Some talk about that the mood is bit down - but actually, it's still a video about a genuine day in a japanese family. He did a great job in filming a "normal" day in an interesting way. 👍🏽
Yeah I agree you're not gonna be super hyped when you're just chillin with your family at the house. It was a cool video watching them go about their day.
I love seeing the part when they get up and start their day. You said nothing much was going on, but I've never seen just ordinary life in Japan. Videos are always about food and fun places to go. I love seeing an ordinary family living their life, just like we do here in the United States. As far as paying for the food, in my family it's totally accepted. It's just of way of saying thank you for the hospitality.
Hello from Australia! In my extended family, we only get together once a year, at Christmas. Each family group hosts the gathering for everyone else, on a rotating basis, oldest member to youngest. That the hosting family pays for everything (except alcohol) is expected, because you will get it in return for years to come. I love our gatherings; it's only once a year but it always feels like no time has passed in between. Seeing Maiko's family's NYE was beautiful... I wish I had similar cultural norms.
My father would not let me and my partner pay either. We're Portuguese. Don't know about other Portuguese families, because we are mixed race Afro-descent too. So I don't know whether it's a general Portuguese thing, an African thing, or a my family thing lol. All I know is that, as a mother in law I would not let them pay either, because they're my guests, and just like the Japanese I was raised with the mentality that the host takes care of everything, as a part of the actual hosting. Either you host or you don't host, you don't half host. If a son in law tried to pay for the groceries, I would however be happy because that shows that my daughter will probably be okay with him financially _it shows reliability, and that he has integrity, character and generosity. But I would still politely decline and tell them ''I am the host, if I couldn't afford to host I wouldn't, so thank you, I really appreciate that, but just enjoy and be happy''. It could indeed be a cultural thing now that I think of it 😅 It basically shows that he was well raised the fact that he wanted to pay; so again it is a social dance, you like that people offer but you can't accept it! 😆 Sounds a bit chaotic, but that's exactly how it works. He did well in offering, and her parents did well in declining, it shows good breeding and generosity on both sides. Lmao It's a thing! But I am also respectful of other takes and perspectives on this. Paolo did well, he was wanting to be courteous, and again it shows generosity and integrity as a man. I am sure that her parents really appreciated it, but still when your culture says that the host pays the host pays, periodt. lol
I loooooooooooove feeling out the subtle little tensions between a couple when you are around parents/in laws. It's so universal, and somehow very touching! Its very relateable.
I wish there was a video where Maiko is at Paolo's family house during the holidays. It just interesting to see the differences between their cultures.
In Malaysian dinners, all the uncles and aunties fight over who gets to pay the bill. An old trick would be to “go to the bathroom” when everyone’s done eating and pay the bill at the counter 😂
I love the authenticity. I don't like others' judgmental comments. If this video isn't to your liking, there's many more to choose from on YT! :) Chill people!
It's weird to be commenting on this video two years later, but here me out~ Paolo is Filipino like me, and in our culture we put A LOT of effort into holidays like these. It's super important to us that we spend time with family members and go all out to enjoy the day rather than spending it just like any other day. So I can understand the slight disappointment he feels when his in-laws aren't doing much in New Year's. On the other hand, I completely respect the way Japanese people such as Maiko's family are spending the holiday. To each their own~
@@runny.nose_ Filipinos who grow up in the US would stick out like a sore thumb in the Philippines (as do Korean-Americans in Korea, Chinese-Americans in China, and so forth). Besides, New Year's eve is not a holiday... In the US they have New Year's eve parties, but I don't know that they do anything else on 12/31.
I really like the fact, that Maiko's family is so chilled and cool with all the traditional parts! I LIKE! The most important thing is, that you guys are together as family!
Thanks for inviting us into your home! I'm sooo jealous being stuck in the middle of the USA as far away from Japan as I can get, I really appreciate all of you youtubers showing me places I'll never make it to in real life
@@solidusmusique ive become a dad in the last year, and it just seems out of reach, I'm learning Japanese in the hope that I may become an English teacher there, not sure how to go about it otherwise.
I really like Maiko and her family.Very laid back and chilled out.The house looks comfy,and watching tv with family is fun.Also i agree that lunch is not special on new years eve.Its the dinner thats special.Loved the visit to the Shrine.Very traditional and different.The dog is very cute.Thanks for the video .Loved it !!
I feel like a lot of people don't realise how much work goes into a video like this. You have to set up a camera for everything you do. He even set up three different angles only to show him go down the stairs around 1:50. That's dedication!
Hi I’m a Japanese woman living in Tokyo. I really love this video! Thank you for introducing our REAL stuff to the world! And I’m so surprised to see the OZOUNI in Nagano! Our OZOUNI is more chicken-y in Fukusima :)
Hi yo it's very interesting in your culture that guest should not help in their home, ours in India too feels aathith devo bava(means guest are god to us) but things have changed in our culture due to money minded people's 😥😥😥
@tarin tarin Not a damn lame question, hear the same question mostly everywhere I go. And yes the internet too, but people would do it just to joke around.
So far one of my favorite videos! The fact that you got annoyed with them watching TV and eating donuts it was so real and so funny, I couldn’t stop giggling. ❤️
I love the honesty when he said I can’t make them do more traditional stuff. I so much appreciate the raw and real ness in this video sometime in every culture you got to just relax and not do the most
Actually, I think he was rude or rather had too much expectations since he seems a nice guy in general. Because what's traditional for you, isn't traditional for everybody. Why would he want to "make" them do things based on his traditions while visiting their home?
