1) A greek musician JOEY . Check his jumpgfish http://www.jumpingfish.gr/JO… Read Full Bio ↴1) A greek musician JOEY . Check his jumpgfish http://www.jumpingfish.gr/JOEY !

2) An up-and-coming rapper from Norway.

3) American male singer-songwriter, Joel Vazquez.

4) that guy from friends

5) Joey Yung (容祖兒) is a popular singer and actress from Hong Kong.

6) Australian singer formerly known as Joelle. She placed 8th on the 5th edition of The X Factor Australia

Japan is Seriously in Danger
Joey Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Joey:

A Broken Heart Broken hearts Broken hearts baby Stinky farts Stinky farts o…
Bewitched She's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Close to You Why do birds suddenly appear? Every time you are near Just l…
CoCo Coco Cookie, yes you. Coco Cookie, where have you been ? I h…
Daily Routine From the block to the top, Buddha baggies in the…
Don't Front Yo, what's the word word Pass the herbs Pass the herbs, pass…
Don't Tell Me That I can fill this space With my life But not leave a…
Dovrai Ti capiterà di non avere voglia e non voler memoria Morire…
Fall for Sport Oh Kinda think that you want it You Got a feeling and…

Funky Ho [Intro] Aight fuck that, word word Lord Finnesse, Jayo its b…
Give up on Love 情人情人一个　明明行完一个　又一个或者浪漫的我　也要休息　想见那一个为何情人很远　然而谁人很近　如讥我或者流行的爱…
Glad It Was You Sexy mammie got a fat ass, with 'em big boobs With…
Got Me Like One time What's the word What's the word What's the word Yo …
Hardknock Check it, word, word What's the word, word? Yeah Check Just…
I'm Done You lead and I follow You hurt me, sorrow You don't want…
Killuminati Yes, skrawberries I'm a beast with these flows Two birds, o…
Kiss on My Lips Thought controlled minds Work fine all the time You're just …
Miracle I've met so many versions of myself So tell me which…
Missing You Everyone has a purpose Girl, you mean so much to me I…
Not in the Mood I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Not Too Young And it's crazy you did me this way I gave you…
Not Worth It Look at what's happened to me I can't believe it myself Su…
Righteous Minds Yeah, make sure my shit sound tight I never knew the…
San Francisco She took me by the hand and said, do you…
Save Me Save me from the ones who call themselves my enemies O…
See You Again I lay in the dark on your side of the…
Snakes Free Max B Owww (owww) Uh uh (uh uh) Uh uh (uh uh) Uh…
Summer Knights And that's all people wanna see truthfully Don't stop it Bad…
Survival Tactic Niggas don't want war I'm a martian with an army…
Take It Slow Take your pain and turn it into art Do what you…
Temporary Love All I really want Is sex in the morning, sun And confidence …
That Night I remember that night I remember I remember that night I rem…
Time To Get Up Get up Get down (Lets go) Get up Get down (Come…
Waves Since nine five, momma been working nine five And I know…
What Do You Say? I hear these niggas talking shit, that's cool dude Do what…
Where It At Aye what it is? One time, what up Aye what it…
Wish I Never Wish I never asked you what your name was Wish I…
World Domination Say Brain, what do you wanna do tonight? The same thing…

Yours Oh, turn the lights out And let's get it started Not in…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Blatman

2y↑3.3K

This is a little inside story from my experience.

So, I went to Japan for university from 2015-2020 and graduated on March 2020. But then, I went on holiday at around February 2020 where I plan to return to Japan before resuming my stay. But then, the Pandemic hits, and Japan has been on lock down ever since. I can't return to Japan.

Now, what's the problem? The thing is, I was living with a roommate at the time where she has 1 semester left to finish, so I thought it was fine for me to keep my stuff there since I could ask my roommate to sponsors me in order to stay for at least 3 months in Japan. HOWEVER. During end of March, my roommate went back to Germany to visit some relative.

This result in BOTH of us not being in Japan, and that neither of us could enter Japan. Till this day, our stuff is still in Japan and that every month for the last 2 years, WE HAVE BEEN PAYING RENT FOR THE APARTMENT IN JAPAN EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT IN JAPAN.

Our important documents, clothes, books, laptops and everything had been left in our apartment for the last 2 years!! And we can't enter Japan since they only allow group tour visit.

Some of our friends can't enter our apartment, because those friends that we know, had already graduated has already moved out of Japan before the lockdown.

Therefore, till this day, we still pay our apartment to them, and what's even worse is that, the apartment company isn't going to do a single thing to send our stuff back.

I do however, plan on going to Japan around this year's September or even October. Depending on the situation. At this point, I want to go to Japan not to have fun, but simply just to get all my important documents back and process my moving out process from that goddamn parasitic money sucking apartment.

Aitchpk

2y↑14

September 9th update:
Guided tour: you can book your own flights.
Unguided tour: the travel agent has to book you flights.

No one knows if you can make your own itinerary so basically all travel agents are selling things like "The Golden Route" where they plan what cities you stay in and what hotels you can book at.

So basically it is the exact same as a guided tour minus the guide. Arguably worse since you can't use a flight you already have booked.

In other words, we cancelled our trip to Japan this fall and are going to Italy instead :( Maybe next year.

BG Shin

2y↑2

Great posting and definitely a good starting point.

There are several other significant contributing factors to the demise of Japan.

1. Inefficiency disguised as tradition. Even in these comment section, you see endless accounts of Japanese gov/ process being archaic and redundant (eg accepting only original hand written invitation letters, not scans, not copies for all purposes). Unfortunately this has been a wide spread recurring theme throughout.

2. Digital illiteracy. One of the main issues with new graduate recruits (I work in financial services sector) would be their absolute illiteracy with computers and general IT. Yes they can ticktok on their phone which I cannot but when it comes to using business application (MS Words, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Murex, PDF editor etc) their level of use is unbelievable. I never had to train anyone even on what Excel is other than in Japan. Their typing is slow at best and some even quit for being unable to learn. Unbelievable in many levels. The company even pays for the training courses and they still refuse or cannot learn.

3. Lack of common sense and business acumen. This is a real example. When there was a weather forecast for a heavy rain in the afternoon, some building maintenance people were watering the garden. Their explanation is that it is a watering day and the plants should be watered while they can (ie before the heavy rain!!!!). This manual driven, thoughtless processes are killing the common sense approach.

4. Defused responsibility and liability. Any decision making process with Japanese business is painstakingly slow at best. They will do anything to avoid taking responsibility and simply arm shove the decision making to more seniors. This creates a huge approval inflation and thus a huge delay in process. If anything needs to be altered quickly, the original approver (inflated) needs to be contacted as he/she will be the owner of the project. If the shit hits the fan, the guy who were supposed to approve it and the actual (inflated) approver would debate who’s responsibility it was rather than trying to solve and mitigate any further damage.

5. Formality but no heart. They will smile and and be polite and all that but in reality, it is all acting with no heart. Eventually when people realise, all these were mere acting, the loss of trust far exceeds the loss of face.

Unfortunately it is hard to believe Japan can change anything to revive itself now. It feels all too late.

All comments from YouTube:

Sean Claxton

2y↑2.3K

Sad to see that Japan is literally getting in the way of itself. I planned to visit Japan this year, but I refuse to pay for overpriced tours. The point of going to Japan is to get the real authentic experience, I'd much rather not be stuck to somebody else's itinerary and timetable. Fingers crossed things change soon.

Kale Emeekski

@Proxcess I sure hope it opens up before that! I appreciate the response, I’m afraid it won’t change till later too. What a bummer.

Proxcess

@Kale Emeekski Unfortunately not, I think the best thing to do would be rebook for later in the year or maybe even 2023 I’m afraid

Kale Emeekski

@Proxcess have you found any ways around this? My flights in Oct.

30 More Replies...

Justin Watson

2y↑1.4K

Joey: "It's crazy to think about how a city can go bankrupt."
Detroit: "the two time baby!"

Muffle

@trentbateman bro look at mississippi. its literal 3rd world right now

Ogo Thomas

Detroit: "We can make money? No that can't be right, why our mayor look like that then?"

ReyGeeK Gilboy

its on them for not approving the robocop statue!

Friedrich von Hertling

can't have shit in detroit😩

23 More Replies...

Same Same But Different

2y↑60

I visited Kyoto last year.
When I got off the train, I started walking to my hotel, wearing my mask, and I saw an older woman walking perpendicular to me. Trying to be friendly, I smiled through my mask and immediately she gave me a sour look and started screaming "Hey! Hey!". I knew this was bad news so I sped walk out of here. The wife tried to say she wasn't screaming at me but I know better.

