I thought it was time to finally tell this story... Let me know what you guys think below!! Or if you want more, feel free to check out the podcast! (But you would be putting a smile on my face if you watched another vid or two first!)
Nice to see a video of your history with Kiki. Looking forward to their new CD when it gets here (slow shipping is slow) 😋 But when will we get a Norm CD?
Great video as always. Even tho I'm new on your channel, if I had to summarize you in one word...it would be humble or grounded. Keep up the great work.
Hi Norm Wow that was so cool, I didn't know you were doing it as a job! Congratulations on your plan's working out for you all, yes I'd love to see more please. We're can I buy the album from? 😀😍💙💖💖👍👍👍👍👍👍🎉🎉🎉
In one of your videos with Sharla you said that the hardest part of making YT videos was telling a story in an interesting way. Well... Let me tell you that you are a pro on that. Loved the way you presented the story, loved knowing more about KiKi... 👏👏
I agree! I remembered the very same thing and was glad to see it being already written here. You really can tell a story in a interesting and calm manner that flows nicely without cheap tricks. Keep up the good work man & kiki!
Thank you for telling us this story. It's amazing how a random incident can become life-changing. As Robert Frost wrote: "...way leads onto way". You never know where your path may take you. I'm so glad your path has come to enrich all of our lives. We owe you a great debt.
So blown away! I don't have words to express my love for your channel and content. You have opened my eyes to Japan and all of its hidden treasures it holds. Thank you.
I didn't know all the hard work you do for the job you have chosen and KIKI and you going around the world is great Norm. I do love your videos you take me places were i feel like i am there with you all...thanks Norm for a job well done
It so nice to see you all enjoy and being so proud of what you are doing!!! Keep going that there will be more great things ahead! And congrats to KiKi for their album release!!!
My wife and I have been watching your videos all weekednd and the message of patience and going out of your confort zone really rang true. Thank you for sharing your experiences we are loving every monent and really missing our trips to Japan.
Patience is probably the hardest virtue to master. I’m glad you took the long road and your hard work has definitely paid off. I wish Kiki and yourself good luck and can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Nice video and a great message about perseverance and stepping outside your comfort zone! It's something to keep in mind as I slowly work on my own creative projects. Hope our Tokyo trip next month helps in this, too! It's the first overseas trip my husband and I have taken on our own. It's a big, exciting step! Thanks for the great videos on both channels!
Good work and keep going mate! I came to Tokyo from Vancouver airport! Got a iced coffee at Starbucks before I hired for Manila and to Haneda. Hope you all had a great trip and hopefully I'll be sticking around in Japan. I'll take your advice you gave to me at the Shamisen performance! Thank you again for everything!
It's really great that you managed to do all this and follow your visions and dreams. 'm also very happy that all of these things lead you to this youtube channel for us to watch and enjoy. I wish you all the great success you deserve and will hopefully be along for the ride.
Loved this Norm. From early vlogs I knew you & Kiki had connected a while ago, but was a little vague on the deets of when, how & why. So glad you guys met - & took a chance on each other. We have all benefitted from it. Thanks for sharing :)
I have to thank KiKi for those wonderful performances which also introduced me to Norm, who'd go on to make my favorite TH-cam channel. When I get paid I'll try using a Japanese forwarding service to buy KiKi's record--would love to support them and hear more beautiful shamisen.
Just love this video! You are a natural story teller. Reaching out to the video world is challenging. You have really worked the best into these videos. Keep sending these gems to us. 👏🏻🤩🎥
Norm, thank you for telling your inspiring story, which deepens our understanding of your and Ki&Ki's inspiring journey. I watch Ki&Ki's and your videos daily, and I hope that I'll someday be able to hear Ki&Ki live. Wishing Hikari, Kanami, and you a great new year and all blessings, worldly and divine . . . .
It was shamisen in Tokyo that brought me to Tokyo Lens over a year ago. Thanks for the video Norm and its awesome how well things have turned out for you and Ki&Ki.
Mark, that’s amazing!’ One more reason for me to be grateful for all the work we put into that content. I’m sure you get it by now, but I truly am happy to have you here. So thank you so much for joining the ride!