Very tense conversation with Maiko about whether it's ok to pay or not, and the differences in culture; I honestly thought you were going to have an onscreen fight, I swear! Which is normal I think, because my friends and I get into such arguments all the time, coming from various backgrounds/culture. We end up ok right after though lol. I guess it really varies depending on where you are, but my take on the paying thing, based on what I've been taught, is that you always follow the customs of the "home court." Anyway, great content as usual! I like that it's genuine, especially with you admitting you were expecting Maiko's family to be doing more traditional things but they're not lol! Your vids feel more authentic this way, which is exactly the type of content I'm looking for. Thank you (and Maiko + her family) for sharing this! Happy new year! ♥️
Gotta love the outdoor shrines everywhere, and that you don’t have to particularly subscribe to their perspective in order to connect with the divine there. 🙏
LIKE if you wan to see more Living in Japan vids? If so, what? My Toe-Kyo Hoodie Merch - www.tokyozebra.com/merch My Instagram @PaoloFromTokyo - instagram.com/paolofromtokyo/
Paolo fromTOKYO another awesome video. Nicely done! I’d love to see a food/stuff to do in Nara video! I am planning on being in Japan end of September. I’m from the US so we would definitely buy the groceries as a courtesy if we were staying in someone’s house. It would be the least we could do, especially if we were staying with people and/or they were doing the cooking. PS I bought some of your Toe-Kyo stickers and I’m planning on bringing them to Japan with me.
does maiko have a channel? she seems so trendy. I think it would be interesting to know her top things on where to shop for clothing/skincare/cosmetics. For someone who wants to shop stuff that I wouldnt easily get on my country, that would be a great video. :)
Happy New Years bro Paolo! from Ph here :) I wonder when you come back here? me and my wife like watching your tokyo videos, infact, they've been our directory when we went to Shinjuku December 9 :) cheers to a good new year broda! ;)
Hi Paolo love your video, I m planning to visit japan somewhere during end of Feb and going to takayama for a short trip do you have anything good to recommend me to visit when I m there? Cheers
I really love the overly-smiling and energetic you, it makes me smile under nearly any circumstance - but I also loved seeing the more realistic thing here. Your less-energetic face is adorable - lucky wife.
I loved the video it is so nice to see what other cultures do at New Years . I make Caldo de Res which is soup. We enjoy a glass of wine at midnight and we thank God for another year together as a family. We watch all of the fireworks going off in our neighborhood and then we watch Rudolph's Shiny New Year. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to watching many more videos.
I’m an arab and in my culture paying instead of other ppl is a tradition and it shows how generous you are, because arab ppl like to give and generosity is a part of our culture , sometimes ppl fight over who will pay 😂😂
In my country we have a lot of Arabs as tourists and I'm a waitress - they are a pain in the a.. as customers - but they always fight on who pays for the coffees or whatever they order 😂😂😂
Thank you Paolo and Maiko for sharing this video. It´s very generous of your family, Maiko, to welcome us wiewers to your home. Thank you so much! Paolo, I agree with Maiko, that you are a guest and a guest do not offer to buy groceries or anything else to the household. It´s nice and polite to bring a gift to the host. I would never accept that my guests should buy anything to the household. But I would accept a gift. Hopefully something to eat or drink. Haha. Have a wonderful 2019!
That would be one of the coolist vids yet i have seen you do. Thank you to Maiko and her family for letting us view there home. Big thank you from New Zealand
This brings back so many memories of my 1st new years in Japan almost over 10 years ago. Me and my Best Friend visited his relatives in Kumamoto. Thank You to your Wife and your Inlaws as well as the cool content Paolo!
Whenever I have been a guest of someone's I have always offered to take them out to dinner, or go to the store and cook a fabulous meal for them. It's just a way of saying thank you for the hospitality. Granted I live in the south of the US.
If I offer to pay for things for my family, especially for my Mom, it's seen as honoring the other people and being respectful, thoughtful, and generous. I know it isn't the same for everyone.
I live in USA now, but back in the days in my home country Romania, on new years eve in the morning the children and dad would do the last bit of cleaning to welcome the new year in a clean house, while the mom was cooking multiple dishes for the dinner time, and the next day. People either stay at home with their kids, maybe neighbors or extended family and at around 8 pm everyone sits at a large table with lots of food and wine/beer and eat, watch TV, laugh. In Romania we'd have teenage boys or early 20s young men going from house to house kinda like caroling on Christmas, but this time they would say poems and songs that are meant to cast good luck, health and fortune on the people. They would receive money, cake, sometimes alcohol from the house owners, and then they would move on to the next house. Part of the money these groups collected that night, they would donate the next day to the community's church, and the priest would pray for them. Another option is to go out to big parties organized by the townhall or the school (I lived in rural Romania, and either the town's school principal or the mayor would organize a big party where either only adults or both adults and kids could attend, with live music, food and usually byob alcohol. The kids would usually have their own tables and just play all night while adults were dancing and drinking). So, I guess Romanians love eating and watching TV too like the Japanese on NYE, but we do have more traditions. Also, you;re supposed to eat fish on NYE dinner so you could go through the new year smoothly like the fish through the water. And the more bones the fish has the better, as that symbolizes money. And at 12 when you toast with champagne, you;re supposed to hold money/coins so you;re rich in the new year. In the morning, whoever is not hangover goes to the church and then for lunch eat all the leftovers from the previous night.
I’m so glad I’m Hispanic! In our tradition it varies differently from families. Some will feast Some will party Some will go out and make fire works But one thing we all do is annoy each other company and even a friend of a family member is family. One thing in our culture is that we eat grapes when the clock strikes 12 to be grateful for a healthy year and to hope for something better. So yea
In my country too. Lots of family, friends, basically nearly everyone leaves the city and goes to the village. We cook many large meals,eat a lot, drink a lot, dance a lot. Then when the clock strikes 12,new year is welcomed with lots of screaming, singing, ululations and beating drums till sunrise. Good times.
I always cherish the New Year tradition I experienced when I went to Japan in Toyohashi. Visiting the shrine was memorable, they had a bonfire where the locals would throw the things that were bad luck for them. We also had soup. The next day's after noon was filled with traditions as well. This video brought back those memories.
I was in okinawa for 2 years in the Marine Corps, and i left the island feb 1 2014. I miss it everyday, the lifestyle the food the views.. much love coming from California!
She went out and was in bed at 12:30? :o I wish I could do that, in my city going out starts around 12:30 am. So cool to see how this family celebrates new years. I'm Dutch, we celebrate by getting together in the evening, having hors d'oeuvre and little snacks while watching TV and of course oliebollen! Oliebollen are fried dough balls eaten with powdered sugar, it's a typical Dutch new years eve food. We watch a countdown on television and when the clock hits 12 we pop a champagne bottle and toast and wishing each other a happy new year. Then we watch a lot of beautiful firework as a lot of people light firework when it's 12 o'clock to enter the new year with a bang! Then we go outside and light some firework of our own, and to wish the neighbors that are outside a happy new year. After that many (younger) people go downtown to go to a new year's party and party all night :)
That grilled yellowtail looked so good. Here in the States, more stores are starting to implement self-checkout areas. I tend to use them more than the regular checkouts (mainly when I have less than 10 items... if I have a full cart, I'll go through the normal checkout, but for just a few things, for me at least, the self-checkout is easier & faster).
