Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad

Abroad in Japan Reviews

• 
  Sarah Deas (ㅅ´ ˘ `)♡

  My husband introduced me to the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel a few years ago and we've enjoyed watching all the videos together ever since. When I saw the announcement for this book I was excited to get my hands on it and hear more about Chris' journey from being an English teacher to a highly successful creator.
  
  Within the first few sentences of the book I was able to tell that it was very authentically Chris. One thing I love about his YouTube videos is how he is able to merge personal tales and educational facts together seamlessly and this is prevalent in the book also. There are also many descriptions of a lot of the wonderful food you can get in Japan and I also really enjoyed this aspect of the book. I also loved learning about his relationship with Natsuki and Ryotoro.
  
  My 3 star review is simply because the content of the book is not what I was expecting. The first 60% of the book covers Chris' first years in Japan as an English teacher in Yamagata. He talks about the experience of moving to a completely foreign country and all the struggles that accompany it. The last 40% of the book quickly recaps moments of the past 6 years of his YouTube career, featuring highlights such as his viral North Korean missile video and his interview with Ken Watanabe.
  
  It is undeniable that Chris has had a very full life and I would never expect him to be able to recount all the events of the past 10 years in a mere 300 pages, that's just simply impossible. I also understand why the book was focused more on his early years in Japan as these were his most formative years. Everything that happened after that is easily accessible on his YouTube channel. However, as much as I understand I can't help but feel that there were things left out of the book that I thought would have been included, or at least mentioned.
  
  In this book Chris talks about two previous relationships he's had whilst in Japan, one a one-night stand and the other a longer relationship. As these were included I was surprised to see that there was no mention of his current fiancée Sharla, other than in the last portion of the book where she is mentioned in one sentence. I was also surprised to see there was no mention of the likes of Connor and Joey who have featured on Chris' channel a lot and whom he has had a lot of adventures with, such as Wacky Weekends or subsequent Journey Across Japan series'. However, it is his book and is ultimately at his discretion who and what gets mentioned.
  
  I do want to stress that I do think this is a good book and fans of Abroad in Japan will enjoy it. I just went into reading this book with certain expectations which ultimately let me down when it wasn't what I was expecting it to be.
• 
  Jade

  I’ve been a fan of Chris’ work for a while now and when he announced the book, I knew it would be worth the read. His tone, humour and personality shone through the pages and the book was a very enjoyable read that I worked through in just a few hours.
  
  Loved learning more about Chris’ early life in Japan and how he grew during those first few years on the JET programme. The story of how Chris met Natsuki had me chuckling like a madwoman. Also loved seeing more of how Chris and Ryotaro built their relationship behind the cameras and getting an understanding of the deep appreciation they have for one another.
  
  Lots of descriptions of food in the book. Which, if you’re a fan of the Abroad in Japan channel, should not be a surprise. Chris, if you ever decide to go down another career path, restaurant critic should be an option.
  
  If you have any interest in Japan, I’d say it’s worth the read. If you’re a fan of Chris’ YouTube channel, it goes without saying that you’ll enjoy the book.
• 
  Eline Norder

  Read the book in 2 days. As a loyal subscriber to his youtube channel, I find that the book reflects a lot of his personality which made it a joy for me to read. However I think even for readers who are not familiar with Chris might also enjoy the tone of voice in this book. It is a great reflection of living abroad in an entirely different culture, and it shows Japan and its people through a deeper level than the ever polite mask that is always shown. Even if you are not a fan of his youtube channel, I'd recommend to read this book.
• 
  Bloss ♡

  4.5 This is armchair travel at its absolute finest.
  
  Let me start by saying I wasn’t at all familiar with Chris or his filmmaking. I picked this up in the bookstore because of the stunning cover and the premise sounded intriguing.
  
  I loved the early years detailing Chris’s experience in the JET programme. After reading the afterword, it’s really inspiring that he struggles with anxiety and did such a cool thing on his own! I moved from Canada to the UK and found that culturally shocking, I can’t imagine going somewhere I didn’t speak the language, on my own, in a totally different climate… it’s amazing!
  
  Chris has a way with writing that transported me to Japan. He can across as authentic with a good sense of humour. I particularly enjoyed the early years in Japan when he was finding his footing at the school and learning the culture, language, and making connections.
  
