1 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:07,240 -Ooh! -(laughing): Yeah! 2 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:08,840 JAMES: So far in my hard-hitting 3 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,240 current affairs series about Japanese culture... 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:13,960 -What are you doing? -I've successfully dishonored 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,040 -the Northern Islands... -It's terrible. 6 00:00:16,080 --> 00:00:18,880 ...been put on a watch list on the mainland... 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,960 (laughs) I feel like a pervert. 8 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,520 ...and had a dunk with a monk 9 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,200 that we shall never speak of again. 10 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,520 Yes, we are completely naked. 11 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,080 This time... this. 12 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,880 ♪ Touch me, touch me now. ♪ 13 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,240 -YOJIRO: Trainspotters. -JAMES: Trainspotters. 14 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,000 Did you eventually meet some girls? 15 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:38,840 Eh... 16 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:42,080 ALL (chanting): Asa! Asa! Asa! Asa! Asa! 17 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,080 ♪ ♪ 18 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,520 JAMES: I finally hit the bustling hub of what most of us think of 19 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,880 when we hear Japan: Tokyo. 20 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:05,800 So, how to begin? 21 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,960 A dreadfully amusing shot of me being the tallest person 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:09,880 in a lift, perhaps. 23 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,920 Or maybe we should set our sights a little higher. 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,280 Believe it or not, everything you're going to see 25 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:20,920 out of the window of this helicopter 26 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,880 began life over 900 years ago 27 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,560 as a fishing village called Edo. 28 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:31,160 This is the biggest urban area on the planet. 29 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,400 38 million people. 30 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,320 (over radio): It was also, of course, 31 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,120 largely destroyed in World War II 32 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:39,480 by American firebombing. 33 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,200 Most of what you see today is obviously post-war. 34 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:44,760 And then, of course, you mustn't forget 35 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,880 that Godzilla, by my reckoning, 36 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,080 has destroyed Tokyo at least 15 times. 37 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:53,880 Oh, my God, there it is now. No, it isn't. 38 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,240 As usual, I've arranged to meet with a local guide, 39 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,200 so I land my helicopter on one of the quieter streets 40 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:01,720 and go to find him. 41 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,240 Presumably at a suitably epic location. 42 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:05,840 Konnichiwa. 43 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,640 Which of this means "cats"? 44 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:11,680 -(woman singer vocalizing) -(gong clangs) 45 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:15,080 Konnichiwa. 46 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,000 (overlapping greetings) 47 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,280 Hello, kitty. 48 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:20,440 I said, "Hello, kitty." 49 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:21,720 You'll have to kill me. 50 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:23,160 Wash your hands, please. 51 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,440 Thank you. 52 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:26,960 "No flash, please. Don't hold a cat. 53 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,040 "Don't give food and drinks to the cats. 54 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,160 If you're inflicted the injury, only first aid." 55 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:32,400 -Okay. -Thank you. 56 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,520 Hello. 57 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,520 Cat cafés like this one have recently started 58 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,360 springing up here and there in the West, 59 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,240 but as usual with flights of whimsical madness, 60 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,360 Japan is far ahead of the curve. 61 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:46,720 In Tokyo, you can find themed cafés 62 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,720 for dogs, rabbits, 63 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,120 (fading): snakes, owls, hedgehogs, robots... 64 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,000 This is for mad cat people. 65 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,960 (woman vocalizing continues) 66 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,440 Well, it's quite tricky. 67 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,200 I think I'm gonna have one of those 68 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,320 with chips and vegetables. 69 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:04,720 I think you're supposed to choose 70 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:06,520 which cat you would like to meet. 71 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,720 Yukinojou. Ragdoll. 72 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,320 I think that might be... 73 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,800 that one? Seven. Ow. 74 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,320 Konnichiwa. 75 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,400 -Konnichiwa. -Are you Mr. James May? 76 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:21,640 I am. 77 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,480 Hello, sir. Uh, it's a big honor. 78 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:25,320 My name is Samurai Yujiro. 79 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:26,960 -Oh, you're Yujiro. -Yes. 80 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,600 Sorry. I thought you were a mad cat person. 81 00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:30,840 -Oh. (laughs) -Konnichiwa. 82 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,320 -Konnichiwa. -Sumimasen. Sumimasen. 83 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,320 -Your Japanese is better than mine already. -Fantastic. 84 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:36,640 -Yes. -Are you really a samurai? 85 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,280 YUJIRO: I decided to get dressed as a samurai. 86 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,440 -Right. -Because, literally, 87 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,920 "samurai" comes from the word "saburau." 88 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:45,440 Means "to serve the master." 89 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,600 So I have decided I want you to be my master. 90 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:50,120 And I'll be your samurai. 91 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:51,600 I'll be the servant. 92 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:53,560 -So, can I call you master? -Um... 93 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:54,960 Master James? 94 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,480 Well, it's a bit weird, but, um... 95 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,720 Okay. I'll call you "sensai." 96 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:01,720 -Oh, sensei. Sensei, yes. -Sensei. Sorry. 97 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,240 "Sensai" means "deodorant." 98 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:04,800 -Okay, I'll call you that. -Yeah. 99 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,160 Sensei, okay. 100 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,520 Master James. 101 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,560 -Yeah? -Do you know the term sakura? 102 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:11,960 It's-- Hang on. 103 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,720 Sakura is cherry blossom. 104 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,240 Absolutely, sir. 105 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,280 You have come at a perfect day. 106 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,360 The sakura today is very beautiful. 107 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,320 It will be my huge honor if I can kidnap you 108 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,320 all the way to the great cherry blossom. 109 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,120 Would that be okay, sir? Can I take you? 110 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,320 Yes, but we can just go on the tube if you want, that's fine. 111 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,360 For a few brief days a year, 112 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:35,800 the cherry trees famously flower, 113 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,720 showering parks in Japan everywhere 114 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,000 with amazing pink petals. 115 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,120 But I can't really pay attention to any of that. 116 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,560 I'm boggled by my new samurai deodorant. 117 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:46,640 Uh, that way. 118 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,920 After the calm of rural Japan, 119 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:50,320 Yujiro's like Tokyo itself: 120 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,720 bigger, madder, and much louder. 121 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,480 -Uh, Master James. -Yes, you don't have to call me master, it's... 122 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:57,800 Okay, okay, sir. 123 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,000 -Master James, are you a big fan of sausages? -No. 124 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,200 Why have you brought me out on a pink swan-stroke-duck? 125 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:06,520 We are riding on the pink duck 126 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,600 because cherry blossoms are also pink. 127 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:10,240 -Yes, that makes sense. -Yes. 128 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,600 (Yujiro laughing) 129 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,120 JAMES: I finally manage to focus Yujiro's enthusiasm 130 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:16,360 back on the cherry blossom. 131 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,800 This is a sakura... 132 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:20,640 JAMES: In Japan, their brief blooming is celebrated 133 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:22,680 as being symbolic of life-- 134 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,360 beautiful but tragically short. 135 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,000 Just like Richard Hammond. 136 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,160 Tokyo citizens will take the day off work 137 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,000 to sit under the sakura, 138 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,960 and Yujiro tells me he has some friends doing just that. 139 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,040 And these are my lads, my mates. 140 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:38,600 -Your mates, your lads. -Yeah. 141 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,360 James May... (speaks Japanese) 142 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,360 JAMES: Konnichiwa. Konnichiwa. 