Only in Japan Go — Transcripts
Summaries + full diarized transcripts
2017-04-30 · Ep 31 · 34m

Bears in Prison

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Summary

Bears in Prison

Overview

John Daub ventures to Noboribetsu Bear Park (登別原始和家庭村 クマ牧場) in Hokkaido for a live-streamed adventure at one of Japan's most famous — and controversial — wildlife parks. Arriving in late April 2017, partway through a long solo journey north toward Wakkanai, John takes the iconic seven-minute cable car up the mountain, enjoying sweeping aerial views of the Noboribetsu onsen (hot spring) town, the ocean, and Hokkaido's green mountains before reaching the park. The visit comes at a notable moment: the park had just welcomed a newborn bear cub, featured prominently on arrival.

John's tour is part celebration of bears and part thoughtful inquiry: are these animals prisoners or protected residents? He walks the enclosures, marvels at how remarkably intelligent and gentle the bears appear, watches the famous duck race, meets baby cubs, and ultimately purchases kuma no o-yatsu (bear treats — salmon pieces) to feed the bears himself. The live stream becomes increasingly chaotic when Toby, a bold park crow, repeatedly swoops in and steals John's salmon right out of the air — setting off an ongoing, exasperated feud between host and bird. John also previews his upcoming visits to Hell Valley (Jigokudani) and a real Ainu museum, reflecting on Hokkaido's indigenous heritage.

Highlights

  • 00:00:09 John introduces the Noboribetsu Bear Park and its brand-new baby cub, fresh in the news in Japan.
  • 00:01:08 John reveals the steep 2,400 yen admission (~$24 USD) — "a bear's got to eat, right?"
  • 00:02:14 Scoring his own private cable car (car number 19), John enjoys a rare solo ride through Hokkaido's mountains.
  • 00:04:58–00:06:57 Stunning aerial views: the onsen town below, snow-capped mountains, and the ocean beyond — John spots the $600/night luxury hotel he bathed at the night before.
  • 00:06:57 John plugs the active Kickstarter campaign for the Hokkaido trip DVD, with only two hours remaining.
  • 00:07:57–00:09:19 John addresses his earlier bear-meat controversy at Takaragawa Onsen, declaring this a "pro-bear" episode and reflecting on wild Hokkaido bears and highway warning signs.
  • 00:12:26 John teaches the Japanese word for bear: kuma (くま).
  • 00:12:32 John notes the Ainu Village exhibit at the park — Hokkaido's indigenous people, present before Japanese settlement.
  • 00:13:06 John spots the newborn cub on display and chats with companions about the cubs' size and weight.
  • 00:15:14 The famous duck race — yellow team vs. white team — and John marvels at how they've self-segregated.
  • 00:20:05 John observes a bear that appears to have "self-imprisoned" itself, lounging in a barred area — part of his ongoing question about whether these are prisoners or voluntary guests.
  • 00:24:09 John buys kuma no o-yatsu — premium salmon pieces with plastic gloves — to feed the bears.
  • 00:26:24–00:27:37 The chaotic battle with Toby the crow (Toby, karasu) begins: Toby steals the salmon mid-air, prompting John's loud indignation and a running commentary about crow theft, pigeon attacks, and crow intelligence.
  • 00:30:41 John's conclusion: the bears are super smart and seem kind — like Winnie the Pooh — despite his concerns about enclosures.

Timeline / Chapters

00:00 – 00:10 | Introduction & Cable Car Base

  • John sets up the Noboribetsu Bear Park visit, acknowledges the potentially misleading thumbnail ("Bears in Prison"), introduces the newborn cub, and prepares to board the cable car.

00:10 – 00:11:18 | Cable Car Ascent (7 minutes)

  • John enjoys a solo private cable car ride with panoramic views of Noboribetsu Onsen, the ocean, snow-capped mountains, and all of Hokkaido; shows Google Maps to explain his location en route to Wakkanai; plugs the Kickstarter DVD project.

00:11:18 – 00:11:37 | Arrival at Bear Park

  • John arrives at the summit, welcomed not by staff but by a large cuddly bear statue; the auto-doors open; John enters the park.

00:11:37 – 00:15:14 | Bear Park — First Impressions

  • John enters the main area, spots the Ainu Village, teaches "kuma" for bear, discovers the duck race, finds the baby cub on display, and explains the park's layout (enclosure one, enclosure two, squirrel village).

00:15:14 – 00:17:41 | Duck Race & Bear Enclosures

  • Detailed look at the duck race; John observes the white team vs. yellow team self-segregation; multiple bears appear in enclosure number two; John tests the phone signal (bad connection at two bars).

