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Life in the modern city of Tokyo.
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It all revolves around...
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coffee?
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Why don't you leave
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the "showing around" of this town
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to a REAL local! Okay?
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A lot of tourists end up
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buying stupid things like a fan
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But how often do you use these
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in your home country?
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Join our boys
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while they tackle everyday life
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as an expat in Japan
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in the quintessential coffee houses of Tokyo.
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Hi! I'm Stan Jedermann.
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Those of us who visit Japan
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often find ourselves marvelling
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at the "oriental" souvenirs
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we pretty much find anywhere.
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But how do we distinguish one from another?
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What are we even looking at?
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In Japanese,
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"omiyage" is something that you
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give someone
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who didn't join you
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on your excursion.
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In other words, a souvenir.
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But the practice of "omiyage"
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is so ingrained in the Japanese culture
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that these touristy areas even develop
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their own snacks and presents
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to give someone as omiyage.
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This is even where the
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concept of "yuru-kyara" or,
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local mascots comes from.
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Today our excursion takes us to
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the heart of the Japanese tourist area.
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Asakusa...
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in the shadow of the Senso-ji.
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Welcome to Asakusa.
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This area has been a tourist attraction
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since the Edo Period.
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It attracts crowds mostly interested in history.
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You can find multiple eras
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portrayed in establishments
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here in the shops, theatres,
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and restaurants.
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This coffee house, only a
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one minute's walk from
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the Ginza Line Asakusa Station,
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is meticulous in preserving
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the Taisho-Showa period.
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Let me present to you
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some of the most popular "omiyage"
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available in Asakusa.
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These are fans.
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These are "ougi,"
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for dancing.
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These are "sensu,"
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for everyday use.
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These are "uchiwa,"
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for use in summer.
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These are keychains.
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A little flashy,
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but a cheap and popular gift.
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This is "okou."
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It's used for shrines
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and for the room.
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Omamori are amulets
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meant to bring good luck
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or protection.
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They are unique to each and every temple.
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These "shokki" are available here.
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This is for sake.
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This is for beer.
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This is for tea.
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And this is for rice.
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Plates like these are available too.
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Tenugui are available
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in many colors,
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and can be used in many ways.
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These are "geta,"
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for girls,
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for guys...
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for yukata and kimono.
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"Kanzashi" are hair ornaments
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used in the following way.
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Older toys are available in wood
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and other natural materials.
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And of course, kimono!
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There are tourist trap ones
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which are just made for foreigners' bathrooms
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and are not used in Japan.
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And, there are real ones
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which can be bought second hand
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for low prices.
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To recap,
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Asakusa Coffee-ya in Asakusa
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is the coffee house we went to today.
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Our boys toured around Asakusa
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and reviewed popular souvenirs, too.
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I hope you learned something today.
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However,
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everyone's experience in Japan is different.
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Which yaro seemed most like you?
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All information can be found on our website here
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and be sure to join us next time
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as we discuss television in Japan.
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No, the yaro and I are just hanging out!
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There are no girls here whatsoever!
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No, no! Nothing!