Same in Denmark. It's just showing that you are being considerate, of the people you care about. It's no shame to accept help, in the form of money. Heck, it's not even help, just like a nice gesture.
holy i've never seen a video depicting everyday life in japan so well. i'm still recovering from having to come back to my home country after visiting my family, and watching this video gives me the same comfort i felt back with my family. maiko's attitude towards new year's day is so accurate to how it's really like there 😂😂😂 great video!
So nice to see someone say Maiko's attitude is fitting OF THE CULTURE SHE IS A PART OF. People saying she has attitude 1)are just rude cuz that's paolos wife. He makes content for us to enjoy and our gratitude is to bash his WIFE?! 2)IT IS A DIFFERENT CULTURE. Geeze.
I'm from Romania and we are taught that no matter how poor you are, when you have guests you house has to be very clean and the table full of food. The guest usually bring gifts like flowers and wine and they get around 2-3 meals from the guests and dessert. It's pretty nice to be a guest but I hate to have people over just because there are a lot of things to prepare and clean and also entertain while serving them the food and cleaning the plates after they are done))))
Hi Paolo! Loving this series of yours!! As an interior designer in Toronto Canada I’m super curious to see more design architecture typical homes malls schools gyms hospitals etc in Japan - what’s new different innovative or unique to Japan!
*10:75 that tense smile and passive aggressively “They’re watching TV again, Japanese people just love watching TV” lol he was so over it by the end probably thinking “This isn’t how it’s like in the anime’s during New Years” haha*
this is how it's like in japanese homestays i've been in pretty much, im glad they had kids and teenagers who at least i could laugh and play videogames with lol
7:07 this is one of the things i love about Japanese culture. we have this too in my culture, we never take money for housing or helping people whether they are family, friends, or even strangers. and we must offer them the best hospitality we can provide.
in Serbia it's generally a very big and very important to show how much of a "good host" you are. Help from family is kind of appreciated and accepted but far from expected. One of the most important aspects in our culture is the "slava", loosely translated as "Patron Saint's day" and it's a traditional family holiday that's on different date for different families (but same every year) and on that date it is VERY important to have as much on the table as possible. I personally think it's a bit silly but very few people question it. Extended family and friends are, well, implicitly invited over because it's said that every person is only invited once and it's implied that the person shows up every year. If they don't and it's not justified, they are not allowed back anymore. Sometimes the holiday can stretch out to 2-3 days depending on the number of total guests expected vs the total space in your house, as often you can't fit everyone at once. Thanks a lot I am loving this channel. Edit: For New Year's eve, if you're not out, it's pretty much the same but scaled down a bit
Totally ok for a guest to help out - with cooking, picking things up around the house, do the dishes, or even pick up something from the supermarket and pay for it,. No big deal, here in the USA.
Hi Paolo. Your videos add a lot of value to our way of thinking about the manner in which japanese people live and work, overall that you cover various scenarios and environments. Congratulations.
Enjoyed this a great deal. Loved seeing a Japanese family at home. Also, I just finished platinuming Ghost of Tsushima and was fascinated by the prayers at the shrine, particularly clapping the hands as I watched Jin Sakai do a similar action many times. Too bad there wasn't a fox to pet, though, or a gold bird to follow to a hot spring.
Great video! It reminded me of spending the holidays with my family in Canada! Currently I live in the US with my husband, and I miss family holidays so much! I loved learning about how you and your wife's family celebrate the New Year in Japan :)
@@panteaflorin I didn't mean it in that way. People were being mean about his wife's and in laws behaviour and I was trying to make them understand their reason .
Aynoor Alwerfali But he probably ask if he could make a video, i don’t think he would just start filming when they are with family and it’s new year... think twice. 🤦♀️
I’m binge watching your videos ( I’m even watching all ads through 😎) and I love your wife so much she is the cutest and I like her personality!! I look forward to watching everything you got on here and try look up your other channel too ! Keep creating!
One thing that makes me smile big time is that most (from my experience) Japanese people do not use their sofas to sit in, they just sit on the floor leaning against the sofa, I don't know but I like that style ha ha 12:03 I love how Maiko is laughing at your bowing technique :D (not that my stiff Swedish back can do any better ha ha) Yes I love the hatsumode, it have nice feel to it welcoming the new year in that way. Oh and say thank you to Maiko's parents for letting you make this video, really nice of them.
7:52 In the Philippines I would say the culture of giving back to parents should not be practiced because next generations are affected by this. I think the kind of culture Japanese do when there are visitors were practiced in the past here in the Philippines or perhaps some Pinoys still do but they're really few
Yup, like some of my coworkers, they've been working for how many years but until now they don't have much savings. Thankful ako hindi ganyan ang magulang ko.
Happy new year Paolo and Maiko! 明けましておめでとう! I hope you'll never get tired of making wonderful vids. 💕 Anyway, Japanese new year is really different from where I came from. Hahaha I like new year in the Philippines the best! 😎😎😎
In my culture, we literally fight over who will pay the bill, especially in restaurants. We literally go over the top with that. Even if you don't wanna pay, you still have to offer lool
I'm a filipino and I agree with maiko that I would prefer the guest not to pay or spend anything for the food and drink preparations. But, it is also welcoming if the guest might bring anything for the celebration. Be it food or drinks. Typically also, new years eve during the day is pretty much preparing food, and just laying back relaxing watching movies, t.v or just about anything. It is usually at night after dinner that everyone gathers out and celebrate with other people be it lighting up fireworks or just chilling. Cool vids paolo
Pinoy din ata si Paolo eh. Eto lng sa mga Japanese sa 3 years stay ko sa Nagoya yung hospitality nila parang way of showing off who's better. Kaso mga Pinoy nahaluan tayo ng western culture pretty much accept all gifts kasi gracia yan eh. ☺️
I am completely envy you, your wife, family and Japan. The amount of respect shown to each other, stranger, neighbor, family or friend is just phenomenal. I really wish I could of grown up in this environment.