143 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,800 Konnichiwa. Arigato. 144 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:47,000 -(laughter) -Shoes. 145 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:48,240 Oh, shoes, shoes. 146 00:05:48,280 --> 00:05:50,200 -Oh! -OTHERS: Shoes! 147 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:51,920 -YUJIRO: Yes. -JAMES: Sumimasen. 148 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,680 -Taking me shoes off. -Yes. Yeah, yeah. 149 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:55,960 -Cheers. -Yes. 150 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,040 No, not cheers! We have to do it Japanese way. 151 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,320 James... (speaking Japanese) Kanpai! 152 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,040 OTHERS: Kanpai! 153 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:04,880 (shouting continues) 154 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,400 Are you hungry? 155 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:09,840 -Hung... hungry? -JAMES: Not really. 156 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:11,560 -Yeah, yeah, yeah... -JAMES: Okay, yes. 157 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:13,400 -Yes, I am hungry. -YUJIRO: You have to say yes. 158 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:14,920 -Yes. -You have to say yes. 159 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:16,640 -Yes, okay, yes. -MAN: Japanese bento. 160 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:18,640 -Yes. -JAMES: Japanese bento. -YUJIRO: Whoa...! 161 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:20,040 -Oh, that looks fantastic. Yes. -Oh, my God! 162 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,760 -JAMES: Yes. -YUJIRO: Whoa...! 163 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,560 -Who made it? -Oh, uh, my... wife. 164 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,960 His wife made it for you! 165 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:28,640 My God! 166 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,440 JAMES: Ah, the quiet, peaceful cherry blossom. 167 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,280 -YUJIRO: So, Master James. -Yes? 168 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,280 The Japanese love the so-called... 169 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,920 -the "brevity of life." -Well, that's the thing 170 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:40,240 that baffles me. 171 00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:41,280 Yes. 172 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:42,720 You celebrate... 173 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,080 -Yes. -that life is short... 174 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:46,960 -Yes. -and will end soon. 175 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:48,520 -Absolutely, sir. Yes. -Is that right? 176 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,400 Yes. Japan is a land of conformity. 177 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,960 We are ostensibly a homogenous nation, 178 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,040 -Yes. -with, uh, 179 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:57,600 sakura trees everywhere 180 00:06:57,640 --> 00:06:58,760 across the nation. 181 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:00,800 So it's something that unites 182 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:02,560 the heart of our people. 183 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:03,920 Yes. 184 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,560 So why has everybody suddenly left? 185 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:08,240 Is it because I've arrived? 186 00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:10,000 -Because it started raining. -Yeah. 187 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,520 -Oh. -Yeah. -(laughter) 188 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,120 It turns out even cherry blossom 189 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,360 isn't as fleeting as a Japanese picnic 190 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,880 once it starts raining. 191 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,480 A Tokyo gathering is a world away 192 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,720 from the quiet and cozy Obihiro yatai hut 193 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:26,160 from my very first day. 194 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,320 But I feel every bit as welcome. 195 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,200 -YUJIRO: So, Master James. -Yes? 196 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,000 Can I wrap it up with Japanese type of ending? 197 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:34,040 -Sure. -Okay. 198 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:36,760 -(shouting, clapping) -Okay. 199 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,520 In the beginning, you have to say, "Yo." That's your job. 200 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:41,600 -Yo. -Okay? Okay, ready? -Yeah, yeah, yeah. 201 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:43,000 -Yo. -Yo. 202 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:46,720 Hey! 203 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:49,040 Hey! 204 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,280 (cheering, laughing) 205 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:55,520 Right, that's good. 206 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,080 -(whooping) -Arigato. 207 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:58,520 Yes. 208 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:00,040 Well, I was advised that he was 209 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,840 a little bit bonkers, and that's putting it lightly, 210 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:04,680 but, you know, I don't mind that sort of thing. 211 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,480 And... let's be honest, his English is fantastic, 212 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:09,520 his local knowledge is fantastic, 213 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,080 and he's quite amusing. 214 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,720 I find the whole master-servant thing a little bit... 215 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,240 kinky. 216 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,720 But as long as he's not expecting anything later on, 217 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:20,760 that's fine. 218 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,120 ♪ ♪ 219 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,760 (gong clangs) 220 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,680 JAMES: As the sun sets across the city, 221 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,000 the streets come alive with a very particular part 222 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,960 of Japanese culture. 223 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:43,160 Like the werewolves of Tokyo, these are the salarymen. 224 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:44,640 Their lifestyle all revolves around 225 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,040 two very Japanese concepts of behavior: 226 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,520 "honne" and "tatemae." 227 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,880 To explain more, here's my advisory antiperspirant. 228 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:57,880 Salaryman... men-- or man who receives salary 229 00:08:57,880 --> 00:08:59,880 -from the company, literally speaking. -Right. 230 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:02,640 -We say salaryman. -Salaryman. 231 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,760 I read about, is it honne? 232 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:07,520 Honne and-- not tatami. 233 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:09,040 -Ah, yes. Yes. -That's a type of carpet. 234 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,720 -We're not talking about carpet here, Master James. -No, no, no. 235 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,880 -Yes, very close. Honne to tatemae. -Tatemae. 236 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,520 One is the... diplomatic face 237 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:20,440 -that you use at work. -Yeah, tatemae. 238 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,280 Like devotion. It's like... 239 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,640 Uh, s-some, some people say human sacrifice. 240 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:26,880 -Ooh. -In a way. 241 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,240 Japan is a land of conformity. 242 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,880 And even if you hate your boss, you obey. 243 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,160 Overly submissive. So you're stressed out. 244 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,000 But there is an unwritten rule that says when you go, 245 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,880 you know, "Hey, hey, kanpai" with your work colleagues, 246 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:46,360 then, mm-mm... you've had... 247 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,880 -That's-that's honne. -Then you can be honest. 248 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,200 -Yes. -Really honest. 249 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,000 Be honest, your true feelings. That's honne. 250 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:56,080 JAMES: The Japanese is very much work-- work very hard, work very long, 251 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,320 drink like hell, fall over, 252 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:00,880 get up, go back to work. 253 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,160 -And-and puke. Puke. -And puke. 254 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:07,240 JAMES: I decide to seek out some salarymen with Yujiro, 255 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,520 if only so that he can practice some honne 256 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:13,320 and start calling me a bellend rather than bloody "master." 257 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:16,640 Where do you work? 258 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,640 -(speaking Japanese) -At a bank. 259 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:20,080 -Bank? -Bank. 260 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:21,520 (speaking Japanese) 261 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,200 M and A. Merger and acquisition. 262 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:24,320 -You know, like investment. -Yes. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 263 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:25,400 (speaking Japanese) 264 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:26,880 -Same-same company. -Together? 265 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,760 Is it very hard work? Is it very tough? 266 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,480 Do you feel a lot of pressure? 267 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:32,720 Very. 268 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,280 -Very much. -Very much? 269 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,840 In Japan, you're not allowed to say what you think. 270 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,720 And basically you have to say a tatemae, 271 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,880 which is something that respects the other person, 272 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:45,440 and you have to say something that is good 273 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:46,840 for the other person. 274 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,320 So you have to kind of suppress your own opinion 275 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:51,840 and respect others. 276 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,160 Especially if someone is older than-than you, so... 277 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:58,160 But what if you've had, say, eight Asahis? 278 00:10:58,200 --> 00:10:59,440 -Eight Asahis? -Yeah. 279 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,960 -Oh, then that's a different question. -(laughter) 280 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,280 JAMES: In Britain, after a heavy one, 281 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,440 you'd end up outside a kebab shop somewhere 282 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,440 distributing lumps of doner meat 283 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,320 and salad on the pavement. 