Life in Tokyo # 65 Some Fish Have All the Luck tokyocooney 2026-09-24 | Life in Tokyo # 65 Some Fish Have All the Luck
Super Easy Camp Cooking- Mexican Chicken and Rice tokyocooney 2022-12-26 | Ive been camping around the US for about 8 months and this is one of my go to #Aldi based recipes! And really, try it at home this one is a winner and great for winter. Feeds 4-6. Such an easy weeknight recipe. Basically it is just: Can of cornCan of BlackbeansCan of chicken Can of diced tomatoes (I used the roasted ones but any will do) 1 package of taco seasoningsHalf cup of rice (Maybe a touch of extra water) Add everything to pot, bring to boil, then cover and simmer till the rice absorbs all the liquid. Stir occasionally to prevent burning. I dont rinse any of the stuff in the cans, but use their liquid instead of water. This is more a camping thing, rinsing beans and such is a pain in the woods. And I don't like dumping the contents of the cans in the woods. (Leave No Trace!) You could lower the sodium by rinsing the blackbeans (etc), but remember to account for that by adding water. (The amount of liquid in the cans isn't always uniform so you can add a splash of extra water as well if needed.) Possible additions: Add some shredded cheese at the end and re-cover for a minute to melt it Add some crushed tortilla chips (mine were already crushed… the road is not kind to tortilla chips) Tabasco or whatever seasoning you like, though its pretty well seasoned as is. Serve on tortillas so you don't have dishes to do! Hope you guys enjoy it! I have about a dozen of these recipes Ive developed for camping, so let me know if you want more. #shorts
Building a Japanese Street Food Cart tokyocooney 2022-12-23 | About a year ago I decided to build a chuckwagon to tow behind my car-camper to make cooking on the road easier. In this video I give a basic run through of how I built it. Technically it is called a 'Yatai' but while traveling other campers called it a 'tiki bar,' 'sake bar,' even a couple times people thought I was towing a dog house. But basically it is an izakaya on wheels.Will post some adventures from the 20k miles I traveled with it, along with some camp cooking videos in the future.Though if you can't wait... a chronology of my trip can be found on my instagram 'tokyocooney.' You can also find me on Twitter and TikTok under TokyoCooney.There is a post with a bit more detail on my website- tokyocooney.wpcomstaging.com/2022/12/23/honey-i-built-a-yataiYou can find most of my gear on my Amazon profile- amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsftokyocooney_DE4BW49VR3AC5P3VXR0G
Vlog #90 Car Camping: Through the Southwest tokyocooney 2021-10-08 | After giving up on California due to the fires, I headed through Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Met a lot of great friends along the way... both new and old. Georgia continues growling at wildlife and so far the journey is exceeding all expectations.As always... if there is any gear you are interested in, I have it all listed on my Amazon Shop Page: http://amazon.com/shop/tokyocooneyFind me on insta: http://instagram.com/tokyocooney
Vlog #89 Car Camping: From West Kansas to Idaho tokyocooney 2021-09-10 | There is so much in this video, I don't know where to begin. Trying to catch up on the back log of video after my laptop broke.Visited more cool places in Kansas, then on to Denver, the natural beauty of Wyoming and the peculiar state of Idaho.Forest fires turned me south towards Utah, but the road is wide open ahead!As always if you have questions about my camp and cooking gear you can find 90% of it here: http://amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney
Car Camping Culinary #5: 7 ingredient Garlic Noodles tokyocooney 2021-08-30 | For this recipe I was trying to use the simplest possible ingredients to make the tastiest possible dish. These Garlic Noodles are AMAZING! But don’t feel limited by what I used. It makes a great side dish, but could be a whole meal if you added a protein…. Shrimp, tofu, chicken… whatever. Also some veggies would fill it out nicely too. But they taste amazing with just the 7 ingredients above. You can find more elaborate versions on the internet.I used sesame oil… but any neutral oil would also be fine. Also, You could do this all in one pot. Cook the noodles, reserve them, then cook the garlic and so on.GarlicNoodles1 package Instant Noodles6 cloves Garlic1/4 stick Butter (could use little butter packets)Half a packet of sugar1 soy sauce packetBlack Pepper (packet Black Pepper is fine too)Siracha (Could also use crushed red pepper)As always... all of the gear in this video can be found on my Amazon Shop page: amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney?listId=WD2YAIRHTYD4
Vlog #88 Car Camping: From Tennesee to Kansas tokyocooney 2021-08-24 | Sorry for the delay in posting. My laptop was in the shop, which was tricky to get done on the road. This is just to catch you up on where I am. Hauled ass from Tennessee to Kansas with a lot of odd stops along the way! Too many to even list here.Met some cool people in Kansas, drove a lot, swam in a lot of lakes. Kansas was better than I expected!interested in any of the gear I use... 90% of it can be found on my amazon shop page: amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney#carcamping #travel #vanlife
Car Camping Culinary #4: EASY and Amaaazing Japanese Curry in Kansas tokyocooney 2021-08-16 | A few videos back I made a Japanese Curry for a friend visiting my campground and some folks asked for the recipe. This is so amazingly simple it is almost silly to even make a cooking video about it, but I really think it is a great addition to anyone's camping food rotation because it is so delish and so easy. Apologies for the barking dogs and noise in the background... It was not the most serene place to do this video. I've tried making this video 3 times and something always seems to happen to interrupt it.Many people have never of or tried Japanese Curry which is a much milder form of the Indian or Thai ones. But this dish is probably one of, if not the most eaten foods in the average Japanese home. It is also, very popular with kids. I've truly never met anyone who didn't love it.Keep in mind you can really put almost anything in it. Here I served it with Udon noodles rather than the typical rice. For ingredients I used the package recommended ingredients, but literally anything tastes good in this! Go vegetarian, try it with seafood... it all works. But my favorite is always pork.If you are interested in any of my cooking gear, it is all listed on my Amazon Shop page: http://amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney#carcamping #campcooking #castiron #japanesefood
Vlog #87 - Car Camping: My North Carolina Adventure tokyocooney 2021-08-07 | What I expected to be a quiet part of the trip, dispersed camping in the Pisgah National Forest and the Smoky Mountains ended up being more eventful than I had expected. A lost doggy in my camp, a car stuck in the mud and adventures in Asheville with visits to the Pinball Museum, Moogseum and more.You can follow my progress on http://tokyocooney.comMy gear including the recovery tracks I used in this video are all available on my amazon shop profile: http://amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney#carcamping #vanlife #travel
