00:00:01 John Daub: Hey everybody, it's John here. I just wanted to say thank you so much for the support of the last five years for this channel. Five years is 25% of the time that I've been here in Japan. Believe it or not, yesterday was July 11th, the 20th anniversary of the day I arrived in Japan. It seems like yesterday, and over those 20 years, there are so many things I've learned that have changed my life, for better or worse. It's really hard to know how my life has changed as an expat, but I never really saw myself as one. Aloha, hey everybody, how you doing? I appreciate everybody tuning in. Over the last 20 years, so many things have happened—it's almost half my life here in Japan. I don't believe it, but it's true.

00:01:01 John Daub: How has Japan changed me? I do Q&A on Patreon, a site where supporters join me live twice a month. One common question is how Japan has impacted me, what's different from other countries, what makes Japan special, why I like it so much, why I stay. In this livestream, I'll take time to show pictures from a photo album. I came here before digital cameras blew up, before YouTube, when downloading took forever. For the next 20 minutes, we'll go down memory lane—what Japan used to be like, how it is today, how it's changed me. The best place to start is the beginning.

00:02:41 John Daub: The livestream started late because Patreon postcard club postcards arrived—square watermelons from a farm I visited a couple years ago. Thank you for that. Now, let's look at photos. The thumbnail is from my first or second week in Japan. I started as an English teacher for kids at a private school called Amity, a division of Aeon, a big English chain. Some students were under 3, even 1 year old, or prenatal in stimulation classes—a place for parents to practice English for their kids. When looking at photo albums, you get down on the floor.

00:04:02 John Daub: I can't show all the photos, but we didn't have internet back then. To call the US, I used telephone cards—like this one with King Kakuji, Sapporo Tower, Kansai Airport, Osaka Castle. Each use punched a hole to track units; 105 units for 1000 yen. Aeon, that's my first business card. This is my friend Gavin in Nagoya—do I look different! More hair. Nagoya Castle, Nagoya TV Tower at 180 meters. Gavin's the reason I came to Japan; he was on JET, teaching in schools. He studied Japanese in college with me—I didn't. He loved Japan, stayed over two years, now in Michigan. Nagoya was my first city; it had silly Elvis dancers, no big towers yet. Nagoya's unique—not Tokyo or Osaka. Starbucks was only in Tokyo 20 years ago. As a first-time abroad, I'd take local trains 7-8 hours to Tokyo or Osaka for coffee, to feel like home. It can be overwhelming living abroad, even in Japan.

00:07:28 John Daub: Nagoya had little foreign influence—no Starbucks, a McDonald's everywhere, Wendy's and Cinnabon failed, Taco Bell too because taco sounded like takoyaki (octopus balls), so they expected takoyaki but got takosu (tacos). Hard Rock Cafe had good nachos. Weekends, I'd go to Tokyo or Osaka to feel American again. Nagoya's one of the most Japanese cities—Toyota nearby, pachinko birthplace, Sakae entertainment district, fireworks, stone crafting in Mikawa region. Great to live because so Japanese.

00:09:13 John Daub: These are parents and kids I taught—small, cute. In Fujioka around 2003, kids learning English before they spoke Japanese well. Parents respected for bringing them. We had fun beyond alphabet. Those kids are 25-30 now—crazy. Here's teaching staff from Kasugai, where Ichiro lived. New teacher Nick—we went drinking his first day. I trained him from head office. Kasugai Station, Charlie's Angels pose—fun stuff we did. Schedule was rigorous, 30 teaching hours plus planning, but it got easy.

00:11:20 John Daub: Back to my first time: arrived July 11, 1998, at Kansai Airport, greeted by Amity/Aeon staff with Shinkansen tickets to Osaka. Surreal—no other foreign faces, everything clean, new, smelled different, humid. Overwhelmed. Trained in Okayama headquarters—simple back then. From my window, ekimai (station front) neon like Times Square. World Cup Finals that night, France vs. Brazil—Zidane scored twice, jet lag kept me up. Ironic France in finals again 20 years later.

