LIFE & CULTURE

BROADCASTING
THE UNKNOWNJAPANTO THE WORLDUNITED KINGDOMJAPANOrdinary scenes and culture in Japan have kindled a fire inthe creative spirit of an Englishman, Chris Broad. A YouTuber
who arguably knows the country more deeply than most Japanese people,
Broad regularly broadcasts videos of his real-life experiences.
The YouTube channel “Abroadin Japan” is operated by ChrisBroad. After moving to Japan in2012 as a high school English
teacher, he fell in love with thebeautiful scenery and peacefullifestyle of Sakata City, in rural
Yamagata Prefecture. Having longdreamed of becoming a filmmaker,
Broad began regularly posting
YouTube videos from this land.
“At the time, not many foreigners
were introducing videos on Japan,
so it was a great chance for me.”
Sharing what it feels like to be“A-Broad” in Japan, his channel
quickly gained subscribers—now
numbering 2.1 million—jumping
to the top spot of channels
introducing the country.
The setting for most of his

At one of Japan’s three most scenic spots,
Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. “It’s becauseof scenery like this that I live in Tohoku.”

Top: A guided tour of Tsurugajo Castle in
Fukushima Prefecture, wearing yukata.
Upper Right: Broad traveled across theShimanami Kaido, which links small islandsin the Seto Inland Sea, by bicycle.
Right: Broad enjoying yakitori, his favorite
Japanese food, at a morning market in Aomori
Prefecture.

videos is not Tokyo, Kyoto, or
other major cities, but thoseplaces that can be best describedas “provincial.” Beginning withthe rice-paddy landscape of Sakata
City, where he first lived, he thenmoved on to the vast northern
island of Hokkaido Prefecture,
which can appear as if an entirely
different world each season. Hehas also introduced Aomori
Prefecture, home to Japan’s biggest
morning market and boasting
deep local colors, as well as Miyagi
Prefecture, where he now resides in
the city of Sendai. Taking a trip bybicycle, he has also presented theShimanami Kaido route that runs
through the islands of the azure
Seto Inland Sea in western Japan.
All in all, Broad has filmed acrossthe country, especially focusing on
the Tohoku region of northeasternJapan.
Introducing
local
attractions through features suchas scenery, people, and food, witha style that ranges anywhere fromsober documentaries to comedies
filled with British sarcasm, Broad’s
videos abound in variety. Trueto his aspiration to become afilmmaker, his reputation foraccomplished video techniques
improves year by year. His viewers
especially appreciate the way that
he introduces genuine aspects ofJapan not featured in guidebooks,
from a unique, admiring point ofview.
Particularly garnering praiseare Broad’s documentaries on theareas affected by the Great East
Japan Earthquake of March 2011,
including Fukushima Prefecture,
which suffered greatly from anuclear reactor accident, as wellas the tsunami-ravaged Miyagi
coastline. The videos that hemade on location, capturing boththe heartbreaking sorrow of thedisaster victims and the hopefulsteps being taken towards recovery,
have resonated profoundly withhis viewers. “Although there arelots of misconceptions about
Fukushima, I found almost
everywhere in the prefecture to
be safe, with people energeticallyrebuilding their lives. WhenI reviewed the footage I tookin Miyagi, I was struck by thepowerful, unbreakable bondsthat people have formed with
their hometowns. Even having
suffered tremendous losses, they
all love their hometowns, andstrive to build their future there.
I wanted to tell the real stories of
the cheerfulness of the people inthe disaster-affected areas, theirforward-looking attitude, and theway they have encouraged eachother.”
There is more to Japan thanjust Tokyo. Shedding light on
the stories of people living inother corners of the country
is what Broad is all about.
An unknown Japan, witnessed
through the medium of YouTube
and presented through Broad’s
powerful communication skills, is
now attracting new interest fromviewers worldwide.

CHRIS BROAD
Originally from the United Kingdom,
Broad has lived in Japan since first arrivingin 2012 as a high school English teacher
on the JET Programme. He has produced
more than 200 videos introducing theattractions of Japan. His YouTube channel“Abroad in Japan” boasts 2.1 million
registered subscribers, with 267 million
views as of March 2021.
From a documentary showing the disaster-affected areas. Broad visited a flower grower (left) in Fukushima Prefecture, who is reviving the soil to make flowers
bloom again. In Miyagi Prefecture, he rode a fishing boat at dawn (center) and visited a guesthouse owner (right) who reopened her business despite losing herfamily. Conducting direct, in-depth interviews, Broad conveys people’s true feelings, thus drawing viewers from all over the world.