Benton Homestead Japan

21/08/2025

Our first time harvesting from our Japanese native honeybee colony! This was a test harvest, for fun, with our friend and neighbor Tamayo-san. We took one box of honey off the top of the colony, and practiced using the "crush and strain" method of extraction: : https://youtu.be/keZrzc6BXCA

Native Japanese honeybees live in very different hive boxes, designed to be reminiscent of wild bees living in a hollowed out log. The bees are free to build their beautiful honeycomb any way they like. Most of our beekeeping experience is with European honeybees in Japan, but we plan to include more Japanese bees in the future.

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Subscribe » www.youtube.com/

Stay With Us » airbnb.com/h/bentonguesthouse

Shop Honey + Retro » bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/

Shop Vintage Records » discogs.com/seller/bentonhomestead/profile

Japan Real Estate Consulting » bentonhomestead.com/consulting

Photo Blogs » www.bentonhomestead.com

Support » buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

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#日本 #四国 #愛媛 #今治 #大三島 #しまなみ街道

Our first time harvesting from our Japanese native honeybee colony! Most of our professional beekeeping experience is with European honeybees in Japan, but w...

14/08/2025

Hello friends 😇 If you've enjoyed our honey, or if you've stayed with us at Benton Guesthouse, would you mind leaving a review?

1) Google Maps. This is *only* for Benton Guesthouse reviews, so please only leave a review here if you've actually stayed with us as a guest. https://g.page/r/CVYZ64NwceWyEBM/review

2) Facebook. This is for any and all Benton Homestead reviews. Our business includes honey, vegetables, consulting services, vintage & retro goods, as well as Benton Guesthouse. So you can leave reviews for any aspect of our business here. https://www.facebook.com/BentonHomestead/reviews

12/08/2025

✨ NHK-WORLD JAPAN ✨ You can now view the episode for free on-demand on NHK’s website. Please note that our Workpedia segment begins at the 20-minute mark (the last 7 minutes of the episode). https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2087153/

'Workpedia' is part of the show 'Where We Call Home'. It's designed to introduce foreigners living and working in Japan, their profession, and an interview with their Japanese colleagues 🇯🇵 So for our segment, we took the NHK film crew to our apiary to harvest honey, to our workshop to extract the honey, and to a local market to sell the honey 🐝

Thank you to the NHK film crew, and to our Ōmishima neighbors! We look forward to more opportunities in the future, to help share all of Ōmishima and the Shimanami Kaido small businesses. Our small island economy relies on tourism, so the more visitors to the islands, the more we can all continue to grow and succeed together ✨

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Subscribe » www.youtube.com/

Stay With Us » airbnb.com/h/bentonguesthouse

Shop Honey + Retro » bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/

Shop Vintage Records » discogs.com/seller/bentonhomestead/profile

Japan Real Estate Consulting » bentonhomestead.com/consulting

Photo Blogs » www.bentonhomestead.com

Support » buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

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#日本 #四国 #愛媛 #今治 #大三島 #しまなみ街道

09/08/2025

✨ NHK-WORLD JAPAN ✨ The time is almost here for our honeybee harvest on TV. So where can you watch? 🐝

The NHK film crew also interviewed some local Ōmishima friends and neighbors. Maybe you will see some familiar faces 💗

The segment is called 'Workpedia', which is part of a show called 'Where We Call Home'. Please note: The 'Workpedia' segment is towards the end of the 30-minute episode 📺

It will be broadcast on NHK WORLD-JAPAN, which airs throughout Japan and also globally! 😮

You can stream the channel on Roku, Apple TV, and Android TV. It's on DirecTV channels 322 & 2049. In some areas in the US, it's a free broadcast channel. Look for NHK WORLD-JAPAN 🇯🇵

The broadcast schedule is in Japan's time zone:
Monday, August 11th: 9:30am; 14:30; 19:30;
Tuesday, August 12th: 12:30am; 6:30am ✨

If you don't have access to the NHK WORLD-JAPAN TV station, you can also view it on their website: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2087153/

07/08/2025

Hello friends, let's talk about the unofficial potential changes to the Business Manager visa. This isn't a video I particularly want to make, for a few reasons. I don't like speculation. I don't like guessing. I work hard with this channel to only present accurate information, along with our personal first-hand experience.

Today's video: https://youtu.be/kCUid0B6uDE

I know we're all feeling very uncertain. We can only hope there will be some more clarity and guidance from Japan's immigration soon. All we know for certain is that no official announcement has been made, so every news article you read is speculation and educated guesses.

Nobody knows at this point how the changes will be implemented, when, and whether or not this will affect current Startup visa and Business Manager visa holders. So at this point, all we can do is discuss, hope for the best, and keep working very hard for our business and life in Japan!

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Subscribe » www.youtube.com/

Stay With Us » airbnb.com/h/bentonguesthouse

Shop Honey + Retro » bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/

Shop Vintage Records » discogs.com/seller/bentonhomestead/profile

Japan Real Estate Consulting » bentonhomestead.com/consulting

Photo Blogs » www.bentonhomestead.com

Support » buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

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#日本 #四国 #愛媛 #今治 #大三島 #しまなみ街道

Hello friends, let's talk about the unofficial potential changes to the Business Manager visa. This isn't a video I particularly want to make, for a few reas...

