Abroad in Japan: Ten Years in the Land of the Rising Sun is part travelogue, part memoir, and covers Chirs Broad's (of Abroad in Japan Youtube fame) first decade in Japan, from his first years as an English teacher to the eventual creation of his Youtube channel and transition to full-time video production.

I'm a big fan of Chris's Youtube channel, and very much enjoy his presenting style and the content he showcases in his videos. In this book I mostly expected a recollection of his earliest days in Japan along with a rehash of some of his more popular videos, and that's basically what I got. The book is written in his signature sarcastic, dry British tone, and his personality comes across very strongly in the writing. I read most of it imagining his voice. It's well-written, quick, and light reading.

Each chapter covers a different period or event in Broad's life, usually a month or two at a time with occasional jumps forward. It's interesting and often funny, but a bit more surface-level than I was expecting. It's a primer for life as a foreigner in Japan, but if you're expecting a deep dive or a true guide on navigating life in Japan, this is not it. As someone who enjoys Japanese culture but isn't as enchanted with the country as many are, it was an entertaining read and a nice change of pace from your average "Best places to visit in Tokyo" Youtube video. If you like the Abroad in Japan Youtube channel, you'll enjoy this book.