284 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:11,600 But not in Japan. 285 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,000 -Yes. -Yes. 286 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:17,760 Let's go! 287 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,640 (all cheering) 288 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:21,480 JAMES: Karaoke recently experienced 289 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,120 something of a renaissance in the West, 290 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,880 especially with video games like SingStar 291 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:27,200 letting you be irritating in the home. 292 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:31,200 But here in Tokyo, karaoke never left. 293 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:32,720 MAN: ♪ USA... ♪ 294 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:34,440 (singing in Japanese) 295 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,360 Our impromptu karaoke session 296 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,760 suddenly turns into a free-for-all, 297 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,040 with half of Tokyo deciding to bundle into our booth 298 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,080 so we can experience the spirit-- 299 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:45,720 and, indeed, the spirits-- of honne. 300 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,600 -Kanpai! -ALL: Kanpai! 301 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:52,200 JAMES: At least Yujiro can't get any more out of control. 302 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:53,360 ♪ Touch me ♪ 303 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,760 ♪ Touch me now, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ 304 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,760 ♪ Touch me, touch me now. ♪ 305 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,840 Come on. Oh, yeah! 306 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,200 Yeah. All right. 307 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:06,560 Ooh! 308 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,880 (women speaking Japanese) 309 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:13,920 Because of complex international music licensing laws, 310 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,840 we're only allowed to show you the very briefest clip 311 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,000 from this next song. 312 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:20,920 ♪ There's not a problem that I can't fix ♪ 313 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,560 ♪ 'Cause I can do it in the mix ♪ 314 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:23,720 ♪ And if your man gives you trouble ♪ 315 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:25,440 ♪ Then you get out on the double ♪ 316 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,160 ♪ And you don't let it trouble your brain ♪ 317 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,040 ♪ And away goes trouble down the drain. ♪ 318 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,360 Trust me, that was enough. 319 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,400 (laughter and chatter) 320 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,080 -(crowd chatter) -(James chuckles) 321 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,360 I'm not... I'm not really sure what to make of all that, 322 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,080 because it's not how I'd normally spend a Friday night. 323 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,760 In a small, hot room with some other blokes 324 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,280 singing songs I've never heard of, 325 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,520 but it was actually quite good fun. 326 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:55,160 God knows how we're going to edit it together, 327 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,760 but it's not a problem we can't fix. 328 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:58,560 We can do it in the mix. 329 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,840 (indistinct, overlapping chatter) 330 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,280 In the mix. 331 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:05,360 ♪ ♪ 332 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,320 (gong clangs) 333 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,680 After a night of vehemently insisting that I did, 334 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,280 in fact, build this city on rock and roll, 335 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:14,840 I'm a bit bleary this morning. 336 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,600 But you do have to hand it to the Japanese. 337 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,160 The culture does work. 338 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,240 They've retained their manufacturing industry, 339 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,120 despite ten years of a flatlining economy, 340 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:26,640 and if that means you have to sing 341 00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:28,760 "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" 342 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,000 with eight big glasses of Asahi on board, 343 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,080 well, then that's what it takes. 344 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:37,760 Today I'm going to a festival, 345 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,040 if I can continue to speak properly 346 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,960 and remain alive for the rest of this journey. 347 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,800 Yujiro's told me there's a traditional spiritual gathering 348 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,360 happening in nearby Kawasaki, 349 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,680 which sounds about the quiet pace I can currently handle. 350 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,200 Here we are at the Kanayama Shrine. 351 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,280 Kanayama Jinja in Kawasaki City. 352 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,440 Kawasaki City's about, what, uh, 20 kilometers 353 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,160 -from the center of Tokyo. -Yes. 354 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,400 And today, we have this, uh, penis festival. 355 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:07,520 Mm. 356 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,160 This apparently is the annual Kanamara Matsuri-- 357 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,160 the festival of the steel phallus, 358 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,280 a religious fertility celebration 359 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,960 where people will come from miles around to look upon 360 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,760 all this and say, "Oh, cock." 361 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:26,440 In England, you don't have penis festivals? 362 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:28,520 Not as far as I'm aware. 363 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,480 Well, welcome to the land of the rising penis. 364 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,720 -JAMES: And the queue is for? -This queue? 365 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:35,240 -Yes. -Well, 366 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,840 this is the Kanayama Jinja, Kanayama Shrine. 367 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:40,600 The god of sexuality 368 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:42,720 and, uh, to celebrate fertility. 369 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,040 I think they want big, big families. 370 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,520 -Yes. -Yes, sir. 371 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:48,960 (chanting in Japanese) 372 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,680 Is an erect penis as beautiful as the cherry blossom? 373 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,040 Because sometimes it seems to be as fleeting. 374 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,880 Is anybody embarrassed by the idea 375 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,120 of giant phalluses being paraded around the town? 376 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,240 Next to a-a nursery school, as it turns out. 377 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,880 JAMES: A problem I struggle with every day. 378 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:32,960 So, it turns out that looking like a dickhead 379 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,920 is part of the point. 380 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:36,680 This is a chance to embrace 381 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:41,280 a healthy sex education in a rather repressed society. 382 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,720 Back in the shrine, a young trainee priest 383 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,880 is performing the symbolic ritual 384 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:49,520 of lighting a candle, 385 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,240 which announces the start of the parade. 386 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,480 The spark of life from the flint represents-- 387 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,360 you guessed it-- a penis. 388 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,560 Oh, well. It happens to the best of us. 389 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,760 Yujiro's volunteered me to take part in the procession. 390 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,720 Presumably because I have prior experience 391 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:28,760 supporting bellends. 392 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,480 We're gonna have this penis gigantic, uh... 393 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:33,800 A float? Yeah, like a carnival float? 394 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,440 I guess so, yes, and, uh, we will 395 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,280 walk all around this whole city, 396 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,520 and we praise the god of sexuality. 397 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,880 -Penis and, uh, the lady garden. -Yes. 398 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,840 (clapping in unison) 399 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:54,200 (men speak Japanese) 400 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,560 -(chanting) -No. He's saying don't move yet. 401 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:58,840 (man shouts) 402 00:16:58,880 --> 00:16:59,840 MAN: Asa! 403 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:01,400 -Asa! Asa! -Asa! Asa! 404 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:03,280 Asa! Asa! 405 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:07,600 Asa! Asa! Asa! Asa! 406 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,720 -Asa! Asa! Asa! -Asa! Asa! Asa! 407 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,280 JAMES: Unfortunately, being the tallest here, 408 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,080 all the weight of the float is focused on my shoulder. 409 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,040 -Asa! Asa! -Have you got enough yet? 410 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:20,640 Come on, James. You can do it. Asa. 411 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:22,400 -Asa. Asa. -I'm too tall! 412 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,520 -Asa! Asa! -Asa! Asa! 413 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,320 -Asa! Asa! -Asa! Asa! -Yujiro? 414 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,760 -Yeah. -I'm dying! 415 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:31,240 -Ow! -But you're British samurai. 416 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:32,760 You're strong. Asa! 417 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:34,680 -Asa! -Asa! -How's your leg? 418 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:36,800 Bad. It's not my leg. It's my face! 419 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:38,640 -Are you running out of energy? -JAMES: Yes! 420 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,640 YOJIRO: Oh! Oh! 421 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,080 I'm 6,000 miles from home, I'm in pain, 422 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,400 I'm carrying a giant penis, 423 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,680 and I have no idea what "asa" means. 