00:17:41 – 00:22:20 | Bear Feeding & Intelligence

  • Bears display waving, foot-holding, and remarkable food-catching ability; John throws apples to bears; the "self-imprisoned" bear lounges in a barred area; John muses on whether the bears are prisoners or self-checked-in.

00:22:20 – 00:24:09 | Bear Food Stand & Culture Commentary

  • John approaches the kuma no o-yatsu stand; spots three varieties (snack, cookie, salmon); someone in chat asks to visit the Ainu village; John previews upcoming visits to Hell Valley (Jigokudani) and a real Ainu museum.

00:24:09 – 00:30:39 | Feeding the Bears — The Toby Saga Begins

  • John buys premium salmon pieces and plastic gloves; the live stream connection deteriorates badly; John spots Toby (crow) stealing salmon mid-air; extended battle between John and Toby as the crow repeatedly steals, fights other crows over the frozen salmon, and ignores John's protests.

00:30:39 – 00:34:12 | Conclusion & Farewell

  • John summarizes Bear Park's features (duck race, cubs, second enclosure, bear on the roof); reflects on bear kindness and intelligence; the Kickstarter has one hour remaining; Toby makes one final cameo; John signs off, leaving viewers with 20 seconds of bears eating salmon.

Japan Travel Tips

  • Getting there: Take the JR train to Noboribetsu Station (登別駅), then a bus or taxi to the cable car base station. The ropeway (索道) carries visitors up to the bear park in about seven minutes. The journey from Sapporo takes roughly 1.5–2 hours by train.
  • Best time to visit: Late April is viable for Hokkaido — cherry blossoms are just beginning to bloom at lower elevations, but the mountain park is still cool and green. Expect temperatures around 8°C (46°F) with light wind at the summit. Summer offers warmer weather and easier hiking to Hell Valley.
  • Cost: Admission is 2,400 yen (~$24 USD). Bear food (salmon, apples) is purchased separately at the food stand. The cable car fare is included in the park ticket.
  • What to look for: The duck race is a quirky highlight — watch yellow team and white team ducks self-segregate and then race to the finish. The newborn cub (if visiting in spring) is often on display. Observe how the bears wave, catch food in their mouths, and interact with each other.
  • Combining attractions: Bear Park and Hell Valley (Jigokudani) are within a 15-minute hike of each other — plan both in one visit. The geothermal area is striking, with steam vents and sulfurous terrain.
  • Onsen tip: The Noboribetsu Onsen town offers both luxury hotel baths (one shown at ~$600/night) and a public bath using the same natural hot spring water for a fraction of the cost — no reservation needed.
  • For foreigners: The park has English signage and is very accessible to international visitors. Take the cable car even if you have a fear of heights — the views of Hokkaido are spectacular.
  • Heed warning signs: In Hokkaido's wilderness, highway signs warn of wild bear crossings. Bear attacks on hikers do occur and the offending bears are typically killed. Bear Park represents one solution: a protected sanctuary.

Japanese Language & Culture Notes

  • Kuma (くま) — the Japanese word for bear. John teaches this early in the video as the key vocabulary for the trip.
  • Karu (からす) / karasu — the Japanese word for crow. John references this as he names every crow he encounters "Toby."
  • O-yatsu (おやつ) — the general Japanese term for a snack or treat, often used for sweets but also applied here to the special bear food. The full phrase kuma no o-yatsu (くまのおやつ) means "bear snacks."
  • Jigokudani (地獄谷) — literally "Hell Valley." A dramatic geothermal valley in Noboribetsu where hot steam vents, bubbling sulfurous pools, and bare terrain create an almost lunar landscape. John plans to visit after the bear park.
  • Ainu (アイヌ) — the indigenous people of Hokkaido and northern Japan, long preceding Japanese (Wajin) settlement. The Ainu Village at Bear Park is a theme-park-style cultural exhibit. John notes he'll visit a real Ainu museum in a nearby town, where an Ainu man named Bear had previously given him a ride.
  • Hokkaido's indigenous heritage: The region retains strong Ainu cultural presence. Museums, cultural centers, and occasional encounters (like John's Ainu guide) offer insight into pre-colonial Hokkaido life.
  • Crow (karasu) culture in Japan: Crows are ubiquitous in Japanese cities and rural areas. They are considered highly intelligent — John notes they are smarter than "some people" and have been observed attacking pigeons. Japanese crows are larger than their American counterparts and are unafraid of humans.
  • Onsen town culture: Noboribetsu is a classic Japanese onsen (hot spring) resort town — a cluster of hotels and public baths built over geothermal hot springs. The luxury hotels charge premium rates while a public bath at the base offers the same mineral-rich water.
  • John's earlier bear controversy: In a 2015 video at Takaragawa Onsen (Gunma Prefecture), John ate a soup containing bear meat and faced criticism from vegetarian viewers. This video is framed as a "pro-bear" response, with John affirming his love for bears beyond eating them.

