have their annual show in my school auditorium so yeah, I got a free ticket to the show too. Why? They were fixing their damaged usual scene.

Regarding the clippers, as a viewer, I find them useful to summarize the important events of a much longer stream when I do not have the time to sit through a 6-10 hour stream VOD. It has been immensely helpful lately as I got into the GTA RP streaming, and when a favorite streamer group started a new Minecraft server. It is impossible to keep up with the 10 or so streamers streaming 6-10 hour simultaneous game streams without clippers, even while having all the time in the world as I am stuck at home healing from some health treatments.

I'm from Belgium and I can confirm that heineken is just our bottled urine from drinking Belgian beers when we are on a bender.

I was in Kyoto last month I’m glad I was able to visit before I heard about the closing it’s sad that this had to happen. A shame people can’t just follow the rules.

Sad it comes to this. Geisha are cool but they aren't a damn theme park. They're a kind of artists, really. And people. (And honestly One Cup Sake is only really horrible at room temperature. Warm it or chill it beyond recognition. It's not *good,* especially if it's next to any better sake, but take the name as a warning not to have any more than that and it can be OK. But in my town in the US it was kind of a foot in the door for somewhat better jar/can sake and other stuff. Sake at all (That isn't the dusty bottle of Gekkeikian that's who knows how many years old) in the American South is a fad I can get behind. Even if there's absolutely no need to go there in Japan. :) (I get better stuff if at all possible, sometimes sake's just the thing for the tummy though. :) )

16:45 wow, didn't think I'll hear about Bashcraft again in ages XD

yaaay wacky weekend, it's my absolute favourite

Was in Kyoto today, a day trip from Osaka given the weather was nice. Holy hell. Areas in Kyoto made Dotonbori seem like tumbleweeds were blowing through, an absolute ghost town comparatively. Shame all tourists & travelers pay the price for the worst of us. Add another zero to the fine, punish the bad, let the rest of us respectful types wander and take in the wonder.

Shenmue for me too was the game that got we interested in visiting Japan.

Geishas only graduate from junior high school and start training as Maiko at the age of 15. During training, they are not given proper salary because the tea house owner has to buy kimono and pay for Maiko's hair and stuff.　It's kind of like debts that they need to return by working for free. If they quit, they don't have a degree of hish school, so their life afterwards would be quite tough. They can still enter a nurse school or go to a correspondence school. But srarting a normal life again is really difficult. Having been a maiko or geisha is not a plus at all. It's lucky for them if they can marry a rich man and become a house wife, otherwise, they probably go back to parents' home and figure out what to do. Geisha/Maiko are not that popular among women because most of us know their situations.

Glad I went when I did to the district. I went with a group, unfortunately some of them were unpleasant to be with. (February of last year)

Hey guys, I am a karyukai enthusiast (I follow the careers of geiko and maiko in Kyoto). So far tourists are banned from accessing a specific alleyway that is fairly well known, as a trial before the full ban comes into effect. The ban will only affect some of the smaller streets that come off of Hanamikojidori, so tourists will still be able to access the main street of Hanamikojidori unless the rules change. There was already security at the junction of Hanamikojidori and Shijodori as of May 2023, stopping gaijin from walking down there while eating or being... Antisocial. There isn't much info available about how the incoming ban will be enforced but I assume that they will need to hire many more security officers. Is this action needed? Yes, although it's hardly a new problem. Chinese tour buses have parked nearby for years, with Chinese tourists exhibiting similar terrible behaviour. But this ban is a serious barrier for those of us who support the karyukai yet don't live there. And how will they filter out gaijin who live there versus tourists? (probably athleisure gear lol)

Bit late to mention this but there are two spin-off games from the Yakuza series set in the very early and late Edo era respectively. Called Kenzan and Ishin. The later one, Like a Dragon Ishin recently got remade and finally translated as well. Really recommend that one for a very deep experience of 1867 Japan

I am absolutely loving the TV series SHOGUN, you talk about Succession Chris, ummm I have seen some of it however it’s one of the most seriously stressful shows (for me) to watch. I just can’t believe the bloody terrible way everyone in that family speaks to each other and how the father speaks to absolutely EVERYONE……. Give me SHOGUN any day 🤗

If foreign tourist are behaving like that then I do not blame them banning them out right. That area gets plenty of local tourist coming and know how to behave. As far as Shogun I have only seen the original Shogun.

I feel that the news that Chris covers has been misleading lately by omitting too much content instead of telling things with the right truth.I have commented on this in other videos and I will say the same thing again. The foreign media has sensationalized and misleadingly reported this case. Originally, some pathways in Gion, Kyoto were not public roads but "private roads" that were opened to the public through the "generosity" of the local people. Originally, these were roads for some stores and houses. And these prohibitions apply not only to foreigners but also to Japanese tourists. So, these streets will be returned to their original state. It is their road. The main boulevards and other streets will remain the same, and tourists who see the signs and follow the rules will have nothing to worry about.