00:15:00 John Daub: In 1998, Japan wasn't a tourist spot—Americans went Caribbean, Europe, Mexico. Japan seemed far, weird, expensive. Now it's top destination—perception changed hugely. Japan different yet same.

00:16:24 John Daub: These high schoolers from Iwaki City, Fukushima, year 2000—now 30s. Loved English. Koichi's mom pushed it. Active classes, Halloween, balls to engage. Yakitori with new teacher. Lived in Fukushima 18 years ago. Craziest as teacher? Rigorous travel on local trains on $3000/month salary (subsidized living). Saved for world travel between contracts—loved teaching kids' growth, though stressful.

00:19:37 John Daub: In 2003, interviewed at Deutsche Bank Tokyo—snobby American interviewer dismissed English teaching. Best it didn't work; I'd lack this YouTube channel. 2003 big turning point. Lived Fujinomiya—balcony view of Mount Fuji, unbelievable. Helped rebuild school as turnaround manager, lived in tatami room, treated like hero with Mount Fuji medal signed by students.

00:24:13 John Daub: Moved 16 times first 8 years, knew regions well—not expert, but 20 years, 16 cities, hitchhiked country twice, every prefecture. Conversational Japanese, married Japanese woman. After Tohoku Earthquake, started series to help Japan with experiences.

00:26:46 John Daub: Travel bug from college; Gavin introduced Japan. Lived Okazaki 14 months, suburb of Nagoya. Japan size of California—diverse: dialects, foods, histories like 47 states. Learned prefectural uniqueness.

00:29:38 John Daub: First abroad trip 1996: London post-Diana, Liverpool Beatles sites, youth hostels, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Munich Oktoberfest, Czech Republic, Berlin, Krakow (dark skin unique), Budapest, Romania, Bulgaria, Istanbul. After 50 countries, Japan huge change—no diversity at first.

00:33:37 John Daub: Stereotypes: Japanese shy, lack confidence without prep. Don't chase dreams/entrepreneurship. Americans jump in, learn on job. Japanese don't get angry—turns people off. Took 4-5 years to adjust. Biggest lesson: stop self-focus, read the air (kuuki wo yomu, read atmosphere). Notice others—pour sake, body language, breathing communicates.

00:38:45 John Daub: Japan team-oriented vs. US individual. Leaders make others better, sacrifice. 80s-2000s success from strong teams like Toyota/Sony. Toyota city company town works well—safe from community. Foreigners miss community involvement, language.

00:45:14 John Daub: Rules: learn first, then break. Police competent, profile but respect speeds it up. Married less suspicious. Bike checks common.

00:49:19 John Daub: No illegal stuff—tried brownie once in Amsterdam, sick. No drugs/smoking. Six-month blues: newness fades, frustration hits. Took 8-10 years to balance identities, appreciate Japan via "why."

00:55:20 John Daub: Initially no attraction to Japanese women—took years understanding. Hitchhiked 2003 to decide stay—nervous first ride built courage, love for Japan.

00:59:30 John Daub: Racism everywhere from ignorance—smile, don't anger. Oseiji (polite compliments) dangerous—don't buy hype. First earthquake 1998, hid under table—Japanese laughed.

01:07:00 John Daub: Dating: young experiment, switch to serious. Notice signs, communicate. Youthful: eat less, exercise, laugh, stay out of bubble.

01:17:26 John Daub: Met Yakuza hitchhiking—respectful. Value hotels personal—Asakusa/Ueno good. Love hotels steal post-10pm. Kansai > Tokyo first-timers. Trains for tourists, car for repeaters. Okinawa cheap flights, spirit sticks.

01:52:01 John Daub: Thanks for 5 years support, 20 in Japan—home now. Livestreams connect us. Busy summer: Singapore, Korea meetups. Keep in touch.

01:57:11 John Daub: Have a good day/night. Bye everybody.