The America-Loving Japanese Cafe Owner That Went Viral | Unsubscribe Podcast 268
YouTube · 91U5KpTEbyY
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Fumio Funaki, a 77-year-old Japanese cafe owner and English teacher, became an internet sensation after a YouTuber featured his business in Kushiro, Japan.
- ❖He lived in the U.S. from 1976 to 1981, working as a manager trainee at Benihana in NYC, a yellow cab driver, and briefly as a diamond cutter in Florida.
- ❖Fumio recounts a rapid green card acquisition process in 1976, contrasting it with current immigration challenges.
- ❖His cafe, Cafe Darake Books, started five years ago after his English school business was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ❖Fumio experienced discrimination in 1970s New Jersey, where a landlord refused to rent to him and a chef delayed his orders due to anti-Japanese sentiment from WWII.
- ❖He describes hearing 'voices' that guided him to marry his ex-wife and to be present at his mother's death.
- ❖Fumio observes stark cultural differences, noting American women's openness in dress and the 'big butts' of women in San Antonio compared to Japan.
- ❖He expresses deep appreciation for America, calling it his 'dream' country, despite past challenges.
- ❖Nana, Fumio's daughter, is moving back to Japan to help manage the now-viral cafe and pursue a career in video editing for social media.
- ❖Fumio views social media as a 'monster' but acknowledges its power, preferring face-to-face interactions as 'real human being' experiences.
Insights
1Viral Success Transforms a Small Japanese Cafe
Fumio Funaki's cafe in Kushiro, a small city in Hokkaido, Japan, experienced a dramatic increase in international customers after a YouTube video featuring him went viral. This unexpected fame led to visitors from all over the world, despite Kushiro being a two-hour flight from Tokyo.
Fumio's cafe, Cafe Darake Books, started five years ago. A YouTuber, Adam, filmed him, and the video went viral last December. Fumio states, 'I got customers from all over the world. It was amazing. I never expected something like that would happen in my life.' Nana confirms, 'he had a lot of customers coming in.'
2The Ease of 1970s U.S. Immigration for Skilled Workers
In 1976, Fumio Funaki obtained a U.S. Green Card with remarkable speed and simplicity. He was hired by Benihana in Tokyo, went for a visa process at the American Embassy, and upon arrival at JFK, was immediately issued a Green Card after a brief interaction with an immigration officer.
Fumio recounts, 'I applied for the job and there were 500 applicants... and I was one of them. And they sent me to Benihana of Tokyo in New York City.' He then describes the embassy visit and receiving his Green Card at JFK: 'the green card popped out and he gave it to me and he said, "Welcome to the United States. Now you can go." That's how I got the green card in 1976.'
3Spiritual Guidance Through 'Voices' in Major Life Events
Fumio Funaki describes two significant instances where he heard an inexplicable 'voice' that guided his actions: first, prompting him to marry his ex-wife, and second, urging him to return to his mother's hospital room just before her death.
Regarding his marriage: 'I felt something strange above my head and all of a sudden I heard a voice get married this woman get married this woman.' () For his mother's death: 'I felt something really something strange above my head... I heard a voice from the strange thing above my head. Go back to the hospital right away.' He returned and was with his mother when she passed. ()
4Cultural Differences in Body Image and Public Display
Fumio observes a significant difference in body types and public display of skin between American and Japanese women. He notes American women, particularly in places like San Antonio, tend to be 'big' and more open about showing their skin compared to Japanese women, especially during his youth.
Fumio states, 'In Japan, 95% of people are Japanese. And skinny. Here, the women's butt, BIG. HUGE.' () He also recalls, 'American women tended to show their skins... compared with the Japanese women.' ()
5Post-WWII Discrimination and its Lingering Scars
Fumio experienced direct discrimination in 1970s New Jersey due to his Japanese heritage. A landlord refused to rent to him, and a chef at a restaurant where he worked intentionally delayed his orders because the chef's relatives were killed by Japanese soldiers in World War II.
Fumio recounts a landlord telling him, 'Get fuck out of here. We don't want to rent you.' () He later confronted a chef who was delaying his orders: 'He told me that his relatives were killed by a Japanese during World War II. That's why he didn't like me when I started working. He learned that I was Japanese.'
6Japanese Healthcare Costs are Significantly Lower than the U.S.
Fumio highlights the stark difference in healthcare costs between Japan and the U.S. by sharing his experience of paying only $200 (60,000 yen) for a month-long hospital stay after a stroke, a cost estimated to be $100,000-$200,000 in the U.S.