Vlog #86 - Car Camping: Beating the Heat & The Dukes of Hazzard Museum tokyocooney 2021-07-30 | Temperatures have been ridiculous in the South. Virginia and North Carolina have felt like camping in the Devil's anus. Camping in hot weather can be really rough. I have been able to deal with it but had some concern for Georgia, who is a bit furrier than me. So I tried out a couple... slightly ridiculous things to stay cool in the woods.But my time in the South has not been all bitching about the heat and sweating. Took a trip to The Dukes of Hazzard museum for a dose of childhood nostalgia. Very cool place with a very cool owner.facebook.com/BoarsNest01While at the museum it turned out a fellow youtuber had the same idea as me. The young 18 year old @ChunkeyMonkey40 had driven from Michigan to North Carolina and was there to visit the same place. Check out his channel... while he and I clearly have very different world views, I respect that he is out there chasing his dreams.I put longer write ups of my thoughts and experiences... touching on, but different from the videos on my website, as well as a map showing my currentish progress across the map on my webpage: http://tokyocooney.comAnd if you are curious about any of my gear it is all listed on my Amazon Shop page... I have never received a product for review, but this is the gear I found after a year or two of research. I get a small kickback or orders... and it helps keep me and Georgia in burritos and Snausages.amazon.com/shop/tokyocooneyThe mini air compressor really, really is rad... that I can highly recommend! I'm even thinking about switching to an air mattress I'm so in love with it:amazon.com/dp/B088T7WZDN?ref=exp_tokyocooney_dp_vv_d#carcamping #vanlife #stayingcool #campinghacks #dukesofhazzard
Vlog #85 - Car Camping: From Maine to Virginia tokyocooney 2021-07-21 | Wow… so I covered a lot of miles since the last week. Went from Southern Vermont, through the Catskills (NY) into Pennsylvania, then Maryland and West Virginia to Shenandoah where my one bar of reception is struggling to upload this video. This leg of the trip was marked by relentless almost comically torrential rain. Pretty much from Acadia till now I have had only two days that were just partly cloudy. Much of my set up is dependent on solar power, so it has meant a lot of rationing and a few stays at campgrounds that have electric hookups. I try to avoid those because they usually are less woodsy and more expensive. You can read more about it on my website as well as track my progress on a map there: tokyocooney.wpcomstaging.com/2021/07/13/the-rain-in-maine-falls-mainly-on-the-everythingAlso note, there is a map on my website which actually shows my route and labels for the most part any place I’ve spent the night. When I have better cell service I’ll try to flesh out the details a bit more on there. As always you can also follow me on Insta or Twitter where I end to post more real time updates. I’m Tokyo Cooney in both places.Other than the rain, everything has been smooth sailing. I have met some lovely people… mostly older couples in RVs. They seem to always be the friendliest and most talkative people on the road. I feel like younger people all have blinders on and don’t want to interact with humans as though it will somehow cheapen their “Real woods” experience. Sort of the same way foreigners in Tokyo don’t want to acknowledge other foreigners in their vicinity. I’ll have to make a blog post about this social oddity on my website at some point.My big gear brag from this leg of the trip is my mini projector which is soooo small it barely takes up room… loving it for evening movie nights, especially when it was raining. It isn’t available on Amazon anymore, thought they have similar ones there… was able to find it on Walmart: walmart.com/ip/VANKYO-Burger-101-Wireless-Pico-Projector-Rechargeable-Mini-DLP-Projector/256454745The rest of my gear is viewable on my Amazon Gear Page: amazon.com/shop/tokyocooneyHad my first camp visitor! Though I have met up with some other folks from my family and friends who happen to be near, this was my first actual dinner guest at camp. Kudos to her for driving 50 miles out to see me while 7 months pregnant. But that is how hardcore my old Tokyo buds are. Old TokyoCooney followers may recognize her from my, all time most viewed video… and also most debated… “Racism in Tokyo” the 48 second comedy video that many people still don’t get is a joke! A fact which only makes it better in my eyes.youtube.com/watch?v=HNAJWA2gVHEOk… there is so much else I could comment on… It has been a busy, rainy week… but I will just leave it to the video.
5 Absolutely Must Have Items for Car Campers and Vanlifers! tokyocooney 2021-07-15 | People always ask... what kind of gear do you recommend for camping, carcamping or vanlife , and since I really don't know I decided to make a silly video instead.But obviously all the recommendation in this video are absolutely necessary for any sort of pro-camper.You can check out my actual gear on my Amazon Shop page. But the squirrel onesie is probably all you really need to start camping. amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney
Car Camping Vlog #84: Im a Manie-iac tokyocooney 2021-07-11 | Had a lovely trip through Maine, and now am headed South and hopefully out of the rain that has been dogging me for the last week. Maine is an absolutely beautiful state and really enjoyed my time here.Cooked up a live lobster at camp, checked out Lenny the world's only life-sized moose made from chocolate, visited the International Cryptology Museum, saw the farie houses of Mackworth Island and more!If you are interested in any of the gear in my video it is available on my Amazon page... also, it helps support the trip!amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney
Car Camping Culinary: Spatchcocked Chicken Over the Fire tokyocooney 2021-07-08 | So spatchcocking and pit roasting a chicken... this may seem a bit much, but I will eat on it for 2-3 days. Wood cost 12 dollars, Chicken 15 dollars, and the taste of a wood roasted farm chicken... priceless.Spatchcocking is wildly easy with kitchen shears, less so depending on your quality of knife. But such a great way to cook something for a big group. I ended up giving half my bird to a neighboring hungry camp. (also heavy duty shears are endlessly helpful in a camp.)I say a lot about hygiene in this... I think some campers forget kitchen rules because they are outdoors. They always apply! So be safe!If you are curious about the spit its on my Amazon page. (I just like cooking, but amazon sales help me pay for gas and dog biscuits!) amazon.com/shop/tokyocooneyThe Spit Roaster I Used: amazon.com/dp/B074G29QVW?ref=exp_tokyocooney_dp_vv_dI really can't stress enough how versatile a chicken can become if you spatchcock it. You don't need the gear in the video, you can grill a bird over the given camp fire. I am so disappointed about how many people choose parts over whole birds. If I were staying here longer I would have thrown that spine and bits into a cast iron at the edge of the fire to make some stock. But I am on to Pennsylvania!