424 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:50,920 Asa! Asa! Asa! 425 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:52,760 I've given it to the production executive. 426 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,680 Asa! Asa! 427 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:59,440 -He's too tall, as well. -Asa! Asa! Asa! Asa! 428 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:01,640 You made history today, James. You're the-- 429 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,400 I think you're the first British man 430 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,200 -to participate in this Kanamara Festival. -Am I? 431 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:08,640 Yeah! In the front row! 432 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:10,520 -You're the leader. -And the last. 433 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:11,920 -Yeah, but... -Don't do that. That hurts. 434 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:13,800 -But... does it hurt? -Yeah. 435 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:15,280 -It did, huh? -I think it snapped. 436 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,320 -How about your thighs? Yeah? -Don't touch that, either. 437 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:20,960 For a people known for being reserved, 438 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,440 the Kanamara Festival is both eye-opening 439 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:25,440 and heartwarming. 440 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:29,200 Today, all sexualities are being celebrated openly. 441 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:30,760 As well as people who are 442 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:34,080 genuinely just simply wanting a baby here, you've got... 443 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,320 well, everybody's taste, really. 444 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:41,200 You've got L, G, B, T, Q, plus, Yujiro. 445 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:42,560 The lot. 446 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:46,080 (shouting in Japanese) 447 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:47,800 Now, a lot of people watching this might find 448 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,520 all of this distasteful, but in the end, it's only a penis. 449 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,200 Statistically, everybody's got half of one. 450 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,680 (indistinct chatter) 451 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,960 YUJIRO: Which penis is your favorite, James? 452 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,440 JAMES: Mine. 453 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,520 (gong clangs) 454 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:11,640 JAMES: Something Japan is best known for-- 455 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:13,960 apart from, now, giant phalluses-- 456 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,480 is ingenious gadgets and tech. 457 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,240 This is a super gadget shop I recommend. 458 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:24,800 JAMES: We are in Akihabara, 459 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,320 Tokyo's hub for solutions to problems 460 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,040 that no one has ever identified. 461 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:33,480 And where I experience firsthand 462 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,080 the Yujiro shopping channel. 463 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,800 This is a, uh, backpack 464 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,080 to carry your animal. 465 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:41,320 A dog or cat. 466 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,560 -What is that? -It's-it's a mask. 467 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:46,640 It blocks tiny particles from the pine trees... 468 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,320 -Like hay fever? -Yes. 469 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,440 -It also makes you look a tit. -Yes. 470 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,800 It's an ear cleaner. (puffs) 471 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,000 But if I clean your ears, 472 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:58,880 the video inside of your ears 473 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:01,280 is displayed on your iPhone. 474 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,400 -Isn't that fantastic? -No. 475 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:05,880 -What do you think this is? -I don't know. 476 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,640 -I've no idea what that is. -It's a dish cleaner. 477 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,560 -What? -There you go. 478 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,160 What is the point of that, really? 479 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,000 -You're not gonna buy this? -No, I'm not. 480 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,080 As well as the smaller Aladdin's caves of Akihabara, 481 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:23,680 there are towering shrines to tech. 482 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:24,760 When I first came to Tokyo 483 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:26,720 25 years ago, you could buy things 484 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:27,880 that you simply didn't see anywhere else, 485 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:29,080 like a little credit card 486 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,080 that held phone numbers and addresses. 487 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,280 This was before we had smartphones and what have you, 488 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,080 but these days that's not the case, because 489 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:37,920 we get the same electronics everywhere. 490 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,680 But there's one area of cutting-edge tech 491 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,440 where Japan definitely sits on the throne. 492 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,560 Ah, here's something we need to address, Yujiro. 493 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:50,800 Uh, toilets. 494 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,080 The Japanese khazi. 495 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:54,800 -This is oshiri. -This very helpful, 496 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:57,160 uh, little graphic means 497 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,560 -"ass wash." -Yes, ass. Yes, yes. 498 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,000 -And some of them play a tune as well, don't they? -Yes. 499 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:03,200 So that if you do a big fart, 500 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:04,880 you're not embarrassed, is that right? 501 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:06,320 -Yeah, yeah, yeah. -In England, people just sing 502 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,560 "Roll Out the Barrel" or something to cover up the noise. 503 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:10,080 The-the latest models 504 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,760 have these automatic, self-washing, 505 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,440 um, how do you say? Uh, program. 506 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,200 -It cleans itself, the latest model. -All righty. 507 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,520 -Latest model. But... -Ah, right, okay. 508 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,400 -Now, that's why this is the expensive one, then? -Absolutely, but if, um, 509 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:28,040 you can adjust how strong you want the water 510 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:32,960 -to, you know, clean your asshole. -Yes, yes. 511 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:34,640 -Uh, your bidet. -Yes. Yes. 512 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,760 -Your-your sensitive crotch. -Yes. Okay. 513 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,000 You can even wash your face with this, you know. 514 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,800 You can, I mean, theoretically. 515 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,320 When you press the-- here, the-the water comes out, 516 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:47,920 you can, you can, theoretically. 517 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,040 But you-you don't have to. 518 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:52,680 -Right. -Yes. 519 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:54,520 -Shall we cut? -TOM: Yes. 520 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:55,640 (laughs) 521 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:58,840 JAMES: Akihabara 522 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,200 isn't just a center for gadgets. 523 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,040 It's a hub for all geeky interests, 524 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,040 from manga to video games. 525 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:08,760 As such, it's a home for a very important sector 526 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:10,080 of Japanese society. 527 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:14,360 The "otaku," which translates roughly as "super geek." 528 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,640 The difference between super geeks here 529 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,440 and in Britain, for example, is that, 530 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:21,080 here they're not derided. 531 00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:23,200 They are embraced, they are welcomed 532 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,800 as a necessary part of the social fabric. 533 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,840 And the greatest of all super geeks are, of course... 534 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,280 Tetsudo mania, or trainspotters. 535 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:32,600 Trainspotters. 536 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,960 Japanese trains are so efficient, 537 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,840 if they are late, they often have to issue certificates 538 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:40,440 to all the passengers, or their workplaces 539 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:42,000 won't believe it happened. 540 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:46,400 This means Tokyo is a trainspotter's paradise. 541 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,120 Yujiro's arranged for me to meet two trainspotting otaku 542 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:53,480 at a model-railway themed café around the corner. 543 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:55,280 Because of course there is. 544 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,080 (speaks Japanese) 545 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:00,600 -YUJIRO: Konnichiwa. -Konnichiwa. 546 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,120 Konnichiwa. 547 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,040 Excellent. 548 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:05,440 Do you have to be secret 549 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,320 about your train obsession? 550 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:10,120 (speaking Japanese) 551 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,160 -Ah... -Oh... 552 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:22,960 Oh, I know. I think I know what you mean. 553 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:24,880 Yeah. Yeah. He didn't have... What you say? 554 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:28,360 He couldn't grab the heart of the girls in his classroom. 555 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,240 -Because you liked trains? -Yeah. 556 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,720 -Uh, trains, trains... -And when you start riding trains... 557 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,240 -Train. Train. -Ah. 558 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:37,320 -Taking pictures is... mm... -Ah... 559 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,320 Did you eventually meet some girls? 