Hey Everyone, I hope you enjoyed this profile on Ohkuma-san. This was filmed and edited by Bobby from @Q2Japan (who's also part of the Life Where I'm From team). He's worked on other projects like the recent grape video ua-cam.com/video/1Ne8XExmhIQ/v-deo.htmlsi=nnCAg5pfoJXFwfiG and the video about the old school noodle delivery ua-cam.com/video/z5jJ9LTlEp4/v-deo.htmlsi=mxLJbbcTKhOwLhRx
Hello Bobby! Thank you for your work on the video 😊 May I please make a humble remark which is that your try to speak a little clearer in the narration in the future please? I struggled to understand you at times as you also speak quite fast. Your narration was interesting and you used your tone of voice nicely though 👌
12:59 Ohkuma-san said he had no memories of this past year since losing his wife. Changes in memory formation after loss or other adverse event is a VERY real thing due to how the brain deals with trauma. Much love to him.
I had the same experience after losing my dad 2 years ago, I can't remember anything that happened after 3-4 months, and until now, every january around his death, I basically shut down for a few days, even if at the time I didn't break down or something similar. I also had this happened a few years ago when I worked 12-14h days for about half a year, all I did was work, and to this day, nothing comes to mind as to what I did then, besides work.
No matter who is doing the narration your team doesn't miss a beat. I've been married for over forty years, so I really appreciate that Ohkuma-san has not given up on life under the weight of his loss. Thank you Life where I'm from team!
"I have a feeling that humans can't make memories without some level of comfort or ease within their mind" That's a truly profound and poignant statement. Japan is lucky to still have this kind of "old world" wisdom still readily available to them in everyday life.
Dude, that's literally something the average 14 year old can figure out. You have some serious mental deficits if you consider that "profound" or "old world". This is literally psychology 101.
Great job on this piece. We not only enjoyed the story but we enjoyed Bobby’s point of view and interaction with the shop owner. The editing and voice over were superb! Keep up the great work Bobby! We enjoy the channel and this piece was a great addition.
the part where Ohkuma-san talked about how he hasn't made any new memories was a surprisingly philosophical deep cut... really made me wonder if there's truth to that theory; it sure hits right. also, the whole vid was just a beautiful glimpse into his life and work, well done!
I always hear how big life changes or a loss of a loved one can start up Alzheimer’s or dementia, but I stand by Ohkuma-san’s words and believe it isn’t due to his wife’s passing. I’d love to visit this shop & have a chat w him before it ever closes 🖤
I remember learning something from psychology class that people tend to remember things that causes some type of strong emotion in them, i guess since his wife passed away his living automatic day to day life 😢
i can sense the heavy loneliness when i heard his wife has passed, altho time passed so quickly, and for that I think the way he engages his customers by pure communication is a way to appreciate raw human communication. I wish Okuma-san health always.
Absolutely my favorite kinds of vids on this channel. Very specific looks at small eateries! Also very happy to see the team growing! Great commentary and great video quality!
I loved this episode. I've watched this channel for at least ten years I think, and every single video is good. Not just from a cultural lesson, I love hearing people's stories. He seems like a very interesting man. Relaxed and warm and filled with humor.
I can feel the kindness and love in that room as he chats with his customers or jokes with his grandkids. What a lovely man and cafe. I wish him all the best in the future
I think this has got to be one of my favorite videos from your channel, having Bobby on your team is one of the best things to happen lately. If I had a cafe like that near me, I'd be going there all the time too. Sad that Ohkuma-san won't be passing the shop on, but I get that it's *his* passion project, I hope that he'll continue to enjoy running it for many more years, and maybe he can inspire one of his grandkids to start their own shop lol
Grandparents are the same the world over, raise their kids and spoil the grandkids...haha what a lovely story, thank you for sharing such a beautiful life.
My grandparents had a fridge magnet that said "Grandkids are the reward for putting up with children.". It was all in good fun of course. Not like they didn't like having kids or anything like that.
What a cool story. “When you have your wife around… you can always have the little words to fill the gaps in the day.” Thank you for documenting people and bringing the humanity out in your stories.
For the curious the processes of removing the outer shell from the coffee beans is called "winnowing" and has a long history as a step in producing wheat and other grain products.