Car Camping Vlog#83 - Vermont to New Hampshire: The Dog Chapel, Vermontasaurus and Lots of Candy tokyocooney 2021-07-03 | Finally out of the beautiful state of Vermont and into the White Mountains of New Hapshire. Before leaving the Green Mountain State I checked out the Vermontasaurus. It is a tetanus and splinter nightmare! But it was pretty cool. I wold love to see the mobile one in action which I am told literally breathes fire. That seems like a really bad idea, but would be cool.In St. Johnsbury I stopped in at the Dog Chapel, which got me way more emotional than I expected. If you are ever in the North East Kingdom in Vermont it is definitely worh checking out for dog lovers.Chutter's on the New Hampshire side of the border was nifty. Definitely got some nostalgia feels from all the candies from my childhood. Bought some chocolate covered ginger. It was my Dad's go to when he wasn't feeling well before his death. Also grabbed some black and red licorice. I realize people have strong feelings about black licorice, but I love it.Next... on to Maine!
Car Camping Culinary #2: Wok This Way tokyocooney 2021-06-30 | I extol the wonders of a carbon steel wok (I misspoke in the video and called it iron a few times) for cooking over a campfire. I could find very few mentions of this wonderful cooking tool in the camping community, but its weight and versatility make it an awesome addition to any camper's collection. Even if you don't like cooking Asian food, you could just as easily dump a can of Campbell's soup in and heat it over the fire. It cleans up easily and it is virtually indestructible. I forgot to mention I have also used the wok of charcoal and it works perfectly well that way too.The one I have I chose because I like that it is a single piece of metal. Yes, wooden handles are less likely to burn you, but they can also set on fire, degrade and add weight. I chose cast iron, but there are other materials out there if you are worried about keeping it in good condition. Like gremlins they don't react well to water and occasionally need to be re-seasoned like any cast iron pot or pan.Here are some links if you are interested in any of the specific items, but they are all listed in my Amazon Shop page. I get a small commission if you get them through there! So taking a look is much appreciated!http://amazon.com/shop/tokyocooneyWok:amazon.com/dp/B08MFK678H?ref=exp_tokyocooney_dp_vv_dWelding Gloves:amazon.com/dp/B000SST7IU?ref=exp_tokyocooney_dp_vv_dIndividual Honey Packets:amazon.com/dp/B01JHLBEES?ref=exp_tokyocooney_dp_vv_dCooking Chopsticks:amazon.com/dp/B08HWPPT9T?ref=exp_tokyocooney_dp_vv_dFor those looking for an actual written recipe, I’d suggest this one. It is pretty solid, I have done so many stirfrys I just sort of wing it, but if you are new to it, this website is great: thewoksoflife.com/yaki-udon
Vlog #82: Car Camping in Vermont... Part 1 tokyocooney 2021-06-27 | My cross-country camping adventure is going really well thus far. I checked out the birdhouse dinosaur forest, the world's tallest filling cabinet and of course the Ben & Jerry's factory.First night in Vermont I boondocked on state forest land. It had the advantage of being free and the disadvantage of no cell signal. It was a nice night in REAL woods. But since I am both working and working on my masters I needed a cell signal. Decamped to the beautiful Allis State Park. I was very lucky, as it was a Friday and every campground was fully booked everywhere. Allis SP had ONE spot left so I jumped on it.I'm off to North Eastern Vermont now, and New Hampshire after that. Unfortunately the week ahead has some crummy weather coming so we will see how well I can conserve electricity. I will be counting every watt until I can recharge my solar batteries. That, or I will just have to drive around Vermont for hours charging them off my car's alternator.As always... thanks for following along on my little adventure. You can read a detailed blog about this leg of the trip on my website: tokyocooney.wpcomstaging.com/2021/06/27/vermont-a-strange-little-stateAlso, all the gear I am using is on my Amazon shop page. So if you are interested in any of it you can purchase it there and me and Georgia even get a little scratch! Her luxurious lifestyle is costing me, so it will help!amazon.com/shop/tokyocooneyFeel free to ask questions or comment, and I will answer... well... if I have cell service!Follow me on Insta or Twitter for more up to the minute posts... TokyoCooney in both places... still debating TikTok... but I do have one.
