On this first Dear Diary episode of 2026, Take and Joey get together to reminisce about their days studying abroad together in Tokyo and to talk about just how far the two have come since then. The guys give us a rundown of what happens at AkiyaMart and introduce us to two new products that the team hopes will remove some headaches from the purchase process and even make akiya buying just a bit more accessible.

Questions? email [email protected].

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Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

Hosts are Take Kurosawa and Joey Stockermans. The AkiyaMart Production Team is Carlos G., Devin S., and Lukas F.

Chapters:

00:40 Welcome Back: Dear Diary 2026

01:30 Who We Are: AkiyaMart Origin Story

08:09 How the Filthy Dorm Prepared Us for Akiyas

09:43 What We Do at AkiyaMart

10:29 AkiyaMart Direct: Our Paid Buying Program

12:14 Introducing AkiyaMart Care: Post-Purchase Utilities, Taxes, and Contractors

15:39 Mail Digitization + Pricing Breakdown: What AkiyaMart Care Costs

18:48 Introducing AkiyaMart Viewing: $250 Virtual Tours Starting in Tokyo

25:00 Why Viewings Are Hard in Japan: No Lockboxes, Seller Agents, and Low Commissions

27:51 2026 Plans: Visa Progress, Sakura Tree Dreams, and Closing Thanks

29:35 Outro: Ratings, Links, and Where to Find Us

This week Joey and Take meet up in Tokyo with Danny Wilson, a comedian and host of Tokyo Super Great Time Tokyo Podcast. Danny shares his journey of growing up in the U.S. and moving to Japan to reconnect with his roots. He discusses his career in Japanese comedy, his experiences in a prestigious Japanese comedy school, and the challenges and joys of being a bilingual comedian. The conversation touches on cultural differences, his aspirations, and the dynamics of the Japanese comedy scene. 

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

00:58 Meet Danny Wilson

06:14 Comedy in Japan vs. America

09:17 Learning Japanese Slang

15:51 Exploring Japanese Real Estate Opportunities

24:27 Life in Japan vs. the US

29:32 Advice for Aspiring Comedians and Japan Enthusiasts

31:53 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

This week,Joey and Take visit Anton Wormann, who you may know as Anton in Japan. Anton is a renowned real estate mogul, interior designer,  and author in Tokyo. Anton shares his transformative journey from being a world-traveling model to becoming a successful property renovator in Japan. He discusses his initial cultural impressions, the challenges and triumphs of renovating old Japanese homes, and his passion for creative design. The conversation also delves into the intricacies of Japanese real estate, including the cultural nuances, bureaucracy, and his strategy for identifying undervalued properties. Additionally, Anton gives insights into his future ambitions and  provides advice for anyone looking to embark on a similar journey.

Follow Anton on:
YouTube: @ANTONINJAPAN
Instagram: @anton.injapan
www.antoninjapan.com
www.japandihouses.com
www.akiyamasterclass.com

Check out Anton’s book Free Houses in Japan: The True Story of How I Make Money DIY Renovating Abandoned Homes

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

00:36 Welcome to the Podcast

00:54 Meeting Anton

05:12 Anton’s Journey to Japan

07:50 First Property Purchase

10:05 Renovation Challenges and Successes

15:48 Creating Content in Japan

21:25 Cultural Differences in Content Creation

28:25 Building a Business in Japan

35:43 The Reality of Japanese Housing Design

40:18 Investing in Japanese Real Estate

44:54 Addressing Japan's Population Decline

48:29 Final Thoughts and Advice

This week Joey and Take are joined at Tama Base Camp by AMD Agent Hide. Hide shares his thoughts on the state of buying an akiya, as well as his opinions on what is coming next in the space. The team talks about potential rules around foreigners buying property. and opening businesses in Japan while also giving insights on both how and why these rules may be adopted buy the Japanese government. They also touch on a potential surf house purchase that is currently out of budget, but how the guys might work with the seller to agree upon a compromise solution.

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

01:03 Guest Introduction and Background

03:10 Current Real Estate Climate in Japan

06:31 Government Policies and Market Impact

15:44 Minpaku Business Insights

26:17 Exploring a Surf House in Kaifu

33:13 Rent-to-Own Possibilities

39:31 Final Thoughts and Future Prospects

Take is flying solo this week, chatting with a new guest, Devin Silvernail, an AkiyaMart Direct client  currently going through the process and our podcast editor. Devin, originally from Seattle but living in France, shares his journey starting from falling for the lush surroundings of the Shimanami Kaido bike route to taking a chance on Kanazawa's more classic and subtle charm. He also talks about the series of taking chances that has led him from Seattle to France and how a childhood love for Japan is now manifesting in the search for an akiya. Devin details the purchase process, including negotiations,  inspections, and financial logistics. The episode emphasizes the importance of studying abroad, taking chances, and how diverse cultural experiences shape life decisions.