Food & Drink Guide

  • Kuma no o-yatsu — くまのおやつ (Bear Treats)

    • What: Salmon pieces sold at a dedicated food stand inside Bear Park. Three varieties available: snack, cookie, and salmon. John buys the premium salmon.
    • Price: Not specified, but sold on-site at the park's food stall.
    • Where to find: Inside Noboribetsu Bear Park, at the dedicated kuma no o-yatsu stand.
    • John's reaction: He handles the salmon with the provided plastic gloves, smells it ("it smells like salmon"), and has great fun throwing pieces to the bears — until Toby the crow starts stealing them. John tries the salmon himself and confirms: "Mmm. Yeah. It's good, isn't it?"
    • Timestamp: 00:22:03–00:23:47

  • Apples — りんご (ringo)

    • What: Whole apples thrown by visitors to bears, available for purchase at the park.
    • John's reaction: He observes the bears catching apples thrown by other tourists (roughly one in five accuracy), and notes the bears seem unfazed by missed throws. Bears demonstrate impressive catching ability.
    • Timestamp: 00:19:39–00:19:52

  • Genghis Khan (ジンギスカン) — Mentioned

    • Hokkaido's famous grilled lamb (Genghis Khan) BBQ dish. Referenced as John recalls Hokkaido's regional food specialties.
    • Not eaten in this video, but noted as a Hokkaido must-try.

People

  • John Daub — Host and creator of Only in Japan Go. An American who has lived in Japan for 30+ years. Here he travels solo through Hokkaido on a northern journey toward Wakkanai. He is warm, curious, self-deprecating, and funny — reacting with genuine delight to the bears and loud exasperation to Toby the crow. He handles the live stream, manages chat, and narrates throughout.

  • SPEAKER_00 — Off-camera voice (possibly camera operator or nearby companion). Appears at the cable car base and during bear feeding, with brief exclamations like "Oh!" and "Awesome."

  • SPEAKER_01 — Off-camera live chat companion. Provides commentary during the cable car ride and throughout the bear park, asking questions about the cub's size and the "gashi gashi" moment with a large adult bear. Engages with John on the bear's appearance.

  • SPEAKER_02 — Live chat companion with a playful, enthusiastic energy. Spots the crow theft ("Crow took him!"), cheers the bear's catching ability ("Gimme a hug!"), and provides running commentary on the action throughout the visit.

  • SPEAKER_04 — Live chat companion with a notably analytical and observational tone. Points out the cub's size discrepancy (the adult is not a cub at 350 kg), asks clarifying questions about the bears, and comments on the bear's foot-holding pose ("This one's trying to get out").

  • Toby (crow) — Toby (crow) is the name John gives to every crow he encounters after naming a specific crow "Toby" in early livestreams. This particular Toby is extraordinarily bold — stealing salmon pieces mid-air from John, fighting other crows over frozen salmon scraps, and perching just out of reach to eat the stolen goods. John grows increasingly exasperated, declaring crows are "thieves," have "nothing really good" about them, and noting he once saw a crow break a pigeon's neck. Despite this, John acknowledges crows are "very, very smart animals — smarter than some people."

Key Takeaways

  1. Noboribetsu Bear Park is more than a zoo — It offers a chance to observe and interact with Hokkaido's iconic brown bears in an alpine setting, complete with stunning views, a duck race, and Ainu cultural exhibits. At 2,400 yen, it's not cheap, but the cable car ride alone makes the trip worthwhile.

  2. The bears appear healthy and intelligent — John's concern about "prison" conditions gives way to observed evidence of well-fed, playful bears that wave, catch food with remarkable accuracy, and seem to coexist peacefully. Whether this constitutes ideal conditions is left for the viewer to judge.

  3. Hokkaido in late April is a hidden gem — While Japan's main island is in full cherry blossom season, Hokkaido is just beginning to bloom, offering fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and access to snow-capped mountain views.

  4. Toby the crow is a force of chaos — The live-stream comedy gold comes not from the bears but from the park's resident crows, who are unafraid to steal food right out of visitors' hands. Crows (karasu) are everywhere in Japan and are far more bold than their Western counterparts.

  5. Hokkaido's indigenous Ainu culture is accessible — The Ainu Village at Bear Park is a starting point, but John encourages viewers to seek out real Ainu museums and cultural centers to learn about Hokkaido's pre-colonial history.