Car Camping Culinary #1: Fresh Foccacia in the Woods tokyocooney 2021-06-19 | This is my first attempt at both baking in the wilderness and a side Vlog I'll be doing about my culinary adventures over open flame and camp grills. I am amazed it came out as well as it did! Hope you enjoy this, but if not... oh well, I enjoy making them! The recipe I based this on can be found at the fantastic site Gimmie Some Oven: gimmesomeoven.com/rosemary-focaccia-bread I halved the recipe, to fit in the camp oven, but it is a very flexible and easy to make yeast bread. I highly recommend doing this in a home oven and experimenting like wild. I've added everything under the sun to this bread and it holds up. My mom discovered and loves freezing left over slices of the focaccia and using as a pizza flatbread... just add sauce and cheese, pop it in the oven and you are in business.I used a Coleman camp oven which I find is pretty inefficient when it comes to gas use, but I think it is the most versatile of camp baking options. The Omnia camp oven is far more efficient for gas use, but everything needs to be in a ring shape. So I can't say one is better than the other, they are just... different.Coleman Oven:amazon.com/dp/B0009PURJA?ref=exp_tokyocooney_dp_vv_dOmnia Camp Oven:amazon.com/dp/B000YLJQ5U?ref=exp_tokyocooney_dp_vv_dAlso, the Coleman packs up smaller than the Omnia which is a thing for camping too. You can also bake in a cast iron dutch oven but I feel like the learning curve and ability to control what you are doing is higher for that.You can see the rest of my cooking gear on my Amazon affiliate page here:amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney?listId=WD2YAIRHTYD4My written thoughts on camp baking can be found here: tokyocooney.wpcomstaging.com/2021/06/17/how-many-socks-does-this-cast-iron-pot-weigh
Vlog #81 - Starting My Cross Country Adventure tokyocooney 2021-06-14 | It has begun! I'm spending the next... I don't know how long, traveling the US from coast to coast, north to south in a 2016 Subaru Forester I converted into a car camper. If you are watching this, it is likely you know me from my Japan series of videos back in the day. This will be quite a different series, but I hope you will still enjoy it!For those of you who don't know me, I made a series of videos about life in Japan years ago! Feel free to check them out here: youtube.com/watch?v=oxyyX7w638c&list=PL9D7F5691CFA13B06First stop is Jones Pond in New York State's Adirondack Park. The Adirondacks are the largest park in the US at around 6 million acres. I only touched on a small part of it, but my first jaunt was a blast. My main purpose for this trip was to do some real world testing of the equipment I've packed. So far, everything seems to be working out!For more detailed info on where I am staying and what I am doing, check out http://tokyocooney.com where I will be writing up longer and more detailed descriptions.Follow me on Instagram or twitter for more up-to-the-minute updates: http://instagram.com/tokyocooneyhttp://twitter.com/tokyocooneyIf you are wondering about any of the gear I'm using on my trip you can check it all out on my amazon page: amazon.com/shop/tokyocooney If you do happen to purchase any of it, you will also be helping pay for gas, burritos and doggie snacks!
The Notch... A Drive through Lake Placid tokyocooney 2020-10-30 | This is more a test video than anything. So much I want to say about the ausable river, this route historically and Whiteface to my left, but...Im debating shooting my new videos all in 360 video. Id like to film them basically the same as the old ones, but you can see everywhere around the camera too... I'd love opinions on two things..1) Does this video actually work as a 360 video on your phone/laptop/desktop/two tin cans strung together by thread or does it not work (and if so what are you using)? I dont want to make my videos inaccessible to anyone.2) Which amazing places should I visit in the US/can/mexico because for now it will be by car.... Keep in mind, those visits wont happen till spring. But Im planning now. And trying to plan around Covid and local awesome events... ie... mardi gras in Lousiana the same way I went to the penis festival in Kanagawa.Let me know! In the meantime Im going to be experimenting with 360, open to ideas. :)
TokyoCooney goes on a Walkabout? tokyocooney 2020-09-30 | Sorry to tease with my old opening. It's been a while! I've been planning to do a several month long tour of the US for some time, then a friend mentioned this amazing gig Michelob was promoting for someone to Winnebago around the country exploring the National Park system. I've been to every continental state plus Alaska (and all of Canada... even Newfoundland), but when my father passed recently it inspired me to revisit all the national and state parks I went with my folks (basically all of them). So if I get the gig or not, come spring I'm planning to spend several months on the road, camping and posting vlogs, blogs and photos of my journey. Though, actually I've mostly been interested in working with 360 video lately, and I'm not quite sure how that will work for Vlogging yet. But I was the OG of Vlogging before it was a thing so, Im looking forward to being the OG of 360 before it is a thing... viewers will catch up eventually I hope :) There are lots of other wonderful folks going for this gig, but I thought... even if I dont get it, it's a good way to share a sort of a semi update on my life post-Japan for those who haven't been following me on Instagram, FB or elsewhere.Anywhoo... this also means, expect new videos whether the people at Michelob think I'd be good for this gig or not. Please comment and tell your TokyoCooney story to let them know if you think I would be! Also, while I realize many of you may miss Kenji... Georgia is awesome. Though... she does poop a lot more and bigger. UPDATE: Getting my second Vax shot on April 30th. Heading on the road with Georgia by mid-May. It will be a wild ride and I hope you all follow along!
Where Have I Been? tokyocooney 2017-06-02 | A frank discussion... to catch you up... plus what I do now.Me in my new gig :)facebook.com/mlpbs/videos/vb.118862836773/10155199343391774/?type=2&theater
Digital Doesnt Go Away... Im kinda back but this is old tokyocooney 2016-09-09 | I was going through some old footage of me and found this standup comp I put together nearly a decade ago. But maybe it is still relevant? Are Japanese people still talking about summer heat and weather?