Fantastic video. Stories like this one documented this way almost make me get teary. Really beautiful, thank you so much for taking the time to make and upload this charming, valuable video.
I love how warm and inviting the kissaten are. I find that the cozy environment really brings out the more relaxed and sociable side of people, particularly in Japan where people are typically quite shy and reserved. People like Ohkuma-san are community figureheads, and help bring people together, which is truly a gift given how socially distanced we are all becoming.
Awww. This video made me cry of Ōkuma-san’s life of tribulations and triumphs. If I go to that kissaten, I got to get used to his communication and his humor. Cheers.
Great job Bobby, and again Greg with the great editing in a more behind the curtains role! xD Really felt the style coming through. This video made me reflect a bit on my own family, particularly grandparents. I dunno how it is for other countries, but small family run shops nowadays, at least where I live, are kinda rare. It's either small shops entirely run by hired staff, which are often just doing a job they don't really care all that much about just trying to make a living for themselves or as a step to something they really want to do in the future, or big chains and big business that implemented all sorts of rules and whatnot so that it runs to a certain standard and never strays from it - for the good and bad. But I remember my own grandparents because they ran a small bar/candy shop/coffee shop mix business in a tiny rural town where my mom grew up in. It's really small, always fluctuated between 2000 and 5000 inhabitants. My grandfather always prided himself about some stuff that he took great care in the shop. I got to enjoy some of it when I was a kid, along with cousins of the same age. The business was entirely family run, and it was actually an extension of the house they lived in. My great grandparents had a small ranch relatively close to the town. Long gone memories because everything changed. When my grandparents died, the then already almost abandoned small ranch got sold to the usual owners of large tracts of land for big agribusiness because my uncles who still lived closeby just had no way of doing anything worth with it, my grandparents too old to do anything with it too. There was no reason to keep it, because a small ranch like that couldn't compete with anything as a business. The town business itself also closed down, as one of the few last remaining businesses that attended that portion of town, which used to be the central part of town. But at that point, it was already mostly abandoned because of a change in demographics. My uncle at that time was, if I'm not mistaken, working as an immigrant in Japan. He came back when his parents, my grandparents, health was worsening, and just stayed here as the conditions for immigrants working in Japan also weren't as great as when he initially went there. He spent I think almost 30 years of his life working there, mostly industrial work like making and installing shoji panels, among others - together with brothers, and at one point a few of his daughters, my cousins. Though my cousins only stayed there for a couple of years or so. As for the change in town, the kids of families who had a business there mostly moved away to neighboring bigger cities in search for work, education, better health infrastructure or some other reason. Eventually, entire families also moved, as they aged. The core original inhabitants and families of the town just moved away or passed away over the years. Newcomers into town were mostly poor families searching for jobs in the agricultural sector, lots of them were temporary work, or people who worked at neighboring bigger cities looking for a cheaper place to live. As they moved into the town, they mostly went to live in the opposite side of town where new neighborhoods were popping up. This resulted in the town center shifting away, all the commerce either moved close to that side, or just closed off and newer shops opened up there instead. Small city like that only needs a few markets, drugstores, and whatnot. When older commerce started either moving or shutting down, the entire city center went with it. The bar portion of my family's house converted into a garage. Old furniture and general furnishings of the bar either got back into the house or were sold, gifted to family members, or just trashed. I think one of my cousins still has an old wind up all wooden clock like the one Ohkuma-san has in his Cafe. Then after several years, my uncle passed working in a painter job. Too much heat, he had a stroke, it was very sudden. His wife still lived for more years in that house, along with a couple of my cousins until they married and also moved away. Then, because of ailing health issues my aunt also ended up moving with one of my cousins to a neighboring bigger city just a couple of years before she also passed. And their old home, a multi story ancient house that my uncle had built portions of it by himself, is now there, left as inheritance to my cousins. It's too old, a lot of it was poorly built, it has foundation problems, and it's in a part of the town that is largely abandoned nowadays. There is a huge part of the extended family that loves that house because it was the place everyone gathered in end years festivities since the family is all spread around the country, so there are lots of memories there. In my childhood, we made visits bi-annually, and then later at least once a year - we live quite far off. It's the home, town and environment my mom grew in. But the reality of it is that other than sentimental value, the house isn't really worth anything. Hard to rent, hard to sell. Probably the reality of several of the inaka houses in Japan. It's too big, it's setup in a multi story fashion, and no one wants to make a family business like that nowadays, particularly in that side of town. So it's been abandoned for several years now. Along with many things that used to be from the time it was a bar/coffee shop/candy shop. It'd likely already been sold if it wasn't for the fact that no one wants it. I think it briefly got rented for a while, but the tenants were criminals doing some bad stuff there, which happens a lot in these types of situations. Cousins were worried about people invading and occupying the space, which also often happens in these cases in my country, but thing is that the town is so small, and the house in such an abandoned part of it, that it never happened so far. There is also a dispute between cousins wanting to sell it and not wanting to sell it because of financial reasons... it's all complicated, as you'd expect. And I think the story of my family reflects a bit the changes in society. It might reflect the story of some family owned businesses in Japan too, and some situations with inaka homes. o/
Such a perfect video! At first, I was impressed at how it still has the "Life Where I'm From" signature tone. Then also by the way this shows so many little things in a short format. And then the philosophical part hit hard. What an incredible life and very wise man.