Thanks for chatting with Susan and I at the Japanese festival In Vancouver. It was a pleasure meeting you and Kiki and hearing them perform. Best wishes for you, keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing your Sekigahara video. Stuart
I'm working my way through your content & this story is typically well told & indicative of all the famous musicians in the world. Everything takes time & patience is the key, well done to all 3 of you.
Absolutely loved this video and hearing the backstory of your friendship with KiKi and how you got where you are now!! I’ve always wondered! Great video Norm!
I found your channel about 3 or so weeks ago and I just wanted to say that you are already one of my favorite channels! It’s my dream to move to Japan one day and your channel is helping me to stay motivated to do what it takes to get there. Keep up the great work!
Well I’m really glad that you found the channel~ Super psyched to have you here and I’m very much sure you will turn that dream into a reality! Great to meet you!
I know I’ve watched this one before, but I love hearing the story of you meeting Kiki. It’s such a wild and random occurrence that lead to something so great; I love it so much.
its been an absolute thrill to watch this journey and see how it has grown and developed and makes me excited for what is possible to do and achieve especially since one of my goals is to travel and possibly live in japan full time. thank you for the inspiration and the content Norm.
Quite an inspirational video. Reminds me of a saying, the harder you work the luckier you get. That and my favourite telemarketing one, persistence overcomes resistance! Having organised several trips to Japan for not only myself but also for friends, I can fully appreciate the difficulty of organising a group of individuals and their flights, accommodation and tours. It took several of my own trips to find my legs and learn little tips and tricks that smoothed out the processes of traveling and streamline it all. Elements do get easier and less stressful or at least when most of a trip is locked in and something unexpected comes up, you are in a better place to handle it without your head imploding. I continue to greatly enjoy your creative vlog style. Keep up the great work!
This is the inspiration I need! It's so cool how you started off with one niche then transitioned into another and then you ended up finding yourself along the way! With consistency the best way to do something is to just get started and just keep going and you can do anything!
Love Kiki they’re awesome they seem so sweet! I’m so happy for all the success you’re all having together, 1000% deserved for all of you - just the first of many albums I’m sure!
Terrific! Thanks for the great insight, Norm, and thanks also to Ki&Ki for letting us into your world. Glad that you were able to at least show a bit of you speaking Japanese in this vid, along with more shamisen content!
Awww I love that I just texted the girls with a screenshot of your comment and they seemed really happy~ Thank you for making our day a little better than it already was!
That was a really fab video Norm. I love the way you're really honest and you take people on a journey. I've been struggling with creating content for my photography business, keep dismissing my ideas but you highlighted two points which resonated with me, being consistent and being patient. I've lost my consistency by questioning my worth and wanting everything now. Thanks for the mental boost. You rock.
Another great video Norm. I had the pleasure of seeing, and hearing, KiKi perform this past Sunday at Sakura Days Japan Fair at Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver. Fantastic as always! Meeting you and the girls was an unexpected and added bonus! Sugoi! Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the next video 💕👍🙂🌸
I always enjoy watching your videos especially this type of videos and I hope you and the girls reach all your dreams. thanks for making awesome videos.
What a great story! and you're a great story teller Norm. You're so inspiring and a testament that small steps are best on a meaningful journey. All the best to you and Ki&Ki. Hopefully you'll all come back to Australia sometime.
I‘m happy the bell-button exists hehe Great video! I didnt know the story of how you met Kiki and became friends with them, so thank you for sharing the story, it’s really awesome how things developed after meeting them. Also they both looked really beautiful in the Kimono and with the red lipstick :) I‘m really thankful that you met them, I think I would really miss something in my TH-cam/Twitter interactions if you had never started the TokyoLens channel, thank you for making these videos! Hopefully you‘ll share some stuff about the samurai battlefield after going there, it sounds interesting :o (Also i hope you see this, not sure if you saw my comment on your last video)
Aww thank you Shanise I’m very fortunate to have you here thank you. And yes! I see all the comments, I just don’t get the chance to give love or respond to each one 😔 sorry!