😂you have a dope surname..im a Swede but I totally agree with you in youre comment have Danish friends and they can be f annoying as f hell with their splitting everything to the itty f bitty cent!!! I mean wtf!! Actually in buisness with many Danish companies its a f hassle to not the easiest ppl to do buisness with..im a Swede Love Danish ppl and Denmark but the split every f thing to the very gddam cent..Dont get that. Here in Sweden We often just say ok I take it ...but with my Danish friends...its not like that...at all Lol😂
あけおめパブロ! Thank you for good video! From Japanese perspectives, I think Miko's family is one of the typical urban style family. Usually, our new years holiday is family gathering event, same as Christmas in western countries. Especially, in the rural area, they might have more traditional style holiday. But I appreciate this video because of showing Japanese "ordinality". A lot of foreign people sometimes have "oriental" perspective for Asian countries. Of course, we have diversity in Japan, like in your country. Also, It depends on the person whether guests pay some for the host family.
Crazy... around this time, I was in Iwate celebrating New year's with my gf's family (and doing exactly the same thing... sitting my ass on the TV wondering what the heck is going on and why nobody is doing nothing at all) and visiting my best friend in Yokohama (For christmas).
thanks to Maiko & her family for letting us into their home for the new year.
Yes agree.. Thank you Maiko's family x
@@anthonydwyer4 why did u add x in the end?
@@sirbossyyypoooo1090 Cus he gay
@@michealdesanta1390 okay😂
TapungK. It’s a hug
I just realized Maiko's sister, Erina, is the girl that works for a Toyota repair shop in that A day in life of a Japanese Worker video
@Csab Why would that be cheating? Erina is a legit Japanese girl working for a Toyota repair shop regardless of her relationship with Paolo.
already knew it just because the dog was familiar! :D
@@AR-nn6fn same name! had me scratching my head as well
Its a monage etois
Paolo Cinematic Universe
Some talk about that the mood is bit down - but actually, it's still a video about a genuine day in a japanese family.
He did a great job in filming a "normal" day in an interesting way. 👍🏽
Yep, I prefer this to a scripted and inauthentic video
Yeah I agree you're not gonna be super hyped when you're just chillin with your family at the house. It was a cool video watching them go about their day.
Yeah.And he even mentioned he feels tired
In my culture two things:
1. Family is never considered a guest.
2. If kids makes more money then the parents, the parents did their job well.
so truee
Are you Croatian?
@@andreazavras No.
that’s similar to my culture in the U.S.!!
Yeah cause monetary gain really indicates success in one's life
I love seeing the part when they get up and start their day. You said nothing much was going on, but I've never seen just ordinary life in Japan. Videos are always about food and fun places to go. I love seeing an ordinary family living their life, just like we do here in the United States. As far as paying for the food, in my family it's totally accepted. It's just of way of saying thank you for the hospitality.
Yes I totally agree. Being from a part-Italian family, I totally get the gathering around to enjoy food together
Exactly! It’s a way of saying thank you!
Hello from Australia! In my extended family, we only get together once a year, at Christmas. Each family group hosts the gathering for everyone else, on a rotating basis, oldest member to youngest. That the hosting family pays for everything (except alcohol) is expected, because you will get it in return for years to come. I love our gatherings; it's only once a year but it always feels like no time has passed in between. Seeing Maiko's family's NYE was beautiful... I wish I had similar cultural norms.
My father would not let me and my partner pay either. We're Portuguese. Don't know about other Portuguese families, because we are mixed race Afro-descent too. So I don't know whether it's a general Portuguese thing, an African thing, or a my family thing lol. All I know is that, as a mother in law I would not let them pay either, because they're my guests, and just like the Japanese I was raised with the mentality that the host takes care of everything, as a part of the actual hosting. Either you host or you don't host, you don't half host. If a son in law tried to pay for the groceries, I would however be happy because that shows that my daughter will probably be okay with him financially _it shows reliability, and that he has integrity, character and generosity. But I would still politely decline and tell them ''I am the host, if I couldn't afford to host I wouldn't, so thank you, I really appreciate that, but just enjoy and be happy''. It could indeed be a cultural thing now that I think of it 😅 It basically shows that he was well raised the fact that he wanted to pay; so again it is a social dance, you like that people offer but you can't accept it! 😆 Sounds a bit chaotic, but that's exactly how it works. He did well in offering, and her parents did well in declining, it shows good breeding and generosity on both sides. Lmao It's a thing! But I am also respectful of other takes and perspectives on this. Paolo did well, he was wanting to be courteous, and again it shows generosity and integrity as a man. I am sure that her parents really appreciated it, but still when your culture says that the host pays the host pays, periodt. lol
I loooooooooooove feeling out the subtle little tensions between a couple when you are around parents/in laws. It's so universal, and somehow very touching! Its very relateable.
In Greece most people are like I'll pay, no I'll pay, no I'll pay and end up fighting over it every time
Same here in Pakistan
I can vouch for this I work at a Greek restaurant but I’m not Greek and 9/10 times the men argue over who will pay lol
That also sounds very Chinese to me.
Iran is the same as well.
Same in Albania ,my cousins are not speaking anymore lol
My culture when the bills is on the table, everyone look up to the sky.
Remmy Jr 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 you made my day
Remmy Jr ahahahah ahahahah 🙄
everyone needs to go to the toilet
Our culture is a bit different, when the bill is on the table, a civil war begins whoever wins pays
Lmao 🤣🤣
I wish there was a video where Maiko is at Paolo's family house during the holidays. It just interesting to see the differences between their cultures.
There’s a video about when they went to his family’s place in Bataan in the Philippines!
@@LateStageCapitalism yea that's right
There’s a video in his channel.
Paolo is American.. he's just basically a tourist in the Philippines who happened to have relatives there
@@khust2993 what are u talking about? he's a Filipino. lol. lt's noticeable on his face, he has a very asian look.
In Malaysian dinners, all the uncles and aunties fight over who gets to pay the bill. An old trick would be to “go to the bathroom” when everyone’s done eating and pay the bill at the counter 😂
I’m Albanian and we fight for the bill all the time
Same thing in Vietnamese culture
😂😂😂😂
Wow, I thought this was a weird Filipino custom - so funny to hear other cultures do the same! haha
Uk: using the final toilet trip to AVOID paying. ( and the English rip on the Scottish for being cheap)
He has the universally expressed energy of any guy at his in-laws.
I love the authenticity. I don't like others' judgmental comments. If this video isn't to your liking, there's many more to choose from on YT! :) Chill people!
Finally someone said something!!
You need to learn to accept it all...People are people!
thank you!!!! i really don t understand these people neither but that other guy says people are people... lets let them be negative.
@@fdmtearn9784 bonnie biot
But he asked us to comment and tell what happens in our country.