The next day, we are visiting Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and as I exit the main building, she's right there at the bottom of the steps. I am not about to start an international incident so I book it and leave my wife behind. This woman goes to my wife and starts screaming, "do you know him! Do you know him! Is he American? I hate Americans! They stink!"
She kept following my wife around till she found a police officer and threatened to report her if she didn't go away.

Kyoto was nice. That woman should stay away from tourists.

Nanieve

2y↑347

From my experiences, Japanese people are way too unnecessarily skeptical if there's a potential things that may affects them, even it's a smallest threat to deal with.
Especially the society, I once saw a video of parents yelling on call at their son that he should never come home because he got covid. But soon enough he recovered, and still.. his parent weren't allowed him to visit his hometown, and made him wait for a year because they're afraid of it. Which is kinda... you know what I mean?!? Again, this is my current personal thoughts for the situation, unless they open the border right now, like RIGHT NOW! I will change my mind.

Macro

2y↑3

well it's not like impropper response to a threat is a problem exclusive to them
i mean, take the west for example
here the issue is reversed, where a lot of people (who honestly i blame for this whole thing lasting this long) will not only not respond to a threat, they'll actively go against any safety precautions out of what i can only describe as a collective childish tantrum

being overly cautious doesn't help of course, but neither does not having any caution at all

H M

2y↑3

This is probably because Japan is a super-aged society which is incomparable to other countries. The elderly are conservative. And most of the Japanese population is elderly.
Japanese people deride their society as an elderly democracy. Even if all young people go to elections and insist their opinions, they would only be the opinions of a super-minority.

Rain

2y↑24

Definitely a prime example of Japan's ultra-conservative society and how it seeps into everyday life. Waiting something out for too long no longer becomes the best choice.

There are definitely more immediate changes needed with a proactive approach and support from the Japanese government but they simply cannot do it. Hell, changes they've been doing for decades still hasn't even made ripples yet, such as their work culture or outdated societal values.

1 More Replies...

Strenko

2y↑51

This is one of the videos that I really think should either be in Japanese or have Japanese subtitles, just to open up the possibility of it falling into the ears of people that might actually be able to do something.

Blatman

2y↑3.3K

FM

@Muhammad Syafiq thats ur own fault.

Kal

I'm working in Japan, hit me up if u need help. I'm in Chiba.

WILLIAM HAYT DELA CRUZ

Im guessing its still there...

FOUNDIT

can you get friends so you can travel as a group? find a tour guide if needed? that sucks so bad :(

I BROKEMYOWNHEART

BIG OOF GOLLY I HOPE YOU GET YOUR STUFF BACK!

95 More Replies...

Athanasios Drakakis

2y↑782

I live in Japan and I was hopping that they were going to up during the Olympic Games last year. Unfortunately they didn't.
Not allowing spectators (most venues were empty) was a true disgrace to Olympic Games.
I remember that during the Olympics they were blaming the foreign athletes or staff for "spreading the virus".
Now we have 200.000 cases per day, but almost 0 foreigners. Who is spreading the virus?
Are they going to blame the foreigners again?

Laura

@oli ver Yea it's quite tough. High rent prices, high gas prices, rapid inflation (I'm Dutch btw). The only positive I could see in this, which is dark to admit, is that finally housing prices will plumet because a lot of people will not be able to afford it anymore. Dark to admit, as a millenial I'd love to own my own appartment one day. And the only memory I have of housing prices, renting or purchasing, is it being extremely high for a 100 year old shoe box, at least in urban areas.

Mad G

racism is for real over there

Andy Bliss

@The Empire Was Right also flights are now so long and expensive due to needing to fly over Alaska. I could sometimes get a return for £450. Not happening anymore

SHAWKLAN 27

pure ignorance at its finest

26 More Replies...

Thomas Charles

2y↑5

I’ve seen how you and others that live there talk about Japan both natives and not- it blows my mind how much Japanese gov seems to have blown handling this Covid thing from seemingly being super xenophobic. They know how to handle to diseases over there much better than other places but they seem to love to blame foreigners, hate when people come there without making it crazy difficult, but NEED foreign money to survive. I had previously considered moving but after seeing how they handled this and listened to you and others how they treat foreigners I changed my mind.

Kathryn Johnson

2y↑201

I currently live in Japan and when covid hit I was in my second year of my four year program at my Japanese University. I ended up going home but the level of difficulty it was to get back to Japan was immense. It took me over 6 months to get a new visa and everything just to come back. I was particularly lucky to get it as "quickly" as that just due to where I was based. And at the time it was required to get a Covid test that was signed by a doctor, which was so expensive since any free covid test center was not overseen by a doctor... Not to mention all of the incredible xenophobia in Japan just surrounding covid. The amount of people I heard talking about "only foreigners get covid" was incredibly discouraging since there were so few foreigners in Japan how could it be our fault?? I live in a pretty rural area and one of the hospitals near me during the beginning of it all had a sign that said if you were a foreigner and you had a fever or cold symptoms, you weren't allowed in the hospital. I think Japan's handling of covid has just exacerbated issues that have plagued Japan for years. It's just finally out in the open now.

Druegnor

Same..after listening to my friend complain about the difficulty of returning to home country..i just decided not to visit home for 2 years..atleast i managed to save lots of money...ha3

Kathryn Johnson

2y↑21

@chronok You're absolutely right that it is an amazing privilege and I am incredibly grateful for being able to live in Japan and go to university. But it is also completely valid of me to be unhappy with things while I live there. I was in the middle of university and wanted to be back so I could graduate this year as well as get my stuff and many other things. Things that I observed (the xenophobia and tight control of the borders) can still be an issue while appreciating the fact that I was able to return. Many students who were in their college years had trouble returning just like I did or had it even worse than me.

chronok

2y↑1

To be there is a privilege, not a human right.

The Empire Was Right

2y↑2

That’s just Japan. All of what you said does not surprise me.

Yosuto

2y↑90

as a Kyoto resident I can confirm: while it's nice to have all these gorgeous sites for yourself, you can't help but thinking "damn, this must be really, really tough on the city."

carter

2y↑62

The amount of people I've seen who've been waiting to take a trip to Japan for a year and a half now recently end up just booking a trip to South Korea instead is insane. People are tired the Japanese government's response is just "the border will be open soon, it could be tomorrow or it could be late 2023 but SOON <3", the lack of transparency is so annoying. I just want my family and friends to be able to come visit me here, yet funnily enough I can easily visit there.

Noel Mirasson

2y↑2

I totally agree with that. I've been to Japan more than 10 times and lived there, I had to cancel my last trip during the beginning of the pandemic. I'm tired of waiting and spending tons of money in and for a country that acts like foreigners are the main threat. My next trip goes to South Korea.

BoogieWoogie

2y↑23

I love how Joey now branches out from reviewing manga to crushing every weebs' rose-tinted glasses view of Japan.

Constantin Von Blood

2y↑561

Right before the pandemic hit, I was THIS close to moving to Japan (at least for a year) and it is over 2 years now that I have tried to work out everything in order to visit.... I have reached a point now where I start thinking "Why do I even try so hard, and why do I wait, when they CLEARLY show everyone that they DO NOT WANT US THERE"...

This attitude and making everyone who loves Japan feel that they are not even good for being "Dumb foreign wallets", thinking they are too good to the point foreigners have to "beg" to go spend their money there, has turned me off sooooooo much about the people and current culture, to the point where I'm thinking "fuck it, I put my life on hold too long for a place where I am unwanted, I'd rather go and spend these savings somewhere where I will be appreciated".

And all the dreams about "Moving to Japan and then opening a business there and moving".... LOL .... not a chance!

I went from "Japan is my Paradise" to "Meh, fuck them, maybe go one last time to have fun and do some shopping and then close the Japan door to keep the good memories".

Constantin Von Blood

2y↑1

@Peglegkickboxer I have lived in Japan and Ive been visiting every year since staying for a month at a time. Moving there was an educated decision at first (or at least I thought so).
Now, after all that came up with covid, and how people are not only treated but how paranoid the general public becomes as they follow blindly what the gov says, there is no chance I am moving there.
Holidays, yes, but moving there... definitely not!

Peglegkickboxer

Guys, don't move there. Visit there for a whole month first, then decide to move there. Ffs there's so much more a country and what you see online. Don't by a flyjin.

