This week, Take and Joey are back in Japan, recording from Tama Base Camp, and a lot is happening for the duo this spring: Joey moved to Ishigaki in Okinawa, things are moving with the Tama house, and we've got another Japan speed run through Tokyo, Otaru, Fukuoka, and Beppu, where the guys are finishing up Jissoji Lux to put on the market as a turnkey starter-kit home.

Follow us on Instagram and YouTube!

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

Questions? Email [email protected]

Hosts  are Take Kurosawa and Joey Stockermans. The AkiyaMart Production  Team  is Carlos Gutierrez., Devin Silvernail, and Lukas Fotty.

Chapters:

00:40 Podcast Intro And Format

02:16 Tokyo Sprint Plans

06:17 Why Tama Base Camp Works

07:15 Upgrades And Local Support

11:04 Joey Moves To Ishigaki

14:18 Island Life And Taiwan Proximity

17:32 Otaru House Updates

21:19 Jissoji Lux Farewell

24:10 Healthier Japan Routine

26:38 Wrap Up and Upcoming Episodes

Want to buy an akiya in Japan but the idea of earthquakes keeping you up  at night? We get it. Japan shakes, so we made a tool to help you figure  out where to look.  

This week, Joey and Take catch up with university friend Keita, the  geospatial software engineer who built AkiyaMart's new earthquake  overlay filter. He explains how it works, why Shindo (felt intensity)  matters more than magnitude for property buyers, and the key limitations  of 100–120 years of historical data.  

Follow us on Instagram and YouTube!

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

Questions? Email [email protected]  

Hosts are Take Kurosawa and Joey Stockermans. The AkiyaMart Production  Team is Carlos Gutierrez., Devin Silvernail, and Lukas Fotty.

Chapters:
00:00 Japan Quake Reality Check

00:31 Meet Keita From Yakushima

02:21 Why Move Off Tokyo

03:31 Avocado Farm Dream

04:49 Earthquake Overlay Launch

06:33 How The Map Is Built

09:05 Testing Famous Quakes

11:13 Data Limits And Controversy

14:44 Shindo Vs Magnitude

16:45 ICU Tokyo Example

18:07 Wrap Up And Where To Find Keita

19:53 Podcast Outro And Links

This week Joey and Take sit down with AkiyaMart agent and short-term rental manager Ryosuke Takamoto. Together, they talk about the pros and cons of doing minpaku from abroad without a manager, the setup costs for minpaku and ryokan businesses, the setup timeline and structure, and how AkiyaMart can help you manage your Airbnb from anywhere in the world.

Follow us on Instagram and YouTube!

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 Gutierrez., Devin Silvernail, and Lukas Fotty.

Chapters:

00:47 Meet Ryo Takamoto

02:11 Airbnb Setup Experience

03:13 Licenses Explained

04:20 Minpaku vs Ryokan

07:34 Getting Licensed Step by Step

09:27 Best Locations to Buy

10:51 Lifestyle Owners and Managers

13:28 DIY or Hire Pros

14:36 Neighbors and Local Rules

16:18 Eligibility and Zoning Checks

19:20 Costs and Fees Breakdown

22:27 Final Advice and Wrap Up

21 years ago, Cathy and Ron Stockermans were inspired to take their family on an adventure abroad.. After Cathy was offered a job at a high school in Shizuoka, they, and their three sons, took the leap of faith that changed their lives. 21 years later, they sit down with Take and, one of their sons, Joey, to discuss that decision, how it shaped their lives, and how it led Joey to where he is today. From adjusting to a new culture, to inspiring Joey to stay in Japan for university, to Ron and Cathy's subsequent 15 year world journey; it all started with that decision to seek adventure.

Follow us on Instagram and YouTube!

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:

00:00 Milk Mixup in Japan

00:52 Meet Joey’s Parents

03:51 Why We Moved Abroad

08:19 Family Decision and Planning

10:02 Arriving in Numazu

13:52 First Morning Food Hunt

16:46 Trash Rules Culture Shock

18:30 Adapting to Work and School

22:14 Safety and School Questions

23:20 IB vs American Schools

24:32 English Immersion Japanese School

26:12 Cleaning Duties and Discipline

28:15 Rules Beyond Campus

28:54 Family Life and Daily Routines

30:51 Fitting In Japanese Society

33:09 Costs Banking and Living

35:14 Oldest Son Ben’s Adventure

37:16 Language Growth and Friends

39:46 Leaving Japan Next Chapter

42:05 Advice and Final Wrap

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].

Follow us on Instagram and YouTube!

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