I was going to ask about "Wacky Weekends" as well. 👍

Why can't we just have nice things?

Asked my parents to name pokemon once and they managed to name a surprising amount. Even squirtle and staryu

i would like to hear you talk about the second season of tokyo vice too

The story of maiko and geiko being burned with a cigarette butt is a legend. There is no evidence but I believe that there have been iterations describing different perpetrators for decades. And also, Japanese photographers have terrible behaviour sometimes too, just like any other kind of otaku. But they are excluded from bans and any kind of control. It's a shame.

Chris the samurai geisha, sounds amazing someone photoshop it immediately 😂

I think that Shogun was based on a real "happening". An English shipwreck sailor was washed up on Japanese shores and the Shogun took a liking to him.

About time. I was jonsing.

32:50 Wow we are talking about the Amiga, this has now become the most British podcast in the world.

Hello Chris & Pete, A couple of episodes ago you mentioned the Nintendo HQ in Kyoto and if you couldn't tell by my username, I'm a fan of them. So I'm wondering, is there actually anything Nintendo related in and around the HQ that's worth doing it seeing or is there nothing?

FamilyMart has the jingle though, makes me happy everytime I step in and out of one.

And i just booked to visit Kyoto next year.......... I wonder who's to blame..........

Anytime someone summarizes The Last Samurai as "white guy saves japan", I question whether they've actually seen the full movie. Cruise's character doesn't save shit. He's a witness to the end of an era (and a way of life) that his people instigated. He definitely contributes in that he discovers something worth protecting and living for. Japan saves him by showing him a path to peace that he never thought he could have after what he's done in the past.

Prohibiting tourists from taking pictures of it's most famous assets seems a bit of a double standard by Kyoto. It enjoys tourism dollars but doesn't want the sometimes annoying attention generated by tourists who are there specifically to enjoy seeing the Geisha. It's like Hollywood denying tours of actors homes while still expecting fans to come there and spend money. The "no touching allowed" rule is different, as no one should be allowed to touch another without explicit consent. If Kyoto isn't careful it may eliminate itself from the tourism game altogether. Pictures should be allowed, assault should be a crime and this seems a perfectly reasonable balance that will allow businesses to continue to reap tourist dollars while protecting the young Geisha artists at the same time.

I have to say, it's not just that I do understand where they come from with this decision. But that I would probably decide to do the same. I relate to people from Kyoto, albeit partially; as someone from Brazil, who has seen people treat stuff here as a playground and as If we were in a giant brothel or Beach park/tropical retreat, takkng things for granted and even advantage of people here being mostly loose with regards to rules, lenient, gregarious, generous, and hospitable. Doesn't help It takes a Lot for us to complain sometimes, and we endure a Lot of stuff we probably should sometimes, be It from ourselves or foreigners. That said, I don't even live in in one of the hot tourist areas. But It gets tiring.

Kyoto needs to upgrade its infra to handle the number of tourists. I pity the locals trying to board a fully loaded bus from the tourist attractions during peak hours. As for the ban, it is no big deal. It is their right to protect the locals.

Favourite konbini: 7-Eleven. I'm Dutch too, and 7-Eleven is the only konbini that has ATMs that can work with Dutch debit cards.

People are always going to be difficult and unpredictable. I think if they'd banned tourists from the Geisha streets, then they should (endeavour to) have offered some alternative place where tourists might meet Geisha (those who might volunteer for this) and see them in some capacity (a public performance where anybody might buy tickets, or some...say... teahouse which could have a polite separation, but one might see Geisha on the other side), since the possibility of seeing them is very much the reason many people travel there.

Sword owner pride ❤ Also, the beginning of GoT was a chore but worth it until... the Dan nation attacked.

Don’t worry Pete I’m also a 30second performer it’s not our fault if other people can’t keep up

Genuine question.. but if the guy with glasses is into Japanese culture, then why would he need to google Tokugawa Ieyasu or William Adams? Along with Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Nobunaga Oda, Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of the most pivotal figures in Japanese history. I just find that weird. Maybe he doesn’t read much..

I’m aboard with Kyoto protecting the geisha culture. I’m horrified by the treatment from tourists on the geisha. This is inexcusable. There will be wins and losses, but that’s for the future to decide.

I'm the opposite. I am looking forward to winter!! lol

17:42 steel panther reference

I love Lawson, but family mart has the best socks of all things 😹

Rise Of The Ronin should be out now for PS5. Set in Japan and looks amazing!!

Seems like a lot of foreign probably mistake geisha for the red light district in Amsterdam. It’s sad that they don’t understand the difference. Good thing that they’re gonna limit the number of tourist. By the way, I’ve been watching the always away podcast Do you think you and Sharla will be going to Thailand anytime soon?

Tourism is caricature of culture. It is only expected that it would attract caricature of humans.

I doubt u have any interest in baseball but interested to know what the word is on Ippei Mizuhara in Japan rn. What do ppl there think really happened?