  6. The park and Hell Valley are a perfect combo — A 15-minute hike connects the bear park to the otherworldly Jigokudani (Hell Valley), making Noboribetsu an easy full-day destination for nature, wildlife, and geothermal spectacle.

  7. John's pro-bear stance is heartfelt — After facing criticism for eating bear meat at Takaragawa Onsen, John uses this visit to celebrate bears as intelligent, kind, and fascinating animals worthy of protection — not just cuisine.

Notable Quotes

00:00:02 "The thumbnail might be a little bit misleading. Hold your head up high."

00:08:07 "They put a little bit of bear meat in one of the soups. And I had that, and man, I got crucified by the vegetarians. So I'm making this a pro-bear episode."

00:08:50 "You know, we're the ones on the bear's land, really."

00:15:59 "I guess they're different teams. But look how they've self-segregated themselves."

00:20:05 "He self-imprisoned himself! This bear put himself in the prison."

00:25:07 "I'm not giving you anything, crows. Because you guys can fly and you have freedom."

00:25:34 "I once saw a crow attack a pigeon and break its neck."

00:27:31 "Crow took him. He's eating my salmon. Stupid crow."

00:29:29 "Toby, I'm going to call him Toby, that thief."

00:31:00 "Kind bears. And they're cuter. They look like Winnie the Pooh."

Related Topics

  • Only in Japan Go: Hokkaido adventures
  • Only in Japan Go: Takaragawa Onsen (2015 bear meat episode)
  • Only in Japan Go: Northern Japan / Wakkanai
  • Only in Japan Go: Ainu culture
  • Only in Japan Go: Onsen culture (Noboribetsu Onsen, public baths)
  • Only in Japan Go: Hell Valley (Jigokudani)
  • Only in Japan Go: Live streams from Japan

Search Tags

#only-in-japan-go #noboribetsu #noboribetsu-bear-park #hokkaido #bear-park #kuma #bear #cable-car #hell-valley #jigokudani #ainu #duck-race #karasu #crow #toby-the-crow #kuma-no-o-yatsu #noboribetsu-onsen #onsen #hokkaido-travel #spring-japan #wakkanai #live-stream #sapporo #takaragawa-onsen #only-in-japan #japan-travel #hokkaido-adventure #bear-food #salmon

Full Transcript

00:00:01 John Daub: The thumbnail might be a little bit misleading. Hold your head up high.

00:00:09 John Daub: So this is the Noboribetsu Bear Park. It's been in the news recently in Japan because they just had a baby cub born.

00:00:18 John Daub: And this is the big guy that I took a picture of before. Ferocious, isn't he?

00:00:25 John Daub: But he's been stuffed like Hachiko has — the Shibuya dog in Shibuya, in a museum in Ueno.

00:00:31 John Daub: But that's another story. I'm going to be taking a cable car. And this is how you get to the bear park by cable car.

00:01:08 John Daub: Because now the bear park was not cheap. You can see the ticket is 2,400 yen to get in.

00:01:24 John Daub: But I mean, a bear's got to eat, right? Right now it says the temperature is 8 degrees Celsius. And there's a light wind. Not enough to make the cable car go back and forth. It could be a little bit scary. Maybe I get my own cable car.

00:01:54 John Daub: It's going to take seven minutes to get up to the bear park.

00:02:14 John Daub: This is my car. Car number 19. Awesome. Get my own private bear car.

00:02:53 John Daub: Now I got seven minutes to fill.

00:03:05 John Daub: He says it's going to take seven minutes to get from here to the bear park. So bear with me. Bear with me as you make this trip up to the top of the bear park.

00:03:25 John Daub: Right now we're in a little bit of a traffic jam. Going slow. The car in front of me is waiting for the green light to go ahead.

00:03:35 John Daub: My door's open. Is that normal? Can I push the button and speed this up? We're waiting for the green light. Ah, they got the green light. We're next.

00:03:52 John Daub: Oh, this is so cool!

00:03:53 John Daub: So we got bear car for seven minutes. And then we enter the bear park. Yeah!

00:04:13 John Daub: Anyways, the bear park, once again — it's in Noboribetsu. That's who I am right now. Noboribetsu is in... Hokkaido.

00:04:26 John Daub: It's on the little lake. Let me get the map out. I can get the Google map. It's on the little lake of... Alright, Kyle's giving a rawr! Thanks, Kyle!

00:04:36 John Daub: The... Oh, we got the green light! Oh, turn the camera around!

00:04:41 SPEAKER_02: This thing's going fast!

00:04:58 John Daub: Scary. Please! It's a little bumpier than I thought it would be. I hope you're not afraid of heights. I'm going to look down.

