Since the beginning, we’ve done lots of different videos on our YouTube channel,
but one theme has been behind them all: our family’s Life in Japan and what makes it work.
We invite you to subscribe and come along as we learn art of living in multiple cultures at once.
This is Life in Japan.
[Life in Japan Theme Song]
So, what are we attempting here for the first time tonight?
Tonkatsu but I just don't have the right little... Everything for it?
Still! My goodness.
Look at that!
Do we have a new favorite on the way?
As long as you’re willing to try something new, you will always be young in spirit, growing as a person.
This can be as big as learning a new language or as small as trying a new Japanese dish.
You won’t always get it right the first time, but practice makes perfect.
Wow! That looks awesome.
It's exactly like the school's tonkatsu.
It's just like the school's tonkatsu?
Ruth's going to do mine in a little more japanese fashion.
Got the cabbage.
Look at that crunch.
This looks amazing.
Yes! Thank you. Itadakimasu.
And with that, we have expanded our family culture by adding a Japanese favorite to the menu.
But expanding our culture isn’t just limited to Japanese items.
Whatever do we have here.
Dude, this is a puff pastry pie, I think it's French, maybe?
It started out flat! I mean it was yay thick.
I had no idea it would puff up this big. It's beautiful!
Our friend Yannick gave it to us.
You're supposed to eat it, I think, on the 6th of January. The epiphany I think.
We're a little late. I'm sure it will still taste good.
Having friends from different cultures comes with the benefit of learning new ways and trying new things,
as is this case with our first taste of French Almond Paste Cake.
I won’t even try to say it in French.
Here you go.
Ok.
Did you do it right?
Would you know if you did or not?
It's a very interesting flavor.
Good interesting or not so good interesting. Just different.
It's very almondy.
What's almondy? Nutty.
Oh my! That is really different.
It's sweet, and pasty at the same time.
Pasty? Is that what you said?
It's good though. I like it!
It’s not just different food we like to try,
but also different ways of staying fit, like Zumba,
a mix of latin and international music with dance moves meant to give you a good cardiovascular workout.
The whole family gets into it!
Getting some zumba on in here.
Are you supervising them?
You did it? We did.
While it’s not always easy, and we often get things wrong,
bridging cultures is something we’ve grown to love.
It’s one of the things I love about our international Paz Church,
a place for anyone from any culture or religion to come together
and forge life-changing relationships with God and with each-other.
We've got Daichi here today. I'm going to be preaching at Paz Church.
It's going to be 'What does God what for you in 2022'.
He wants you free from anxiety.
From depression - He wants you free from that.
He loves you.
He wants the best for you.
Another package has arrived.
Karen Vincent from New Orleans.
What is it, what is it? I can't see!!
King cake.
How cool is that!
I've never had one! Oh, and a card.
Sometimes we experience something new from America,
as was the case with this care package from a Life in Japan fan.
It just so happened to be another epiphany cake!
Two epiphany cakes in one year — wow!
She must have made these.
If you ever get to the Big Easy, come see us. We'll give you the grand tour.
Look at her puppy! Awe! Thank you so much.
Everybody's just chillin.
Joshua with his sword, which has seen better days.
It's a double edge sword now, huh? Yeah.
And if you’ve watched us for a while now, you know that birthday parties are a big party of our family life.
COVID cases have skyrocketed recently, but before that happened
we had a chance to pull off a birthday party that combined different cultural elements that we love.
What's going on dude?
It's me, Mario.
You have to come upstairs and see something. It's so cool.
What do I have to go see.
Ok.
Whoa! Is this all ready for your birthday dude?
Yep, one more day until my birthday.
One more day until your birthday?!
It says Happy Birthday
This one is the flower.
Anna's doing something crazy with a box it sounds like.
A few days before, Joshua’s Youchien (or Japanese Kindergarten) celebrated the January birthdays.
The Youchien always has a fun celebration for its students.
Joshua even had a chance to do an interview in front of his class and did great!
We’ve had all of our kids in this youchien and its prepared them so well for elementary school in Japanese.
We’ve also learned a lot about Japanese culture through it!
Go ahead.
Joshua, your favorite song is what?
Mario song.
How's it going guys?
Oh, is it cold?
Oh boy, another year, another birthday party.
Ok, smile everybody.
Smile, 1, 2, 3.
We're going to sing happy birthday then we can keep playing.
[Happy birthday song]
Oh, Roy-kun is so cute.
Soon it will be Ron's birthday, right?
Yea.
This is from Ron-kun.
Joshua, you can do a race!
Whoa! That's cool!
That's from Uncle Seth.
Oh my goodness.
From Vovó and Vovô.
Sarah, it's like a princess bed, huh honey?
My goodness. How cool.
And what's going on down here?
Joshua has like a tunnel entrance is that right? Oh, there he is.
Well, hey dude.
Is that the entrance and exit? Yeah.
Oh, that's how you get out? Let me see how you get in then.
It's the first time you are going to sleep as a 6 year old.
That's pretty awesome dude.
Pretty freakin awesome.
Navigating multiple cultures is one of the things this channel is all about,
and we’re so glad that over 100,000 of you have thought so too, subscribing and supporting our journey!
There’s much more to learn and explore,
and I believe this is just the beginning of what is possible when people of different backgrounds build bridges instead of walls.
Check this out girlfriend.
Congrats, you're eligible for a creator award
Did you copy and paste that reward?
Oh, I will. Here we go.
I walk in, and my husband has this huge camera out, why?
He's getting ready to get something.
The award. The silver plate.
Congratulations on reaching a YouTube Creator Award Milestone.
We want to celebrate you and recognize the hard work you've put in to create great content and grow your channel and community.
Ok girlfriend. Let's make it happen. Here we go.
1, 2, 3!
We just hit 100,000 subscribers on Life in Japan!
We have some Tonkatsu here tonight and we're going to celebrate.
Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to our channel and helped us make it this far.
That's yum yum Tonkatsu.
We love you Life in Japan family! And until next time, we'll see you on Life in Japan.