Thank you for sharing such a fascinating and heartfelt story! It’s truly inspiring to see someone so dedicated to their craft and committed to preserving traditions in a modern world. The care and passion they put into every detail really speak to the beauty of old-school values. Stories like this are a wonderful reminder of the importance of staying true to what you love.
I've never seen a video of yours, but this is a truly beautiful dedication to Ohkuma-san. Didn't expect to cry when I clicked a random video about Japan on my youtube feed. Keep it up with your content creation, @Q2Japan, your work is leagues beyond the average youtuber. Very professional and reminds me of Anthony Bourdain's way of immersing you in another culture for the time you spend watching.
Bobby did a great job with the camera shots and voice over/interviews. In a way you learn about the topic of cafes (kissaten) and Ohkuma san as the subject, also a little how it relates to Bobby himself without taking over or being intrusive. An endearing video, learned a lot and now i want my own waffle iron 😊
Thank you for the video. I felt you really took me into Ohkuma-san's world and i could actually feel the warmth and human touch if the cafe. I hope to visit it in the near future. Thank you.
I have so much admiration for Ohkuma-san. I loved hearing about how he got started in the coffee business, and all the thought and effort he’s put into his cafe.
Towards the end, Ohkuma-san talks about the shop not living on after he is gone. I am a GM for some D&D campaigns. Your wife, yourself, and your shop will always have representation in my games. Thank you for being so dedicated and living your slice of life to the fullest extent. You are an inspiration.
Thank you, Greg, Bobby and friends. A fascinating and enjoyable watch. The intimacy and attention to detail with which you shot and directed this kept me enthralled, and Ohkuma-san made me laugh out loud more than once. I was surprised and impressed by the way you guys included the somewhat negative aspects of Peepuru's location and selected online reviews and comments. This showed a level of openness and accountability which isn't common on UA-cam, for which I commend you. You can't please everyone, and you don't stay in business for nearly five decades if people don't love what you're selling. It's clear that Ohkuma-san's formula is a winning one, as is Life Where I'm From's.
He found a keeper in his wife and found his life's purpose early in life what a lucky man. Him wanting to work as long as he can is the reason he's living a long happy life 😊
I wish UA-cam had a button for how much I like this, beyond the like button. A Give A Hug button, or a I Bow to You button. Thank you for sharing this experience and those conversations!
Ohkuma-san is the salt of the earth type of café owner I support. The place looks cozy enough to enjoy a proper stay and a chatty owner is not the worst of things. Only time I went to a Starbucks, I left within ten minutes due to the sterile corporate atmosphere in it. Maybe I am an old man in a younger body, Dunno. Having been a professional waiter for almost a decade doesn't help, either. I like his no-nonsense approach to work and customer management. It takes years of experience to develop and it commands respect. So, Bobby was behind the old noodle factoy video as well? Props to him. That video is one of my favourites you folks have ever done. Have a wonderful 2025, folks. Cheers.
The coffee ticket is still around! It looks like a warm, inviting, and comfortable place to enjoy a cup of coffee that was meticulously made with quality ingredients.
