00:01 John Daub: This is a crunchy gyoza from Kochi at the yatai (food stall), not too far from the center and the castle. I'm going to have the last one before we do a walk around the city. Wow, that was so good. This is a unique gyoza stand open until 3 or 4 in the morning. I wanted a midnight snack. They said I could film for just a minute, so only the last bite. Because of protocol, I shouldn't talk with people around. But it's a really interesting place, and I'm in Kochi for one more day.

01:12 John Daub: It's a parking garage turned into a gyoza stand. What was really good about these gyoza? They're crunchy—they grill them on the outside. Look at the steam rising from the yatai. Alright, let's go walk about, guys. I'm going to show you Kochi at night. This is the prefectural capital of Kochi Prefecture, Kochi City. This is actually the entertainment district, even at night on a weekday during a pandemic—still people around.

02:07 John Daub: Kochi Prefecture doesn't have as bad a situation as Tokyo, but precautions are important. I social distanced in there, but it's hard at yatai. They're still in business, at least until tonight, with travel restrictions changing tomorrow. Typically on weekends, this street fills with yatai serving gyoza, ramen, and other things. It's getting closer to midnight—about 11:10pm in Kochi. Not a lot of people here. I love these night vibes. Look, bicycles and rubbish everywhere.

03:15 John Daub: I'm avoiding hostess clubs to not film anyone inadvertently—privacy laws are strict in Japan. We don't want to record people not trying to be in this. So I'm heading back to the hotel. That looks like a sushi shop. Look at this old building—in summer, they'd open the windows, sit on the steps with sake. Check out this yatai. You don't see these in Tokyo much. Because it's winter, they've covered it to stay warm—about 4 or 5 people inside. You can see Yama-chan (it's pretty cool).

05:14 John Daub: Karaoke up ahead, but I don't think we'll hear singing. This street is famous as part of the Sunday market—it's Monday night into Tuesday, so the market was here 36 hours ago. It's lined with mostly elderly sellers who've been at it for decades, though some younger generation is coming. Wow, Christmas lights up ahead—we'll check that out. There's a Lawson's—big in Shikoku.

06:36 John Daub: Above that tree, you'd see Kochi Castle, a 17th-century castle, but it's past midnight and lights are off. Check out that yatai over there. I love the vibe of Kochi. Yumeya—looks like you could eat outside. I have to be honest: I didn't want to eat more. I ate the gyoza out of curiosity, but I had one kilogram of chicken nanban for dinner at a famous Kochi restaurant. My stomach's so full—luckily my legs do the moving.

08:21 John Daub: This is a famous kushikatsu (fried skewer) chain from Osaka—reasonably priced. Kochi is the city in Shikoku. Wow, Christmas spectacular—and they're frying food up there. Every time I come to Kochi, I eat and drink so much and have fun. This is the first time wandering at midnight. Let's check this Christmas display on the shotengai (covered shopping arcade). Because of the pandemic, Tokyo's closed down more—no Christmas vibe there. But here, beautiful display at midnight. I bet in an hour, you'd see a yurei (ghost) staring, then gouging eyes with its porcelain tongue.

10:18 John Daub: Basically, I'm heading home quick. Dreaming of a champagne white and slightly blue Christmas tree. You can name that tune in 12 notes. This is as deep as Christmas goes in Kochi. Oh, there's the koban (police box)—I feel safe. No real threats at night in Japan except cold and possible crows. It's about zero degrees—colder in Tokyo. Heading back tomorrow at 6pm after shoots for Only in Japan. I've been filming one episode for two months—excited to finish.

12:40 John Daub: If you go down this way, remember Hirome Hiroba (Hirome Market)? The place to drink and eat in a pit—feels like Oktoberfest in Munich 20 years ago, brushing shoulders with locals. That's what I love about Hirome Market—200 meters down this yurei avenue. Freaking cold—my fingers are broken. I hear music—yurei avoid people, except picking one to gouge eyes. If someone's singing a cover, is that copyright music?

