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It never stops being weird.

One minute you're eating a sausage roll and trying to hail a cab, whilst running down the cobbled streets of London amongst historic brick buildings.

The next minute (13 hours later), you're stuffing your face with onigiri and energy jelly and trying to hail cab, whilst running down the smoothly re-surfaced sidewalks of Tokyo, amongst a futuristic skyscraper-riddled concrete jungle.

Even now I still get a mild sense of culture shock from the journey; but this time that sensation was overwhelmed with a sense of relief (yay, I survived another 12 hour journey in a flying metal death box), as well as a ferocious longing and anxiety to get back to producing videos.

I'll admit, as much as I whinge about flying it was generally a pleasant flight. It seems British Airways have improved their service - although perhaps they're trying to match the impossibly high standards Japanese air passengers have come to expect from their own airlines ANA and Japan Airlines on the London-Tokyo route.

I'm currently jet-lagged to oblivion as I type this and I will shortly be rolling off the chair and flopping on to the hotel bed like a tranquillised porpoise.

But before then, I quickly wanted to ask you guys a favour!

Tomorrow, I'll be facing the ultimate challenge.
- Spending the day with Ryotaro.


And at some point either tomorrow or the day after, I'd love to stick his cheerful face in the next Patreon vlog.

If you have a question you'd like to put to the man himself, go ahead and leave them below in the comments, and I'll be sure to interrogate the hell out of him tomorrow, in between sipping can after can of disgusting sugary coffee, to stave off the jet-lag.

Thanks guys - no matter where you are, enjoy your Wednesday/early Thursday morning!
Chris

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Comments

Max Jensch

おかえりなさい ^^

Ken Shannon

Hi Chris. It might have already been covered before but I'll ask anyway. Has Ryotoro ever considered starting his own YouTube channel?

Anonymous

Other than ramen noodles in the mountains, what else makes you feel L U X U R Y?

Thetypebeast

A Broad is back in Japan, and all is right with the world! What does Ryotoro’s tattoo look like? (The one on his upper arm) A follow up to that: did you get YOUR tattoo?

Adam Penner

Glad you're back to Tokyo safe and sound! As for a question for Ryotaro... What country or place has he not seen yet that is at the top of his list of places to visit?

Anonymous

Hey Chris! Hope you get over the jet lag soon. My question would actually pertain to both you and Ryotaro (Rissotaro), when looking at networking for jobs and with people around Japan, what are your best strategies? I’m looking to stay in Japan for several years and don’t want to just be an ALT. If you have any recommendations for networking with businesses and school, that’d be great! As always thanks for what you do!

Anonymous

Hi Chris! Glad you landed safetly :) my question is to both of you! I want to come back to Japan some time in the future (best trip of my life!!) And climb Mt Fuji. Would you recommend climbing it for sunrise or sunset? Can't wait to see more videos! Hope you both have a great day!

Anonymous

Chris, glad you’re back safely! I’m sure he’ll have fun tormenting a jetlagged you tomorrow. Question for both of you: Which one of your adventures together has been the most difficult/time consuming to make? I really enjoy videos of Ryotaro’s attempts to get you to have fun (assassination attempts) haha. Also does Ryotaro mostly pick where to go and what to do?

Anonymous

I'm glad you survived your death box. Personally I love flying but I understand why people call it a death box/tube. Would you ever do a Ryotoro the movie?

Anonymous

Hi! Glad to know you made a safe trip. Please ask Ryotoro san to make his best British accent.

Nynke de Haas

Hope your jetlag wears off soon and your home still feels like a home when you get there! Questions for Ryotaro: 1) what was your favourite place on The Cycle? 2) You are, of course, Mr. Tohoku, but what do you like best about Tokyo, and what do you like the least? And are these things found in Tohoku as well, or not?

Anonymous

Do Japanese people struggle with seperating Western culture? On my visit to Japan, dispite explaining I was from the UK, I was always responded to with "Is that in America?" or "President Obama?". I had to then reel off a series of UK related cuture word like "the Queen" or "Manchester Untited" and "The Beatles", sometimes still met with confusion.

Anonymous

Glad you are back in Japan! I've seen on Ryotaro's Instagram, that he travels quite a lot. I would be interested in what his number one travel destination was so far. What impressed him most?

Anonymous

What is the thing Japanese people afraid of the most when it comes to foreigners?

rafa UGM

For Risottoro: what do you think of Chris' facial hair? Would you grow a beard?

Evilkwiet

Did he ever had a car crash in Japan? Like riding someone elses mirrors off. How are such problem treated there in Japan?

Anonymous

In his/your opinion what are the travel accommodations to get from the mainland to Okinawa? My next trip is going to cover a few cities on the south end of Japan and I would love to go to Okinawa for a few days.

Anonymous

Welcome back to Japan! I want to know what Risottoro did in Germany and how he liked the people there.

Ute Hempel

Which strange (to us foreigners) stereotypes about foreigners have you noticed Japanese people believing in?

Lewis

I'm off to Japan for two weeks in Mid March! Very excited but given your mention of jet lag, any tips on getting over it quickly? Excited to see the rest of your cycling journey, Lewis.

