My YouTube channel is finally live!
In my last post I discussed my creative endeavors, and one of them is video editing. I’m finally excited to launch my YouTube channel, featuring unique travel content in Japanese with English subtitles.
My latest video showcases Caves Ouvertes – a wine event that many Swiss cantons organize to promote their local wines. We visited the one in Vaud, specifically in the UNESCO World Heritage Lavaux region. Walking through the vineyards overlooking Lake Geneva is completely breathtaking.
But before you get the wrong idea – no, I am not trying to become an influencer. My channel is quite unconventional: it doesn’t show my face, and most content appears in captions rather than narration. Everything is in Japanese with English subtitles.
Here’s everything you might be wondering.
Why Create Travel Videos in the First Place?
I mentioned this in my last post, but I honestly can’t pinpoint exactly when this passion started. What I do remember is my father taking family videos on his Sony camcorder for occasions and events. He bought a video editor and would compile video clips. Interestingly, I remember he would watch these compilations by himself late at night with whisky on the rocks. Video editing clearly runs in the family – my uncle was also a camera aficionado.
My own journey with video editing began in university, where I was the historian of my club and also edited videos for promoting our projects at my work with the UN. Video editing became something I genuinely enjoyed.
Last year I invested in a video editing software that’s a BEAST. The interface is very daunting at first, but over the past year I’ve learned to use it little by little – thank you YouTube for free tutorials! I’m still learning color grading and stringing together shots from different angles, but it’s a creative outlet outside of work.
Why Make Videos Public Instead of Keeping Them Private?
I’ve accumulated hundreds of videos over 4-5 years, initially editing videos for my own entertainment; especially since videos helps me remember milestone events and trips. I started doing this more during the initial COVID years as a way to reminisce when we could still travel “normally”. As my parents got older, I started sharing travel videos with them because they can no longer travel to faraway places; including coming to Switzerland. I edited a few videos about my daily life and trips around Switzerland and they really enjoyed it seeing the country through my eyes. That’s when I realized these videos might be entertaining for other people too, since I travel to many places.
My videos serve a specific purpose: they’re catered towards people who cannot travel, whether due to physical restrictions, fear, lack of documentation, or other barriers. I want to show them different places without them having to leave home. This stems from my experience when I lived in Cambodia. Many of them were not able to travel because they didn’t have the necessary documents; but they were curious and wanted to know everything about where I came from which inspired me to capture my life in Switzerland.
I also want to encourage everyone, regardless of their age or nationality, that if they have the privilege and have the financial means to be able to travel. I saw this first hand with my husband who barely traveled before we’ve met. Fast forward to now, we’ve traveled to almost 10 countries and it completely changed his outlook and perspective.
Why No Face Reveals or Voice-Overs?
In my first few videos, I showed my face, but recently I stopped entirely. There are a couple of reasons: First and foremost privacy concerns – since I film mostly in Geneva, I don’t want people to recognize me on the streets. I prefer to remain discreet. Disclaimer: I NEVER film videos that violate the privacy of others nor are they “candid camera” that critique public behavior.
Second, I want an immersive experience – viewers should feel like they’re traveling themselves, not watching someone else’s journey.
Third, I don’t talk much because I’m still developing confidence in talking into a microphone (though I’ve been adding more narration lately – check this video).
What's Next for the Channel?
As I mentioned, I don’t plan to become an influencer or professional content creator – this is simply an outlet for my passion for filming and videos.
My main goals include: Connecting with family in Japan – I want to share these videos with my family in Japan, most of whom have never been outside of Japan and have no idea what my life is like in Switzerland.
Inspiring Japanese travelers – I’d love to share recent trips throughout Asia and Europe with a Japanese audience. Japan is in a fascinating place where their passport is one of the most powerful in the world, yet only about 20% of the population has a passport, and even fewer travel abroad. I hope to show them parts of the world they haven’t experienced.
If you have some time check out my channel and would be ever so grateful if you could also subscribe!