00:05:08 John Daub: There you go. You can see Noboribetsu. It's all of the hotels and resorts at this onsen. That's pretty much what an onsen town is — resorts, hotels, all built upon a... like hot water seeping out of the ground, and they make baths inside of the hotels. But the one that I bathe in is right there. The small one.

00:05:37 John Daub: And that's a public bath that anybody can go in. You don't need a reservation to go in. You just need to bathe in there and you get the same water as all the luxury hotels. One of them, which I showed last night in the feed, I guess — that one there? This one is $600 a night. So the prices are pretty insane.

00:05:55 John Daub: Wow, look at the mountains! Up here it's a little bit colder so nothing has bloomed yet. There's very few cherry blossoms. Over on the other side you can see all the way to the ocean. That's the sea.

00:06:12 John Daub: And I'm pulling up the map on Google Maps right now so I can give you an idea of where we are. And it looks like we're gonna be taking a steep turn up. So, here's a map of Japan. Here's a map of Japan. You can see where I am. I'm on the very top and I'm so close to my goal of Wakkanai. Wakkanai is that point in the very north. That's where I'm gonna go. Tonight I'll be in Sapporo. I'm almost done. And believe it or not, there's only two hours to go on the way.

00:07:01 John Daub: I'm on the Kickstarter project. This is where you can get a DVD of this trip, which I haven't been posting much of on the channel. But let's see here — here's the Kickstarter project you can find on Kickstarter. It's got two hours to go, which is insane. And it's $24,500 pledged. And I asked for $5,000 to cover expenses, and that's just insane. So two hours to go. So if you want to get a DVD, go on to Kickstarter. Now, or at least within the next two hours. And you can make sure you get that.

00:07:41 John Daub: It's nice to have your own private car, isn't it? That doesn't happen much in Japan where you get something to yourself. Just me and you on this trip, going to Bear Park. I'm very serious about Bear Park.

00:08:00 John Daub: See, a lot of people... they sort of criticized me for eating bear at an onsen two years ago. Takaragawa Onsen in Gunma. And it's famous for having bear. And they put a little bit of bear meat in one of the soups. And I had that, and man, I got crucified by the vegetarians. So I'm making this a pro-bear episode — for all those people who criticized me for eating the bear. I love bears. Not just the meat to eat. But I'm kind of curious how they treat the bears here. I don't know if they put them in prison or if they let them roam free in their own environment.

00:08:41 John Daub: But there are bears in Hokkaido that roam free. Loads of them. In fact, there are signs on the highway with bears — you know, it's like "that could cross the highway at any time." So in a way, it's nice that the bears are in a sanctuary. A place where they can be protected and not get killed or do damage. Where hunters will... I mean, if a bear does damage or attacks a human, they get killed. And there was a bear attack just last week in Japan and the bear got killed because he attacked hikers. And you can't do that, bears. But, you know, we're the ones on the bear's land, really.

00:09:25 John Daub: Anyways, I'm really curious to see how this park is set up. I don't want them to be in prison any more than you guys do. It's beautiful up here. I like the fact that we have to take the cable car to get up to the top. I don't mind paying a little bit more for the ride. Look at those people in the cable car. They're making a lot. At least that's what... you know, if I always had a cable car by myself and I was with my girlfriend, I'd probably give her a big smooch just because I can.

00:10:05 John Daub: So there you go. Whoa! Alright, I gotta give the good... the front lens for this one. Look at that. That's Hokkaido. That's Hokkaido down there. Look at the green and the just the open spaces. It's amazing.

00:10:15 John Daub: Look at that. Derry and Tai have a bear on me. Thank you. I'll see if they have some unusual snacks. That might be fun. And Mathesius, did the demons get you last night? No, but I didn't sleep so well.

00:10:48 John Daub: Oh, no. You can see the mountains with snow peeking over on the top of the screen there. Beautiful. So apparently, according to the locals, you can still ski here. What a view.

00:11:06 John Daub: And now we're getting very close to Bear Park. Bringing the Osmo down so I can control her. Bear Park! Part two. The actual park. Part one cable car is done. Part two. Grab my bag. Look what we got. Oh, yeah.

00:11:33 John Daub: Welcome to Bear Park, everybody. It's a little bumpy on the end, but... Oh, man. There's not even staff to welcome me, but you know what they did? Instead of staff, they put a bear there. So you're welcomed by a cuddly, cute bear. The doors auto-open. Maybe. Yes. Get off. Get off.

00:12:13 John Daub: This way to Kuma Mountain. To say bear in Japanese, you say kuma. K-U-M-A. Kuma.

00:12:26 John Daub: Here we are. Awesome. Oh, look. There's an Ainu village here. These are the indigenous people who were in Hokkaido before the Japanese came.

