"Then I'll have to do it myself" - the reason I started filming the Seto Inland Sea

The thumbnail for the video published on YouTube. The catchphrase was suggested by ChatGPT. Filming Diary
The thumbnail for the video published on YouTube. The catchphrase was suggested by ChatGPT.
2025.07.23

Vol.1: The value of Japanese landscapes that we realized in Bangkok

Things to think about in a room in a high-rise condominium

I was working in Bangkok, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. I lived in a 42-storey high-rise condominium in Bangkok. The room on the 23rd floor was rented from a Chinese-Thai couple. It was a one-room apartment in Japan, but I really liked it with a calm wooden flooring, which is very rare among the condominiums in Bangkok.

The view from the room was blocked by the high-rise office building next door, but the rooftop fitness room and infinity pool gave us a panoramic view of the cityscape of Chit Lom, the centre of Bangkok. I remember that despite the limited use of the pool for just an hour due to the pandemic, it was almost on hand to be private and we were able to swim quietly.

When I was working in Bangkok, I lived in a condominium. I rented a room on the 23rd floor.
When I was working in Bangkok, I lived in a condominium. I rented a room on the 23rd floor.
The view from the infinity pool on the 42nd floor of the condominium.
The view from the infinity pool on the 42nd floor of the condominium.

Days that can't go out and support for the heart

That time, when people were restricted from going out due to the pandemic. Every day I had a feeling that my heart was worn out. At work, I was struggling with relationships and felt mental limits. I go to SAMITIVEJ Hospital every day. I think it was due to stress that it was causing my stomach and intestines.

Among them, my only thing I enjoyed was watching beautiful footage from around the world on YouTube. And move your body. Skipping rope on the rooftop and sweating on the trampoline. Every weekend, swimming in the empty infinity pool was an important time to keep you spirited.

A view taken at Phrom Phong Station in Bangkok. Due to the pandemic, there seem to be fewer cars.
A view taken at Phrom Phong Station in Bangkok. Due to the pandemic, there seem to be fewer cars.
Bangkok sunset taken at Central World in Pratunam.
This photo of the Bangkok sunset taken at Central World in Pratunam is even more beautiful than the sunsets I see in Japan.
The infotainment pool on the 42nd floor of the condominium was open for swimming even at night.
The hotel on the 42nd floor of the condominium allowed me to swim at night. My job was tough, but I was relieved to be able to live a slightly luxurious life.

I was saved in the video

My YouTube channels I often watched at the time were video channels produced overseas, such as "The Flying Dutchman," "UNERDRIVER4K," "Seoul Walker," and "Scenic Relaxation." All of them were particular about high-quality images and beautiful sound, and just watching them made me feel calm.

However, strangely enough, I couldn't find a similar quality footage in "Japanese landscapes." Even if you search for Seto Inland Sea in English, all you will find are simple footage that simply involves turning the drone left and right, and long recordings with only wave sounds. It's true that there are quite a few views, but in my eyes it looked like "I should have taken a better picture."

At that moment, I suddenly thought of it. "If there's none, you'll have to do it yourself."

The scenery of the Setouchi area is world-class

I once worked at a museum on Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea. I still remember tourists from all over the world visiting, and most of them saying "it's a wonderful view." As a Japanese person, the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea changes completely depending on the season, and I never get bored of seeing it.

Koyojima, the island where my mother was born, is also a special presence to me. I feel that the scenery of the Setouchi area is not just beautiful, but something appeals to "memories" and "emotions."

Now in 2025, I wanted to share this "Memories of Setouchi" with the world once again as a gateway to travel, so I created a new teaser video set in Naoshima

This is the first step in making people feel like they are traveling on this island where I once worked and where people from all over the world have been fascinated

Hiroshi Sugimoto's "Seascape Series." In response to his own question, "What is the landscape that has remained unchanged since the Earth was formed?" he concluded that it was the ocean, and this is his masterpiece, which features photographs of oceans all over the world.
Hiroshi Sugimoto's "Seascape Series." He asked himself, "What is the landscape that has remained unchanged since the creation of the Earth until the present day?" and concluded that it was the ocean, leading to his masterpiece of photographing oceans all over the world. But how many people who visit Naoshima know how to truly enjoy this series?
View of the Seto Inland Sea from the Lee Ufan Museum.
View of the Seto Inland Sea from the Lee Ufan Museum. This work appears to have been placed there while I was living overseas.
Shinro Ohtake - Shipyard Works : Stern with Hole
Shinro Ohtake's "Shipyard Works: Stern with Hole." In the past, parts of "Shipyard Works" were exhibited in the Seaside Gallery, designed by Tadao Ando and located behind this photo (where Walter De Maria's works are currently displayed).
This photo was taken from Yoshima, next to my mother's hometown, Koyoshima.
This photo was taken from Yoshima towards Marugame City. Immediately after returning to Japan, I drove to the Yoshima Parking Area with my mother and brother.

What I wanted to deliver through the video

The first channel I started was Setouchi Relaxation Films A soothing video content that combines beautiful scenery shot with a drone with music. However, it was not able to run well. It was my first attempt, so I was unable to grasp the way the video was shown or the needs of the viewers.

I started making YouTube videos by teaching myself, knowing nothing about video editing.

After that, the concept was completely redesigned and started again as Setouchi Ambience Videos are "effective" for viewers - that is, they are now conscious of images that are not just about watching, but also about having a purpose such as "sleeping" and "relaxing."

The sound of rain, the sound of wind, the chirping of birds. It will surely be useful to someone else to deliver the quiet scenery and sounds of the Seto Inland Sea. With that in mind, I'm holding a camera again today.

Setouchi Ambience's videos were started based on the hypothesis that "foreigners like scenery that is uniquely Japanese."

I want to deliver it to my former self living abroad

In fact, what I still keep in mind when filming is that, like me, I used to, miss the scenery of Japan overseas.

What if someone who was born and raised in a town facing the Seto Inland Sea and now lives in a faraway country would look back at me when I watched my video. Or, if you're able to soothe your heart even for a moment in stressful urban life.

With that in mind, I'm walking in the rain today, holding my camera and microphone.

I wanted to convey a world-class landscape. This is the first YouTube challenge that a beginner video took on islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
This is an experience that tells the behind-the-scenes story from the launch of the YouTube channel "Setouchi Relaxation Films" to the current birth of "Setouchi Ambience." What are the feelings that were put into the footage of the Seto Inland Sea?
www.setouchiambiance.online
2025.07.24

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