Well done. Youve done so well for yourself. I love yr presentation of yr vlogs and yr always so enthused that yr vlogs give my mood a positive boost. Always look fwd to seeing you again in each vlog
What a pleasant surprise to watch you and Kiki in Vancouver, just a ferry ride away from my neck of the woods!! Loved hearing the background story to your working with them, and how your foray into creating for TH-cam first began. Also for some reason I've never seen those green apple suckers before and now I NEED to try!!🌸
It's always a good start to the day when I can watch a new Tokyo Lens video while getting ready for work. Just puts you in a positive mindset for the day. Can't wait for the samurai video, it sounds like so much fun. Also, that fish tank is one of my favorite things about the Vancouver airport. It's a nice spot to grab a snack before your flight and sit and watch the fish. As a matter of fact, I'll be doing exactly that when I fly over in just under a month for Sanja Matsuri.
That’s so exciting Just under a month? For Sanja?! Gaaaah my heart is racing reading this It’s 7:08 now I’m on my way to the battle field And psyyyyched for you!!
@@TokyoLens My little brother is coming with me too. It'll be his first time in Japan, he'll get to experience Sanja and we're going to sumo. Heck of a first trip outside the US. We're both super psyched.
This was a great story... it’s amazing you are living your dreams, you and KIKI. But what’s really amazing is that you’re able to share shamisen all over the world to people who may have never heard it before! Also I recognized some Japanese in this video( recently started learning on my own) and it was a great feeling! ✌🏻💕
This sounds like an absolute dream come true! I’ve always struggled with working towards the future and making long term plans so it was immensely intriguing to see how a small encounter turned into something this big. One thing i do know is that I’m always looking forwards to your new content and wishing you the best Norm!
I hope one day you and KiKi can come to the UK one day, I would be at the front seat so fast!! Seriously, watching you and the girls is really convincing me more and more to take up shamisen lessons, I hope you guys keep on growing 🌟
Fashionablygeekie, I'd see you on the front row for that gig! But I'll be tracking down the CD in the meantime - and looking forward to a month in Japan when I simply have to see and hear them somewhere. Thanks to Norm for helping to make so much of this possible! 💮
Watching this video and seeing the cityscape of Vancouver, I wondered if I would see anything distinctly Canadian, such as a Tim Horton's. So I laughed out loud when you pointedly made a stop at Tim Horton's on the last morning. 😄
So cool! I love this backstory 💗 it’s great to finally know about all of this. Ps it’s pretty amazing that you told the story over a period of days and it all tied together. Thanks so much for sharing!
I have followed KiKi online since they uploaded their small Koen performances playing Motsunabe, etc. Glad they have had the chance to perform overseas! Would love to see them in LA someday.
Interesting story and journey! stepping out of your comfort zone, having drive and determination, and energy (you look like you have drive and energy - or at least that feeling comes across in your videos), happy that it is paying off for you and Ki Ki!
Really enjoyed hearing the story behind this! It was really cool! We went to Vancouver right after Christmas when I was 19 and it snowed then too! We never get snow where I live so it was really fun. Also Caramel Apple Pops are awesome. They were popular when I was in junior high and I'm happy they made a comeback!
Hi Norm! Thanks for sharing this story with us--I was always interested about how things began with Ki&Ki. I hope your adventures continue and that more people learn about shamisen music and come to enjoy it. I had never heard of shamisen music before watching your channel and now I really enjoy it. I look forward to purchasing their new album. :) I've been listening to the podcasts and have really been enjoying them, can't wait to hear this one. What you said about doing things the "right" way and going out of your comfort zone is sound advice. One of the best friendships I have is because both her and I went out of our comfort zones and I'm so glad we each did! Here's to many more adventures. Maybe Ki&Ki would like to do a giveaway with one of their new cds?! :) Thanks Norm!!
@@TokyoLens I just can't help it ahaha, your videos and your personality are just too good. Watching you just gives me so much motivation to go to Japan, although I am trying to learn japanese just now I've been busy with uni work recently so haven't had the chance to do much. Hopefully I can go there soon!
norm some of the most exciting adventures are unplanned, we go back to whom we actually are when suddenly tasked your love and passion for sharing with your viewers is inspiring.
It is amazing how some meetings can completely impact your future. From a video of taking a duo of shamisen to working with them and traveling the world. Bridges should never be burned cause you never know what is to come.