00:12:38 John Daub: There's a duck race. Whoa! I totally got to see this duck race. Half these things aren't bears. First enclosure, second enclosure. I don't like the word enclosure. And then a squirrel village. This is way better than I thought it would be so far. Let's see how things work out.

00:12:59 John Daub: There's a bear. And there's a bear. That's the bear office.

00:13:06 John Daub: Oh, look. Oh, my gosh. So there was a bear that was born just this year. And this cub is on display. Oh, I got Ultraman here.

00:13:24 John Daub: There's a cub that's on display. Right now in this little worm thingy. I don't know what they call them, but...

00:13:32 SPEAKER_04: How long he is?

00:13:33 SPEAKER_04: Power night.

00:13:39 SPEAKER_04: Gashi gashi?

00:13:40 SPEAKER_04: Power night.

00:13:46 SPEAKER_04: This is a cub.

00:13:47 SPEAKER_04: This is a cub.

00:13:48 SPEAKER_04: This is like 350 kilos.

00:13:51 SPEAKER_04: This is it?

00:13:52 SPEAKER_04: This is it.

00:13:53 John Daub: See if I can move around the other side for you.

00:13:56 John Daub: Can't feed the bears. Looks like you're throwing it on their head. I would never do that.

00:14:07 SPEAKER_04: I don't want to.

00:14:09 SPEAKER_04: I don't want to.

00:14:10 SPEAKER_04: This one's trying to get out.

00:14:41 John Daub: He's going to be a handful. Alright, it's saying right now there's a very bad connection. I'm sorry about that. Bear Park does not have a very good connection.

00:15:14 John Daub: This is where the duck race is. You can see there's the starting line. Sorry for the very bad connection. Hopefully the connection gets better as we move around. Right now the signal is at two bars. At a five. So just bear with us. Look at the little duckies. And I like this idea. They look like they're well taken care of. They look pretty healthy and happy. There's yellow ones on the corner. And then there's white ones here. I guess they're different teams. But look how they've self-segregated themselves. The white team is over here. And the yellow team is over there. That's pretty funny. And then they race to the end over there.

00:16:17 John Daub: I apologize for the bad signal. I guess they... There's not very good service up here. Some more bear. This is a photo point. Yeah, the lag is on my side. There's no Wi-Fi here either. Let's go see some bears before the signal breaks out.

00:16:47 John Daub: So this is Bear Park in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido. 2,400 yen or about $24. And I came up here just to see the bears. This is enclosure number two. And I don't like the name enclosure, but...

00:17:05 John Daub: What are dogs... I hope that's not the food for the bears. Bear enclosure number two. Let's see. Take a look.

00:17:20 SPEAKER_04: I got caught.

00:17:20 SPEAKER_04: They're humans.

00:17:23 SPEAKER_04: They're like...

00:17:24 SPEAKER_04: They're like... they're standing.

00:17:26 SPEAKER_04: See? I know, I know.

00:17:33 SPEAKER_02: It's a lot of bears.

00:17:39 John Daub: Things that you cannot do at Bear Park. Don't stand.

00:17:43 SPEAKER_04: The dog is a bit of a lover. And Papa.

00:17:45 SPEAKER_04: Papa, don't put your kid on your shoulder.

00:17:48 John Daub: Apparently this has happened before.

00:17:55 SPEAKER_02: Look, he's doing a tummy rub.

00:17:57 SPEAKER_00: Awesome.

00:17:58 SPEAKER_02: Do it again. Do it again. Gimme a hug.

00:18:03 SPEAKER_04: Ah yeah!

00:18:03 SPEAKER_04: The crows are fighting for the foodie.

00:18:19 SPEAKER_02: Those chicks are throwing stuff...

00:18:37 John Daub: I wonder if these bears, if a human fell in there, if they would just eat them. They got really kind faces, these bears.

00:18:50 SPEAKER_04: Look at them, they're really cute!

00:18:55 John Daub: This was worth it to come. I don't know if this enclosure is their habitat. Whoa! He just caught that in his mouth! You're awesome dude! High five!

00:19:16 John Daub: Although you do have a kind face. How you doing?

00:19:24 John Daub: Look at the crows! Why don't the bears attack the crows? Or maybe they haven't failed so many times that they decided to just leave the crows alone.

00:19:39 John Daub: This bear got way up there in the tree, the tree house here. The tourists are throwing apples at his head. Apparently they're not very good at basketball because it's only maybe one out of five.

00:19:53 SPEAKER_02: Whoa! He chucked it right in his mouth!

00:20:01 John Daub: I gotta go get some apples. I think it's apples that they're throwing. He self-imprisoned himself! This bear put himself in the prison. You know, I think this is a voluntary park. Maybe the bears check themselves in. This could be a rehab facility for bears.