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

00:48 Welcome to the Podcast

03:03 From Policy Development to Podcast Editing

03:28 The Unexpected Move to France

05:06 The Impact of Studying Abroad

08:02 The Spark to Buy a House in Japan

12:27 The Search for a Home in Japan

15:26 Why Kanazawa?

18:43 Discovering the Perfect Property

20:21 Plans for the Property

23:51 Offer and Negotiation Process

27:45 Final Steps and Financial Tips

33:46 Conclusion and Next Steps

This week, Take and Joey sit down with AkiyaMart Direct Agent Aya Yamaguchi. Aya joins the team at Tama Base Camp to share her insights on the complexities of purchasing properties in Japan atouches on her personal experiences working with over 600 foregin. buyers in Japan. Aya shares her straightforward approach to  advising clients and offers valuable tips for those looking to buy a house in Japan.

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

00:45 Welcome to the Podcast

00:59 Meet Ayana Yamaguchi

05:06 Challenges in Real Estate Transactions

09:01 Older Homes vs. Newer Homes

15:51 Yakuza Clauses in Real Estate

19:08 Guarantor Companies in Japan

21:55 Popular Areas for Foreign Buyers

27:26 Challenges and Future of Japanese Real Estate

31:55 Conclusion and Contact Information

This week, Joey and Take are joined again by Ryan Kubozono, the rep for AkiyaMart in Japan, for another installment in the coin laundry saga. Despite initial optimism and extensive planning, the deal just didn't work out. After months of waiting due to complications with the landlord , they finally heard back and the answer wasn't ideal. The team reflects on the challenges faced, lessons learned, and their strategy moving forward, including the importance of  building relationships with intermediaries and possibly exploring other unmanned business opportunities.  

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

00:47 Introduction to the Podcast

05:49 The Failed Deal

14:58 The Landlord's Rejection

19:02 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

28:10 Considering Other Business Ventures

35:31 Building Relationships for Off-Market Deals

39:27 Learning from Setbacks

44:31 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Happy New Year from Tama Base Camp! This week, Take and Joey discuss the decision to focus on having a more suburban Tokyo retreat vs a more lively, but maybe more draining, HQ in central Tokyo. They highlight the benefits of Tama, including the space, tranquility, and amenities, along with the importance of having a reliable property  manager. They also reveal current plans for the future of Tama Base Camp and where their focus is shifting in Japan overall.

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

01:46 Welcome to the Podcast

02:25 Exploring Tama Base Camp

06:02 Unlocking Local Amenities

12:25 Future Plans for Tama Base Camp

22:28 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Welcome to the last episode of 2025! This week, Joey and Take reflect on their predictions from one year ago and share their hopes for 2026. Turns out some things worked out as predicted  but not exactly in the way they thought and other things didn't materialize. However, the team had a great year overall. Their portfolio is starting to take shape. AkiyaMart is growing. The journey continues. 

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

01:51 Welcome to Our First Video Podcast

03:49 Property Highlights and Success Stories

08:20 The Nagasaki Flip: A Success Story

12:14 Otaru Property and Future Plans

16:33 Coin Laundry Business Venture

24:59 Market Dynamics and Foreign Interest

29:26 Government Policies and Their Impact

35:05 Hot Property Areas in 2025

39:47 Personal Real Estate Ventures

43:48 Wrapping Up 2025 and Looking Ahead

After 3 weeks, several ferries, and a lot driving all over Japan, from Niigata to southern Shikoku, Take and Joey sit down to recap their journey. This time, they're coming to you from the parking lot at Kochi Airport, mere minutes before Take was set to fly back to California. They recap all that has gone down in these three weeks, from the prospect of setting up tiny homes, to visiting the coin laundry in Tama, to the prospects of areas like Kochi and Kaifu. They also touch on some recent news and talk about their hopes for an upcoming trip back to Japan early next year.

Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

Wanna get in touch? Drop us a line at [email protected].

01:01 Podcast Welcome

13:36 Surfing in Japan: Is It Worth It?

15:15 Tiny Homes vs. Renovating AKI: Pros and Cons

19:59 Bear Attacks in Japan: A Growing Concern

22:49 Travel Tips and Favorite Moments

26:01 Upcoming Trips and Future Plans

28:17 Conclusion and Contact Information