I love to hear Hikari Shirafuji and Kanami Takeda play shamisen together. What an honor it must have been to hear them play in person and to be able to meet with them to tour Vancouver together. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Yay, a whole video (almost) with the Kiki girls! ♥ Yeah I remember that ojisan that just had to walk past the girls while they where playing, it made me laugh so much ha ha Keep on doing what you are doing Norm, you just keep on improving all the time and I love to see what the future holds. Cheers beers :)
luv listening and watching the ladies play and learning the history of your friendship. Having said that, Norm, you don't say much about yourself. So what your story? Luv the fact that you started the 'world tour' in Canada, and Vancouver couldn't have been a better place. great video...👍🍁🤠
I'm so happy you got to visit Vancouver for a bit with Ki&ki. I'm also sad tho, you we're so close to where I live in Vancouver and I missed you. I'm a block down from the Orange structure XD. Hopefully you come back next year or I go back to Japan for another trip.
Gr8 video!!!Definitely extremely happy where u are now!! i mean...not being on Canada, but traveling while working and enoying it!!! U and KiKi rox!!! n.n
I thought it was time to finally tell this story...
Let me know what you guys think below!!
Or if you want more, feel free to check out the podcast! (But you would be putting a smile on my face if you watched another vid or two first!)
As always, keep up the great work. I hope all is well for you today!
Nice to see a video of your history with Kiki. Looking forward to their new CD when it gets here (slow shipping is slow) 😋
But when will we get a Norm CD?
Great video as always. Even tho I'm new on your channel, if I had to summarize you in one word...it would be humble or grounded. Keep up the great work.
Hi Norm
Wow that was so cool, I didn't know you were doing it as a job!
Congratulations on your plan's working out for you all, yes I'd love to see more please.
We're can I buy the album from?
😀😍💙💖💖👍👍👍👍👍👍🎉🎉🎉
Great video Norm!
In one of your videos with Sharla you said that the hardest part of making YT videos was telling a story in an interesting way.
Well... Let me tell you that you are a pro on that. Loved the way you presented the story, loved knowing more about KiKi... 👏👏
That’s amazingly kind of you
And honestly, one of the nicest things i think you could say to me
So thank you
So much
I agree! I remembered the very same thing and was glad to see it being already written here. You really can tell a story in a interesting and calm manner that flows nicely without cheap tricks. Keep up the good work man & kiki!
Don’t know your name but you are articulate and polite with your anecdotal description.
Thank you for telling us this story. It's amazing how a random incident can become life-changing. As Robert Frost wrote: "...way leads onto way". You never know where your path may take you. I'm so glad your path has come to enrich all of our lives. We owe you a great debt.
Very kind of you to say so
I owe a lot to these two wonderful musicians
Thanks for always being a part of our journey~
So blown away! I don't have words to express my love for your channel and content. You have opened my eyes to Japan and all of its hidden treasures it holds. Thank you.
Wonderful story. Hope you and the girls continue your success.
I didn't know all the hard work you do for the job you have chosen and KIKI and you going around the world is great Norm. I do love your videos you take me places were i feel like i am there with you all...thanks Norm for a job well done
It so nice to see you all enjoy and being so proud of what you are doing!!! Keep going that there will be more great things ahead! And congrats to KiKi for their album release!!!
Keep sharing your passion for the music and it is awesome that Kiki have a album out :)
You're a great story teller. Enjoyed every minute of this!
My wife and I have been watching your videos all weekednd and the message of patience and going out of your confort zone really rang true. Thank you for sharing your experiences we are loving every monent and really missing our trips to Japan.
Thank you for being such an inspiration @tokyolens and Ki&Ki💕
I was in that run in Vancouver! Yes there was a brief hailstorm that morning.
You are a great story teller. Keep sharing such inspirational tales!
Patience is probably the hardest virtue to master. I’m glad you took the long road and your hard work has definitely paid off. I wish Kiki and yourself good luck and can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Nice video and a great message about perseverance and stepping outside your comfort zone! It's something to keep in mind as I slowly work on my own creative projects. Hope our Tokyo trip next month helps in this, too! It's the first overseas trip my husband and I have taken on our own. It's a big, exciting step! Thanks for the great videos on both channels!
