00:00:00 John Daub: Japan entered the New Year hours ago. It is now 2024 in this part of the world, still 2023 in the United States and other places. I wanted in this episode to talk about something really interesting that not a lot of people discussed this time. Tokyo itself does not have an official countdown party, not like New York with the ball dropping in Times Square, not like Sydney where the harbor explodes with the bridge, not like Paris or London. There's always something on TV with flashbacks as New Year's comes in, but Tokyo doesn't have anything official. And this year in particular, they cancelled it. It was supposed to be sort of right here. Check it out. It's sort of not that clean here, but it'll clean up pretty quickly. They didn't hold an event, but a bunch of people came out and celebrated a countdown anyway—nothing official. I think some YouTubers came out here, but it wasn't real.

00:01:01 John Daub: This came from Shibuya a couple days ago: under the ordinance on outdoor consumption of alcohol, restrictions were in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday through 5 a.m. Monday—basically through New Year's. It's the same as during the Halloween parties, which they cancelled. You can see even on NHK the news about what was going on. Shibuya Ward decided not to hold a countdown event around the major intersection for the fourth year in a row. Events were suspended in 2020 because of the pandemic. The mayor just doesn't want trouble, especially after Halloween and what happened two years ago in Korea. No major events here in the city. Happy New Year, everybody. But the question is: does Tokyo need an official New Year's countdown event? Is it a missed opportunity? What do you think? Should they have one in Shinjuku or Shibuya?

00:02:19 John Daub: When I came here in 1998, I actually came for a New Year's countdown party in Roppongi—that's where all the foreigners went. And this is the reason why there's no countdown party in Tokyo, at least in my opinion. Japanese don't do this. It's not in their culture. They've been doing it at Times Square for a very long time, but in Japan people typically stay home. They watch NHK, which is the actual official countdown on TV where everybody is with their families in a nice warm place. Who goes outside to countdown? I don't. In fact, when I moved here, I didn't get the street countdown parties. But I can understand wanting to share the coming of the New Year in a large group. For the most part, people stay home with family or go to an event. This year there was a big one at Womb, I believe—the clubs have nice countdown events. That's where I went in Roppongi. If you didn't make it to a club, you'd countdown on the street with whoever was there.

00:03:33 John Daub: Tokyo feels pressure to do one of these for international news. Interestingly, they used to show Tokyo on international news—not Shibuya, but Shiba Park at Tokyo Tower because there's a temple there. In the background from the temple is Tokyo Tower with a sign saying Happy New Year. There would always be people at the temple for hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year), going for their first New Year's prayers. Those are one of the most important things in Japanese culture. According to Wakaki-san, who was in an episode of Only in Japan a few days ago, shogatsu (New Year's) is the most important holiday for Japanese, with the New Year's prayers at the shrine. I agree—it's very significant, where you're with family. People don't go out clubbing. This area will be busy today, but it's the one day the entire city is basically shut down. Supermarkets are closed, a lot of restaurants and businesses, department stores too.

00:05:04 John Daub: You're supposed to be with family or go home. I'm not because of jet lag—I arrived back at my house at 8 p.m., went straight to sleep. I thought I'd go out for a countdown at a shrine or temple my own way, but jet lag hit at 8:30. I was up at 5:30 this morning, so I came out here curious if this place would be a disaster. It's not too bad. Tor Tor Pogo is here—welcome back. Happy you took time from live streaming. Gratified to see you, Kanae, and Leo enjoy the trip. Leo's growing so fast. Let me take you around the station. He's not so shy to get in the picture and talk now—he realizes he's on TV from our big screen. Appreciate that, Tor Tor Pogo. Thank you.

00:06:29 John Daub: So there's no official New Year's event for Tokyo. I want to hear from you: yes or no, should they have one? Leave it in the comments. And where? On Hachiko Scramble, shutting down the intersection like Times Square? Put a ball on top of Q Front for everybody to watch drop and rip off New York? Or something weird like a streaker at midnight? Shinjuku seems more appropriate. A few months ago a client asked if I'd emcee a Tokyo event at the Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku, but I had plans to go back to the US for Christmas and wasn't returning till hours before New Year—no way to rehearse. I said call me next year. Don't know if they held it—no follow-up. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building had some event they wanted to live stream with concerts for the city. That seems like the place—official government building. There are 23 wards in Tokyo, and they all probably want a say. But Japanese people aren't out and about. A few young locals in Shibuya last night, but nothing big.