00:20:18 John Daub: I mean these bears are not normal. Look at this one here. He's holding his foot. Showing his privates. And leaning back. That's not normal. Is that normal? He knows I'm filming him. I don't know if they're prisoners. I think they're self-checked in.

00:20:49 John Daub: They look well fed, at least apple-wise. And they're surrounded with all their friends. I don't know. Here you go.

00:21:07 John Daub: If I was a human and I was in jail, I wouldn't want people throwing things at my head unless I was really happy. But it's cute how they're waving, right? They are waving.

00:21:26 John Daub: And this one over here? Looks like he's... I don't know what this is. That's not a tail. He's like propped up on something.

00:21:37 SPEAKER_04: Alright, I'm gonna have to find...

00:21:41 SPEAKER_04: Oh, he got the food.

00:21:44 John Daub: This one's ready.

00:21:47 SPEAKER_04: Whoa!

00:21:48 John Daub: Go away. These bears are damn good at catching stuff — their mouths. Alright. I gotta go get some food. I can't. Where's the food? There's the food. I got it. There's the food.

00:22:04 John Daub: Kuma no o-yatsu. Alright, kuma no o-yatsu. I'm so getting some kuma o-yatsu. How much is it? How much do you think the kuma food is? The bear food? I'm going...

00:22:22 John Daub: So someone just asked to go to the Ainu village. I'm going to a real Ainu museum. I don't know if this is a real one — this is sort of like a theme park one. I'm going to a real one on the next town over. I'm going to live stream from there later on today, maybe in a few hours. I'm going next to Hell Valley, the real Jigokudani. This is where the stuff is bubbling up and everything, all life is dead around this area. It's just a kilometer away from here, so it's a 15-minute hike after I get done with the bear park. And then I'm going to a real Ainu village, a museum that I'm sort of looking forward to because a guy who's Ainu named Bear picked me up in near Niigata and took me on one of the rides, so I'm curious to learn more about that. So let's get some kuma no yatsu.

00:23:19 SPEAKER_04: Wow.

00:23:21 John Daub: Kuma no yatsu. There are three kinds, right?

00:23:25 SPEAKER_04: Three kinds.

00:23:26 John Daub: Wow. This... snack, cookie, and then salmon. Salmon. Oh, sorry. Well, I'm going to eat this. I knew salmon was good. Mmm. Yeah. It's good, isn't it? One salmon please. One salmon please.

00:23:54 SPEAKER_04: Here. Kuma no yatsu.

00:23:55 John Daub: Alright. Oh, it's a fishing boat. Wait a minute. Thank you. Alright.

00:24:21 John Daub: Sorry, very bad connection. Sorry guys for the bad connection. I think Toby just ended the live stream. Connection went bad. Real bad. But if you can't see, this is the salmon. I'm going to throw a piece to the bear and then I'm going to stop the feed. And I'm going to record the video and it'll be part of the DVD. Whoa, the bears are talking. And they don't seem happy. I got a premium... Thanks to the Super Chats, I got a premium salmon. These are actual pieces of salmon. And they gave me gloves, like plastic gloves to handle the salmon.

00:25:07 John Daub: I'm not giving you anything, crows. Because you guys can fly and you have freedom. And the bears... we might not even have freedom. We don't even know how these bears live. So you're not getting a darn thing, crow. You can crow all you want, crow. Stop crowing. Don't crow over my head. And don't think I'm doing anything funny. I'm not a fan of your kind. They're thieving. I once saw a crow attack a pigeon and break its neck. And I got this. These crows... there's nothing really good about the crows. I'm not a crow fan. Unless it's like a musical group named Crow.

00:25:51 John Daub: I think they heard me talking about them. Crows are very, very smart animals. I don't even think they're animals. They're smarter than some people, I think. Crows. Okay. How's the connection now? Is the connection better? I am sorry. Okay. Here we go.

00:26:14 John Daub: This is a piece of salmon. It's real. It smells like salmon. Turn the connection off. Let's see. I have salmon. Anybody? Anybody? Make your appeal. I have salmon. This one. He's appealing. Ready? Three, two, one.

00:26:45 John Daub: Darn it. I can't end on a loan note like that. Okay. I'm going for another piece. Oh, it's like frozen. Here you go. Alright. That one's not very good at appealing. I don't know if I want to give to the one... Should I give to the one that's not appealing? Should I give to the one who's self-imprisoned himself?

00:27:07 John Daub: Oh, there's like little teeny cubs over on this side. I bet you they don't get much if they're over here on this side. Hey, little cubbies. Look what I got. Are you ready? Are you appealing for this? Okay. He's standing on his hind legs. I'm going for you. Alright. Here we go.