Good work and keep going mate! I came to Tokyo from Vancouver airport! Got a iced coffee at Starbucks before I hired for Manila and to Haneda. Hope you all had a great trip and hopefully I'll be sticking around in Japan. I'll take your advice you gave to me at the Shamisen performance! Thank you again for everything!
Saved to favorites to buy their CD later!
It's really great that you managed to do all this and follow your visions and dreams. 'm also very happy that all of these things lead you to this youtube channel for us to watch and enjoy.
I wish you all the great success you deserve and will hopefully be along for the ride.
That’s so kind of you~
Thank you so much!
Loved this Norm. From early vlogs I knew you & Kiki had connected a while ago, but was a little vague on the deets of when, how & why. So glad you guys met - & took a chance on each other. We have all benefitted from it. Thanks for sharing :)
I have to thank KiKi for those wonderful performances which also introduced me to Norm, who'd go on to make my favorite TH-cam channel.
When I get paid I'll try using a Japanese forwarding service to buy KiKi's record--would love to support them and hear more beautiful shamisen.
Just love this video! You are a natural story teller. Reaching out to the video world is challenging. You have really worked the best into these videos. Keep sending these gems to us. 👏🏻🤩🎥
Norm, thank you for telling your inspiring story, which deepens our understanding of your and Ki&Ki's inspiring journey. I watch Ki&Ki's and your videos daily, and I hope that I'll someday be able to hear Ki&Ki live. Wishing Hikari, Kanami, and you a great new year and all blessings, worldly and divine . . . .
It was shamisen in Tokyo that brought me to Tokyo Lens over a year ago. Thanks for the video Norm and its awesome how well things have turned out for you and Ki&Ki.
Mark, that’s amazing!’
One more reason for me to be grateful for all the work we put into that content. I’m sure you get it by now, but I truly am happy to have you here. So thank you so much for joining the ride!
Thanks for chatting with Susan and I at the Japanese festival In Vancouver. It was a pleasure meeting you and Kiki and hearing them perform. Best wishes for you, keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing your Sekigahara video. Stuart
As said before Norm, hard work pays off, living the dream fella. Always great vlogs....did I mention, 43 days, 19hrs and 7 mins to go.
This countdown makes me grin like an idiot every time!
Thank you 😊
I'm working my way through your content & this story is typically well told & indicative of all the famous musicians in the world. Everything takes time & patience is the key, well done to all 3 of you.
Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻
It's lovely to see how great you guys are doing! Can't wait to see what you are up to next 😁
Thanks so much!!
Gonna try to keep the adventure coming!
It’s really special to be able to do work with something you really love. Kiki is amazing and I’m so happy for you guys.
KiKi's new album... just awesome while traveling towards university!
Absolutely loved this video and hearing the backstory of your friendship with KiKi and how you got where you are now!! I’ve always wondered! Great video Norm!
Thank you Lisa~
I found your channel about 3 or so weeks ago and I just wanted to say that you are already one of my favorite channels! It’s my dream to move to Japan one day and your channel is helping me to stay motivated to do what it takes to get there. Keep up the great work!
Well I’m really glad that you found the channel~
Super psyched to have you here and I’m very much sure you will turn that dream into a reality!
Great to meet you!
Tokyo Lens thank you I appreciate it! Great to meet you too!
I know I’ve watched this one before, but I love hearing the story of you meeting Kiki. It’s such a wild and random occurrence that lead to something so great; I love it so much.
its been an absolute thrill to watch this journey and see how it has grown and developed and makes me excited for what is possible to do and achieve especially since one of my goals is to travel and possibly live in japan full time. thank you for the inspiration and the content Norm.
Thanks so much Joshua~
Quite an inspirational video. Reminds me of a saying, the harder you work the luckier you get. That and my favourite telemarketing one, persistence overcomes resistance!
Having organised several trips to Japan for not only myself but also for friends, I can fully appreciate the difficulty of organising a group of individuals and their flights, accommodation and tours. It took several of my own trips to find my legs and learn little tips and tricks that smoothed out the processes of traveling and streamline it all. Elements do get easier and less stressful or at least when most of a trip is locked in and something unexpected comes up, you are in a better place to handle it without your head imploding.