Val Kyrie

@lism libera and the country dies and no one can stop us from entering then 💁🏼‍♀️

30 More Replies...

あや波

2y↑129

It's really disappointing how I've once had the impression that Japan was a country that could recover from any setbacks. Considering the countless tsunamis and earthquakes that have occurred, Japan has never once failed to recover from such crises thanks to its people's resilience and emphasis on the society as a whole. But after seeing how Japan handled the pandemic, it has really made me wonder whether those news I've seen in the past about its people's recover efforts and care one another were just a sham.

Ryan Downer

@Praneet P. two words. Historical context.
Don't know if you were serious or not, but if you were - that comparison doesn't work

Praneet P.

2y↑1

They survived two friggin nukes, this should be nothing

I m

2y↑3

Japan's tourism sector accounts for just 0.5% of GDP🤣🤣🤣

The USA is 1.5%.
Thailand 10%.

S S

2y↑1

They are handling the pandemic better than nearly everyone else. They have extremely lower cases compared to most other nations and didn’t even lockdown. The economic decline is around the entire world.

TheGamer FE

That's like asking why your body recovered from the cold easily but took more time to recover from an illness you never had before.
This is the first time something like this happened to them but it's no excuse to handle it this badly.

4 More Replies...

Kazekata

2y↑832

For a country that prides itself on "being optimal", this is the most ironic situation I've ever seen

Christophe Labonne

@Christian Acquasanta That’s not my point. Depending on which town hall you’re from and you’re going to, the procedure will be different.

For example, I had to wait one hour in Katsushika to get the document that Taito needed which took another one hour.

It’s these kind of inefficiencies that I’m pointing to.

And the worst part is, you won’t know what to expect unless you actually do it.

Christian Acquasanta

@Christophe Labonne I live in Kasai station (Tokyo) for 6 months and the procedure for residence was like 1 hour long

Gordon Graham

@TheDeadlyPianist Fax machines are less susceptible to hacking, also in a country that has 5,000 earthquakes per year, immediate paper backup is ensured via fax, not to mention the screeching sound a fax makes tends to elicit an immediate response whereas PDF files via computer can go unnoticed and unanswered for days. Ergo, the fax machine can be more efficient.

Gordon Graham

2y↑4

@WakkaSeta You need to flesh out your claim to be persuasive. What do you mean by “prioritized hours over productivity”? Japan ranks 25th in the world for hours worked per annum. All of North America and much of Europe rank higher. Can you cite something tangible to back up your claim. Just saying something is not proof of anything other than you said something.

14 More Replies...

Chickens and Gardening

2y↑274

From what I have read, Kyoto's problems run a lot deeper than a 2-year tourism freeze. Their population is shrinking as (1) young people move to Tokyo for better economic opportunities and (2) young people are choosing not to have children. As the population ages and goes into retirement, the tax base shrinks, the schools close, economic activity diminishes, and you wind up with a ghost town. Kyoto's not quite there yet, but even if tourism comes roaring back in a year or two, it's eventually going to be like visiting a museum rather than a thriving metropolis.

mabewa

Yes. The economic problems of Kyoto date back decades.

upstar21t

2y↑3

@Black Bard Studio Whenever there is anything "free", someone has to pay for it and once they find out they are paying for something others are getting for "free", they tend to stop paying for it. Why would I pay for someone else's kids or house? Why don't I just sit back and also wait for my kids and house to get paid for too? It's just ridiculous through and through. Life is about responsibility, not sticking one's responsibilities on other people. Opportunities should be free and fair, commensurate with one's abilities of course, that's it.

Black Bard Studio

@upstar21t I said free childcare not housing. Lots of countries have free education and childcare (for under 2's). As for the housing I was thinking in terms of public housing or rent to buy schemes.

upstar21t

@Black Bard Studio Who'd pay for the "free housing"? And if its "free", why would they pay for it? People like you crack me up. Justifying taking from others forcefully as a form of altruism.

worn down

2y↑1

@Black Bard Studio No the problem is falling population. Old people will just die. Old people always die. When I am old I will die. Nothing needs to be done to address that.

But all the government spending that crushes nations doesnt just go away. When 100 million people run up debt and then 50 million people have to service it, that IS the problem. And all that economic activity that would otherwise normally take place cant, because its used to service debt. Prices inflate, tax rates remain high and women have less children. And then because there are less working age people wages inflate because of the supply shortage of labor, beginning to sound familiar?

As far as Singapore, I am not sure where you are getting your numbers, respectfully. Singapore women's fertility rate in 2000 was 1.482, well below replacement numbers. By 2019 it was 1.216. I am not sure how you do math, but to me that is a decrease in fertility.

It may be a case of their Millennial generation, if they have one, coming into their family creation years so in actual births numbers are increasing. But that is not the same as an increase in fertility. Honestly I am not familiar with their demography. But Singapore hasnt had a positive fertility rate since 1977. So I cant imagine it is very healthy at this point.

13 More Replies...

berryspace

2y↑3

One thing Japan isn't doing right is still being "too protective" or "being too safe" with regards to foreigners. The world is moving forward and COVID IS HERE TO STAY. Just adapt for crying out loud. They should also be open to foreigners migrating to the country as well.

antonc81

2y↑86

Being bound to a “tour group” would absolutely suck. It’s just not the way to travel if you want to really explore a place and experience it’s culture. No way I could visit the country if being part of a tour group was a requirement.

C Kenney

@mpforeverunlimited ...including a large number of obscure kanji needed to sight-read prayer books for 88 separate temples (not including the one performed at each, and going way beyond the "standard 4000" taught in schools)? I can speak enough to get by generally, but paying for a guide to assist with something that specialized will be significantly faster and less time AND MONEY investment, and splitting the cost with a group of like-minded individuals just makes sense. It's not like a standard tour bus either - the company in question rents vans and keeps it small (because there's not much demand), and since everyone's there for a specific task and is presumed to have at least Buddhism 101 level knowledge it's a lot less like being with a bunch of gawky tourists.

(And for the record, with the country opened up to some extent I'm planning on some stuff before meeting up with the main group.)

mpforeverunlimited

That's why I won't be going to iran or Turkmenistan

mpforeverunlimited

@C Kenney just learn Japanese

C Kenney

@TonkarzOfSolSystem Also if you want to do something that's just way out there and going to need assistance with the language. I'll be doing a two-part tour group to undertake the Shikoku Pilgrimage - that requires time spent in parts of Japan that my Japanese language skills are just absolutely not up to.

TonkarzOfSolSystem

2y↑1

Tour groups are good for first time travelers or people looking to hook up.

Lam

2y↑537

You love to see it. You can't blame gaikokojin for everything AND still depend on them for tourism. Hoping to see a 180 turn from society and see future cases of xenophobia get shamed for the garbage behaviour it is.

Cotton Candy Kawaii

2y↑2

@GG undercover
reporting people because you don't agree with their opinions shows that your own arguments are weak

Lam

2y↑7

@GG undercover The amount of videos he comments on is staggering mate. Same account same negative opinions lol. But everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if they aren't nice ones.

GG undercover

@Lam honestly you say just shy of report but I feel like I could classify them as spam no? but I'm like you, too nice to do that yet.

13 More Replies...

The Other Guy

2y↑3.3K

Japan: suffering because they can't have tourism.
Also Japan: you must have a tour guide so you don't accidentally visit other or more places than we allow you to!

Mad G

@D San profoundly true statements

BitterBunn

@D Sanomfg the runescape money making so true for many but ppl some young ppl are living now out of quiz making and actually ppl is getting pay more, not enough yet, but certainmy more than before

krunkle

@Backbroke ikr. The entitlement is real. They can do what they want.

58 More Replies...

Yuzuriha

2y↑95

I actually went on a group tour of Japan years ago before the pandemic. It was pretty disappointing as you barely had much time to explore. Often times we visited one or two locations in a city for a hour or two and then we have to move on. Like I remember us visiting Osaka castle which I enjoyed but half way thru exploring it, I had stop and make a run for the tour bus as we ran out of time.
I want to say we spent more time traveling across Japan then actually experiencing Japan.

If other group tours are like that, it would really explain a lot on why Joey was told don't go with a tour group.

attache675

2y↑3

I’ve met someone with my friend here and did a private fashion tour around Harajuku and Omotesando. He really wanted to buy Japanese fashion and he found a fashion tour guide that took us all to these hidden fashion shops and it took us a good four hours roughly, JUST walking around Harajuku/Omotesando. If Japan is going to push tours, those should be the only tour groups, private and customized to the visitors pace/time. Not being rushed around and herded like sheep on these large scale group tours like HIS, JTB only being backed up by large Japanese government

BabyYaga

2y↑107

Joey: "It's crazy to think about how a city can go bankrupt."
Sri Lanka : Hold my economy

Afdal Ridwan

@MugenCC Every Indonesian city after Covid hits : Someone must summon US!

