It took 9 years BUT I FINALLY MET KEN WATANABE! (🍿 And he's coming on Abroad in Japan!!!) (Patreon)

There's been a recurring joke on Abroad in Japan for the last 9 years.
That I would leave Japan the day I got to have coffee with Ken Watanabe.
- So this is fairly awkward.

Yes, it seems dreams can actually come true!

Because not only did I get to spend a few days with Ken Watanabe - regarded by many as Japan's greatest living actor - but the man himself is featuring on Abroad in Japan in an upcoming documentary about his life here in Tohoku (north Japan).

In many ways it feels like the culmination of 9 years and 200 videos of relentless work to reach this point. It was an absurd sensation sitting there chatting over a coffee with Ken and thinking back to sitting in a tiny apartment in Yamagata in 2012, wondering if it was a good idea to move to Japan.

To reach this point feels like a pretty big deal and I'd like to thank you guys for coming with me on this extraordinary, often ridiculous journey.

The achievements we've had here on the Abroad in Japan channel wouldn't have been possible without you, and I hope to do you all proud with the completion of the new studio this week, and upcoming projects such as the Ken Watanabe documentary coming up soon!

The documentary will be out in the not too distant future and filming is still ongoing, but I look forward to sharing more details with you all soon.

For now, have a great start to your week and if you see me on the street, please feel free to pinch me so I can believe this is a real thing that's happened.
Chris