It's weird to be commenting on this video two years later, but here me out~
Paolo is Filipino like me, and in our culture we put A LOT of effort into holidays like these. It's super important to us that we spend time with family members and go all out to enjoy the day rather than spending it just like any other day. So I can understand the slight disappointment he feels when his in-laws aren't doing much in New Year's. On the other hand, I completely respect the way Japanese people such as Maiko's family are spending the holiday. To each their own~
Paolo is American, if you've seen his other videos, he is usually called an American.
@@khust2993 he is a Filipino who grew up in the US. He talked about it in some of his videos. They migrated to the States when he was 3 years old.
@@runny.nose_ Filipinos who grow up in the US would stick out like a sore thumb in the Philippines (as do Korean-Americans in Korea, Chinese-Americans in China, and so forth). Besides, New Year's eve is not a holiday... In the US they have New Year's eve parties, but I don't know that they do anything else on 12/31.
@@runny.nose_ My friend, "Filipinos" who grew up in the US are Americans. Actual Filipinos could easily tell them apart.
I really like the fact, that Maiko's family is so chilled and cool with all the traditional parts! I LIKE!
The most important thing is, that you guys are together as family!
I love how normal everything in this video is. Its not some over-the-top New Years celebration....its what people actually do.
Thanks for inviting us into your home! I'm sooo jealous being stuck in the middle of the USA as far away from Japan as I can get, I really appreciate all of you youtubers showing me places I'll never make it to in real life
Michael Manning hey man how bout you just go then lol
@@solidusmusique ive become a dad in the last year, and it just seems out of reach, I'm learning Japanese in the hope that I may become an English teacher there, not sure how to go about it otherwise.
I really like Maiko and her family.Very laid back and chilled out.The house looks comfy,and watching tv with family is fun.Also i agree that lunch is not special on new years eve.Its the dinner thats special.Loved the visit to the Shrine.Very traditional and different.The dog is very cute.Thanks for the video .Loved it !!
I feel like a lot of people don't realise how much work goes into a video like this. You have to set up a camera for everything you do. He even set up three different angles only to show him go down the stairs around 1:50. That's dedication!
What a great video Paolo! Not many UA-camrs based in Japan can get the same footage, so it really is unique. Hope you guys had an amazing New Year! 🙌
Thanks Millennial Travel Confessions! Maiko's family was kind enough to let me film. Happy New Year!!!!
Nice video....i like your colorfull jacket too....can i hve it...
@@PaolofromTOKYO are you Hispanic
Hi I’m a Japanese woman living in Tokyo. I really love this video! Thank you for introducing our REAL stuff to the world! And I’m so surprised to see the OZOUNI in Nagano! Our OZOUNI is more chicken-y in Fukusima :)
Are you single ?
@@pete3816 😤 both
Hi yo it's very interesting in your culture that guest should not help in their home, ours in India too feels aathith devo bava(means guest are god to us) but things have changed in our culture due to money minded people's 😥😥😥
@tarin tarin calm down
@tarin tarin Not a damn lame question, hear the same question mostly everywhere I go. And yes the internet too, but people would do it just to joke around.
So far one of my favorite videos! The fact that you got annoyed with them watching TV and eating donuts it was so real and so funny, I couldn’t stop giggling. ❤️
I love the honesty when he said I can’t make them do more traditional stuff. I so much appreciate the raw and real ness in this video sometime in every culture you got to just relax and not do the most
My norwegian and french families is really really traditionall lol
Actually, I think he was rude or rather had too much expectations since he seems a nice guy in general. Because what's traditional for you, isn't traditional for everybody. Why would he want to "make" them do things based on his traditions while visiting their home?
"we are gonna cook, 'we' mean my mom" LMAO XD
i can relate lol
Whenever I hear my grandmother is going to cook I plan to get take out because her food is like nuclear fallout on our stomachs
7:40 cheerful music trynna cover a heated up debate between them XD , love u paolo
lmaooo accurate
Very tense conversation with Maiko about whether it's ok to pay or not, and the differences in culture; I honestly thought you were going to have an onscreen fight, I swear! Which is normal I think, because my friends and I get into such arguments all the time, coming from various backgrounds/culture. We end up ok right after though lol. I guess it really varies depending on where you are, but my take on the paying thing, based on what I've been taught, is that you always follow the customs of the "home court."
Anyway, great content as usual! I like that it's genuine, especially with you admitting you were expecting Maiko's family to be doing more traditional things but they're not lol! Your vids feel more authentic this way, which is exactly the type of content I'm looking for.
Thank you (and Maiko + her family) for sharing this! Happy new year! ♥️
Really? Seemed like a pretty normal conversation to me for a couple lol, maybe you have not been in many relationships?
That is tense? How soft are you?
In india.. a guest is a guest no matter if hes rich or poor he should not pay
very common in south asian and middle eastern familys too.
Over here in the UK it depends on the family like mine wouldn't mind if the guests paid but I think some people would.
I though you were going to say "no matter if hes rich or poor he should pay"
But your kids are never your guests in India....
India is a dirty place
Gotta love the outdoor shrines everywhere, and that you don’t have to particularly subscribe to their perspective in order to connect with the divine there. 🙏
LIKE if you wan to see more Living in Japan vids? If so, what?
My Toe-Kyo Hoodie Merch - www.tokyozebra.com/merch
My Instagram @PaoloFromTokyo - instagram.com/paolofromtokyo/
Paolo fromTOKYO another awesome video. Nicely done!
I’d love to see a food/stuff to do in Nara video! I am planning on being in Japan end of September.
I’m from the US so we would definitely buy the groceries as a courtesy if we were staying in someone’s house. It would be the least we could do, especially if we were staying with people and/or they were doing the cooking.
PS I bought some of your Toe-Kyo stickers and I’m planning on bringing them to Japan with me.
does maiko have a channel? she seems so trendy. I think it would be interesting to know her top things on where to shop for clothing/skincare/cosmetics. For someone who wants to shop stuff that I wouldnt easily get on my country, that would be a great video. :)
Happy New Years bro Paolo! from Ph here :) I wonder when you come back here? me and my wife like watching your tokyo videos, infact, they've been our directory when we went to Shinjuku December 9 :) cheers to a good new year broda! ;)
Hi Paolo love your video, I m planning to visit japan somewhere during end of Feb and going to takayama for a short trip do you have anything good to recommend me to visit when I m there? Cheers
In my culture its ohk too help... its just helping as we like community
There's some tension going on in this video lol...