Fumio asks, 'How much would the American hospitals charge you if you got stroke and stayed one month in the hospital?' The hosts estimate '$100,000 to $200,000.' Fumio then reveals, 'I only paid sixty thousand yen. That's what Japanese health care system we have.' ()
Bottom Line
Japanese young men are increasingly referred to as 'vegetable boys,' having lost their 'man's instinct ability to try to catch women,' a phenomenon Fumio attributes to women becoming 'stronger' since the 1990s.
This observation points to a significant societal shift in gender dynamics and traditional masculinity in Japan, potentially impacting birth rates, dating culture, and broader social structures.
Content creators or social scientists could explore this 'vegetable boy' phenomenon, its causes (e.g., economic pressures, digital interaction, changing gender roles), and its long-term implications for Japanese society and compare it to similar trends globally.
The Japanese real estate market features significantly lower prices, with houses sometimes costing as little as $20,000-$30,000, partly due to lower average incomes and a cultural aversion to buying homes where previous occupants died or committed suicide.
This creates a unique investment opportunity for foreigners willing to overlook cultural superstitions (e.g., 'negative energy' or 'ghosts') for deeply discounted properties, while also reflecting underlying economic and demographic challenges in Japan.
Real estate investors could target the Japanese market, specifically properties with 'stigmatized' histories, and develop strategies to renovate and market them to a less superstitious international clientele or to Japanese buyers who prioritize affordability over tradition.
Lessons
- For small business owners, embrace social media and engaging personal stories; a single viral video can dramatically increase international visibility and customer traffic, even for businesses in remote locations.
- When traveling or living abroad, be prepared for significant cultural differences and potential language nuances (e.g., 'New York' vs. 'Newark' airports) to avoid misunderstandings and navigate daily life effectively.
- If considering international expansion or relocation, research healthcare systems and real estate markets thoroughly, as costs and cultural norms can vary wildly and present both challenges and unique opportunities.
Notable Moments
Fumio recounts a bizarre experience in a New York City strip club where a Korean woman on stage, dressed in a kimono, dropped boiled eggs from her vagina into the open mouths of audience members.
This anecdote is a shocking and humorous illustration of the extreme and unexpected cultural experiences Fumio encountered in America, highlighting the 'land of opportunity' in a very unconventional sense.
Fumio, a former hockey and basketball player, became a surfboard shop manager in Hawaii despite knowing nothing about surfing, a job he landed because he was a young Japanese man who could speak English and Japanese.
This demonstrates Fumio's adaptability and resourcefulness in pursuing opportunities, even in unfamiliar territory, driven by a desire to explore the world beyond his fishing village.
Fumio's attempt to become a diamond cutter in Fort Lauderdale was cut short after he developed hemorrhoids from sitting for hours, leading him to abandon the profession.
This humorous setback illustrates the unexpected challenges that can arise when pursuing new skills and careers, showcasing Fumio's willingness to try diverse paths before finding his calling.
Fumio describes being genuinely scared on December 18th (which he believed was Pearl Harbor Day) during his time in America, staying indoors because he feared being attacked for being Japanese.
This reveals the lingering fear and impact of historical conflicts on individuals, especially immigrants, and the lack of comprehensive historical education in Japan during his youth, leading to personal anxiety and isolation.
Quotes
"I'm a Fumio Funaki and I'm a alien from Japan."
"I was a hockey player and I was a basketball player when I was in schools. So, I didn't know nothing about I know nothing about I knew nothing about surfing."
"I was hired by Japanese steakhouse called the Benihana of Tokyo."
"The actual English I experienced in America was totally different from the English I learned with the textbooks."
"I was so so happy that uh that video that I posted went viral. Not that I got a lot of messages."
"I wanted to get the skills so I could make money, make a living in America."
"Go back to the hospital right away. Go back to the hospital right away. What the heck this voice telling me?"
"I'll give you a pleasant time. So instead give me a free ride. So I wonder what she going to do. She gave me What's the English word? Blow job. BJ."
"I was really scared. As a Japanese, I have to stay in apartment all day long. I didn't go out because I thought I would be killed if they found out the Japanese on that day."
"War is no good. It leaves scar in their mind."
"I only paid sixty thousand yen. That's what Japanese health care system we have."
"The young generation boys are called vegetable boys... They lost the man's instinct ability to try to catch women."
Q&A
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