  Because I’m not familiar with the YouTube stuff, I felt like we hit fast-forward around 2016; I think he assumes we will be familiar with his journey. He did a reasonable job at bringing those of us that weren’t along for the ride but it felt like we glossed over more and sped up from that point onward. The focus became more about the filmmaking, which didn’t hold quite the same allure for me as the earlier sections.
  
  Still, I learned so much about Japan and this was a pleasure to read. It’s such a great feeling to pick up a book for which I have zero context, and having it be a total banger! :)
• 
  Blake

  Great book, well written with interesting stories, though some end a bit abruptly. Great lessons in taking on new opportunities. It's nice hearing about Japan from someone's perspective who didn't move there due to interest in the surface culture alone. Favorite parts were about the entrepreneurial aspects of leaving a steady job to try and figure out how to monetize enough on YouTube. Also, interesting hearing about the "Journey Across Japan" from the author's perspective, since I was among the viewers who watched during Covid and thoroughly enjoyed it.
• 
  Willemijn

  I’ve been a fan of the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel for years because visiting Japan had been on my bucket list for the longest time. Naturally, when I found out Chris had written a book, I had to read it. It did not disappoint. I loved reading about his first years in Japan, on the JET programme. I’d heard anecdotes of that time in his videos over the years, but this more extensive version of the story was fascinating to read. And then there’s his first encounters with Natsuki and Ryotaro, who have since not just become Chris’ good friends, but also fan favourites on the YouTube channel.
  
  This past spring, I was finally able to visit Japan myself, and I recognised a lot of my own feelings and experiences in the descriptions of the places I’ve also visited (and of the food I’ve also been lucky enough to try). Muching on a packet of strawberry Pocky I managed to find at the Asian supermarket, while I read, I was transported back to Japan. Chris’ trip to Osaka described the feeling of the city in much the same way as I experienced it (except for the love hotels, I skipped those). With some of the best food in Japan and Dōtonbori’s neon lights and anime shops, there is no city in the world quite like it.
  
  The chapter about Kyoto was hard to read. Before the pandemic, the city struggled under the load of more tourists than it could really handle. During the pandemic, it nearly went bankrupt without them. It makes me all the more happy that I was able to go there this year. Kiyomizudera was ridiculously busy, partly due to the sakura season, but apart from that, the amount of tourists wasn’t nearly as high as before the pandemic. And I’m glad to have been able to see the beautiful old townhouses before they become a rarity. It must have been almost eerie to visit the city when tourists were not allowed in.
  
  Even though I was only there for three weeks, Japan has had a bigger impact on me than any other country I’ve visited. I hope to be able to visit again some day and when I do, I’ll definitely visit the north, for which Chris has been such a great ambassador through his videos, as well as this book.
• 
  Gareth Alan

  I've been following Chris's Abroad in Japan Youtube channel for years. I've enjoyed watching the channel grow from simple videos of him teaching English swearwords to Japanese people, to full on professional documentaries about Fukushima.
  
  My favourite thing about the channel is Chris's dry and sarcastic sense of humour, and that definitely crosses over into this book. I could almost hear his voice as I read along. This would certainly be a good audio book.
  
  Anyway, the book is about his first ten years living in Japan. The guy just jetted off there one day to teach English despite having no teaching experience and knowing barely any Japanese.
  
  He talks about his time teaching, culture shock, going from being a secluded outsider to making lifelong friends, learning the language, and creating his Youtube channel which ended up becoming huge enough for him to live off.
  
  He also writes about Japanese culture, different places, people, natural disasters, and it wouldn't be Chris Broad if he didn't bring up food. He could easily start a side career as a food critic.
  
  The book is well written, as I said, definitely in Chris's own voice. I laughed, I could picture his descriptions and almost taste the food, I even almost teared up when he wrote about saying goodbye to his teacher friends. Even if you are unfamiliar with Chris and his channel, you could still enjoy this book if you are interested in Japan.
  
  Most of all, the book is inspiring. To just get up and go to begin a new life in a foreign land is a brave thing to do. And then to build up a comfortable life there and then leave that behind to follow your dream of making videos could almost be called madness, but he did it, coming out clean on the other end. Follow your dreams!
  
  I was hoping to read more about how he met his fiancé, Sharla, but he didn't go into that. Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed. So yes, I recommend.
  