I continue to greatly enjoy your creative vlog style. Keep up the great work!
This is the inspiration I need! It's so cool how you started off with one niche then transitioned into another and then you ended up finding yourself along the way! With consistency the best way to do something is to just get started and just keep going and you can do anything!
It's awesome to see all the hard work the 3 of you put in been rewarded and so well received
Thrilled to see that comments and views, are still rolling in for you years later. I'm glad you found your happy! Keep on keeping on
Thanks so much eh!
Makes me glad that I read every comment that comes into the channel!!
what a great story, glad that you guys could achieve what you wanted and more is to come!
Love Kiki they’re awesome they seem so sweet! I’m so happy for all the success you’re all having together, 1000% deserved for all of you - just the first of many albums I’m sure!
Terrific! Thanks for the great insight, Norm, and thanks also to Ki&Ki for letting us into your world. Glad that you were able to at least show a bit of you speaking Japanese in this vid, along with more shamisen content!
Love that channel! Awesome journey you have !
Thank you~
Another lovely video Norm, had me bowing back to Kiki instinctively when you were heading back to Tokyo. Keep it up!!
Awww I love that
I just texted the girls with a screenshot of your comment and they seemed really happy~
Thank you for making our day a little better than it already was!
@@TokyoLens *starstruck* Next time you see them please do tell them that Im loving their new album so much!!
That was a really fab video Norm. I love the way you're really honest and you take people on a journey. I've been struggling with creating content for my photography business, keep dismissing my ideas but you highlighted two points which resonated with me, being consistent and being patient. I've lost my consistency by questioning my worth and wanting everything now. Thanks for the mental boost. You rock.
So nice that you got to visit Vancouver. That was a freak hail storm, not snow. haha
Cool to learn more about your story, Norm!
I teared up a bit at Kiki intro video.
You guys have gotten so far.
Thank you
It’s been quite the journey and we’re loving every minute~
Love you. Love your work!
Too kind
Thank you so much~
Love your passion Norm.
Top video. 😎
So inspiring! All three of you are very talented.
Thank you so much Renae~
Consistent Hard Work. Happy for all of you. Hard Work pays. Great Video because I was always wondering how you three met.
Glad you enjoyed it~
Another great video Norm. I had the pleasure of seeing, and hearing, KiKi perform this past Sunday at Sakura Days Japan Fair at Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver. Fantastic as always! Meeting you and the girls was an unexpected and added bonus! Sugoi! Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the next video 💕👍🙂🌸
SUSAN!
Thank you so much for coming out and for sharing your time!!
I always enjoy watching your videos especially this type of videos and I hope you and the girls reach all your dreams.
thanks for making awesome videos.
Thank you so much~
This has me really thinking about taking some big steps of my own outside my comfort zone. Thanks as always Norm!!
Thanks as always for being here~
What a great story! and you're a great story teller Norm. You're so inspiring and a testament that small steps are best on a meaningful journey. All the best to you and Ki&Ki. Hopefully you'll all come back to Australia sometime.
I'm inspired to continually step out further and further out of my temporal comfort zones. Thank you soo much for sharing your journey.
Super inspiring story Norm. Really good reminder as a creative to just keep going on your path.
This was great perspective....hope you guys will be able to travel again in the near future!
I‘m happy the bell-button exists hehe
Great video! I didnt know the story of how you met Kiki and became friends with them, so thank you for sharing the story, it’s really awesome how things developed after meeting them. Also they both looked really beautiful in the Kimono and with the red lipstick :) I‘m really thankful that you met them, I think I would really miss something in my TH-cam/Twitter interactions if you had never started the TokyoLens channel, thank you for making these videos! Hopefully you‘ll share some stuff about the samurai battlefield after going there, it sounds interesting :o
(Also i hope you see this, not sure if you saw my comment on your last video)
Aww thank you Shanise
I’m very fortunate to have you here thank you.
And yes! I see all the comments, I just don’t get the chance to give love or respond to each one 😔 sorry!
