My walking guides to the real Japan
Free sample + all guides: https://mikefromjapan.surge.sh

I was stationed at Yokota Air Base for two years from January 1982 to December 1983. I worked for the Far East Network, FEN 810 AM Radio (now AFN) of the Air Force Pacific Broadcasting Squadron. I was a TV and radio news announcer at FEN, and also hosted a weekly Jazz program every Sunday evening, The Jazz Spectrum. I lived off base in Tachikawa in a housing complex called American Village, which had American-style houses that were quite spacious compared to Japanese homes. I stayed on in Japan after my tour of duty in the Air Force ended, going to work at TBS TV in Tokyo as an English-language announcer on their bilingual evening news programs. I later became a Tokyo-based foreign correspondent for ABC NEWS, and worked at many other broadcasting stations, including Bloomberg TV Tokyo. I’m currently a news announcer and writer at NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster. I’ll mark 45 years in Japan in January 2027. Thanks for the memories, Mike! You made my day. 🙏🏾👍🏾🤩🐶

My dad was in the Korean War, he was stationed in Okinawa. During that time,  he met his Japanese girlfriend,  Fumi.  She taught my dad how to make all kinds of Japanese meals.  And so luckily he brought that  back with him to the states.  And me and my sister got to enjoy the best Japanese food my dad learned from an old Japanese girlfriend from long ago.

21:28 Boss coffee!

Loved seeing this video. Thank you. I lived there for all of the 1990s.

First time hearing about this town so this video was really insightful. Would love to see more videos on small towns like this in the future!!

Thanks, that's one area off my list of places to visit.

Normally we cut the bagel in half creating two circles, toast the halves cut side up then serve it warm with butter and jam,or cream cheese.

Ive been there when i was in the USN we would fly in and stay for a few days

I’ve lived in this area for 26 years and even worked in the base. It’s interesting but only a little. There are several spots I never went to. But these days I’m missing America so I’ll be stopping by a shop to buy something to remind me of home. Places like this remind me of home sort of.

I lived in Yokota for 10 years. I’ve been to many of these places. I’m surprised you missed Mike’s down by Fussa Station. Japanese often think Americans want meat,’so there is always steak restaurants near US bases, but what Americans really want is Mexican food. Mike’s figured this out and has several locations near US bases in the Kanto area.

This was a very insightful video because we are looking at jobs at bases near Tokyo. Can you do videos near Camp Zama, Yokosuka or Atusgi?

18:20 Nicola was my favorite place to go for garlic pasta pepperoncini with grilled garlic bread and good, strong black coffee.

I've never been to Fusso or Uchihama, but there are a lot of Expat communities in Japan.  There is Hiroo, Azabudai (where the American Club is located), Shirogane, Ebisu and Roppongi.  I currently live in Shimokitazawa, and there are quite a few foreigners who visit or live here also, along with foreign bars and restaurants.  Although Hiroo is mostly a wealthy Expat community, the New Sanno Hotel is also there.  This is run by the US Military and restricted to US Military personnel.  However, normally, the wealthy Expat community and the overseas Military community don't interact very much.

Thanks for the video.  An interesting view of an American community in Tokyo that I don't usually see.

Nicola also had a shop in Ueno and Shimbashi, both now closed. However, the Urawa location was still open as of earlier this year.

American's living near the base  would tend to be lower ranks with families who are waiting for base housing  OR (as often happened  in Germany  a mixed couple not yer married but trng to make that happen.  The  nilitary person would still  have to keep his assigned spot on base neat and clean for inspections and  be able to hurry to base if needed for any emergency.

This video is interesting….

I want to try those hot dogs!

Lots of Americans in Yokosuka also.

Too walkable, food too healthy, and not a single gun on sight, 2/10 not American enough.