What a wonderful story! I love visiting small izakaya, shokudo, and kissaten. Very warm and cozy. My favorite coffee shop is a small 10 table establishment. In a mall unfortunately but the master and his associates know me by name.
I lived near the Okayama soccer field for years... I never even knew this existed. Will absolutely visit next time I am back in town. His okayama dialect is insane haha. A true ji-chan... is this next to the cigarette/cigar shop? I don't remember...I left as that big arcade near the mall was being torn down.
Hey! Please do visit next time. His Okayama dialect is quite thick (and he's originally from Kurashiki so even more so than most). It's near a ticket booth! And I remember that arcade fondly...
Enjoy your video is lively cafe and certainly with his friendliness personality could draw many customers plus the welcome warm decor.❤❤❤❤ love your Cafe
Oh he has my heart! We have a local gentleman from the Philippines that has a restaurant. There are six chairs and 2 tables placed next to his piano. We have chatted for long times while he sort of tinkered on the keys. His wife also passed away and his kids moved far. He is so nice and I hope both of these gents feel the love from their patrons and friends.
Hey Everyone, I hope you enjoyed this profile on Ohkuma-san. This was filmed and edited by Bobby from @Q2Japan (who's also part of the Life Where I'm From team). He's worked on other projects like the recent grape video ua-cam.com/video/1Ne8XExmhIQ/v-deo.htmlsi=nnCAg5pfoJXFwfiG and the video about the old school noodle delivery ua-cam.com/video/z5jJ9LTlEp4/v-deo.htmlsi=mxLJbbcTKhOwLhRx
I went from hating Premiere Pro to actually kinda liking it :) What a journey lol
@@Q2Japan Wait, you actually kind of like it now???
Keep Bobby! He did an outstanding job!
Hello Bobby! Thank you for your work on the video 😊 May I please make a humble remark which is that your try to speak a little clearer in the narration in the future please? I struggled to understand you at times as you also speak quite fast. Your narration was interesting and you used your tone of voice nicely though 👌
Congratulations on expanding your team! おめでとうございます！！
12:59 Ohkuma-san said he had no memories of this past year since losing his wife. Changes in memory formation after loss or other adverse event is a VERY real thing due to how the brain deals with trauma. Much love to him.
I had the same experience after losing my dad 2 years ago, I can't remember anything that happened after 3-4 months, and until now, every january around his death, I basically shut down for a few days, even if at the time I didn't break down or something similar.
I also had this happened a few years ago when I worked 12-14h days for about half a year, all I did was work, and to this day, nothing comes to mind as to what I did then, besides work.
No matter who is doing the narration your team doesn't miss a beat. I've been married for over forty years, so I really appreciate that Ohkuma-san has not given up on life under the weight of his loss. Thank you Life where I'm from team!
"I have a feeling that humans can't make memories without some level of comfort or ease within their mind"
That's a truly profound and poignant statement. Japan is lucky to still have this kind of "old world" wisdom still readily available to them in everyday life.
I must go to japan 🎉😊😊
Dude, that's literally something the average 14 year old can figure out. You have some serious mental deficits if you consider that "profound" or "old world". This is literally psychology 101.
Bobby did such a great job capturing this story (and fantastic editing Greg)! Such a wonderful addition to the Life Where I'm From work family!
I appreciate that Ohkuma-san protects his customers. What a lovely man and experience.
As do I. It seems like such a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Great job on this piece. We not only enjoyed the story but we enjoyed Bobby’s point of view and interaction with the shop owner. The editing and voice over were superb! Keep up the great work Bobby! We enjoy the channel and this piece was a great addition.
Thank you so much!
Wow. The first Life Where I'm From that had me in tears it was so touching. Thank you!
That means so much! I really appreciate it 🙏🏻
What a beautiful story and wonderfully shot/edited. thank you man!
What a lovely video, and great job by Bobby! I think he fits in very well into the channel
I appreciate it 😭
the part where Ohkuma-san talked about how he hasn't made any new memories was a surprisingly philosophical deep cut... really made me wonder if there's truth to that theory; it sure hits right. also, the whole vid was just a beautiful glimpse into his life and work, well done!