00:27:25 SPEAKER_02: Crow took him. He's eating my salmon. Look at him. Stupid crow. Look at him. He's eating the salmon. He flew and he stole the salmon. He's eating the salmon. Look, he's got the salmon in his mouth. I hope another crow attacks that crow. That's not fair.

00:27:50 John Daub: I better not... Alright. I can't believe that that crow took the... Look, now they're fighting over the frozen salmon. See, they're like pirates, the crows are. They fight amongst themselves. Alright. Appeal, bear. Appeal. Look at this one who's in the gutter. I'm going to give it to him. Hey, there's more where that came from.

00:28:26 SPEAKER_04: Love and peace.

00:28:33 John Daub: Don't attack your buddy. Oh, whoa. Totally, they're fighting. I feel, I don't know, like these little pieces of salmon aren't enough. I want to give them like a chunk of raw, raw whatever.

00:28:53 SPEAKER_02: Oh, look, he's clapping. Hey, while your buddy's going, I'm giving one to you. Okay, ready? Appeal.

00:29:00 John Daub: Oh, he knocked it down with his hand. Keep it away from the crows.

00:29:09 John Daub: You see, crows are karasu. Karasu. In Japanese. What's funny is I hate karasu. I imitate them and then I want to steal their food. Alright, bear, appeal. Oh, there he is, the one with my salmon. He can't even eat it, that greedy. You see him in the middle? Toby, I'm going to call him Toby, that thief. Toby, Toby's gone. Toby the crow.

00:29:48 John Daub: Appeal, bear. Appeal. Yes, you have deserved it. And that was a two-point shot. Three point if you actually consider the distance and how to travel. Toby the crow is gone. So I'll turn this around. I feel like Michael Jackson. Got one glove. It came with two gloves. So there you go.

00:30:13 John Daub: There's Bear Park. There's a duck race here. There's also — you can see the baby cubs over there. There's also a second enclosure where there's a bear climbing the ceiling, the roof of the enclosure. You see over there? I guess they have some freedom. Maybe there's a gate that allows them to go out here. Maybe. I don't know. I'll ask the manager, but I don't know. There seems to be a lot of them. A lot of them here.

00:30:47 John Daub: What I've learned over the last 10 minutes of streaming with you is that these bears are super smart. They really are super smart. And they seem like they're really kind. I don't know if it's because I'm holding food, but they seem really kind.

00:31:00 John Daub: Kind bears. And they're cuter. They're really cute bears. They look like Winnie the Pooh. Makes me want to climb down this wall, but I have a feeling that that might be a bad idea. That's not a stretch goal for this Kickstarter project.

00:31:23 John Daub: So thanks for joining me on the Bear Park tour. There's not that much to it. There's pretty much just this and some growling. There's Toby the crow. He's still sucking on... Toby the crow. Turn around. There's Toby the crow. He's still sucking on the salmon that he stole from the bear. You see him? He can't shove it in his mouth because it's a piece of... it's a block of ice. Yeah, get out of here, Toby. Toby's gone. Notice how the connection might have gotten better? It's an albatross.

00:32:15 John Daub: Alright, folks. That's the end of this live stream from Bear Park. I hope you enjoyed it. Actually, it was a lot of fun. I got a cable car with the anticipation building, got a great view of Hokkaido, and then we got to play with some bears. And I got some salmon. I'm going to record this for the Only in Japan Go channel. No, sorry, for the DVD. And if you... wow. And if you haven't gotten the DVD on Kickstarter, you have one hour. If you ever thought that you might want it, this is your chance. And I like saying that there's only one hour to go because it puts that pressure on, you know, to buy it now. But if you do it, it's really cool of you. It is cool of you.

00:32:59 John Daub: Oh, my Lord. Toby's back. Ah!

00:33:11 John Daub: I don't know what... I have to throw it directly... Jeez! Freaking Toby. I'm going to leave you for the next 20 seconds looking at Toby, the crow, and anything you're angry about in life, just... you put it on this crow right here. It's a thief, and he just stole again. Toby stole again. It's got it in his mouth, and he's flying away. The greedy... These crows have eaten way too much. Toby the crow. There's a bear on the... Oh, he's not supposed to... But I'm going to leave you with the next 20 seconds. I'm going to leave you the next 20 seconds looking at these bears eating salmon. And you can make the judgment if the enclosure is big enough for them and if you would come to this park, but I'm just bringing you some scenes of cute bears. So, 20 seconds. Good night, bears. Have a good one. It's been a couple of hours. Get out of here, Toby.

00:34:12 SPEAKER_02: Give it to me. Give it to me. See ya.

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