Anonymous

I would like to know what Ryotaro's tattoo is of, and what was the inspiration for it. I hope you had a good time while visiting home and look forward to what new projects you decide to do here on out. I also hope Ryotaro likes what I sent in the care package I sent once you are able to pass it along :-) I wish you both a happy and prosperous new year.

Anonymous

Hi guys! I would like to know how many times per year Ryotaro travels abroad, and how does he manages to get that time off work? That said, he should go and visit Portugal (if not done so) 🇵🇹 as we were the first europeans to reach Japan, back in the 16th century!

Anonymous

This won't interest anyone but me, but last year I was interviewing various people in Japan (in English), and listening back to the recording the other day, one of them sounded exactly like Ryotaro. He worked in a British-themed establishment, mind.

Anonymous

How did you and Ryotoro meet? Who is he? Anything normal good to know is a bonus. He seems organized and professional, even when hes gofy, on video, is that the real Ryotaro? What does he work with?

Aireglin

Where in the world would Ryotaro like to live outside of Japan?

Jonathan Turmaine

Glad to see you have escaped safely and that you are safely out of range of the chimps throwing crap and shrieking (Also known as parliament debating Brexit). Hope you get over the jet lag without developing diabetes. My question would be if what is going on here is as head-scratchingly wtf to an outside observer as it is to many of us Brits.

Anonymous

I'd like to know how Ryotaro got his accent, he sounds like he could have a bit part in Eastenders as one of Phil's underworld contacts who's on the run from the Yakuza ....

Anonymous

I would also be interested to know this, and I'm quite jealous of the whole escaping Brexit thing, wish I could :(

Anonymous

How is his English so good?

Anonymous

What is the five-step program to being cool like Ryotaro?

Anonymous

Not sure if this has been answered before, but has Risottoro ever eaten risotto? If not, the second Risottoro movie could be Risottoro eating risotto to an ominous backing track, add CGI plane for a bit of flare.

Michael B. McLaughlin

What's his favorite city/region of Japan (other than where he grew up/currently lives)? Also, what's it like for native Japanese speakers when encountering different regional dialects (e.g. Kansai-ben, Tohoku-ben, Ryukyu-ben) and has he ever encountered any hilarious Japanese dialectic misunderstandings along the lines of fanny pack (American English) vs. bum bag (British English)?

Manu

What's his favorite sock color?

Fran Batchelor

What does he really think of his nickname “Risottoro”? Has he ever actually eaten risotto? 😂

Anonymous

I'd like a short recap of what he did in each country that he's lived in, and one standout thing about each experience. (Sausages don't count.)

Nia Lathotep

Ever played Cards Against Humanity? If so what did you think, what was the card that always won, and if not, what do you think of playing it sometime? If you don't know what it is I'm sure Chris will. A mad man who runs around with a blue box kidnapping women.

Anonymous

What a relief! Back into civilisation. Good to you. Please ask Ryotaro what would be his city of choice between Sapporo and Obihiro supposed needing moving north.

Anonymous

Question: "O Dark Lord Ryotaro, if you did conquer Japan (as part one of your evil plan to rule the world, and make people travel); which Japanese castle would you take over as your home base of operations?" I want to know his opinion so I may visit 😁 Also, glad you're back Chris. I hope there's lots more adventures this year. Last year was jam packed, but I'm sure we can squeeze a few more in.

Anonymous

For Ryotaro, what's your favorite thing about Chris? 😁😂

Anonymous

Hey Risottoro, how is your English so good? And welcome back Chris, hope you destroy that jet lag like a magic.

Anonymous

So, the ultimate question for Ryotaro... What is your favorite pokemon?!

Anonymous

My question for Ryotaro. What's the most significant thing about Japanese culture that you can not find anywhere else? Cheers

Imalovernotahater

To help with the jet lag, eat at the stereotypical times for meals and not just when you are hungry. This will help your body quickly adjust to the new time zone. My question for Ryotaro and Chris, when you guys travel, do you have any go to entertainment that helps with the long haul trips? (Example: like a 13+ hour flight)

Anonymous

Has he seen the Giant Salamander in Japan? What is his favorite Zoo?

Anonymous

Has he ever had a worse nickname than Risottoro? (If yes, call him that too)

Anonymous

What are the top 5 countries that he would like to visit that he has not yet visited?

Anonymous

Probably too late,but I left a message for you with a question Ryotaro the travel expert may be able to answer. :) Basically, I am looking for a Buddhist monastery in Japan where I could spent the odd month or two to find some peace and tranquility... I'd be so grateful if you'd be able to help me out! Have a great arrival back and my best regards to Ryotaro and you!

Anonymous

Just in case Risottoro doesn't answer, may I suggest a book titled "Zen Guide", by John Stevens and Martin Roth. It has not been updated in years, but contains excellent information, and many of the temples, related places practicing zazen, and pilgrimage areas are mostly unchanged. If memory serves, they list which places accept foreigners. I may be somewhat biased, as one of the authors is my friend's father, but he is a man of many talents, and is a highly respected author of many fine books, an Aikido Sensei, and an outstanding artist. Hope this helps.

botchpro

What did Ryotaro find most challenging about learning a new language?