560 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:46,000 -Mm. Mm. -(Yujiro speaking Japanese) 561 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:53,040 Ah. Uh... uh... 562 00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:56,520 -No. -(laughter) 563 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,880 JAMES: Takahiro-san is so obsessed with trains... 564 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,360 ...he actually achieved 565 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,480 15 minutes of fame in Japan with a top 20 single 566 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,040 where he mimicked platform announcements. 567 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:16,560 No, really. 568 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:18,840 (singing in Japanese) 569 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,280 JAMES: I mean, it's still better than Coldplay. 570 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,560 (singing in Japanese) 571 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:38,680 JAMES: And that's not all. 572 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,160 You can... I heard you do noises. 573 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,960 You can do beatbox train noises? 574 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,120 -Yes. -Can you do Shinkansen? 575 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,320 That's the Japanese bullet train. 576 00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:49,360 (imitating whooshing) 577 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,160 -That's quite good, isn't it? -(laughing): Whoa... 578 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:55,680 -(applause) -Yes! 579 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:57,120 -YUJIRO: Bravo! Bravo! -Yes. 580 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,440 Can you do...? I don't know 581 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,640 -if you can see this. -Yes. 582 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:03,240 There's a small... looks like a German steam. 583 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:04,880 -Oh. -YUJIRO: Oh. Made in Japan. 584 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:06,360 -That's Japanese steam locomotive? Okay. -Yes. 585 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,440 Can you... can you do the noise of that? 586 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,800 (hissing) 587 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,040 (chugging) 588 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,040 (hissing) 589 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:20,320 (chugging) 590 00:25:20,360 --> 00:25:21,640 This is... 591 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,880 -MINAMIDA: Whoa! Bravo! -That's fantastic. 592 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,480 That is a realistic chuffing sound. 593 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:30,280 -Domo arigato gozaimasu. -(speaking Japanese) 594 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:31,600 (whooshing) 595 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:34,600 Closing. 596 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,000 -(whooshes) -(laughing) 597 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:38,320 -Okay. -End of interview. 598 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:39,640 Okay. 599 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:41,920 ♪ ♪ 600 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,440 My new otaku friends take me to Shibuya Station 601 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:47,600 so I can observe them in the wild. 602 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:49,480 And, as luck would have it, 603 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:51,840 an incredibly rare train has just pulled in. 604 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:55,080 For Minamida-san, it's all too much. 605 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:58,600 JAMES: Here it comes. 606 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,000 YUJIRO: Yeah. 607 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:02,080 Should I bow to it? 608 00:26:02,120 --> 00:26:03,240 -Because it's exceptional. -YUJIRO: Whoa! 609 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:05,920 It is old style. 610 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:14,920 James, it said that is a Tokyu Line 611 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:18,000 90th anniversary model. 612 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,000 JAMES: In case you didn't quite get that, 613 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,360 that was a 90th anniversary liveried 614 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:24,120 Tokyu 5122. 615 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:25,840 I'm not doing the noises. 616 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:28,600 (upbeat jingle playing over speakers) 617 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,360 I can't help but notice that every train station 618 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:35,280 in Tokyo seems to have its own catchy jingle. 619 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:37,720 (humming jingle) 620 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:42,000 And there's ano... 621 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:44,560 -There it is. -(humming jingle) 622 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:46,680 (jingle playing) 623 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,320 -YUJIRO: Whoa. -What-- So, do you do 624 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:51,680 -jingle dances all the time? -MINAMIDA: Yeah. 625 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:56,240 That was a jingle. 626 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,040 -Jingle maker. Jingle composer. -Yeah. 627 00:26:58,080 --> 00:26:59,640 Jingle-- Yeah, that's what he said. 628 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,760 You must meet Mr. Mukaiya, 629 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,240 -the composer of this jingle. -I'd-I'd love to-- 630 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:06,800 I would love to meet Mr. Mukaiya, a jing-- 631 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:08,640 -a train jingle composer. Yes. -Yeah. 632 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,640 Domo arigato gozaimasu for showing us your trains. 633 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:13,240 -(speaks Japanese) -We have to leave you. 634 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:15,560 So wait till the ne-- the jingle comes. 635 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,880 Then we'll leave this scene with a jingle dance, 636 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:19,760 away from the station, okay? 637 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:21,560 So, it's gonna come any second, I think. 638 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:23,960 (jingle playing) 639 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,400 (laughing) 640 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:30,920 (whooshing) 641 00:27:32,120 --> 00:27:33,160 ♪ ♪ 642 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,480 So, acting on this hot tip, 643 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:38,560 I decide to see if I can find and meet this Mr. Mukaiya, 644 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:40,960 the train station composer. 645 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:42,960 Yujiro's got the rest of the day off, 646 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,920 but I'm sure I can cope by myself. 647 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:46,840 YUJIRO: Well, I had imagined 648 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:49,640 that Mr. James May would be a typical gaijin, 649 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:53,800 or a ter-term as a foreigner as a-- in Japanese. 650 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:59,120 But he has turned out to be, in a way, a real samurai. 651 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,120 (siren wailing) 652 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,440 What did I do? 653 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:06,880 (speaking Japanese) 654 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,960 Uh... 655 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:12,400 Yes. 656 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:19,480 He-he knows so much about this country. 657 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:24,920 Yes. Sumimasen. 658 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:26,920 -Uh, sumimasen. -Sumimasen. 659 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,320 James understands the background 660 00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:33,320 of these Japanese mythical world. 661 00:28:33,360 --> 00:28:35,040 Yellow line. 662 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:36,920 -O-Okay? Okay? -Okay. Sumimasen, huh? 663 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:38,160 -Sumimasen. -(speaks Japanese) 664 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:43,120 He is the blue-eyed British samurai. 665 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,200 -Camera, camera. -Camera. Yes. 666 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:48,960 -YouTube? -YouTube? 667 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:50,960 -No, no, no, no, no. (chuckles) -YouTube. Ah, no. (laughs) 668 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:52,760 Not YouTube. Well, maybe. 669 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:54,640 This bit might be on YouTube. 670 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:57,320 Having shaken the rozzers, 671 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:01,120 I finally find Mr. Mukaiya's HQ. 672 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:03,520 It's a paradise for train nerds and even has 673 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,600 its own working Tokyo underground simulator. 674 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:07,840 -Here. -Oh, there. 675 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:09,360 -Oh, on the red triangle. -Yes. 676 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:10,560 -Okay. -Okay. 677 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:11,560 -The-- oh, it's right there! -Oh! 678 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:12,720 (groans) 679 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:14,200 -Oh, no! -Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, 680 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,080 -oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. -(groans, chuckles) 681 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:19,360 The 200-plus jingles Mr. Mukaiya has written 682 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:21,400 are played constantly at Japanese stations, 683 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:23,080 which technically makes him 684 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:27,160 one of the world's most-played musicians. 685 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:28,800 You've got seven seconds and you have 686 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:30,360 to capture the character 687 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:31,760 -of the station. -Mm-hmm. 688 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:33,160 Is the-- is the name of the station 689 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:34,320 -an inspiration? -Name of the station. Yeah. 690 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:36,120 So let's say the-the station is my name. 691 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:37,960 It's called James May Station. 692 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,240 -James May. -"May" is like 693 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:41,800 a Japanese word, isn't it? 694 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,920 Ja-Jame-Jame-James May. 695 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:46,920 And it's an outside Tokyo... 696 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:48,640 James May. Outside Tokyo. 697 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:49,720 -Just write, like, a... -Yeah. 698 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:51,720 (plays soothing jingle) 699 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,040 -Like a James May. -That's quite nice. 700 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,680 -♪ James May. ♪ Yes. -♪ May. James May. ♪ 701 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:58,360 -Is this keyboard going? Yeah. -(plays note) 702 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,880 I was thinking... ♪ James May, sumimasen. ♪ 703 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:02,880 -(chuckles) -Because I'm... 704 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:05,360 (playing updated jingle) 705 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:07,240 'Cause it has 706 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:08,320 -almost a bow at the end. -Okay, okay, okay. 707 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:09,320 -It needs a little bow. -All right. 