LIFE & CULTURE as the tsunami-ravaged Miyagi coastline. The videos that he BROADCASTING made on location, capturing both the heartbreaking sorrow of the disaster victims and the hopeful THE UNKNOWN steps being taken towards recovery, have resonated profoundly with his viewers. “Although there are Top: A guided tour of Tsurugajo Castle in lots of misconceptions about JAPAN UNITED KINGDOM Fukushima Prefecture, wearing yukata. Fukushima, I found almost JAPAN Upper Right: Broad traveled across the TO THE WORLD Shimanami Kaido, which links small islands everywhere in the prefecture to in the Seto Inland Sea, by bicycle. be safe, with people energetically Right: Broad enjoying yakitori, his favorite Japanese food, at a morning market in Aomori rebuilding their lives. When Ordinary scenes and culture in Japan have kindled a fire in Prefecture. I reviewed the footage I took the creative spirit of an Englishman, Chris Broad. A YouTuber in Miyagi, I was struck by the who arguably knows the country more deeply than most Japanese people, videos is not Tokyo, Kyoto, or Japan. Introducing local powerful, unbreakable bonds Broad regularly broadcasts videos of his real-life experiences. other major cities, but those attractions through features such that people have formed with places that can be best described as scenery, people, and food, with their hometowns. Even having The YouTube channel “Abroad as “provincial.” Beginning with a style that ranges anywhere from suffered tremendous losses, they At one of Japan’s three most scenic spots, in Japan” is operated by Chris Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. “It’s because the rice-paddy landscape of Sakata sober documentaries to comedies all love their hometowns, and Broad. After moving to Japan in of scenery like this that I live in Tohoku.” City, where he first lived, he then filled with British sarcasm, Broad’s strive to build their future there. 2012 as a high school English moved on to the vast northern videos abound in variety. True I wanted to tell the real stories of teacher, he fell in love with the island of Hokkaido Prefecture, to his aspiration to become a the cheerfulness of the people in beautiful scenery and peaceful which can appear as if an entirely filmmaker, his reputation for the disaster-affected areas, their lifestyle of Sakata City, in rural different world each season. He accomplished video techniques forward-looking attitude, and the Yamagata Prefecture. Having long has also introduced Aomori improves year by year. His viewers way they have encouraged each dreamed of becoming a filmmaker, Prefecture, home to Japan’s biggest especially appreciate the way that other.” Broad began regularly posting morning market and boasting he introduces genuine aspects of There is more to Japan than YouTube videos from this land. deep local colors, as well as Miyagi Japan not featured in guidebooks, just Tokyo. Shedding light on “At the time, not many foreigners Prefecture, where he now resides in from a unique, admiring point of the stories of people living in were introducing videos on Japan, the city of Sendai. Taking a trip by view. other corners of the country so it was a great chance for me.” bicycle, he has also presented the Particularly garnering praise is what Broad is all about. Sharing what it feels like to be Shimanami Kaido route that runs are Broad’s documentaries on the An unknown Japan, witnessed “A-Broad” in Japan, his channel through the islands of the azure areas affected by the Great East through the medium of YouTube quickly gained subscribers—now Seto Inland Sea in western Japan. Japan Earthquake of March 2011, and presented through Broad’s numbering 2.1 million—jumping All in all, Broad has filmed across including Fukushima Prefecture, powerful communication skills, is to the top spot of channels the country, especially focusing on which suffered greatly from a now attracting new interest from introducing the country. the Tohoku region of northeastern nuclear reactor accident, as well viewers worldwide. The setting for most of his CHRIS BROAD Originally from the United Kingdom, Broad has lived in Japan since first arriving in 2012 as a high school English teacher on the JET Programme. He has produced more than 200 videos introducing the attractions of Japan. His YouTube channel “Abroad in Japan” boasts 2.1 million registered subscribers, with 267 million views as of March 2021. From a documentary showing the disaster-affected areas. Broad visited a flower grower (left) in Fukushima Prefecture, who is reviving the soil to make flowers bloom again. In Miyagi Prefecture, he rode a fishing boat at dawn (center) and visited a guesthouse owner (right) who reopened her business despite losing her family. Conducting direct, in-depth interviews, Broad conveys people’s true feelings, thus drawing viewers from all over the world. .