I excited for y'all! Now... let's see a little more of your playing Mr. Norm!
Well done. Youve done so well for yourself. I love yr presentation of yr vlogs and yr always so enthused that yr vlogs give my mood a positive boost. Always look fwd to seeing you again in each vlog
Thank you so much for the kind words 😊
Glad you can share your story and also enjoy Vancouver. I hope I can hear KiKi live somewhere in the future :)
What a pleasant surprise to watch you and Kiki in Vancouver, just a ferry ride away from my neck of the woods!! Loved hearing the background story to your working with them, and how your foray into creating for TH-cam first began. Also for some reason I've never seen those green apple suckers before and now I NEED to try!!🌸
It's always a good start to the day when I can watch a new Tokyo Lens video while getting ready for work. Just puts you in a positive mindset for the day. Can't wait for the samurai video, it sounds like so much fun.
Also, that fish tank is one of my favorite things about the Vancouver airport. It's a nice spot to grab a snack before your flight and sit and watch the fish. As a matter of fact, I'll be doing exactly that when I fly over in just under a month for Sanja Matsuri.
That’s so exciting
Just under a month?
For Sanja?!
Gaaaah my heart is racing reading this
It’s 7:08 now
I’m on my way to the battle field
And psyyyyched for you!!
@@TokyoLens My little brother is coming with me too. It'll be his first time in Japan, he'll get to experience Sanja and we're going to sumo. Heck of a first trip outside the US. We're both super psyched.
@@TokyoLens I hope you get to dress for the occasion? I'm excited to see the Samurai Battle field. Are there rein-actors ? Are they allowed swords?
This was a great story... it’s amazing you are living your dreams, you and KIKI. But what’s really amazing is that you’re able to share shamisen all over the world to people who may have never heard it before! Also I recognized some Japanese in this video( recently started learning on my own) and it was a great feeling! ✌🏻💕
Love it all, have to get the CD by the weekend, driving music for work!! (I cross Chiba ken every day)
Totally agree with you regarding leaving comfort zones. Every time I did that something magical happened ✨
This sounds like an absolute dream come true! I’ve always struggled with working towards the future and making long term plans so it was immensely intriguing to see how a small encounter turned into something this big. One thing i do know is that I’m always looking forwards to your new content and wishing you the best Norm!
That’s wonderfully kind of you
I read this on the train to the samurai battlefield and now I have a huge grin on my face~ 😊
I love this channel. Amazing story sir!
I hope one day you and KiKi can come to the UK one day, I would be at the front seat so fast!! Seriously, watching you and the girls is really convincing me more and more to take up shamisen lessons, I hope you guys keep on growing 🌟
Aww thanks so much~
Have you picked out a Shamisen yet?
@@TokyoLens You are very welcome (*^▽^*) oh nooo not yet, I wouldn't even know where to begin on how to pick one out! Got any tips?
Fashionablygeekie, I'd see you on the front row for that gig! But I'll be tracking down the CD in the meantime - and looking forward to a month in Japan when I simply have to see and hear them somewhere. Thanks to Norm for helping to make so much of this possible! 💮
Great video Norm, love KiKi
Watching this video and seeing the cityscape of Vancouver, I wondered if I would see anything distinctly Canadian, such as a Tim Horton's. So I laughed out loud when you pointedly made a stop at Tim Horton's on the last morning. 😄
It’s required
I think that, not going... might result in the forfeit of my Canadian citizenship lol 😂
@@TokyoLens Too funny, and humor again & you must have coffee anyways!!!
So cool! I love this backstory 💗 it’s great to finally know about all of this. Ps it’s pretty amazing that you told the story over a period of days and it all tied together. Thanks so much for sharing!
I have followed KiKi online since they uploaded their small Koen performances playing Motsunabe, etc. Glad they have had the chance to perform overseas! Would love to see them in LA someday.
Kimono and shamisen, my absolute favorite things combined 😍
You and me, both!
Tokyo Lens What I would give to see 成人の日 in Asakusa in person ❤️
Gorgeous place and people. Love it!
Interesting story and journey! stepping out of your comfort zone, having drive and determination, and energy (you look like you have drive and energy - or at least that feeling comes across in your videos), happy that it is paying off for you and Ki Ki!