708 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:10,400 -'Cause I say "sumimasen." -To try. 709 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:12,280 Try the... ♪ James May ♪ 710 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:15,840 -♪ James May. ♪ -(playing jingle) 711 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:17,240 Or it could even be, um... 712 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:18,640 (playing jingle) 713 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:20,280 (plays bluesy ending) 714 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:21,640 (speaks Japanese) 715 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,840 B flat, ninth chord. 716 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,280 (playing jingle) 717 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:29,880 (plays smooth ending) 718 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:31,800 -Oh, that's nice. Yes. -Okay. 719 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:35,800 It is more sophisticated, yes. 720 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,360 (playing jingle) 721 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:43,880 (playing flowing ending) 722 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,160 -Okay, we did it. -You did it. 723 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:49,440 I think it's fabulous. 724 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:51,160 -Congratulations. -Thank you very much. 725 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,360 All we need to do now is build James May Sumimasen Station 726 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:57,240 on the Tokyo subway. 727 00:30:57,280 --> 00:30:59,240 ♪ James-u May-u ♪ 728 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:01,120 ♪ Sumimasen. ♪ 729 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:02,680 (beeping) 730 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:04,520 ♪ James May ♪ 731 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,320 ♪ Sumimasen. ♪ 732 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:09,360 ♪ ♪ 733 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,520 JAMES: I never thought meeting a subway jingles composer 734 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:17,000 would leave me feeling creatively inspired, 735 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:19,080 but I've decided to book myself in 736 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,080 for a thoroughly artistic day. 737 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:23,760 First, I'm headed to a little oasis of calm 738 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:25,720 in the Wakamiya district 739 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:28,720 to hone my quickly stagnating haiku skills. 740 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:31,920 And I've brought Yujiro to stop me getting arrested. 741 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:36,680 -Konnichiwa. -Konnichiwa. -Konnichiwa. 742 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,400 James-san. Yujiro-san. 743 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:40,800 (speaking Japanese) 744 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:45,840 Hana Fujimoto and Toru Kiuchi are venerated haiku masters. 745 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:49,160 Fujimoto-san writes for a popular haiku magazine, 746 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:50,960 and Kiuchi-san is the vice president 747 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:54,200 of the Haiku International Association. 748 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:55,200 If you were going to judge haiku, 749 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:57,120 what would you look for? 750 00:31:57,160 --> 00:31:59,640 Or what would your-- what would your advice be? 751 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:01,040 When I-I'm writing haiku, 752 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:03,480 I write-- I catch a moment. 753 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:05,680 KIUCHI: The clear image. 754 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:07,800 Just like a photo, photograph. 755 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:09,120 Like a snapshot. 756 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:10,920 -Ah. Mm. -YUJIRO: Mm. 757 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:12,960 A moment. 758 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:15,360 At the end of my trip, in about four weeks' time, 759 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,080 I want to write one haiku 760 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,280 that says everything I feel 761 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:22,160 about my journey across Japan. 762 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:23,160 Mm. 763 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:25,320 Can I send that to you? 764 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:27,720 And then you can give me an honest critique 765 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:28,920 and send it back. 766 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:30,280 Oh, sure. 767 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:31,720 May I read you some 768 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:33,440 -of my original haiku... -FUJIMOTO: Okay. 769 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,920 and you can give me, maybe, marks out of ten? 770 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:38,920 Or five? 771 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:40,320 Or five, seven and five? 772 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:41,600 (chuckles) 773 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,520 This was written when we, um, spent the day 774 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:48,040 with a katana maker, 775 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:50,240 a Japanese swordsmith. 776 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:52,120 "The fire roars, the snow 777 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:54,640 "Gathers at the forge threshold, 778 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:56,440 Clamoring for peace." 779 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:58,480 KIUCHI: Oh. 780 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:00,760 -You like that one? -Oh, yeah. 781 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:06,120 Um, this is when I had a boil appeared on my chin 782 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:09,120 early on in the trip. 783 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:12,240 "Land of volcanoes, 784 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:14,240 "Who thought your next eruption 785 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:16,040 Would be on my face?" 786 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:17,600 KIUCHI: Hmm. 787 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:22,640 "Ah, Matsushima, 788 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:25,040 "The spring morning is windy; 789 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:27,400 I blame the noodles." 790 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:29,040 Mm. 791 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,280 (Yujiro exhales) 792 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:35,600 "Going for a poo, 793 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:38,240 "I drop off my boots and wear 794 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:40,360 Your flip-u-flop-u." 795 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:41,440 -KIUCHI: Mm. -(Yujiro laughing) 796 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:45,680 Flip-u-flop-u. 797 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:47,000 -Flip-u-flop-u? -Flip-u-- Oh. 798 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:48,520 JAMES: Flip-flop is... 799 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:50,400 Flip-flop... 800 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:51,680 Yes, beach sandals. But in Japanese, 801 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:53,200 I thought they would be 802 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:54,520 -"flip-u-flop-u." -YUJIRO: Flip-u-flop-u. 803 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:56,480 Mm. 804 00:33:56,520 --> 00:33:59,920 JAMES: I may cancel the book launch. 805 00:33:59,960 --> 00:34:01,560 -That's it, I'm afraid. -Good. 806 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:03,160 -Yeah, the last one is very good. -Thank you. 807 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:05,560 Domo arigato. I've learned a lot. 808 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:07,560 Like a haiku, you have said a lot 809 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,600 with very few words. Fantastic. 810 00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:12,280 -KIUCHI: You're welcome. -Arigato gozaimashita. 811 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:17,160 JAMES: My haiku genius was clearly lost in translation. 812 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:18,680 I have to say, though, 813 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:21,120 even though we're still very much in Tokyo, 814 00:34:21,160 --> 00:34:22,800 escaping from the sight of the big city, 815 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:25,160 even for a few moments, 816 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:28,400 has me thinking just what is it I'm looking for 817 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:31,640 in my quest to understand Japan. 818 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:33,960 I'm wrestling with a bit of an inner conflict here, 819 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,640 because the thing I've always loved about Japan 820 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:38,880 is that it's so Japanese. 821 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:41,600 And everything about it is completely Japanese. 822 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:44,160 Normal everyday things like having your breakfast, 823 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:46,040 going to the shops to buy something, 824 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:48,840 it's-it's-- that's what makes it so intriguing and so exciting. 825 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:51,160 But what I'm actually doing there 826 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:53,840 is celebrating monoculturalism. 827 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:56,160 So, by that token, I ought to be the sort of person who says, 828 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:57,640 "Britain should remain British." 829 00:34:57,640 --> 00:34:58,880 But I don't think that. 830 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:01,120 I like Britain being multicultural. 831 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:04,840 Because it improves the food, obviously. 832 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:08,320 So where does that leave me? 833 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:10,880 I am very close to being one of those people 834 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:12,880 who goes to visit Maasai warriors and says, 835 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,040 "Oh, isn't it wonderful that they still live in mud huts? 836 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:18,640 I hope this doesn't become spoiled by tourism." 837 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:22,520 Similarly, the East has bled into Western culture, too. 838 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:24,440 So, speaking of improved food 839 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:26,320 and to somewhat demonstrate my point, 840 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:28,840 Yujiro and I decide to stop at a sushi place for lunch, 841 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:31,160 the sort of thing that would have once seemed 842 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:35,840 bewilderingly alien but is now a Western staple. 843 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,200 Hello, viewers. You join us at a very exciting lunch. 844 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:41,400 This is kaiten sushi, which means, uh, 845 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:43,400 sushi going round on a conveyor belt. 846 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:45,120 "Round and round," it means, "kaiten." 