14:20 John Daub: They're playing a song—should we give money? Support local artists. Felix says they're just chilling with copyright music. Mal Blanc says do it—give a fiver. Alright, quick—500 yen coin from the Only in Japan community to bros hanging out. Merry Christmas! They ran away—not drunk, just friends. You don't see payphones in Tokyo shopping streets anymore.

17:40 John Daub: For weeks, I've given street performers something—support locals. Irish pub, fortune teller (evil, never good fortunes). Now yatai—I smell tsuyu (salty udon broth) wafting. Alleys off the shotengai have personality. Christmas is about giving—felt good gifting bros. Look inside the shotengai—that's a restaurant. Bloodhound sushi? Just joking—it's a statue. They serve katsuo no tataki (lightly seared bonito)—really good, grilled with straw, smoked and charred. Closed now.

21:35 John Daub: Someone's doing karaoke—they're pretty good. Creepy silent—this is where you'd see a yurei in the distance. Like in the Bronx or Escape from New York—dudes come out. I'm not ghost hunting; ghosts hunt me. This shotengai is dark and scary. Flashing red light—ghost underneath? Who walks here at night without lights?

24:21 John Daub: Kochi's famous for offshore whales in winter—you can see them. Happy whales, happy cats. This is the Hairpin Bridge (Kanzashi Bridge)—famous romantic story with a hairpin; recreation. Ghosts run from lights—that's moths. And this is kanzashi (hairpin), an amazing gift cake from Kochi. Love this city's personality. That clock opens during day, plays jolly music.

26:55 John Daub: Dun dun dun—altered Imperial March for copyright. Lightsabers—Empire here. If working that job, I'd want blue/green rebel lightsaber (go, not stop). Check Discord—passed 10,000 members, 24/7 Only in Japan talk, trip planning, hotels, food. Free, notifications for lives.

29:39 John Daub: Taxi queue—this guy's chilling under shotengai. Red light street crossing—weird at night. During day, pedestrian street with Santa. Harimaya-dori (Harimaya Street). Kochi Castle a kilometer away, but dark—nobody goes at midnight except me (and you). That's Coco Ichibanya (curry house)—closed. Thought that was Darth Vader—mushroom-head onepaiman (Anpanman) character.

33:35 John Daub: If we hit 1,000 likes, I'll get something at 7-Eleven—500 short. Ate a kilo of chicken, but 1,000 likes for dinner? Just do it. Don't ask for likes? It's live—connects community. Onigiri, sandwiches—all yours for likes. If you don't ask, you don't receive. Around the block—your voice impacts. Manhole cover: yosakoi (free-form dance festival)—fish like katsuo, tataki smoke, water.

36:33 John Daub: Always look down in Japan—manhole covers show culture. Station closed, last train gone. Streetcars shut at 10pm—tracks there. Gas station shut. 666 likes—started with gyoza, maybe end with dessert. Hostess clubs, snack bars—katakana. Pepper robot—demented, going out of business.

40:14 John Daub: Streets have character—tomare (stop), bikes, food pics. Check 4K truck sauna episode from hours ago—K-truck sauna by river, 15 minutes then jump in. Sunday market—300 years old, get there early. 280 likes from dessert—up to you. Just click—teamwork. 20 seconds... Strong Zero? No—999 bad luck, go all way.

43:44 John Daub: Shu cream (choux cream), not shoe. Got bread pudding—Christmasy, like grandma's English (giblet gravy). Sanitized. Never had Japanese bread pudding—298 calories, saved half for Kanae Daub (she'll want new, but thought counts). Hope you enjoyed Kochi midnight stream—midnight snacks staple. New main channel: youtube.com/johndaub—new/improved, animated opening by D'Art Sthene (One Piece, Netflix).

53:21 John Daub: Fun stream—gyoza, walk, love Kochi. Back for streetcar, tataki, station daytime. Last big trip—maybe one more Kochi stream. Sleep well, stay safe—see you in Tokyo. Bye!