Living Abroad in Tokyo | Gotokuji, Nihonbashi & Emma-san | 2026 Jan Wk 3 | Vlog

In this entry: We visited Gotokuji on another day of perfect weather, finding it calmer and less crowded than expected — a bite-sized moment that felt quietly, unmistakably Japan.

We also had a surprise we never imagined experiencing here. Truly good South Indian biryani at Briyani Osawa, Tokyo. It had the bold flavours we love of Indian cuisine, yet carefully crafted with a Japanese sense of balance and precision. Thought was put into every ingredient, the temperature, right down to the cutlery used. It was easy to see why the restaurant was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

Speaking of awards, Phyl met up with Emma-san, a friend who was newly crowned Mrs of the Year Japan 2025. She is a true inspiration. As an alopecia patient, she faced long struggles with self-confidence, yet chose to step onto the pageant stage and win. Watching her win over the judges — and quietly remind the rest of us to step up our own confidence game — felt deeply moving.

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👋 Hi there! Welcome to 21000 Breaths -- a decade-old weekly vlog that documents the everyday adventures of a Chinese-Singaporean and Dutch-Indonesian couple living overseas. From the vibrant streets of Shanghai 🏮 and the sunny vibes of Jakarta ☀️ to the dazzling skyline of Dubai 🏙️ and our most recent move to Tokyo 🍣, we're all about capturing those real, unscripted moments that make life overseas so interesting. ✨

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