I always hear how big life changes or a loss of a loved one can start up Alzheimer’s or dementia, but I stand by Ohkuma-san’s words and believe it isn’t due to his wife’s passing. I’d love to visit this shop & have a chat w him before it ever closes 🖤
Its a sign that he experiences too much stress. Which is understandable. I hope he takes enough rest days, he deserves them.
I remember learning something from psychology class that people tend to remember things that causes some type of strong emotion in them, i guess since his wife passed away his living automatic day to day life 😢
Emotional disconnection maybe be the cause.
I can't barely remember anything from my first high school years.
i can sense the heavy loneliness when i heard his wife has passed, altho time passed so quickly, and for that I think the way he engages his customers by pure communication is a way to appreciate raw human communication. I wish Okuma-san health always.
Absolutely my favorite kinds of vids on this channel. Very specific looks at small eateries!
Also very happy to see the team growing! Great commentary and great video quality!
When you watch a content video for the brain and it also touches your ❤. Great job team.
Bobby did a great job. Loved the video and his work
Thank you fellow Rob!
I didn't expect to cry 6 minutes in to this video. What a special soul- I'm so glad you shared him with all of us ♥
Lovely video by Bobby and what a great man Ohkuma-san is. Would love to have such a cafe here!
I loved this episode. I've watched this channel for at least ten years I think, and every single video is good. Not just from a cultural lesson, I love hearing people's stories. He seems like a very interesting man. Relaxed and warm and filled with humor.
I can feel the kindness and love in that room as he chats with his customers or jokes with his grandkids. What a lovely man and cafe. I wish him all the best in the future
I'm amazed at how much thought he put into the design of the cafe!
Watching your videos on my phone just doesn’t do the quality justice. Gonna save this for later to watch on my TV
UA-cam really is for a larger format. That's why it will always be better than TikTok.
@@ChrisVideoNet Well not every channel deserves a large screen, but LWIF definitely does.
Lol I do the same thing.
Same
Me too.....
I think this has got to be one of my favorite videos from your channel, having Bobby on your team is one of the best things to happen lately. If I had a cafe like that near me, I'd be going there all the time too. Sad that Ohkuma-san won't be passing the shop on, but I get that it's *his* passion project, I hope that he'll continue to enjoy running it for many more years, and maybe he can inspire one of his grandkids to start their own shop lol
Great video Bobby and Greg. Looks like the channel has a long bright future ahead.
Thank you kindly Mr. Grizzly Bear 😭
Grandparents are the same the world over, raise their kids and spoil the grandkids...haha what a lovely story, thank you for sharing such a beautiful life.
My grandparents had a fridge magnet that said "Grandkids are the reward for putting up with children.". It was all in good fun of course. Not like they didn't like having kids or anything like that.
What a cool story. “When you have your wife around… you can always have the little words to fill the gaps in the day.” Thank you for documenting people and bringing the humanity out in your stories.
For the curious the processes of removing the outer shell from the coffee beans is called "winnowing" and has a long history as a step in producing wheat and other grain products.
Oh! Thanks for the fun trivia knowledge!
Fantastic video. Stories like this one documented this way almost make me get teary. Really beautiful, thank you so much for taking the time to make and upload this charming, valuable video.
I love how warm and inviting the kissaten are. I find that the cozy environment really brings out the more relaxed and sociable side of people, particularly in Japan where people are typically quite shy and reserved. People like Ohkuma-san are community figureheads, and help bring people together, which is truly a gift given how socially distanced we are all becoming.
I cried watching this. So well composed. Im so glad I discovered your channel
Very well done! He is the heart of his place. The love he has for his late wife is admirable. Thank you for sharing their story
Thanks Bobby for letting us learn about your friend and his lovely shop
I loved this Episode - very wholesome and profound. 💚
Awww. This video made me cry of Ōkuma-san’s life of tribulations and triumphs. If I go to that kissaten, I got to get used to his communication and his humor. Cheers.
Great job Bobby, and again Greg with the great editing in a more behind the curtains role! xD Really felt the style coming through.
This video made me reflect a bit on my own family, particularly grandparents.
I dunno how it is for other countries, but small family run shops nowadays, at least where I live, are kinda rare. It's either small shops entirely run by hired staff, which are often just doing a job they don't really care all that much about just trying to make a living for themselves or as a step to something they really want to do in the future, or big chains and big business that implemented all sorts of rules and whatnot so that it runs to a certain standard and never strays from it - for the good and bad.