  Have 5 stars to the face!
• 
  Alina Lundholm

  Well hey, that was a breeze of a book, really got invested in it for the last few days! It really does help that I've been watching the channel since 2018; my friend Sam showed me Chris' very first video from his tiny Sakata apartment. The dry, snarky British humor is what has always set him apart and that's why I've kept watching Abroad in Japan for the last five years because you could tell he wasn't putting on a false, cheerful persona for the camera.
  
  The best part of the book is the first 60%, detailing his time teaching English in rural Japan and reaching the highs and lows of that experience. He had a ton of insightful societal revelations, talking about the various cultural pressures Japanese students face and how socializing in Japan is vastly different from the West.
  
  My only critique is that the latter half of the book picks up speed and rushes through his move to Sendai and the rise of his YouTube channel. Which is all fine and good, but having watched all of his videos, mostly felt like rehashes of things I already had seen. I think summarizing a YouTube career in a book is tricky because you're lacking the visual element, whereas with his earlier stories of Japan, he was talking about people and adventures that hadn't been as touched upon on his channel, so it was more intimate in that way. Regardless, an excellent first book for Chris and I'd definitely be curious if he writes another book down the line!
• 
  Just Meself

  I saw a comment saying that the book is similar to his videos and it most certainly is, especially in the beginning. The whole book is a fun ride of a person telling his experience in Japan and sprinkling in interesting facts and peek British humor. It felt rushed however since somewhere at the end which is why I think the book deserves 4,5 stars. But nevertheless, ignore my grumbling, it's a great book.
• 
  Nicholas Westwood

  Really enjoyed the stories Chris stared about the early years in Japan, and the struggles with maintaining and evolving the YouTube channel after moving to Sendai!
  
  The second half of the book did go by very fast though, would love to read a follow up going into more detail about the running of the channel behind the scenes too, as well as any other stories that got cut!
  
  Fantastic read overall, very well written too! Loved it!
• 
  Megan

  6*! Absolutely loved reading the stories from the early years from one of my favourite YouTubers. The way he describes feeling as a newbie in Japan is so close to how I felt my first month's in Hong Kong!
• 
  Helene Black

  Please tell me there’s an audiobook!
• 
  Rahy

  Quite excited for this
• 
  Frank

  I really enjoyed reading this book by Chris Broad, the creator of the Abroad in Japan Youtube channel. He has a unique and witty voice that shines through every page, making me laugh out loud and feel like I was there with him. He tells his story of moving to Japan as a young and naive English teacher, and how he gradually fell in love with the country and its people. He also shares some of his most memorable and hilarious experiences, such as almost dying while climbing Mount Fuji, surviving a North Korean missile alert, staying at a love hotel, and meeting Japan’s biggest movie star.
  
  This is not your typical travel book that tells you how to behave in Japan or what to see and do. Instead, it gives you an honest and personal perspective of living in Japan for a decade, with all its joys and challenges. Chris does not shy away from talking about his struggles as a foreigner, a person, and a Youtuber in Japan. He also reveals some of the darker and weirder aspects of Japanese society that you might not find in other books. He does this with humor and respect, without being judgmental or stereotypical.
  
  The book is full of interesting facts and insights about Japan that I did not know before, even though I have visited the country before. Chris has a knack for finding the hidden gems and quirky stories that make Japan so fascinating. He also shows his appreciation and admiration for the Japanese culture and people, especially his friends and colleagues who helped him along the way.
  
  The only downside of this book is that it felt too short and rushed towards the end. I wanted to read more about his recent adventures and achievements, such as climbing Mount Fuji with Natsuki, making more "Journey Across Japan" documentaries, and becoming a successful Youtuber and how this scene has changed in the last years. I hope he will write a sequel soon to continue his journey in Japan.
  
  Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Japan or wants to learn more about it. It is entertaining, informative, and inspiring. It will make you laugh, cry, and crave for some famichiki. It will also make you want to watch his videos on Youtube, which are equally awesome.
• 
  Connor McQueen

  As a fan of the Abroad in Japan channel this is definitely a must read.
  
  Though some parts of the book cover videos that I have already seen I appreciated the focus for the majority of the book on the initial move to Japan. As someone considering JET but worrying about if it’s worth the risk I found the first half of the book getting me excited to try it for myself.
  
  The book also seems to show a more personal insight into some more sensitive events such as leaving JET to pursue his YouTube career and the 2022 earthquake. These more personal sections felt more in depth than some of his videos (though I will admit I didn’t rewatch them before writing this so this is purely based off my initial feeling from memory) and so despite having content already out there this book still manages to feel fresh.
  