MugenCC

*cough* Detroit *cough*

Hypothalapotamus

2y↑6

The present instability rippling through the developing world is one thing (food scarcity, political instability, a sudden drop in Chinese investment abroad).
First world countries like Japan and US having municipalities declare bankruptcy due to negligence and stupidity is another.

Apricus

2y↑3

Venezuela

ronuss

2y↑49

The restrictions are crazy. I use to go japan every 2 years, and we have family out there who have recently had kids we would love to visit. The group tours currently are so restrictive there no way any western person would be ok with walking around with all those rules. We go to japan to have freedom to go where we want when we want and see places outside of holiday hotspots. There is no way i'll go back until everything is lifted. You have to ask wtf the japanese government is thinking? there losing so much money. It must have to do with the limited number of hospital beds atm.

NeoFunk

2y↑56

My wife and I have been visiting Japan 1-2 times a year for around 5 years. Each trip averaged $15,000 tourism dollars. We were all set and tickets booked right before COVID struck and have not been back since. We were initially excited to hear that Japan was going to ease restrictions but when we learned it was for group tours only we said "forget it". We are not interested in doing guided tours as we are very familiar with the country and already know what we want to do and see. Now that it has been a couple of years since we were last there we are finding our excitement of a return trip waning as more time passes by. We are now considering other countries like Thailand or Singapore instead of Japan. I'm not saying this to stick it to Japan but that is just the reality of it. Because we know even if tourism reopens any time soon in Japan it will be loaded with restrictions and it may be several years before things turn to normal. So instead of dealing with that aggravation and not enjoying our visit we much rather spend our time enjoying ourselves where things are already back to normal. So at this point I doubt we will be returning to Japan probably ever.

Gordon Graham

@NeoFunk You wrote about the economic impact. I responded with what exactly that impact was in terms of tourism. 0.8% in its best year. Certainly, tourism is a boon to the economy. Just not as much as some imagine. Also, the restrictions are temporary. People are mewling like a kitten sucking on a hind teat about how their privileged lives have been inconvenienced while the Japanese government is exercising caution on behalf of its citizens. Patience is a virtue that many in the west could duly benefit from.

NeoFunk

@Gordon Graham Nice try but we were discussing tourist behavior and not GDP. Travel and tourism is an integral part of global economics as a system.

Gordon Graham

@NeoFunk According to JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) tourism accounted for .8% of Japan's GDP in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 when it had 30 million foreign visitors. That’s 0.8% in its best year.

NeoFunk

@Gordon Graham That is all a part of the global economy. I live in a tourist popular area in the States and really don't see much of a difference here expect when it comes to certain tourists from certain countries. It would not make sense to have no tourism as it would stifle growth and innovation for that country. The most under developed and oppressed countries in the world practically have 0 tourism. However, I am biased in the sense that I wish Japan would only allow certain kinds of tourists that are respectful to the culture and people. My wife and I have spent a lot of time there and came in already with the understanding of being respectful and a being good tourist. We have even learned to speak the language because we have been spending so much time there.

Billie Fingers

Must be nice...

6 More Replies...

Eric Ng

2y↑2.3K

Kyoto's financial woes coming to light is actually a good thing. Before, they had all that tourism money to hide behind and cover up their fiscal mismanagement, but with that gone they finally need to do something about the core of the problem. In the long run, Kyoto's government will be better off fixing their debt issue instead of relying on tourists to bail them out.

mabewa

Well-put. And as you know, their financial woes date back decades, to way before the pandemic even started.

Minnie Mee & Rob Zee

As a citizen of Kyoto, I would not be happy with my rates being totally obliterated!

Apex Gale

2y↑1

@ShadowForged Gamerz The issue is that Japan is a VERY conservative culture and has been this way for years. They all will agree that the declining birthrate is extremely concerning and steps need to be taken to fix that in the future, but they refuse to address the root of the problem. Of course nobody wants to fucking get married and/or have kids: the moment they're out of college they're working pretty harsh hours with crappy higher ups, forced to go spend their evenings with their bosses at izakayas or bars instead of with their wife/children, sometimes having to miss the train and sleep at their office. It's already stressful enough living on your own, without proper time to relax there's no shot anyone would be able to maintain a healthy family.

@qjtvaddict and the issue with NYC's economy is not just the tourism. It's the allocation of government spending that is a fucking joke. They spend so much money just trying to push the homeless people out of sight instead of helping them get cleaned up and back into the workforce. Housing/renting prices continue to rise to ridiculous levels, to the point where minimum wage is not viable. It's getting more and more dangerous with crime rates rising, particularly hate crimes or just done by mentally unstable individuals in public places. NYC is a fucked horrible place and I pity whoever is still living in the city. Everyone with a brain has jumped ship and either moved eastward to Long Island, northward to any major city upstate, or just outright left the state.

qjtvaddict

Like NYC?

10 More Replies...

noazucar

2y↑5

Honestly, if the Japanese people got vaccinated last year they should be able to go out and about this year to strengthen their immune system and allow tourists in. Every single one of my friends and immediate family got boosted and vaccinated last year, and almost half of us (including me) got COVID this summer once immunity started fading and we all basically stopped wearing masks (until we got sick). I caught COVID for the first time last week while on vacation, and the only people who didn't get sick in our group were the ones that caught COVID a few weeks prior. And it wasn't even that bad since I still had some immunity! I didn't even get a fever.

daddy7860

2y↑2

Japan is a prime example of what happens when a gov't places "following established rules" above the actual purpose those rules have to exist in the first place. I wonder what we can do to help the gov't get out of its "afraid to lose power and control" cycle and make some real changes sooner rather than later.

XxBanziixX1

2y↑50

I'd like to point out that Japan's been on a trajectory downwards in terms of economic growth for around 2 decades. Pandemic definitely hit them harder compared to a lot of countries because of this as well.

XxBanziixX1

@I m I think measuring economy by total assets alone is not a great idea. By that prospect Canada is third in the world in front of US and I can tell you canadian economy is not great.

Cotton Candy Kawaii

2y↑1

@XxBanziixX1
"Japan is very culturally, traditional, classist and xenophobic"

all of these reasons is why Japan is a superior country to the modern Western world

8 More Replies...

El Coyote Loco

2y↑2

So I worked and lived in japan from 2019 till almost 2022. I could bearly get my company to pay me minimum wage of 850 yen an hour for my 10 hour work day. I lived in morioka iwate and tono. Got a $300 a month apartment after year one (as apposed to my $600 a month company housing lol) I kinda struggled to buy food in order to try and save some money. Basically my company would put in "non paid" work time in my schedule regardless if I even got a lunch break which some days we didn't because of school schedule. It was a long 7 to 7pm day with my comute. I really loved japan and my japanese friends but it didn't look like I would have a long tearm career there. Ps. My PCR test exiting was 300 usd cash at a local clinic in Osaka. Cheapest one around.

Bruno Lima

2y↑2.2K

One reason that certainly is impairing tourism no one states is the price of those guided tours, since only a handful of travel agencies can apply your visa for you, they are charging insane prices. I'm usually seeing prices in the ballpark of 5 ~ 6k USD per person for 10 days not including plane tickets

DrIndira Chakraborty

Can't agree more.

Kyoto Ben

If one of the tour group gets a positive test result the whole group gets sent back home.

Skateboard_0213

Why the hell would people spend all that money, to go on a guided tour, where you have to wear a mask the whole time, when they could literally go to any other country for less and not have to do that.

katwild

Yep, THIS. US citizen here. Went in 2019 for 10 days and spent less than $2000. Went to Kyoto and Osaka, on my own, and had an incredible time by myself. Would never want to join a group tour, especially for those crazy prices. Sounds like a nightmare.

24 More Replies...

allstatejake

2y↑32

I've tried to plan a vacation to Japan twice in the last 6 months. After realizing that I would have to jump through so many hoops that still wouldn't guarantee that my family and I could visit in a reasonable time frame and not without spending an insane amount of extra money, I just gave up. I told my wife that it seemed like they were trying to keep people out and didn't want any tourism.

SHAWKLAN 27

@John Doe you still need to quarantine as a tourist in Japan in 2022? The fuck?

John Doe

2y↑4

South Korea is open. No more quarantine required either for tourism.

Aitchpk

2y↑14

A D R I F T

2y↑26

In 2013 I was able to walk to the airport here in the US, get a ticket to Japan with no planning, fly there, hop on the bullet train to the south and walk all the way back to Narita and fly out. Walking 700 miles across Japan was so freeing. I miss those times.

