Eat Your Kimchi

This week Simon and Martina want someone to explain to them how people survive in the morning without having a coffee. In Japan coffee places don't open until 10 or 11 am, and no one seems to drink coffee before work. Not a single coffee shop is open on the way to work and the duo want to know why. There's a lot of hand-drip coffee in Japan, it's not like North America where you can grab a quick drip coffee before starting your day. But Simon and Martina really want to know how people get through the first part of their day without coffee...Someone please explain!?

This week Simon and Martina went to a secret bar in an alleyway, and ordered chocolate kisses and ice-cream sundaes. It was off Harmonica Alley and was really dark except for some blue fair lights inside. You paid to sit down, and they sat next to two businessman who looked very well dressed and fancy. Looking at the menu and they were surprised to see chocolate kisses, and an ice-cream sundae so (of course) they ordered them both, and they were delicious! A chocolate sundae at a steamy, dark, very dapper bar was awesome. It was another place they hadn't found online, but from exploring the 'darker' side to Japan. Recommendation taken!

This week Simon and Martina checked out a nearby neighbourhood, Koenji, and they discovered a grungy, seedier - but amazing - side to Japan. They found a bar that had a lot of penis statues on the outside, but when they went inside they had the best night ever! Simon says it was his favourite night in Tokyo so far. It was about the size of a big walk-in closet (so, tiny). The lady running it was 81 years old and the lady serving them was 87 years old. They drank a lot with the elderly locals, who were nailing life. They ended up busting out an impromptu sing-along of some old-school songs with everyone in the bar. They had incredibly delicious food, and it was sooo cheap. This place wasn't on a map, and there was no info online. The duo recommend, when you travel, to go exploring and find places that aren't necessarily the most popular online, or the most highly recommended; that's when you have the most memorable experiences.

This week Simon and Martina talk about doing a fan meet-and-greet and explain what the experience is like for them. It's exhausting, but they absolutely love it and appreciate their fans "so so so much." On the day, they have breakfast (just a green smoothie) at about 10am, then they get ready - thinking about clothes that won't show sweat marks, comfy shoes etc - then they head to the event. They have something to eat that won't make their breath smell bad and guests arrive. They are riddled with guilt the whole time because they want to give the same amount of time and attention to everyone who comes; time management is really hard with so many people. They refuse to leave until they've said hi to everyone. They barely eat, drink or go to the bathroom because they just want to embrace everyone who's turned up! It's one of those things that makes you tired to the bone but you love it and really enjoy it! Thanks to everyone they met, and to those who attended (and didn't) the duo hope you have a bet

This week Simon and Martina talk about how amazing Japanese people are when it comes to being kind  and genuine. As the duo put it; Japanese people are taught not to be 'jerks' to other people from a very young age. There's no petty crime in Japan. The couple tells a story about a man who came back to their house two days after he'd delivered them curry because he had short-changed them the equivalent of $1. One Dollar! He drove all the way back to their house, two days later, with a receipt, and bowed while apologising. The amount of honour is incredible.

This week Simon and Martina talk about a 'darker' side to Japan. They discovered a place in their Japanese suburb, that they've never explored before. At about 10pm, they decided to walk down a sketchy street and they found a Chinese restaurant that was a bit dingey inside. Outside the restaurant there were two possible prostitutes and no condiments on any tables, only cigarette trays. There were men in suits slapping a guy, and a man with bleached-blonde hair smoking in front of a no-smoking sign, in front of the police station. But, the duo don't feel in danger in Japan because as long as you mind your own business, no one will bother you. There's no confrontation if you don't create it...moral of the story? The Chinese food was amazing!

This week Simon and Martina talk about a very interesting experience they had in their Japanese neighbourhood. It was raining, but they chucked on rain coats and went outside to explore. They stumbled on an amazing Thai restaurant, then went to another restaurant before walking home. It was past midnight and they thought they'd found a dangerous group of youths but instead saw someone rapping and a group of guys doing double dutch, with skipping ropes. There's no sense of danger in Japan. The duo say you need to get off your phones and notice the people around you because this was one of their fave experiences in Japan.

This week Simon and Martina are talking about how to strike a healthy work/life balance and control burnout as a YouTuber (with advice you can take even if you're not a YouTuber). The duo are in Melbourne because they've just been at a YouTube Creator's Summit. They listened to a monk talk about how to incorporate meditation into your every day life, and heard from YouTuber Hank Green about preventing burnout. We all want to know how to get that perfect work/life balance, ammiright?