How much of Gion will actually be closed... and how ? will people really respect the rules ? Will this affect many restaurants and shops for tourists nearby ?

Yu Suzuki

For me I think the games that got me to want to go to Japan and this is probably going to make people go say what is fatal frame also I'm pretty sure Shenmue takes place in China and I think the rest of the trilogy goes back and forth between China and Japan

People who don't follow the local rule are so annoying.

I feel like Chris your move of an introvert like me. One on one conversations is where its at. As soon as you add two or three or more people conversations generally become more boring and lack direction. And then i usually dont have much to say once multiple people join in. As one on one there are usually much deeper conversations.

SeicoMart of course

Lawson is awesome... I'm part of the Lawson cult... Karaage-kun forever!!!

Yep I thought he looked and sounded like Connor.

Heineken is considered piss in the Netherlands.

Speaking as someone who will be a tourist in Kyoto in a few months’ time, I have zero issue with this.

Solution to the geisha harassment issue. They hire the muscle girls as bodyguards.

Good for them - I'm glad they banned tourists from Gion. I was wondering when (not if) this was going to happen. It seems like they need to put even more limits in place. It's a shame, because I'm sure the people and economy could use the money, but at what cost? And as usual, it's the few idiots who ruin it for everyone.

The 7/11 smoothie machine tho!

I recommend persona 5 if you want a game that takes place in tokyo. It's a RPG that will take you 100+ hours 😅

Now I'm worried I'm going to wander down the wrong street while in Kyoto. Reasonable fear? Hopefully it's clearly marked

It sucks how terrible some tourists can be. Ruins it for the rest of us.

Why do you pronounce shogun as shogan instead of shogoon?

fine geisha

It seems the Geisha district still has brothels which is why they don't allow filming or taking pictures because chances are theirs high end clients there.

Host clubs probably evolved from geishas

SHHHOOOGUUUUNNNNNN

apparently johnny somali was the reason for this

Big fan of "Alice in Borderlands"

I've been wanting to ask. Pete isn't actually Britins top Japan enthusiast" right? That's the joke?

Chris: Love your content and have done for years, never been negative before BUT your take on the original Shogun is franky wrong. Seems like you took the information from BS social media posts. As a kid I was enthralled by the original Shogun TV show so much so that when i was older i read the book, several times. It is first and foremost a love story, with a pesudo historical background. To the history i would say; its generally correct. The treaty of saragossa IS a real thing and all the english guy did, was tell the japanese. If anyone bothered to watch or read the original, John Blackthorne was in no way a white saviour and in fact became beholden to Toranaga and...well that would be spoilers.

so me and my mate is a minority?. we actually loved one cup sake. it has a sweet taste to it, at least for us

15:18 "It's what we do best" Oh Pete clearly doesn't know....Japan is a line simulator. It's honestly other-wordly how long a queue of line in Japan.

Gaijin left them gaping , now japanman can't do anything.

Geshia men were a thing at least my knowledge

the KZfaqr who post cuts of streamers videos is no different from the streams who just sit there and "react" to watching other peoples youtube video while eating a bag of salad or dinner etc and put no change or alteration or barely even reacting

Can we talk about the war crime that is the fact that you can't find Chocolate Coolish anywhere any more? I found some when I first got to Japan on this trip and it was amazing and then a week later you couldn't get it anywhere.(The first part of this line is a joke, please relax.)

No actual FAX number to fax my questions to?

Clippers

Heiny men aren't cool, we tend to refer to heineken here as horsepiss, drink a Grolsch like a normal person, or maybe a Hertog Jan, basically anything other than being a Heiny man, Heineken is garbage

I don’t think the original shogun is white guy saves Japan. In both, at least so far he’s trying to survive being used as a political pawn, and that use almost kills him as well as saves him many times over. Where the original worked for it’s time was how he has no idea about the culture or language and he is mostly blind to what people are doing around him until he begins to learn the language. It was slow at times but you were just as blind as he was. I think the new series has actually abandoned this a little too much, there were a few moments where things went too fast, his time in prison for example is where he actually starts to learn some of the language, and his time there is so brief. Although I am thoroughly enjoying the much deeper focus on all of the other characters. I question their choices for father alvito, he was portrayed as so strong before and he and blackthorn become…not friends…but at least end up respecting each other. One scene ends with “damn all priests” and alvito replies “may god forgive you” but it’s done with some bravado and smiles. Sort of an “oh yeah I’m supposed to hate you” “Yes yes, let’s go through these motions”

Wouldn't a better solution be to just actually enforce the law by arresting the people assaulting Geisha and increase fines for photography?

Can i just say, as a visual artist, thanks for spoiling it for everybody. Insert bad word rant of your choice

It's translation error, they actually forbid passing through some smaller alleys in Gion and added more signage of proper manners. Also you can still reserve a geisha/maiko experience in Gion at a geisha house instead of just trying to get selfies for IG in street with them.