00:00:00 John Daub: Hey everyone, it's John. This is the Only in Japan Go channel. We're live in central Tokyo and we're going on a trip. This is an amazing announcement. So I'm going to a place called Ogasawara, also called Chichijima, and in English you would say the Bonin Islands. It's just a magical place.

00:00:23 John Daub: I want to tell you so much about it. Here's a map of what it looks like. This is the port town. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A picture's worth a thousand words. This boat is what I'm going to be taking in a few days, and all these people are going to be waiting for me with drums and music. It's going to be completely awesome, and I'm going to be bringing you guys with me. I'm so excited about this.

00:00:58 John Daub: I just literally bought the ticket, and all of this is funded by Patreon. Here's the lobby where I got the ticket. The office is open on the left; you check in at those windows on the day of departure. There are loads of vending machines in here, and I'll show them to you later. Tokyo Islands in the middle. Oh, that's the Yakatabune boat. They have a boat you can ride for a couple thousand yen around Tokyo Harbor. But I'm going to go outside now. This is the pier where all the boats depart for the islands. This is pretty central in Tokyo. Over there is where you get onto the boat, and I'll be there on Saturday. I'm leaving for Ogasawara.

00:01:34 John Daub: I'm finishing up unfinished stuff, but I can't not go. We have to keep doing location shoots, keep moving forward, pushing the series while doing other things. It's like spinning plates at the same time, part of the responsibility I have to everybody. It's hard; my wife is not going because she has work, and she's really heartbroken about it. So we're gonna try to go back to the islands another time when we have kids or time. But I have to go now. September's a great month. I was gonna go at the beginning of August, but the trip fell through. Now we're going. This is gonna be at least two videos, maybe three.

00:09:13 John Daub: NHK just put out an amazing episode on Ogasawara. They did a great job with the history, background, and meaning of the islands—Peter Barakan narrated it—but it was too slow, too boring, made for older people. I want to make something more upbeat, positive, faster-paced for the internet, more attractive. NHK did great with history, but could have shown better what you can do as a tourist. The history goes back a couple hundred years; it's very diversified—people from Europe, America, Hawaii, World War II before and after. There used to be about 6,000 residents before the war who were evacuated and came back. Ogasawara's population is increasing while Japan's is decreasing. There are young kids there. It's completely different from Aogashima, although many things are the same.

00:10:52 John Daub: It's a difference in island culture, history, activities, and the openness of the people that I want to show you. Aogashima is more insulated. Even though Ogasawara is 1,000 kilometers away, 25 hours by ferry, it seems more open than Aogashima, which you can only reach by helicopter or bumpy, unpredictable boat. We're going to see the difference—that's one reason I'm doing this. There's only one ferry a week. If there's a typhoon, things could get dicey on the open Pacific, but the ship's fairly big, so it should be okay.

00:11:46 John Daub: I wanted to go for seven days because I have other things to do, but the soonest I can come back is 12 days. I leave on the 1st, arrive on the 2nd, stay through the 12th, leave on the 12th, back on the 13th. Do I want to stay that long? No. Do I have a choice? No. When you get an opportunity, you just go do it. I got to get prepared and finish up work. It's exciting to know I'm going on a location shoot and revving up again after so many setbacks. August was fun but tough. I'm leaning into September—Ogasawara, the Bonin Islands. It's famous for having Iwo Jima, a big World War II battle site. Iwo Jima is under the jurisdiction of Ogasawara Village, which is under Tokyo. So this is Tokyo, but 1,000 kilometers out into the sea—crazy but cool.

00:13:12 John Daub: It's called Iwo To in Japan, but Hollywood calls it Iwo Jima. 99% of Westerners know it as Iwo Jima. Jima means island in Japanese. OCD Sting has it right—it's Iwo To, like Bali To in Indonesia, not Bali Shima. It's confusing, but not if you live here. Why not Okinawa? I look for original stories that haven't been told. Okinawa is well-known; YouTubers have combed it. I'm going to places just as tropical that nobody knows—hard to get to, unique with background. That's what I do: bring you a story.