But I remember my own grandparents because they ran a small bar/candy shop/coffee shop mix business in a tiny rural town where my mom grew up in. It's really small, always fluctuated between 2000 and 5000 inhabitants. My grandfather always prided himself about some stuff that he took great care in the shop. I got to enjoy some of it when I was a kid, along with cousins of the same age.
The business was entirely family run, and it was actually an extension of the house they lived in. My great grandparents had a small ranch relatively close to the town.
Long gone memories because everything changed.
When my grandparents died, the then already almost abandoned small ranch got sold to the usual owners of large tracts of land for big agribusiness because my uncles who still lived closeby just had no way of doing anything worth with it, my grandparents too old to do anything with it too. There was no reason to keep it, because a small ranch like that couldn't compete with anything as a business.
The town business itself also closed down, as one of the few last remaining businesses that attended that portion of town, which used to be the central part of town. But at that point, it was already mostly abandoned because of a change in demographics.
My uncle at that time was, if I'm not mistaken, working as an immigrant in Japan. He came back when his parents, my grandparents, health was worsening, and just stayed here as the conditions for immigrants working in Japan also weren't as great as when he initially went there. He spent I think almost 30 years of his life working there, mostly industrial work like making and installing shoji panels, among others - together with brothers, and at one point a few of his daughters, my cousins. Though my cousins only stayed there for a couple of years or so.
As for the change in town, the kids of families who had a business there mostly moved away to neighboring bigger cities in search for work, education, better health infrastructure or some other reason. Eventually, entire families also moved, as they aged. The core original inhabitants and families of the town just moved away or passed away over the years.
Newcomers into town were mostly poor families searching for jobs in the agricultural sector, lots of them were temporary work, or people who worked at neighboring bigger cities looking for a cheaper place to live. As they moved into the town, they mostly went to live in the opposite side of town where new neighborhoods were popping up.
This resulted in the town center shifting away, all the commerce either moved close to that side, or just closed off and newer shops opened up there instead. Small city like that only needs a few markets, drugstores, and whatnot. When older commerce started either moving or shutting down, the entire city center went with it.
The bar portion of my family's house converted into a garage. Old furniture and general furnishings of the bar either got back into the house or were sold, gifted to family members, or just trashed. I think one of my cousins still has an old wind up all wooden clock like the one Ohkuma-san has in his Cafe.
Then after several years, my uncle passed working in a painter job. Too much heat, he had a stroke, it was very sudden. His wife still lived for more years in that house, along with a couple of my cousins until they married and also moved away. Then, because of ailing health issues my aunt also ended up moving with one of my cousins to a neighboring bigger city just a couple of years before she also passed.
And their old home, a multi story ancient house that my uncle had built portions of it by himself, is now there, left as inheritance to my cousins.
It's too old, a lot of it was poorly built, it has foundation problems, and it's in a part of the town that is largely abandoned nowadays.
There is a huge part of the extended family that loves that house because it was the place everyone gathered in end years festivities since the family is all spread around the country, so there are lots of memories there. In my childhood, we made visits bi-annually, and then later at least once a year - we live quite far off. It's the home, town and environment my mom grew in.
But the reality of it is that other than sentimental value, the house isn't really worth anything. Hard to rent, hard to sell. Probably the reality of several of the inaka houses in Japan. It's too big, it's setup in a multi story fashion, and no one wants to make a family business like that nowadays, particularly in that side of town.
So it's been abandoned for several years now. Along with many things that used to be from the time it was a bar/coffee shop/candy shop. It'd likely already been sold if it wasn't for the fact that no one wants it. I think it briefly got rented for a while, but the tenants were criminals doing some bad stuff there, which happens a lot in these types of situations. Cousins were worried about people invading and occupying the space, which also often happens in these cases in my country, but thing is that the town is so small, and the house in such an abandoned part of it, that it never happened so far. There is also a dispute between cousins wanting to sell it and not wanting to sell it because of financial reasons... it's all complicated, as you'd expect.