847 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:47,160 Now, there's two ways to get the food. You can take it off 848 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:48,680 -the conveyor. The plates are... -Excuse me, James. 849 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:49,960 -Yes. -That's a... 850 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,520 -that's a bloody gaijin manner. -What? 851 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:54,800 -You never... -Oh, sorry. 852 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:56,760 -put your chopsticks like this. -Oh, uh... 853 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:58,160 -All right, now... -Yeah, like this. 854 00:35:58,200 --> 00:35:59,160 -Very rude, yes. -Okay. 855 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:00,880 -You're-you're bollocks. -Sumimase... 856 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:02,880 -(laughing) -Yes. Yes. 857 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:04,840 That's not how you use "bollocks." 858 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:06,160 -Okay. Th-- Uh... -I'll explain 859 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:07,400 "bollocks" to you later. 860 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:09,360 -Yes. -Sumimasen. 861 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:11,000 (speaking Japanese) 862 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:12,400 -Okay. (speaks Japanese) -Now, there are several ways 863 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:13,840 to select the food. 864 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:16,480 But to start with, let's say, have this one. 865 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:18,800 Shit, that was a bit slow. 866 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:21,680 "Bollocks," as you would say. 867 00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:22,800 -Yes. -And then you eat it 868 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:24,640 with your chopsticks. 869 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:26,760 -And wasabi. Yes. -And wasabi. 870 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,320 Then you say "itadakimasu." 871 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:31,160 Absolutely. To-Totally perfect. 872 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:32,760 -Itadakimasu. -And then-then you pick it up 873 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:34,760 with your chopsticks and you shove it in your face, 874 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:36,680 -like that. Okay? -Yes. 875 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:39,120 -Mmm. -Perfect. Itadakimasu. 876 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:40,560 Mmm. 877 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:41,960 Should we try ordering something? 878 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:43,280 -Yes. Ha... -So, if we go to-- I would like to have 879 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:46,320 -salmon roe. Ikura. -Yeah. 880 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:47,320 -Order. -(chuckles) 881 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:48,600 (beeping) 882 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:50,320 (whirring) 883 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:51,800 I can see something coming. 884 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:54,880 -This is exciting. Are you ready? -Yeah. 885 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:56,280 -Ah, look, there's ours. -Yes. 886 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:57,320 -(speaking Japanese over screen) -Oh. 887 00:36:57,360 --> 00:36:58,680 Ikura. Here you are. 888 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:00,440 Even if you're used to sushi places, though, 889 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:03,560 as usual, Tokyo is one step ahead. 890 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:06,160 Over 50% of the sushi is made by robots. 891 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:08,840 So, like, for example, this is rice, right? 892 00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:10,640 -Shari. -Mm-hmm. 893 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:12,040 This was made by a robot. 894 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:14,800 And a human just put the topping right here. 895 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:17,640 Like this. So, these robots here, 896 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:19,160 it is said that, 897 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:21,560 in one second they can make one plate. 898 00:37:21,600 --> 00:37:23,160 In just one second. 899 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:24,880 -Really? -Yeah. 900 00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:26,760 I didn't know that. 901 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,320 (whirring) 902 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:29,960 -That was egg. -That was egg. 903 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:31,160 -Yeah. -And, furthermore, 904 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:33,160 -in here, in Kurasushi, -Yeah. 905 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:36,440 if you insert five plates inside this little... 906 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:38,600 -What do you say? -The bin. 907 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:40,960 Bin. There's a lottery. 908 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:42,120 -You want to try? -Yeah. 909 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:43,480 Please do. 910 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:44,840 Uh, well, I'll have to take a couple... 911 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:46,160 -So, I just put them in there, yes? -Yeah, yes. 912 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:49,080 -One. Two. -One-one. Two. 913 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:52,920 -Three. Four. -Three. Four. 914 00:37:53,960 --> 00:37:55,280 Five. There you go. 915 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:56,640 Let's see. 916 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:58,400 So, there you go. There you go. 917 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:00,040 Wait. Yes! You won! 918 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:01,640 -You won! -So, do I get a...? 919 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:03,600 You're such a... (speaks Japanese) 920 00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:06,680 -See, look! Yeah! -Oh! 921 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:09,560 Oh, my God, you're a lucky bastard. 922 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:12,840 Usually you don't win this at-at a first try. 923 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:14,320 -You like it? -I love it. 924 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:16,160 -Here you are. Here. -Oh. Arigato, James. 925 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:19,120 -Furthermore, James, we put the plate here, right? -Yes. 926 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:21,960 Actually, there's a river. River is flowing. 927 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:23,840 So the plates we put in 928 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:26,160 goes automatically to the kitchen. 929 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:28,160 So everything's automatic. Everything's AI. 930 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:29,640 Robot, robot, robot. 931 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:31,640 Rationalization, I guess. Yes. 932 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:32,880 Arigato gozaimasu. 933 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:35,080 Arigato. Soon we'll be robots, as well, 934 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:36,880 and there will be no need for television presenters. 935 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:38,880 -And that will be a good thing. -(laughing) 936 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:40,400 Goodbye. 937 00:38:40,440 --> 00:38:41,480 ♪ ♪ 938 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:44,400 (gong clangs) 939 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:46,000 My next stop is to explore 940 00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:48,080 something else that's seen a huge surge 941 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:50,920 of popularity in the West: anime. 942 00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:53,160 Japan has been a world leader in animation 943 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:55,960 for over a hundred years, and you just have to have 944 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,160 a quick browse through modern streaming services 945 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:00,360 like Net(bleep) and Hu(bleep) and Amazon 946 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:03,640 to see what a cultural phenomenon it's become, 947 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:06,480 from family-friendly fare like Studio Ghibli 948 00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:08,200 to more, uh, adult stuff. 949 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:10,000 (woman speaks Japanese) 950 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:11,160 (man speaks Japanese) 951 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:12,480 (all reply in Japanese) 952 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:13,920 (speaks Japanese) 953 00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:16,760 Yujiro's brought me to the Yoyogi Animation Academy, 954 00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:20,280 the oldest and largest anime and manga school in Japan. 955 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:22,160 I can't read manga, obviously, 956 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:25,600 because my Japanese is limited to ordering beers 957 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:28,920 and sashimi, but I've-I've had some translated 958 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:30,920 for me by Japanese speakers, and some of it, 959 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:34,040 it-it delves into quite dark corners 960 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:36,440 of human consciousness, like loneliness, 961 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:38,520 depression, violence, 962 00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:41,840 uh, terrible relationships, terrible work problems. 963 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:43,560 All these things are covered, aren't they? 964 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:46,080 All the things that you would expect in big dramas in film. 965 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:48,000 -It's all in manga. -Yeah. 966 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:50,000 It is just part of literature. 967 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:52,480 There's manga for every situation in Japan: 968 00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:55,000 happy, uh, sad, angry. 969 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:57,880 In Japan, uh, expressing something with a picture 970 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:01,800 has been a part of our culture for several hundred years. 971 00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:05,040 Is it possibly because your-your language-- or kanji, anyway-- 972 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:07,520 -is really based around the idea of pictures? -Yeah. Yes. 973 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:10,840 Yeah. And it's easy to imagine, like, um, certain characters. 974 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:13,000 So it's e... When it comes out in kanji, 975 00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:16,640 it's easier to imagine what the word means. 976 00:40:16,680 --> 00:40:18,960 (all speaking Japanese) 977 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:20,800 JAMES: Classes at the Yoyogi Academy 978 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:23,040 aren't just about hunching over a desk 979 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:24,800 with a stylus. 980 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:26,040 Here a voice-over acting class 981 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:27,800 starts with a warm-up introduction 982 00:40:27,840 --> 00:40:29,840 of saying your name anime-style. 