This week Simon and Martina are coming to Australia for a YouTube Creators Summit! The top YouTube creators are invited to the event - this one is for creators from the Asia Pacific region. There's different panels, and sessions for YouTubers to get to know each other, and to know more about what's happening on the YouTube platform. The EYK duo will be talking about keeping a healthy life-work balance when you're a YouTuber. When they started out, they would work until sunrise and didn't look after themselves. Overwork kills creativity, you reach a burnout cycle, you think you're still inspired because you don't realise how tired you are. They've got tips on making it as a YouTuber without compromising your life balance.

This week Simon and Martina are talking about how different sporting events are in Japan and Canada. In Japan you can bring your own food and drink to a sports game, you can buy fresh beer from a keg that's not ridiculously expensive, Japanese fans clean up after themselves with plastic bags after a sporting match. Every baseball batter has their own theme song. And that's just the beginning...

This week Simon and Martina talk about their experiences being on Korean TV shows like Running Man and Star King. It's not as glamorous as you'd think, and it's definitely  not something you should do if you want an ego boost. The duo give advice to YouTubers about going on TV to increase their online audience. Hint: it doesn't work.

This week, Simon and Martina tackle an 18+ topic this week - beer! Local beers are sold cheaply in their home country, but are sold at a premium overseas (hence everyone else's fascination of Foster's beer - except Australians!). This in turn leads to some interesting ways in which beer is marketed overseas, and the advertisements are generally considerably more memorable than the beer itself! While on the topic of beer, Simon and Martina also share some Japanese secrets in curing a hangover; the secret is swapping out greasy food for things like fried rice and miso soup!

This week Simon and Martina talk about why it can be hard for foreigners to rent apartments in Japan. Their discussion is based off an article that talks about one girl's experience trying to rent an apartment and getting turned down for being a foreigner. EYK think the article's most interesting point (that doesn't go into enough depth) is that Japanese culture puts great value on social harmony. Anyone who doesn't follow the rules, like separating rubbish, and keeping noise to a minimum, is seen as disrupting the community. The duo discuss why that is the crux of it; if you play an instrument, or have a pet, or have kids then your rent selection is more limited. They don't think it has anything to do with race discrimination, it's about wanting people who are going to integrate into the community. What are your thoughts?

This week, Simon and Martina take off to Gifu with renowned chef Yosuke Suga (who is really, really, ridiculously good-looking) to eat amazing Italian food, discover the local produce, and explore artisan prosciutto. Aside from the (slightly exaggerated) 2000% humidity in Gifu and slight uncomfortableness over the couple's tattoos during a visit to an onsen, it was quite an interesting trip filled with delicious sake, beautiful farms, and mouth-watering food (including the best Parma in Japan).It's one mighty tasty episode!

Sanrio characters get ranked (think Hello Kitty!). Is a 'ranking' attitude now ingrained in Korean culture among teens and Simon and Martina talk about quirky observations in Japan.

Why going to your original home country can be a burden. Simon and Martina make sense of Japan's recycling system and Kichijoji is Japan's number 1 place!

Simon and Martina went to the American airbase in Japan, to watch the new Spider-Man movie with their friends. It was fascinating to go there. It was like being transported back to America; the buildings, the signs and the roads. They went to a Chilli's restaurant (which is an American restaurant) and they paid with American money, and had to tip like you do in the U.S. They follow American laws there, and have some laws unique to the base. The Eat Your Kimchi duo go in to more details during this ep...

This week Simon and Martina talk about Japan's commuting culture and why they love riding on buses and bikes. People in Japan are so honest, and it's the small things they do on public transport that warms your heart - making it fuzzy. It's a good place to bike ride too. The duo want to know what the bike riding culture in Australia is like. Let them know what you think...

Simon and Martina talk about a food review site in Japan called Tabelog, and a reviewer called Mr Udon, who became very well known for his food reviews. While the EYK duo were in Canada, they were sent a translated article from a tabloid publication about Mr Udon. Nothing is confirmed, because it is a tabloid, but being in the publication will effect his reputation. The tabloid said he'd been taking bribes to write good reviews, and if he wasn't treated really well he would write bad restaurant reviews. His reviews are a huge deal because he can make a restaurant 'boom' from a good review. Simon and Martina talk about online fame going to some people's heads, including a lot of YouTubers. They love their fans.

This week Simon and Martina talk about T.O.P and online netizen culture; about how online communities need to be less harsh at accusing people for their actions, whether they're famous or not. The online culture is becoming toxic and it needs to stop being so negative. T.O.P has done so much for Korea with BIGBANG and as a huge K-pop star. They also talk about drinking cultures in different countries.