04/08/2025

✨ EXCITING NEWS ✨ Remember when the NHK film crew documented our honey harvest? Well, now we can announce the TV show and broadcast date! 🐝

The segment is called 'Workpedia', which is part of a show called 'Where We Call Home'. It will be broadcast on NHK WORLD-JAPAN, which airs throughout Japan and also globally! 😮

The broadcast schedule is in Japan's time zone. So if you are watching NHK WORLD-JAPAN in a different time zone, please adjust accordingly:

Monday, August 11th: 9:30am; 14:30; 19:30; and on Tuesday, August 12th: 12:30am; 6:30am ✨ Please note: The 'Workpedia' segment is towards the end of the 30-minute episode 📺

If you don't have access to the NHK WORLD-JAPAN TV station, you can also view it on their website: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2087153/

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Subscribe » www.youtube.com/

Stay With Us » airbnb.com/h/bentonguesthouse

Shop Honey + Retro » bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/

Shop Vintage Records » discogs.com/seller/bentonhomestead/profile

Japan Real Estate Consulting » bentonhomestead.com/consulting

Photo Blogs » www.bentonhomestead.com

Support » buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

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#日本 #四国 #愛媛 #今治 #大三島 #しまなみ街道

31/07/2025

Today is the last day of Benton Homestead's fiscal year. Tomorrow, we will begin preparing our business financial details for our next visa renewal 🙏

As the Business Manager visa is primarily income-based, we hope that our figures meet the criteria for a three-year visa this time. That would be a relief.

It's always a good time to enjoy honey! But today is the last day for the current fiscal year 😉 Let's try to look our best for Japan immigration 😇

Shop Honey » bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/products/benton-homestead-honey-omishima-island-japan

Support via donation or consultation » buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

Available:
🍊 'mikan' citrus honey
🌼 mixed wildflower honey

Sold out:
🌸 'sakura' cherry honey

Find our honey at:
📦 Mail order via JapanPost
🍯 Free pick-up on Ōmishima
🚴‍♂️ Michinoeki by Tatara Bridge
⛩️ Michinoeki by Oyamazumi Shrine
🌴 Michinoeki on Hakatajima

本日はベントン・ホームステッドの会計年度最終日です。明日から、次回のビザ更新に向けて事業の財務詳細を準備し始めます🙏

経営管理ビザは主に収入に基づいているため、今回は3年間のビザの基準を満たせることを願っています。そうなれば安心です。

蜂蜜を楽しむのはいつでも楽しい時間です！でも、本日は今年度の会計年度最終日です😉日本の入国審査に向けて、最高の状態を目指しましょう😇

蜂蜜屋 » bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/products/benton-homestead-honey-omishima-island-japan

寄付または相談による支援 »
buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

販売中：
🍊「みかん」柑橘蜂蜜
🌼「ミックスワイルドフラワー蜂蜜」

売り切れ：
🌸「さくら」チェリー蜂蜜

蜂蜜はこちらでご購入いただけます：
📦 日本郵便による通信販売
🍯 大三島で無料受け取り
🚴‍♂️ 多々羅橋近くの道の駅
⛩️ 大山祇神社近くの道の駅
🌴 伯方島の道の駅

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Subscribe » www.youtube.com/

Stay With Us » airbnb.com/h/bentonguesthouse

Shop Honey + Retro » bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/

Shop Vintage Records » discogs.com/seller/bentonhomestead/profile

Japan Real Estate Consulting » bentonhomestead.com/consulting

Photo Blogs » www.bentonhomestead.com

Support » buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

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#日本 #四国 #愛媛 #今治 #大三島 #しまなみ街道

23/07/2025

At the end of this month is Benton Homestead's 2nd birthday ✨ Thank you Mizobuchi-san and Sakai-sensei for your gift! The t-shirts say "celebrating two years" with our names. Thank you so much for your support and friendship in the two years since business incorporation 🥹

今月末はベントンホームステッド2周年です✨ 溝渕さんと坂井先生、プレゼントありがとうございます！法人化から2年間、たくさんの応援をいただき本当にありがとうございました🥹

22/07/2025

The spring honey flow, harvest season, and swarm season, have all come to a close. That means it's time for colony splits!

Today's video: https://youtu.be/yWDiShE-Gdo

After building additional hive boxes, and installing new hive bases at our two apiaries, now is the time to safely increase our colony numbers from 25 to 40. We're heading into the middle of the humid Japan summer, but we're preparing for the upcoming seasons: keeping them safe during Asian giant hornet season, followed by preparations for winter.

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Subscribe » www.youtube.com/

Stay With Us » airbnb.com/h/bentonguesthouse

Shop Honey + Retro » bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/

Shop Vintage Records » discogs.com/seller/bentonhomestead/profile

Japan Real Estate Consulting » bentonhomestead.com/consulting

Photo Blogs » www.bentonhomestead.com

Support » buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

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#日本 #四国 #愛媛 #今治 #大三島 #しまなみ街道

15/07/2025

As you know, we live in beautiful rural Japan thanks to the Startup and Business Manager visa. What this means for logistics is: each visa renewal application relies completely on the success of our young business, and our ability to meet requirements and achieve goals, which are primarily income-based.