Tiros

2y↑8

I recently went to Japan, back around March/Apr for work. Went there for 3 days, waited 1.5-2months to get a visa, PCR-ed 3 times. Not only is the visa extremely tedious with japan correspondence in my company, the government was making it hard with questions like can they do it remotely etc.

While I didn't fail any PCR, PCR has been a woe for many removed in most countries for ART because PCR detects trace amounts of COVID virus that is outside of the infectious window for those who had it before, even 1-2 months after you've recovered. This caused some of my colleagues who had the visa but can't travel due to failed PCR test.

I love Japan, but honestly watching them harm themselves over this is bad. For all the xenophobic comments I've personally heard from locals(i understand japanese) to worrying about the elderly getting covid while many elderly refuses to wear masks, they really need to figure it out soon. Recession is gonna hit sooner than later.

Hayley Barbara

And its not just 2 months, PCR can test positive up to 90 days after infection!

ianpolitano07

2y↑9

My husband and I loved walking through Japan. We'd average 30,000 steps a day. One night, we decided to walk from Shibuya to Shinjuku and just enjoy seeing things as we walked and it was great.

Twilight Knights Cosplay

2y↑15

Aside from the incredibly strict mandates making travel nearly impossible the costs have also skyrocket. Flights to Japan from where I live have doubled, and group tours to Japan are almost non-existent (I looked) and those that do exist are incredibly expensive and restrictive on not only where you can go but when.

All in all in makes travel not just an improbability but an impossibility. The fact that the Japanese government does not see this is what's dooming them to fail. Or at least that's what I'd say if Japan wasn't strictly aware of these facts. Instead it's xenophobia in combination with the former that's dooming the country to poverty.

Mr RAAAB

Hey Joey, just discovered your channel through Abroad in Japan while looking to plan a first trip in 2025. I was wondering what exactly someone in the US could do to keep on top of what the restrictions or policies are involved with taking a week or two vacation there.

Thanks for your videos! Really enjoyed the one touring Cloverworks!

Shane Piaggi

2y↑1

I'm here at the moment its been 3 years since we last came.. The masks outside by yourself on 34 degree heat is the most moronic thing I have ever seen! The fear that the Japanese have of each other has truely torn at the fabric of society. Kids don't play together & parents tell then to not get close. Where I live in NZ 90 percent of my circle have had
Covid and survived. The town we are in is huge & it looks like the grass hasn't been cut in 3 years like a walking dead scene. Quite a miserable feel in general but I love this place & hope it can move on but I'd say another few years. I miss the lovely faces & the conversations.. Please come back Japan xxx

Gvmnt Name

2y↑644

Japan's habit of changing at a snails pace has always been very self sabotaging. They don't move fast and then everything gets worse

krunkle

They like stability, and they've hustled a lot more than other Asian countries in the 19th century when it mattered most.

Molly H. Johns

@Preserved Dino Dung preserving the seniors and older generations while also leaving the younger generations in the dust

Preserved Dino Dung

2y↑22

Agreed with this. They really need to drop a lot of the traditional formalities in the way they do business and employ staff. The work culture (from what I have read and heard) is killing the population and the economy too. They need to work smarter, not harder.

Ajay Singh Grewal

2y↑30

yeah its weird, they have been so ahead of the world in certain things and depraved in others

stagnation is something very few expected of such a country

3 More Replies...

darkartist74

2y↑16

I guess my plan to delay visiting Japan was a good call. Prior to 2020, I planned to visit Japan in spring of 2026. Due to my suspicions of how the country would respond to covid, I have pushed it off for a later date. Hopefully the country will be back to normal and not super restrictive by 2029 or 2030...

Cold Salad

2y↑9

I was born and live in Tokyo Japan and imo it feels like the Japanese government is just out of touch at this point. When we had a spike in cases, Japan just decides to make things strict and when that fails it feels like they doubled down and made things more strict. I remember when they decided that Shibuya will go completely dark after 8pm and I remember a lot of people worrying it would lead to an increase in crime. I'm not even sure if curfews would do much to stop infections. A lot of people here hate most of the decisions the government is making but they either don't know, don't care, and/or think their decisions are correct and just.

Japan is definitely in denial of the situation and it's sad and frustrating. Like Joey said, most other countries have accepted that covid is just a new disease we have to live with but Japan just doesn't, trying to push more mandates and thinking we can eradicate it.

I can't think of anything Japan has done well in the past few years. They tried to send masks to everyone at the start of the pandemic but only sent like 2 shitty masks per person or family (don't remember which), had someone say "you don't need masks if outside" but also stated you still need to be 1m away from others and not talk, basically nullifying the previous statement in most cases.

Suzanne Leigh

アベノーマスク 😂

2 More Replies...

Nolsp

2y↑1

Ironically, that one time during the height of the pandemic that Japan decided to let a lot of foreigners in (Olympics), it probably resulted in a financial loss for the country.

Chungs

2y↑1

The economic problems run much deeper than just Covid and unfortunately at this point if everything opened up we'll all still be in for a rough ride - and that's everyone not just Japan.

Vector's Plane

2y↑344

2018: Joey the Anime man
2019: Joey the Manga Lad
2020: A Joey in Japan
2021: Joey the Old man
2022: Joey the Newsreader

CannedCherry

2y↑22

Cannot dispute this claim, I’d also add game show host

Luna Grey

2y↑3

They’ve made it difficult just to even take a connecting international flight there too. It was a headache for me. I got my pcr test though in Indonesia, then they didn’t even check it when I went through NRT. 😅

Gang Groovy

2y↑13

Bruh, that's actually sad to hear.
I've been fascinated with Japan since I was a kid in the early 90s when I watched my first two anime movies: Akira & Street Fighter 2 the animated movie.

Places like Thailand, South Korea, Philippines and even Vietnam have squashed all those rules for negative PCR testing.
Hell, Thailand even made cannabis legal now.

Kyoto and Osaka are placed I definitely want to visit in the future, but not if I gotta jump through a dozen fiery hoops just to get into and out of their airports.

arricakes

2y↑1

Thank you for covering this Joey. I’m so frustrated and sad. I was living in Japan for almost 4 years but had to rush back to the UK in February because of a death in the family. I still have a re entry permit and work visa but since I don’t have an employer to go back to - I need to get another job before I go (which I wasn’t told at the airport when I left), or marry my partner to get a visa from him. Either way I had to cancel my September flights and postpone to next year and just play the waiting game now… So frustrating and sad for Japan. I really hope they can open up soon and get rid of these ridiculous visa requirements just to enter Japan even for those with visas, families etc in Japan. It’s so sad…

Kazuchi Ryuu

2y↑3

"I dont think anyone has have it as rough as japan" ??? lol
Me looking at my third world country, we were having a hard time before the pandemic, imagine how we have it during the pandemic.

Thanos And No Bill

2y↑5.1K

I remember the summer of 2020 watching a youtuber ask Kyoto citizens how do they feel that city was so empty, and most of them said how awesome it was. Not so wise reply considering how much Kyoto relying to tourists. Meanwhile in Sweden, people are like... what pandemic? What do you mean no tourists due to corona?

Leeirah Brashka

@C. K. as a person who lives in a tourists town... I agree. because we were the one being charge stupid taxes to make up for the tourists.

nerijus ramonas

@Nick Beaulieu i mean yeah there's definitivt alot of forest and so on but I personal don't se it to mutch of i driver in a 50 mile radios from dispatch so mostly industrial companies for me 🤷‍♂️

Nick Beaulieu

@nerijus ramonas what's truck driving like in Sweden? What are the roads like? Sorry I've never been but Sweden always looked beautiful

jesterapp

@I m HILARIOUS. It's 1% in 2021, 5% in 2020, 19% in 2019, 18% in 2018 and 16.2% in 2017

OFC it's only .5-1% rn. THEY'RE FUCKING LOCKED DOWN

78 More Replies...

Flip_91FTW

2y↑2

Yeah Japan being so strict on entry is really starting to have serious repercussions now. Not just for the Japanese economy but also sadly for how a lot of people view Japan. Because I know several people including myself who are starting to feel like we just are not welcome there.
And as beautiful a country it does look and as much interesting things there are I want to do there, part of me is also kind of put off ever going because I now know there's a big demographic of people there who seemingly don't want us visiting anyway.

Shannon McCrary

"It's super easy to come here": literally the biggest headache to go there.
I lived and worked in Japan, I was going to have my honeymoon there, and I have not been able to go back because I would rather just not go if I have to be in a group tour instead of just hanging out with my Japanese friends and going to small local spots.