Omg someone else noticed, lol I thought I was the only one
Seems like his wife is mad or annoyed. She came across as rude.
Did they fight? Definite tension
He's usually way more positive
just noticed Maiko's father is not always around with them. like Maiko's father is distancing himself from them lol dunno
I feel like he offered to pay at the grocery store and got chewed out by his gf lol, that’s my guy tho
I really love the overly-smiling and energetic you, it makes me smile under nearly any circumstance - but I also loved seeing the more realistic thing here. Your less-energetic face is adorable - lucky wife.
I loved the video it is so nice to see what other cultures do at New Years . I make Caldo de Res which is soup. We enjoy a glass of wine at midnight and we thank God for another year together as a family. We watch all of the fireworks going off in our neighborhood and then we watch Rudolph's Shiny New Year. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to watching many more videos.
I’m an arab and in my culture paying instead of other ppl is a tradition and it shows how generous you are, because arab ppl like to give and generosity is a part of our culture , sometimes ppl fight over who will pay 😂😂
Haha true
I don't know much about but I have lived in KSA for 13 years and knowing of their culture I can agree that what you say.
In my country we have a lot of Arabs as tourists and I'm a waitress - they are a pain in the a.. as customers - but they always fight on who pays for the coffees or whatever they order 😂😂😂
Alex Where are you from?
@@Group.B.NTU.Cyber.611 Romania
Paying for other people in my culture is like showing kindness.
Thank you Paolo and Maiko for sharing this video. It´s very generous of your family, Maiko, to welcome us wiewers to your home. Thank you so much! Paolo, I agree with Maiko, that you are a guest and a guest do not offer to buy groceries or anything else to the household. It´s nice and polite to bring a gift to the host. I would never accept that my guests should buy anything to the household. But I would accept a gift. Hopefully something to eat or drink. Haha. Have a wonderful 2019!
That would be one of the coolist vids yet i have seen you do. Thank you to Maiko and her family for letting us view there home. Big thank you from New Zealand
This brings back so many memories of my 1st new years in Japan almost over 10 years ago. Me and my Best Friend visited his relatives in Kumamoto. Thank You to your Wife and your Inlaws as well as the cool content Paolo!
Whenever I have been a guest of someone's I have always offered to take them out to dinner, or go to the store and cook a fabulous meal for them. It's just a way of saying thank you for the hospitality. Granted I live in the south of the US.
If I offer to pay for things for my family, especially for my Mom, it's seen as honoring the other people and being respectful, thoughtful, and generous. I know it isn't the same for everyone.
If I could hit like 1 million times I would. Thank you for this cultural insight and allowing us in your family space ❤️👍
I live in USA now, but back in the days in my home country Romania, on new years eve in the morning the children and dad would do the last bit of cleaning to welcome the new year in a clean house, while the mom was cooking multiple dishes for the dinner time, and the next day. People either stay at home with their kids, maybe neighbors or extended family and at around 8 pm everyone sits at a large table with lots of food and wine/beer and eat, watch TV, laugh. In Romania we'd have teenage boys or early 20s young men going from house to house kinda like caroling on Christmas, but this time they would say poems and songs that are meant to cast good luck, health and fortune on the people. They would receive money, cake, sometimes alcohol from the house owners, and then they would move on to the next house. Part of the money these groups collected that night, they would donate the next day to the community's church, and the priest would pray for them. Another option is to go out to big parties organized by the townhall or the school (I lived in rural Romania, and either the town's school principal or the mayor would organize a big party where either only adults or both adults and kids could attend, with live music, food and usually byob alcohol. The kids would usually have their own tables and just play all night while adults were dancing and drinking). So, I guess Romanians love eating and watching TV too like the Japanese on NYE, but we do have more traditions. Also, you;re supposed to eat fish on NYE dinner so you could go through the new year smoothly like the fish through the water. And the more bones the fish has the better, as that symbolizes money. And at 12 when you toast with champagne, you;re supposed to hold money/coins so you;re rich in the new year. In the morning, whoever is not hangover goes to the church and then for lunch eat all the leftovers from the previous night.
You are doing the same americans do. Lol
I’m so glad I’m Hispanic! In our tradition it varies differently from families.
Some will feast
Some will party
Some will go out and make fire works
But one thing we all do is annoy each other company and even a friend of a family member is family. One thing in our culture is that we eat grapes when the clock strikes 12 to be grateful for a healthy year and to hope for something better. So yea
Venezolano? :)
In my country too. Lots of family, friends, basically nearly everyone leaves the city and goes to the village. We cook many large meals,eat a lot, drink a lot, dance a lot. Then when the clock strikes 12,new year is welcomed with lots of screaming, singing, ululations and beating drums till sunrise. Good times.
I remember the grapes thing from an episode of Modern Family.
we eat grapes too!
Brazilians, right?
I always cherish the New Year tradition I experienced when I went to Japan in Toyohashi. Visiting the shrine was memorable, they had a bonfire where the locals would throw the things that were bad luck for them. We also had soup. The next day's after noon was filled with traditions as well. This video brought back those memories.
I was in okinawa for 2 years in the Marine Corps, and i left the island feb 1 2014. I miss it everyday, the lifestyle the food the views.. much love coming from California!
She went out and was in bed at 12:30? :o I wish I could do that, in my city going out starts around 12:30 am.
So cool to see how this family celebrates new years. I'm Dutch, we celebrate by getting together in the evening, having hors d'oeuvre and little snacks while watching TV and of course oliebollen! Oliebollen are fried dough balls eaten with powdered sugar, it's a typical Dutch new years eve food. We watch a countdown on television and when the clock hits 12 we pop a champagne bottle and toast and wishing each other a happy new year. Then we watch a lot of beautiful firework as a lot of people light firework when it's 12 o'clock to enter the new year with a bang! Then we go outside and light some firework of our own, and to wish the neighbors that are outside a happy new year. After that many (younger) people go downtown to go to a new year's party and party all night :)
Thank you for showing us these customs and your beautiful extended family!
Paolo, the quality of the videos have gone up sooo much since you started, 2019 is gonna a big year for you! cant wait for TOKYO2020 vids
That grilled yellowtail looked so good. Here in the States, more stores are starting to implement self-checkout areas. I tend to use them more than the regular checkouts (mainly when I have less than 10 items... if I have a full cart, I'll go through the normal checkout, but for just a few things, for me at least, the self-checkout is easier & faster).