Hanami 2013 tokyocooney 2013-03-23 | Hey folks! Time for the annual Hanami get together. Anyone who is interested, and I mean ANYONE, is welcome to join us Saturday, April 6th from 10 am to Dusk-ish in Yoyogi Park. BYOB and bring your own tarp!UPDATE: As of today (Friday, April 5th), the weather report for the 6th looks like clouds leading to rain. We'll go ahead and meet at the park as planned in the morning, and when/if it starts to rain in the afternoon, we'll head to the HUB in nearby Shibuya.Map/information for the HUB location the party will move to:http://www.eok.jp/restaurants-bars/pub/british/hub-shibuya-2Address: 東京都渋谷区宇田川町３-１０Map to our location is here:maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=35.669528,139.694716&hl=ja&ll=35.669617,139.694729&spn=0.003665,0.004254&num=1&t=m&brcurrent=3,0x6018f34cd9c5d669:0xefdbd88f11a8ea9d,0&start=0&z=18Facebook event page here:facebook.com/events/562872137080466Please join us if you can make it. Ask questions and follow the conversation on Twitter using #YTHanami2013
Hanami 2012.... Its on bitches tokyocooney 2012-03-18 | Apologies for the garb, this was filmed on St. Patties day. But it heralds the return of the cherry blossom you tube party. Get to planning people! I hope as many as can will make it. As per usual I'll be there from about 10 am. It will go till like... whenever, and we'll probably end up at the HUB in Shibuya, Be there or be a quadrangle with right edges of 90 degrees. Updates on the YouTube Hanami Party available on this Facebook event page. http://www.facebook.com/events/320149321372289 Also we've established a twitter hash tag. #2012YTHanami Get lost? try the hashtag. We'll be at this location from 10 till about dusk. Then Probably relocate to the Hub. http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=35.669528,139.694716&hl=ja&ll=35.669617,139.694729&spn=0.003665,0.004254&num=1&t=m&brcurrent=3,0x6018f34cd9c5d669:0xefdbd88f11a8ea9d,0&start=0&z=18
Earthquake in Japan; Update: 3/17 tokyocooney 2011-03-17 | Tokyo is FINE! I discuss three major topics in this video:1) State of Tokyo Now2) Foreign Media Coverage3) What's really going on.Keep in mind this is all from my point of view and my take on things. But I am, like all Tokyoites following the situation closely. Far more closely than anyone abroad is. Frankly we, in Japan, are getting tired of hearing outside, under-informed opinions. I'm open to other peoples opnions, but before expressing them please consider the following.1) What is the source?2) What knowledge does this source have of Japan and Japanese culture/lsociety3) Does this source have a bias towards pro/anti-nuclear projects4) Does this source directly benefit from disaster, ratings wise5) What is the actual information you are getting actually mean.Honestly the information being promulgated abroad is HURTING relief efforts in japan. Supporting these "news" broadcasters is not helping aid that needs to flow to the areas that really need help. North eastern Japan has roughly 450,000 evacuees who need petrol, food, water and other products. All in NE Japan (Also known as "Tohoku") these people need attention. Sadly attention has been focused on the power plants. This issue will result in fewer deaths of injuries than those who will die of freezing temperatures in evacuation areas... UNRELATED TO THE POWER PLANT.Here is some info that may help you grasp the reality of the current situation.Best Source of News on the internet...http://jibtv.comhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tvPlease stay sane... read these posts...About Radiation... Via the British Embassy in Japanhttp://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=566914282I'll update with more... but I can't begin to keep up with all the news. Please follow me at @tokyocooney for the news I'm saying is rational and relevant.Focus on this... those in north eastern Japan lacking blankets in freezing cold temperatures is actually important. The radiation issue is not. Sadly politics, media ratings, and other BS are getting in the way of what should be a global relief effort. When the dust settles... with little radioactive effect in reality... many will be dead from freezing to death, an avoidable disaster that people who are too concerned with their own basic comfort and not enough with the reality of the real disaster a lack of basic resources to those fleeing the disaster area.Will update.Keep up... with real news.http://jibtv.comtwitter: @tokyocooneyblogtv: @tokyocooneyTokyo Geiger counter info:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tokyo-Radiation-Levels/196845207013685
Miyagi Earthquake 3/12 The Situation So Far tokyocooney 2011-03-12 | I'm Fine. Thank you for your concerns. The real concern is North-East of Tokyo where coastal towns have been ravaged by the effects of the largest earthquake in Japanese history and a Tsunami with waves reaching 10 meters (30 feet).Get up to date info in English straight from the Japanese national broadcaster NHK at:http://jibtv.comThe same news feed is available to those inside Japan at:http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/index.htmlI will continuously update on Twitter at @TokyoCooneyI'll try to update with live shows on BlogTV each day in the coming days.http://www.blogtv.com/People/TokyoCooneyKeep the people affected by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.
Ive Got a Show! tokyocooney 2011-01-28 | ****UPDATE:***** The video is now available on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qku2qKnYgk4 Please watch! I hope you enjoy it! ***************************************************** The live show will be the 29th. And you can tweet or skype your comments and questions. On February 5th the same video will air 6 times and be viewable on http://jibtv.com. In the meantime all the info is available on line at: http://www.jibtv.com/info/shibuyaalive/index.html All the answers shold be on that page! Please tweet your questions about shibuya! Until the broadcast on the 5th the live version is going to stay as a recorded video on the Ustream website here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12312967 The first 3 minutes nothing happens, so you can skip past that. The recorded version will be reedited and rebroadcast on the 5th on http://jibtv.com So if you can tune in then. It will broadcast 6 times in one day so you chould be able to catch it no matter what time zone you are in. Thanks!
Im Baaaaaaaaack! tokyocooney 2010-10-04 | This is just a promo. But in the next few days I'll be releasing several videos. First off about the Tokyo Game Show, for gamer nerds out there. But after that there is more in store. But I don't want to spoil the surprise. I haven't really been away. If anything I've been more on the internet than ever. I've been working on my long running passion http://JIBTV.com Sorry if you've felt neglected, but if I'm not doing stuff here, I'm doing it somewhere. I live and love to make content. Thanks for your patience, if your were patient.
Hachiko Before the Japan/Paraguay Match! Go Nippon! tokyocooney 2010-06-29 | The locals go crazy here in Tokyo just before the Japan vs. Paraguay World Cup match begins. Filmed on my phone at Hachiko Crossing the famed street corner from the film "Lost in Translation." Honestly... I rarely see the locals this excited. Very cool. I hope they win. ¨***Update*** Japan should walk away from the field feeling like champs. They've done better than any previous Japanese world cup team. They deserved the win, but lost on penalty kicks. Tense to the end it was a fantastic showing for Nippon. Congrats to the players for a solid showing. I predict a solid future for the team. Only 10 years ago Asian football teams were a joke. Not anymore! Omedetou!