983 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:31,640 (all speaking Japanese) 984 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:38,840 -James-san. -ALL: James-san! 985 00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:41,160 JAMES: And to study movement, 986 00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:44,000 there's a visit from a sword master. 987 00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:45,520 (all shouting) 988 00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:47,400 Of course, the blue-eyed, British samurai 989 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:49,440 -held his own. -(shouts) 990 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:51,080 (all shout) 991 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:52,160 (James whooshes) 992 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:54,000 (others grunt) 993 00:40:55,280 --> 00:40:57,400 (speaking Japanese) 994 00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:03,200 JAMES: The school is currently producing a feature film, 995 00:41:03,280 --> 00:41:05,640 and I'm invited to the auditions. 996 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:09,560 Apparently, there's a potential role I'd be perfect for. 997 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:11,800 The improvisation is very important 998 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:13,040 in voice-overs, yes. 999 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:14,960 So, Japan update, subject: anime. 1000 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:16,480 I've got a part, 1001 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:18,520 owing to my excellent Japanese language skills. 1002 00:41:18,560 --> 00:41:20,040 I'm a dog. 1003 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:22,400 (speaking Japanese) 1004 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:24,440 (growling) 1005 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:28,960 (growling continues) 1006 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:30,440 (yelling in Japanese) 1007 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:33,000 (James barking) 1008 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:41,160 (high-pitched bark) 1009 00:41:41,200 --> 00:41:43,320 -(coughs) -(all laugh) 1010 00:41:43,360 --> 00:41:46,120 (whooping) 1011 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:50,080 I appear to have somehow passed the audition stage. 1012 00:41:50,120 --> 00:41:52,440 MAN: Great dog! 1013 00:41:55,920 --> 00:41:58,320 Time for the real record. 1014 00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:09,440 The story is an emotive tale 1015 00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:11,000 about three boys going on an adventure 1016 00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:14,120 to find a miracle flower of happiness. 1017 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:17,560 But audiences will clearly be flocking to it 1018 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:20,880 for the breakout performance of Fido Number 2. 1019 00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:23,520 -(gasps) -(growling) 1020 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:25,560 (growling continues) 1021 00:42:27,080 --> 00:42:28,320 (woman whimpering) 1022 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:32,640 (shouting in Japanese) 1023 00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:34,040 (barking) 1024 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:42,440 (high-pitched barking) 1025 00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:47,680 The review of the day's footage seems to go down well. 1026 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:49,680 (barking) 1027 00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:50,760 (high-pitched bark) 1028 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:52,800 (laughter and applause) 1029 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:57,640 So, with a career in canine vocalization beckoning, 1030 00:42:57,680 --> 00:43:01,120 it's time to graduate from the Yoyogi Academy. 1031 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,080 And, indeed, it's time to leave Tokyo. 1032 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:10,800 But before I do, there's one more artistic destination 1033 00:43:10,840 --> 00:43:13,840 that apparently can't be missed. 1034 00:43:14,880 --> 00:43:17,840 (gong clangs) 1035 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:20,440 Yujiro, typically, downplays it. 1036 00:43:20,480 --> 00:43:23,640 I'm honored to take you to this super exhilarating 1037 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:26,000 Japanese experience, sir. 1038 00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:29,560 This is something unreal that's gonna blow your mind. 1039 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:33,640 -Something unbelievably amazing. -Well, that's a relief. 1040 00:43:33,640 --> 00:43:35,160 -Are you ready for that? -Yes. 1041 00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:46,880 (soothing music playing) 1042 00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:51,480 Wow. 1043 00:44:12,520 --> 00:44:15,080 For once, Yujiro's unhinged enthusiasm 1044 00:44:15,120 --> 00:44:17,520 is actually on the money. 1045 00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:23,400 It's astonishing. 1046 00:44:29,080 --> 00:44:31,040 (laughs) 1047 00:44:31,080 --> 00:44:32,800 This is Borderless, 1048 00:44:32,840 --> 00:44:35,080 a cutting-edge digital art installation 1049 00:44:35,120 --> 00:44:37,160 from the Japanese group teamLab, 1050 00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:39,200 who've successfully managed to visualize 1051 00:44:39,240 --> 00:44:43,160 what it must look like inside Brian Eno's head. 1052 00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:46,320 If I lie down, do I disappear in the flowers? 1053 00:44:47,560 --> 00:44:49,920 It's all done with a huge network 1054 00:44:49,960 --> 00:44:52,720 of hundreds of computers and projectors... 1055 00:44:52,760 --> 00:44:55,080 How does it look? 1056 00:44:55,120 --> 00:44:56,360 ...which all come together to create 1057 00:44:56,400 --> 00:44:58,400 the same state-of-the-art experience 1058 00:44:58,440 --> 00:45:00,080 you could get in the '60s by drinking 1059 00:45:00,120 --> 00:45:02,280 from the wrong beaker at a party. 1060 00:45:04,280 --> 00:45:06,280 Oh, I hope that's what it's like being dead. 1061 00:45:06,320 --> 00:45:07,840 It'll be fantastic. 1062 00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:14,560 The exhibit is an astonishing 10,000 square meters, 1063 00:45:14,600 --> 00:45:18,800 or roughly half the size of the Genesis concept album. 1064 00:45:19,800 --> 00:45:21,680 Look at that. 1065 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:25,000 And, just to complete the trip, 1066 00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:29,400 the projections even respond to your own movement. 1067 00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:31,400 At least, I think they do. 1068 00:45:31,440 --> 00:45:33,680 Mmm. 1069 00:45:35,160 --> 00:45:37,160 Here come the birds. 1070 00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:42,840 There are 50 digital artworks on display, 1071 00:45:42,880 --> 00:45:44,680 but they constantly change, 1072 00:45:44,720 --> 00:45:46,320 blend and merge with each other, 1073 00:45:46,360 --> 00:45:49,080 and even move into different rooms. 1074 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:50,800 Look, there's a moose. 1075 00:45:50,840 --> 00:45:52,840 Look at that. 1076 00:45:56,280 --> 00:45:58,240 Of course, this being modern Japan, 1077 00:45:58,280 --> 00:45:59,720 the installation has fast become 1078 00:45:59,760 --> 00:46:02,680 one of the most Instagrammed places in the country. 1079 00:46:02,720 --> 00:46:05,680 It's amazing, isn't it? 1080 00:46:05,720 --> 00:46:08,240 But putting away the smartphone and just drinking in 1081 00:46:08,280 --> 00:46:12,240 the surreal atmosphere is a transcendent experience. 1082 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:15,160 That is very disconcerting. 1083 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:17,200 Can I go that way? 1084 00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:22,840 Ho! 1085 00:46:22,880 --> 00:46:24,960 Have you looked up? 1086 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:26,520 -Look up. -SEAN: Oh, wow. 1087 00:46:26,560 --> 00:46:28,400 (James laughs) 1088 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:31,440 JAMES: Exhibits include the Crystal World room... 1089 00:46:35,080 --> 00:46:38,080 I'm completely lost, but I don't think I mind. 1090 00:46:41,760 --> 00:46:45,360 ...the Forest of Resonating Lamps... 1091 00:46:52,920 --> 00:46:54,960 ...and the even more catchy 1092 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:56,680 Memory of Topography experience... 1093 00:47:00,720 --> 00:47:02,320 (laughs) 1094 00:47:09,840 --> 00:47:11,160 ...where I reunite 1095 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:13,960 with an equally lost Yujiro. 1096 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:17,360 -So, how do you like it? -Welcome to the afterlife. 1097 00:47:17,400 --> 00:47:19,080 -Thank you. -It's fantastic, isn't it? 1098 00:47:19,120 --> 00:47:20,880 Yes, it's a big honor 1099 00:47:20,920 --> 00:47:23,520 meeting you in the afterlife, too. 1100 00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:25,120 It's... 1101 00:47:25,160 --> 00:47:26,920 it's so real, you know? 1102 00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:28,920 JAMES: Yeah. 1103 00:47:28,960 --> 00:47:31,680 So digital but so real. 1104 00:47:31,720 --> 00:47:35,080 If we move three paces that way, it'll change. 1105 00:47:35,120 --> 00:47:37,240 -Really? -Watch this. I think so. 1106 00:47:38,920 --> 00:47:41,480 As I walk through the fields of digital lilies 1107 00:47:41,520 --> 00:47:44,600 and cherry blossom with my faithful samurai aerosol, 1108 00:47:44,640 --> 00:47:48,040 with the ancient meeting the new all around us, 1109 00:47:48,080 --> 00:47:50,960 I think back on my time in Tokyo. 1110 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:54,600 Japan's shifting, both between its past and its future 1111 00:47:54,640 --> 00:47:57,320 and between East and West, 1112 00:47:57,360 --> 00:47:59,440 is never more apparent than here. 1113 00:47:59,480 --> 00:48:01,800 As with most big capital cities, 1114 00:48:01,840 --> 00:48:03,520 there's a multiculturalism here 1115 00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:05,960 that's a marked difference to my rural adventures 1116 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:07,920 to this point. 1117 00:48:07,960 --> 00:48:09,920 Yes, a lot of it is still bizarre, 1118 00:48:09,960 --> 00:48:12,440 but technology, anime, karaoke, 1119 00:48:12,480 --> 00:48:16,360 sushi, even novelty cafés-- we're getting more used 1120 00:48:16,400 --> 00:48:18,040 to this sort of thing in the West every day. 1121 00:48:18,080 --> 00:48:20,520 And the bleeding of West into East 1122 00:48:20,560 --> 00:48:23,000 is at its strongest here, too. 1123 00:48:24,040 --> 00:48:25,880 I actually think it's worth coming 1124 00:48:25,920 --> 00:48:27,240 to Tokyo just to see that. 1125 00:48:27,280 --> 00:48:29,000 -Yeah? -Wherever you live in the world. Yeah. 1126 00:48:29,040 --> 00:48:30,960 -How did you like it? -It's fabulous. 1127 00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:33,160 -Fancy a cheeseburger? -Cheeseburger. 1128 00:48:33,200 --> 00:48:34,800 Yes, everything is American here. 1129 00:48:34,840 --> 00:48:36,840 Yes, Big Mac. 1130 00:48:45,480 --> 00:48:47,600 Tokyo. Do you know what? 1131 00:48:47,640 --> 00:48:51,080 There are a lot of tired, old clichés attendant upon it. 1132 00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:54,520 I'm sure we've all heard about the ten-pounds-a-pint beer, 1133 00:48:54,560 --> 00:48:57,440 the exclusively raw fish diet, 1134 00:48:57,480 --> 00:48:58,760 the gridlocked traffic, 1135 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:01,320 the impenetrable language barrier on signs. 1136 00:49:01,360 --> 00:49:03,400 And it was like that when I first came here 1137 00:49:03,440 --> 00:49:04,920 about a quarter of a century ago, 1138 00:49:04,960 --> 00:49:06,920 but it's not really like that anymore. 1139 00:49:06,960 --> 00:49:08,840 I have to speak as I find. 1140 00:49:08,880 --> 00:49:10,720 Tokyo has changed a bit. 1141 00:49:10,760 --> 00:49:13,720 Tokyo is not as Japanese 1142 00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:16,560 as it once was. 1143 00:49:16,600 --> 00:49:18,280 Still, if you're a fan of the old ways, 1144 00:49:18,320 --> 00:49:21,400 join me in a future episode, where I will be in Kyoto, 1145 00:49:21,440 --> 00:49:23,080 where everything's made of real wood, 1146 00:49:23,120 --> 00:49:25,400 and I'll be looked after by a geisha. 1147 00:49:25,440 --> 00:49:29,560 Until then, sumimasen. 1148 00:49:31,800 --> 00:49:33,840 Exiting... 1149 00:49:33,880 --> 00:49:35,800 No... 1150 00:49:37,280 --> 00:49:39,280 ♪ ♪ 1151 00:49:46,280 --> 00:49:48,240 ("Motor Man 15th Medley" playing) 1152 00:49:48,280 --> 00:49:50,280 (singing in Japanese) 1153 00:50:15,280 --> 00:50:20,560 ♪ James May, sumimasen. ♪