Shogo Yamaguchi: ‘Traditional culture thrives in a peaceful society'
1. Are you ready for the cherry blossom-fueled surge in tourism? In certain locations, it's going to be absolutely crazy. Famous tourist spots will be super crowded; you can't breathe or move or anything. But as a resident who lives away from those areas, you're just living your everyday life.
2. What was your motivation for starting your YouTube channel? My first job in Kyoto was in the tourism industry, working in a samurai-themed restaurant and then at Samurai Experience, which allows guests to wield a katana and try Zen meditation. Later on, I tried to start my own private Japanese music show but COVID happened and shut it down. My wife and I took on various jobs, but we were barely surviving and had just had our second child. That's when I decided to try YouTube.
3. Why traditional Japanese culture? I love talking about traditional culture, so I thought I could focus on some of the things that my guests used to ask me when I was working in tourism.
4. How did you grow your channel to almost 2 million subscribers? It all happened due to the timing, honestly. For half a year, I only had like 700 subscribers. Then, due to the anniversary of Yukio Mishima's death, who famously committed seppuku (ritual disembowelment), everyone was searching the term online and one of my videos ranked high. I reached 1,000 subscribers overnight; then 10,000 weeks later, and 100,000 months later.
5. Can you tell us about your international background? I was in Michigan from age 5 to 11 due to my father's job and here I learned English. Later, I went to an international high school in Hiroshima where I had the chance to visit Germany, Austria and Canada. Then, when I went to university in Kyoto, I started studying Mandarin and did a year abroad in Beijing, where I met my wife.
6. What was it like returning to Japan after living in the States? I've actually made a video about the bullying I experienced. I really felt how you have to be 'normal' and fit into the collective culture of Japanese society. In the U.S., I was taught to have my own opinion, but coming back to Japan with that attitude was difficult. In Michigan, there were some people who would make fun of Asians, but I always felt, 'It's okay, there's going to be a time when I go back to Japan, because I'm Japanese.' But when I came back, no one actually accepted me as a Japanese person. For a while there, I was like, who am I? Where do I actually belong? Am I Japanese?
7. Why did you decide to move to Kyoto? My mother is from Kyoto, so I would come here almost every year to see my grandparents. My grandfather would act as our tour guide, taking us to shrines and temples or mountain climbing, and he would discuss their history, which I loved so much. His impact on me was huge.
8. What's it like to raise a family there? Kyoto is going bankrupt, so raising kids here is actually a little tough — especially because there's more and more taxes on residents, so expenses are really high.
9. How does it feel to feature your family in your work? The business is just my wife and I; we do everything together. She's been training in tea ceremony as long as I have and she recently became a professional kitsukeshi (kimono dresser). My kids also really love being in the videos and getting to see themselves on YouTube.
10. Why is it important to you to speak frankly about Japan's social problems? My ultimate goal is to try to preserve Japanese traditional culture. To create an environment where traditional culture thrives, society needs to be peaceful. Otherwise we can't talk about culture, right? It's not a priority if there are other issues. That's the reason why I point those problems out — so we can address them.
11. What video did you enjoy researching the most? I think the most interesting video I did was about how Bushido is ruining Japan. It's not the video that gained the most views, but researching it was very, very interesting.
12. What did you discover? A lot of people think of Bushido as this code of honor, but it was more so the government's way to keep samurai in their place, to restrict them while allowing them to feel they were doing something noble.
13. What aspect of Japanese culture do you think is underrated? Tea ceremony. A lot of people think that the tea ceremony is great — 'let's put on some kimonos and drink matcha and have some sweets' — but its main purpose is to show hospitality and peace and allow people to communicate without weapons. The whole concept of the tea ceremony itself is just really, really beautiful.
14. Among your many traditional endeavors, which is the most challenging? Physically, it's kobudō, the ancient Japanese martial arts that I train in. But mentally, it has to be the tea ceremony.
15. What do you think non-Japanese content creators get wrong about Japan? One thing that I dislike very much is when they take a picture or a video of the most overcrowded place, like Kiyomizu Temple, and say, 'Kyoto is so overcrowded' or 'It's crazy,' that kind of thing, and then there's Japanese people (in the comments) saying that tourists should just go home. But even a street away from those areas, it can be quite quiet.
Though he has a deep appreciation for tea ceremony and martial arts, among other traditions, Shogo Yamaguchi doesn't shy away from speaking about Japan's social problems. |
Laura Pollacco
16. What places would you recommend in Kyoto? The Kyotango area, which is the northernmost area in the prefecture, is only one or two hours away by car, and it's beautiful and quiet.
17. What experiences would you recommend people try in Kyoto? Wearing a kimono! The scenery in Kyoto is just perfect for pictures and videos; you really feel like you've come somewhere special where you can wrap yourself in the culture.
18. This is an experience you are getting involved in yourself, right? Yes. I've very recently started working with a men's kimono shop called Kato Shoten, where we teach men how to properly wear kimono. In a 90-minute or 2-hour lesson, I show not only how to put it on, but also how to fold the garment, how to wash it — things they need to know once they leave Japan.
19. How can tourists be mindful when visiting Kyoto? I feel that some restaurants here can be very impolite to tourists because they can't communicate with you. But I want to stress that's not everyone here; there are a lot of people here who are very welcoming and open, so please don't be afraid to try more local places. Just understand that those working in the heart of Kyoto may be tired and stressed.
20. Besides Kyoto, what other destinations do you recommend? Nara. Many people forget that Nara was the capital before Kyoto, so it has a lot to offer historically and it's much quieter and more peaceful.
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