Lux

2y↑10

This is my experience trying to book a holiday to japan - requirements which werent previously there (and do not seem relevant anymore) for example the visas required for everyone or E visas for USA and Canada) the tough covid rules still in place or the confusing contradictions (for example blue countries arent subject to these rules but we still need to take covid tests and sign a document for potential quarantine?) I was all for holidaying japan this year but after trying to sort out visas and even having tour companies advise the tough requirements and how they have cancelled some holidays due to it (ive been warned by a tour company specifically on this) But until visa situations and Covid rules are relaxed - i cant visit id rather holiday in europe or other countries EDIT: I am European and trust me when i say the time consuming process of looking into a visa getting the tour details travelling by plane or train + taking time off to visit the Japanese embassy in my country - yea no this is an absolute pain. I want to go in a group tour but i dont want to spend 2 + weeks to try and get my fucking visa

Andy Bliss

Japan used to be my dream growing up and even when I lived there in the 2000s. It was a rich country then, but it is getting poor fast and its problems are only going to get worse. Wages are abysmal compared to the US or even here in Europe. My wife said department stores are shutting as there is no longer the demand for luxury goods as young people have no disposable income. The pandemic and the public's unwillingness to move on from it unlike the rest of the world just summed the sad decline of a once great country.

Matt

2y↑680

Joey's on point here; "Winging it" is the best way to experience Japan. I spent three weeks in Japan, with a plan to stay a week in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima with a Lonely Planet guide for suggestions when stuck. The best experiences were suggestions by locals and/or other travellers.

Rusty Megowan

@Skim Lives damn. well its kind of a throwback at this point what with the internet. always killed it though in general

vivs

Yeah that’s what my family always does when visiting anywhere, we rarely plan tourist group plans mainly because it’s so expensive for excursions and all. We usually ask locals “what is your favorite ____?” And their experiences/suggestions will almost never let us down.

frenchbaguette

cringe

Sekepa

Genshiken

Kiwikick238

2y↑2

asking locals for suggestions has led to some of my best experiences when travelling

3 More Replies...

mudachaproductions

2y↑16

I planned and saved up for 5 years to go to Japan for the first time, as my first trip to Asia and my first trip without any family members. In 2020. It's been nothing but rebooking and cancelling flights and hotels for the past 3 summers. To say it's been frustrating is an understatement.

Ralv

I'm sure you'll have the best trip possible, just wait a little longer <3

Jess N.

2y↑1

All of Asia had its borders closed for almost 2 years. You wouldn't have been able to go to Bali, or Seoul or Bangkok until this year either. I think you might want to pay attention to the news more so that you do not feel so disappointed.

Art Burnell

That really sucks, I got insanely lucky, wanted to go for about 15 years, then got a business trip that also landed on my birthday. In January of 2020 got to experience everything normally right before the lockdowns. I wish you luck, but you might consider packing away the money and putting the trip on hold until you can actually go and experience it without any real restrictions, it was pretty magical just wandering around and exploring strange places like the bar alley in tokyo, like 50+ bars packed into tiny spaces in one little alley.

Travellerbysea

2y↑6

Its still such a hassle. At the beginning I was stuck on a ship for 7 months due to all borders closed at the beginning at the pandemic. I could not go back to Japan when I finally had land under my feet as Japan abolished the 90 day visa exempt period. Luckily we were in the progress of getting a spousal visa to be with my family so first had to fly to my home country to pick up my visa and was able to enter as exceptional circumstances. However in 2020/21 I spent 6 weeks in quarantine due to going and coming back as a seafarer, in this time these workers were exempted from quarantine in most other countries, Japan also signed this treaty however did not follow the guidance . Marine transportation needed to keep going for supplies but Japan did not care about the people. The government is still so lacking in understanding the human aspect.

swopeboi

2y↑1

I took my first overseas trip March 5th 2020 to Japan. Stayed for 2 weeks and went back to the states. I am so so so grateful for dates I booked 6 months prior to see Japan. Up until i boarded my plane i legit thought it would all be cancelled and towards the end i really didn't think I would make it home lol.

Simpson

2y↑1

it's kind of bizarre how obsessed i was with japan before the pandemic and how little i care about it now.

Gwenx

2y↑4

Denmark was on a lil "lock down/take it easy" in December but we started living normal again in January 2022, soooo... Yea, this summer i have been stunned about how many tourist we have in Copenhagen, and we are doing great.
Closing borders can be wise, but honestly it is also very dangerous from an economic standpoint, and also why we hesitated till last moment and re-opend quite quickly again.
I can believe that Japan is suffering, tourism is so so important for so many country and this summer have given most tourist cities/countries a renewed boost of money, Denmark has seen it, and i hear a lot of families have been traveling out too.

Immortal Rimas

2y↑6

Exactly as much as I would love to visit Japan again to see it all I absolutely hate extra steps as life shouldn’t have extra steps to live it and I hate being in tour groups too as I wanna explore at my own pace. Plus what’s happening with Vaccinations in Japan? If most infections are between locals? Since I’ve been fully Vaccinated since December I’ve not worn a mask at all and so far so good but I hope the potential Foreigner Mask Mandate if triggered in Japan will not be forever because after a day they get bloody Irritating especially when one does not even have a cold especially in hot weather

yenzmcgee

2y↑2

I always wanted to visit Japan and had the opportunity to go twice with friends, but unfortunately something always came up. When the pandemic started in 2020, I started saving. Fortunately, there is the possibility of entering the country via a working holiday visa and then being able to move around relatively freely. But yes, the path to this was awful(a language school as a guarantor made the visa possible for me and there were a lot of questions back and forth between me and the embassy). But I'm looking forward to finally being able to explore Japan in 2 weeks. And since it is not overcrowded it will be an even better experience.

Jesse Nordwall

I know I've been wanting to get back in since this whole thing happed two years ago and it is frustrating how Japan is moving at a snails pace to opening up the country...

Shawn A

2y↑719

As a repeat visitor to Japan, it is 100% the guided tour requirement preventing myself and everyone I know from going there

シロダサンダー

TIme to fake a business... :3

KingKafei

2y↑1

Exactly. I wanted to go as a graduation gift to myself when I graduate in october but since they aren't letting non guided tourist in I'm not going yet. Guided tours are so much more expensive and don't allow me to do what I want to.

Rjay Candelario

2y↑2

@Thy Grand Berserker Business Visa it also kinda fucked up that he already had property in Japan and yet it took him a while to secure his Visa to enter the Country.

C Lindsell

seriously though who are they north korea? thats the only other country i know that does that

Lai May

True. I wanted to go back to Japan but the guided tour requirement is just unappealing and money draining. I want to have my own schedule and pace and choice of hotels/inns.
Kyoto is a beautiful place and the people are nice. But Japan's ruling body is really behind times.

22 More Replies...

cloudy_jpg

2y↑2

I visited Japan in 2016 on a group tour thru my college, and while it can be a good way to visit a country if you're hesitant to do it alone, I definitely can't imagine that's how most people globally would want to travel. I have a couple friends going on a group tour in that fall and the requirements seem crazy. For one obviously, you can only go with a group tour. Second, they seem to give mixed signals for what they say Japan's ministry of health says entry requirements are and what they're telling the travelers. Online it says they categorize countries in 3 different color "groups": blue, yellow, and red. Being from a blue country which the US is labeled, online says you only need a negative PCR test and no quarantine required, but their agency is apparently telling them that they need to be vaccinated AND boosted, AND possibly quarantine. They're also making it so on group tours you have to stay with your tour guide, so how tf can people explore, cannot take public transit, and have to wear a mask indoors AND outdoors. I think it's safe to say that considering all the countless vlogs I've watched showing Japan since the start of covid and people seem to never take off their masks even outdoors, they really don't seem to work considering they're on their 7th wave as you said lol. Just bc masks were common in Japan before covid doesn't mean people wore them literally everywhere outside their own home and when they aren't even sick. When I was there in 2016 I rarely saw people wearing masks. It's time to get back to normal and I hope Japan can just stop being paranoid and accept covid as another type of regular illness at this point like the rest of the world has accepted.

Felix

2y↑1

The point about the tour groups is what did it for my friend and me. I just finished my masters and wanted to celebrate by visiting Japan in october for the first time. But yeah I don't want some tour guide to dictate to me where I have to go all the time. I want to experience Japan with my friend and not a whole travel group. Unfortunately we already booked the flight but we will just move them to next year. So I hope until then Japan is truly open again.

Grodddangit

2y↑28

I decided at the beginning of the pandemic to go to either Japan or Australia once the pandemic was “over”, whichever one opened up first. 2+ years later Australia has more or less opened up whereas Japan has not. I guess Australia is getting my tourism dollar.