At the end of each visa period (currently, annually) we submit a large packet to immigration to review, including our Benton Homestead 株式会社 fiscal report and revised 10-year business plan. It's understandably quite challenging, and a bit stressful, but understandable.

The end of our fiscal year is July 31, which means the next two weeks are a great time to enjoy some honey :)

We look forward to the future on Ōmishima, and hope to continue growing friendships and business partnerships with our island neighbors. Thanks for all your encouragement the past 2.5 years!

If you live in Japan, you're welcome to visit our online honey shop: https://bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/products/benton-homestead-honey-omishima-island-japan

If you live anywhere, you can support our business via our Buy Me a Coffee page: www.buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead

If you plan to visit the Shimanami Kaido area, you're always welcome to stay at our Shōwa-retro private guesthouse: www.airbnb.com/h/bentonguesthouse

If you live in Japan, the US, Canada, or Australia, and you like vintage Japanese home goods, please peruse our online retro shop: https://bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com

And of course another way to support us (that doesn't cost anything) is to subscribe to our YouTube, like videos, and share: www.youtube.com/

ご存知の通り、私たちはスタートアップ・経営管理ビザのおかげで、美しい日本の田舎に住んでいます。これは、ビザ更新申請のプロセスにおいて、私たちの新しいビジネスの成功、そして主に収入に基づく要件を満たし、目標を達成できるかどうかに大きく左右されることを意味します。

ビザの有効期間（現在は毎年）が終了するたびに、Benton Homestead株式会社の会計報告書と改訂版10年事業計画を含む、大量の書類を入国管理局に提出し、審査を受けます。これは当然のことながら、非常に大変で、少しストレスもかかりますが、仕方のないことです。

私たちの会計年度末は7月31日です。つまり、これからの2週間は蜂蜜を楽しむ絶好の機会です :)

私たちは大三島での未来を楽しみにしており、島の人々との友情とビジネスパートナーシップを育んでいきたいと考えています。この2年半、皆様からのご支援をいただき、誠にありがとうございました！

日本にお住まいの方は、ぜひオンラインのハチミツショップへお越しください: https://bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/products/benton-homestead-honey-omishima-island-japan

あなたがどこにお住まいであっても、Buy Me a Coffeeページ www.buymeacoffee.com/bentonhomestead から私たちのビジネスを支援することができます。

しまなみ海道エリアを訪れる予定の方は、ぜひ昭和レトロなプライベートゲストハウスにご宿泊ください: www.airbnb.com/h/bentonguesthouse

日本、アメリカ、カナダ、オーストラリアにお住まいで、日本のヴィンテージ雑貨がお好きな方は、ぜひオンラインのレトロショップをご覧ください: https://bentonhomesteadjapan.myshopify.com/

そしてもちろん、YouTubeチャンネルの登録、動画へのいいね、シェアも無料でご利用いただけます: www.youtube.com/

We're an online shop for retro, vintage, and antique Japanese goods discovered in our 'akiya' abandoned houses. Most items are from the 1940s to 1970s, some still "new" in box. These pieces have a lot of life left in them! You can also visit us in person, on Ōmishima, in Imabari, Ehime, Japan.

13/07/2025

Did you know we have a monthly live chat to visit with y'all? I've noticed that many of our social media friends are different from our YouTube friends, so this post is an open invitation.

In 2023 and 2024, we started getting so many questions about: the Startup visa, the Business Manager visa, our immigration lawyer, purchasing an akiya, house renovation, incorporating a business, opening a bank account, buying a car, getting a drivers license, paying taxes, minpaku license, ryokan license, all the logistics needed to build a life in Japan... I love helping people and I want to answer everyone's questions! But at some point, there just wasn't enough time.

So! Our biggest request for 2025 was an opportunity to ask questions via live chat!

We started hosting these six months ago, and they're really fun. We average about 2-5 dozen live viewers, so it's a great way to connect with others on similar adventures throughout Japan.

I make a point to only offer advice in areas that we have firsthand experience. I would rather tell someone that I can't answer their question, than to give them incorrect information. So the only rule for the chat is: no hearsay, and please cite your sources.

Please join us: the last Sunday of each month, from 8-10am Japan time. Be sure to check what day/time that will be for your specific time zone!

"Super Chat" YouTube donations are appreciated, but not required. We consider this livestream our "public office hours" where we get to help our little growing community.

However, if you have more questions, or want some personal one-on-one time to answer more specific questions, we do also offer video call consulting. Details are on our Benton Homestead website www.bentonhomestead.com/consulting

Hope to see you in this month's livestream, even if it's just to say hello! https://youtube.com/live/BXu67hSKvGI

10/07/2025

Bosco says どうもありがとうございます! Some friendly neighbor left a present with his name on it, tied to our gate ⚾🙂‍↕️✨