WAO RYU! ONLY in JAPAN

For over 500 years, Japan's third oldest festival is one of its most unique. 9000 mostly naked men celebrate in the cold for religious and traditional reasons and John is there to report as a participant. We will look around the city of Okayama, it's castle, Korakuen, and go to Saidaiji temple to preview the fest. In the evening, John gets ready with a group at a local company. Learn the insides of this amazing festival from from you need to enter, things to buy and the deep religious and spiritual meaning.

Japan's escalators are a microcosm of Japanese society -- uniqueness and creativity, but we also see Japan's politeness, manners and even customer service all on moving steps. In this episode, we travel to Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo and Kawasaki to see some of Japan's amazing escalators!

Vending machines are one of the first things visitors see when they arrive in Japan. Colorful, convenient and almost anything that can be sold in one. In this episode, we look at a wide variety of machines. From fully digital drink machines to the unusual vending machine like canned hot ramen and bread-in-a-can in Akihabara, we tour Japan to check them all out. The why and how of vending machines.

Don't miss this! Why do so many Japanese wear sick masks in the winter? It's a question many non-Japanese ask when they visit. Between November and March, it seems the whole city of Tokyo is wearing a surgical mask. Is it a new fashion rage or a form of self-defense? Get the inside story on why wearing a mask in Japan is not so weird. In this episode, we try on some of the more unique surgical masks and ask a couple of locals about why they wear one. After seeing this program, maybe you'll try a mask next time you're in Japan. When in Rome ...

In this episode, we go to Asakusa Kagetsudo and talk with owner Yuki-san who has been making melonpan for many years. He explains his passion and why it's so popular in Japan. John sits down for breakfast and enjoys a piping hot melonpan with a green melon soda, the shop's recommended combination! Melonpan is best when it's right out of the oven.

Take a visit to Tokyo's Yoyogi Park, Hachiko Crossing in Shibuya, a cafe called ""Harbs"" serving sakura cake and Inokashira Park in Kichijoji. Also check out our next video which goes to Yoyogi Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Odaiba, the Meguro River and Ueno Park.

Let's head to Yurakucho and the Godzilla statue, Shinjuku Gyoen National Park, the Meguro River at night, Odaiba and Ueno Park for some cherry blossom viewing.

Let's leaves Tokyo for the Japanese countryside. Mt. Fuji's Kawaguchiko (lake) and Yoshinoyama (mountain) in Nara Prefecture. Yoshinoyama is the no.1 spot for viewing the cherry blossoms in all of Japan. We also look at some of the unique foods made from cherry blossoms at Yoshinoyama: ice cream, yokan, sushi and sakura liquor.

The Japanese toilet is not just a toilet. It has evolved into a high-tech machine of pleasure.

Shibuya is Tokyo's glitziest area and Hachiko Scramble / intersection is the world's busiest crossing. No wonder it amazes visitors who come to Tokyo! It's often featured in movies that take place in Tokyo, such as Lost in Translation, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and Resident Evil: Afterlife and Retribution, as well as news broadcasts around the world. Most people spend only a few minutes here, but in this episode, we're going to take you through a 24 hour cycle. We'll go a little deeper into what goes on here.

Around the world, Anime has a large audience and is widely recognized. Fans of anime are dedicated to the art. They're passionate about their love for anime and take that passion to the next level after hours. The Anime Song DJ is a growing and exciting new trend in Japan where anime songs are mixed, often with the anime playing on a screen. In this episode, we'll look at how this is expanding in Japan. We take you to Raizeen in Nakano, an Anime Song DJ bar that lets people give it a try. Later in the evening, we head to Roppongi and get a feel for a fusion of anime song DJing and the Roppongi style. The worlds are colliding bringing together Otaku and the Roppongi club crowds.

Around the world, Anime has a large audience and is widely recognized. Fans of anime are dedicated to the art. They're passionate about their love for anime and take that passion to the next level after hours. The Anime Song DJ is a growing and exciting new trend in Japan where anime songs are mixed, often with the anime playing on a screen. In this episode we go to the exciting new event called AniCrush!!! the newest Anison DJ event that is bringing together the international and Japanese communities.

Harajuku is the center of Japanese Youth Fashion. Cute and colorful, the pop fashion culture is thriving here, and John Daub goes deep into it. He becomes a Harajuku guy! What exactly is Harajuku fashion? Let's cruise down Harajuku's famous Takeshita-Dori for the complete first-hand story.

Gachapon is toy capsules from coin dispensing machines that are found all over Japan. What's unique is that they don't only have high quality anime figures and other surprises, but they're loved by adults as well as kids! Japanese love the mystery of the what's inside that gachapon capsule.

TOKYO GAME SHOW is one of the biggest gaming showcase events in the world. Since it's in Markuhari near Tokyo, ONLY in JAPAN is here to cover all the fun. I was seriously blown away by some of the advances in gaming. Serious gamers, cosplayers, anime and manga are a part of the TGS culture.

In this episode, we'll go to MANBOO! Manga Kissa, a manga cafe that's more than just manga and coffee.