Andy Bliss

I used to go all the time. Given up now and will just go to France instead. Food is just as good and just across the channel

Rhiannon Parks

2y↑2

Literally same. Back in 2019, our plan was "Japan vacation in 2020, Australia in 2022". Then COVID happened and we thought, "Japan 2021, Australia 2023?"
We keep pushing it back and waiting for Japan to open, but if they aren't open by spring 2023, it's going to be "Australia 2023, Japan 2025"....

Bushy

2y↑1

Joey: It's so hard to get in, they need to open up boarders
Mathew Perry in his grave: Tell me about it, man..

Elizabeth Gardner

2y↑4

I'd love to go to Japan again. I was fortunately able to go in Fall 2019 before the pandemic. We didn't make it to Kyoto but it's on the top of the list for next time. With any luck, we can time it so that we can go after it opens up but before it becomes over run with all the other tourists. Pipe dream? Maybe.

Group tours don't really work for me. In Tokyo, it was great coming upon some unexpected not-well known shrine and exploring by serendipity. I also have medical dietary restrictions and prefer to have a kitchen of my own. Plus it's fun to go to grocery stores in other countries. We took a cooking class and still make some of the dishes every week to this day.

flottenheimer

Dying to visit Japan again (our family has been there 6 times). We have had to rebook our current booking 4 times so far — we are now hoping that our booking for spring 2023 will actually happen. The fact that direct flights from Scandinavia to Japan are no longer possible (due to Ruassian airspace being closed) doesn't help either. But come on Japan — please let us in.

4akat

2y↑1

Japan has a talent for making things strangely difficult

Guy Rooney

Japan's economy has slowly been bleeding out well before covid. Economist mark Blyth has a great explanation of the unique situation japan is in

Delicious Nap

2y↑392

It's frustrating to me, cause I've dedicated my life to Japanese studies.
I had a 3.9 gpa in Kyoto; then my American college forced me back under threat of expulsion. They thought I would catch covid and "sue them" so they forced me back during my abroad with no warning and no compensation.

And I've tried to get back ever since, to stay there, to study there, to work there, to live there. Yet... the country not only remains closed, but even with my credentials, I've been denied every opportunity and every application. JET has denied me twice. Altia denied me due to "Japanese language proficiency" yet didn't take into account my grades while over there or the fact I've been studying since 2011. At this point I almost feel like the only way back in is to go to graduate school in Japan.

Joey, know that we understand how you feel right now, even as total westerners. I bet my life and my career and my livelihood on this goal, the pandemic and very incompetent individuals in multiple countries ruined it all.

sexmansex

2y↑8

This is what happens when you love a culture that doesn't love you.

Ethan McDermott

2y↑1

Yeah i had a similar situation. It sucks and makes you keep asking whether you should keep trying or give up on all the effort youve put into the language for a decade and move on to some place that will accept you

Blatman

2y↑13

@AndyJapandy Yeah, but the thing is, think of people's financial situation. Japan is not a cheap place, and not everyone is financially lucky. I'm from South East Asia, and graduated from a Japanese university on March 2020, I had to go back for a while to celebrate my graduation in my home country, then BAM. Pandemic hits, and I cant return to Japan. Japan denied me of my Japanese Proficiency and living experience just because of the pandemic. Taking on another university would take a toll on me since Japan is very expensive.

JustJoshin InJapan

2y↑2

How long you’ve been studying nor what grades you got don’t mean anything when it comes to language proficiency unfortunately. Real communication and conversation with someone in Japanese is what they’ll base your dependency on. It’s unfortunate that a lot of university programs focus on reading proficiency and not conversation but I encourage you to keep at it! I was offered a position at Altia but declined it, I think you dodged a bullet anyhow. Graduate school seems like a great goal, good luck!

justicedinosaur

2y↑1

I hope you can get your dreams! How about trying another field with many foreigners other than teaching, such as IT?

4 More Replies...

BG Shin

2y↑2

Alpay Kasal

I appreciate that they're being stringent about pandemic protections. I think your opinions/advice is dangerous and irresponsible. I hope their economy rebounds AFTER the potential of current virus and its mutations is less risky. I'm pleased to see a lot of people here in San Francisco are actively masking and still not letting customers into restaurants.

TheBaldr

I lived in Kyoto and went to Ritsumeikan University. I would occasionally go to Tokyo. I felt a lot less crowded in Tokyo than Kyoto, especially on the trains and buses. I had landed a job in Okinawa in March 2020, then rescinded days later.

sendhotcheetos

As a US resident, I actually feel somewhat envious of the precautions Japan takes to protect the health of its people in the context of the COVID pandemic. While I acknowledge it's an extreme set of precautions, I think the US has completely given up on stopping the spread of COVID practically recommending no precautions at all. The lack of action US has taken really scares me, especially seeing how there are new discoveries about the long term effects of covid. Also, I've actually appreciated the things that have changed during covid like wearing masks and being able to work remotely.

AHylianWarrior

2y↑298

I feel that closing the country for so long has done irreversible damage to Japan nevermind Kyoto. Whether it's places going bankrupt, an increase in the price to travel, the racism that spawned from politicians blaming foreigners for the virus etc. It's all big factors and I'm just not sure how Japan's tourist industry and these big cities like Kyoto will recover

KungFuryClub

@AHylianWarrior yea I get u

TheLazy Slacker

@ii lol i think you mean for being easy targets.dont mean its right but to jump to racism just cuz merica.most elder asians keep lots of cash on them.they dont use plastic alot of the time.source i live in the hood.

based tortellini

2y↑2

@ii i too enjoy spreading misinformation on the internet

Tim S

2y↑4

"irreversible" is a gross overexaggerating. Short term, sure. Medium term, maybe. Long term, unlikely. WW2 was "only" 75-80years ago, this is skinned knee, compared to what a country and people can come back from.

10 More Replies...

Jackie Grave

2y↑4

Ive wanted to visit Japan since i was 8 years old, im 32 now. Right before covid i had finally saved up the money, even deciding to do the trip alone, and then everything closed... still waiting for them to reopen. Guided tours do not interest me at all. Maybe one day ill finally get to visit.

Luisa Paoluzzi

2y↑1

Yes, yes, and yes! I cannot agree more. I missed two planned trips to Japan because of the pandemic. As far as I'm concerned, I'd be happy to provide a pcr test to enter the country and wear a mask while there (which I do anyway inside and in crowded places), but visas, guided/group tours, and quarantine with obligation of using Stasi-like apps are a big no-no for me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed to be abe to come back next year, possibly twice, to a country that goes back to normal from its recent North Korea emulation period: these two visits are long overdue.

N8 R

2y↑2

I had been planning a trip when everything got shut down. I would have already visited Japan if they weren't so locked down to tourists. I've now given up going and am getting interested in other things. I have no plans to ever visit Japan at this point. The way Japan is acting like a bunch of scared little whimps makes me not interested in them or their culture.
I'm sure I will get a lot of hate for my opinion but I don't care. I've dreamed of visiting Japan for years now but over the last year and a half, something changed and I don't even care to visit anymore.

A. Westenholz

This is sad, both for the Japanese economy and for all those who might want to visit Japan in the near future. But there is something else that dawned on me, implied in what Joey said, and what some comments said, that the travel restrictions are only made difficult for foreigners not for Japanese themselves. On one hand that may seem natural enough, that they be allowed in and out of their own country, but not if the concern is Covid- Covid doesn't care about the nationality of one's passport. So if the Japanese government are really allowing the Japanese to travel abroad while at the same time restricting tourism to this degree "because of Covid", with a degree of public support to do so, not only is it definitely xenophobic, but it also serves to associate firmly Covid and foreigners in the public mind. That any and all rise in cases of Covid can somehow be blamed on "foreigners".

Because, if this is actually the case, it makes no sense to restrict all foreign access to the point of endangering the economy while at the same letting the domestic population travel abroad if Covid was the real concern. Rather it serves the purpose of blaming foreigners as being the vehicle of entry for Covid.

Amalieee

2y↑274

It’s honestly exhausting how strict Japans rules are and how they keep acting like they are open to tourism but aren’t. I’ll just continue to wait till Japan is fully open someday to come visit and explore freely.
On a happier note, love your shirt Joey!
⭐️🍄

Diana Liong

2y↑1

Very well said, Joey! We can’t wait to visit Japan again, of course not on a group tour. Hopefully the Japan government will see senses and open up the country for visitors again.

Garrett Graf

I work in the education industry in Japan and I know that Kyoto's bread and butter was always schools/students visiting during the year. That came to a huge stop because of Covid-19.

