On Twitter and Facebook I’ve been teasing TofuguTV. Now I’m ready to let you know what it is… and it’s not a revolutionary new way to consume fugu in front of your television set. Am I going to be on “real” television? Am I going to start Livestreaming? Am I going to start selling a line of cheap Korean Tofugu shaped box television sets? Maybe. To find out what what the answer is, keep reading.
[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF3dQDyA2ks']
I’ve been thinking about this “project” for a while now. I’ve wanted to make my own show, but I don’t want to be wrapped into regular tv production schedules and rigmaroles (oh, and I guess there’s the problem that no television show would actually want me to make a show for them). Prices dropped, the timing became right, and I decided (just a couple days ago) to book a flight and make it happen. Thinking about “what could be” isn’t all that fun. Taking action, learning, and doing things is, so that’s what I’m doing.
So, here’s what I’m doing.
From December 1 – 21, 2010, I’ll be in Japan filming, filming, filming. I want to take you to the places that you normally never see. If you read this blog, you probably know more about Japan than the average bear. That means you know (at least a little bit) about Tokyo, Kyoto, and other big “touristy” places like that. I want to get out of the cities, get off at random train stations, talk to random people, and discover the “famous things” about small towns and villages. I suppose I’ll hit bigger cities too, but that’s not where the focus is. I’ll also be meeting up with bloggers, vloggers, and other folks to get other people on the show. I’m hoping to film 15-20 “TVish length” episodes, which will be uploaded to YouTube starting in January, free for you to watch (of course).
I don’t know where I’ll be going yet, but that’s where you come in. On certain days, while I’m in Japan, I’ll be putting up polls on Twitter, Facebook, and the Tofugu Newsletter (though not all of them at the same time, so you have to be subscribed to all of them, bwahaha!). In those polls, you’ll be able to vote on what you want me to do and where you want me to go. At night, I’ll probably post up some options for the next day (or something like that), and you’ll be able to vote on what you want to see most. Interactivity, baby. I want you to be a part of this show, too.
I’ll be posting more about this show (videos on the prep, and such) before leaving on December 1st, so make sure you’re subscribed to the Tofugu YouTube Channel (or this blog’s feed) to get a hold of those.
I’ve also decided not to ask for donations for Season 1 of TofuguTV. If you do want to support, though, be sure to check out TextFugu. It’s an online Japanese textbook that I’m writing, made especially for self learners of Japanese. If you’re looking to learn Japanese, you should seriously check it out – I wrote it for a younger me. I wish I could have had it when I was learning Japanese :( Oh, and members of TextFugu will be getting some exclusive “lesson-related” content from when I’m traveling, so current members and would-be members can look forward to that!
That’s it for now, watch the video for more info – more updates will be coming, but I hope you enjoy this “project!” I’m sure I will.
Any place/thing you’d particularly like to see in the show?