Loving the small tensions, this is some real tv
I'm from Canada and if my boyfriend offered to pay, my Dad would be impressed by him.
right? It would be worse if the son-in-law just stand there expecting the parents to pay for him without offering to pay
Ya. The trick in Québec is to bring stuff and gifts. And I like to bring a special gift for the mother like a special soap or bath bomb.
Same in Denmark. It's just showing that you are being considerate, of the people you care about. It's no shame to accept help, in the form of money. Heck, it's not even help, just like a nice gesture.
holy i've never seen a video depicting everyday life in japan so well. i'm still recovering from having to come back to my home country after visiting my family, and watching this video gives me the same comfort i felt back with my family. maiko's attitude towards new year's day is so accurate to how it's really like there 😂😂😂 great video!
So nice to see someone say Maiko's attitude is fitting OF THE CULTURE SHE IS A PART OF. People saying she has attitude 1)are just rude cuz that's paolos wife. He makes content for us to enjoy and our gratitude is to bash his WIFE?! 2)IT IS A DIFFERENT CULTURE. Geeze.
I'm from Romania and we are taught that no matter how poor you are, when you have guests you house has to be very clean and the table full of food. The guest usually bring gifts like flowers and wine and they get around 2-3 meals from the guests and dessert. It's pretty nice to be a guest but I hate to have people over just because there are a lot of things to prepare and clean and also entertain while serving them the food and cleaning the plates after they are done))))
Thanks so much for sharing Japanese Culture in New Years I love learning new things about various countries
That home dinner menu is out of this world. Mom did an outstanding job.
6:55 Maiko: “So we’re gonna start cooking, “we” meaning my Mom.”
Very accurate. 👌
1:48 dude places the camera and walks down the stairs multiple times LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Lol
Same thing crossed my mind
got to get those daily steps in
Or He has multiple cameras
10:17 bruh that's painful.
Paolo I hope you can cheers with your father-in-law one day LOL
This is the the most important part of the video so painful to watch
Hi Paolo! Loving this series of yours!! As an interior designer in Toronto Canada I’m super curious to see more design architecture typical homes malls schools gyms hospitals etc in Japan - what’s new different innovative or unique to Japan!
I think I’m in love with Japan’s culture 😍 it’s so peaceful and full of gratitude !
You need to get past the sweet sugar coated layer. Then let me know what you think.
Meh better than British New Years
anglekan I’m half asian but have been growing up in Britain and let’s just day it’s all a drunken mess full of school dropouts or failures ☹️
리Nayun I quite like my good old British New Years with my family, fun times 🍾🥂😊
SiliconDrifter *THIS*
It was like watching a domestic argument.
Wonderful! Thank you for inviting us and sharing the lovely customs and food.
*10:75 that tense smile and passive aggressively “They’re watching TV again, Japanese people just love watching TV” lol he was so over it by the end probably thinking “This isn’t how it’s like in the anime’s during New Years” haha*
"10:75" LMAOOOOOOO
Zemania 😂😂😂
Lol that’s pretty funny
11:15 here you can find it easily
this is how it's like in japanese homestays i've been in pretty much, im glad they had kids and teenagers who at least i could laugh and play videogames with lol
I love how Paolo is just like, welp, guess we're just watching TV today lol.
Love you Paolo 3000! It very good to see your videos to learn about Japanese Culture!
Miko "so let's spend time with the family for New Years" Paolo "Cool I'll do a video of it all" Miko " - _-"
I love the fact that how heart warming you videos are sir. They are so relaxing and I absolutely love every single video!..
7:07 this is one of the things i love about Japanese culture. we have this too in my culture, we never take money for housing or helping people whether they are family, friends, or even strangers. and we must offer them the best hospitality we can provide.
in Serbia it's generally a very big and very important to show how much of a "good host" you are. Help from family is kind of appreciated and accepted but far from expected. One of the most important aspects in our culture is the "slava", loosely translated as "Patron Saint's day" and it's a traditional family holiday that's on different date for different families (but same every year) and on that date it is VERY important to have as much on the table as possible. I personally think it's a bit silly but very few people question it. Extended family and friends are, well, implicitly invited over because it's said that every person is only invited once and it's implied that the person shows up every year. If they don't and it's not justified, they are not allowed back anymore. Sometimes the holiday can stretch out to 2-3 days depending on the number of total guests expected vs the total space in your house, as often you can't fit everyone at once. Thanks a lot I am loving this channel.
Edit: For New Year's eve, if you're not out, it's pretty much the same but scaled down a bit
Very interesting. Thanks☺
Totally ok for a guest to help out - with cooking, picking things up around the house, do the dishes, or even pick up something from the supermarket and pay for it,. No big deal, here in the USA.
Greg, "Only in America" 😁
No Greg, no it's not....you are a bad host.
It's the same in Brazil!
In the South, totally different! If you invite guests to a special event or host them, you would not expect them to give money! Very bad manners
@@hollyh7924 I think he was being sarcastic....but just in case he was being serious I think Greg needs a spanking...naughty Greg.
Hi Paolo.
Your videos add a lot of value to our way of thinking about the manner in which japanese people live and work, overall that you cover various scenarios and environments. Congratulations.
Enjoyed this a great deal. Loved seeing a Japanese family at home. Also, I just finished platinuming Ghost of Tsushima and was fascinated by the prayers at the shrine, particularly clapping the hands as I watched Jin Sakai do a similar action many times. Too bad there wasn't a fox to pet, though, or a gold bird to follow to a hot spring.
Great video! It reminded me of spending the holidays with my family in Canada! Currently I live in the US with my husband, and I miss family holidays so much! I loved learning about how you and your wife's family celebrate the New Year in Japan :)
Maiko's mom showed bit of surprise for first sight in morning.
This video looks all kinds of tense. Lol.
I guess it's bc Japanese people are very private. But yeah, I felt the somehow heavy atmosphere haha
jbemt1: Glad you thought so also. Very uncomfortable viewing😐
The no traditional style new year explained
kennedy cheskaki: LMFAO definitely described very well.
Maiko definitely had a stick up her ass!
For her: it's her time with her family, a break, a rest.
For him: it's a chance for a new video.
Two different prospectives...
*perspectives*
UA-camrs don’t have the luxury of taking time off... it’s all about the algorithm
The second prospective was kinda rude^^.