And I think the story of my family reflects a bit the changes in society. It might reflect the story of some family owned businesses in Japan too, and some situations with inaka homes.
o/
I’ll be visiting Okayama prefecture next year and hopefully I can stop by. It seems really lovely.
Such a perfect video! At first, I was impressed at how it still has the "Life Where I'm From" signature tone. Then also by the way this shows so many little things in a short format. And then the philosophical part hit hard. What an incredible life and very wise man.
Bro, Japan has so many nooks/crannies of history... Interesting stuff.
So wholesome and heartwarming!
Thank you for sharing such a fascinating and heartfelt story! It’s truly inspiring to see someone so dedicated to their craft and committed to preserving traditions in a modern world. The care and passion they put into every detail really speak to the beauty of old-school values. Stories like this are a wonderful reminder of the importance of staying true to what you love.
I've never seen a video of yours, but this is a truly beautiful dedication to Ohkuma-san. Didn't expect to cry when I clicked a random video about Japan on my youtube feed. Keep it up with your content creation, @Q2Japan, your work is leagues beyond the average youtuber. Very professional and reminds me of Anthony Bourdain's way of immersing you in another culture for the time you spend watching.
That means a lot. Thank you so much! We'll keep trying.
My new favorite episode. Great job and what a character he is!!
He is accurate about how memory works. discomfort and anxiety will keep your mind from keeping memories longterm.
Bobby did a great job with the camera shots and voice over/interviews. In a way you learn about the topic of cafes (kissaten) and Ohkuma san as the subject, also a little how it relates to Bobby himself without taking over or being intrusive. An endearing video, learned a lot and now i want my own waffle iron 😊
That's heart warming and helpful feedback! Thank you!
What a lovely and heartwarming video. Very well done, and all the best to Ohkuma-san!
Thank you for the video. I felt you really took me into Ohkuma-san's world and i could actually feel the warmth and human touch if the cafe. I hope to visit it in the near future. Thank you.
I have so much admiration for Ohkuma-san. I loved hearing about how he got started in the coffee business, and all the thought and effort he’s put into his cafe.
Towards the end, Ohkuma-san talks about the shop not living on after he is gone. I am a GM for some D&D campaigns. Your wife, yourself, and your shop will always have representation in my games. Thank you for being so dedicated and living your slice of life to the fullest extent. You are an inspiration.
Lovely presentation on a lovely shop. It's nice to have a coffee shop that isn't filled with people staring at their laptops & phones.
This was such a lovely piece, thank you!
Glad to see Bobby, and wish I had known about this cafe when I lived in Okayama.
One of my favorite UA-cam channels. Everything just clicks, every episode. Keep it up!
Thank you, Greg, Bobby and friends. A fascinating and enjoyable watch. The intimacy and attention to detail with which you shot and directed this kept me enthralled, and Ohkuma-san made me laugh out loud more than once. I was surprised and impressed by the way you guys included the somewhat negative aspects of Peepuru's location and selected online reviews and comments. This showed a level of openness and accountability which isn't common on UA-cam, for which I commend you. You can't please everyone, and you don't stay in business for nearly five decades if people don't love what you're selling. It's clear that Ohkuma-san's formula is a winning one, as is Life Where I'm From's.
Thank you so much for the kind words :)
He found a keeper in his wife and found his life's purpose early in life what a lucky man. Him wanting to work as long as he can is the reason he's living a long happy life 😊
I really hope this place doesn't get overrun by foreign influencers and instagrammers after this video.
Agreed
I don't think that wonderful gentleman would let them in.
🙄
I wish UA-cam had a button for how much I like this, beyond the like button. A Give A Hug button, or a I Bow to You button. Thank you for sharing this experience and those conversations!
Thank you Bobby for sharing Ohkuma-san's story with us. Beautifully done. Will definitely visit People if I ever go to Okayama!
Good stuff! Thanks for the lovely video!
What absolutely wonderful story and video. Thank you!!
I knew I'd love Ohkuma-San from the first sentence he said. What a treasure of a person, I hope he finds happiness again after his wife's passing.
Your videos give a whole different level of comfort..when i will visit Japan i will definetly come to this cafe!
We love another third place video (the izakaya one being the other I'm thinking of). Bobby also did a great job for his first narration!