The Prodigal Youtuber tokyocooney 2010-06-15 | Hey folks, I haven't gone anywhere and I'm not going anywhere! So don't worry just experiencing some technical difficulties, and lots of things going on in my life and at work. For those who need some TokyoCooney, I'll be streaming on the internet in a English language travel show called Tokyo Eye on the 15th of June 2010. Pretty much the day I'm uploading this. Get more info here... http://blog.jibtv.com/jibkun/2010/06/tokyo-eye-snapshot-tokyo-616-oa.html If you are in Japan you can watch it on Digital Educational TV3 on Sun. 10:30 - 11:00 (JST) Keep up to date with my goings on at: http://twitter.com/tokyocooney Thanks for your patience... really. P.S. Reminded by a comment, but forgot to add in the video. Doh! Yeah, I do a live show every Friday at noon Tokyo time on Blogtv.com Sometimes with interesting guests, sometimes just mildly interesting me. But if you ever need a fix... tune in! There is an archive full of great interviews going back about 2 years now. Voice actors, bartenders, teachers, jugglers, comedians and tons of other interesting Tokyoites. Worth a look if you don't already know about it. http://www.blogtv.com/People/tokyocooney
Back in The USA (Briefly) tokyocooney 2010-04-23 | For those in the tri-state area, I will e at the Peculiar Pub on Bleeker Street in Manhattan from around 7:00 on Monday the 26th. Stop by and say hey if you have the time. If the Peculiar Pub is closed, or on fire or something like that, will be in the nearest drinking establishment. Should be their till about 10PM at least. Follow my twitter feed for any updates or changes to this plan. http://twitter.com/tokyocooney
2010 Hanami tokyocooney 2010-03-21 | The 2010 Hanami is on its way. March 27th depending on the weather. Here is the website for updates http://web.mac.com/tokyocooney/HereIsJapan/2010_Hanami_Party.html The forum for discussing http://tokyocooney.freeforums.org/2010-hanami-t306.html And of course check my twitter for updates. http://twitter.com/tokyocooney Also, stop by the broadcast the day of and say hello at BlogTV.com http://www.blogtv.com/People/tokyocooney I'll run the laptop from about 12:00 Tokyo time to whenever the battery dies. I'm guessing 3-4 hours at most.
F.Y.I. The Conbini tokyocooney 2010-03-05 | Sorry folks, just another talking head video. But I wanted for a long time to put this up as a kind of part 2 of the supermarket video. I realize this video is very long, but I'm amazed at how much I still forgot to mention. Cucumber Pepsi! Doh! I totally forgot as well, now you can pay for online transactions at the conbinni as well. So if you don't have a credit card you can buy transfer cash into online credit at a conbini. I add money to my skype account via the conbini sometimes. Very cool. Also interesting are other small differences in where and when things are sold. Generally alcohol is on sale 24 hours a day 7 days a week, unlike many parts of my home country. Also notable, condoms are put in the aisle next to other personal hygenie goods, where in the US they are generally kept behind the counter by the staff. The conbini is really a microcosom of Japan in many ways. It certainly, for me at least, is interesting to compare to the US and notice the cultural differences.If you are interested in buying things in Japan from abroad try out the site http://Rinkya.com Because I am not going to send it to you!!! :pNext video will be sooner and more exciting... I promise!Good Article about Conbini's from a Magazine I used to write for.http://www.seekjapan.jp/article/jz/2422/Conbini+Crimes+CollectedAgain, don't forget The Rodger Swan Memorial Fundhttp://apps.facebook.com/causes/440596
Memorial tokyocooney 2010-02-04 | Our actions on earth have the potential to continue to positively affect the world long after we are gone. Whether a memorial is set in stone, hearts or digital information its a comfort to know we will continue to touch people even after we are gone. I was asked to express the gratitude of Rodger Swan's family and Girlfriend. They also asked that I let you know about a memorial fund set up in his honor at WMU (Western Michigan University). Here is part of the text of the mail: In order to remember Rodger and his love for Japan, we have created the Rodger Swan Memorial Fund for Japanese Studies to support students who are studying Japanese and traveling to Japan from WMU. We hope that all of you friends, loved ones, and YouTube fans will donate to the fund, even if it only a few dollars. With everyone working together, we should be able to create something wonderful in Rodger's name. Thank you very much. Here is the link to donate online. https://shopwmu.wmich.edu/ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=718&SINGLESTORE=true If you would prefer to donate by check, please make out the check to "WMUF: Rodger Swan Memorial Fund" and send it to the following address. WMU Gift Processing 1903 W. Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5403 USA A Facebook Page has been created for the memorial fund: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/causes/440596/about Rodger Swan's funeral information: Monday, 2/8 from at 2pm, with visitation beginning at 1pm. Richard A. Henry Funeral Home, 703 Capital Ave. SW in Battle Creek, MI. All are welcome. **************************** Please do what you can. Like many of us I hope this fund will bring to Japan a new face in a line of Japan-curious foreigners stretching as far back as forerunners like Koizumi Yakumo. He was after all, the Rodger Swan of the 1800's. Here is to hoping Rodger's legacy will last as long. Belatedly... the music is: Clannad - Coinleach Ghlas an Fhormair from the album "Clannad 2"
Rodger tokyocooney 2010-01-28 | It is with great sadness I confirm that fellow youtuber and friend RodgerSwan has passed away. It's a terrible tragedy that someone so young and full of potential has been taken from us. If you don't know Rodger, take a moment to view some of his videos. There will be no more videos of course, but perhaps subscribing would be a small way in which we could all show appreciation for what all that he shared with us during his life. http://youtube.com/rodgerswan Here is a touching post by one of his friends. http://www.dogentricks.com/2010/01/28/rodger-swan/comment-page-1/#comment-113020
F.Y.I. - Winter & Weather tokyocooney 2010-01-22 | Just some interesting points about the Winter season here in Japan. Nothing too exciting. I'll be sure to post something less ho-hum as soon as possible. Also, to the comments about tangerines and clementines, these are not the same as mikans. They are similar but different varieties. A mikan is a mikan, and nothing else. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_(fruit)?wasRedirected=true
Life in Tokyo #80: New Years 2010 tokyocooney 2010-01-04 | Now that I look at it, I totally failed at trying to explain Japanese New Year! Oh well, its not easy really considering how many things there are to go over. Didn't mention, Ozoni, Kohaku, or even fukubukuro's. Hey, there is always next year. Or last year... I explain more about New Years in last years vid... about 4:00 mins into this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOfrK3LoIX0 Also you can get a better written overview of Japanese New Year celebrations at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year Hope this will do for now at least though. All the best for a Happy New Year to you all! Kevin