Lenka Kováčová

Till this day I can't believe how lucky I was. I went to Japan for working holiday 2017-2018. I came back, worked a little and at the end of 2019 boom, a pandemic. I had some hopes that by the end of pandemic I'd be able to go back and maybe find a job... lol, got double-tapped by family issues and still ongoing pandemic. And now, after watching this video and reading some comments, I guess I'll just stay stuck in Europe forever and be glad if I make it out of parent's house... T.T

Naomi B

2y↑3

I lived in Tokyo 2013-2016 and ever since returning back to the US I’ve been looking for the time to finally go back. I had it all planned out for 2020 and then Covid happened. I miss my friends, I truly hope something changes soon.

TeddyShinobi

2y↑489

Considering how much they depend on tourists it's probably not a good idea to price out most of your customers with expensive restrictions.

Cotton Candy Kawaii

@Evan Lee
that's a good thing, Japan should be for the Japanese

J Lo Flo

Misinformed… tourism is just 2% of Japan’s total GDP… yes, Kyoto is struggling but trust me the locals living there are absolutely happy without the hordes of tourists.

This is a deeper issue than just closed borders for tourists. It’s money mismanagement.

And simply saying open the borders is not a cure all for this much deeper issue.

Shin Yamada

@Marcko Wirajaya+ Pretty much. Why do you think a lot of the younger Japanese learn foreign languages and leave to work in the west?

Eric Ng

More specifically, Japan was dependent on tourists from mainland China. Even before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were by far the biggest percentage of tourists to Japan. So even if Japan opens to tourists from North America and Europe, it wouldn't be much of a monetary recovery without the Chinese tourists.

Ronaldo

Yo 🔥https://youtu.be/rdJ9bsN7JAw..

3 More Replies...

Oybek Ochilov

I also have been here for the whole time there was the pandemic. I have seen people who are actually fine having less tourists so I think as long as those kind of people are in positions of power here, the borders will not fully open for a while. The issue with borders does not affect me directly but the whole "you have to wear a mask" situation is becoming ridiculous. The D rates are not even 1%, I don't know why they still insists on the strict anti-virus measures...just let me workout without a mask please...

Good video by the way!

Mary Spohn

I just wanted to thank you for making this kind of video. After first getting to know you as Dr. Jelly (who I love!) I also really admire your courage in being able to tackle some really important subjects. I had to miss my scheduled trip to Kyoto in 2021 because Japan was not letting visitors in. You are a great light! Keep it up Joey🥰

Jassica H

2y↑1

My husband and I love Japan and had been visited the country many times before Pandemic 2020. What we fear the most is Japan is going back to much earlier stage and stay cautiously closed to tourists. We live in the UK and heard our friends booked whole family going to Japan in 2021 Oct. then cancelled and rebooked this year in June...of course, cancelled again. With the increased price of flight tickets, by the time even we can go, we would be very cautious booking anything, otherwise we will loose everything. You are right, it is either opening fully or not at all.

Tuckerman

2y↑8

For someone that has been to Japan multiple times, I will only return if the visiting conditions are the same as pre-pandemic. I'd never do a package tour. Although it is what some Japanese people see as normal to do when visiting my country, it's not for me. The longer Japan isolates itself, the less likely I will ever consider going there again. And I'm kind of insulted that I may be seen as a danger or an irresponsible person. I always travel with respect and do my best to observe all customs. In the meantime alternatives may be found, such as Korea. And once experienced, may replace Japan as my preferred holiday destination.

Roderick Bawcutt

2y↑652

Stuff like this makes me so confused about why Japan hasn't opened up to tourists yet. They complain about all of these problems but a large amount of them can be helped through tourism but they refuse to do it. Like Joey said, it's not a perfect solution but it would definitely help

サックス

@Kat Lavender じゃあ関係ないと思った理由をお願いします

Cotton Candy Kawaii

@Hithro
guy gives you a paragraphed comment on how foreigners destroyed Paris and how Japan doesn't want to destroy their own country with immigrants and your only retort is "xenophobe"? Is this a checkmate to you?

Cotton Candy Kawaii

@Jeremy Byma
most people don't want foreigners especially in large numbers; at least the Japanese government respects their people and nation more then Western countries do

Jeremy Byma

@Eric Ng Yeah, that is why I threw that comment in. Yes, I'm sure they secretly love having their own country to themselves (I cannot wait to travel while everyone is gone but its been too hot), but even though the medical system is better in cost, it is not necessarily as open in regard to hospitals and urgent care.

Kat Lavender

2y↑1

@サックスそれは関係ないじゃない？

27 More Replies...

V XXIII

I am absolutely fascinated by Japan's history and culture, I want to visit it one day but since the pandemic's rules of not letting many foreigners entering I'm still unsure when I'll go. I wanna spend at least 2 weeks there someday ; w ;

Yuriy Zakk

2y↑1

I was watching this video and you started talking about visas. I was really confused because last i checked before i bought my ticket to japan (for next month) USA citizens were exempt from needed a visa. I checked and triple checked and it was still the same. What i didnt notice is that there was a small text on the Japan embassy website saying that it's not in effect. I now had to cancel all my plans for my trip and cant get a refund on my expensive ticket that i bought.
Im thankful for this video because it saved me from dealing with an entire set of new issues that would have come up. Thanks Joey.
Still very angry i couldnt go to Japan, but im quite used to being disappointed or having unfortunate events happen in my life.

Rica Ramos Santos

I’m in the Philippines so Japan is just a quick flight. I used to visit every year. The problem is, 1. The organized tours are exorbitantly priced! For the price being quoted for a few days in Hokkaido, I can plan a decent trip to Europe.
2. As someone who used to regularly visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka - why would I pay so much to be forced to see temples and sights I have already seen several times before? For first and second time tourists, fine. But I only want to mostly wander and discover places to eat, shop, sit down and have coffee while people watching…. There’s no time for that in the tours. I might give in to a tour to Hokkaido though, since I’ve never been there. But it is with a heavy heart. I never liked being in a regimented tour group. ☹️

Making Success Inevitable

Joey, you are completely correct! Above all, you are a good lad and I love to listen to your videos. The only thing thing I would say is Japan is still a better place to live and grow and even visit, than the majority of the world, even if they are going back to normality elsewhere whilst Japan struggles.
We moved from Cambridge UK to Miyazaki Japan last year and despite all the challenges of not only settling here, but the pandemic too, we have truly enjoyed every moment and I would highly encourage everyone to try to get to Japan when the borders open.

This is because in my opinion, Japan will always be the place where the greatest memories can be made for various reasons inclusive of the food, the culture, the people and above all, the general way of life. The sheer variety in anything and everything, is enough to take your mind away from the harshness and the realities of the world, from the cheap local udon shop in the corner, to the natural hotspring in your journeys in the countryside, the to the passion that even the poorest folk, put into their daily endeavors.

IchBinDerDoktor

2y↑625

I think Corona isnt the only problem here. Many other places are fighting against inflation and many dont know how to afford living anymore. It's hard to travel in times like these. And some countries (e.g. Germany) were really Russia-dependent for fossil fuels and now have to pay extra to get their energy sources from other countries

Poi Lethe

2y↑7

Yea agree. "Back to normal" as in basically living day to day like we did before pandemic? Yes. Are things actually back to normal? No. We are fucked. The entire world is experiencing an economic depression. Can't rely on tourists who don't exist and can't afford to supply the money the country/city needs the support of to function. Because many people are barely getting by paycheck to paycheck let alone afford a staycation or a vacation to Japan.

21 More Replies...

ShiranuiTV

I'm actually planning to go there for couple of months as a digital nomad. Unfortunately it got delayed due to recent events in Japan. Most countries including mine are getting back on track, hopefully Japan too. But most importantly, stay safe.

Eric Wang

2y↑4

I think it's fair to say everywhere is feeling the effects of recent events. The past few years has seen the convergence of multiple forces, from climate change to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. It's fair to say this decade will see quite some unrest.

Zach Long

Don’t forget angry populations and the persistent resurgence of far leaning ideologies

Caterina Peracchi

2y↑17

I've applied twice already to go abroad to Japan for my Japanese major, but each time the program ended up being cancelled/ my application rescinded because they wouldn't open the borders to students in the US. Now I know that I won't be able to go to Japan for my undergrad, something I'd been looking forward since the beginning of college. It's something that really makes me sad because it wasn't just an opportunity to speak the language, but also to be surrounded by it 24/7 and be more personally acquainted with the culture, tradition, and daily life there. I still wish to go there someday, but I really don't know when I will be able to.