Youtube
48 Hours at Japan's Biggest Snow Festival
Sapporo snow festival is one of Japan's most popular annual events, but does it live up to the hype? We spent 48 hours in the city, eating, drinking and getting serenaded by random people....
Pete
Having produced over 100 episodes of the Abroad in Japan Podcast together with Chris since 2018, and travelled Japan more extensively than most (across 10+ trips), Pete is a Japanophile and top London Radio DJ rolled into one.
Pete's Story
@petedonaldson
Having risen to power first as a radio DJ on hugely popular radio stations XFM and Absolute Radio, Pete Donaldson’s real passion lies in Podcasting, where he can sink his teeth into topics as diverse as football, wrestling and Japan. As the co-host of one of the world’s biggest soccer podcasts “The Football Ramble”, when he’s not immersed in the world of football, he’s sneaking off to Japan to quench his thirst for Coolish ice cream.
With an obsession with retro video games and electronics from the 80’s, it’s no surprise he’s been drawn to Japan over and over in the last decade, each time becoming incrementally more fluent in the Japanese language.
Chris and Pete first met in London in 2017, while Chris and Natsuki were filming “Natsuki: The Movie”. As an Abroad in Japan viewer, Pete had heard they were in town, and whipped them into Absolute Radio for a spontaneous interview that went on to feature in the film.
Several months later on a trip to Japan, Pete met up with Chris in Tohoku and together they went on a road trip. Three days and one speeding fine later, the two had outlined their plans for the Abroad in Japan Podcast which launched in February 2018.
Since then Chris and Pete have travelled across Japan together by bicycle through Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, frozen to death at the Sapporo Snow Festival and even been seaweed fishing at 5am on Japan’s Pacific coastline.
With a monthly audience of over 300,000 listeners, today the Abroad in Japan Podcast is the largest podcast on all things Japan and since 2018 the two have yet to miss a single week, such is their dedication to the cause. Be sure to drop by every Thursday to hear a news roundup of what’s going on in Japan, and to hear Chris and Pete talk about their obsessions with Family Mart Fried Chicken and Coolish respectively.
Pete's Soundboard
Featured Content
Youtube
I Tasted Kobe Beef for the First Time | A5 Japanese Wagyu
We taste A5 Kobe Beef (A5), the highest grade of beef in Japan and have our taste buds ignited. What better way to spend our time in Kobe of Day 18 of Journey Across Japan (and send off Pete)....
Youtube
24 Hours in Osaka | 6 Things to do in Japan's Nightlife Capital
Osaka is Japan's nightlife capital; a vibrant city home to amazing food and people. On Day 17 of Journey Across Japan we spend a night out taking in the city! Leave us a LIKE if you enjoyed joining our night out!...
Youtube
24 Hours in Kyoto | Japan's Best Monkey Park
Kyoto Monkey Park is loved by all. We make our way through it and uncover the mysterious monster street on Day 16 of Journey Across Japan with Pete Donaldson....
Youtube
I Got Lost in Kyoto with only a Paper Map
Kyoto is difficult to navigate with Google Maps, let alone using a paper map. On Day 15 of Journey Across Japan we get lost in Kyoto....
Youtube
Natsuki: The Movie (Life in Japan Documentary)
Burnt out and suffering from a mid life crisis, the eccentric Natsuki decides to take an emergency one-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe. Surprisingly, not everything goes according to plan....
Podcast
What NOT to do in a Japanese Hotel Room
[email protected] for all your messages, gerrem in!...
Podcast
Why this Kobe Beef Has An Insane 9 YEAR Waiting List!
Just give her some damn croquettes!...
Podcast
The Tokyo Cafe Designed to Stop Customers Procrastinating!
You're not allowed out until you've finished your novel!...
Podcast
A Sad Ending for the Japanese Man Who Married a Hologram!
Farewell, my sweet. Pete and Chris will return this Wednesday for more fun and games!...
Podcast
Japan's Population Plummets 640,000 for Biggest Drop on Record
Aaaaand Pete and Chris will return on Sunday, where we'll do it all over again!...
Podcast
The Ultimate Way to Propose in Japan
Happy Sunday all! Pete and Chris will return on Wednesday for more of this, and in the meantime let us know what you're about over at [email protected]! Boom!...
Podcast
How Japan's Electric Chopsticks Make Food Healthy
Bzzzzt! Right in the gob!...
Podcast
Why Women Aren't Allowed in Japanese Adult Stores
Pete and Chris will be back for more top-floor fun on Wednesday evening so join them then!...
Podcast
Japan's Biggest Earthquake in 10 Years Wrecks Abroad in Japan Studio
Here's ya boi Chris, with a little mini-podcast, ready to blow your socks off with information and pathos and stories about a busted up studio....
Podcast
End of an Era as Iconic Japanese Virtual Youtuber Says Goodbye
The very non-virtual Pete and Chris will return on the 27th for more fun and games (and podcasts)....
Podcast
Japan's Creepy 300 Year Old Mermaid Mummy Investigated by Scientists
Fishy business with Petey Pie and Crafty Chris!...
Podcast
How Chris REALLY Felt Interviewing Ken Watanabe
It's finally here! The meeting of the minds - one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people back in 2004, and Ken Watanabe!...
Podcast
Why Pete REALLY Failed His Interview to Teach in Japan
Postscript: Pete went through his old yahoo account to see if he could find any correspondence about the sorry affair. Turns out they deleted all the emails older than two years ago. As if those years have been that good....
Podcast
Tokyo's Grumpiest Japanese Man is in Asakusa Selling Bread
Can ya even melon bear it? Petey-kun and Chrissy-chan will return very soon for more podcast fun - but in the meantime get your questions and answers and daft stories in to [email protected]!...
Podcast
Don't Hug People in Japan | Awkward Etiquette Explained
...but if you do, just a quick one will suffice. Leave their ribs be!...
Podcast
Why I Love Japanese Nightlife
Dancing. Sweaty people, dancing. Ooolong tea and Moscow Mules on tap....
Podcast
How a Failing Osaka Cafe Turned Around Their Business Overnight
Cats. The answer is always cats. Cats everywhere!...
Podcast
Why NOT to Drink Alcohol and Ride Bicycles in Japan
Pete and Chris will be back on Wednesday for more Japan-shaped hi-jinx!...
Podcast
Why Valentines Day in Japan is Broken into 2 Days!
Probably to sell more blimmin' cards!...
Podcast
$50 Strawberries & $200 Watermelons | Japan's Crazily Expensive Luxury Fruit
Someone's been having it away with some prize strawberries, and Pete and Chris are on the case!...
Podcast
Seven Eleven Japan Unleashes Holographic ATMs!
Spooky ghost ATMs for all! Pete and Chris finger their keypads with wanton abandon here on the pod, and if you'd like to steer the jury just send a missive to [email protected]!...
Podcast
The Dark Side of Japan's Money Lending Culture
Pete and Chris will return, like furious money collectors on Wednesday evening at 2200 (GMT, baby!)...
Podcast
Why I Didn't Get Homesick Moving to Japan
Open up your hate, and let it flow into Chris and Pete! Get up, come on get down with the sickness!...
Podcast
American Travellers Explain Japan's Craziest Bar
And we'll be chasing you down the road once again on Sunday - join us then!...