Life in Tokyo #79: Christmas... again. tokyocooney 2009-12-25 | Merry Christmas Everyone! Warm wishes to you, no matter what holiday you celebrate and a I hope you have a happy new year. But I'll save that for my next video. I don't do a lot of explaining in this video, as I have already covered christmas before. Check out that video for more info about how Japanese celebrate the holidays. 2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t33rqKCXF0Q 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deXB3uzWwUw Also you may wish to check out my latest blog post about christmas: http://blog.jibtv.com/j-bloggers/2009/12/so-this-is-christmas.html Also, a news report about christmas cake I helped produce for NHK World. http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/movie/feature29.html Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! From Tokyo Cooney Music: "Introduction" - Glenn Miller Band "Blue Christmas" - Belton Richard "Joy to the World" - Cathedral Brass
Life in Tokyo (Mini): Buying a Tree tokyocooney 2009-12-06 | I go tree shopping. Nothing too huge here, but I wanted to put up a video within a reasonable amount of time since the last one. Already working on the next one. Anyhoo... As I mentioned the Maid Cafe episode of Tokyo Eye will air on December 9th on jibtv.com http://www.jibtv.com For more info about the show check out the shows homepage http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/tokyoeye The internet live stream isn't viewable within Japan for arcane legal reasons, but you can view it on DIGITAL NHK Educational (Ch 2, I think) probably on Sunday the 20th, Im not certain. Also, they are running a viewers choice awards thing at NHK the network that produces Tokyo Eye. Swing by and give a vote! It may help extend the shows run. But more importantly you can request a rebroadcast of an episode! If there is one you want to see something again, or that you missed this is your chance. Recent episodes I appeared in are: the gourmet tour (with my folks), Tokyo bay, beauty episode, and sone others. nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/vc09/index.html Music: Jimmy Butler - "Trim Your Tree"
Life in Tokyo #78: Tokyo Thanksgiving tokyocooney 2009-11-27 | Spent an evening with friends enjoying American Thanksgiving Holiday celebrations. I realize few of you are that interested in how to acquire turkey in Tokyo, but for those who are try this shop... http://www.hanamasa.co.jp Though it is not a global holiday, I thought I'd share this day with you. Community is afterall not limited by borders. As we approach the holiday season let me wish well to all no matter what festivity you partake in. I really do recommend the pink cow. We didn't explain it entirely well, but look at the Events Cowlander on their website and you'll get what I mean. Almost every other night is some type of event or artist gathering. I've been a patron of the cow for 8 years, and it's great to see gaijin owned businesses and local arts communities grow. http://thepinkcow.com Thanks, and Happy Festivus! Music: "Thank You Lord" - Bob Marley
Life in Tokyo #77: The Samba Carnival tokyocooney 2009-11-05 | First of all, my deepest apologies for the inexcusable delay. Ive been working 12 hour days, and had barely a day off in months. I meant to get this video out back in early September, but life just got in the way. If I ever decide to stop posting I'll let you know... if I don't post it's simply a time management issue. I totally need an intern! And a sound guy. Sorry the audio sucks. In this vlog I visit the Asakusa Samba Carnival held every year at the end of August. It is a rather peculiar event, but I guess it is not unlike Irish American immigrant celebrations of St. Patrick's day. If I had to compare it to something. You will notice I am particularly hairy in that segment. I was letting myself go for the make over episode of Tokyo Eye I did back in September. The second half I am decidedly less heirsuit, so you might consider it the "after" version of me. But by now my hair is well on it's way back to the old me. I'm curious which you think suits me better. For info on the Samba Carnival http://www.asakusa-samba.jp/top.htm The Shop I visited is located in Asakusa and the owner MIki is a wonderful person and a great friend for now 8 years. (The baby is not mine BTW) If you are ever in the neighborhood stop by her place for a coffee or something stronger. Find out more here... Tell her Kevin sent you. :) http://www.cuzn.jp The second half is a much shorter summary of the Brazilian Festival in Yoyogi Park, for more on that check the video I did last year. For those of you in need of more Cooney in your life, stay abreast of my doings and goings on at the narcissistic shrine to myself that is http://twitter.com/tokyocooney Also... Check out my weekly blog at jibtv.com http://blog.jibtv.com/j-bloggers/kevin Or stop by my weekly live streaming video show and ask your questions on BlogTV. http://www.blogtv.com/People/Tokyocooney I broadcast from around noon on Friday, Tokyo Time. Thats Thursday evening on the east coast of the US. If you can't figure out what time it is in your neighborhood, either look at the countdown clock for when the show airs on my BlogTV page. Or... google "world clock". Trust me, you can figure it out. I believe in you. My next guest is a guy who runs his own production company producing english language learning materials for Japanese students of English. If you've never been to the page I recommend checking out the archive. Over the last year I have interviewed a Radio DJ, Voice Actors, Comedians, Teachers, Bartenders, and all other types of Gaijin in Japan. There is lots of useful stuff in the archive. But if you have a question you've been meaning to ask stop by the show, and berate me in person for being a slack ass when it comes to posting. Lastly, I appretiate your encouragement to post more often. Thanks for not forgetting about me. It really means a lot that many of you have stuck with me over the years, despite my sometimes flaky uploading schedule. Thanks, Cooney
A Random Reminder/ Im not dead tokyocooney 2009-09-14 | So... many folks asked about my next appearance on Tokyo Eye. An update on that, plus when to expect a real video. Not this random talking head crap. The show will stream live 6 times on Wednesday the 16th at http://jibtv.com Tokyo Eye info: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/tokyoeye Ive done like 30 episodes over the last 3 years for that show. And people have been asking how to see them. The website is not VOD yet.. but we are working towards that. Baby steps! Bear with us. But mailing the website and saying "Why the hell is it not VOD yet?" Is a good start to making that change move faster. Also my friends and folk who live in Japan where currently you cannot view jibtv.com programming. Take a moment to annoy my bosses and let them know their is a market for it by harassing them via e-mail. Annoy them here: jibtv.com/inquiry/index.aspx All that said and done... it will air inside Japan on NHK Digital Channel 3 on the 20th. (Not analogue broadcast ごめん！) Trust me, new videos on the way, just let me deal with my rent paying shit I call a "Job."