That means a lot to us! Thank you!!
came across this video early morning and now i’m just bawling my eyes out first thing in the morning 😭
This is such a wholesome video. I appreciate learning about the everyday life of people in different cultures and countries. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this story with us Bobby!!
This video really moved me. Great work too, Bobby!
I should consider visiting this kissaten when I get the chance.
Thank you so much!
Just bawled my little eyes out, this video was so precious ❤
People gotta put Starbucks out to pasture, and help indie cafes thrive.
Starbucks isn't that big in Japan but I get what you're saying.
Ohkuma-san is the salt of the earth type of café owner I support. The place looks cozy enough to enjoy a proper stay and a chatty owner is not the worst of things. Only time I went to a Starbucks, I left within ten minutes due to the sterile corporate atmosphere in it.
Maybe I am an old man in a younger body, Dunno. Having been a professional waiter for almost a decade doesn't help, either. I like his no-nonsense approach to work and customer management. It takes years of experience to develop and it commands respect.
So, Bobby was behind the old noodle factoy video as well? Props to him. That video is one of my favourites you folks have ever done.
Have a wonderful 2025, folks.
Cheers.
Amazing video. Brought me a lot of joy on this Sunday afternoon.
What a lovely video, didn't expect to be hit in the feels this hard :)
Such an inspiring man. Can't wait to go back to Japan and visit his café.
Ohkuma-san seems like a really nice person. Thanks for the video! BTW Bobby is the one who brought me to this channel.
Cheers! 😁
I haven't finished the whole video yet, but this is a really nice concept - and well shot/edited as well. Really enjoying this format so far!
What a beautiful video! And good job Bobby!
This was one of the most Zen videos I've watched; thank you for making my day!😊
"I have a feeling that humans can't make memories without some level of comfort or ease within their mind"
this is wisdom
Your videos are so inspirational. Keep it going!
Why is this extra heartwarming? (tears) Amazing work! Thank you for sharing these stories!
Beautiful Video, well done Bobby!
Oh yeah, that's an awesome content, great job done with video production.
The coffee ticket is still around! It looks like a warm, inviting, and comfortable place to enjoy a cup of coffee that was meticulously made with quality ingredients.
What a wonderful story! I love visiting small izakaya, shokudo, and kissaten. Very warm and cozy. My favorite coffee shop is a small 10 table establishment. In a mall unfortunately but the master and his associates know me by name.
Thanks for sharing Okuma San's story with us
This has been such a great video. It made my mind start thinking, if I'll ever be like ohkuma-san when i grow old. Awesome video!
I lived near the Okayama soccer field for years... I never even knew this existed.
Will absolutely visit next time I am back in town.
His okayama dialect is insane haha. A true ji-chan... is this next to the cigarette/cigar shop? I don't remember...I left as that big arcade near the mall was being torn down.
Hey! Please do visit next time. His Okayama dialect is quite thick (and he's originally from Kurashiki so even more so than most). It's near a ticket booth! And I remember that arcade fondly...
Thank you for the wonderful insight into Ohkuma sans life and work, one day I hope to visit beautiful Japan.
I miss Okayama so much, this makes me so 懐かしい 🥺🥺🤍
Aww ^w^ Cheers Sylvia~
Enjoy your video is lively cafe and certainly with his friendliness personality could draw many customers plus the welcome warm decor.❤❤❤❤ love your Cafe
Already had plans to visit Okayama - now I have a place to go there! Great job in front of and behind the camera.
Always top notch! Great job guys!
"You've got to walk or move around. You can't just do nothing." - It's absolutely true and important lifelong advice which is often neglected by many.
Hi Bobby! What a wonderful interview.
Hello! 🙌
Great job team 😉 Love the way it turned out ❤
This is great! Thanks for creating this video!
What a lovely, positive video. Thank you.
Oh he has my heart! We have a local gentleman from the Philippines that has a restaurant. There are six chairs and 2 tables placed next to his piano. We have chatted for long times while he sort of tinkered on the keys. His wife also passed away and his kids moved far. He is so nice and I hope both of these gents feel the love from their patrons and friends.
More of this please! I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Adored this video. More like it, please!!
If I were there, instead of here in Brooklyn, it would be my daily hangout. Great video profile.
Loved watching this video. It was like I was actually there. ❤