00:15:57 John Daub: You can use a drone in Ogasawara—it's a World Heritage Site, but ask permission. Chichijima is a small community, so it's easier to get approval. A bear might have come in, so maybe a bear unboxing. If you have questions, let me know. Check out the recent NHK World Ogasawara video—really well done. This is the pier we'll leave from. Not far from Hamamatsucho Station (JR Yamanote) or Daimon (Oedo and Asakusa Lines). It's convenient, a hub for island life—the boat from Aogashima came here last year. There's a Pacific Island statue and boat sculpture—gives that feeling you're going somewhere.

00:18:21 John Daub: I sustain my travel financially through Patreon. Without their support, this few-thousand-dollar trip wouldn't be possible. We have almost 500 members helping the channel—you have to put that to good use and take people on adventures. If you want to support, there's a postcard club; I send postcards monthly, or packages from around Japan. They have wildlife on the island—whale shark and whale season now. History based on whaling a couple hundred years ago, but now it's a protected natural reserve, World Heritage Site. Lots of areas I might not access, but it's amazingly beautiful.

00:20:03 John Daub: Not much on the internet—mostly smartphone beach clips. Nobody's made a proper episode, so we're doing that. I got the last economy seat today, though I've planned for months—you're supposed to book way ahead. Thanks to all Patreon supporters. You don't have to donate to join, but even a dollar helps, and you get updates. I like Patreon because it's manageable—no PayPal here; it's complicated in Japan. It lets me give perks: live streams, Q&A, postcards, packages, behind-the-scenes, exclusives. It's a community too.

00:22:10 John Daub: I want to do more trips, so more Patreon support helps. New hat from Goran—keeps the hair down in the heat. If you want me to show something specific on Ogasawara, comment below—your feedback enhances the show. For live streams from a tropical island 1,000 km away, like the button. I'll have updates on the DVD project and a new main channel episode soon. Maybe YouTube Space today. YouTube now has stories for some creators like Instagram—trying to get that.

00:24:11 John Daub: Peter von Gomm had hair 15 years ago—we were younger then. He had a kids' show, did ANA commercials, maybe safety videos—narrators have a little community here. I met him on NHK's Tokyo Eye almost 10 years ago; friends since. He's YouTubing now; I'm trying narrations too—cross-pollinating. Learned a lot from PVG; he's a good guy. If you haven't subscribed to Kuma's Kitchen, do so—he cranks out great videos that make you hungry. Miss Jennifer; might meet up before I leave. For Gretchen, they have Red Bull but no Monster.

00:26:47 John Daub: Ren 3 is way up north on Rishiri Island (Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park)—so cool how we're connected by internet. Live streaming from here is crazy. This area's famous for whale watching—see Ogasawara signs with whales jumping. No perfect time, but tropical like Hawaii, always warm. This is Takeshiba Pier—you can dine outside overlooking Rainbow Bridge. Chill spot, not many foreign tourists, illuminated drinks, shows. Summer's over as of September 1st—beaches close. This is where trips to Ogasawara and Pacific islands depart.

00:28:42 John Daub: Leave comments if you've visited Ogasawara or have ideas. Best ways to contact: Patreon DM (fast notifications), tag me on Instagram, or email via website. Gotten great ideas there—some doable. November's great to visit Japan—no bad season with four unique ones. High season start with autumn leaves; book ryokans/onsen 6 weeks ahead. Don't go Golden Week (late April–May 5)—crowded, expensive. Capsule hotels don't usually need booking, but tourists fill them; some reserve quotas for Japanese businessmen. Manga cafes, karaoke boxes good for short stays too.

00:33:37 John Daub: Collaborations should add value—like with What's Inside or Randy Santel, where I contribute Japan knowledge. Not just two YouTubers together unless it enhances. The ticket cost $700 round-trip—not cheap, but by next week I'll be on a tropical island. Thanks for questions and Q&A. Taking you digitally with all equipment—4G LTE there for live streams. Did one from Aogashima (low res); Ogasawara has a big community, so better. Main goal: episodes on culture, history, food, adventure—undersea with dolphins, whale sharks if permitted. Visibility amazing in mid-Pacific.

00:39:07 John Daub: Ogasawara is Bonin Islands—Chichijima (Father Island), Hahajima (Mother Island), Iwoto (Iwo Jima). This is where Roger and I filmed the loud summer garden video last month. Have a good day—next live stream tomorrow with unboxings. Shigaten rumbling through. That's 700 bucks, but worth it. Leave comments on Ogasawara stories or requests—12 days on the island. Looking forward to it. Have a good day, good night.