Life in Tokyo (Mini 2): A Tell Tale Fish Heart tokyocooney 2009-08-23 | So I am eating a still beating fish heart! It is the nastiest thing I have eaten to date. As a result, I can not let this hit the cutting room floor. The footage was filmed during for a TV show called Tokyo Eye. I've been doing it for about 3 years, but only recently doesn't it make sense for me to promo it on my channel, because, now you can access it via the web, not a big ol satellite dish. http://jibtv.com programs@jibtv.com Or check out the program's home page: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/tokyoeye tokyoeye@jibtv.com Meet Jennifer my co-reporter at: http://32591753.at.webry.info
Life in Tokyo (Mini): GUNDAM tokyocooney 2009-08-22 | To tide you over till my next vid, coming out on Monday. Here is a little Life in Tokyo "Mini-episode." I visited the gigantic statue of Gundam in Odaiba. If you plan on going yourself... go soon. The event finishes 8/31 and Gundam will be gone. Check out the official Website here: http://www.greentokyo-gundam.jp No idea what Gundam is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam Music - Prince Buster - "Dance Cleopatra" Also... I will be doing a 30 minute special on Odaiba to be aired on the jibtv.com website on a show called TokyoEye Wed the 26th. More details to come on monday. http://jibtv.com Sorry the website is only available outside of Japan.
Gathering This Saturday in Tokyo tokyocooney 2009-08-12 | Here is where the info is: General Details http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FN1jExBUhw How to get there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FN1jExBUhw Come along if you can. Thanks.
Life in Tokyo #76: Radio Taiso tokyocooney 2009-08-09 | I attend the insanely early (5:30 am) event of the 29th annual Toshima-ku radio taiso taikai. Which in essence is an event for the whole community to get together and do the nationally broadcast radio morning exercises. Its an interesting and very "Japanese" activity in my opinion. On a normal day, you will find people gathered in small local parks doing this. This larger event is held once a year. I couldn't really catch any clear purpose as to why. For more info about Radio Taiso check out this wikipedia link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_taiso Apologies if its not my most thrilling post to date. I can only be so entertaining at 5:30 am. P.S. Some added info after reading the comments. No daylight savings time in Japan as a result in summer it gets bright really really early. And vice versa in winter. Also yes, I am fine. The earthquake recently was no problem. Had a few seconds of "Oh Crap!" But no problem at all.
Life in Tokyo # 75: The Supermarket tokyocooney 2009-08-01 | This little piggy went to the supermarket. Not the most exciting video I know, but you wouldn't believe how many times this has been requested. More on the informational side than entertainment. I apologize for that. Here are some links to import shops I mention in the vid. Kaldi Coffee Farm http://www.kaldi.co.jp/top.html Seijo Ishii http://www.seijoishii.co.jp The American Pharmacy (Little food, but carry some US drugs) http://tomods-ap.com Niku no Hanamasa http://www.hanamasa.co.jp Sony Plaza (Mostly candy, or sodas) http://www.plazastyle.com/plaza/shop Don Quixote (Occasionally they have import stuff) http://www.donki.com/index.php National Azabu (How did I forget this in the video? Thanks to viewers for pointing out this HUGE omission. But I never go there because this place caters to the banker-whanker expat crowd around Hiroo, and is unnecessarily expensive. Its the go to place for import stuff for people with more money than sense. Its a great selection, but its not in my price range even for sentimental purchases. *Note; The also stock turkeys and halloween shit, which is rare. http://www.national-azabu.com TC Ombudsman says - Also as an addendum to this post I realize, the shops I focus on in this video really only reflect western import tastes (Though Yamaya has a bit of everything). There is a whole other world of Asian import stores that I personally have no need for. Sadly I get caught up in my western-centric view of Gaijin life here. There are a far greater number of Philippine, Korean, Chinese and Southeast Asian import shops I didn't even begin to touch on (Not to mention Arab states, Africa and South America. I need to stop talking to youtube like it's America. Though statistically my viewers are largely from there. I am misrepresenting the reality of foreigners, generally speaking in Japan, by focusing on western things. But I guess I'll need to save that for another vid. Hey, I'm doing my best. Music: Lincoln: "What's Up" Don Drummond: "Man in the Street" Jackie Mittoo: "Ghetto Organ"
Life in Tokyo #74: Stimulus tokyocooney 2009-07-02 | I get my government stimulus check. In an attempt to be a good citizen I immediately went out and spent the lot of it on things I probably didn't really need. Oh well. For the final tally on money spent... (I think) Bucket of Fried Chicken - 1,450 Plant for Kenji - 500 Head Messager - 2,600 Semi-Erotic Ear Cleaning - 980 Setta (Shoes) - 2,000 Eel - 2,700 Coffee & Croissant - 500 Terminator Tix - 1,200 Popcorn & Cola - 500 Total: 11,930 Yen
Life in Tokyo: Vlog #73 Moving tokyocooney 2009-06-18 | Well, it took long enough. Sorry about that. But here its is. Much longer than I meant it to be, but I suppose its because my house is bigger than the last time I gave a tour. If you are interested in learning more about the details of renting a house in Japan I recommend you look at my video titled. FYI Housing. Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anLP4uKdjh8&feature=PlayList&p=D98FCEFF05959B7A&index=1
Life in Tokyo: Vlog #72 Big Tobacco, Small Museum tokyocooney 2009-05-21 | I don't smoke. But that doesn't mean I couldn't enjoy the Tobacco and Salt museum in Shibuya. Its not the greatest museum ever, surely. But it is worth a peak inside if you are in the area, especially because the entry fee is only ¥100. Occasionally the temporary exhibit on the 4th floor is surprisingly interesting. The 3rd floor salt area is highly miss-able. Music: "100 Cigarettes" by Big Sugar As for the other museums I recommended: The Edo-Tokyo Museum http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/index.html The Parasite Museum http://kiseichu.org/eaboutus.aspx And of course... TokyoCooney.com