00:08:29 John Daub: Michael Sassano is here—hey buddy, been a long time since I live streamed. Good to see you, Carrie, Jason, JKO Adventure. Happy New Year—cool to be back. Nice to take a longer hiatus. Now you're seeing buses from Tokyo with displays and Japanese flags around Hachiko Scramble—it's because of shogatsu. Tomorrow I'll live stream about shogatsu, see if Kanae and Leo will go to the shrine for New Year's prayers with the community. Public buses have the flags too. There's no reason to stay in one spot—let's walk around and notice shogatsu things. That guy's getting B-roll, looks like TV work. There's always weirdos here, me included. I was away 25 days—it felt like eternity without live streaming. Did one for Patreon, that's it. Gail's here two days in a row. This is the first year in a long time I didn't cover New Year's—didn't go out at midnight. Check the channel for old ones like Asakusa or Monzen-Nakacho.

00:11:01 John Daub: Does Japan miss out by not having a New Year's event? Hey Zack—Happy New Year. You and wife from Malaysia in Tokyo now, hope to meet at live stream. You awake? We were waiting for you at Shibuya last night. Crows in the background—Shibuya's crows are famous. Gonna be an exciting year. Disappointed no official event—it was curious. Zack, appreciate it. Little chilly. Shocked—US was so warm last few days, no snow in New England where we were. No snowmen, skiing melting. Tokyo's chilly—one of few times US warmer than Tokyo. Morning after cancelled New Year's event, Shibuya's still relatively clean—and this is Tokyo's dirtiest part. People keep streets clean—I like that. Any questions? Trying to find New Year's symbols besides flags—not seeing much. In the distance, that used to be Tokyo Honten main department store—demolished now, something new coming.

00:13:28 John Daub: Happy New Year from Japan. Let's go down the alley in Center Gai (shotengai, covered shopping street). Few party-goers—reeks of alcohol and cigarettes. You went out, didn't you? I didn't—in bed at 8:30. Anti-New Year's year. Ramsey Silent, Kamen Rider Rogue—Happy New Year! Listening while driving to work—be safe. Wide camera: new buildings everywhere. No major shogatsu stuff—odd. Snap from Sweden: Happy New Year's, dark here, one hour away. Exciting—Europe's entering 2024. We're seven and a half hours past, but Tokyo not there yet. No official event like Ginza Yonchome, Roppongi—quiet at midnight. Hachiko Scramble has international appeal, symbol of modern Japan with construction. Maybe countdown here? For me, Japan shouldn't copy others—do their own thing. Wonder about Osaka—Dotonbori or Ebisu Bridge, where Tigers fans celebrate like jumping in the river (police stop that now).

00:16:23 John Daub: No official parties here. In 2024 Japan will push hard for tourists. Halloween back, maybe New Year's event for 2025. Bottom line: Halloween drinking isn't what New Year's is about—it's the opposite. Shogatsu is like Japan's Christmas with religious significance—not like the West, and it shouldn't be. Keep it traditional, don't worry about international approval. But Japan always cares about that, wants to compare. Guessing Tokyo steps up in 2024—we'll see. Your ideas help the city. Haven't been to shrine yet—going with Kanae's father for hatsumode soon. Meiji Jingu near Harajuku has long lines. That's what it's about—countdowns on NHK at home, not streets.

00:18:36 John Daub: Short one to share this. Live streams every day through January—going to Fukushima, invited to event in Soma (hard hit by 2011 earthquake/tsunami, still recovering). Excited to bring stories and tourist spots live, 7th or 8th. Then Yokohama end of next week—secret spot that should be better known. Yokohama's big—tourists should go, one area you'll wish was your base over Tokyo. Next Saturday the 13th—spill beans later. 2024 exciting for channel: recent releases on toys and school uniforms (debate ongoing, cool history—check them). Sua Storms, Roy Senior—hi, Happy New Year's. Your info helped my Japan trip last month—thanks, from Switzerland.

00:20:56 John Daub: Going back to family to chillax on New Year's Day. Glad I came out early—Shibuya's dead quiet, slow, as it should be. Most city like this—no shopping, stores closed except conbinis, some supermarkets like Daiei. Be with family or hotel, go to shrine/temple, pray, wait in line, street food at Asakusa or Meiji. Unique time—everything quieter, get quiet street shots if up at sunrise. Boon001: Happy New Year's, planning Japan 2024, prayers for wonderful life—thanks. Martin: 45th anniversary of Gundam celebrated this year. Thinking Yokohama next week—last year for the mega robot Gundam statue, gotta pilgrimage. 50th in 2029 huge. Foxy the Daywalker from Europe—thanks.

00:23:00 John Daub: Sharing Tokyo/Japan New Year's—culturally important for Japanese, my wife's family, me after years here. January 1-3 offices closed, families together. Men usually work long days, leave early—kids see dads more. From Dec 29 to Jan 3-4, corporate offices closed, big deal. Showing the side tourists miss. Angelo Bodo—Happy New Year! Hi from Tokyo. Stay warm—back tomorrow live stream. Comment: does Tokyo miss the ball without official countdown to show the world? What did CNN, Fox, NBC show—no fireworks? Lantern release in Shinjuku? They gotta do better. Happy New Year from Japan—see some in 2024 here, not Shibuya. Matane.