Abroad in Japan: Travel YouTuber, Japan Guide, Videos and Expat Style
Who is Abroad in Japan? Chris Broad, Brit in Japan since 2012, 47 prefectures. Videos, books, documentaries verified Sep 2026.
Key takeaways
- Abroad in Japan is Chris Broad, a British filmmaker living in Japan since 2012, covering all 47 prefectures.
- English-language Japan channel: travel guides, culture, food, language tips, documentaries (Fukushima, Tohoku) and personal stories.
- About 2.84–3.3M YouTube subscribers and 400M+ views — figures change daily, always check the live channel.
- Start with 12 Unspoken Rules (3.3M), the original 12 Things (14M), and the 2023 memoir.
Quick facts
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Creator | Chris Broad |
| YouTube channel | Abroad in Japan — @AbroadinJapan |
| Country / origin | British (verified) |
| Language | English |
| Content type | Japan guides, culture, food, language, documentaries |
| Subscribers | ~2.84–3.3M, 400M+ views (2023–2026 sources) — figures change daily |
| Main coverage | All 47 prefectures; Tokyo, Tohoku, Fuji, festivals, etiquette |
| YouTube start | April 2012 |
| Books | Abroad in Japan (Aug 3, 2023, 320 pp); second book via Sekai Studios |
| Company | Sekai Studios co-founder; podcast host |
Who is Abroad in Japan?
Abroad in Japan is Chris Broad, a British filmmaker, Sunday Times bestselling author and podcast host. Founder of one of Japan’s largest foreign YouTube channels.
When Englishman Chris Broad landed in a rural village in northern Japan he wondered if he’d made a huge mistake: no language, zero teaching experience, possibly the fastest-fired English teacher in Japanese history. A decade later the chaos and culture clash became the content: 10 years, 200+ videos, all 47 prefectures, from Fuji’s summit to Tokyo neon, via missile alerts, national-TV disasters and a week with Ken Watanabe.
His YouTube journey
Three phases from public sources:
1. Teacher years (2012–2017). Rural north placement; 7-Eleven fried chicken eaten walking (drivers’ death stares taught the unwritten rule). Channel founded April 2012.
2. 47-prefecture authority (2017–2022). Original 12 Things NOT to Do (14M views). Fukushima and Tohoku documentaries; BBC/TEDx/NHK recognition.
3. Author era (2022–2026). Memoir August 3, 2023 (Amazon Japan pre-order No.1, bestseller); second book; Sekai Studios scaling; 12 Unspoken Rules (Oct 2024, 3.3M) updates the etiquette canon for the tourism boom.
Language is English with Japanese throughout. No dubbed channels officially listed.
What kind of travel content does he make?
Based on actually published videos:
- Etiquette guides. 12 Things (14M) and 12 Unspoken Rules (3.3M): no walking-eating, soy-sauce rice rules, reserved-table bags, meal praise formulas.
- Prefecture travel. All 47 covered; Tokyo, Tohoku, Fuji, festivals.
- Food tours. Conbini to kaiseki; rice-crisis commentary with humor.
- Documentaries. Fukushima, Tohoku quake-tsunami, missile incident.
- Personal stories. Love-hotel evictions, cat-café allergies, Watanabe week.
- Books and podcast. Memoir plus audio plus studio work.
What he does not do: silent walks, multi-country coverage, or stunt travel. His value is insider Japan literacy with humor.
Destinations covered (Japan focus)
Representative selection: Tokyo (neon, 7-Eleven culture, fish markets with walking-eating exceptions). Tohoku (quake legacy docs); Fuji (summit climbs). Rural north (teacher origins); festivals nationwide; Osaka/Kyoto food legs. Pair Tokyo with Tokyo Silent Walk and Kyoto with Kyoto Silent Walk.
A thumbnail alone is never proof of a visit here. Only described videos and official texts are used.
Videos to discover
A selection, not a Best-of without criteria.
1. 12 Unspoken Rules NOT to Break in Japan
- Published: October 10, 2024 (25:53)
- Subject: Walking-eating, soy rice, reserved tables, meal praise, rice crisis humor
- Why watch: 3.3M views; the updated etiquette canon.
- Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_kYN7f8qUg
2. 12 THINGS NOT TO DO IN JAPAN (original)
- Subject: The classic etiquette list
- Why watch: 14M views; the channel’s foundation stone.
- Search exact title on @AbroadinJapan
3. Fukushima documentary
- Subject: Nuclear disaster legacy reporting
- Why watch: Serious journalism beyond travel entertainment.
- Search on @AbroadinJapan
4. Tohoku earthquake-tsunami documentary
- Subject: Disaster memory and recovery
- Why watch: Historical depth few travel channels attempt.
- Search on @AbroadinJapan
5. 47-prefecture journey films
- Subject: 10 years across every prefecture
- Why watch: Completeness as content; pick your region.
- Browse https://www.youtube.com/@AbroadinJapan
If a link is dead, search the exact title on @AbroadinJapan.
Etiquette literacy: the core skill he teaches
His central thesis: most Japanese rules are unwritten and followed on autopilot. Develop the cultural radar. Don’t eat walking (except designated street-food zones), never drench rice in soy (pour on fish), never move lost-property bags (they reserve tables), never damn food (praise and never return). Tourists who learn this avoid becoming scapegoats for overtourism debates.
Etiquette radar: applying the 12 rules
Chris’s rules only help if applied in the right places. And his own updates add the nuance. Walking-eating: banned by custom on public streets. But explicitly allowed in designated street-food zones like fish markets. The rule is about shared space, not food. Soy sauce: never drench plain rice. But pouring over fish on seafood bowls with wasabi is correct. The distinction matters daily. Reserved tables: bags and wallets left on café tables signal occupancy, not loss. Check the till for the owner before touching anything. Meal praise: always declare it delicious and never return, rather than complain. The opposite of Western frankness. The 2024 update adds overtourism awareness: rice-shortage blame games, scapegoating dynamics. And why rule-following visitors protect the next traveler’s welcome. Prefecture strategy follows the same completeness logic: pick one region per trip from his 47-film catalog rather than racing the whole map.
Travel style
Facts vs reading: humorous insider English, decade-deep residency, documentary range. Difference from Silent Walks: he explains Japan talking. A Silent Walk walks Tokyo silently.
Who is the channel for?
- Japan first-timers: Etiquette before landing.
- Repeat visitors: 47-prefecture depth.
- Food travelers: Conbini to kaiseki spectrum.
- Culture readers: Memoir plus docs.
- Slow walkers: Literacy here, silence in our Walks.
No score or ranking — just fit.
Destinations inspired on Global Silent Walks
After his Japan, walk it silently with us: Tokyo Silent Walk, Kyoto Silent Walk. He does not recommend, sponsor or use Global Silent Walks unless officially stated.
Explore the destination differently
He decodes Japan in 25-minute films; a Silent Walk walks it wordlessly. Learn the rules from Chris, then feel Tokyo at 7 AM without commentary. Start with World Destinations.
Official socials
Only official accounts. Counts 2023–2026, change over time:
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbroadinJapan — ~3M
- Books: Penguin Transworld page (ISBN 9781529907278)
- Company: Sekai Studios co-founder
No other accounts listed here to avoid fakes.
In pictures: Abroad in Japan
FAQ
Who is he?
British filmmaker Chris Broad; Japan resident since 2012; 47 prefectures; author; podcaster.
Subscribers?
About 2.84–3.3M, 400M+ views. Check live channel.
Best videos?
Original 12 Things (14M), Unspoken Rules 2024 (3.3M), Fukushima/Tohoku docs.
Books?
Abroad in Japan memoir Aug 2023 (320 pp, bestseller) plus second book.
Where to start?
Unspoken Rules 2024, then original 12 Things, then one prefecture film.
Sources
- Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AbroadinJapan
- Penguin Books page (ISBN 9781529907278, Aug 3, 2023)
- Sekai Studios announcements (2.8M+ era; second book)
- LinkedIn company page (2.95M, 450M views era)
Data verified September 28, 2026. Last verification: September 28, 2026.