  I don’t typically read anything but sci-fi fantasy books but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
  
  To anyone thinking about moving to Japan or just a fan of Chris’s YouTube channel I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
• 
  Tyler Michalek

  First sentence, typo. Second sentence, grammatical mistake. For f*ck sake! I exclaimed. Not yet through the first page and I was already questioning if the creation of this book had been a mistake. After all, making YouTube videos and writing are two very different things.
  
  With its wide spacing and easy to digest style, I continued on with the text, and before I knew it, I was on page 50. As a former English teacher, Chris’s early accounts of life in rural Japan brought on a powerful sense of nostalgia, and although occasional editing errors did persist throughout the book, I became engrossed in the collection of heartfelt stories.
  
  Chris Broad is a storyteller, and an ambitious one at that. Much to my relief, this book is not some piece of influencer merchandise designed to make money, but an authentic collection of stories about an unlikely love affair with one of the world’s most captivating countries.
• 
  ChristianK

  I knew a lot of the stories already from years and years of Abroad in Japan videos and podcasts. But that didn't keep me from really enjoying this book! Sometimes it was fun to go to YouTube after a chapter to connect the faces in there with what I have just read. Like with the legendary teaching of swear words to Japanese people.
  
  I probably started watching the channel in 2015, so I have "known" Chris for a long time. And much of this felt weirdly nostalgic to me, even though I only experienced it second hand through his videos. Also, I have been to Japan several times and have some first hand experiences myself, that I can somewhat compare. But I would think that even people who don't know the channel and just have an interest in what life in Japan is like as a foreigner, would enjoy it.
  
• 
  Susan

  Like many other Youtube followers of Abroad in Japan, I stumbled over his channel during the lockdowns. I followed a rabbit hole and came across his documentary on the tsunami. It was a video love letter to Japan and the spirit of its people. That lead to another video, then another, then the podcast and I was hooked on the self deprecating, slightly sarcastic, beautifully filmed videos. The book is written in the same voice. The story of a young, naive, anxious man going off to a huge adventure without a clue. The book is easily digested, a quick read that leaves me with the same feeling of his love for the country and its people. It's his fault that I go to Japan this fall so I can see it for myself. Well done, Mr. Affable!
• 
  Scott Moore

  Just like his YouTube channel videos, Chris's sarcasm and witty remarks exude in this book recapping his decade-long adventure in Japan. Covering everything from his time as a JET teacher to North Korean Middle launches, this book really is the behind the scenes look at his experiences seen on YouTube. If I could give one complaint, it would be I wish it was even longer...but I know Chris would likely call me a bastard for suggesting such a thing. 😅 Fantastic read, I highly suggest for those thinking about undertaking a journey across Japan.
• 
  Canton Little

  Honestly, it's one of the best books I've read this year. It felt nostalgic, honest, and interesting. I've no criticism for the writing. I read every word in his voice and understood the British sarcasm. My only possible criticism is the massive leap in years, but that can be justified to some extent.
  
  If you're a fan of Japan, Abroad in Japan, or want an interesting read, pick this book up!
  
  98/100
• 
  Kate Suzanne Keohane

  A genuine joy to read.
  
  Chris’ wit, dry humour and personality shines throughout this entire book. ‘Abroad in Japan’ delivers a fresh and exciting exploration of life in Japan, its people and prefectures - covering a wide scope of fascinating topics from love hotels to missile warnings. A must read for old and new fans alike, I cannot recommend this enough.
  
  5/5 ⭐️
• 
  Samuel

  Loved hearing about Chris' journey across Japan. Found it enjoyable to read about his first three years teaching at a high school located in the north of Japan, and his struggles with trying to learn Japanese.
  
  The second half of the book was less memorable, briefly looking at his most popular videos, and how he become a YouTuber.
• 
  Mac

  Good - very good even - but not great. Covers the first couple years in detail and then not very much about the YouTube days. Some more behind the scenes stuff about things like Journey Across Japan would have been nice. Still a fun read for fans or otherwise.
• 
  Diane Cota

  Can’t wait. Pre-order to my library. Want to feel like I’m in Japan when I’m not in Japan.
• 
  Piper Winchester

  Chris is living my dream job but in Japan!
  I've been a fan years so it was nice to hear his whole Japan story