@@panteaflorin I didn't mean it in that way. People were being mean about his wife's and in laws behaviour and I was trying to make them understand their reason .
Aynoor Alwerfali But he probably ask if he could make a video, i don’t think he would just start filming when they are with family and it’s new year... think twice. 🤦♀️
I’m binge watching your videos ( I’m even watching all ads through 😎) and I love your wife so much she is the cutest and I like her personality!! I look forward to watching everything you got on here and try look up your other channel too ! Keep creating!
Lol here in the philippines where Paolo's family live, when someone offered to pay the groceries we'll be just "oh sweet, thanks".
This was nice watching another culture, very interesting comparing culture with another cultrue. Thanks for the upload.
It was SO warm sense... your family is great. You are very happy
One thing that makes me smile big time is that most (from my experience) Japanese people do not use their sofas to sit in, they just sit on the floor leaning against the sofa, I don't know but I like that style ha ha
12:03 I love how Maiko is laughing at your bowing technique :D (not that my stiff Swedish back can do any better ha ha)
Yes I love the hatsumode, it have nice feel to it welcoming the new year in that way.
Oh and say thank you to Maiko's parents for letting you make this video, really nice of them.
The sofa is for the dog. I love laying on the electric heated rugs, so warm and comfortable.
Japanese style dude!
@norman: I love the kotatsu, dangerously wonderful : )
@Jose: What do you mean?
MageThief Wow Japan needs diversity and multiculturalism like Sweden look how well it’s turning out.
7:52 In the Philippines I would say the culture of giving back to parents should not be practiced because next generations are affected by this. I think the kind of culture Japanese do when there are visitors were practiced in the past here in the Philippines or perhaps some Pinoys still do but they're really few
agree ako sayo parekoy
Why not, If one can afford it?
Yup, like some of my coworkers, they've been working for how many years but until now they don't have much savings. Thankful ako hindi ganyan ang magulang ko.
Yea I agree, but it feels nice to give back to our parents because we love them and care for them
yup that's the good thing about Filipinos but then it shouldn't be treated as an obligation if you know what I mean :-)
nice video...i like the fact that they went to the temple together and that they gave them soup there..thanks for sharing
Happy new year Paolo and Maiko! 明けましておめでとう! I hope you'll never get tired of making wonderful vids. 💕 Anyway, Japanese new year is really different from where I came from. Hahaha I like new year in the Philippines the best! 😎😎😎
I know with covid this might be hard, but can you do more a day in the life off videos? Loved those
This was brilliant. Thanks so much, i really enjoyed your story telling.
In my culture, we literally fight over who will pay the bill, especially in restaurants. We literally go over the top with that. Even if you don't wanna pay, you still have to offer lool
I'm a filipino and I agree with maiko that I would prefer the guest not to pay or spend anything for the food and drink preparations. But, it is also welcoming if the guest might bring anything for the celebration. Be it food or drinks. Typically also, new years eve during the day is pretty much preparing food, and just laying back relaxing watching movies, t.v or just about anything. It is usually at night after dinner that everyone gathers out and celebrate with other people be it lighting up fireworks or just chilling. Cool vids paolo
Yeah. And if someone offer to pay for the groceries, they are more than welcome and would be the hero of the day. haha
Pinoy din ata si Paolo eh. Eto lng sa mga Japanese sa 3 years stay ko sa Nagoya yung hospitality nila parang way of showing off who's better. Kaso mga Pinoy nahaluan tayo ng western culture pretty much accept all gifts kasi gracia yan eh. ☺️
This guy is one of the smartest vloggers. Informative and interesting content. Kudos!
I am completely envy you, your wife, family and Japan. The amount of respect shown to each other, stranger, neighbor, family or friend is just phenomenal.
I really wish I could of grown up in this environment.
NicoR which one is his wife??
Indian culture is to stay with parents and take care of them when they need it. We feel happy very Happy when we spend money for our parents.
और जब घर वाली को मां बाप पसंद न आए तो उन्हें घर से निकाल दो😂
@@jsb2209 sare log aesa nhi krte
In Philippine culture, new year is a big celebration for us. All the families are together.
Me: Watching this in 2020
Paolo: Happy New Year its officially 2019!!
@@vvshift same
"is it okay to pay?" lets see, sometime i beg my friends to pay. But serious. In Denmark we split everything even to the last cent
😂you have a dope surname..im a Swede but I totally agree with you in youre comment have Danish friends and they can be f annoying as f hell with their splitting everything to the itty f bitty cent!!! I mean wtf!! Actually in buisness with many Danish companies its a f hassle to not the easiest ppl to do buisness with..im a Swede Love Danish ppl and Denmark but the split every f thing to the very gddam cent..Dont get that. Here in Sweden We often just say ok I take it ...but with my Danish friends...its not like that...at all Lol😂
M W That comment was pretty unreadable. Good stuff!
u guys r cheaper than cheapest
why though man, if your mates get the cab surely you feel to pay for the food etc, it all works out unless your counting to the penny
Mathias Storm I live in Denmark too haha
These are really cool to watch. Im from the US, but im also nosy and think its interesting watching what people do. Lol
10:18 ultimate awkward moments ... LOL
あけおめパブロ! Thank you for good video! From Japanese perspectives, I think Miko's family is one of the typical urban style family. Usually, our new years holiday is family gathering event, same as Christmas in western countries. Especially, in the rural area, they might have more traditional style holiday. But I appreciate this video because of showing Japanese "ordinality". A lot of foreign people sometimes have "oriental" perspective for Asian countries. Of course, we have diversity in Japan, like in your country. Also, It depends on the person whether guests pay some for the host family.
Reese's Seattle う
Very interesting video, thanks for the upload.
11:30 paolo just looks depressed
8:14 That moment Paolo realized he married the wrong sister...
RIGHT!?!?!?!? I thought the same thing. He seemed so bummed when she left...
Yup😅
Because now it was more untraditional, that the entir family isn’t together. He married who he married and he’s happy. That’s not funny
Is he married to the girl in pink with mean attitude?
@@hoobeydoobey1267 ya, but she isnt rude usually, only this vid she was a acting a bit questionable
I love how gung-ho you are and everyone's like "Nah, I'm just chillin"
Crazy... around this time, I was in Iwate celebrating New year's with my gf's family (and doing exactly the same thing... sitting my ass on the TV wondering what the heck is going on and why nobody is doing nothing at all) and visiting my best friend in Yokohama (For christmas).