Your enthusiasm got me. More success to you.
Really enjoyed hearing the story behind this! It was really cool!
We went to Vancouver right after Christmas when I was 19 and it snowed then too! We never get snow where I live so it was really fun.
Also Caramel Apple Pops are awesome. They were popular when I was in junior high and I'm happy they made a comeback!
Hi Norm! Thanks for sharing this story with us--I was always interested about how things began with Ki&Ki. I hope your adventures continue and that more people learn about shamisen music and come to enjoy it. I had never heard of shamisen music before watching your channel and now I really enjoy it. I look forward to purchasing their new album. :) I've been listening to the podcasts and have really been enjoying them, can't wait to hear this one. What you said about doing things the "right" way and going out of your comfort zone is sound advice. One of the best friendships I have is because both her and I went out of our comfort zones and I'm so glad we each did! Here's to many more adventures. Maybe Ki&Ki would like to do a giveaway with one of their new cds?! :) Thanks Norm!!
Hey, thanks for another video :D
Thanks for always watching 😊
@@TokyoLens I just can't help it ahaha, your videos and your personality are just too good. Watching you just gives me so much motivation to go to Japan, although I am trying to learn japanese just now I've been busy with uni work recently so haven't had the chance to do much. Hopefully I can go there soon!
norm some of the most exciting adventures are unplanned, we go back to whom we actually are when suddenly tasked your love and passion for sharing with your viewers is inspiring.
Wow Robert... that was a touching comment. Thank you so much for that. Means a lot
Another great video. Also this. Awesomenesss. Norm heading out to a samurai battlefield. Cool. Hope we get some footage. Yupee
Just posted it 😉
I can see the passion and great voice. Keep up the hard work.
your story telling skills are just amazing.
It is amazing how some meetings can completely impact your future. From a video of taking a duo of shamisen to working with them and traveling the world. Bridges should never be burned cause you never know what is to come.
Very fun seeing the glimpses of past Norm and past KiKi!
I love to hear Hikari Shirafuji and Kanami Takeda play shamisen together. What an honor it must have been to hear them play in person and to be able to meet with them to tour Vancouver together. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Yay, a whole video (almost) with the Kiki girls! ♥
Yeah I remember that ojisan that just had to walk past the girls while they where playing, it made me laugh so much ha ha
Keep on doing what you are doing Norm, you just keep on improving all the time and I love to see what the future holds.
Cheers beers :)
Thanks so much mate!!
Interesting to find out the story behind you and Kiki .. you have way more patience than I do, well done :)
Super interesting content and love the story behind the channel
I love your channel. You have a lovely tranquil air about you and your stories are captivating.
Thank you so much!
I always wondered how you met Kiki but I hadn't found this video till now!
Hard work and Patience should be your tag line 💯
luv listening and watching the ladies play and learning the history of your friendship. Having said that, Norm, you don't say much about yourself. So what your story?
Luv the fact that you started the 'world tour' in Canada, and Vancouver couldn't have been a better place.
great video...👍🍁🤠
Aaaaayyyy! I hope y’all loved Vancouver! One of my favorite places I’ve visited! ✌️
It was quite nice 😊
Hard work & persistence, you reap what you sow, right? All three of you should be proud as ✌🏻
Thanks so much Ryan!
It lead to me being able to actually meet you face to face, so that is a huge win!
Glad to have you here mate~
Wow, Ki&Ki are internationally known! Oh, and of course, you Norm. Congratulations to all of you!
As always awesome video and love how you tell the story. Can't wait to see what's next.
Good day/night, norm! I cant tell you how patient I've been for a new video xD Hope you and the girls are well!~♡
Hahaha thanks Tizz!!
Thank you for this video. Really inspiring!!!
I'm so happy you got to visit Vancouver for a bit with Ki&ki. I'm also sad tho, you we're so close to where I live in Vancouver and I missed you. I'm a block down from the Orange structure XD. Hopefully you come back next year or I go back to Japan for another trip.
Gr8 video!!!Definitely extremely happy where u are now!! i mean...not being on Canada, but traveling while working and enoying it!!! U and KiKi rox!!! n.n